#it's always weirder too when it's a BIG fandom bc then it makes it hard to find the stuff I want

[lukeskqwalker]

sometimes I see posts that are like "I love the x fandom because [thing I hate about the fandom] :)" and I feel very much like the bitter old man in children's stories that has to learn how to see whimsy again

[cynicalrainbows]

What are your opinions on Mary? I like her so much, but I see people saying that liking her is like liking Ted Bundy. What are your thoughts on that?

TLDR: Like whoever and whatever you like my dear. Anyone who tries to make you feel guilty for liking or wanting to write about a character sucks, and chances are they’re also being a massive hypocrite because I BET you that THEY like a character who could have similar claims made about them too.

Big long essay under the cut.

So when speaking of Mary from a fandom perspective, I think it is important to remember that there are different versions, if you will. There’s Mary Tudor, historical character. And then there’s ‘Mary Tudor as part of the ensemble of Six’ (because even if she doesn’t appear in the musical, existing in the fandom means she becomes a character rather than a real life historical figure, if that makes sense.)

And also, when using the word ‘like’, I think it’s important to remember that saying ‘I enjoy writing this character’ or ‘I enjoy coming up with scenarios for this character’ or ‘i think this character is interesting’ does not mean ‘if this character were a real person, I would support and endorse their actions unconditionally’.

AND finally to remember that engaging in fandom for the purposes of entertainment is not and should not be a sort of moral test in which we all compete to find The One True Character who is Best and Nice and Unproblematic (and to be clear- that also means it’s fine for the individual to decide they dislike a character for moral reasons. What’s not ok is forcing this belief on others. Like how I fully understand if someone cannot read American Psycho or Lolita or whatever BUT I also reserve the right to enjoy the books myself.)

In light of this: if some people don’t want to write or read fics with character Mary in, that’s fine! And valid! And that’s just as valid if it’s because they can’t get past the burning thing as it is if it’s because they find the idea of The Kids restrictive and dull (and this is how I nearly always view The Kids.)

HOWEVER if we start getting overly moralistic on this.....well, this things start to get complicated. 

Can the irl Mary Tudor be considered a murderer? Yes, you could certainly make the argument for that. (But is Mary the only one who could be called a murderer? Absolutely not.)

Is it ok to not want to write Mary because of that? Of course! You needn’t write anything you don’t want to.

Is it ok to imply that other people are morally dubious for wanting to write Mary or for being interested and sympathetic in the irl or fictional character of Mary? Absolutely not! 

Not only is it not ok, but I find it VERY hypocritical and odd too.

I mean, let’s all face up to the elephant in the room: Six is a weird af concept and writing fanfic for it is even weirder! Like, I’m writing about historical characters living in a houseshare? I’m writing about them just hanging out and making pancakes and having fights over the tv and crying because they lost their bus pass or whatever!

And that is fine and great and SO MUCH FUN!

But.

It also means we need to accept the divide between real historical characters and the versions we write for fic (and that Marlow and Moss wrote in canon).

I like writing about Cathy being scatterbrained and easily overwhelmed and good hearted. I am aware that the real Kateryn Parr likely had nothing in common with my version of Cathy Parr. And that’s good and right.

Just because you want to write a character as good and fun and nice, it doesn’t mean that their real life counterpart was ANYTHING like that. Nor does it mean that a character you don’t like was definitely evil incarnate irl.

Honestly? I don’t think anyone in Six would stand up to tumblrs moral standard.

Not only were these real people but they were real people with enormous, inordinate amounts of power and influence, all of whom did many morally questionable things in their lives.

Which is expected. 

Some of the people did VERY definitely-wrong things: some because of the time they lived in, and some just....out of choice. And sometimes because of a mix of both.

Depending on a number of factors, sometimes you’ll be able to get over those things enough to enjoy writing the fictional character and sometimes you won’t.

Basically, there’s no point in people trying to act as if there are these big hard and fast clear moral rules for writing characters: it’s just personal preference.

Like, personally I like writing Cathy Parr best. But that doesn’t mean I think that Real Life Queen Katryn Parr was without blame in the relationship with Thomas Seymour and Elizabeth.

I can write Cathy Parr and put the real life stuff to one side. That doesn’t make me a bad person. And I apply this to everyone.

If someone says they cannot write about Mary because they feel personally that it’s the equivalent of writing about Bundy, then fine!

