#rainy's ficversary

[scoundrels-in-love]

Today still is not my ficversary, however, this time were’ just one day off and I think this is as good time as any to make a small celebration post.

On 14th October last year, I posted my first story for Braime on AO3, after not publishing anything for almost 2 whole years. Although I had already started fiddling with writing before that moment, I had never thought I’d end up posting anything for real.

But now a year later, here is list of things I have done:

Published 61,413 words

Written another 37,667 words (by quick calculation) that may or may not see the light of day eventually

Which, oddly, means I’ve shared more writing that I’ve scrapped or abandoned and I think that’s beautiful

Successfully participated in a fic exchange with a story that also happens to be my longest complete story at 7,153 words

Published a story I first thought of well over year ago and I thought I couldn’t write because it was too much of everything

Started a multichapter that I fully intend to see through to end, even if it takes me a year

Started several series that have multiple installments and I am quite happy with the pacing I’ve made for them

Finished a draft of fanfic from 2 years ago which still makes me very hopeful, when I think about it

Grown as a writer, I think, from the style to simply figuring the pacing of something that’s larger than single, isolated scene

And last, but one of the most important, I’ve been inspired, awed and mind-fucked by authors that I’ve had chance to speak with, to even befriend, share my writing with

So here are some thank yous to the people who made this possible. Quite literally.

Thank you to @youholdthewater​ and @bienchanter​ who are not really part of the fandom, but have faithfully encouraged my writing, even read it, listened to me whine extensively and hand held me through the whole process. And for actually pushing me to start writing, when I was still “noo, I will fuck these characters up!”. (I did, but it was fun.)

Thank you to @nire-the-mithridatist​ who was also my first fandom friend to be like, nudge nudge, you should write if you keep whining about it. And then I did. And she’s been enduring my still persistent complaining ever since, while also inspiring me at every turn with how she writes and sees the world, with the kind of person she is.

Thank you to @firesign23​ who started as author-crush, but now Betas my stories?? Don’t be afraid to yell in vicinity of your favorite people, kids, you might actually get to bug them with your brainmush ideas in few month’s time so they can try to assemble them.  I am so thankful for her support and warmth and the way we same brain-wave so much things. Our salt mines are legendary, but so is she.

Thank you to @aviss​ who is wonderful well of stories, love and support, sometimes in form of the best cat photos in the world. Will we ever stop bouncing the ‘ugh the way you write is great, I wish I could do that!’ back and forth? No one knows.

Thank you @it-may-be-dull-but-im-determined​ for her understanding just how it is to live with the brain we do, her interest in my stories when I myself couldn’t muster it, for her sweetness. I will always wait as long as you need for your breathtaking writing and it means so much you might as well for mine.

Thank you to @ajoblotofjunk that I still can’t believe reads my stories and listens to my nonsensical ramblings with nothing but support and encouragement. Whenever I even consider writing something epic sized, I always have to think ‘if I can do it just a little like sdwolfpup, I will have done well’.

Thank you to @letters-to-theo and @nossbean and @naomignome who have given me some of the most wonderful, engaging, joy-bringing and tear inducing comments on my stories I never thought I could have. And our conversations have been a bright spark on some really blurry days. You guys are dream come true.

But that’s not all!! There’s so many wonderful authors that have contributed to this year and my writing, by just existing. If I’ve had the chance to talk with them, even if it is to assault them with music recs, even better. If I forgot someone, I am very sorry! It was not intentional. My brain is just going zoom zoom with names right now.

@albatrossisland @aliveanddrunkonsunlight @angel-deux-writes @brynnmck @ddagent @lionoflannistarth @luthienebonyx @kiraziwrites @kurikaesu-haru @pretty--thief @ofaclassicalmind @robotsdance @samirant @slipsthrufingers

Thank you, again, to everyone that writes, to anyone who reads, to anyone who engages in conversations. You make writing fun, bearable and actually... Just possible. Thank you for joining me on this year in writing, even if you didn’t know you’re actually on this ride because you’re the scenery I’m admiring.