#general fandom stuff

[jenny-ate-ink]

I'm bored orz T_T

Fellow 2000-2005-ish Gen Z fangurlz who were raised by the internet, please add your own sample collection of the earliest childhood fannish stuffs you remember enjoying and/or point out ones you recognize!

I'm curious about how similar and different all our younger fandom experiences were (O_o)

[fuckyeahdindjarin]

Hi new readers!

First of all - welcome! I'm so happy that you're here. It's been a pleasure seeing new followers and readers discovering this fandom!

I know I'm not the only writer who has noticed some changes in the level of interaction in the fandom these couple of months. As someone relatively new to the fandom myself (it will be one year in March), I thought I'd post this cheatsheet for newer users who might not be familiar with this community.

1. Please reblog!

This is the primary way you find content and fics on Tumblr - please reblog freely and often! Content creators and writers spend their precious free time producing content for free. All we ask for is you share our work. While likes are nice, you are not sharing content by just liking content.

You don't even have to add anything to a reblog - a blank reblog is definitely more helpful than a like.

2. Feedback is very much appreciated!

If you are able to, please leave feedback for fics. It can be a comment, a reblog, tags in a reblog, or a gif - it means the world to have meaningful interaction with readers. It doesn't need to be a literary review, even a short comment or a keyboard smash is appreciated and will keep writers going.

3. If you want to stay anonymous, send in asks!

Anonymous or not, asks are always appreciated! But especially for readers who want to stay anonymous, send in asks to interact with writers.

4. Please interact with completed works!

I'm really feeling this one - I've had so many readers serial like their way through Consent, but literally just one or two users have left feedback in the last few months. Even if a fic is completed, no matter how long ago, writers would love to hear from you!

Same deal for fics that have not been completed, but haven't been updated for a while - leave reblogs and comments to encourage the writer to keep going!

5. Please be kind!

We are all human behind our accounts. Often we are writing late into the night after our full-time jobs, or giving up free time for writing. So please be kind when you reach out to writers, as you would anyone you meet in real life.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, my inbox is open.

[goldenprophetwrites]

WTF WHY WOULD TIKTOK SCARE ME LIKE THIS

(IT’S NOT SHUTTING DOWN DW I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THEIR TWITTER FUCKING HELL)

[jenny-ate-ink]

11.) Sometimes writing for yourself means it never leaves the docs. That's okay, and you deserve to keep your hard work too yourself if that's what you want. Maybe you don't want to post it because you feel like the writing is too self-indulgent, or you feel that no one but youself will enjoy this, or some other reason, it doesn't matter. Write for yourself first and always, even if that means it will never get posted. You deserve to make the things you like without feeling pressured to share. Writing can often come easier and be more fun once the pressure to share has been left behind.

12.) Sometimes leaving a fic posted, including orphaned, is too mentally damaging or even just too uncomfortable to deal with, and you are allowed to delete it and keep it to yourself for your eyes only. You're the one who put all the hard work it, who spent the time and energy crafting it from nothing, you alone get to decide if it's shared or not. No one is entitled to free labor, and that includes fan labor. Orphaning works for some, but you are not a bad or selfish person for choosing to delete it instead. Put your mental health and comfort first. Writing and sharing that writing can often come easier and be more fun once the pressure to leave mentally taxing works up is left behind.

Writing tips for long fics that helped me that no one asked for.

1.) Don't actually delete content from your WIP unless it is minor editing - instead cut it and put it in a secondary document. If you're omitting paragraphs of content, dialog, a whole scene you might find a better place for it later and having it readily available can really save time. Sometimes your idea was fantastic, but it just wasn't in the right spot.

2.) Stuck with wording the action? Just write the dialog then revisit it later.

3.) Stuck on the whole scene? Skip it and write the next one.

4.) Write on literally any other color than a white background. It just works. (I use black)

5.) If you have a beta, while they are beta-ing have them read your fic out loud. Yes, I know a lot of betas/writers do not have the luxury of face-timing or have the opportunity to do this due to time constraints etc but reading your fic out loud can catch some very awkward phrasing that otherwise might be missed. If you don't have a beta, you read it out loud to yourself. Throw some passion into your dialog, you might find a better way to word it if it sounds stuffy or weird.

