#so many people have discovered a love for writing because of fan fiction and become actual authors after

[indigovigilance]

The Final Fifteen is about Terry Pratchett's Death

read on Ao3

The final fifteen is obviously a major plot point, and serves a role in a story that was written long before Terry Pratchett was ever diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. But the scene itself wasn’t written until just a few years ago, during the writing of Season 2. In fact, the scene came about during a park bench conversation between Neil Gaiman and John Finnemore.

Others have noted that the non-romantic kiss that signals the story moving into the third act is a Neil Gaiman staple. The function of such a kiss, from Gaiman’s perspective, is to communicate.

In 2023 we are seeing a lot of stories written by men, for men, about men who are best friends and discover that their friendship can go deeper than the norms of society would usually allow; that platonic and romantic love are not so far apart, and perhaps the better word for a relationship that can be described this way is intimacy.

Neil Gaiman has made it clear in interviews that his friendship with Terry Pratchett was deeply intimate. They began collaborating on what would become Good Omens in the 1980’s, endured a tumultuous experience together through the first publication, wherein Neil offered to martyr himself on behalf of Terry if the book failed, and then spent the better part of two decades touring the world, meeting the people who loved their work. Neil would even off-handedly remark that Terry’s fans were so cheerful, and Neil’s seemed like they were ready to kill themselves; wouldn’t it be nice if they got married? From the outside, it looks very much as if Terry was Aziraphale-coded, and Neil was Crowley-coded, working together in an unexpected partnership to make the world a little bit more tolerable for the humans inhabiting it. I am not conjecturing that Neil and Terry had romantic inclinations the way their fictional characters do, but I think it is fair to say that their opposites-attract intimacy became an important part of who each of them were.

In 2007 Terry Pratchett was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy, a rare form of Alzheimer’s. As the disease progressed, he began to lose himself, and knew that the person he used to be was slipping away. He wanted to end his life on his own terms, and die as himself, but England did not and still does not allow for voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide. He advocated for the right to die but never achieved it, and ultimately succumbed to the disease in 2015. Neil Gaiman has spoken a lot on the topic of death, and one answer of his that resonated with me reads:

Mostly it feels terrible. It even feels terrible when it’s someone who has been in a lot of pain for a long time or has not really been there for a long time and you know that Death has in some ways been a blessing: suddenly you are mourning the whole person. 

It doesn’t get easier as you age. It gets stranger. The point where you realise how many people you used to know and like who aren’t there any longer, and you cannot talk to them or see them or laugh with them is painful in a way that I had never expected. The first time that someone you had a romantic relationship with dies and you realise that there had been moments both of you shared and now you are the sole custodian of those moments and one day you will be gone and they will be lost forever is peculiarly strange and hard. 

~~~

The entire show is seeded with references to Terry Pratchett, but the most important one is the one that’s missing. Neil Gaiman cameoed as a sleeping moviegoer in S1E4, but a long time ago, he and Terry had discussed cameoing as sushi restaurant-goers, because sushi was weirdly prominent in the book. That cameo would have been in S1E1. But when it came time to do it, Neil couldn’t. Not without Terry. 

Neil: I was gonna say our location is a Chinese restaurant we’d had turned into a sushi restaurant. So Terry and I, Terry Pratchett and I, had a standing… not even a standing joke, just a standing plan, that we were going to have sushi - there was going to be a scene in Good Omens where sushi was eaten and we were gonna be extras, we were gonna sit in the background, eating sushi while it was done. And I was so looking forward to this and, so I wrote this scene with it being sushi, even though Terry was gone, with that in mind and I thought: Oh, I’ll sit and I’ll eat lots of sushi as an extra, this will be my scene as an extra, I’ll just be in the background. And then, on the day, or a couple of days before, I realized that I couldn’t do it.

Douglas: You never told me this before either. I might have pushed you into doing it, had I known. I think you were right not to tell me.

Neil: I was keeping it to me self ‘cause I was always like: Oh, maybe I’ll be… this will be my cameo. And then I couldn’t. I was just so sad, ‘cause Terry wasn’t there. And it was probably the day that I missed Terry the most of all of the filming - it was just this one scene ‘cause it was written for Terry and all of the sushi meals we’d ever had and all of the strange way that sushi ran through Good Omens.

~~~

In the Final Fifteen, it is clear that Crowley and Aziraphale want to stay together. They love each other. They each know that the other loves them. There’s nothing that needs to be said, no convincing that their bond is true and real and precious.

But Aziraphale has to go to Heaven, and Crowley cannot follow him there.

I cannot speculate what it must have been like for Neil to endure losing a friend who, though I’m sure he desperately wanted to still be in his life, he also knew that life had become a burden to him, and grieved that Terry was not able to choose the time and manner of his departure from this Earth. This sort of complex grief, we fan-ficcers know, is the kind that is often best processed through story-telling. 

I think that what we see Crowley going through in the Final Fifteen, alongside its importance to the story arc of Good Omens overall, is Neil processing his grief at losing his friend Terry Pratchett, and even the kiss, that violent, terrible, awful kiss, was the symbolic representation of Neil saying goodbye.

[fight-nights-at-freddys]

So i discovered mouthwashing, the game

The game is really beauitful, and complex and really harrowing but the mouthwashing fandom is so utter rancidly garbage i never felt so mentally drained on my life because of a fandom...i had to distance myself from it after interacting with it like FOUR days

Like fans on Twitter and TikTok is damn rude and disrespectful as hell

yeah fandom is really dead at this point

.. damn i really loved that game now i feel really alone

NO BUT I FEEL YOU 100%

i have a lot i love about that game, i love how artsy it can get, i love how contained it is (if that makes sense??) every single character is necessary for the story, if you added or subtracted, it just wouldn’t be the same.

Same could be said with the dialogue, every single scene holds a purpose, it never lingers on too long nor do you feel like it’s lacking in interaction, even tho i wish there was more Anya and Swansea scenes or even Daisuke and Anya, it doesn’t feel like the game is worse without them, nor would be better with them.

and JIMMY OMG, the way they portray him is fantastic, its not just some boring “he’s an awful person!! He’s a monster” he actually has DEPTH AND IS PORTRAYED AS HUMAN.

and the fandom takes all of that and boils it down to “i feel bad for people who draw/write Jambalaya :(“ or “Daisuke and Swansea are so father/son coded!!” and if you disagree or look any deeper, suddenly you’re the bad person.

they always say “this fandom isn’t for fun” when talking about shippers or even simps, but when it comes to things they find funny or enjoyable, its okay. Its double standards: the fandom. And if you don’t like it, well then you have bad morals ig??

i’ve gotten into many fights on tiktok abt it, and i’ve seen constant hate for those who fit outside of others comfort zones. Its okay to not like smth, theres ships I don’t like in MW, yet, thats when you scroll away and just ignore it.

its worse on your mental health when you actively engage with things you don’t like/that make you uncomfortable. Which is why I’ve blocked people and been getting into less fights abt this stuff, and I respect that you���ve also taken a step back even tho it sucks.

you shouldn’t hate fandom, fandom shouldn’t be policing ppl and become so weirdly authoritarian to a point where every time you claim to like a character, you have to put a big warning saying “I DO NOT CONDONE THEIR ACTIONS IRL” because thats a given in fiction.

[chiyoso]

update

hi pookie. to those who read this the first time, welcome back, this is a re-write. an update. i kinda found the initial update i did rushed, not clearly descriptive of my situation outside this writing hobby of mine. also for the ones that i tagged, i have notes for you <3 (sorry for the tag 🫶🏻)

alright. hello hello. i'm chiyo, a jjk-focused/sporadic genshin and hsr fanfic writer, and you've caught me, and this blog in such bad time, and im so, so very fucking burnt out.

writing for me should be fun, stress relieving, and that goes for any other hobby i have. i have been told and supported countless of times to take a rest, to take a break from this, but my stubborn ass continues to try and get something out, anything to keep my blog alive, hells, it feels like a toxic relationship where i keep coming back, because i remember all the fun, happy and fond times i had in this app, only then to return to why it becomes draining, exhausting.

just sat there, occasionally laid on my back, using my phone, but with unmoving thumbs, with a brain lacking the world that needs the narrative to make a story, fuck, where has it gone?

that innocent, startup of mine, the newfound love and interest for that world of fiction that you all create. dude, i remember being so happy discovering that this brain of mine can conjure up so many shit, all because of your words, it's fucking amazing. hence, the start of the era of my honkai star rail writing journey. (hsr/hi3rd fans who followed me, i let you down with my jujutsu kaisen brainrot obsession im sorry lmao)

“take a break hira,” “take a break chiyo,” “please, take a break.”

i've heard it all, and with utmost love and respect, thank you.

thank you for everything, every word, every action, and every peep of interest you all had for me. small and big creators, who, stopped by because of my small percent chance drop in on their feed, because of the stories i created that you shared, i've met so many wonderful, inspring and motivating people in tumblr, fuck, i didn't expect to crrate a little community all by myself, with my grit alone, it's so rewarding for someone who strives for perfection, for someone who struggles with her mental health daily, for someone who deluded themselves in a world of fiction, I can't express my genuine gratitude enough.

i'm not quitting. maybe i should've mentionrd that earlier to prevent you from getting rattled, but continuing off, i don't find myself quitting this writing journey, maybe i'm just not in the right mental headspace for it at this time. damn, my ex really fucked me up LMAO.

right, i'm aware of the less and lessening interactions i've had with the people i've encountered throughout tumblr, i feel sick of myself for not being able to catch up, nor interact with any of you as much as i could anymore, it really, really fucking sucks, i hate it, i hate it, i do.

i still have leftover projects to go over and publish, because i still want MY ideas, MY thoughts, MY worlds of fictional prowess to all of you. i'm not done, but i will say, that i'm- i'm so incredibly, so very sorry to the ones that were highly, to the heavens, expecting greatness from me, to the ones who were anticipating my unfinished stories, fuck, there's so much to do, yet my body, my mind, they do not respond, as if i'm losing my sense of time, literally.

all i can say to those sticking with me because of their plain interest for me, i wish, i pray, i'll beg, beg for me, my soul, my mind, my body, my spirit to heal, and heal faster, so i can love you all at my 100%, not with my trying 20%, and lower.

thank you. to the old, and to the recent supporters that got me to 3k followers and counting, fuckin' wild. actually insane.

i'll continue to write. i'll continue to create. i don't want to quit.

i don't want to leave the only thing that gave me freedom, and the genuine happiness the first time, making me discover shit about myself, and there's that.

p.s. apologies for my jjk brainrot everyone who followed for genshin and hsr <3 also that one popular otome game, love & deepspace? yeah, that shit's also fucking me up so good.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: (lawd i feel bad for tagging)

@ainescribe @wanderingconstellations @teapartyspilled @v3lv3tf0x @ciarchivez ⸻ you fucking OGS. literally five pillars of my life, the cheerleaders, my absolute undying support of this blog, you saw me at my noob tumblr handling form, the lows, the highs, and the absolute peaks, i consider all of you special, i do, you all made tumblr and the writing community such a fun place for me. thank you, thank you, i just can't spam that voiceline enough.