If someone says that writing about Mary is like writing about Bundy and ergo anyone who does it is the equivalent of glorifying Bundy, then I REALLY want to know how they can possibly be ok with writing ANY queen! 

Because after all, Cathy joined in the grooming of her stepdaughter! And endorsed some absolute awfulness in Ireland. Anne had Mary treated terribly! Jane went to see Anne die! 

I’d ask how they’re ok with writing Edward and Elizabeth, considering the stuff that THEY did. I’d ask how they’re ok with Catalina, considering the Inquisition was A Thing. I’d ask how are they ok with the concept of Six AT ALL- since didn’t everyone in it do questionable things? 

Like, to be clear: Person A does not want to write Mary bc to them, they feel it’s like writing Bundy is fine. And saying so, when questioned, is fine. (Especially if they’re replying to someone being bitchy about them writing Mary ‘badly’: I have as little time for people who bully people for writing specific characters as I do for people who get off on harassing others for writing their favourite character ‘unfairly’.)

But I do have a problem if they are telling people who enjoy writing Mary that this makes them as bad person.

I have a problem with ANYONE trying to shame anyone for what they write: characters, plots, ships, whatever.

Because really, tumblr is SUCH an excellent place for making these big sweeping statements- X is bad! Y makes you bad! Enjoying Z makes you terrible!- that really don’t make a lot of logical sense when examined. And unfortunately, the sorts of people who make these claims often don’t really GET that you can like a thing without endorsing it OR that you can dislike a thing without having to condemn it.

And that’s a real shame.

So in answer: write what you like. Tag it appropriately, clearly and consistently. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty about it.

Enjoy it.

[thesunnyshow]

Name: Alison O’Brien

Writing Blog URL(s): @httpangelicjimin

What fandom(s) do you write for?: BTS, although I wouldn’t mind writing for other groups. Often, I have other idols that make cameos in my stories.

Age: 21

Nationality: Portuguese + French

Languages: Portuguese + French + English + Spanish

Star Sign: Leo

MBTI: ENFJ

Favorite color: pastel blue

Favorite food: pizza no doubt 

Favorite movie: I’m gonna have to be a sucker and say monster’s inc. bc who doesn’t love Pixar

Favorite ice cream flavor: I’d say coffee, tho I love a good ol’ chocolate ice cream

Favorite animal: wolf, it’s my spirit animal 

Coffee or tea? What are you ordering?: Coffee, for sure. Iced coffee or mocha

Dream job (whether you have a job or not): Ever since I was little I always wanted to be a singer but I guess I’m too shy for that ahah so I’d either say writing or advertising.

Go-to karaoke song: Break My Heart by Dua Lipa

If you could have one superpower, what would you choose?: The ability to change shape at will.

If you could visit a historical era, which would you choose?: The Victorian Era sounds brilliant to me. I would be a sucker for the dresses. Although, I also would’ve loved to be able to live in the ’20s. Great Gatsby made me dream countless times of all the amazing parties, with jazz playing in the background. The fashion was impeccable, and of course, to be alive at the same time as F. Scott Fitzgerald. I could even run into him at one of those glamorous parties. 

If you could restart your life, knowing what you do now, would you?: I don’t think I would. Life has taught me some valuable lessons along the way but I was happy. Even when surrounded by those who didn’t have the best intentions in mind. If I had known all that I know now, I wouldn’t have lived as freely and carelessly as I did. I cherish those memories, even if they weren’t the best for me.

Would you rather fight 100 chicken-sized horses or one horse-sized chicken?: Alright so… that’s a weird one. And what makes it weirder is that people have made that same question with me; it was either one horse-sized me, or 100 me-sized horses. Huh… I do have some background with chickens chasing after me, so I’d go with the 100 chicken-sized horses.

If you were a trope in a teen high school movie, what would you have been?: I would 100% be the sucker that falls for the bad boy… ah… how I miss the high school bad boys.

Do you believe in aliens/supernatural creatures?: I don’t. Although I have no problem getting lost in those amazing universes where such creatures exist. 

Fun fact about yourself that not everyone would know?: I absolutely love mango-flavored things but I cannot eat mango. Just the texture of the fruit…. Yuck. 

Do you write fluff/angst/crack/general/smut, combo, etc? Why?: I write everything. So far, in the 2 years, I’ve been writing, I have experienced a little bit of everything. I think writing all those genres are important to complement the story. 

