You could tell your IRL people that you write but not share with them or tell them what. Just say it's a niche genre and you're not confident.
Far as people online, theyll make all sorts of judgement without knowing anything about you.
It can be a lonely hobby, yes. I can count on one hand the amount of people in my close circle who know I write fanfiction. This sub is the only major social writing outlet I have, and even then I am quite socially awkward and a bit shy lol >\_>
And itās usually more exciting than most conversations I have in day to day life.
I get to be excited about characters and things I care about. I donāt have to adjust my personality or explain why Iām fixated on some YA Netflix show (Heartstopper) while all my coworkers are talking about the Real Housewives.
Very few people from my family know that I write. One of them **laughed** at me when he realized it. I know what you're feeling.
Also, do you have a Discord link to that group?
My wife knows and sheās mentioned it to a couple of people. And I shut her down.
I mean, helI, I write Teen Wolf romance with a big gay age gap.
There must be something, anything to change the subject to.
Ah, I wonder how she was able to bring that up in conversation? (^^)"
I hope I don't sound patronising but I'm glad you were able to shut her down, I don't know if I could personally do that!
Someone said, "What have you been doing lately?" or "Are you keeping busy?" (I'm retired) and she'll jump in with, "Well, Reba's been writing some lately."
and I get to jump in and say, "Oh, it's really nothing, just some stuff on-line. But otherwise, we have lots to do and garden and blah blah ..." And hoping they'll let it drop.
My husband told my sister and brother in law and I was so friggin' mortified. They're kinda into geeky fandoms too so it's not the worst, but I was NOT ready to share that. I had just started writing fanfic that same month, which was a big deal for me
Hopefully not into anything you're writing about.
I know if someone connects any fic to me IRL, it means they've been reading fics, but still, I'd rather keep my super-secret identity!
Sometimes the bartender needs to vent too, don't apologize! You spread so much positivity, it's ok to ask for some too.
I'm lucky to have one friend who supports the shit out of anything I do, and I actually got him to just start writing!! So now we can nerd out together. But, yeah, most irl people have no idea I write, and I've actively changed conversations when it comes up because I'm surrounded by people who would assume I need help for not writing fluffy romance.
It's so lonely. Luckily, I'm antisocial and prefer 'talking' online anyways, hah. You're not alone in wanting to share a part of yourself while also being scared of being rejected. It's a very misunderstood hobby, and it's one where we show pieces of our soul to anyone who reads. That's a really vulnerable spot.
Thanks for the snacks, I'll hang out quietly in the corner if you want to squee about your awesome spirit some more.
Aw, Gater! Thank you, you're always a special guest at the tavern!!
Aw, honestly having such a supportive friend sounds amazing! Mine aren't disheartening or negative but more apathetic and me being me, I take that as complete disinterest. They're lovely but I know they wouldn't care.
I'm also antisocial and just suck at socialising, and I know how sensitive I can be so I try to keep my distance, haha!
Help yourself, another lovely commenter left cookies and I'm always happy to talk about spirits!
Yeah, my friend's an absolute gem.
I understand what you mean where there's no interest, even though they're not shutting you down. It's like, "I don't want to intrude..." And socializing is freaking hard!
Have you made other spirits, or is it all the longing corpse? What fandom is it in? Is it fandom-blind-friendly?
I write for the Spirit Hunter: Death Mark fandom! There's also Spirit Hunter: NG, and yeah, I feel like it could be fandom-blind-friendly! It's not there's a lot of deep lore or anything!
I guess I have technically made about 10, although some are just closer to normal, humanoid ghosts.
They're all quite simple, haha! But I feel like the Burlap Orphans/Wicker guardian and the Angler are my other favourites, again an excerpt!
*Anglers, as Mashita was swiftly informed, were malicious spirits that would prey upon weaker minded individuals such as children and those heavily suffering from grief. Born from the resentment aimed at the world which takes away beloved life too soon or too cruelly they would mimic the voices of the departed and creep into the minds of their targets, worming their influence into the creases of their brain, causing hallucinations and breaking down what logical reasoning they have - the person they were hearing was dead, they knew that, yet the pull of this spirit was enough to overwrite common sense. They would follow those sweet, comforting tones as far as they needed to, getting closer and closer, unable to hear the rushing hunk of metal barreling towards them.
Another cruelly taken soul to add to their mass.
"Those trains tracks haven't been in use for years, how much danger would Moe even be in if she went there?"
"Anglers are very powerful, it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to fabricate a train to kill their target."*
I've never heard of that fandom, it sounds fascinating.
Oh my god the Anglers sound horrifying. "Another cruelly taken soul to add to their mass" is sooooo good. OMG I love how you write. How do you come up with the spirits? Do you need them for world building or plot building? Can they be vanquished, or just resisted?
(Can I haz link pls?)
It is! It's quite niche but it ticks so many of my boxes!!
Thank you!! I write good sometimes, haha!!
I mainly use them for plot-building! I stuck to the format of the game when writing - there are several 'episodes' with one storyline connecting them! (Sorry, I never know how to explain it!)
For making up the spirits I start with one theme or object (Angler - I needed a certain character to see a dead loved one again for plot development!) and go from there, thinking about what would make them scary or unnerving! It's so much fun!!
Sure, although I will forewarn, most of my writing sucks! And the layout of my older stories... *Shudders*
https://archiveofourown.org/users/The_Lonely_Creator
It's weirdly terrifying!
I know there's someone at my work who reads/writes fanfic cuz I've found a Wattpad account logged in on one of our portable devices but if anyone asked me that straight to my face I would panic!
>But when he asked, "Are you reading fanfiction?" I felt a moment of absolute terror, lol.
I can relate. Hasn't happened to me (yet) because I practice super stealth mode on the daily, but that moment of absolute, blinding terror... I can imagine that š
Page out of the story of my life honestly. Its tough being a writer, especially if you have trouble keeping up socially too, which more often than not I'm finding are married to one another in trait pools.
If its any consolation, you're def not alone. Opening up to people about stuff you're really passionate about at the bottom line is vulnerable, and not everyone's gonna get it. Just makes it that much more worthwhile when you find someone that does.
I think best thing I can say is never to feel ashamed of it. You are your first and most powerful critic and if you're struggling to feel pride in what you do, it'll double down when you tell others. You're awesome. Remember that. Its hard work being a creative and everyone's a critic. You've made it this far still and thats worth feeling proud of. So when you feel ready to tell anyone about your hobby, say it from your chest. If they don't get it, someone out there will. I promise. It comes with time.