@peachdues @screampied @chuluoyi @blkkizzat @jabamin @flametrashira @meowzfordayz ⸻ you superstar mutuals of mine. we've only interacted sporadically, PLEASE BLAME MY BURNOUT AND COLLEGE SCHEDULE FOR THAT, but all of you invoked so much burning hope, and motivation for me through your stories, AND your interests for me, whether it'd be something about my themes, edits, stories, it doesn't matter, you all took interest in lil' ol me, despite what, being such big content creators? FUCK??? that's insane. thank you.

god, i seriously wish my schedule would just clear up by a fuckton, and then again, i was the one who took psychology and performing arts 💤 i hope, hope HOPE i get to interact with you all again once i take a leave/break from college.

⸻ with all my love, chiyo.

[mrsnerdygirl]

I am a sucker for morally grey couples , and by that I don’t mean just a girl and her stalker or whatever , I mean the characters that everyone misunderstands , like those that some people make completely evil without a hint of humanity , or makes them vulnerable , manipulated into being evil . The characters that no one can understand are that way simply because they want to . Sure thing some have gone through bad pasts ,but that isn’t the reason they become bad , they just want to be bad , they want to have power and use it , and that for me is fascinating .

No one can understand that Barty Crouch Junior , became bad because he wanted to use his power for something that he thought was great , that he wanted to be more powerful than his dad and that he wanted to show the world what he was capable of doing . Bellatrix Lestrange , much like Barty became a Death Eater for the respect and power , but she wasn’t forced into it , neither did she do it to take revenge on people , she wanted power , respect , and strength , and that was the best opportunity for her . Albus Dumbledore , much like Bellatrix who was fascinated by Voldemort , became captivated in Grindlewald’s wit and knowledge , and couldn’t wait to become powerful and rule with him . Voldemort had a terrible childhood , with no friends and then later he learnt some pretty shocking things about his parents . He managed to climb the ladder of success and become one of the greatest wizards of all time . He literally managed to open the chamber with zero help , he discovered the mysteries of Horcruxes , as well as found the missing diadem of Ravenclaw , and discovered a way on how to fly . This man has done so many things that even Albus Dumbledore wouldn’t have managed to do , and the reason of his downfall was because Harry was fated to be stronger than him , and you cannot go against fate , no matter who you are .

So of course when it comes to fan fiction on , Barty and Evan , Bellatrix and Voldemort , or Albus and Gellert , I am ready to dive in (though of course I run away when I see that they are treated as vulnerable people without choices . The fact that I find nothing about them most times where they are described as they should be , just doesn’t go well with me .

Also a ship that I secretly like is Salazar Slytherin and Godrick Gryffindoor . They were childhood friends (for those who have read “The Song of Achillies “ , you know in a way what I picture) , and I see them being friends for sure . I know that most people do not think this deep in the fandom but it’s okay , because know you will . I mean I guess I like to think of them as just friends too , but secretly I’d love to read about a fic where , they both fall in love slowly , and Salazar who isn’t used to the idea of love doesn’t realize , and Godrick who is familiar with love , understands his feelings . Overall I would like to see their journey from friends , to lovers , to a heartbroken man and his ex best friend hungry for power, and secretly heartbroken over the loss of his friend .

Whoever has recommendations , or writes fics like this( for any one of these ships ) please , please , please tell me . I would love to read them all .

[personasintro]

I AM IN LOVE WITH YOUR WORKS MIMI!

I will write 2 messages now.

1/2

First of all, I have read a reply you posted a few weeks ago in which you said that when MH ends, many people will lose interest in you/your works. That's absolutely not true. I'm a writer myself on Wattpad (more of Italian poetry and some short stories) and I was never interested in reading anything on Wattpad, nor I am a big reader in general. Ironic, isn't it? Being a writer and not liking reading that much. There are about like 5 books I have read in all my life. I am very freaking picky with stories, I hate clichés and I usually hate the Fan Fictions about existing people. But, when I first discovered you on TikTok, I was confused about what the hell is MH. This book kept blowing up on my home and at some point I got so curious and annoyed, that I decided to look up at it. When I started reading it, I don't know what possessed me, but I literally DEVOURED this book. Some days I didn't sleep just to read. Didn't study for anything. Just wanted to read. This happened with me only one time with a book. This was my second time but the butterflies I got with it, it's unbelievable. You made me rethink about what I look for a man, and I understood that I want a man like MH JK, who treats me like a princess and craves for me. I want someone who wants me physically and mentally. I'm very similar to MH JK to be honest, I'm just like him in friendships or relationships. Very dominant, flirty, gentle and kind. So I think that now I realised that it's better to settle for someone similar to me, like him. A bit narcissistic but I know my worth and how I treat people. Anyways, the thing is that it's not only MH, but your writing style is addictive. So once this book ends, I will sit here and wait upcoming new works by you. Because you became my favourite author on Wattpad (even though I know about all the situation with that platform, and I'm very sorry and mad). Probably you're my favourite second author, or first, I can't decide. I really enjoyed reading some of your other works, so I can tell you that it's you who got my attention, not only MH. Please, keep doing what you're doing. MH is an obsession for me, I love reading it because it helps me to kinda cope with my stress and feeling of loneliness. Just do what you want to do, leave negative comments behind and remember that there are people like me, who crave to see what you're going to write next. Just your ideas and imagination. It's exciting and unpredictable. Thank you for your work, I wish the platforms could pay you, because your works are worth of money. Sometimes I just want go gatekeep you hahah, but I also wish you to become successful if someday you'll decide to publish something very serious. Now I'll write the second message about MH only, and send it after this.

-July <3

Well, let me begin by telling you thank you and sorry! Thank you for writing me this message(s) – I'm counting the other one as well but I'll get to it after this – and sorry for taking so long in responding! 🥺

You made me rethink about what I look for a man, and I understood that I want a man like MH JK, who treats me like a princess and craves for me. I want someone who wants me physically and mentally. I'm very similar to MH JK to be honest, I'm just like him in friendships or relationships. Very dominant, flirty, gentle and kind. So I think that now I realised that it's better to settle for someone similar to me, like him. A bit narcissistic but I know my worth and how I treat people.

Yes! Don't settle for anything less. It's also not narcissistic at all and you're right. You know your worth. We're so used to having low standards that we barely consider raising the bar. Why? So we could all be in a relationship and later on be disappointed? It's not narcissistic at all to have high standards and I wish more people would realize and know their worth. I'm so happy you have taken something positive from the story and the character itself!

Like I said in a previous post that you're referring to, I do think there are readers who are here specifically for MH and nothing more. And that's fine and completely understandable and normal. I see the change and difference, and that's how it is. But there are also readers who enjoy my work itself, just like you do and either way, I am happy that someone is actually reading my stories. I'm so grateful for the sweetest words you've written here and I'll cherish this message for A LONG time!

I'll get to your second message now ♡

[jamlocked]

For the Writers Truth & Dare Ask Game

🍓 🥑🥤🧃🍄🍬🔪🌸

(SORRY COULD NOT DECIDE)

🍓 ⇢ how did you get into writing fanfiction? 

WELL. It happened because I found out I was shit at writing. I'd been abroad for three months and it was mental (not really in a good way) and I was like, 'this is the book I've been wanting to write'. So I came home and started to write it and, dear God, it was terrible. Not too long after that I discovered fandom and saw some fan fiction for the first time. And some of it was SO GOOD, which I wasn't aware could be possible with fanfic (lol, right?) So I got absorbed in that and one day thought, 'well, maybe I should try because I already know these characters and it'll be good practice so I can learn to write my own stuff well'.

Guess what, it was.

🥑 ⇢ you accidentally killed somebody, which mutual(s) do you text for help?

@lvsifer You mate, obviously. Pfft, as if that were even in question. <3 (Though I question the word 'help'. Help me commit the murder? Yes, of course.)

(...thinking further, I also question the word 'accientally' in this scenario, particularly if @lvsifer was there with me, which he would be.)

🥤 ⇢ recommend an author or fanfic you love

There are so many I could choose but I'm going to go with Sforzando simply because it's open in a tab right now so I can start another re-read, and that says it all really. I would link another one from an old fandom as well because it was beyond stunning and broke my entire soul a few years ago, but I can't remember the full name to link it.

  🧃 ⇢ share some personal lore you never posted about before

My own personal lore? Hmm. Can't remember what I have and haven't posted about. I'll go with my one severe phobia, which is shipwrecks. And that's all I'm going to say about it otherwise I'll start thinking about them and that is Unpleasant.

