Random thought I’m happy for people to add to here:
Different types of fandom OCs
“well, OK, this person sort of MUST exist by implication, so here’s this OC that’s my headcanon on what they’re like” (most often shows up in the form of parents or characters briefly named and never shown)
“this person has a high likelihood of existing so here’s this OC to fill this role that I need filled and oops now I know their entire backstory”
“I accidentally a character when I was writing a random bystander”
“there is no evidence a character would exist but there’s no evidence against it either so here you go”
“haha this is post canon suck it”
“I have rewritten half the series with this character in mind and if you really have a problem with it you should probably find something else”
do you ever feel grateful for the wonderful artists and writers in your fandom? they could have loved another pairing. they could have been in another fandom completely. but no, they’re in your fandom creating for your pairing/fave characters and they’re sharing their talent with us all and I think that’s amazing
Well, Sansukh is one of those amazing, game-changing type of fics that stick with you years upon years later, so chock full of amazing OCs and fantastic worldbuilding and character development that it raises the damn bar of what you expect out of fic. Stories in general really. Sansukh is definitely on my shortlist of “Why the fuck isn’t this a published novel series/movie set/WHAT HAVE YOU yet?”
Honestly, though, you gotta look beyond the fic itself too. @determamfidd deserves all the praise she gets and more. Not only is her writing superb, but she is a humble, caring, altogether kind person…and I think that translates well into Sansukh’s popularity. (You can write stupendous things to begin with, but if you’re an asshole people won’t go near it.)
But still, be wary calling her famous! In a sense, yes she is. I mean DAMN PEOPLE HAVE SANSUKH QUOTES TATTOOED ON THEIR SKIN AND THEY COSPLAY AS HER OCs IT’S SO TERRIFIC AND AWESOME TO SEE, but under all that she’s still just as much a fan as you or I, anon.
I’ve seen it happen before. People with very popular fics get hate spewed at them because of how much others love what they make. It’s such Catch-22 bullshit and it’s a horrible thing to see, so I’m wary of saying stuff like she is famous all (I’m a bit wary posting this ask ngl. I’d hate to see it fall on Dets negatively). If anything, fandom-famous is a better thing to put. At least in my humble opinion.
I’m gonna post it anyway, however, because Dets deserves to see it. Because nice words are nice words! Sansukh AND its creator are great!
Oh
my god
pop
*brain departs my body and orbits the earth several times making this sound: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH*
Mahal save me, oh my heart, my wonderful friend. What an amazing, amazingly kind, gorgeously thoughtful thing to say. l am allasldjhfgaskjhdfgashjsgdfkjasghdf *brain ascends ONCE MORE*
ajsgdfjhdahgakjsgdfkajsh really though. You beautiful, wonderful talented and gorgeous soul. I count myself very lucky to know you and to call you my friend. I count myself very lucky that people like my lengthy what-if blabberings. I count myself GOBSMACKED AND FORTUNATE BEYOND WORDS that people like my blabberings enough to draw, sing, podfic, etc… and I am gasping and flattened with awe and gratitude that I’ve ever written anything that resonated with one or two folks to the extent that that they decided to tattoo it on their bodies. That. THAT. Just makes me want. TO.
*brain departs, puts a girdle round the earth once more: AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*
I do get stupid hate messages, yeah. Not as bad as some (there’s some awesome folks who seem to get hate on a fucking weekly basis, which ????). It usually comes in waves. I brace myself every time i post a new chapter tbh. I used to get upset. But nowadays I just delete the bull and keep moving, so don’t worry, dude. The way they treat me and speak to me, like a thing or a machine or a corporation or some all-powerful Machiavellian manipulator, makes me feel… depersonalised and othered and not really real? I’m musing aloud here but yeah, it’s weird, it gets to the point where the hate is so removed from reality that I just detach. It’s just so preposterously OTT, it’s so evidently not real, it’s so not me. Like, I can barely manage myself and the hectic rush that my life has become, I have no time or energy for such nonsense? This idea of me is so skewed and rubbish. So I don’t take the spite to heart, I shrug, and I just move on. I’m a fan, and I’m doing exactly as other fans do.
idk, riffing on that idea: too, I feel it is amazingly, breathtakingly arrogant to speak for anyone other than yourself. That’s a personal belief, something I’ve held to for years. So when I see people declaring that they are the Sole True Representative of say, hmm, mental illness? (lol) in fandom AND THEREFORE BOSS OF EVERYTHING, ordering people about, silencing other mentally-ill people and trying to police other mentally-ill people’s fanfiction (wut), I can only eye-roll and think
And that stops me getting outraged at the arrogance of it.