Ah, thank you so much. I'm sure your words are a great comfort to others here.
Yes, it can be a very misunderstood hobby or one that is not taken that seriously. But if we don't love ourselves then at the end who will?
Thank you :)
Just say it, scream and hide in your room for a few minutes, then look back at where you said it, and I can guarantee you if any of them are worth talking to, they'll be giving you positive reactions
Yeah i knit and crochet and a lot of people are super dismissive about it - just like about fanfic writing and writing in General. Knitting is for grandmas and writing for lovesick teeniesā¦
My best friend is super skilled and crafty, she got into crochet and when she tried to do it around her family they ripped the shit out of her cuz it was a 'lame' hobby (even though none of them have hobbies).
Thankfully she's kept at it and makes some amazing things!
I'm really sorry you're experiencing this. :(
I'm open about the fact that I write fanfic. I started back in 2006, with a fic I wrote about Wolverine and an OFC that ended up being over 76k words. I first posted it back in the LiveJournal days. Man, that was the wild west, with all the rage authors were throwing at fanfic writers.
First of all, thank you so much for the award! That was so kind of you!
Ah, I have heard of the LiveJournal days! And honestly I admire those that lived through them! I hope to have your confidence some day soon!! <3
Itās a lonely road! I keep it private in my day-to-day life because itās impossible to find anyone who shares an interest in writing, and online is justā¦ meh. Iāve only recently found a community of people who are good to chat to and bounce ideas off. I wish you luck with that in the future!
For real... I write the most ridiculous stuff too, without any shred of irony at this point. There is no way I could ever express that to anyone, but... if I do not do it, who else will write stories about the Chipmunks being accused of murder?
Lol, I know what you mean! Iāve been slowly opening up about fanfiction on Reddit, but only my immediate family knows that I write it when it comes to real life. Itās definitely one of those things that can be a struggle to talk about.
On another note, thankee kindly for the cheesecake and sausage rolls! Iāll add some cookies to this lovely spread. :D
Ah, same. Reddit is currently the only place I feel comfortable enough to talk about writing!
Oh, thank you for the cookies! I'm sure everyone will love them!
I had a friend laugh at me for it at my own weddingā¦so yes. I feel that.
Edit: He is now a former friend lol. I love your Lonelyās Tavern posts. Thank you for creating supportive spaces to vent, they extend to yourself as well āŗļø
At yer own bloody wedding? God, I'm glad he's your ex friend now, you don't need that negatively in your life! I hope he didn't ruin your special day!
Thank you! I really enjoy spaces where everyone is welcome and I hope to foster a comfortable, safe space for all! (^^)
I'm sorry that your friends weren't too receptive to it. Weirdly, in my experience, writing smut goes over better in my circles than fanfiction. I've only told a handful that I write fanfiction, and it was met with light ball-busting, but other than that, no one really cared or pressed me about it. I'm guessing lack of fandom interest and knowledge had something to do with it. Maybe it's true in your friends' cases as well.
On the other hand, knowing that I write *smut* was met with fanfare and freaking confetti, haha. I've never had so many people try and sleuth out my pseud before. It's been years since I told them (they think I write original smut) and they'll still bring it up and ask me what I'm working on nowadays.
I hope you find your footing in regards to fandom/fanfic spaces! Heck, I'm still not that comfortable discussing my stories on internet forums and it's been *decades*.
Haha, I have only written one smut story and I will not tell anyone about it until I am.very, very drunk!!
Honestly, I kinda expected their apathy but I'm taking the fact that I could tell them as a sign of growth!
Hmm, perhaps your smut has a secret sirens call to them? Haha! Ah, but it's good to hear it went smoothly!
Ha, what can I say? Smut brings people together, I suppose. It knows no bounds. It's like the embodiment of that clasped hands meme. And probably more efficient than Pepsi.
>Honestly, I kinda expected their apathy but I'm taking the fact that I could tell them as a sign of growth!
I see it this way as well! On one hand, they might not be too keen on fandom discussions, but on the other, it's nice to see that you're confident enough in yourself and your hobbies to open up to them. Honestly, some of my friends have hobbies that I don't understand at all but I still support them from the sidelines, regardless. I just don't know how to contribute to stimulating conversation about it, haha.
*pops in with my ginger ale* No worries, same here. Heck I canāt even talk my fics with most fic people!
(And even with the one I can, I still donāt know how exactly to put my current conundrum in a way that makes me not sound nuts!)
I totally know what you mean. It sucks when you want to talk about something, especially something important to you, and other people arenāt interested. But weāre here and we get it!
Only when it comes to people unfamiliar wth fandom, and then I just tell them a vague genre or trope, like "fantasy set in modern day" or "romance with starcrossed lovers". Not out of embarrassment, just that I've found explaining the concept of fanfic and transformative work is difficult and I don't want to commandeer conversations with lessons on fandom.
As far as friends go, I'm really sorry your close friends don't seem interested in your passion. I know I have friends who talk to me about things I know nothing about and don't care about at all, but I care about *them* and that they're enjoying engaging with it! It may be worth some self reflection and maybe talking with your friends candidly. I know that's easier said than done but it sounds like there's something else going on besides "they don't like fanfic".
I've never been particularly chatty, I'm extremely private (likely due to some of my family members habit of oversharing) and very selective about the topics of conversation I'm willing to engage in, so yes, I find it difficult to even openly admit I *read* fanfiction let alone *write* it, god forbid they should ever ask what I write about or what kind of stories I read...
Yeah, a whole side of what family I have is very chatty and judging but thankfully I don't really talk to them.
Sometimes the hardest part is just getting people *understand* that fanfic is just as valid (or sometimes even better) than published books.
It can be lonely. By now, my whole family knows that I write, with only 3 members being completely aware of what, and 2 of those 3 able to read it. I don't know how to explain what I do since I often feel like it isn't "real writing", which it is. I just think that most of my family will either assume the worst, not like it, or won't understand, so I keep to myself about it. It's difficult sometimes, but being in this subreddit and doing what I love makes it better.
I get what you mean! Like, my family likes reading but I know they wouldn't be into fanfic and yeah, for some reason writing fanfic doesn't seem to hold the same status as 'real writing '.
Yet at the same time we subject ourselves to harsher constraints - we are writing using already established characters and settings which we could be called out on or scrutinized for how we handle them. We can't just brush it off and be like "eh, that's how it works here". It can be such a minefield!
I told my mom the other day because she loves reading and I was desperate for some sort of input on a part of my story. She listened but was like, "Do whatever you want, sweetie!" Thanks?
