#fandom tips

[pygmi-says-hi]

I am feeling unsupported and ostracized in fandom.

Do you have any tips?

aww, that's too bad!!! i'm sorry!!!

if you're in a specific fan group of that fandom, definitely try to find a new group. That's not healthy behavior and you deserve a great fandom experience. Fandoms are usually a lot bigger than you think, there's gonna be other options.

If it's a site that you're uncomfy with, branch out to somewhere else. Don't necessarily delete any accounts, but finding new platforms might rejuvenate some appreciation.

Understand that your involvement in a fandom should be fun and nurturing!!!! some fandoms are really yoxic, unfortunately. Please don't let that get in the way of your appreciation! Your content is worth sharing and as long as it is positive and brings you enjoyment, that's what matters.

Taking a break is okay too. If you're unmotivated but feel pressure to create, take a few days off to do other things. A fresh start might do you some good.

As contradictory as this sounds, try interacting with other creators more. Some of my fandoms are pretty small, but the more I interacted with other creators, the stronger those relationships got. Spread your work, interact and support other's work too.

I hope you feel better and find your people!! good luck!!!

[zorosroronoas]

What are your tips on running a source blog?

this is a really interesting question that i'm not even sure i can answer properly, but i will try my best! as a disclaimer, i'm most definitely not an authority on this subject, no matter how many source blogs i may run now or have run in the past, but i'll just try to describe my process creating & running a source blog. for reference for which source blogs i currently run, they are: @xmenuniverse, @batfamilycentral, @opla, @falloutprime & @ringsofpowerdaily (it's a lot, i know).

- setting the blog

now when i set the blog up, i always pick a costume theme (you may notice i used the same for several of my blogs bc it's easy & it works well with what i want). i try to personalize it as best as i can with header, icon, etc (same for the mobile theme) + create some standard pages: about, navigation, affiliates.

- launching the blog + intro post

when i'm ready to officially launch a new source blog (& after i make sure my posts will show up in the tags! i always do a little test 1st!), i post a little intro post, where i welcome ppl to the blog, explain what it is about, what tags i will be tracking if ppl want to tag me in their edits, etc. here's a reference. you can tag this post with the general fandom tags, edit tags + potential fandom related source blogs that can give you a boost. this helps introducing the blog to new ppl & gain a few followers hopefully.

- editing + creating a following

honestly this is self explanatory. the best way to gain followers is to post in the tags. for fandom blogs it's best achieved through making edits: gifsets, graphics, etc. be sure to always use the fandom edit tags + search up other source blogs related to the fandom that you may be able to tag.

- taking requests

something that i do often is ask for requests, particularly when starting a blog. it helps to engage with ppl & give you ideas if you are struggling with what to edit. this is, however, 100% optional.

- running the blog: tracked tags

now i create source blogs with one main reason in mind: to help boost the work of other fandom creators + create an archive of their work. this means that i try to reblog as many of ppl's original creations as i possible can & to do this there's always a few tags that i track & check out regularly. this is basically up to you + the free time you have. generally i track at least the blog's tag (tends to be your url or something similar) + edit & fanart tags, but you can also check general fandom tags, tho it's a lot more work. personally i play it by ear, depending on my needs.

- running the blog: setting up a queue

my goal when running a source blog is to be able to keep it updating regularly for as long as possible, so i always send posts to the queue, instead of reblogging them all right away. it also helps with not spamming your followers. something that i do do is try to prioritize edits or art in which my blog is personally tagged. this means i tend to manually go into the queue & send those post to the beginning of it if i can. this is only achievable if i'm only tagged in a few edits once in a while tho, otherwise it gets too overwhelming. for example, i simply can't do this with @ringsofpowerdaily, bc i'm tagged in far too many posts.

- running the blog: fanart

honestly this is ultimately completely optional (as is every tip in this post), but i always try to include fanart as a part of what i reblog if i can. this is not always common place with source blogs, which often tend to prioritize gifs & graphic edits, but like i mentioned, i want to help boost fandom creators to the best of my ability & fanartists are a huge backbone of fandom. tbh some of my blogs run almost exclusively on fanart (@xmenuniverse, @batfamilycentral & @opla during the hiatus) & i wouldn't be able to have them post regularly if it wasn't for it.

the problem with fanart is that it is sometimes hard to track down. ppl are not as conditioned to using a fanart tag as they are an edit tag, so the fandom fanart tags may be pretty bare & it may required you to search through the general fandom tags instead. this is up to you & completely optional & i only do it for certain blogs & depending on necessity.

