Fanfiction Appreciation Day

Fanfiction has been a cornerstone of my life since I was ten years old.  I have written a few pieces of my own but I have read so many more that have defined important moments in my life.  I have hidden behind fanfiction when I was sad, or lonely, or desperately seeking an outlet for the feelings I could not put into words.

The authors who have put themselves out there have touched me.  They’ve changed me.  They’ve made me a better person.  

And it is so fucking hard to write but they did it anyway.

So I want to take a moment to share my appreciation for the fanfiction writers who give so much of themselves, of their time, and do not receive the recognition they deserve:

You are amazing.  You have worked so hard to create something magical.  And maybe you do not think you’re good enough but I can guarantee that you’ve touched someone too.  

Thank you for making the world a little brighter.

Thank you for sharing your stories.

Fanfiction Appreciation Day

I have been a member of the fanfiction community, in one form or another, for over fifteen years.  I was ten years old when I started reading online under the supervision of my mother.  She had been a fanfiction writer since the nineties.

A lot has changed since I started dipping my toes into the water.

There are more communities, archives, and websites than ever before.  It is more accessible than it used to be.  But, unfortunately, I have noticed that less and less people leave reviews or messages.

And I will be the first to admit that I do not leave as many as I should.

Fanfiction writers are not paid for their time in the conventional sense.  We’re paid in reviews.  Kudos.  Our stories are seldom shared like fanart because it takes time, focus, and dedication to read them.   (And that’s alright, too.  I love fanart.  It’s a different, variable, and beautiful medium.)  I know a lot of people read fanfiction in transit or before falling asleep and they do not always have the time to leave a review.

But…

I set out some rules for myself:  I try and leave a review if it made me laugh, or cry, or reflect.  If it was fifty thousand words and I read every single one of them.  If I read more than one piece by the author.

There are a lot of reasons to leave a review, or kudos, and not a lot of excuses to close the tab and cover your eyes.

Because fanfiction writers can see how many people have read their stories and it is disappointing when they compare those numbers to the amount of reviews.  I will often see one review for every two to three hundred visitors.  If that.

We do not always have the time or the mind space to leave a review but, when we do, we should.  Reviews, and interaction with their communities, is what keeps fanfiction writers posting.

And it keeps the rest of us reading.

So, in the spirit of appreciation, I wanted to tell randomoranges, darkmoonsigel, xxtwistedeverafterxx, blackrosegirl666, shy-germany, and all of the writers who I am forgetting (or who change their usernames every three months) that I am grateful for their contributions to this community.  You have all inspired and encouraged me to continue writing.  You are amazing, talented people.

Thank you for your hard work!

With Thanks and Love

I thank all who have loved me in their hearts With thanks and love from mine.

Deep thanks to all Who paused a little near the prison wall To hear my music in its louder parts.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

                                                                                                                             I wanted to thank everyone who reached out to me today, yesterday, and three years ago.  Your words touched me.  Thank you.

I'll send proper replies tomorrow.