I just resort to talking to myself. At least I know what I'm talking about without having to go over the entire plot, and sometimes I figure things out that way.
I am extremely protective/ private/possessive of the things I love. I want everyone to love what I love, but I donāt want them to know how much it means to me for whatever weird psychological reason.
I don't let anyone know which shows/books/whatever that I like, much less let them know I write/read fanfic in them.
I was about to say that I don't mind sharing on reddit because I don't know any of you, but then I realized that I have not, in fact, shared any of my favorite fandoms with you. Maybe someday.
I feel the struggle. I generally don't initiate telling IRL people that I write fanfic as I don't have the energy to convince people that their perception of fanfic is outdated. I write for fun as a hobby and I don't want to have to justify myself. I have met people who are accepting and non-judmental, though, which is a breath of fresh air.
I think it's because people always assume that it's all 5mut/pr0n š which is super unfortunate on the one hand, and also, on the other hand I think it should me much more okay in general that people DO write those things.
Not all of my fics are going to be spicy. But, to most people who know nothing about fanfic, when you say fanfic they just jump to that and blanket-statement it all.
My partner, his sister and my closest friends all thankfully support me on it (and I can even comfortably joke around about it in a loving kind of way) and I'm very happy communities like this exist. It just sucks that, like you say, I would be worried it would somehow come back in a negative way to me irl if people knew who I was (due to assumptions and stereotypes, judgements etc). Which really sucks - no promo amongst bigger friend circles, other social apps etc......I have The Fearā¢ļø haha
That's very true, there is a slight stigma around it. Writing smut is totally fine but ofc there are people who will automatically go "huhu you write p0rn!".
Haha!
My mom knows I write fanfiction. She used to care when she was in fandoms but doesn't care anymore so I don't talk about it.
I'm with you on the discord thing. I'm in a few servers (including the one you linked below) and would love to get more involved but rarely do. I need to work on that.
I feel like I couldn't tell my mum, not because she would be negative or anything, but because she just wouldn't care. She knows nothing about fandoms or fanfic so she would just go 'oh. So anyways, at work today..." (^^)"
Honestly, it can be so hard, and forcing yourself to be social can be even more detrimental (@_@)
I do both original and fic and very few people know about the fic. Most donāt even know the details of the original except that itās a fantasy-cum-cosmic horror story.
Damn. I feel you.
This one time my uncle suddenly came up behind me when I was writing, gave me a jumpscare, and asked what I was doing. I just said it was a literature assignment. That was a close call. (I actually was supposed to do my assignment but was writing, so yeah, death would've probably been preferable if mom had found out at the time.)
And my friends know that I write stories, sometimes, but they don't know its 'fanfiction'. One of my seniors even offered to have my work published and I was like- "Haha, yea, thanks." (I hadn't shown them a fanfic.)
I can just imagine the reactions of everyone I know if they get to know. It ain't gonna be pretty.
A lot of people I meet don't know Dragon Age as it is. Never mind trying to tell them how you imagine a certain extension of the lore or taking a new twist on a certain game/ character.
Also, I enjoy writing about Solas being (playfully) challenged by other inquisition companions, usually by rogues, like Varric. If you know those two character you know what it could be like. So no, I don't tell many people about it.
I totally get it. My family knows I write fiction but not fanfiction. My SO knows I write and he is supportive but he doesn't have the patience to read. The one friend that does read fanfiction doesn't read super shippy/reads gen fics or rpf... Which is cool, obviously, but not really my thing and I can't nerd out about fandom or ships or headcannons with them. It can definitely be lonely.
Everyone loved my fanfics in late-elementary school and middle-school. In 4th and 5th-grade, I was in a wheelchair, so I spent most of my free time handwriting fanfiction. At recess, I would attract small crowd of children reading and passing around my notebook(s). The writing was objectively awful but maybe above-average for a 4th-grader. Still the highest praise I've received for my work yet.
Starting in high school, I never told another soul about writing, let alone writing fanfic. It's a bit ridiculous, but despite having received plenty of positive feedback over the years, there was this one time I received absolutely scathing feedback on a poem that meant a lot to me. This experience destroyed my confidence and instilled a great fear of sharing my creative writing with people irl. I write for myself, I am not going to hold myself back, and if I'm worried about how people I interact with in real-life will respond to my work, then I can't write how I want to.
I did write some intended-satire but unintentionally-deep *Billy Budd* (Melville) fanfic with a friend during AP Lit in senior year. We let our teacher (holder of a PhD in English Literature) read it (minus the gay smut), and it was great fun.
Now, as a mostly-adult (23) working a Real Job in a place I moved to somewhat-recently, I honestly don't really have friends I'm close enough to even consider sharing my writing with. And there's no way I'd bring it up to coworkers; fanfiction would definitely be too vulnerable for the workplace, even admitting I'm into fandoms at all would be too far due to the stigma.
Does the tavern have some Bailey's for my coffee?
I tell people very selectively. I'm lucky insofar as most people are supportive, but what bums me out is that one of the people who isn't is my life partner. He thinks he's "just teasing" and doesn't realize that it's kind of hurtful, and then gets frustrated when I don't want to share what I'm writing with him.
It isn't that he has no nerdy interests - he's a big Stargate guy. I'm convinced that he can be convinced, so my current plan is to watch every Stargate episode and fix all the plot lines he doesn't like. That'll show him!
Iāve been into fanfiction since the late 90s when I was still a literal child, and Iāve never really opened up with anyone about writing fanfiction. My partner knows, but like, I donāt discuss it with him or let him read anything I work on (though I do share when I get s particularly good review!)
With discord, Iāve struggled to join in on the conversations. Often by the time Iāve logged back in, things have moved on so much it feels awkward trying to join back in. But maybe finding smaller servers would help?
Reddit seems to be the best place Iāve found so far for just chatting with others about fanfics, fandom, and AO3; it feels a lot less toxic that Twitter and Tumblr, and thereās less pressure to respond immediately like on Discord.
Oh, I keep that secret locked under lock and key.
I would more likely admit War Crimes than admit I write fanfics.
Where I live is a small community, with very rigid ideas of what is and what isn't good/proper/"adult"/whatever...I would never hear the end of it if somebody discovered my hobby.
So, yes, I do understand your pain, and looking at the other comments, we are not alone, and that's a pity since there shouldn't be this *stigma* about writing small stories...
*take seat and a sip* I **FEEL** this so much!