- getting help

tho i currently run all my blogs alone, it's not uncommon & i've done so in the past, to have multiple members in a source blog. they may be either promoted to admin or just a regular member, but if you need help posting more original edits regularly & setting the queue up, etc, it can be helpful to have more members. you can either ask a friend you can trust or set up an application form for new members. always remember tho that once you upgrade someone to admin, you can no longer make them leave the blog if you want & they have full range to make changes on it, so only do so for ppl you feel you can trust!

- affiliates

this is not terribly important all things considered, but as part of the costume theme i use, there's always a little place for affiliates. this is nothing more than ppl you can link to on your blog & they will do so in theirs, to help promote your blogs to each other's followers. don't be afraid to apply your blog as an affiliate to other source blogs, if they have the option. the max i've got was not getting an answer, which generally means it was not accepted.

- keeping the source blog a neutral place

now this is something i personally consider incredibly important when running my source blogs: i always try to keep my personal opinions off the blog, unless it's something that i consider actually harmful. i won't post if i like or dislike something, i will do my best to reblog edits/fanart of characters, ships or media of all kind, including those i may not be a fan of. it's important to me that my blog is a welcoming place to all members of the fandom.

- tagging system

i think one of the most important things about running a source blog or any blog working as an archive is to have a functioning tagging system. this can be as simple or as detailed as you like. my tagging varies depending on the blog & the fandom. for example: @xmenuniverse & @batfamilycentral are dedictated to comics & its varied adaptations, so not only do i tag by character, post type (#gif, #graphic, #video, #still, #picspam, etc), i also tag the media type (#comic, #tv, #movie, #vg, #animated) & i try to tag each comic, movie, tv series (for example: #c: batman, #m: batman returns, etc).

for blogs like @opla, @falloutprime & @ringsofpowerdaily, since they are only dedictated to a specific tv series, my tagging system is different. i tag characters, by season (#s1, #s2, etc), by episode if possible (#1.01, #1.02), as well as post type & whether it's an edit of the show itself (#tv), the cast (#cast) or fanart (#art).

- self care

last, but most definitely not least, it is important you put yourself 1st when running a blog, ANY blog. source blogs can be a lot of work, & unfortunately sometimes ppl don't value it as much as they should. it's okay if you can't make new edits all the time, it's okay if you can't check the tags today or if you have to take a break or that request is taking too long. ppl will have to understand.

i hope this long ass post is helpful in any way & if you have any more questions, feel free to message me again! you are also free to use any of my own blogs as reference, i don't mind at all!

[teaboot]

I don't know who needs to hear this

But if you go into the comments section on AO3

And type

Then replace image url (keep the " marks) with the url of a picture

You can leave fan art in the comments of a fic

[potatounicoorn]

The 5 Robin's expect I made this with my only context being my 3 days of Tumblr and Ao3 scrolling and 3 episodes of Young Justice

[feedthefandomfest]

Comment Bingo: Old Fic Edition

Very simple rules: connect 5 squares in a line by commenting on fics that suit the task in each square

Very simple goals: encourage readers to comment on older fics; encourage fandom writers to KEEP WRITING

STEPS:

Download Bingo Card HERE (png) or HERE (jpg) or HERE (pdf)

Complete the tasks on the card, marking off each as you go, until you've completed 5 in a line (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal; NO double-dipping; center ♥️ is a free space)

POST your winning card (or list your filled squares) and tag @feedthefandomfest! Glory in your victory.

SEARCH TIPS:

This card requires some familiarity with AO3's search filters. Once you've narrowed your results according to fandom/ship/additional tags, certain squares require you to sort the results by Date Updated, which is the default. Other squares require you to search for fics posted within a certain range of years, which you can do by scrolling on the search menu to More Options:

Note that to enter a date range, you must format the date as shown.

REWARD:

✨ victory badges ✨

New badge for this card, but here are examples from previous cards:

Tag me when you earn a bingo (or double, triple, quadruple... FULL CARD bingo) and I'll reblog a shiny badge with your name on it to commemorate the win.

FAQ:

Can I comment on tumblr or only on AO3?

Either one is great! This card especially is more designed with AO3 in mind, but some can be adjusted to suit tumblr as well, so I say go for it. Tumblr fics deserve love, too.

Can one comment count toward multiple squares if the fic fits more than one category?

Since the goal is for as many fics to receive comments as possible, try to comment on a different fic for each square.

Is there a time limit?

Nope! Take your time or set your own deadline, whatever works for you. This blog is still in its early experimental stage, so feedback welcome. Play around and let me know what you like and what might be added/changed—including ideas for squares on future cards!

