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In 2007, a website called FanLib was created with the goal of monetizing fanfiction. Fanfiction was authored primarily by women, and FanLib, which was run entirely by men, drew criticism. Simultaneously, [[LiveJournal]] was pushing out policy and design changes that were disliked by the fanfiction oriented userbase of the site. This ultimately led to the creation of the nonprofit [[Organization for Transformative Works]] (OTW) which purported to record and archive fan cultures and works. October 2008 and established it as an [[open beta]] on 14 November 2009,[{{Cite web |title=Announcing Open Beta! |url=https://www.transformativeworks.org/announcing-open-beta/ |language=en-US |date=13 November 2009 |website=[[Organization for Transformative Works]] |access-date=20 October 2022}}][{{cite news |last1=Baker-Whitelaw |first1=Gavia |title=Fans raise $16,000 in auction to help popular fic archive |url=https://www.dailydot.com/society/ao3-fundraiser-auction-fanfic-archive/ |access-date=19 September 2016 |work=[[The Daily Dot]] |date=3 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919022742/http://www.dailydot.com/society/ao3-fundraiser-auction-fanfic-archive/ |archive-date=19 September 2016 |url-status=live}}][{{cite news |last1=Baker-Whitelaw |first1=Gavia |title=This is what 1 million fanfics looks like |url=https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/ao3-million-fanfic/ |access-date=19 September 2016 |work=[[The Daily Dot]] |date=27 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029084125/http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/ao3-million-fanfic/ |archive-date=29 October 2015 |url-status=live}}][{{cite journal |last1=Lothian |first1=Alexis |title=Archival anarchies: Online fandom, subcultural conservation, and the transformative work of digital ephemera |journal=[[International Journal of Cultural Studies]] |date=2012 |volume=16 |issue=6 |pages=541–556 |doi=10.1177/1367877912459132 |s2cid=145568162}} {{closed access}}] a development phase that ended 17 years later, in April 2026.[{{Cite web |title=AO3 is Exiting Open Beta! {{!}} Archive of Our Own |url=https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/34626 |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=archiveofourown.org}}] The site's name was derived from a blog post by writer [[Naomi Novik]], who, responding to FanLib's lack of interest in fostering a "[[:wiktionary:fannish|fannish]]" community, called for the creation of "An Archive of One's Own."the essay ''[[A Room of One's Own]]'' by [[Virginia Woolf]], in which Woolf said that a writer needed space, time, and resources in order to create.[{{cite news |title=Fan fiction site AO3 is dealing with a free speech debate of its own |work=[[The Verge]] |first=Elizabeth |last=Minkel |date=8 November 2018 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/8/18072622/fanfic-ao3-free-speech-censorship-fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108201018/https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/8/18072622/fanfic-ao3-free-speech-censorship-fandom |archive-date=8 November 2018 |url-status=live}}] AO3 defines itself primarily as an [[archive]] and not an [[online community]]. |
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In 2007, a website called FanLib was created with the goal of monetizing fanfiction. Fanfiction was written mostly by women, and FanLib, which was run entirely by men, drew criticism. Simultaneously, [[LiveJournal]] was making policy and design changes that its fanfiction-oriented user base disliked. This led to the creation of the nonprofit [[Organization for Transformative Works]] (OTW), which purported to record and archive fan cultures and works.[{{Cite web |title=Announcing Open Beta! |url=https://www.transformativeworks.org/announcing-open-beta/ |language=en-US |date=13 November 2009 |website=[[Organization for Transformative Works]] |access-date=20 October 2022}}][{{cite news |last1=Baker-Whitelaw |first1=Gavia |title=Fans raise $16,000 in auction to help popular fic archive |url=https://www.dailydot.com/society/ao3-fundraiser-auction-fanfic-archive/ |access-date=19 September 2016 |work=[[The Daily Dot]] |date=3 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919022742/http://www.dailydot.com/society/ao3-fundraiser-auction-fanfic-archive/ |archive-date=19 September 2016 |url-status=live}}][{{cite news |last1=Baker-Whitelaw |first1=Gavia |title=This is what 1 million fanfics looks like |url=https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/ao3-million-fanfic/ |access-date=19 September 2016 |work=[[The Daily Dot]] |date=27 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029084125/http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/ao3-million-fanfic/ |archive-date=29 October 2015 |url-status=live}}][{{cite journal |last1=Lothian |first1=Alexis |title=Archival anarchies: Online fandom, subcultural conservation, and the transformative work of digital ephemera |journal=[[International Journal of Cultural Studies]] |date=2012 |volume=16 |issue=6 |pages=541–556 |doi=10.1177/1367877912459132 |s2cid=145568162}} {{closed access}}] a development phase that ended in April 2026.