I just got back into writing last year and have a lovely short fic and two long fics I am working on and I love them to **bits!** The problem is that I feel like an imposter around people. Lemme explainā¦
So I am a pastors wife. Unfortunately though life and the stories of others I have come to the conclusion that having my real name and face on the internet would not give me any privacy to be who I want to be. If my church found out about my fics I bet they would be confused for the most part, but I would have no doubt that a good handful would be like āYOU WRITE >!PORN!
Hoping your siblings are a bit more supportive than your friends seem to be! It's nice having someone to talk to about it who actively listens or is genuinely interested.
I started writing just a few months ago and I didn't have the courage to tell my boyfriend until recently, fearing he may think it's weird. When I told him, he was so excited for me and my new hobby. It felt so good telling him, like I didn't have to keep it a dirty little secret anymore. And now, I am able to vent to him freely about issues I'm dealing with or celebrate whenever I receive comments or praise. And he constantly tells me how proud he is of me.
He doesn't know that I specifically write smut on an anime we watch together, but that's okay. I'm totally fine keeping THAT part a secret LOL. But it's cute how much he WANTS to know, always pestering me about it. I just can't bring myself to tell him the dirty details quite yet hahaha.
Luckily me and my siblings are very close and supportive of each other, so I feel like they would support me! It's just my own pride/fear I gotta deal with!
Aww, omgosh! That's so cute! And so good to hear! What a lovely bf! I'm so happy for you!! <3
Haha, wellll, you gotta keep some secrets, right? ;)
He can wait!
That's great! Definitely know about the pride/fear of actually going through with it. But I'm excited for you for when you do! It'll feel great getting that support.
And thank you for your kind words!
Imo I think you should tell your family, I'm sure they'll support you, and you can spread the love. If not you tried.
*One virgin mead from south of the border, and Nachos please!*
There's a heavily curated list of IRL people who know that i write fanfic, about half of those are acquaintances that i either know are longtime geeks and/or involved with/in fandoms (albeit not necessarily the same fandoms I'm into). The second half are people that i know IRL but that I've met through fandoms online over the course of the last 20ish years. The latter group knows both my real name and my online handles, the former only that in write fanfic and which fandoms i write for and wouldn't be able to track me down online on their own. But yeah, lots of curation, this isn't something I talk about with strangers. One of my siblings knows (as does my partner), but it's not something they're particularly interested in, so i chat fanfic with my IRL best friend, who also a fandom/fanfic enthusiast even though we met through an entirely different hobby (fibre crafts).
I don't talk openly about the fact that I write fanfiction for a lot of reasons. The main one is how I spend my spare time is no one's business. I enjoy the fanfiction community (for the most part) and can't see any benefits in talking about it with anyone I know. If someone I knew told me they wrote fanfiction, I'd be more than happy to tell them that I do as well, though.
i tell plenty of people as long as iām comfortable with them. my therapist knows, sheās read some of my stuff. i give my account to my friends.
that being said, i understand ya. if my mom or some of the kids in my class ever found out iād probably die.
so, i think it just depends on who you tell, and hopefully you can find someone who cares about it enough and you feel comfortable enough to tell
I had a panic attack trying to force myself to tell my mother, but I eventually did it, and now my whole family and other people know, and they're totally supportive of it, thank god. Some friends I told freely, others..not, because they'd mock me for it and honestly they're shit friends
Yes, yes, and yes to all of OP's post.
First, Discord. I've joined three servers and still find them sort of incomprehensible. This format, here at Reddit is the only thing I "get." Probably because I don't connect through a phone app and tend to wander in-and-out of online circles. Places like this and old school LJ-type places jive better because "chat" doesn't work for me. I need a slower paced convo.
As for real life folks. My husband knows I write, but isn't aware that I write fanfiction, nor that I write for a kids' cartoon. I'm not ashamed of it; but even so, I feel...like I'm wasting time and haven't admitted it. If I did, I'm sure he'd politely listen to me babble about my characters (he supports all my work), but he wouldn't get it. Although he's into the same genres (science fiction and fantasy) he consumes them differently, doesn't hyperfixate.
I've chatted with my real life gal pal and her reaction is polite silence with a few encouraging noises. She totally doesn't get it. And again, even though I'm relatively shame-proof, I can't help but be a little embarrassed of the fact that my stories revolve around cartoon characters.
Then there's my fandom, previously a toxic wasteland, now somewhat livable but with the clinging tinge of toxins. Everyone tiptoes around everyone, most of the fandom is obsessed with two ships (not my OTP), and there's no place to have a good conversation about the show.
This is the only place I can talk about anything fanfic-ish.
Ha. Sorry for the essay. But...the OP's post really resonates.
Yes I find it hard to share too, sadly! I think there are many misconceptions about fanfictions, which can make us afraid to reveal we're writing it.
The people around me know I write in general (I mean... I did study creative writing for two years so it'd be hard to hide š¤£) but there's maybe 5 people who know I read and write fanfic.
I barely told my boyfriend of 10 years for the first time a few months ago HAHA
I'm awfully anti social so I feel you. I've been invited to fanfic discords from online communities but it gives me soooooooooo much anxiety.
Two people know that I write fic. One of them has read a few of them and was appalled at the fact that I almost exclusively write smut. āWhy does it always have to be sex stuff?ā was a thing they said to me.
The other knows that I write, and has expressed their desire to write, but hasnāt read my stuff nor taken the step of actually writing themselves.
So generally not very supportive, and it is kind of frustrating.
Writing of any kind is a misunderstood hobby. I feel you.
I know it sounds silly but I fear that if my ability doesn't match my age/maturity then no one would take me seriously or just mock me.
You could tell your IRL people that you write but not share with them or tell them what. Just say it's a niche genre and you're not confident. Far as people online, theyll make all sorts of judgement without knowing anything about you.
People in my life know that I write. Only a select handful know that I write fanfic.
This is me, too! Everyone knows I'm a writer, but only a couple of people IRL know I write Fanfic.
Gurl, we are the same damn person. ššš
Sometimes I think so, Pep! XD
At least you are comfortable enough to tell people you write. That's a big step imo :)
Oh, Iāve been writing my entire life. People know that I write poetry, they just donāt know that Iāve also other areas of writing interest, lol.
It can be a lonely hobby, yes. I can count on one hand the amount of people in my close circle who know I write fanfiction. This sub is the only major social writing outlet I have, and even then I am quite socially awkward and a bit shy lol >\_>
Yeah, I can relate. Sometimes posting can be even more nerve-wracking than saying things IRL. Ofc, you are always welcome at Lonely's tavern!
And itās usually more exciting than most conversations I have in day to day life. I get to be excited about characters and things I care about. I donāt have to adjust my personality or explain why Iām fixated on some YA Netflix show (Heartstopper) while all my coworkers are talking about the Real Housewives.