Do I have to record progress on the actual card?

Nope! If it’s easier to keep track in a different way, that’s fine. This is all very honor system, so if you say you earned a Bingo, we’ll call it a win 🎉

Some people have been tracking not just completed tasks, but the fics they read along the way, so that when they post a bingo, they can also promote the fics/authors in a little rec list. Not required, but definitely cool to see!

Can I adjust the task in a particular square to suit my comfort level?

Of course! If you deliver something in the spirit of the task, then it’s all good. Use your best judgement in constructing a comment that will make the author smile, and you can consider it a job well done.

In general, so long as each square has produced at least one comment, you’re golden and I salute you 🫡

Happy commenting!!

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

y’all… characters drinking alcohol (in fanfics) is not “dead dove do not eat”

character death alone is not “dead dove do not eat”

angst alone is not “dead dove do not eat”

whump alone is not “dead dove do not eat”

self-harm (in fanfics) alone is not “dead dove do not eat”

suicide (in fanfics) alone is not “dead dove do not eat”

infidelity (in fanfics) alone is not “dead dove do not eat”

BDSM / smut / rough sex (in fanfics) alone is not “dead dove do not eat”

even non-con (in fanfics) alone is not necessarily always “dead dove do not eat”

of course, any of the topics mentioned above can be “dead dove do not eat” if it’s written in extremely graphic details in the nature that will sicken your readers / in a way that can make your readers throw up and say what the actual fuck / if it’s the main plot of your story. but taboo topics alone are not “dead dove do not eat”. I’m saying this because I’ve seen people use “dead dove do not eat” tag in stories that only mention a taboo subject once and it’s one sentence or one paragraph long, and that is… not what the tag is for.

for instance, if your story contains non-con, but it’s not explicitly written in graphic details / it’s not written in a way that can make your readers throw up and say what the actual fuck / it’s not the main focus of your work / it’s only one or two paragraph long, tag it as “rape/non-con” accordingly, but it does not warrant the “dead dove do not eat” tag.

sure, you can say it’s “not that deep” and that it’s all just “made up fandom stuff”, but it can also make it more difficult for people who want to avoid the tag or people who seek out the tag specifically to curate their experiences if the tag isn’t being used correctly the way it's supposed to be used.

I’ve explained what “dead dove do not eat” as a tag means and how you can properly use it here.

but to make it as simple as possible, this is basically the meaning of “dead dove do not eat” tag 👇🏻

(so no, the tag isn’t about character going through a nasty breakup and drowning themself in alcohol or character getting drunk and having sex they end up regretting)

[incorrectbatfam]

One thing I rarely see in injury and chronic pain fics is the grief that comes with missing out on stuff you love because you can no longer do them without hurting yourself. Writers who have been disabled their whole lives (or at least a long time) tend to forget that not all disabled people are used to being disabled. For able-bodied characters, especially athletic ones like vigilantes, a serious injury could mean a jarring change that includes giving up the things that mean the most to them.

I was physically fine until I was 18. Back then, my sense of self was entwined with interests that required a lot of movement and dexterity. I started doing MMA in middle school for self-defense. I loved parkour and even had a few hundred subscribers on my old YouTube channel. I learned to shoot and was gifted my first gun when I was 16. I took up multiple instruments. You get the idea.

My motorcycle accident fucked up the joints on my left side—my knee and shoulder especially, but also wrist to an extent. When it first happened, I thought I'd be on crutches for a bit but things would eventually get back to normal. The pain didn't go away even after I got rid of the crutches but I figured it was just residual and I should do what I'd been doing before. It's why I turned to substances—to block the pain and do what I love, but that's another topic. I didn't recognize my injury as a disabling thing until the end of the pandemic, when I put my parkour channel on an indefinite hiatus because it was seriously wearing my body down. It might sound silly to you but I was devastated. It's like if Spider-Man wasn't allowed to swing from buildings. It took me a long time to make peace with losing that part of me.

Another piece of that grief is even when you can do stuff, it's not the same because you have to exclude certain aspects of it for your own health. It's like the Robin that died and came back wrong. I can't use certain gym equipment and I have to tell my sparring partners what to avoid. I don't go to the shooting range much now because I can't extend my arm and hold a rifle for the amount of time it takes to aim without it starting to hurt. I'm a drummer, but I need breaks throughout the setlist and I can't do anything too fast or complex with the pedals, which means I can't play some of my favorite songs and my band is limited in what we write and perform. I can't take my motorcycle on road trips without frequent rest stops. Making accommodations helps physically, but emotionally, they're not always easy to accept because that means accepting the pain as a long-term disability rather than a temporary setback.