🍄 ⇢ share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings

When Jim was a teenager he spent a long time debating whether to introduce himself to Sherlock. He didn't because he was scared, both of rejection and of it not living up to what he dreamed about. It's the only time he's ever really felt fear and he hates that he caved into it, given how Sherlock wasted years of his life on drugs and then became mostly ordinary.

I guess that's not really a pairing thing. So...in a world where Jim and Sherlock date or spend time together domestically, they frequently fight over food. Jim doesn't care about it but people have to eat, so he's going to eat well. Sherlock's diet of takeaways and beans on toast is unbearable. In the end, he forces Sherlock to learn to cook (by telling him it's entirely beyond his talents and 'yes, this is the most basic reverse psychology darling, but also, it's completely true') and Sherlock is so annoyed at not being able to tell what he means he becomes an amazing chef. And enjoys it. It's basically chemistry when it comes down to it.

🍬 ⇢ post an unpopular opinion about a popular fandom character

Sherlock was never and will never be in love with John. Or Molly.

🔪 ⇢ what's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

I mean, there's a long list. Wind speeds over coastal Mexico? Wheel widths of early 19th century French carts? The political system of Bulgaria was quite interesting.

🌸 ⇢ do you have any pets? if you do, post some pictures of them

...mate, if you wanted to see pics of Coco you could have just WhatsApp'd me. :D

THIS IS COCO, ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL.

<3 <3 <3

[mask131]

You know, there is one thing that annoys me - and I know that is goes against the current, where everybody praises the "death of the author" concept - but it truly does annoy me how fans sometimes decide on their own they have more authority on a fictional work than this work's author (given I am into liteature, we'll take books as an example).

I am not talking about situations such as "The author forgot that they wrote that in the first book, and wrote something contradicting it in the third, and the fans pointed it out and deemed it bad writing" - no I am not talking about this kind of situation.

I am rather talking about situations such as for example: an author's work gets adapted. The author loves very much the adaptation and finds it faithful or at least that it works well on its own. Some fans dislike it and declare it unfaithful and a bad adaptation. And if the author's liking of the adaptation is brought up, the fans will over-rid it as the author's opnion being wrong, and theirs being right.

The first situation (the one I do not talk about) was about facts, textual facts, internal logic, writing problems - and this is all part of the fan's domain. Because the fan, the reader, is all about accumulating the information given, piecing together the elements created, the fan reflects the author's work in that regard, and thus it is the fan's natural right and duty to point out things such as incoherences, bad writing, plot problems and the like. But the second situation (the one I do talk about) is about opinion, and this changes everything.

We live in an era (well mostly Internet era since it all happens over the Internet nowadays) where, as I said before, the "death of the author" becomes a rule and is encouraged. And the death of the author itself is not a bad thing - in fact, it is the "natural state" of reading a work. When you discover a new author, a new book, a new series, you don't know who made it, what this person is about or for. You just read a story, judge it, and make your opinion out of it. We also live in an era where fan-content (fan-art, fan-fiction, fanzines, fan-games) are even more visible, encouraged and thriving than ever before. They are even reused by the industry (for marketing purpose) and by creators themselves (to share the love and appreciate between them and their audience). But somehow, with such a mass-valorization, with such an effort to make it all common and mundane, something changed, and fans started to think themselves equals, rivals or even superiors to the creators.

We live in an era where fans believe their headcanons and theories can be used as rightful demands, as words of command, as orders over creators of content. We live in an era where fans are somehow so mad at authors they actually insult them for not following their fanfction ideas and for not doing what the fan wanted. This is a new form of tyranny where fans that get invested too much in something mistake their "fan-creator" rank for "co-creator" and believe in some sort of delusion that the work they are a fan of belongs to them and that they can dictate how it goes, as if it was their story and not one someone else created and placed their blood, sweat and tears into.

I do wonder if this bizarre switch of thought on the Internet wasn't partally due to the "Potter-trauma", when J.K. Rowling's political comments completely destroyed and ruined the perfectly "united, happy and peaceful" Potterdom, this entire subculture that had grown over the Harry Potter books and dominated a few generations. This faced the people of the Internet (but especially Americans, who didn't had centuries of literary wars behind them) with the dilema of "What do I do when I love a work, but I hate the person that makes it?". And one of the many answers, one of the many "solutions" to this problem, that was widely accepted, was "Well, make the work yours. You have centered your life around it, you love it, you study it and know it better than the author herself. Just ignore her, ignore her words, cut her off and make the books yours." An answer that was logical and reasonable at the time, in front of the given situation - it is the very simple "Consider the work, not the person behind it" logic behind fiction that is however still hotly debated today.

But ever since, it seems that people have taken this logic to its most extreme ways, and turned into some sort of mania. A mania where people will claim to know better what the author truly wanted to say than what the author themselves say ; a mania where people will contradict what the author says about their book in interviews, promotions, and the like, and clearly consider that the author's words have no weight outside of their own book ; a mania where people will see whatever they want in a story, and completely ignore things such as the context or the intentions behind the release of the book.

I know things are not all simple or black and white. My example about the author's opinion on an adaptation of their work is one that works generally well - because who is on the better position, and on the first-line, to judge a book's adaptation? The author of the book of course! However, to very example there is a counter-example, and I have one right there. Stephen King hated Kubrick's adaptation of The Shining, despite Kubrick's movie being one of the greatest horror movies ever made in America, and King's book being quite flawed (great book, but there's definitively big flaws typical of early King in there). This is a counter-example where myself include I recognize the author can be wrong about such matters of opinion, due to the author's own biases, own personal involvment and vision of their work. In The Shining's case, it is because there is the very nuanced situation of a movie that is objectively great on its own, but is actually a bad adaptation of a book (it does happen sometimes that you have good adaptations that are bad works on their own, and bad adaptations that are great works).

But here's the catch and the result of this discourse: doesn't matter that the author is right or wrong, the importance is that an author's opinion MATTERS and should be taken into account when it comes to their own work. Because they are the FRIGGIN CREATORS and MAKERS of this work - you are not. It is their work, that came out of their mind and hands, it belongs to them, they can change it and decide its fate until their disappearance from the surface of the human world [not accounting for the editors ex machina], and you can do nothing about it. Because it isn't "your" work". If you dedicate your entire life making excellent fan-content of a book, it won't make it "your book". All the fan-content will be yours, for certain, but the original material will stay "not yours".

Yes an author can leave things open-ended, leave questions unanswered, encourage theories and head-canon, and people coming up with their own answers. But it doesn't mean that when the author eventually decides one day to solve their own mystery or resolve their own riddle, you get to insult them and harass them because it isn't the one you imagined! Of course you can criticize an author for coming up with a bad solution - because as a fan you will note for example how unsatisfying such a resolution is, how anti-climactic it feels, or how a story worked better with an open-ending. But only some spoiled bratty child (or child-minded person) would come up to an author and say "I don't like your idea, because it isn't mine, and it doesn't fit this drawing I made of your character - which by the way is mine now". I said it before and I will say it again - we live in the "Misery" era. Stephen King's Misery, where Annie is walking everywhere down every streets, and where all popular authors are at fear of being locked in a bedroom with their feet broken by some lunatic wanting them to write an "official fanfic" with their OCs and personal planned "happy ending AU".

You can argue one thing against this entire speech: But, aren't critics, and literature historians, constatly imagining new meanings and new messages inside literary works? Aren't university teachers and literary students constantly reappropriating works in new ways the author never intended to? Aren't they all just placing their own ideas and biases and interpretations inside books, and then proclaiming it the "good way" to read it? Aren't they the one who decided that a curtain isn't just blue? And to that I will say yes and no. Yes because, indeed, it is their job, as researchers, as studiers of literature, as investigators of the life and works of authors, as theorizers of the book industry, to constantly bring new things in old stuff, and to unravel ad dig up things the author themselves did not plan to have in their work. So "yes". But also "no", no because such a caricatural view only comes from a simplistic overview of literary criticism and literary studies, and even from some anti-intellectualist ideas.

Because this entire world of literature teachers, and profesionnal critics, and scholars of authors, has something that (at least in French) is called the "fairness of the researcher". These people can say the wildest, craziest theories, interpretations and readings of a work, as long as they recognize that A) it is their words, their puzzle, their solution to a mystery they sometimes make up themselves B) there is a context, a life behind the work and things such as publication constraints that were involved in the shaping of a book and C) they have proof, evident and obvious proof of what they advance, and that encourages such a reading.

People who just waltz in with their own personal theories about why "X author wrote a subtle criticism of the sausage industry throughout their three main novels" need to have something to back it up, else they will be mercilessly mocked, ignored and have the door slammed in their face. This is why literature high-studies is such a competitive and "harsh" world, because people constantly look at each other in a rivalry designed to keep in check those that would go a bit "insane" and make everybody doubt their words and recheck their papers to make sure they are not imagining things. On the bad side, it also explains why university-critics and book studies are so slow to change and evolve over time, because due to this need to take into account every influence and context, and to bring solid proof to back up one's reading or theory, it can sometimes take a century or so to realize what is obvious from the beginning if you know where to look.

But even then - even in this context of encouraged, widespread and even accepted interpretations of text, people still do NOT believe the works of these authors somehow belongs to them! This is the true aberration that is festering on the Internet today, and the apex of the "bad fan" behavior. You own your fan-made content, you own your physical copy of the book, you own your hand-written copy of the novel you took five years writing with an ostrich feather - but you do not actually own the book until you bought its rights from whoever has it! And even beyond a mere question of "owernship" - because we all know how big corporations just buy over the rights to everything and fuck them over massively due to not understanding a single thing about what makes them great - it is a question of the author's symbiosis with their work, something that cannot be questioned and that only truly stops when they die, because the author can't create more of the work or express any more opinion or control over it. But before this death, people seem to have forgotten that authors are creators - that they made the work, that without them the work would not exist, and that they made this work with a certain goal, a certain plan, certain intentions more or less subtle. And that the fate of a work usually should rely within the hands of this author, not within the hands of the fans, who are only here to support, love, criticize, hate or judge a work, not act as some sort of board in a big company!