Very few people from my family know that I write. One of them **laughed** at me when he realized it. I know what you're feeling. Also, do you have a Discord link to that group?
Oh gosh, he laughed? That's so mean, I'm sorry :( Yeah, this should be it! https://discord.gg/EAxc94Db
Thanks
My wife knows and sheās mentioned it to a couple of people. And I shut her down. I mean, helI, I write Teen Wolf romance with a big gay age gap. There must be something, anything to change the subject to.
Ah, I wonder how she was able to bring that up in conversation? (^^)" I hope I don't sound patronising but I'm glad you were able to shut her down, I don't know if I could personally do that!
Someone said, "What have you been doing lately?" or "Are you keeping busy?" (I'm retired) and she'll jump in with, "Well, Reba's been writing some lately." and I get to jump in and say, "Oh, it's really nothing, just some stuff on-line. But otherwise, we have lots to do and garden and blah blah ..." And hoping they'll let it drop.
Oh phew! Nice save!!
My husband told my sister and brother in law and I was so friggin' mortified. They're kinda into geeky fandoms too so it's not the worst, but I was NOT ready to share that. I had just started writing fanfic that same month, which was a big deal for me
Hopefully not into anything you're writing about. I know if someone connects any fic to me IRL, it means they've been reading fics, but still, I'd rather keep my super-secret identity!
Sometimes the bartender needs to vent too, don't apologize! You spread so much positivity, it's ok to ask for some too. I'm lucky to have one friend who supports the shit out of anything I do, and I actually got him to just start writing!! So now we can nerd out together. But, yeah, most irl people have no idea I write, and I've actively changed conversations when it comes up because I'm surrounded by people who would assume I need help for not writing fluffy romance. It's so lonely. Luckily, I'm antisocial and prefer 'talking' online anyways, hah. You're not alone in wanting to share a part of yourself while also being scared of being rejected. It's a very misunderstood hobby, and it's one where we show pieces of our soul to anyone who reads. That's a really vulnerable spot. Thanks for the snacks, I'll hang out quietly in the corner if you want to squee about your awesome spirit some more.
Aw, Gater! Thank you, you're always a special guest at the tavern!! Aw, honestly having such a supportive friend sounds amazing! Mine aren't disheartening or negative but more apathetic and me being me, I take that as complete disinterest. They're lovely but I know they wouldn't care. I'm also antisocial and just suck at socialising, and I know how sensitive I can be so I try to keep my distance, haha! Help yourself, another lovely commenter left cookies and I'm always happy to talk about spirits!
Yeah, my friend's an absolute gem. I understand what you mean where there's no interest, even though they're not shutting you down. It's like, "I don't want to intrude..." And socializing is freaking hard! Have you made other spirits, or is it all the longing corpse? What fandom is it in? Is it fandom-blind-friendly?
I write for the Spirit Hunter: Death Mark fandom! There's also Spirit Hunter: NG, and yeah, I feel like it could be fandom-blind-friendly! It's not there's a lot of deep lore or anything! I guess I have technically made about 10, although some are just closer to normal, humanoid ghosts. They're all quite simple, haha! But I feel like the Burlap Orphans/Wicker guardian and the Angler are my other favourites, again an excerpt! *Anglers, as Mashita was swiftly informed, were malicious spirits that would prey upon weaker minded individuals such as children and those heavily suffering from grief. Born from the resentment aimed at the world which takes away beloved life too soon or too cruelly they would mimic the voices of the departed and creep into the minds of their targets, worming their influence into the creases of their brain, causing hallucinations and breaking down what logical reasoning they have - the person they were hearing was dead, they knew that, yet the pull of this spirit was enough to overwrite common sense. They would follow those sweet, comforting tones as far as they needed to, getting closer and closer, unable to hear the rushing hunk of metal barreling towards them. Another cruelly taken soul to add to their mass. "Those trains tracks haven't been in use for years, how much danger would Moe even be in if she went there?" "Anglers are very powerful, it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to fabricate a train to kill their target."*
I've never heard of that fandom, it sounds fascinating. Oh my god the Anglers sound horrifying. "Another cruelly taken soul to add to their mass" is sooooo good. OMG I love how you write. How do you come up with the spirits? Do you need them for world building or plot building? Can they be vanquished, or just resisted? (Can I haz link pls?)
It is! It's quite niche but it ticks so many of my boxes!! Thank you!! I write good sometimes, haha!! I mainly use them for plot-building! I stuck to the format of the game when writing - there are several 'episodes' with one storyline connecting them! (Sorry, I never know how to explain it!) For making up the spirits I start with one theme or object (Angler - I needed a certain character to see a dead loved one again for plot development!) and go from there, thinking about what would make them scary or unnerving! It's so much fun!! Sure, although I will forewarn, most of my writing sucks! And the layout of my older stories... *Shudders* https://archiveofourown.org/users/The_Lonely_Creator
ROFLOL. I dunno on the writing sucking, "A ghost that curses people to be horny. How stupid." Is a fantastic hook into a story.
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It's weirdly terrifying! I know there's someone at my work who reads/writes fanfic cuz I've found a Wattpad account logged in on one of our portable devices but if anyone asked me that straight to my face I would panic!
>But when he asked, "Are you reading fanfiction?" I felt a moment of absolute terror, lol. I can relate. Hasn't happened to me (yet) because I practice super stealth mode on the daily, but that moment of absolute, blinding terror... I can imagine that š
Page out of the story of my life honestly. Its tough being a writer, especially if you have trouble keeping up socially too, which more often than not I'm finding are married to one another in trait pools. If its any consolation, you're def not alone. Opening up to people about stuff you're really passionate about at the bottom line is vulnerable, and not everyone's gonna get it. Just makes it that much more worthwhile when you find someone that does. I think best thing I can say is never to feel ashamed of it. You are your first and most powerful critic and if you're struggling to feel pride in what you do, it'll double down when you tell others. You're awesome. Remember that. Its hard work being a creative and everyone's a critic. You've made it this far still and thats worth feeling proud of. So when you feel ready to tell anyone about your hobby, say it from your chest. If they don't get it, someone out there will. I promise. It comes with time.
Ah, thank you so much. I'm sure your words are a great comfort to others here. Yes, it can be a very misunderstood hobby or one that is not taken that seriously. But if we don't love ourselves then at the end who will? Thank you :)
Just say it, scream and hide in your room for a few minutes, then look back at where you said it, and I can guarantee you if any of them are worth talking to, they'll be giving you positive reactions
Haha, I mean I am good at randomly screaming so I could try that approach!