[{{Cite web |title=AO3 is Exiting Open Beta! {{!}} Archive of Our Own |url=https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/34626 |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=archiveofourown.org}}] The site's name derives from a blog post by writer [[Naomi Novik]], who, responding to FanLib's lack of interest in fostering a "[[:wiktionary:fannish|fannish]]" community, called for the creation of "An Archive of One's Own."[{{cite news |title=Fan fiction site AO3 is dealing with a free speech debate of its own |work=[[The Verge]] |first=Elizabeth |last=Minkel |date=8 November 2018 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/8/18072622/fanfic-ao3-free-speech-censorship-fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108201018/https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/8/18072622/fanfic-ao3-free-speech-censorship-fandom |archive-date=8 November 2018 |url-status=live}}] AO3 defines itself primarily as an [[archive]], not an [[online community]]. |
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By 2013, the site's annual expenses were about $71,000. Fanfiction authors from the site held an auction using [[Tumblr]] that year to raise money for Archive of Our Own, bringing in $16,729 with commissions for original works from bidders.[{{cite news |url=https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/10035 |title=OTW Finance: 2018 Budget |publisher=[[Organization for Transformative Works]] |date=16 April 2018 |access-date=10 June 2018}}] In 2022, the actual yearly expenses of AO3 were $290,688.25, most of which was used for server hosting and maintenance, and revenue from fundraising efforts reached a reported $512,358.90.[{{Cite web |title=OTW Finance: 2022 Budget Update |publisher=Archive of Our Own |url=https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/23967 |access-date=31 October 2023}}][{{Cite web |title=Organization for Transformative Works - 2022 Budget Update |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xKUfUl2vZiCY9ZoeG4hypJ74IupXryOZm57ZGTVFrIA/edit?usp=embed_facebook |access-date=31 October 2023 |website=Google Docs |language=en-US}}] Fundraising for the platform is accomplished through multiple means. Primary fundraising efforts such as their April and October drives as well as other non-drive donations have raised $621,454.87 as of 30 September 2023.[{{Cite web |title=OTW Finance: 2023 Budget Update |publisher=Archive of Our Own |url=https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/27535 |access-date=2 November 2023}}] Some revenue is also collected in the form of royalties from books written by some of the initial OTW members.[{{Cite web |last=Rebaza |first=Claudia |title=Support the OTW by Reading! |publisher=Organization for Transformative Works |url=https://www.transformativeworks.org/support-the-otw-by-reading/ |access-date=2 November 2023 |language=en-US|date=28 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102142905/https://www.transformativeworks.org/support-the-otw-by-reading/|archive-date=2 November 2023}}] |
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By 2013, the site's annual expenses were about $71,000. Fanfiction authors from the site held an auction using [[Tumblr]] that year to raise money for Archive of Our Own, bringing in $16,729 with commissions for original works.[{{cite news |url=https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/10035 |title=OTW Finance: 2018 Budget |publisher=[[Organization for Transformative Works]] |date=16 April 2018 |access-date=10 June 2018}}] In 2022, Ao3's expenses were $290,688, most of which was used for server hosting and maintenance, and revenue from fundraising efforts reached a reported $512,359.[{{Cite web |title=OTW Finance: 2022 Budget Update |publisher=Archive of Our Own |url=https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/23967 |access-date=31 October 2023}}][{{Cite web |title=Organization for Transformative Works - 2022 Budget Update |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xKUfUl2vZiCY9ZoeG4hypJ74IupXryOZm57ZGTVFrIA/edit?usp=embed_facebook |access-date=31 October 2023 |website=Google Docs |language=en-US}}] Funds for the platform are raised in various ways. Primary fundraising efforts such as the April and October drives as well as other non-drive donations raised $621,455 as of 30 September 2023.[{{Cite web |title=OTW Finance: 2023 Budget Update |publisher=Archive of Our Own |url=https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/27535 |access-date=2 November 2023}}] Some revenue is collected in the form of royalties from books by some of the initial OTW members.[{{Cite web |last=Rebaza |first=Claudia |title=Support the OTW by Reading! |publisher=Organization for Transformative Works |url=https://www.transformativeworks.org/support-the-otw-by-reading/ |access-date=2 November 2023 |language=en-US|date=28 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102142905/https://www.transformativeworks.org/support-the-otw-by-reading/|archive-date=2 November 2023}}] |