Fandom ‘fame’ is funny, too. I’ve met truly famous folks before. The sort of people whose names have wikipedia entries. That’s fame, that’s perspective. Me, a small Aussie nerd, I have a Sansukh-sized playpen, tucked away in LOTR Niche Corner, somewhere in the vast and varied and gargantuan City-State of FANDOM which is itself a niche interest, let’s not forget lmao.
I like my playpen, and I’m so happy that others like visiting it.
*HUGS POP TIGHTLY* ilu my dear, you know I do (how can I NOT GUSH OVER YOUR STUFF THO it is AMAZING you are AMAZING and also I am ashamed that I haven’t ever seen ROTS so i dunno anything about your current stuff BUT I WILL WATCH IT OVER THE HOLIDAYS, BRACE YOURSELF FOR THE INCOMING-FLAIL OF DOOOOOM)
Recently I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not I should continue drawing art for fanfictions. Because of my internal struggle I decided to write out all of the positives that come with drawing fanfiction art as a reminder to myself, and maybe even convince some of you artists out there to consider it in the process.
1.) They deserve it
Fanfiction writers create some amazing stories, sometimes they even create characters or worlds. These things take some serious time and skill! They spend their personal time to create free stories for your enjoyment. Creating art for them is a great kindness to fanfiction writers who have given you ten times that kindness back.
I don’t really give reviews of fanfictions. Mainly because I never know how to explain what I like about a fanfiction without giving them a ten page paper or ending up sounding like a pterodactyl. Drawing art is a great way to show your appreciation without screaming in their faces!
2.) It is great practice
Very rarely do I have something that allows me to draw demonic dolls, blushing demons, a man whose slowly breaking apart and going to space, ghost gangsters, robots with electricity sparking from them, a boy with a bloody knee blaming it on parkour, desperate hugs, two men fighting off ice cold oceans waves, the list goes on and on!
Fanfiction provides some great scenarios for art, that let me branch out and try new things. It’s a great challenge!
3.) It gives them a reason to keep writing
Do you enjoy this fanfiction writers work? Want to keep them excited about writing so that way you can see more great, high quality, work? Well boy oh boy do I have the solution for you! Fanfiction art!
Fanfiction art, at least to me, is a big way to show you care. Writers put time and effort into their pieces and you have given back something that also has time and effort put into it. Seeing that kind of support can really encourage a fanfiction writer! With fanfiction art you are showing that you deeply care about their work, that you are inspired by what they’ve done.
If that’s not a big thumbs up, I don’t know what is!
4.) Positive response
I’ve seen some fanfiction writers response to my art and let me tell you, it’s positively heart warming. The writers who I have drawn for have been so excited with the art! I don’t know about you but seeing someone who deserves something get it is super satisfying. Of all the reactions to my art, fanfiction writers reactions have been the ones I remember the most. There responses kept me smiling for days on end, it’s truly moving.
Don’t be afraid to show them your art!! Let me tell you my art is not perfect but I worked hard on those pieces that I gave those talented writers, and that is enough. It’s the thought that counts, and fanfiction writers deserve as many supportive thoughts as they can get!
As a fanfiction writer, I’ve been very fortunate to receive some beautiful pieces, and some funny pieces, from readers who spent their valuable time creating art of my story, especially my OC.
There are not enough words to express the feeling I get when I see that someone enjoyed my writing enough to create art about it. It’s the ultimate compliment and should never be taken for granted. It’s inspiring and it’s refreshing to see your characters and your story through someone else’s eyes. Sometimes these pieces influence your writing and influence the creation of new scenes.
If you create something based off of a fanfic you’ve read I highly recommend that you share it with the author. Rough, sketched, polished…doesn’t matter. Your piece of work may be the only compliment, comment, or positive reinforcement they’ve received in a while. Trust me, your writer loves it. And sometimes, they need it.