Authors are not your pals that can do you a favor if you offer them a drink (well... scratch that, there's a lot of authors who would do a lot of things to you if you gave them a drink). Rather - authors are not your employees. Yes, authors will work for you technically because they will write for their audience and for their fans - but authors also write primarily for themselves. They are selfish beings who write because they want to tell the stories they have in their head, and they want to do the work they always intended to, and they only want to use their character with their tory, their world, their plot. If you want to tell your story, become an author, but fans should honestly stop pretending they have just as much authority and owernship of a work as their creator just because they spent too much time daydreaming about it.

[sweet-lemonad-rose-sapphire]

Why I’m writing a BOTW prequel

I got into the Legend of Zelda (TLOZ) fandom in May of 2023 (2 weeks after TOTK came out so it was probably the best possible time to discover it!). At first I just watched the BOTW cutscenes on YouTube in chronological order, but then I ended up getting INVESTED in the story!!! I had already watched a video about Top Ten Saddest Video Game scenes at some point, so I knew that the Champions would die, but I just wasn’t expecting how REAL the scene was!

The next night I decided to watch the TOTK cutscenes because BOTW was so interesting, and of course, I fell in LOVE with the games! I loved how they portrayed Zelda and her character arc, I loved how the storyline wasn’t afraid to take a dark turn, but most of all, LINK stood out to me.

I had already known that he was a “Silent Protagonist” but I think that was the reason why I was interested in watching the BOTW cutscenes in the first place. I wanted to see how it was pulled off, being that Link was the main character after all. Yes, admittedly there were a few scenes that made me just want to shake this man, yelling “JUST SAY SOMETHING DUDE!!!” I still found his backstory interesting… or more lack there was.

I read the diary entries from the game and had questions like “So what, he’s just been silent for years? What caused this? What was he doing with the Master Sword during the ages 12/13 to 17? What caused such a change of personality at such a young age? It couldn’t just be because of the Master Sword… right?” I was absolutely HOOKED on finding answers! Then I found out about Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.

At first I thought the cutscenes were from BOTW, then I saw the title of the video and thought it was a fan project, until I found out there was an ENTIRE prequel game of BOTW and I couldn’t understand why not many people were talking about it! Just a few nights after watching the BOTW cutscenes, I waited until my mom went to bed, popped some popcorn, and sat down on the couch, pulling up YouTube. I was about to get answers, and these next 3 hours were going to emotionally destroy me! And I was ready!

“IT’S A WHAT IF SCENARIO?!?!”

I was destroyed, but not for the reasons I thought I’d be… Things were happening in a different order, Link didn’t have the Master Sword yet (even though he was CLEARLY older than 12/13!) and they knew when Ganon was going to attack! I was a little upset. I thought I was promised a Prequel, but ended up getting what felt like a Fan-fiction! I did like the awkward Link scene and the smile he gave Zelda at the end though…

By the time the cutscenes ended, I just remember staring at the screen for a while. Processing.

I still had so many questions.

After a while, I got on Amazon to find out how much a Switch was.

“Fine,” I said. “My turn!”

I’ve grown to enjoy AoC for the moments that couldn’t possibly happen in BOTW (Sidon getting to see his Sister again, Zelda and her Father reconciling), but I just REALLY wanted to know Link’s story.

WHY did Link not talk?

WHEN did Link meet Daruk (why was he taking a casual stroll through Death Mountain)?

HOW did Link end up with the Master Sword at 12 or 13 years old if it was in the middle of the Lost Woods?

WHO was Link’s father (and his other family)?

WHERE was Link during those 4 or 5 years and

WHAT was he doing?

I was determined. I did research, I bought the game, I bought the DLC, I even bought the Masterworks Book! Video, after video, after video, I learned all I could about Link, Zelda, and the Champions! I also learned about the storyline of each Zelda game.

By the end of all this, I ended up with what I’m pretty sure is an entertaining story. I had to split it up into 2 books, but that just made Link’s story even more interesting. I will certainly be taking some creative liberties, especially during the first book (the part going over what was happening during the time between Link finding the Master Sword at 12/13 years old and him becoming Zelda’s personal knight), but I think the information I found should be enough to fill in the blanks.

I’ll be sharing my findings during the next few months (only sharing what has been explained or hinted at within the games, of course) so I hope you guys enjoy what I found!

[aro-sora]

Heartless

This month's Carnival of Aros theme is "Humanity and the Non-Human" and these prompts were particularly resonant with me:

It’s been a fairly well-documented phenomenon that many aromantics tend to feel some sort of connection to some sort of fictional non-human species, whether as specific examples, or as a whole. If you relate, what are your thoughts on these characters and concepts as an aro(-spec)? Do you have any experiences in any subcultures related to non-humanity, such as Voidpunk?

So I thought I'd write something about my personal experiences.

It will come as no surprise to people who follow this blog that I am a heartless aromantic and I'm also a huge Kingdom Hearts fan. (To anyone who isn't familiar with KH, in the games there are beings of darkness called Heartless. There's a lot of designs and some are cooler than others so here are a few of my favorites:)

[ID: Various Heartless from Kingdom Heartles, in order, a Shadow, a Neoshadow, a Soldier, and a Darkling. End ID]

These beings are both literally and very much not literally (it's complicated) heartless. They are manifestations of the darkness in people's hearts and seek to steal more hearts to transform into Heartless.

(something something beings that are recognizably human but also . . . not and yet still have the instinctual desire to reclaim what was taken)

A common stereotype about aromantic people is that we are heartless and unfeeling because we don't experience romantic love. Aromanticism may influence a person's emotions and definitely impacts views on romance, but to say that all aros are cold and emotionless is hurtful and arophobic. But I also genuinely identify with the term "heartless." Not feeling romantic attractions makes me feel alienated from amatonormative society, and "heartless aro" is the best way for me to describe that feeling.

My love of Kingdom Hearts is also a huge influence on that. When I say KH rewired my brain, it's only a half joke. I was 5-6 years old when I first discovered these games and this bizarre Disney/Final Fantasy crossover was a very formative experience. "Heartless" is not just a way to describe my aromanticism, its a defining aspect.

What is it, to be Heartless? To be human, once, but now something . . . other: a being born of darkness. Darkness is a force that is often used for evil, but still KH makes a point of not making it inherently evil. Darkness exists in every heart. It can overwhelm, but it can also be accepted and mastered, like in Riku's case. To choose to become Heartless, in Sora's case, is a defining moment of humanity.

My blog url might be aro-sora (because let's be honest, he's super arospec) but the title, "My Heart Belongs to Me," is quote from Roxas, one of the best examples in KH of someone being denied humanity for supposedly not having a heart, yet being one of the most caring and emotional characters in the series. He's not an actual capital-H Heartless (that's Sora, briefly) but his story and his struggles just . . . resonate with me. "I am me! Nobody else!" I want for people to stop thinking of me as something I am not, as desiring relationships I don't want, or even being a gender I am not.

I don't have much experience with voidpunk culture (but now I want to look into it), but recently I discovered the term otherhearted: "Identifying strongly with something nonhuman and/or fictional, without literally identifying as that thing." (I'm a bit on the fence between being otherhearted and otherkin, but otherheart literally has the word "heart" in it and the KH influence is strong.) It's a very queer experience to want to change your identity and be something other than what people see you as. Sometimes I imagine that for myself—claws of darkness, eyes of burning gold. Darkness cannot exist without light, but neither can light exist without darkness. Nothing can destroy me, because I am the shadow at the very heart of the world.

I guess that would make me Heartless-hearted. An ironic term, I know, but similarly to my personal heartless aro identity I find it absolutely hilarious. So many parts of my identity are "contradictions": being bigender, being human and heartless. It fits with the lore of the Heartless themselves: some technically do possess hearts and some don't. (it's complicated)

I call myself heartless the same way I call myself queer. Bigots will use them as insults and an attempt to make me lesser and other and nonhuman, but to me these are my words. They are mine and I give them power, no one else. Someone thinks I'm "heartless" for not experiencing a certain feeling? Fuck them, I AM heartless. And I am still human because I choose to be, not because humanity is something to be given or taken away. I don't have to prove anything about myself to anyone. I define my own heart, NO ONE ELSE.

And if they still think that being heartless—being aromantic—is something "wrong" or "unnatural" or not human? I only have a warning for them:

Beware the darkness in your heart. The Heartless prey upon it.

[alexsfictionaddiction]

Review: The Cherrywood Murders by Penny Blackwell

I’m sure many of you will have noticed by now that I love a cosy mystery, especially one with a juicy plot and a cast of eccentric characters. So, I was very excited when I was invited on to the blog tour for this new addition to the genre by the lovely people at Headline. Take a look at this beautiful paperback that they sent my way!

Since a professional disaster saw Tess leave her dream life and career in London and move back to her home village of Cherrywood in Yorkshire, she has been picking up the pieces amongst her childhood best friends and neighbours while serving pints in the local pub and occasionally impersonating Cher. But when beloved Clemency Ackroyd, a long retired teacher who everyone loved ends up murdered in her own house, it seems it’s not quite the open and shut case that the police think it is. When an unexpected and unwelcome face from Tess’ past shows up, she becomes determined to discover what really happened to Clemmie. Could the answers really lie amongst the jam and knitting circles of the Women’s Guild?