6.) The moment you have an idea, write it down. If you don't have paper or a pen, EMAIL it to yourself or put it in a draft etc etc. I have sent myself dozens of ideas while laying down before sleep that I 10/10 forgot the next morning but had emailed them to myself and got to implement them.

7.) Remember - hits/likes/kudos/comments are not reflective of the quality of your fic or your ability to write. Most people just don't comment - even if they say they do, they don't, even if they preach all day about commenting, they don't, even if they are a very popular blog that passionately reminds people to comment - they don't comment (I know this personally). Even if your fic brought tears to their eyes and it haunted them for weeks and they printed it out and sent it to their friends they just don't comment. You just have to accept it. That being said - comment on the fic you're reading now, just do it, if you're 'shy' and that's why you don't comment the more you comment the better you'll get at it. Just do it.

8.) Remove unrealistic daily word count goals from your routine. I've seen people stress 1500 - 2000 words a day and if they don't reach that they feel like a failure and they get discouraged. This is ridiculous. Write when you can, but remove absurd goals. My average is 500 words a day in combination with a 40 hour a week job and I have written over 200k words from 2022-2023.

9.) There are dozens of ways to do an outline from precise analytical deconstruction that goes scene by scene to the minimalist bullet point list - it doesn't matter which one you use just have some sort of direction. A partial outline is better than no outline.

10.) Write for yourself, not for others. Write the fic you know no one is going to read. Write the fic that sounds ridiculous. You will be so happy you put it out in the world and there will be people who will be glad it exists.

[roseaesynstylae]

I think everyone has a minor character in their fandom(s) they just attach themselves to, for reasons they don't really understand, and want more content for them. (Mine is Camie from One Piece.)

[paintedcrows]

they make me feel unwell

(continued: Stan & Young Ford)

[jenny-ate-ink]

Ai images ("art"), ai text ("writing"), character ai and ai role-play in general, all of it is environmental destroying, thieving scummy, community killing bullshit, no exceptions.

And remember: If you can't be assed to make it, I can't be assed to look at it. If you can't be assed to make it yourself or find another human to make it for you, you don't deserve it. Do it bad, do it wrong, do it awkward, but just do it yourself, or it'll never truly be yours. Do it yourself, or you did nothing at all.

stop normalizing ai use in fandom 👎

[emiplayzmc]

Doodles based on conversations about Twisted Glisten and Rodger with @tdlizardowo :3. Mainly with the Mini AU thing I doodled the other day where Rodger does solo runs down to the Twisted floors to meet with Glisten.

|| "Well, what do you normally do when I'm gone?"

|| "Wait for you to get back..."

Based on an idea we had that Glisten literally just. Sits outside the elevator waiting for Rodger to return whenever he leaves. Probably sits with his head turned to the side so he can listen against the wall for the elevator moving in the shaft.

|| "he's gonna come back for this isn't he

he wouldn't leave this it's his favourite briefcase he wouldn't leave it

if he comes back for this that means he comes back for me right

he's coming back right

|| please please please please please don't leave me alone again please"

We also made the headcanon that when Rodger was first going to see Glisten and trying to get his trust back with him, Glisten had such low self esteem and such high anxiety at that point that he thought literally anything was holding more importance in Rodger's eyes than himself. So Rodger would catch onto this and leave items down there with Glisten, the latter of whom would basically hold them hostage until Rodger came back (I also think sometimes Glisten would outright take to nicking stuff off him to hold hostage as well, something he felt was significant enough that Rodger would come back for it had he lost it).

Rodger would slowly get Glisten to realise that, by doing this little habit and being nonchalant about whether an item goes missing or he leaves something on accident, that he really isn't caring about whether he leaves stuff down here or not - notes, a briefcase, research, whatever - it's *him* that he's returning for, because helping Glisten and keeping him company until he can find a way to cure him or get him safely up to the lobby without other Toons being worried or scared of him is the most important thing to him. Glisten is more important to Rodger than some silly items. :)

(Also I choose to believe the briefcase has lore as being a birthday / debut anniversary gift from Toodles to Rodger that she convinced her Toon Handler to help her get for him)

Also the OG SpongeBob scene for the first image :)

[jenny-ate-ink]

I feel like the context behind reading and writing x reader fics has gotten lost.

The first rule of x reader fics for readers is this:

The writer does not know you.

The first rule of x reader fics for writers is this:

You do not know the reader.