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On 10 July 2023, the site was the target of a [[denial-of-service attack]]. [[Anonymous Sudan]] (likely Russian-backed according to cybersecurity company CyberCX)[{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Josh |date=19 June 2023 |title=Hackers behind Microsoft outage most likely Russian-backed group aiming to 'drive division' in the west |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jun/19/hackers-behind-microsoft-outage-most-likely-russian-backed-group-aiming-to-drive-division-in-the-west |access-date=11 July 2023 |issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711094137/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jun/19/hackers-behind-microsoft-outage-most-likely-russian-backed-group-aiming-to-drive-division-in-the-west|archive-date=11 July 2023}}] claimed responsibility in a [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] post, saying it was motivated by the website's American registration as well as its sexual and [[LGBTQ]] content, and demanded $30,000 worth of [[Bitcoin]] within 24 hours to end the attack.[{{cite web |title=Fanfic Writers Targeted by Anonymous Sudan in Apparent DDOS Attack on AO3 |url=https://www.cybersecurityconnect.com.au/commercial/9292-fanfic-writers-targeted-by-anonymous-sudan-in-apparent-ddos-attack-on-ao3 |website=Cyber Security Connect |last=Hollingworth |first=David |date=11 July 2023 |access-date=11 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711072734/https://www.cybersecurityconnect.com.au/commercial/9292-fanfic-writers-targeted-by-anonymous-sudan-in-apparent-ddos-attack-on-ao3|archive-date=11 July 2023}}][{{cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=10 July 2023 |title=Archive of Our Own is down due to a DDoS attack |url=https://www.polygon.com/23790167/ao3-down-ddos-attack-archive-of-our-own |access-date=11 July 2023 |website=Polygon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711010723/https://www.polygon.com/23790167/ao3-down-ddos-attack-archive-of-our-own|archive-date=11 July 2023}}] The site came back online the next day with [[Cloudflare]] protection added.[{{cite web |title=The massive fanfic archive AO3 is back after a wave of DDoS attacks |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/11/23790860/ao3-fanfiction-archive-down-outage-ddos-attacks |website=The Verge |last=Weatherbed |first=Jess |date=11 July 2023 |access-date=11 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711182653/https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/11/23790860/ao3-fanfiction-archive-down-outage-ddos-attacks|archive-date=11 July 2023}}] |
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On 10 July 2023, the site was the target of a [[denial-of-service attack]]. [[Anonymous Sudan]] (likely Russian-backed according to cybersecurity company CyberCX)[{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Josh |date=19 June 2023 |title=Hackers behind Microsoft outage most likely Russian-backed group aiming to 'drive division' in the west |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jun/19/hackers-behind-microsoft-outage-most-likely-russian-backed-group-aiming-to-drive-division-in-the-west |access-date=11 July 2023 |issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711094137/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jun/19/hackers-behind-microsoft-outage-most-likely-russian-backed-group-aiming-to-drive-division-in-the-west|archive-date=11 July 2023}}] claimed responsibility in a [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] post, saying it was motivated by the website's American registration as well as its sexual and [[LGBTQ]] content, and demanded $30,000 worth of [[Bitcoin]] within 24 hours to end the attack.[{{cite web |title=Fanfic Writers Targeted by Anonymous Sudan in Apparent DDOS Attack on AO3 |url=https://www.cybersecurityconnect.com.au/commercial/9292-fanfic-writers-targeted-by-anonymous-sudan-in-apparent-ddos-attack-on-ao3 |website=Cyber Security Connect |last=Hollingworth |first=David |date=11 July 2023 |access-date=11 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711072734/https://www.cybersecurityconnect.com.au/commercial/9292-fanfic-writers-targeted-by-anonymous-sudan-in-apparent-ddos-attack-on-ao3|archive-date=11 July 2023}}][{{cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=10 July 2023 |title=Archive of Our Own is down due to a DDoS attack |url=https://www.polygon.com/23790167/ao3-down-ddos-attack-archive-of-our-own |access-date=11 July 2023 |website=Polygon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711010723/https://www.polygon.com/23790167/ao3-down-ddos-attack-archive-of-our-own|archive-date=11 July 2023}}] The site came back online the next day with [[Cloudflare]] protection added.[{{cite web |title=The massive fanfic archive AO3 is back after a wave of DDoS attacks |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/11/23790860/ao3-fanfiction-archive-down-outage-ddos-attacks |website=The Verge |last=Weatherbed |first=Jess |date=11 July 2023 |access-date=11 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711182653/https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/11/23790860/ao3-fanfiction-archive-down-outage-ddos-attacks|archive-date=11 July 2023}}] |
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