Find/Replace
So you've written a fic. It was moderately successful, you got some hits, some kudos, maybe a few comments. It's a thrilling feeling - they like you! They really like you! You want to capture that feeling again. Ride the high of mediocrity forever. But how? You could write another fic. After all, there are literally millions of fics with millions of tropes and scenarios, different takes on canon, AUs, and everything in between. You could pick an idea and go with it. But it's risky. What if people don't like it? What if you never find that dizzying high of kudos again? You can't just repost your existing fic. People in your fandom have already seen in, and they can't kudos it again. Then it hits you! It's brilliant! Genius, in fact! You just pick another fandom, find the most popular ship, and run a quick find and replace to change the names of your characters for the two in that popular ship! Voila! Brand new fic! Chances are you can paste the names straight in, as your writing and characterisation are most likely so bland and generic that no one will even notice. Quick read through to swap in a couple of standard references for the new characters - change the hair and eye colour, maybe even change the gender of one or even both, add in that well known fandom staple characteristic (which may or may not relate to the reality of the source material), say a leather jacket and a scowl or a hoodie and a few moles. Job done! Post it. Wait for the praise to roll in again. Lather, rinse, repeat.