I’ve always been a bit intrigued by Women’s Institute groups and goings on but like Tess, I know that they’re not quite for me (yet!). However, I became very invested in the lives of the women who belonged the Women’s Guild of Cherrywood. There’s something really delightful about being around women who (at least on the surface!) appear to be dedicating their lives to supporting each other and doing good deeds. The setting of the Women’s Guild definitely lends the book a lot of its ‘cosy’ vibes and I know that this will translate well to readers outside of the UK, which I think the genre sometimes struggles to do.

Liam shows up in Cherrywood under a different name but he and Tess have a complicated recent past, so of course she recognises him straightaway. I did think it was a bit convenient that they seemed to have all this history and that they’d both somehow ended up in the same tiny village. I also wondered at several points whether this book was a sequel because Tess and Liam had so much back-story that it could easily have been another book. Of course, this book tells that entire story, so there’s little point in Blackwell writing that prequel now but I do wish that I’d read it for myself as opposed to being told it in this book.

Tess’ childhood best friend Oliver is a young vicar and he’s very much as you’d expect a vicar to be -quite socially awkward but very sweet. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that includes a vicar in their early 30s, which seems strange because of course, they exist. I loved that Blackwell chose to make the village vicar a young, shy, relatable guy because it was such a refreshing departure from the typical ancient, devout, reclusive man that fictional vicars are often portrayed as.

I also adored the humour in this book. In several places, it felt like the kind of humour found in British soap operas. I wouldn’t be surprised if Penny Blackwell is a fan of Coronation Street and EastEnders because a lot of the situations and definitely the comedy could have been lifted from those scripts. I also noticed some resemblances to some classic characters from them too, so if that’s your jam, The Cherrywood Murders has a lot for you!

The Cherrywood Murders is an intriguing mystery and I certainly didn’t guess the ending until we were there. Having said that though, I’m not sure I could have guessed it. If I re-read it, I might see that I’m wrong but I don’t remember any blatant clues that I could have picked up on. I really enjoyed the ride and the cosy atmosphere that was served alongside the murders, so I’d say it definitely did its job!

The Cherrywood Murders by Penny Blackwell will be published by Headline Accent on 25th May 2023.

[dollycas]

Special Guest - Winona Kent - Author of Bad Boy: A Jason Davey Mystery #Interview / #Giveaway - Great Escapes Tour @winonakent

Bad Boy: A Jason Davey Mystery by Winona Kent I am delighted to welcome Winona Kent to Escape With Dollycas today! Hi Winona, Please tell us a little bit about yourself. I find it very difficult to believe, but I’ve just turned 70. I know I don’t look it, and I certainly don’t feel it. I keep thinking I’m about twenty years younger than that. I remember, when I was a teenager, reading a tongue-in-cheek story which portrayed a future where elderly people were lounging around care homes, listening to the Rolling Stones and Frank Zappa. I thought it was bizarre and a little bit crazy at the time—but, of course, now it makes complete sense. I grew up with that music and I love rock and roll from the 1950s and 1960s. I do water aerobics to the sounds of the British Invasion. I’ve now published eleven novels and book of short stories, which I’m quite proud of because most of those books were written while I was working full-time in jobs that had nothing at all to do with writing. I was very disciplined and did it all in my spare time, on days off, during vacations, on weekends, and at night. I retired from my last job in 2019 and I’ve been a full-time author ever since. Also, I’ve just become the Chair of Crime Writers of Canada, which is a national non-profit organization for Canadian mystery and crime writers, associated professionals, and others with a serious interest in Canadian crime writing. It’s a little bit scarey, but I’m quite excited about what the next year or two will bring my way. While I’m sitting in that chair, I also hope to get a start on my next Jason Davey mystery—which is going to take place on the west coast of Canada. Which, coincidentally, is where I live (in New Westminster, a little city which is part of Greater Vancouver). What are three things most people don’t know about you? - I have a yellow belt in Judo - When I was 12, I ran a fan club for The Monkees. - For many years, I ran a semi-official website for the British actor Sean Bean. Sean was notorious for portraying characters who always got killed off in films. I compiled a list which I called Death by Cow—because in the film The Field, Sean’s character was run off the edge of a cliff by a herd of rampaging cows. That list has become legendary among Sean’s fans. And the website’s still out there –it hasn’t been updated since about 2012—but I didn’t want to take it down because it’s got so much good info on it. http://www.compleatseanbean.com What books/authors have most inspired you? When I was 12, in 1967, I saw the BBC TV adaptation of John Galsworthy’s Forsyte Saga, and I fell in love with the series—and the books. I was in England the following year and I bought the entire collection of nine novels and read them all, cover to cover. My very serious Lit profs at the university where I was doing my BA didn’t think much of my favourite author—they probably would have cringed if I’d told them I’d also read quite a few of Ian Fleming’s James Bond books by the time I was 16, as well as most of Agatha Christie’s Poirot novels. When I was working in London as a temp in the 1970s, I discovered Monica Dickens—the great-granddaughter of Charles. I found we had a similar philosophy about employment—she’d had a number of jobs which had absolutely nothing to do with writing, and I really admired the way she was able to take her real-life experiences and incorporate them into her stories—both fiction and nonfiction. In 1970, she wrote a novel called The Listeners, which was based on her experiences working with The Samaritans, the crisis helpline organization. It had quite a profound effect on me—in Bad Boy, a Samaritan volunteer actually helps my main character, Jason—not because Jason is himself suicidal, but because he’s just witnessed someone else taking their own life, which can have a devastating emotional toll on someone. I think it was important for me to go the “literary” route when I was at university, to study all the classical and contemporary authors, to understand why they wrote what they wrote, and how they interpreted their world and the so-called “human condition” through their novels and poetry. I think it was just as important for me to read books that fell a long way outside those boundaries, to study the art of storytelling without necessarily creating something that literary scholars might want to forensically dissect. My other favourite author is John le Carré. His stories of espionage—especially the drudgery of George Smiley’s British secret service—both intrigued me and inspired me. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? I’m a capital-P Plotter, so I spend a lot of time researching and planning my stories in advance. The planning part definitely goes hand-in-hand with the research, so by the time I’m ready to actually start writing, I’ve usually spent at least six months, sometimes up to a year, immersing myself in the world where that story is going to take place. I have to say that the internet has made my life, as a writer, six thousand percent easier than it was back in the old pre-www days. My first novel, Skywatcher, was published in 1989, and the research for that was excrutiatingly slow. It involved physical visits to libraries (constrained by their opening and closing hours), and digging through the old paper card catalogues (I still remember the smell of those little cards in their little wooden drawers). And then hunting down books (and being incredibly frustrated to discover someone else had checked them out). And microfilm—because sometimes the only way to read old newspaper and magazine stories was to ask for the physical microfilmed roll, then hope that a machine reader station was not occupied, then suffer through the equivalent of motion sickness while you scrolled through the pages, looking for that one article that you’d discovered listed in the Periodical Index from June 1969. By the time my second novel, The Cilla Rose Affair, was published in 2001, we’d had the internet for about six years, and I was able to find the answers to my questions instantly. My research time was a fraction of what I’d spent with Skywatcher. Now, as I plot out my novels, I’m constantly online, checking details. And even after I begin to write, I’m continuing to research. For example, in Bad Boy, Jason climbs up Primrose Hill, which is a well-known spot in Hampstead where you can get a panoramic view over London. I know it well. I was born not far away from there. I’ve visited it every time I’ve been in England. But since Jason’s in England, and I live in Canada, I need to get it right. So I’ll describe what he sees, and what happens to him, and how he has to basically run back down to Chalk Farm tube station in order to extricate himself from a bad situation. Google Maps Streetview is my best friend. So, to answer the question, my research involves absolutely everything that I’m writing about. Like Monica Dickens, my stories tend to reflect a good many things I’ve experienced in my own life. My sister and I travelled to England in 2022 to scatter our mother’s ashes, but while we were there, we visited some cousins in Derbyshire. And then, back in London, I went up The Shard (I knew I was going to write Bad Boy, so it was literally high on my list of places that I needed to research). I also spent time exploring the South Bank. And taking a four-hour walking tour of London’s Lost Music Venues in Soho. All of those journeys were part of my research, but it wasn’t until I was back in Vancouver, writing the chapters where Jason visits Denmark Street (the heart of London’s modern musical history), that I discovered there’d been a devastating fire in 1980 in Denmark Place, a little alley just behind Denmark Street. It had hardly generated any press at all, in spite of killing 37 people. That fire then became an important part of the plot of Bad Boy, but all of the research was done online and by consulting a newly-published book (Denmark Street: London’s Street of Sound, by Peter Watts). So, I guess I can honestly say that the preliminary research usually takes about six months to a year before I start actually writing, but then, it doesn’t stop. It’s ongoing as I write, because I’m always discovering details which need to be verified, or places that need to be described, history that has to be accurate, addresses that need to be fictionalized… Do you ever suffer from Writer’s Block? I’ve only ever had it once. It was when I was writing my second novel, The Cilla Rose Affair. I had the basic story—a tongue-in-cheek spy caper involving the London Underground and a nefarious plot to destroy the city using focused sound waves. I’d done all of the research, and I was, at the time, completely obsessed with not only the Underground but also its abandoned and disused stations. It was very early on in my writing career, and, while I recognized that my own obsessions were getting in the way of the actual telling of the story, I didn’t know how I was going to be able to fix it. So, for months and months, I ended up writing the same three chapters over and over again, unable to move the plot forward because my creative brain was refusing to cooperate. When I finally discovered the answer, it was completely by accident. I was watching the movie Field of Dreams, which is a story about a man with an obsession. In fact, Ray Kinsella’s quest to turn his cornfield into a baseball diamond is at the heart of the entire film. The light went on in my mind. Of course. I needed to write about my obsession. But in order to do it successfully, I needed to transfer the obsession to one of my characters, and let him use all that knowledge—along with many seemingly useless bits of trivial anecdotes—to help move the plot forward. To this day I have a soft spot in my heart for obsessives. I love writing about them. And I owe it all to The Cilla Rose Affair…and Field of Dreams. What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer? First of all, ask yourself why you want to write. Is it because you feel it in your bones? Is it because, of all the things you could be doing with your time, writing makes you the happiest? Is it because, when you don’t write, you’re miserable and irritable until you do write? Or is it because you want to sell a gazillion books and retire on your royalties? The last answer, retiring on your royalties, honestly and truly isn’t likely to happen. It’s not that it doesn’t happen—it’s just that it’s pretty rare. We only usually hear about the big name authors. We don’t hear much about the vast majority who sell a few hundred or a few thousand copies of their books, rather than millions. By all means, aim for the stars. But if you’re only doing it for the money, have a backup plan in place before you start. And if you’re writing because you feel it in your bones, don’t give up. Pitch to agents and pitch to publishers, but be realistic. It’s a tough gig to land. Sometimes really good writers don’t get taken on by traditional publishers because what they’re writing isn’t what’s currently selling. There are other choices. Publish your book yourself. Being an indie author used to have terrible connotations, but a lot of that has disappeared now. Many traditionally published authors turned to self-publishing when their publishers went out of business, or pivoted to a different focus, or their sales numbers weren’t high enough to satisfy the accountants and their contracts weren’t renewed. Back when I was first starting out, getting a contract with a major publishing house was pretty much the only way you could sell books. But times have changed. Do your homework, join writers’ groups, read as much as you can about the industry and make your choices wisely. When you are not writing what do you like to do? I have a few things that I like to do on those rare occasions when I’m not up to my eyeballs in research, writing, or writing-related work. I’ve been known to resort to knitting as a way of relaxing and focusing my brain. I have quite a collection of berets as a result. I’m wearing one of them in the picture on my social media accounts and on the home page of my website (http://www.winonakent.com). I’m also really into family tree research. I have a mysterious great-grandfather who seems to have appeared out of nowhere. I’ve got lots of verifiable information about him after he married my great-grandmother. But I can’t find his birth record, and it’s become a bit of a quest for me to try and figure out where he actually came from. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why? I’m going to be a bit odd and say, I’d love to go back to London, where I was born…but not the London of today. I’d love to go back to the London I knew in 1973. I was 18 years old when I spent that summer there. It was the first time I’d travelled on my own, and although I was staying with my grandmother, I was also experiencing life as an independent adult for the very first time. I started to explore the city, and then I ran out of money, so I got a job working as a temp for Brook Street Bureau. Since I’d grown up on the Canadian prairies, London in 1973 was fabulously exciting. Too soon, I had to go home—university beckoned and I needed to finish my degree. But I would love to go back to that time and experience it all again, and perhaps not return to Saskatchewan at the end of the summer. I wonder what adventures I would have… What is next on the horizon for you? My next Jason Davey novel, the sixth in the series. I haven’t started outlining it yet—I don’t even have a title—but I know what it’s going to be about, and I know it’s going to take place here on the west coast of Canada, where I live. Thank you, Winona, for visiting today! _____ Keep reading for more information about Winona Kent and her new book! About Bad Boy Bad Boy: A Jason Davey Mystery Musical Mystery 5th in Series Setting - UK: London and Derbyshire Publisher ‏ : ‎ Winona Kent / Blue Devil Books (September 26, 2024) Print length ‏ : ‎ 278 pages ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D9PFYXB4 Fresh from a 34-day, 18-city tour of England, professional musician and amateur sleuth Jason Davey accepts an invitation from a fan, Marcus Merritt, to meet at Level 72 of The Shard to sign one of his band's programs. Marcus hands him the booklet, then leaps to his death from the open viewing platform. Thus begins a week-long quest, during which Jason is tasked with retrieving a stolen collection of scores by England’s most famous composer, Sir Edward Elgar. Marcus shared Elgar's love of eccentric puzzles and games, and the challenging clues he's assembled for Jason seem to mirror the 14 themes in Elgar's renowned Enigma Variations. Jason's journey takes him to Derbyshire and then back to London, and a four-hour walking tour of Soho's lost music venues where, in Denmark Street, he faces a life-threatening battle with two adversaries: a treacherous Russian gangster who is also hunting for the stolen collection, and Marcus's sister—who holds the key to a decades-old mystery involving a notorious London crime lord's missing daughter. Bad Boy is the fifth book in Winona Kent's mystery series featuring jazz musician-turned-amateur sleuth Jason Davey. More About Winona Kent Winona Kent is an award-winning author who was born in London, England and grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan, where she completed her BA in English at the University of Regina. After moving to Vancouver, she graduated from UBC with an MFA in Creative Writing and a diploma in Writing for Screen and TV from Vancouver Film School. Winona's writing breakthrough came many years ago when she won First Prize in the Flare Magazine Fiction Contest with her short story about an all-night radio newsman, “Tower of Power”. Her debut novel Skywatcher was a finalist in the Seal Books First Novel Award and was published by Bantam Books in 1989. This was followed by a sequel, The Cilla Rose Affair, and her first mystery, Cold Play, set aboard a cruise ship in Alaska. After three time-travel romances (Persistence of Memory, In Loving Memory and Marianne's Memory), Winona returned to mysteries with Disturbing the Peace, a novella, in 2017 and the novel Notes on a Missing G-String in 2019, both featuring the character she first introduced in Cold Play, professional jazz musician / amateur sleuth Jason Davey. The third and fourth books in Winona's Jason Davey Mystery series, Lost Time and Ticket to Ride, were published in 2020 and 2022. Her fifth Jason Davey Mystery, Bad Boy, was published in 2024. Winona also writes short fiction. Her story “Salty Dog Blues” appeared in Sisters in Crime-Canada West's anthology Crime Wave in October 2020 and was nominated as a finalist in Crime Writers of Canada's Awards of Excellence for Best Crime Novella in April 2021. “Blue Devil Blues” was one of the four entries in the anthology Last Shot, published in June 2021, and “Terminal Lucidity” appeared in the Sisters in Crime-Canada West anthology, Women of a Certain Age (October 2022). “On the Internet, Nobody Knows You’re a Dog”, will appear in the upcoming Sisters in Crime-Canada West anthology, Dangerous Games (October 2024). A collection of Winona’s short stories, Ten Stories That Worried My Mother, was published in 2023. Winona has been a temporary secretary, a travel agent , a screenwriter and the Managing Editor of a literary magazine. She's currently the national Vice-Chair and the BC/YT rep for the Crime Writers of Canada and is also an active member of Sisters in Crime – Canada West Author Links Website: www.winonakent.com Facebook: @Winonakentauthor Twitter/X: @winonakent Instagram: @winonakent Purchase Links - Amazon US   Amazon UK  Find more books by Winona Kent HERE. TOUR PARTICIPANTS - Please visit all the stops September 26 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT September 26 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT September 27 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW September 27 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT September 28 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT September 28 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT September 29 – Boys' Mom Reads! – CHARACTER GUEST POST September 30 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT October 1 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW October 2 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST October 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR GUEST POST October 3 – Novels Alive – REVIEW October 4 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT October 4 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT October 5 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT October 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW a Rafflecopter giveaway Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Read the full article

