#the problem with this fandom is that publishing your message

[twopoppies]

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[rafesangelita]

heyy everyone, i just wanted to come on here and say a few things regarding a lot of plagiarism that’s been going on, along with some other points that i feel inclined to speak out about. before i start this post, i just want to preface this by saying that i am in no way speaking about anyone in particular, this just applies to the general community, and i think it’s important to not be so divided, especially amongst each other. so many writers in this community are so incredibly talented that unfortunately, copying and stealing of work has become a regular occurrence. below are some topics that i believe needs to talked about and acknowledged in some way.

stealing of au’s and concepts + the claim on concepts and au’s that already exist:

there is a huge difference between creating an au and introducing something completely new that has never been done before in a fandom, or ever for that matter, vs. introducing a concept that has already been around and existed outside of a fandom and bringing popularity to it/making it more well known, thus, kind of lighting a fire and inspiring others to write for it as well. this goes for plot lines, !readers, different versions of !rafe (example: frat!rafe, dealer!rafe, etc..), prompts, and the list can go on. there’s so many original au’s and concepts out there, but there’s also a lot of stuff that’s already been done before that isn’t considered ‘original’, which means it would’t call for the need to be credited for in the first place.

the difference between being ‘inspired’ by someone else’s work vs. publishing a remake and often times NOT crediting the original writer:

no matter what the instance is; being inspired by someone’s work, or publishing your own version of the same original concept by someone else, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS ASK THE ORIGINAL WRITER FOR PERMISSION FIRST. if they tell you yes, CREDIT them, if they tell you no, COME UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE. if you’re ‘inspired’ by someone, your work should not be similar to theirs in a way that the plot, !reader, !rafe, prompt, etc.. is being used in the exact same way as their original work. you could only be ‘inspired’ so much before you’re just paraphrasing a fic, it truly gets to a point.

DIRECT communication:

this would fix most, if not all, of the problems in this fandom. feel like someone is copying you? (using exact, word for word, lines from your writing pieces?) DIRECTLY confront them. feel uncomfortable with the similarities between your work, or works, and another writer’s? DIRECTLY express your concerns with your valid proof. feel as if your layout is being copied and you’re not being given credit? DIRECTLY, kindly, ask for someone to start doing so. politely messaging someone will never make you confrontational or problematic, INDIRECTLY making rant posts that are throwing disses at someone without messaging them about the situation first is what does that. INDIRECTLY speaking out about someone hoping they’ll see it and know they’re the one being talked about doesn’t make the matter any easier when it really all could be resolved with a single message. PLEASE JUST TALK!! we are all (mostly) adults..

note: i say this with only one exception in mind; if you see anything like this and you make the active decision not to make shady posts, acknowledge the situation, confront a person, or simply just put your energy into something like that, and instead you just block the person and move on with your day, that is 100% your choice, and you don’t owe anyone an explanation for anything.

debunking the whole ‘this fandom isn’t welcoming to newcomers’ accusation:

this is not true in the slightest. if you’re a new writer in this fandom, and you’re not starting off by coming up with your own fics and ideas, but instead piggy backing off of others, stealing and not crediting, copying, etc.. you truly can’t expect others to want to interact with you if you don’t have the common decency to not do certain things. this is not just for this fandom, but any fandom that you may write in. think about it like this; if people and other writers are supporting a writer that you’re ripping off of, why on earth would they interact with you if they are already reading similar, if not the same, content from someone else? it’s not possible to establish yourself anywhere if you build your blog off of copying, that’s just the truth!

[sokittykingdom]

Hi!

IM M1N0R

Feel free to message me, tag me or reblog me with the only condition that they are not mean or rude or else I will be the same too ⪩. .⪨

This is a blog in which I will reblog and maybe publish something, enjoy the content, I always keep follow back to all the blogs or those who give like, If you have problems or want to talk you can write to me, I like to help others :3

You can call me Mary

I'm a big fan of Mitski, Lana del Rey, TV girl, Arcángel, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyler the Creator and kpop

Sexual orientation: Heterosexual :]

(I had a boyfriend but that doesn't mean I want your pathetic messages) or perverts hanging around my account like sharks (weird comparison but it's understandable)

A little traumatized but well, from time to time I upload things about that

Fandoms: Vocaloid, South Park and Sanrio

I like the idea of supporting each other so I prefer respect and freedom from criticism among all ˚⊱🪷⊰˚

Languages I speak: Spanish and English

🇻🇪 / 🇸🇻 with some interests of Italian descent :3

Things I like: Reading, art, poetry, My pets, collecting rocks, watching children's programs and editing

Things I dislike: Yelling, loud noises, my dad and disrespectful people

Aesthetics: Female Fatale sometimes , Rotting girl and Coquette

Mejores amigas y mis zonas de confort: @bl0odxstxne <3

@tomsdolly mi fan favorita de Tokio Hotel (Y la razón por la que empecé a escuchar el grupo xd)

Sign Zodiac: Aquarius ♒

My fav movies and shows:

꩜ The Virgin Suicides.

꩜ Midsommar.

꩜ Misery.

꩜ IT.

꩜ Truman Show.

꩜ South Park.

꩜ Jutjusun Kaisen.

꩜ Moral Orel.

꩜ Malcolm in the Middle.

۶ৎ SpaceHey I have almost nothing here but I still like that you follow me.

۶ৎ Pinterest I save fun things and well, so you can get to know me.

۶ৎ Strawpage I don't know... if you want, come in This page is in Spanish : D

۶ৎ Spotify I swear I have good musical tastes

۶ৎ Ig I'm not sure what it's for but if you want, follow me :333

۶ৎ TikTok I think I like people seeing my content and my shares

I DO NOT want to be followed by:

• Transphobics.