This got super long because I think it's unexplored in fics so some tips for creators:

First, learn how the body works and how stupidly fast and easy it is to get hurt. Mine was on a residential road because I didn't pay attention for 0.2 seconds

Learn the difference between internalized ableism and being upset over becoming disabled. I think a lot of writers skip over the feelings someone would naturally experience because it can be construed as ableism. Let them be in denial, sad, angry, etc. upon finding out because acceptance almost never happens right away. That's different from being a dick to themselves or others based on disability

Also, not everyone uses the same labels or has the same vocabulary to describe themselves. Different characters will have different ways of describing depending on their personality, level of knowledge, where they come from, and their relationship with their disability. I still don't really call myself disabled since I don't have it as bad as others so I tell people what happened instead (anyone who says "differently abled" will receive a different ability from me in the Denny's parking lot)

Think about how they cope with their new disability. Do they realize it's a disability right away? Do they talk to someone? Search desperately for a cure? Numb the pain? Turn to alternative methods? Do they worry about something else first, like money? Do they develop something else because of it, like a mental illness? Again, coping poorly is not ableism

What stays the same and what changes? I think about the difference between Forrest Gump and Lieutenant Dan after they were both wounded in battle

If they have a passion they can no longer pursue, it doesn't make much sense for them drop it so readily. Maybe they find a way to continue with accommodations (a good place to get creative!). Maybe they try and push through anyway. If they do ultimately resign, include the thought process and internal conflict behind it

[frownyalfred]

your friendly weekly reminder:

ratios don’t mean shit

no fic is too short or too long

you don’t have to do what your commentators want

some of the best fics get 0 comments

some fics get more kudos because they’re in a popular fandom/pairing at a popular time

people will enjoy your fic without commenting and that’s hard sometimes

keep writing ❤️

[pa-rou]

who had dadow on they 2024 bingo card

[hansoeii]

It's genuienly just so incredibly frustrating to continously have creators say things like "they're just two bros being dudes" or "there's not enough close male friendships in media" after they have so obviously created a beautiful queer relationship in their story.

It always feel like they call us dumb for noticing something that they obviously put there themselves.

Especially since the romantic tensions wouldn't be questioned at all if these characters were of the opposite gender.

Over the ten years that I've been posting fanart, I've had to deal with a lot of extremely homophobic comments on my harmless art because of these kinds of things, and I really wish that if a creator disagrees with a ship, that they would simply leave it up to interpretation or not comment at all. A ship won't stop if you shut it down, it will simply turn the fandom more hostile.

[madbard]

I just played through Slay the Princess for the first time, and… I cannot stop thinking about the Cage.

To be profoundly and finally severed from the illusion of your autonomy. To look on, from a prison of your own making, as your body acts out a legacy of violence against the body of the only other person who can or will come near you. To see their body perform that same violent dance. To be bound to this person, and in your limited state not to understand why. In that moment, as the silhouettes in the shadows act out the story of the princess and the slayer, to share a moment of peace with the one sent to kill you.

Intertwined. Diminished. Reductive, mutually destructive. Trapped in an infinite dance.

Beautiful.

To have been so determined you never had free will, never could have found another way. To realize you may have been wrong. To be trapped in a pattern, but unaware of what that pattern truly is.

Still, for that finite and watchful moment, not to be alone.

(Mild gore under cut.)

(Also this art from the game haunts me.)

[leaflverr]

Hollyleaf. I enjoy spikey Hollylesf designs, they're so peak to me

[gomzdrawfr]

Day 3 of PriceGhostWeek - Blushing

cw: suggestive (very, hence the big gap before image)

inspo: (nsfw) Rosso

[nouverx]

As a french person, it's kinda funny to me when fanfic writers make Alastor speak french, and it's always things like "Bonjour mon cher, je t'aime" you know, typical french words from the main France french most people learn here and there.

The thing is, Alastor knows french creole from Louisiana, which isn't the usual France french most people know. Alastor would speak like "Bonjou konmen to yê?" Or "Mo laimm twa" instead ahah.

Also, there's different versions of french creole, the one from Louisiana is not exactly the same from Antillean Creole or French Guianese Creole. If you want here's an example to what Louisiana Creole sounds like!

So yeah if you want to spice up your fics and be more accurate with your Alastor speaking french creole, dont be afraid to look out for Louisiana Creole expressions instead of the typical french you'd normally use! Makes it more fun and more accurate 💃

[opalescentidiot]

[ninjasmudge]

im just fucking with him your honour (read: trying to figure out how to draw him)