[pens-swords-stuff]

Tag Game: This or That Writer's Edition

Dusting off a very old tag game that has been in my drafts for like 3 years now! At this point I don't remember who tagged me, but to whoever it was, thank you all the same!

*note to whoever wants to play: you don't have to write explanations if you don't want to. I just like to do it because I am incapable of being concise and just leaving things be.

1. historical or futuristic

A few years ago, I stumbled upon and discovered my love for historical fiction — historical romance, specifically — and I have been absolutely obsessed with it since.

On the other hand, I'm not a fan of futuristic settings and I've never had much interest in it. It's just not a genre that I'm personally into.

2. the opening or closing chapter

There's something poetic about endings. In my opinion, I think that they're the most meaningful, symbolic and important chapter in the book because it's often where you really get the true meaning and message of the story.

3. light+fluffy or dark+gritty

Mm, I'm personally not a fan of this particular choice because I'm not particularly into either option. I don't believe that something dark has to be gritty, or that gritty has to be dark, and I also think that realism is often conflated with being "gritty and dark" when that is not always the case. (And of course, I see a lot of people look down upon stories that aren't "gritty dark realism" and that is a pet peeve that I have). I also don't have much patience for things that are light and fluffy because I find them to be a bit over the top and too much for the most part.

If I had to choose it would be dark and gritty, but I prefer a happy medium and a balance.

4. animal companion or found family

I love found family and the complicated relationships that form between people who are brought together by circumstance. I have also never had a pet, so while I can appreciate animal companions, I can't really relate to it.

5. horror or romance

If it doesn't have romance, I'm not that interested in it. I absolutely adore romance, and nearly everything that I do will include it. (I guess Project Vestige is an exception though, I recently considered axing the romance subplot).

I'm too much of a baby for horror, anywho.

6. hard or soft magic system

Rather than lay out the lore or have a solid system, I'm more interested in magic that can't be explained and will always remain somewhat of a mystery. We don't know where it comes from, or why, and that mystery, wonder, intrigue and open-endedness is what I like in my magic systems.

7. standalone or series

I have always adored series growing up, and waiting for the next book. I think my greatest writing ambition is to write a long series because it was what I grew up reading.

I have recently also been falling in love with a standalone story though! I think I'd love to write a series of standalone stories someday, even if it sounds like an oxymoron.

8. one project at a time or always juggling 2+

I don't come up with story ideas, they just descend upon me from the heavens at random times. The longer I take a break from writing, the more they begin bombarding me because my creativity just begins to overflow. Recently, I've been more intentional about exploring all of those different ideas and writing at least a little bit down so I don't lose them. Which naturally, results in many many projects that I may or may not get to someday.