Do you write OCs, X Readers, Ships...etc?: I never wrote anything that was mxm but I am ok with that. Besides, I have two stories out with an OC and the others are mostly with female readers, mostly because I write thinking about me with a member or one of my friends.

Why did you decide to write for Tumblr?: I was already using Tumblr to read other people’s work. When the thought of starting my own writing blog came to mind, it seemed the most logical option to use. I have only recently learned about AO3 so… yeah, Tumblr seemed the most “at reach” app.

When did you post your first piece?: The first thing I wrote was called Wonder and was posted on a private blog. I started writing it a couple of days after Euphoria by Jungkook BTS came out.

What inspires you to write?: Everyday situations are always a good base for me. I like to write moments that I have gone through. Besides that, I find inspiration on movies and tv shows and some Pinterest albums. Sometimes it’s just a random thought that comes to mind ehe

What genres/AUs do you enjoy writing the most?: I’d say college/high school aus. I did a collab with another writer from a college au and it was a lot of fun. Additionally, I have some wips I am meaning to work on and will soon be presented on my blog! 

What do you hope your readers take away from your work?: I think that I wanted them to feel okay. Life can get pretty hard and reading, for me, has always been like a getaway. So, whenever I write, I hope that I can distract my readers from whatever is happening in the real world. 

What do you do when you hit a rough spot creatively?: Whenever I’m struggling in life, it’s almost as if I lose my ability to write. I get really stressed, especially when I set deadlines. I try my hardest to push through. I believe that writing, even if it’s not to our liking, is better than doing nothing. I try to read more, to sleep better, and to seek inspiration. 

What is your favorite work and why? Your most successful?: I don’t think I have a “most successful” work. I am pretty recent to Tumblr and am still growing bit by bit. As for my favorite, I’d probably say Dr. Love. It started out as a fun Valentine’s Day fanfic and I have some good stuff outlined.

Who is your favorite person to write about?: As I said, I love to find inspiration in my friends. Getting the feedback and how much they enjoyed reading what I wrote really is a heartwarming feeling. 

Do you think there’s a difference between writing fanfiction vs. completely original prose?: I don’t think they are so different. Because when writing fanfiction, you’re not obliged to go 100% with the idol’s personality you’re writing. You have the freedom to marvel around in the worlds you create and make them do whatever you feel like would work best. So sometimes, it can be just like creating a whole new character from scratch. 

What do you think makes a good story?: There’s a lot of things that are needed to make a good story. I mostly value the storyline. I don’t like it when things are rushed and prefer to read something others may find unnecessary but get more context. I love the small little details about characters that make me relate and emphasize with them. Also, a plot twist. I love to read stories that completely blow my mind and catch me off guard. Creativity is everything.

Would you ever repurpose a fic into a completely original story?: Why not? I don’t have a problem with giving different names to my characters as long as the story stays the same.

What is your writing process like?: I prefer to write at night. But, as I said before, sometimes there’s just an urge to write and I have to grab my laptop, or even the pull out the notes on my phone and type out some words for the story I’m currently working on. I try to create a coherent storyline as well. Plus, I have an amazing beta reader that always helps me with the plot and hears my ideas and complements them. 

What tropes do you love, and what tropes can’t you stand?: I love the typical “good girl falls for bad guy” trope. I don’t care if it’s cliché, I just love it. Although, I hate those where the girl is portraited as weak and as if she would ever be completely happy and fulfilled if the guy is by her side; as if she’s helpless without him. Girl power you know? Aha

How much would you say audience feedback/engagement means to you?: It means A LOT. I think there’s no better feeling than receiving a piece of feedback, despite how small it might be. There’s always room for improvement and just the simple fact to know that someone took the time to read my work and found it interesting enough to send me their thoughts, I really cherish it.

What has been one of the biggest factors of your success (of any size)?: I believe that my growth for the past months I’ve been on Tumblr could be due to how active I am. I always try to engage with the people I follow and even when I’m not posting my works, I try to be around. I have big dreams for my blog and hope to one day have a large audience to read my stories, but for now, I am happy with the ones by my side already.

Do you think fanfic writers get unfairly judged?: Yes. A lot of people think that fanfic writers are mostly horny/crazy teens that are obsessed with some famous wannabe that couldn’t even care less for their existence. I think that’s one of the biggest issues with how society sees us. But I consider those to be amongst older people (perhaps 40+yo). 

