Ι think of Celebrate Me Home by @callmesweetheartifyoumeanit an embarrassing amount of times through the week because it's the sweetest, most realistic depiction of a newfound parental relationship with a kid I've ever seen in fanfic. I read it every once a year at LEAST, it's become a Christmas staple. Not to mention ANY smut by the same author-- which I resort to for inspiration more often than not.
Also. Marked by @there-must-be-a-lock . Lou is, I think, one of the most important writers in my reading (and writing) career. Marked is literally one of my favourite books of all time and it's calling for a reread soon. One of the only pieces of media that's ever truly convinced me of the love and trust between two people. I also think very often about that scene in Lou's fluffy Paris story where they're lost in the rain, talking when they come across a cool-looking bar. I don't remember it specifically, but I remember the feelings it invoked, I remember it was sweet. I remember I could practically feel the cobblestone under my feet while reading. Or that one particular smutty fic whose name I don't remember, involving Sam Winchester, overstimulation and a vibrator. I grow hot just thinking about it (and I do. often enough. )
Also also. @ozonecologne and all of their destiel fics, ESPECIALLY the college/painter au one. Working In Color I think it was called. Also also also. @softly-barnes (or at least that was their name, I haven't been on Tumblr in a while, they mustve changed it) and their tattoo artist au. Or their florist au. Also think about that far too often.
+ Ana's (@percywinchester27 )Tic tac toe. Specifically the scene with Sam yelling at Gordon to fuck off. If it convinces you writing MATTERS, I used the monologue in that scene to practice acting with some friends because it was just THAT good.
Not to MENTION that pirate story with Bucky (I don't remember the author but I'll go looking and come back to this post ) that literally inspired me for my second non-fanfic book which is currently flourishing in its pre-writing process. Specifically that scene with the sailors jumping off the ship.
So yeah. Your work has impact. No. Numbers don't mean jack shit.