When writing a good x reader fic, the goal isn't to insert the reader into the story, but rather, to give the readers an insert they want to project onto instead.

And inversely, the appeal of a good x reader fic is not to imagine yourself, exactly as you are, in the story, but to rather imagine yourself as someone else. Imagine yourself with a new personality, new history, new strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, even different morals, but the same, or even just a similar, appearance for easier immersion. Like a video game, you can customize the appearance of the insert all you want, but the dialog and cutscenes are already all planned out and made.

X reader fics are fundamentally escapism. Any reader with a lick of sense knows that the writer does not know them and that they don't need the author to know them. X reader fics are a vessel to imagine yourself as someone else in a different world, living a different life, being a different person, and interacting with characters in that world (and I specify interacting because not all x reader fics are romantic. Yes, I won't deny most of them are, but platonic x reader fics where you imagine yourself as a friend or family instead of a lover also exist).

Sometimes, the reader will want to imagine themselves as a badass hero, other times a villain, or a deranged serial killer, a healer, a normie surround by fantastical people/creatures, etcetera, etcetera. X reader fics allow people to imagine themselves in all these different roles, as all these different characters.

If you're reading a x reader fic and are constantly thinking "I wouldn't do this" or "I wouldn't say this" you have forgotten the first rule of x reader fics. The author does not know you. When reading a x reader fic, the question you should be asking yourself is, "Is it fun to imagine myself doing/saying this?" If yes, then great! You found a x reader fic you like! If no, then it's not the x reader fic for you, hit that back button and keep scrolling.

If the only thing you ever feel when reading x reader fics is annoyance and frustration that character!you isn't saying and doing things real you would say and do, then the x reader genre probably isn't your thing, and that's fine. X reader fics are often an acquired taste. Not everyone is going to like the genre, but that is to be expected with any kind of genre.

And if you, a writer, are constantly stressing about trying to make the insert super relatable and normal and basic and representative of the widest audience possible, and trying to insert the readers themselves directly into the fic, you have forgotten the first rule of x reader fics. You do not know the reader. Again, any reader with a lick of sense knows this and either doesn't care or is willing to get over it. Again, your goal isn't to insert the reader into the story but to make the reader insert interesting enough that they want to project themselves onto it regardless of how similar or different the insert is to the real them.

"But how do I make a good x reader fic then?? :("

Literally make an OC then later edit them into a reader insert. Give them a personality, history, weaknesses and strengths, and all that jazz, then just go back and remove the OC specific information like their name and descriptive details. To make the editing from an OC to a reader insert easier, just add a special mark to any OC specific info so you can easily search and replace it. Enclose names [like this] or <like this>, or add an asterisk next to things like eye color or hair color *like this* or *like this. Just use some kind of special marker basically, just make sure to just use one and be consistent with it.

I also feel like there's a rising problem with a lot of people who just straight up don't like the x reader genre as a whole in the first place reading x reader fics and getting annoyed and frustrated that the writer did not write the reader!character to match the real them because they expected to be written into the story, not to have to project onto it instead, and rather than just accept this isn't their thing and move on they go on to make fun of and shame the genre as a whole, including the people who read and write it.

And so writers then go on and try to appeal to these dislikers and misunderstanders by tossing aside the first rule and appeal of x reader fics and start self-deprecating in order to seem "self aware" of their "cringy" hobby. Genuine readers who do like and understand the genre also go on to self-deprecate to seem "self aware" of their "cringy" hobby, or even just straight up pretend they don't read and enjoy the genre too in order to not feel embarrassed and/or be shamed for liking the genre. And all of this making fun, shaming, self-deprecating and trying to cater to these dislikers and misunderstanders who are making fun of them and their genre just further results in the genre forgetting its roots and the x reader community becoming boring, mean, and generally uncomfortable.

Writers end up making wet cardboard cutouts for their reader inserts, readers become overly critical and judgmental of writers and fellow readers, and onlookers turn their nose up at all of us for it. Writers and reader may even give up their hobby of writing and/or reader x reader fics just to avoid being made fun of and/or avoid being seen as "cringy".

And the only real fix for this is to just stop caring if people think you're cringe. Do what you want while telling the dickasses trying to shame you "👍" and moving on. Cringe culture is dead and all that. Stop giving a fuck about dickasses and their dickass opinions. The x reader genre isn't everyone's thing, and that's their problem for not accepting that, not yours for just having a harmless hobby and enjoying a harmless genre of fanfiction.