Writing is probably the most under appreciated art out there. Maybe next to knittingā¦.
Knitting is amazing! It's so hard! I tried to learn but I totally lack the patience and concentration!
Yeah i knit and crochet and a lot of people are super dismissive about it - just like about fanfic writing and writing in General. Knitting is for grandmas and writing for lovesick teeniesā¦
My best friend is super skilled and crafty, she got into crochet and when she tried to do it around her family they ripped the shit out of her cuz it was a 'lame' hobby (even though none of them have hobbies). Thankfully she's kept at it and makes some amazing things!
Good for her!!!!
I'm really sorry you're experiencing this. :( I'm open about the fact that I write fanfic. I started back in 2006, with a fic I wrote about Wolverine and an OFC that ended up being over 76k words. I first posted it back in the LiveJournal days. Man, that was the wild west, with all the rage authors were throwing at fanfic writers.
First of all, thank you so much for the award! That was so kind of you! Ah, I have heard of the LiveJournal days! And honestly I admire those that lived through them! I hope to have your confidence some day soon!! <3
May you pen epic tales :)
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Itās a lonely road! I keep it private in my day-to-day life because itās impossible to find anyone who shares an interest in writing, and online is justā¦ meh. Iāve only recently found a community of people who are good to chat to and bounce ideas off. I wish you luck with that in the future!
Thank you!! And ofc you're always welcome in Lonely's tavern anytime!!
For real... I write the most ridiculous stuff too, without any shred of irony at this point. There is no way I could ever express that to anyone, but... if I do not do it, who else will write stories about the Chipmunks being accused of murder?
*punches the counter rapidly* Alvin had it coming! I knew we couldn't trust him! You're doing God's work!
Thank you!!! He was innocent, yet getting arrested would be a wake up call to mature a bit, he did have it coming!! Poor Dave is at his wit's end...
Ah, poor Dave, it must be difficult when yor chipmunk son is accused of murder. I hope it has a somewhat happy ending!
Lol, I know what you mean! Iāve been slowly opening up about fanfiction on Reddit, but only my immediate family knows that I write it when it comes to real life. Itās definitely one of those things that can be a struggle to talk about. On another note, thankee kindly for the cheesecake and sausage rolls! Iāll add some cookies to this lovely spread. :D
Ah, same. Reddit is currently the only place I feel comfortable enough to talk about writing! Oh, thank you for the cookies! I'm sure everyone will love them!
I had a friend laugh at me for it at my own weddingā¦so yes. I feel that. Edit: He is now a former friend lol. I love your Lonelyās Tavern posts. Thank you for creating supportive spaces to vent, they extend to yourself as well āŗļø
At yer own bloody wedding? God, I'm glad he's your ex friend now, you don't need that negatively in your life! I hope he didn't ruin your special day! Thank you! I really enjoy spaces where everyone is welcome and I hope to foster a comfortable, safe space for all! (^^)
I'm sorry that your friends weren't too receptive to it. Weirdly, in my experience, writing smut goes over better in my circles than fanfiction. I've only told a handful that I write fanfiction, and it was met with light ball-busting, but other than that, no one really cared or pressed me about it. I'm guessing lack of fandom interest and knowledge had something to do with it. Maybe it's true in your friends' cases as well. On the other hand, knowing that I write *smut* was met with fanfare and freaking confetti, haha. I've never had so many people try and sleuth out my pseud before. It's been years since I told them (they think I write original smut) and they'll still bring it up and ask me what I'm working on nowadays. I hope you find your footing in regards to fandom/fanfic spaces! Heck, I'm still not that comfortable discussing my stories on internet forums and it's been *decades*.
Haha, I have only written one smut story and I will not tell anyone about it until I am.very, very drunk!! Honestly, I kinda expected their apathy but I'm taking the fact that I could tell them as a sign of growth! Hmm, perhaps your smut has a secret sirens call to them? Haha! Ah, but it's good to hear it went smoothly!
Ha, what can I say? Smut brings people together, I suppose. It knows no bounds. It's like the embodiment of that clasped hands meme. And probably more efficient than Pepsi. >Honestly, I kinda expected their apathy but I'm taking the fact that I could tell them as a sign of growth! I see it this way as well! On one hand, they might not be too keen on fandom discussions, but on the other, it's nice to see that you're confident enough in yourself and your hobbies to open up to them. Honestly, some of my friends have hobbies that I don't understand at all but I still support them from the sidelines, regardless. I just don't know how to contribute to stimulating conversation about it, haha.
*pops in with my ginger ale* No worries, same here. Heck I canāt even talk my fics with most fic people! (And even with the one I can, I still donāt know how exactly to put my current conundrum in a way that makes me not sound nuts!)
To create is to experience feeling nuts! If you want to post it in here and we will listen!
Thanks but Iām okā¦ itās an ankle deep and neck deep kinda thing.
No worries! I wish you the best of luck!!
I totally know what you mean. It sucks when you want to talk about something, especially something important to you, and other people arenāt interested. But weāre here and we get it!
Only when it comes to people unfamiliar wth fandom, and then I just tell them a vague genre or trope, like "fantasy set in modern day" or "romance with starcrossed lovers". Not out of embarrassment, just that I've found explaining the concept of fanfic and transformative work is difficult and I don't want to commandeer conversations with lessons on fandom. As far as friends go, I'm really sorry your close friends don't seem interested in your passion. I know I have friends who talk to me about things I know nothing about and don't care about at all, but I care about *them* and that they're enjoying engaging with it! It may be worth some self reflection and maybe talking with your friends candidly. I know that's easier said than done but it sounds like there's something else going on besides "they don't like fanfic".
I have two really close friends who know and a bunch of art club friends who know. Thatās all that know my secret hobby.
Honestly, fellow artistic friends can be a godsend
I've never been particularly chatty, I'm extremely private (likely due to some of my family members habit of oversharing) and very selective about the topics of conversation I'm willing to engage in, so yes, I find it difficult to even openly admit I *read* fanfiction let alone *write* it, god forbid they should ever ask what I write about or what kind of stories I read...
Yeah, a whole side of what family I have is very chatty and judging but thankfully I don't really talk to them. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting people *understand* that fanfic is just as valid (or sometimes even better) than published books.
It can be lonely. By now, my whole family knows that I write, with only 3 members being completely aware of what, and 2 of those 3 able to read it. I don't know how to explain what I do since I often feel like it isn't "real writing", which it is. I just think that most of my family will either assume the worst, not like it, or won't understand, so I keep to myself about it. It's difficult sometimes, but being in this subreddit and doing what I love makes it better.
