Fangirling Since 1983

Day 15

Talk about why you participated in Snowflake &/or what you got out of it.

I did Snowflake for the first time last year in an effort to boost my use of this platform and connect with fans on here. It worked, to an extent, but tumblr was my fandom love.

One year later, not so much.

I’m making the move from tumblr to DW as my fandom platform of choice and this round Snowflake has really opened my eyes as to how active fandom is on here and I’ve added half a dozen people to my circle which has been wonderful. I love connecting with people online, it’s one of my happy places so thank you to Snowflake for helping me do that!

Day 13

In your own space, set some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private.

I hadn’t posted my writing goals for 2019 yet because I thought this post might be coming....so:

1. Write more often!

I signed up for a habit pledge over at getyourwordsout this year after failing to reach my word count pledge last year. I’ve pledged for 240 days this year (which is 20 days a month) and I’m not sure I’ll reach it but I definitely want to start making writing a habit. I can remember and do fifteen minutes of Duolingo a day so I can carve out at least half an hour day for writing.....

2. Breach the 30k word count in a single story.

25k was my longest fic word count in 2018....I’m coming for you 30k!

3. Write a sequel to Three’s Company

I always fully intended to write tags/codas for the other seasons of SGA in this AU. I want to do season 2 this year.

4. Branch out pairing wise

I make no secret of shipping Rodney with everyone! Last year I branched out a bit and wrote Rodney/Ronon and Rodney/Caldwell. I want to keep doing more of that and bring some new pairings in as well. McShep will always have my heart though.

5. Enjoy it

Because the other goals are meaningless if it isn’t fun.

Day 11

In your own space, talk about your creative process(es) — anything from the initial inspiration to how you feel after something’s done. Do you struggle with motivation or is it a smooth process? Do you have any tricks up your sleeve to pull out when a fanwork isn’t cooperating? What is your level of planning to pantsing/winging it?

Writing is my only creative outlet and it’s something that I used to do constantly as a child but then when I was around 14, I just stopped. And I didn’t pick it up again until I was 31.

Having gone so long without writing I thought getting the creative juices flowing again would be hard but I had underestimated how inspiring fandom can be! I started my writing again using prompts that people would leave me which was a really great way to get back into writing after so long and it really helped me figure out what I’m good at writing, what I enjoy writing (not always the same as what I’m good at) and what I can’t or don’t want to do.

My creative process is pretty simple. I jot down ideas as they come to me, sometimes in detail, sometimes a few words, and I try to carve out a brick of time at least once a week to look through these ideas and actually write them. Sometimes that works and the idea is right and the words flow, sometimes it doesn’t. I try not to sweat it when it doesn’t. This isn’t something I want to do for a living, it’s a hobby and it’s supposedto be fun but remembering that when you really WANT to write but can’t find the words is hard.

If I know a fic is going to be longer, I’ll generally do a brief outline summarising the beats and the plots, but I let myself divert from that if that’s where the words want to take me. Some of my favourite fics I’ve wrote were completely winged (cough, Encore, cough).

Feedback and Interaction is everything to me. I mean, yes, write for yourself, but I’m self aware enough to know that the nice feedback and the kudos and the friendships I’ve made through fanfic is the reason I’m still doing it.

It’s the reason I love it. It’s the reason I keep doing it.

Day 8
In your own space, post self-recs for at least three fanworks that you created.

I have no shame about posting self-recs; I work really hard on my fics and I’m damn proud of some of them!

1. The Adventures of Ace Dameron is a Finn/Poe (do they still get called Stormpilot?) series that I wrote almost immediatley after the The Force Awakens came out. It’s unrelentingly fluffy kid fic written by someone who doesn’t have children, lol. I had so much fun writing these fics and I think of them fondly even if I’m not in that fandom anymore

2. Encore: This is a total AU (no Stargates) McShep fic and it’s the longest fic I’ve posted to date. John and Rodney were together in college but John chose the Air Force over him, breaking Rodney’s heart in the process. It’s twelve years later and the Air Force has kicked John out which is the perfect time to go looking for forgiveness, right? Featuring Genii spies and melodrama, I had lots of fun with this one!

3. Three’s Company is a fic I still think about a lot. I really wanted to explore a platonic Sentinel/Guide relationship and I love Rodney and Radek’s friendship so they seemed like a perfect pair to explore with. And then I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if I added McShep.....

4. Grow Old Without You: hate the title, love the fic. I really indulged my inner angst monster on this one. Following John’s capture by Kolya and the whole Todd feeding thing, John remains old and they send him home. Rodney, of course, goes back with him because he can’t leave the man he loves behind, even if John would rather he didn’t. I discovered my love of writing Jack O’Neill in this fic! And I promise it has a happy ending!

Day 6

In your own space, create a list of at least three fannish things you'd love to receive, something you've wanted but were afraid to ask for - a fannish wish-list of sorts.