It's a blessing to have so many ideas and stories, I think!

9. one award winner or one bestseller

I don't think my writing is the kind to win awards, and that's okay. It'd be cool, but I would love it if my stories become famous bestsellers someday because that means that they've reached a lot of people.

10. fantasy or sci-fi

Full disclosure, not a huge fan of either. Fantasy is a bit overwhelming for me, though I love the idea of it and would someday love to make a proper crack at it if I have something worth working with. Sci-fi is just something I'm not interested in at all.

11. character or setting description

I'm very much a character-driven writer! Characters are the most important think in my writing. And descriptions has always been one of my weaknesses.

12. first or final draft

boy, I'd love to finish a first draft someday,,,

13. love triangle in everything or no romantic arcs

I love romance, and if something has romance in it my interest will increase a tenfold!! I also like love triangles, whether it be the basic, canned version that people like to hate on, or the ones that become realized into polyamory. I love platonic relationships too, but there's room for both in my world.

14. constant sandstorm or rainstorm

The sandstorm in Breath of the Wild scared the crap out of me and I couldn't get out of it for like a solid 10 minutes so I'm gunna go with a rainstorm for this one. I love rain.

Tagging: @magic-is-something-we-create @writingforfunsies @void-botanist @scorpiolight-madd @thatgayacademic @summer1977 @calicojackofficial @axl-ul @gilgameshians @wordsforarmor @that-gay-jedi @toribookworm22 @serotoninshift @ashen-crest @abalonetea @write-on-world @faithfire @mockingbirdshymn @ryns-ramblings @bardicbeetle @writtenwolves @writingpotato07

If you see this and want to do it too, please do! Feel free to say that I tagged you, I’d love to see.

If you want to be tagged by me for tag games, click here!

[a1sart]

so the ninja are canonically celebrities right? which means they have fans

y’know what fans do?

write fanfiction that’s what

headcanons about how the ninja feel about that under the cut :) (cut because this is long not because there’s nsfw headcanons or anything I don’t write that stuff)

Kai fucking loves it. He discovered that people wrote fanfic and he immediately started reading the most popular fics. Eventually he ends up with a ninjago version of an ao3 account (his username is probably fiyaamaster or something) and he makes it public. He shares it on his Chirp. He has all his fanfic boundries listed in his bio. People make memes about him finding their fics. Eventually an offcial “Kai DNI” tag is made because he’s read so many fics. He even wrote a fic once. It becomes the most popular fic on the site. It’s terrible. People quote it in memes. People have started sending him fic recs.

Jay is less enthusastic about fanfic. He thinks it’s weird that people write about him as if he’s a fictional character instead of a person. He doesn’t stop anyone from writing about him or including him in their fics though. The team doesn’t feel complete if one of them is missing and that carries over to fics. So he lets people write about him. He does avoid fics as much as he can though. He doesn’t seek them out.

Cole is resigned about it. He’s accepted that it happens and he can’t stop it. He doesn’t mind. Occasionally he will read one if it seems interesting. He had Kai post his fic boundries on his Chirp because Kai has more followers than him.

Zane is confused by fanfiction. (or at least rpf fanfiction. He completely understands fanfiction for non-rpf fandoms). He understands writing about people in like, a historical context for history books or biographies. But writing completely fictional things about real people? He finds it kind of odd. He has read a couple of fics because kai reccomended them but he doesn’t seek them out.

Nya is sort of amused by them? She reads them ironically if they seem funny but occasionally catches herself reading them completely unironically because the story looks interesting. She sees them as just stories where the characters have the same names as her and her friends. Theres a sort of disconnect between herself and the version of her in fics. She’s serious about her boundries though because she knows other people don’t see it the same way she does. She posted them on her Chirp and had Kai boost it so more people saw. She doesn’t read nearly as many fics as Kai but she does have a solid third place in ninja fic reading at the monastery. (When Nya became the sea a lot people stopped including her in fics because it felt disrespectful. This upset Kai and Jay because it feels like people are covering up her existance. It fueled Jays idea that people were forgetting Nya.)

Lloyd is an absolute fanboy. He used to write fanfic about Starfarer when he was at Darkleys so he is completely unsurprised when he discovers that people write fics about him. He has his boundries on Kai’s Chirp and he reads them if Kai thinks they’re good. He has a ninjago ao3 account that he used to use for starfarer that he uses for ninja fic reading now. He once live streamed a reading for a really prolific meme fic and the chat almost died. He even did voices. Other than that he’s pretty chill about it.

Pixal is on the same page with Zane on the fics thing. She reads more than him though. She has an account (her username is probably something like P.I.X.A.Lao3). She leaves detailed critique in the comments. No one knows it’s her. They all (mostly) assume it’s some random fan account. The fandom has started memes about the mysterious critique account. Theres a “P.I.X.A.Lao3 Please DO interact, actually” tag for her account because she gives genuinely good advice. Theres a conpsiracy theory in the fandom that the account belongs to Pixal but no one likes to think too hard about it. She finds this amusing. Cyrus Borg thinks it’s hilarious.

Wu actually doesn’t care. People have been writing about him since before time had a name. He’s the son of GOD. People write about him all the time. He doesn’t see fic as any different. He’s just used to it. He’s the one holding second place fic reading because of this technicality. He’s read a lot of stuff about him over the years. Not as much as Kai though lol.

Misako doesn’t read fic about herself and never plans to. She doesn’t care all that much.

[telperinquaar]

I don't understand how people simply enjoy something. A book. A show. A song. An animal. Even when I say, "Eh, it's okay," I still have so may thoughts and feelings and emotions about why I feel like that. I am so full of passion about the things and people that I love that I can't express it. My brain has so many words, so many thoughts, that they come out of my mouth or my fingers as either an incomprehensible garble of sounds or as something removed and distant, like I'm writing fiction, to make expression easier.

I don't know how to have a casual conversation about a book; "Did you like it?" I ask. "Yeah, it was good," they say, and I am infuriated because I don't know what that means. My conversations seem one-sided, not because I don't know how to listen, but because I have so much to say.

I tell a classmate I like an artist; what I mean is that I like an album that is ten years old. "What do you think of their newer stuff?" he asks, and I'm confused. Why would I need anything new, when I'm so enamored with a decade-old song? I wonder. But did you know that this old album that I've loved since I heard it six years ago was the second album the artist did, and that they got their start playing gigs at a local university? Weird Al parodied this song, and got the extras from the original video to be in his version! Oh and that song was used on Scrubs on two different occasions. My classmate looks at me like I've started speaking Spanish and I pause, because isn't this how you love an artist? When you love a song, aren't you supposed to listen to it on repeat for three days straight before looking for covers and parodies so that you can listen to it even more?

"I'm a big fan of the MCU, " a coworker says. "I'm not really into superhero movies," I say, forcing back sharing my opinion on Infinity War/Endgame, because I know that will just lead to my Marvel Rant, and why I've become jaded and saddened by what's happened to a thing I love. She likes Marvel enough to see all their movies and then go home. I shuffle my comics and roleplaying history and fanfiction behind my back so she doesn't see.

My son sees my partner create buildings out of paper and sees me spin toys from yarn. He prints out page after page of paper toys, and shows me a link to a pattern on YouTube. My partner and I look at each other, because the things he's talking about are foreign to us, but he looks at us so earnestly as he chatters away about bizarre creatures from square worlds and bright round ones. He downloads a game and I begin googling so that we can talk back. (Our enthusiasm can't match his, but he doesn't seem to notice.) The next week he's on about something else, talking a mile a minute about a movie he just discovered that came out fifteen years ago. He doesn't seem to remember that his last fixation even exists. I can't remember if I've seen it or not. I suppress a small sigh (not from resentment, but from the exhaustion of trying to keep up). Oh well. At least I have my weekend plans now.

being autistic is beautiful and then you're afraid of abandonment because your brain has picked up on the exact patterns that signal another loss and then you step outside and there are patterns in the sky in the grass in every touch and every laugh. someone looks at you and there is a shift in their gaze to tell you "i know you're wrong. you are something wrong." something between pity and embarrassment and you want to rip it out of your body for a second and then you listen to music and the euphoria makes it all worth it because they could never experience this joy. you're sky-high. you look in the mirror and your eyes appear inexplicably vacant and then you read about how so many autistic kids are cleverer than everyone else as children and then the opposite afterwards. at a certain age you equalise. you grow sharper teeth and you bite off more than you can chew and you chew it all anyway. there's spring in the air and your brain functions like a scattergraph and when you think about it hard enough it's impossible not to fall in love. if you're an alien you're a lovely one. one day you fall in love and you know it's more intense than it should be but you love her anyway, knowing how it will end. are you invented for grief? are you invented for love, carrying grief?

truthfully being autistic puts a gun full of love to your head. i will always be a little bit more alone than everyone else but the shades of green seperate into a spectrum of feeling and this schematic of an engine is a poem to progress and every song i love is a holy hymn and when your brain is a scattergraph, once you love something, you love everything. you're more alone than everyone else and the least lonely creature on earth, even in isolation.

[haneq]

Getting real tired of people, so I'll just write this here. Hiding the text behind ''read more'', but basically this is addressed to all fanfic writers and then whiny readers who lack the ability to read the tags/warnings/description/whatever-the-fuck before they consume ''traumatizing'' content. Or really any content online.

And just to spite you, I'm not gonna put any warnings here. Because that's how you operate anyway when it comes to consuming fancontent, now isn't it?

First of all, to all my fellow fanfic writers, you are wonderful.

I think all of you are creative in your own ways, and I'm glad you're expressing yourselves through stories. And you're also very brave for putting up your stories online to be read by other people, and not just leaving it to gather dust on your harddrive. You guys rock!