You could be kicking kittens, spitting on pregnant women, or being a lame ass cyber bully who giggles to themself like a ten year old boy flicking his boogers at people when you're call out, but rather, you're writing and/or reading, engaging with a hobby and a community. Pat yourself on the back for not being a dickass. Treat yourself for not being a dickass by just having shameless, guilt-free fun.

But, to be fair, there's also the Tumblr specific problem of people not tagging their x reader fics, or making their x reader fics impossible/extremely difficult to filter, which in turn forces others who don't like or are just not interested the genre to constantly see it all the time. And this inability to filter out x readers if you're not into them breeds unfavorable attitudes if not outright hatred towards the writers, readers, and genre as a whole.

If x reader fic writers on this website just added the "#x reader" and/or "#reader insert" tag(s) to their posts alongside all the dozens of "#[insert character] x reader" and "#[insert fandom]" x reader" tags, the view of x reader fic writers, readers, and genre as a whole would likely improve into a more neutral stance amongst most people here.

Anyways, this was just me rambling my head off lol

Here's some digital treats for reading the whole thing:

(/^_^)/🍩🍪🍫🍦

[arcanegifs]

Here's more comparisons of Arcane Gifs before and after I color and sharpen em!

[jomeimei421]

Felt a bit nostalgic watching RT shut down…Here are the og faves again for old times sake 💙

[naturecalls111]

[random-lil-illing]

i had a vision,,, asexual dps fans what do we think

[jenny-ate-ink]

Depends, did you give constructive criticism like they asked for or just criticism? Or perhaps even worst, unwanted opinions?

Because constructive criticism looks like this:

"Hey your values are pretty similar, try turning on a black and white filter every now and then while drawing to make sure your values aren't muddy"

"Your anatomy looks off, here's some videos, refs, etc to study if you want a more realistic style and some more if you're trying to draw more stylized"

"Your color pallet is a little all over the place, here's a tutorial on how to make them more cohesive and a few sites with pre-made color pallets and color pallet generators"

"If you're trying to go for a more stylized/realistic art style I would lean more into it, this current style looks a little indecisive"

"Your fingers are bending a little more then what is natural, try using your own hand and/or references when drawing hands"

"Your lighting is a little confusing. It's coming from both above and the left but your light source is on the lower right? Here's a tutorial if you want your lighting to make more sense if this wasn't on purpose"

And criticism looks like this:

"Hands look weird"

"Colors are off"

"IDK but somethings off"

"Your anatomy is wrong"

"Humans don't look like that"

"Where's her organs lol"

"Looks muddy"

"You need to learn how to draw hands/faces/bodies/etc"

While opinions look like this:

"Draw more realistically, this looks childish"

"This looks... gross/bad/ugly/evil/etc"

"Why do you only draw women/men, X-type bodies, etc? You need diversity"

"You need backgrounds, stop just drawing people/animals/cups/etc"

"Stop just drawing background, include characters"

"you need to add color, black and white doesn't pop"

"drawing digital art isn't really teaching you how to draw, go get a sketch book"

Constructive criticism requires the criticism to be, well, constructive. It needs to be polite, direct, and offer solutions to fix/improve whatever is being criticized. It also requires you to analyze what the artist is aiming for and for you to offer them advice on how to get there/do that, not for you to direct them into drawing how/what you want them to draw.

If all you were doing is giving criticism, or worse, opinions, they have every right to be offended and to reject those criticisms and/or opinions.

And even then, when they are getting genuine constructive criticism, they are still allowed to not follow/take up that constructive criticism if it doesn't suit them, or they don't want to. That isn't "having it both ways" because that constructive criticism just isn't what will help them/what they're looking for.

Now, if they are getting genuine constructive criticism and yelling about it, crying about it, upset about how they "do everything wrong", etc, then yeah, be annoyed with that as the criticizer.

Fandom Problem #4351:

When you give an artist constructive criticism on their art, but they get offended whenever they receive it, despite asking for criticism on their art. Do you want criticism or not? You can't have it both ways.

[imclou]

can't believe fnaf brought me out of art hibernation man what a turn of events

[pinkiepig]

I haven’t drawn a human in 8339849 years