The stages of someone sending me unexpected art based on my fic:
Cry (no really; actual tears from my eyes–THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS).
Internally freak out. Externally freak out (usually involves a lot of bouncing in chair.)
Show someone. Usually husband. Often cat. You know that picture of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith where he’s like “LOOK AT MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE?” – I’m like that. Only “LOOK AT WHAT SOME BEAUTIFUL PERSON HAS DONE.”
Reblog art usually accompanied by excessive use of caps lock and/or exclamation points. (!!!)
Have exceedingly warm happy feeling for days, renewed up every time art is remembered.
Save on computer; look at art every time sad, discouraged, in need of inspiration.
Basically never stop being amazed at how wonderful people are.
Whenever people have made art of my fanfics I’ve just… completely lost the ability to think for the rest of the day. It’s so incredibly overwhelming that someone to take the time to put effort and talent – their amazing, glorious talent – into making something based off things that I, stupid little me, wrote.
Truly, fanart of fanfic is the best gift.
This has only happened to me once, and eight years later I still treasure it.
I would love art of my fanfiction.
Casual reminder to fellow artust that we can single handedly make someone’s day a little more awesome.
One time I had someone draw characters from a fic I wrote and it blew my mind and still touches me to look at today. It’s such a huge compliment and act of kindness and truly does mean a lot to authors.
Every single time someone draws fanart based on one of my fics, I am filled with a great happiness. It makes me feel less lonely, less isolated. It makes me feel like someone gets it. It makes me feel like I’ve connected. It IS a great kindness.
And I can honestly say, as a person who can’t draw ANYTHING, I don’t care if you don’t think it’s very good. I don’t care if it’s a damn stick person. If you took the time to draw me ANYTHING related to my fics, I LOVE YOU. And I won’t stop. Because you took the time to give back something without requirement. That’s a beautiful thing.
The same goes for analyses, asks, messages, reblogs and tags. I love all of it and I thank anyone who takes the time to do those things for fics.
Just because someone doesn’t mention mental illness on their blog
does not mean they have not experienced disordered mental states.
Just because someone doesn’t mention sexuality on their blog does not mean they are heterosexual.
Just because someone doesn’t mention gender on their blog does not mean that they are cis-gendered.
Just because someone doesn’t mention disability on their blog does not mean they are abled.
Just because someone doesn’t mention race on their blog does not mean they are white.
Erasure
of people’s mental illness/gender/sexuality/disability/race by a person
in a privileged position is more often done out of ignorance than
malice.
Exploitation or appropriation of people’s mental
illness/gender/sexuality/disability/race in a fandom work is likewise done more often
out of ignorance than malice.
Not every single person on Tumblr is
well-versed in appropriately sensitive language. Even people who
consider themselves part of a marginalized group can forget or misstep.
No one is perfect 100% of the time.
However, portrayal of mental
illness/gender/sexuality/disability/race in a fandom work is often the
result of someone trying to work through their own thoughts and feelings
regarding the same. Before you leave comments based on your
assumption of someone’s status regarding any of the above, please keep in mind that you are only seeing the facets of this person that they are comfortable sharing publicly, and you can do a great deal of damage with careless words. For someone who has dealt with mental
illness or
disability, accusations of using it for the sake of entertainment can
trigger them and send them into a spiral. For someone who has dealt with
confusion and ostracization due to their gender or sexuality, attacking
them based on their presumed cis-het status can make them feel
invisible all over again. If you honestly think it’s wrong for someone
to portray a character as a different race, there really isn’t any
explanation besides bigotry, and you’re probably a jerk.
Fandom
can be a wonderful and mostly-safe place for people to explore different
themes and real-life issues. But when you spew anonymous hatred because
you assume that a content creator is not part of a particular group and
is exploiting the identity or struggles of that group, you can be doing
untold harm. This is especially true if you yourself have experienced
discrimination of any kind! Instead of hurting someone out of simple
ignorance, you are attacking them with full knowledge of how personally
devastating it can be to be misunderstood and shunned. Not only that,
but you have now put them in the position of either accepting your
vitriol without complaint, or revealing personal details in order to
defend themselves. Being a member of a marginalized group does not grant
you the right to demand that information from anyone.