You know, the best thing about fiction is that it's not real. Literally. Sure you can argue about effects of fiction on reality, yadda yadda, and to some extent yeah, but here's a few important words.

Just writing about something doesn't mean you endorse this thing in real life, or that you're the type of person you write about.

Yeah before anyone starts saying how fucked up it is to write stories about getting it on with dragons or eating shit as part of some cult stuff that you came up for your setting - yeah, it might be, but does it make it wrong to write? Cut up the thought police act and listen.

You know Berserk? The manga/anime series? Yeah, that shit is fucked up. Guy slashing giant monsters and creepy fuckers to bits with his giant-ass sword while these aforementioned monsters eat, kill, or rape people, or all three at the same time.

It's also a beloved series with a dedicated fanbase, with many left to mourn the author's passing last year.

Now, you know what Berserk is about? Do you think the author (Kentaro Miura) would have been the type of person to wish these giant monsters would become real and kill everyone that has ever lived and then he wished that this giant Egg of the Perfect World would help bring everything to ruin? That he actually rooted for people like Griffith, even though he made the biggest plot-twist backstabbing event in the history of anything ever?

People love (to hate) Griffith. People love Berserk. People love Kentaro Miura still, as well as the work he left behind. He was just a man who loved to draw and do his story (though arguably I understand the fans' frustration of not getting continuation for a long time). I hope one day all of you will get a satisfying conclusion to the story.

Now, take all this, and observe fanfiction people do. Very few of these people are actually professional authors, more like amateurs who just want to let their ideas flow on paper after long school or work days. And even if they were, I think it's awesome that they still write stuff online - not even for others, but for themselves.

You can help people get better as writers by offering tips or just giving criticism in a nice way. Telling someone to die is never alright.

Writing is for yourself, or rather that's how it should be. You don't have to write shit that you don't care about. Do you think Kentaro Miura would have wanted to write about a wholesome story about a happy-go-lucky protagonist meeting up a gang of friends and conquering the ultimate evil?

If he did, we wouldn't have Berserk.

When people make fanfic, they usually allow comments, which is a bit different system compared to ''professional'' writing. Comments should be used to lift people up or give constructive criticism, not give death threats or call people names when you don't know a damn about them irl.

When you go to bookstore or library, you see the cover of the book, and can read synopsis on the back. What you won't see are the warnings and individual tags for triggering content. When you open a book and read it, only to discover that you don't like it, what do you do? Well, any sane individual would close the book and say ''fuck this, I'll look for something else''. If you bought the book, you'd probably gift it to someone else or sell it forward.

You are allowed to dislike a story. You are allowed to hate story. You are allowed your own opinion on the contents.

But this doesn't mean that you can go around assuming what kind of people the authors are. You call someone a ''psychopath'', ''rapist'', ''freak'' - you really think that you can call yourself a respectable person while at it? I've read fanfics all my life, and only on autumn 2020 did I have the courage to write my own shit online. Before that, I have 50+ story documents on my harddrive, only for myself, many of them finished. FIFTY. And I've been writing my own stuff since 2010 (officially I did my first story on 2008, but I never finished it and I wasn't 100% into writing back then).

Even as a kid, I was ashamed of stuff I wrote for myself, when I was the only one seeing them. Keep in mind, my stories were wholesome adventures with a handful of sad scenes, yet I was still afraid to show anyone. I still am, to this day - though mostly because kid-me's writing was extremely simple lol.

Someone bravely uploaded something online, be it for themselves, their friends, for everyone online, or their grandma - doesn't matter, they did it anyway. And I've read my fair share of ''bad'' fanfics - be it personal taste or just writing style that didn't click. You know what I did back then, even as a cringy, awkward, dumb kid?

I fucking clicked away.

When I first found mature fanfiction, and saw the warnings, I was aware what I was gonna read. And surprise surprise, I did see it in the fic itself. Did I complain to mommy about some mean internet person having written a properly tagged story that had clear warnings? No, I shrugged my shoulders and either continued reading, or moved on.

People who write detective stories are not necessarily detectives themselves. People who write RPG-inspired fantasy stories are not heroes with swords and a power of friendship and plot armor. People who write about series of murders are not murderers. People who write about abuse are not abusive.

You can argue that yeah, some are - how the hell would you know? I think someone writing about a detailed murder for fifty chapters wouldn't update much in favor of actually being out to, you know, murder people.

Think about any of the mainstream shows you people love. A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones for example. You think it would be as big as it is today if everyone kept on crying about how George R. R. Martin was normalizing and supporting incest and underage sex and what else? Sure, there are always people who do, but if you were to complain to someone about the series and how the author/director/actors endorse the themes by being associated? They'd laugh their heads off for your stupidity.

Write what you want. It can be cute and wholesome and nothing ever goes wrong in the world of rainbows and ponies. It can be about a guy who murders women before raping their corpses because he got cheated on by his previous girlfriend who left him for some guy. It can be even about both, murder and abuse and what else in colourful setting, people of Eternally Happy Village stabbing each other every Thursday because why not.

Those who use Archive of Our Own aka AO3, you know how tags and warnings work. Before you start bitching about seeing your hated ship or even your most disliked trope at your full view, how about you actually, you know... blacklist the fucking tags and warnings? There is literally a little useful thing on the right where you can put what you don't want to see. Hell, you can blacklist authors too. It's not that difficult.

Also, AO3 especially has a neat little thing that stops you before you go into a fic, telling you it contains this and that and to proceed, you gotta click it. If you do, then sucks to be you - you opened a bag containing a dead dove, even when the bag was labeled ''Dead Dove: Do Not Eat''.

Keep on writing. Keep on creating. Hell, this doesn't even have to be about just fanfics, even when I've mainly talked about that. Any artform is acceptable. World of fiction is limitless, and you all are a wonderful part of it.

Those who cannot recognize that fiction is not reality, are not living in reality. They are living in the fiction. Touch some grass and move on.

We don't owe you shit. You only get a momentary power high from shitting on someone else based on their work. Criticism is one thing, being a dick is a fucking choice.

And if you wonderful fanfic writers read this far, I wish from the bottom of my heart to keep on creating. I'm sorry if you've ever faced any sort of harassment, but know that I'm always on your side. Don't give in to the hate - haters are air to us, and should be treated as such. (Oh no accidental rhyme lmao)

And final words:

Just writing wholesome content doesn't make you a good person.

Just writing dark content doesn't make you a bad person.

Only your actions define you in this world, and not the one that doesn't exist. Keep your head in the clouds but your feet on the ground.

You deserve happiness, and to not have anyone take it from you.

And for all you tumblr people who do callout posts complaining about fics/ships/whatever-that-doesn't-exist to their five followers - lol. Just lol. You know who you are, and I certainly know you. And you all disgust me, go cry about it.

Now excuse me, I'm off to write yet another ''despicable'' piece of fiction to add to my growing fanfic collection.

[fnich-enthusiast]

I listened to a podcast episode today about the history of fandom which overall was incredibly interesting but the thing that struck me the most was how empowering fandom can be.

The speakers discuss how fandom historically empowered women as it was a female-dominated domain and often one of the few spaces where women were free to utilise their creativity and passions. They reference a woman who was inspired to write because of an author and it got me thinking about how fandom continues to be an empowering tool today, and how it is simultaneously put down.

Female-dominated domains were historically viewed as less intellectual spaces, and they continue to be viewed as such to this day. As a result, women writing things such as fan mail and what we would now view as fanfiction were viewed as silly and largely ridiculed. In comparison, works by men which can be categorised as fanfiction are not viewed as such and are typically taken more seriously. Fandom was, and continues to be, viewed as a lesser space because it was dominated by a margianalised group.

Nowadays fandom continues to be dominated by women and people who identify strongly with femininity, however other margianalised groups are disproportionately common in fandom spaces as well. LGBT+ and neurodivergent individuals are very common within fandom spaces, and online fandom spaces often serve as a safe space/retreat when they are unable to express themselves freely irl. Fanfiction and online discussions often create representation for marginalised groups when people may struggle to find it in mainstream media. This isn't to say that there aren't issues with representation in fandom, or that fandoms are safe and accepting spaces for everyone, but for many they do serve as an escape from the outside world and a safe(r) space to explore their interests and passions.

Fandom continues to be ridiculed to this day, largely by mainstream consumers of media. This has been particularly prevalent with the stranger things fandom on tiktok as mainstream consumers present themselves to be above those who engage in fandom culture, even when the fans in question are just having fun and are not hurting anyone. Nowadays fandom seems to by synonymous with cringe as more mainstream platforms such as tiktok become heavy with fandom content and people from outside fandom culture are confronted with it, rather than being largely restricted to platforms such as tumblr, discord, and ao3 where people have to actively seek it out.

Fandom also exists as a space for people to create art and write, and many people start developing these skills from scratch within fandom spaces, discover new passions, and are able to monetise them and make careers from the skills they honed doing something "cringe" because they had passion. People are very happy to benefit from artists and their skills but continue to ridicule the steps taken to develop them. Regardless of the potential of monetisation, fandom gives people spaces to freely explore the things they love, it gives people an escape from the outside world when they need it the most, or gives them a way to process their issues through fictional worlds and characters. And yes, the ways in which people interact with fandom often exist outside of what is deemed socially normative, but most of the time fans are not hurting anyone and are only criticised because the things that make them joyful are not often encountered by mainstream culture, which then makes people uncomfortable because they are confronted with something they do not understand.

This is basically just a brain dump, but I think so much of the cringe associated with fandoms is due to the dominance of margianalised groups within fandom spaces. Those in dominant social positions can dedicate their time, money, and energy to things such as sports without getting ridiculed but the second an autistic non-binary person puts on a hellfire t-shirt because they relate to the experience of feeling like an outsider they are relentlessly bullied. Fandom spaces have always been dominated by margianalised groups and have always been ridiculed for that very reason.