#fanfic and fan artists

[theoriginalladya]

Yesterday I reblogged a post about the positive impact of fanart on a writer and, by association, other writers and, presumably, other fanartists. I have been fortunate enough to have this happen to me once, and I thought maybe starting off 2024 by sharing it might spread some positivity in the fandom writing/arting community.

It's been a while - I finished Slow Fire Burn almost four years ago (wow! It's really been that long???) - but I love this picture and I still pull it out often to look at, especially when I'm in a tough place writing-wise.

The picture by the lovely renegone is of Maleea Shepard and Kaidan Alenko sitting on the porch swing at her home on Mindoir with Chief (the varren) and LT (German Shepherd) lying beneath it.

I cannot put into words how shocked and amazed I was at the time (and still am, every time I look at it!), because it takes such a simple scene and really brings it to life for me.

Anyway, that's my story. Huge thanks to all the artists who give so generously of their time and talents to writers! I won't speak for everyone, but I know for myself, it really inspires me to keep on going, even when it gets hard to write.

Side note: Slow Fire Burn ended up having a long break in the middle because I did hit a wall with it, but this picture did help me eventually come back to it and finish. :)

[frontmansdefender]

shaming and making fun of people for still engaging in fandom activities once they reach a certain age is so embarrassing because why are you giving yourself an expiration date of time you have fun? why are you not-so-indirectly saying you will stop having fun once you reach a certain age? or do you really believe you have to stop engaging in fandom activities and having fun once you turn (x)? do you not think you will, what, live that long and turn that age too? do you think fun will suddenly stop for you and life will all of a sudden lose its meaning once you reach a certain age? how sad to be giving yourself an hourglass and just waiting for your time of having fun to run out.

adults can and should engage in fandom activities if it's what makes them happy.

adults can and should continue doing whatever they like doing as teenagers if it's what makes them happy.

age is just... part of life. it's a part of me and it's a part of you. shaming people for something you will have to go through (unless you don't think you will live that long) is such a loser behavior. indirectly saying you will stop having fun once you reach a certain age isn't the flex you think it is. it doesn't make you look "cool and edgy", it makes you look miserable.

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

personally I think it’s a shame how fandoms “died” too soon these days. I’m not talking in literal sense and I know there are people who stay passionate about their fandoms long after the hype is gone. I’m talking about the “popularity” and how people in general engage with a piece of media they like and how fast they let the hype die down? I don’t know if I’m making any sense, but what I’m trying to say is a fanfic or a fan art of a show that is recently released will get tons of likes, comments, reblogs which is great. but the engagement for fan made content about that same show usually drops drastically — and I mean drastically — once the show is no longer “recent”. and I’m not even talking about when the show is several years old. because you can see the significant drop of engagement a fanfic or fan art about that show receives once the show is like a month old or two. it’s discouraging how most people tend to lose interest and stop engaging with fanfic / fan art once its source material is no longer “new and shiny”.

especially when writing fanfics and creating fan art take time. writers and artists often receive less engagement / appreciation for their works if they take “too long” to create and the source material is no longer “new and shiny” and so people move on to something else that’s new and shiny. it’s heartbreaking to see.

obviously this is in no way to manipulate or guilt trip people into engaging with anything. because yeah you can do whatever you want. this isn’t to force, manipulate or guilt trip anyone into liking or reblogging a fan work or anything. this is just me hoping people will one day take things slower and enjoy things they’re passionate about longer like how we used to in the past.

[mistress-of-malevolence]

"It doesn't fit anymore"

✿alt versions below the cut + bonus

[rishnea]

‘She stepped forward, reaching up and catching hold of his shoulders, pulling him down until he was close enough that their faces were nearly touching. His voice faded away as she kissed him. Slowly.’—— Impress Upon You by Senlinyu

Fan art from this delightful little fic by Senlinyu. Particularly appropriate because it’s been snowing here already!

[oddleen]

I'm back from the dead because shut up they're so cute together.

[artgremlinart]

season 3 spoilers..

[sketchbeast]

DnD Sorcerer Sebastian

Stardew Valley

My Ko-Fi

[curiositysavesthecat]

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[donelywell]

They then spent the rest of the night talking about Hot Wheels modifications and the flavor Blue Raspberry. Until Tails fell asleep by accident and Sonic had to carry him to bed.

Swap AU belongs to @foolnamedjoey!

I love this au so much you have no idea.

[m00neroni]

unpopular opinion but no fan artist or fan writer should have to "apologise" for their absence or "delay" in updates; and nobody should ask them for explanations if they simply stop publishing their content one random morning. for whatever reason

[the-bar-sinister]

Today is a wonderful day to remember that resting, taking care of yourself, and allowing yourself to become re-inspired and re-invigorated, is a vital and necessary part of the creative process!

[trackinglessons]

"you are the wolf."

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

I don’t think we as artists — be it painters, illustrators, drawers, writers, poets, photographers, song writers, singers, etc — realize how immortal our art is. not to sound cringe, but like… your art lives forever, or at least the art you put into this world will most likely live for a very long time after you die. I logged into my old writing platform account that I haven’t used in years today and found out people still read and comment on my old works.

there’s something beautiful about the thoughts of the art you created and put into this world being people’s source of comfort and/or inspiration even after you die.

there’s something very poetic about people enjoying and appreciating a piece of art, even if the artist is no longer around.

[questions-about-blorbos]

“omg I didn’t know this artist was a pro shipper. this is so disappointing. I was a fan of their works. what a wasted talent😭” babe, why would you think people who are talented enough to make all these beautiful art - or write all these beautiful fics - are not smart enough to differentiate and separate fiction from reality?😭

[england-would-fall]

Do folks who are someone’s favorite fic writer, fan artist, etc. know it? Are they aware that their work has made a genuine impact on the lives of other human beings walking the planet? That there are real flesh-and-blood people who have been touched and affected by what they’ve made, and that they are thought of and discussed frequently with affection and gratitude and awe?

I hope they know. They deserve to know.