Do you think art can be a medium for change?: Of course. Art is one of the most personal ways of showing emotions, I believe. Being brave enough to show with the world your creations takes courage and I admire those who do it proudly. Art can be interpreted in so many ways; it overcomes all the barriers that there might be. 

Do you ever feel there are times when you’re writing for others, rather than yourself?: The feeling can get to me sometimes but I immediately shut that down. There was a time when I was forcing myself to write things I didn’t appreciate or that didn’t follow my storyline just to make others happy and I had to give up on those projects quickly because it was driving me insane. I strongly believe that if we don’t write what we are passionate about, it will either come out sloppy or we will hate it. Writing what we like, even if some might consider it bad, is what we should do.

Do you ever feel like people have misunderstood you or your writing at times?: I don’t think so. Although, I don’t receive as much feedback as I’d like to, so I’m not certain. 

Do your offline friends/loved ones know you write for Tumblr?: Only my boyfriend does and he’s totally cool with it ehe

What is one thing you wish you could tell your followers?: A big big thank you! I am so happy to have you here and I hope you can take some time to read over my works ehe I am always open to talk if anyone needs~ 

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers who might be too scared to put themselves out there?: Just do it!!! I know there are so many great writers out there and you might feel like you would bring nothing to the game but that’s not true. You don’t need to be scared ok? It will be alright. Just give it a chance. There was a time where I was scared too and now I have made so many great friends and meet so many great people through my writing. You can make it too! 

Are there any times when you regret joining Tumblr?: No. 

Do you have any mutuals who have been particularly formative/supportive in your Tumblr journey?: Yess!! I have made so many friends thanks to Tumblr! I mostly have to thank the amazing people of @bangtan-headquarters for accepting me into their network and making me part of their discord server. I’m not going to be @/ing everyone but I know I have made friends whom I will forever keep in my heart uwu 

Pick a quote to end your interview with: “Life has no limitations, except the ones you make.” - Les Brown 

[candywafercutie]

"Ah I need some Shockblurr" *opens your blog* "Old reliable" All jokes aside I love your artwork and the various AUs you come up with! Just look at those two sweet boys! Tell me do you have any new AUs? Or do you have a favorite?

kjjksdgjdgf this ask made me giggle, thank you! I haven’t been doing much shockblurr stuff lately bc holy shit did Fallout grab me by the throat and throw me to the ground and force me to pay attention to it! I’m also working on some things here and there and working on my mental illness crap behind-the-scenes a lot more than I have been lately, so like... drawing nor tf fandom stuff hasn’t been my main focus in like, 3 months now. However! I’m still v active in the fandom and absolutely in love with Cyberverse and v excited to see where shit’ll go owo

As for AUs, I’m basically an AU machine... I don’t know how to interact with media without saying “okay but what if this” so I always have a dozen or so random ideas floating around. A lot of my “weirder” ones I have a hard time posting publicly cuz I’m fuckin self conscious as all hell, and I’m actively trying to get better at being afraid of expressing myself and all that jazz, but it’s still hard! Like, I’ve drawn a lot of doodles of Blurr as a ballerina cuz I fuckin love Ballet, but my brain is like nO CAN’t POST THAT it’s too #Cringey or smth and I freeze up and I can’t post it. sOOO yes and no, I do have a lot of aus going on here and there, but most of them will never see this blog ;v;’’

I have a few BIG au ideas that I wanna make into fics, but fic writing is a slow and painful process for me at times bc of self conscious issues. I have a few fics on the backburner, like an idea that explores Longarm and Blurr meeting soon after Longarm joins the intel department and Blurr being like “omg he’s nerdy and tiny and he wants to be head of intel, adorable???”, and then I have a Big Fic I’m slowly working on that takes place on velocitron and it’s uuuuuhhhhh going very slowly. 

I MAY BE ABLE TO DRAW BLURR FAST BUT I CANNOT WRITE FAST

This ask is going on wAY longer than I expected but I figured this was a good time as any to address the lack of transformers fanart from me lately!

As for favorite AUs? Of my aus that deal specifically with Shockblurr, I’m.... pretty damn fond of my fairy au and my monster aus, both of which I need to make more art for. In general? I think Magical Girl might be my fave au overall bc it’s sO much fun to stretch the ideas presented in TFA to such a bizarre angle and... idk, it’s really fun to design!

I’ll end up drawing more stuff when the mood hits, tho, dw! And I’ll probs try to post more older art soon, I like spam-posting unposted art at the end of the year to show shit I’ve done that I haven’t really put in the spotlight.