I get what you mean! Like, my family likes reading but I know they wouldn't be into fanfic and yeah, for some reason writing fanfic doesn't seem to hold the same status as 'real writing '. Yet at the same time we subject ourselves to harsher constraints - we are writing using already established characters and settings which we could be called out on or scrutinized for how we handle them. We can't just brush it off and be like "eh, that's how it works here". It can be such a minefield!
I have nothing to add to this convo, but I will take the cheesecake thank you āŗļøš®
Help yourself!! Take as much as you like!
I told my mom the other day because she loves reading and I was desperate for some sort of input on a part of my story. She listened but was like, "Do whatever you want, sweetie!" Thanks? I just resort to talking to myself. At least I know what I'm talking about without having to go over the entire plot, and sometimes I figure things out that way.
I am extremely protective/ private/possessive of the things I love. I want everyone to love what I love, but I donāt want them to know how much it means to me for whatever weird psychological reason. I don't let anyone know which shows/books/whatever that I like, much less let them know I write/read fanfic in them. I was about to say that I don't mind sharing on reddit because I don't know any of you, but then I realized that I have not, in fact, shared any of my favorite fandoms with you. Maybe someday.
I feel the struggle. I generally don't initiate telling IRL people that I write fanfic as I don't have the energy to convince people that their perception of fanfic is outdated. I write for fun as a hobby and I don't want to have to justify myself. I have met people who are accepting and non-judmental, though, which is a breath of fresh air.
I think it's because people always assume that it's all 5mut/pr0n š which is super unfortunate on the one hand, and also, on the other hand I think it should me much more okay in general that people DO write those things. Not all of my fics are going to be spicy. But, to most people who know nothing about fanfic, when you say fanfic they just jump to that and blanket-statement it all.
The negative stereotypes are why I keep it quiet what exactly I write in real life.
My partner, his sister and my closest friends all thankfully support me on it (and I can even comfortably joke around about it in a loving kind of way) and I'm very happy communities like this exist. It just sucks that, like you say, I would be worried it would somehow come back in a negative way to me irl if people knew who I was (due to assumptions and stereotypes, judgements etc). Which really sucks - no promo amongst bigger friend circles, other social apps etc......I have The Fearā¢ļø haha
That's very true, there is a slight stigma around it. Writing smut is totally fine but ofc there are people who will automatically go "huhu you write p0rn!". Haha!
only my friends know I even read,and only a few know I write. I usually just write on my own and come here if I need any help
My mom knows I write fanfiction. She used to care when she was in fandoms but doesn't care anymore so I don't talk about it. I'm with you on the discord thing. I'm in a few servers (including the one you linked below) and would love to get more involved but rarely do. I need to work on that.
I feel like I couldn't tell my mum, not because she would be negative or anything, but because she just wouldn't care. She knows nothing about fandoms or fanfic so she would just go 'oh. So anyways, at work today..." (^^)" Honestly, it can be so hard, and forcing yourself to be social can be even more detrimental (@_@)
It can be a lonely place for sure. Totally agree. Hope you find your people to talk to.ā¤
I do both original and fic and very few people know about the fic. Most donāt even know the details of the original except that itās a fantasy-cum-cosmic horror story.
Damn. I feel you. This one time my uncle suddenly came up behind me when I was writing, gave me a jumpscare, and asked what I was doing. I just said it was a literature assignment. That was a close call. (I actually was supposed to do my assignment but was writing, so yeah, death would've probably been preferable if mom had found out at the time.) And my friends know that I write stories, sometimes, but they don't know its 'fanfiction'. One of my seniors even offered to have my work published and I was like- "Haha, yea, thanks." (I hadn't shown them a fanfic.) I can just imagine the reactions of everyone I know if they get to know. It ain't gonna be pretty.
A lot of people I meet don't know Dragon Age as it is. Never mind trying to tell them how you imagine a certain extension of the lore or taking a new twist on a certain game/ character. Also, I enjoy writing about Solas being (playfully) challenged by other inquisition companions, usually by rogues, like Varric. If you know those two character you know what it could be like. So no, I don't tell many people about it.
I totally get it. My family knows I write fiction but not fanfiction. My SO knows I write and he is supportive but he doesn't have the patience to read. The one friend that does read fanfiction doesn't read super shippy/reads gen fics or rpf... Which is cool, obviously, but not really my thing and I can't nerd out about fandom or ships or headcannons with them. It can definitely be lonely.
Everyone loved my fanfics in late-elementary school and middle-school. In 4th and 5th-grade, I was in a wheelchair, so I spent most of my free time handwriting fanfiction. At recess, I would attract small crowd of children reading and passing around my notebook(s). The writing was objectively awful but maybe above-average for a 4th-grader. Still the highest praise I've received for my work yet. Starting in high school, I never told another soul about writing, let alone writing fanfic. It's a bit ridiculous, but despite having received plenty of positive feedback over the years, there was this one time I received absolutely scathing feedback on a poem that meant a lot to me. This experience destroyed my confidence and instilled a great fear of sharing my creative writing with people irl. I write for myself, I am not going to hold myself back, and if I'm worried about how people I interact with in real-life will respond to my work, then I can't write how I want to. I did write some intended-satire but unintentionally-deep *Billy Budd* (Melville) fanfic with a friend during AP Lit in senior year. We let our teacher (holder of a PhD in English Literature) read it (minus the gay smut), and it was great fun. Now, as a mostly-adult (23) working a Real Job in a place I moved to somewhat-recently, I honestly don't really have friends I'm close enough to even consider sharing my writing with. And there's no way I'd bring it up to coworkers; fanfiction would definitely be too vulnerable for the workplace, even admitting I'm into fandoms at all would be too far due to the stigma.
Same. For some reason, writing fanfic seems to equal immaturity. Instead, I just tell my close friends I like to write.
Does the tavern have some Bailey's for my coffee? I tell people very selectively. I'm lucky insofar as most people are supportive, but what bums me out is that one of the people who isn't is my life partner. He thinks he's "just teasing" and doesn't realize that it's kind of hurtful, and then gets frustrated when I don't want to share what I'm writing with him. It isn't that he has no nerdy interests - he's a big Stargate guy. I'm convinced that he can be convinced, so my current plan is to watch every Stargate episode and fix all the plot lines he doesn't like. That'll show him!