If you disagree
with something that someone else has created, open a dialogue with them!
Send an ask, let them know what’s bothering you! But don’t do so by
being accusatory and nasty. If something honestly makes you so angry
that you are incapable of being civil, walk away until that feeling
passes and you can be respectful. There’s no guarantee that everyone
will listen to you, but at least you will have presented your case
without behaving like a bully.
TL;DR: Nobody owes
you a personal disclaimer that includes all of the reasons they have a
right to create certain content. If you disagree with something that
someone has created, talk to them without being an asshole about it.
my fav character: *hates themselves*
me: no no don’t do that d O NT DO THA T???? I AM ON MY WAY, IM COMING TO LOVE U MY CHILD, I WILL LOVE U ENOUGH FOR THE BOTH OF US, HAVE NO FEAR I AM HERE *CRADLES THEM* *KISSES THEM ON THE FOREHEAD*
I think it’s easier to think of in terms of what an inappropriate interaction with younger members could be. There’s nothing wrong with being friendly to – and being friends – with people at different age differences. In fact, I believe there SHOULD be communication and interaction between people of all ages. We can all learn and grow from each other, after all.
If those artists ask you to unwatch them, unwatch them. If you feel like messaging them and letting them know your age – or a “I’m between x-y years old” message – to ask if they’e comfortable with you following them, and they ask you to unwatch them, unwatch them.
Encourage their art. Encourage their growth and support their process. Do so in a mindful way. If they create something risqué, think about whether it’s appropriate for you to comment on it, knowing their age. Are you interacting with a young person in a sexualised why? If in doubt, don’t make the comment.
Also be mindful of how you talk to them when it comes to personal issues. Always remember that no matter how mature or sensible they are, at the end of the day, these people are children. Sometimes it’s not appropriate to lay your troubles and woes on these people, and you need to consider a different outlet to reach out to.
If you’re in doubt, imagine you’re in the street and you see someone that age. The thing you’re about to say to them, would you say it to them on a crowded street, with lots of people listening and present? If you would, say it. If you wouldn’t, don’t.
This is the best advice I can give.
Me: oh, that’s odd, what’s this on my dash…?
*sees anti-bagginshield blog that gets its creep-ass jollies by attacking good people*
*blog is apparently spouting the same old, tired, rubbish accusations that have been disproven, debunked and demolished a million times (to the point where it is actually… just. kinda embarrassing for them)*
Me: yeaaaaaaah…
@baggvinshield, keep on truckin’, you are amazing. A great fan, and a great friend. Don’t bother with this delusional, self-important idiot.
You know one thing I’ve really become aware of recently is that I am now a certified Adult In Fandom ™. This is weird to me, because I grew up in fandom spaces. I was on deviantart, LJ, Gaia Online, Tumblr, FF.net, and Ao3. My whole teenagerhood and young adulthood has been influenced by fandom spaces.
But beyond that, it’s been influenced by how people have interacted with me – especially when I was between 13-18. I’ve had my fair share of adults who’ve been – in hindsight – creepy, even if I didn’t realise it at the time. When I was 15 I internet-dated a girl much older than me. I was very close friends with some guys who were in their 20s. I had one older woman (with a child and husband) convince me to send her money. I’ve even had a teacher exchange very questionable emails with me.
Of course, I’ve also had experiences with adults in fandom who’ve treated me wonderfully. Who’ve been mature, and responsible. Men and women much older than me who’ve been aware of my age, and who’d acted appropriately in the face of it.
These are the sorts of adults I want to be in fandom. These are the adults who made fandom a safe space, who made me feel comfortable and welcome. Who understood I was young, and that I needed to be treated as such. They found appropriate ways to interact with me, and were great sources of comfort to me.
These are the sort of adults all adults in fandom should be aware of. You have a responsibility and a duty to behave and interact appropriately online. Even if someone presents as mature, you just have to always be aware of their age and be aware of how you might be putting them in a vulnerable position, or behaving inappropriately.
Don’t be the adult someone’s going to look back on in 5 years and think “yikes, that person was totally inappropriate and made me feel uncomfortable.” Be the adult younger members can come to and know you’ll behave responsibly.
Be the adult you’d want to know when you were younger.
Aw Yiss 