1. Podficcing for beginners

I know nothing about podficcing. I do know someone who lost their eyesight last year and while I always knew podficcing was a great idea it really hammered the point home to me. All that being said, I really want to get into podficcing this year, even if it’s just my own fics to start off with. What I would love is some tips on what kind of equipment or software I need from anyone out there who knows about this stuff! Any help is appreciated.

2. Prompts

When I started writing fics I wrote almost exclusively based on prompts that people sent in to me. There’s something about writing something for someone else that lights a fire under my heels. I know prompt based comms exist but they just don’t hold that same level of excitement for me so I’m asking for specific prompts that anyone would like to see me write. I’m pretty exclusively in the SGA fandom these days and McShep is my go to but I’ll write gen or Rodney/anyone too!

I can’t promise to fill them all (that’s part of what pushed me out of MCU; the pressure and complaints when I didn’t fill something quick enough) but I can promise to do my best and let you know if the idea doesn’t grab my muse.

3. Art Recs

I’ve only been in the SGA fandom for a few years and I know that I’m missing so much great art that must have been done back in the day so any art recs you have would be welcomed with all the thanks in the world!

4. Oh, and if anyone wants to do a banner or icon for the new SGA Writing Fest that popkin16 and I are putting together, that would be amazing! Drop me a message if you’re interested in helping out!

Comment to someone you haven't ever interacted with before or introduce yourself to someone you've interacted with and friend/follow them.

But...but I'll be bothering them! Putting myself out there is not something that comes naturally to me; not in person and not online either. You'd think that sitting behind a keyboard would help overcome that crippling fear of being bothersome or being thought of as a nuisance but it really, really doesn't.

It's a weird thought process. I mean, I know that when someone reaches out to me; when someone introduces themselves or comments, my mind never goes to 'oh, that's annoying.' Every time it happens my mind goes 'oh my god, someone is saying hi to me, that's so cool. Wow! Hi back! That's so nice of you!" but somehow it doesn't ever seem like anyone would have that reaction to me doing the same.

Minds are a very weird thing. Self-confidence issues are a very annoying thing.

So, I'm gonna go and rout around the previous fandom snowflake posts and make introductions. And I'll try really hard not to apologise for bothering them...

Day 2

Rec at least three fanworks that you didn’t create.

I just finished a pretty lengthy list of fic recs for Stargate Atlantis but I’m always up for reccing more fanworks.

First up, This Rodney McKay Funko POP by OnceUponaCustom I am still impatiently awaiting for Funko to get the rights to make official Stargate pops but this one graces my shelf at the moment! The shop has other Stargate pops too, check them out in the store!

Second, I’ve been thinking about a Steampunk AU for Stargate Atlantis as part of the new whatif_au challenge and came across this Amazing art by mific. I love Rodney’s flamboyant outfit!

Thirdly and finally, I spent New Years Day rereading Wraith Killers by LadyRa which was just as wonderful as I remember it being!

Day 15

In your own space, write a love letter to Fandom in general, to a particular fandom, to a trope, a relationship, a character, or to your flist/circle/followers. Share your love and squee as loud as you want to.

Dear Stargate Atlantis Fandom,

I know I came to you late in your fandom life, many years after your show stopped airing, but you still have my back. I am so thankful for both the people that came before me who have left some of the most amazing fanworks I've ever had the pleasure of seeing dotted over the Internet, and those of you who are still around, still creating and still being wonderfully welcoming to anyone who wants to join.

I've written for a few different fandoms over the year and you are by far and away the most friendly, supportive and welcoming fandom I've ever played in. You've seen me through some tough times and I know that there's a fic to fit every mood I may have. You've made me cry and made me laugh.

I hope you're ok with me never leaving.

Yours,
respoftw

Day 13:
In your own space, set some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private.

I kinda already did this here but I do have something else to add.

I want to challenge myself as a writer this year. I've only been posting fic for a few years but I think I've already fallen into a safety trap when it comes to the things I write and I want to push myself out of those boundaries and try to challenge myself.

Who knows? Maybe I'll even try first person ::shudders::

Day 11

Share a book/song/movie/tv show/fanwork/etc that changed your life.

It has to be Castle. Rewind to April 2013 when I'm working my way through my Castle box set. I'm enjoying the show but am especially fond of Ryan and Esposito and after a season or two of binge watching am starting to crave some Ryan and Esposito centric episodes. And, me being me, am wondering if Ryan or Esposito ever get shot or stabbed or something (because I am a hurt/comfort fiend)

Some googling brings up a link which I click on, only to discover a super short but super whump little story about Ryan being shot and Esposito losing it.

And, lo, I discovered fanfic; a full four months before my 30th birthday. I didn't even ship Ryan and Esposito as anything more than friends but my avid link clicking took me to a scorching hot (it'd probably seem incredibly tame to me now) fic where Ryan kind of bosses Esposito about in bed and....damn.

I read dozens and dozens of Resposito fics and then started to look around at what else was out there. I'm a huge Batman fan so I moved into DC, Batman, Teen Titans fic then Star Trek, then Teen Wolf, then Marvel, then....I have never looked back and almost two years later I started to write my own fic.

And I owe it all to Castle.

Ryan and Esposito for the win!