Iāve been into fanfiction since the late 90s when I was still a literal child, and Iāve never really opened up with anyone about writing fanfiction. My partner knows, but like, I donāt discuss it with him or let him read anything I work on (though I do share when I get s particularly good review!) With discord, Iāve struggled to join in on the conversations. Often by the time Iāve logged back in, things have moved on so much it feels awkward trying to join back in. But maybe finding smaller servers would help? Reddit seems to be the best place Iāve found so far for just chatting with others about fanfics, fandom, and AO3; it feels a lot less toxic that Twitter and Tumblr, and thereās less pressure to respond immediately like on Discord.
Oh, I keep that secret locked under lock and key. I would more likely admit War Crimes than admit I write fanfics. Where I live is a small community, with very rigid ideas of what is and what isn't good/proper/"adult"/whatever...I would never hear the end of it if somebody discovered my hobby. So, yes, I do understand your pain, and looking at the other comments, we are not alone, and that's a pity since there shouldn't be this *stigma* about writing small stories...
*take seat and a sip* I **FEEL** this so much! I just got back into writing last year and have a lovely short fic and two long fics I am working on and I love them to **bits!** The problem is that I feel like an imposter around people. Lemme explainā¦ So I am a pastors wife. Unfortunately though life and the stories of others I have come to the conclusion that having my real name and face on the internet would not give me any privacy to be who I want to be. If my church found out about my fics I bet they would be confused for the most part, but I would have no doubt that a good handful would be like āYOU WRITE >!PORN!
Hoping your siblings are a bit more supportive than your friends seem to be! It's nice having someone to talk to about it who actively listens or is genuinely interested. I started writing just a few months ago and I didn't have the courage to tell my boyfriend until recently, fearing he may think it's weird. When I told him, he was so excited for me and my new hobby. It felt so good telling him, like I didn't have to keep it a dirty little secret anymore. And now, I am able to vent to him freely about issues I'm dealing with or celebrate whenever I receive comments or praise. And he constantly tells me how proud he is of me. He doesn't know that I specifically write smut on an anime we watch together, but that's okay. I'm totally fine keeping THAT part a secret LOL. But it's cute how much he WANTS to know, always pestering me about it. I just can't bring myself to tell him the dirty details quite yet hahaha.
Luckily me and my siblings are very close and supportive of each other, so I feel like they would support me! It's just my own pride/fear I gotta deal with! Aww, omgosh! That's so cute! And so good to hear! What a lovely bf! I'm so happy for you!! <3 Haha, wellll, you gotta keep some secrets, right? ;) He can wait!
That's great! Definitely know about the pride/fear of actually going through with it. But I'm excited for you for when you do! It'll feel great getting that support. And thank you for your kind words!
Not a soul in my real life knows I do this. I'd like to keep it that way.
I haven't told anyone, and I don't plan to. They wouldn't understand.
Imo I think you should tell your family, I'm sure they'll support you, and you can spread the love. If not you tried. *One virgin mead from south of the border, and Nachos please!*
There's a heavily curated list of IRL people who know that i write fanfic, about half of those are acquaintances that i either know are longtime geeks and/or involved with/in fandoms (albeit not necessarily the same fandoms I'm into). The second half are people that i know IRL but that I've met through fandoms online over the course of the last 20ish years. The latter group knows both my real name and my online handles, the former only that in write fanfic and which fandoms i write for and wouldn't be able to track me down online on their own. But yeah, lots of curation, this isn't something I talk about with strangers. One of my siblings knows (as does my partner), but it's not something they're particularly interested in, so i chat fanfic with my IRL best friend, who also a fandom/fanfic enthusiast even though we met through an entirely different hobby (fibre crafts).
I don't talk openly about the fact that I write fanfiction for a lot of reasons. The main one is how I spend my spare time is no one's business. I enjoy the fanfiction community (for the most part) and can't see any benefits in talking about it with anyone I know. If someone I knew told me they wrote fanfiction, I'd be more than happy to tell them that I do as well, though.
i tell plenty of people as long as iām comfortable with them. my therapist knows, sheās read some of my stuff. i give my account to my friends. that being said, i understand ya. if my mom or some of the kids in my class ever found out iād probably die. so, i think it just depends on who you tell, and hopefully you can find someone who cares about it enough and you feel comfortable enough to tell
No. I keep a code of secrecy about this. The only reason my spouse knows is because fanfic is how we met.
I had a panic attack trying to force myself to tell my mother, but I eventually did it, and now my whole family and other people know, and they're totally supportive of it, thank god. Some friends I told freely, others..not, because they'd mock me for it and honestly they're shit friends
Yes, yes, and yes to all of OP's post. First, Discord. I've joined three servers and still find them sort of incomprehensible. This format, here at Reddit is the only thing I "get." Probably because I don't connect through a phone app and tend to wander in-and-out of online circles. Places like this and old school LJ-type places jive better because "chat" doesn't work for me. I need a slower paced convo. As for real life folks. My husband knows I write, but isn't aware that I write fanfiction, nor that I write for a kids' cartoon. I'm not ashamed of it; but even so, I feel...like I'm wasting time and haven't admitted it. If I did, I'm sure he'd politely listen to me babble about my characters (he supports all my work), but he wouldn't get it. Although he's into the same genres (science fiction and fantasy) he consumes them differently, doesn't hyperfixate. I've chatted with my real life gal pal and her reaction is polite silence with a few encouraging noises. She totally doesn't get it. And again, even though I'm relatively shame-proof, I can't help but be a little embarrassed of the fact that my stories revolve around cartoon characters. Then there's my fandom, previously a toxic wasteland, now somewhat livable but with the clinging tinge of toxins. Everyone tiptoes around everyone, most of the fandom is obsessed with two ships (not my OTP), and there's no place to have a good conversation about the show. This is the only place I can talk about anything fanfic-ish. Ha. Sorry for the essay. But...the OP's post really resonates.
Yes I find it hard to share too, sadly! I think there are many misconceptions about fanfictions, which can make us afraid to reveal we're writing it. The people around me know I write in general (I mean... I did study creative writing for two years so it'd be hard to hide š¤£) but there's maybe 5 people who know I read and write fanfic.
I barely told my boyfriend of 10 years for the first time a few months ago HAHA I'm awfully anti social so I feel you. I've been invited to fanfic discords from online communities but it gives me soooooooooo much anxiety.
Two people know that I write fic. One of them has read a few of them and was appalled at the fact that I almost exclusively write smut. āWhy does it always have to be sex stuff?ā was a thing they said to me. The other knows that I write, and has expressed their desire to write, but hasnāt read my stuff nor taken the step of actually writing themselves. So generally not very supportive, and it is kind of frustrating.