• Simply people who cannot respect religions (We really don't care if you're an atheist or not just let people believe what they want just as you should respect, God I saw too many idiots criticizing me for being a Jehovah's Witness, I really don't care if you don't like my religion just don't fuck with me 🧍🏻‍♀️)

• Zionist or Neonazi.

• Religious extremists.

• Misogynists.

• Racist. If you are, you have earned the medal for being the biggest imbecile 🥇

• Hispanophobics (ya que...sorpresa obviamente soy latina y se nota jaja)

• Xenophobes

• Islamophobes.

• +18 blogs or NSFW (There are exceptions here as there are blogs that are respectful and do not bother. Also I don't want to spam you in the comments, they just observe the content)

• Blogs that support tca or sh but not the recovery.

• People who talk about politics, again I say, I don't care who you voted for or why you hate x politician just don't post comments on my profile about it.

• Blogs that support zoophilia or animal abuse.

• Blogs that are homophobic or that want to humiliate people.

• People who criticize others for their tastes etc.

• Those idiots who love them sexualize men or women.

THIS BLOG BELONG TO A MINOR, OUT WEIRDS

[ofmdlovelyletters]

a lovely letter for the lovely letter publisher ❤️ you bring so much positivity and joy and give us a way to say the nicest things without facing the mortifying ordeal of saying them off anon and I love you for that

Thank you, anon, that's so kind of you to say! That's been the purpose of this blog all along, to make it easy for people to share their love for others in the fandom and spread some positivity, and we're so happy to see people continue to do so a full year after we launched.

And since this situation has come up a few times, we thought we'd use this letter to let folks know that if they do accidentally send their letter off-anon and are facing that mortifying ordeal of being known, please just send us a message and we'd be happy to anonymize the letter for you! It usually takes us at least a day before we publish a letter, and sometimes even one to two weeks if we have a particularly full inbox (like we do right now! A very good problem to have and we thank all the letter senders for their patience), so we have plenty of time to make changes.

Once again, thank you all for sending in all your lovely letters and reblogging them once they're posted so the whole crew can feel the love. Your love, both for the show and for each other, is what keeps this fandom going. 💌

[crumblinggothicarchitecture]

I wonder how long it will take for Taylor to drop Blake Lively from her squad, since she's getting so much backlash for the way she's promoting "it ends with us".

Or maybe Blake and Ryan's money and power and racism will keep them in Taylor's circle, despite the critisism.

Dear friend, I am wondering too.

I suppose time will tell-

Personally, I think that Swift will keep the friendship going because many people who support that nasty book, and Collen Hoover, also support Taylor Swift. There is a great deal of overlap between the three fandoms involved here Swift, Hoover, and Lively. That being said, I imagine it is more beneficial for her to publicly continue her friendship with Blake- so she will be labeled as a "stand-by-you" type of friend- at least it will be so within her own fandom bubble.

That narrative would also help her current image problem with people who think she is a flakey person- or a fair-weather friend.

Besides her image regulation, I imagine Swift will want to keep Lively as a friend for her deep pockets, connections to the elite of NYC, and her power in Hollywood. I think it's clear Swift has tried to break into acting a whole bunch of times- to very little avail- but clearly will still want to keep those business connections strong.

Thus- I don't really see Swift dropping Lively. Unless- of course, the media issues get worse.

But neither of them drew a line as racism- or at the very least being complicit in reenforcing white supremacist imagery in their work/ personal lives- so, ya know, birds of a feather flock together.

(I am watching this movie go up in flames with popcorn at the ready. I think Collen Hoover is a terrible writer. It is abhorrent to me that she was ever published at all. "It Ends with Us" sends a terrible message to young girls. The only reason this trash is getting a movie is because Blake Lively saw a cash-grab opportunity because the book is popular with bored middle-aged women or braindead tik-tokers. None of these people care about DV issues or protecting vulnerable women- it's all about "grab your florals and your gal pals for a cutesy rom-com about an abusive relationship." I'm so tired of all these morally corrupt people with deep pockets controlling what stories get told- and to who they are told. So, I am enjoying the fact that Lively is being caught out as a disingenuous person.)

[youmakethelight]

I'm back in my pissed-off-about-the-title era, as if I ever left. The more promo I see, the more I have to see 'hashtag DARYL DIXON'. It's a fucking slap in the face every time.

It enables microaggressions and overt misogyny across the fandom and more broadly, as well as in how Melissa McBride is treated (e.g. second billing, being listed as '2. Carol' while her co-star gets '1. Daryl Dixon' by default).

Getting the 'DARYL DIXON' title greenlit early on was the biggest middle finger Norman Reedus and the male EPs could give to us and to melissa. I literally hear Negan saying "I just slid my dick down your throat and you THANKED me for it."

It validates people who want to push women, especially grey-haired women, to the sidelines. It elevates daryl as a typical 'leading man', who does 'leading man things' (excuse me while I throw up), which is so far from the outsider underdog autism-coded sensitive character who meant so much to so many people. It enables and rewards powerful middle-aged white men for publishing their problematic fantasies that centre middle-aged white men.

Sorry to make a 'mountain out of a molehill' bc yes there are much bigger and more pressing things happening in the world, but it still matters, and we can care about both. Tolerating problematic storytelling and marketing in our 'escapism' media, especially during a time of terrifying political development in the real world we live in, matters.

I've had people tell me to shut up bc it's "just a TV show" and it's "escapism" so it's not that deep. It's only escapism if it allows you to escape from the realities of real life. If women or anyone else hurt by the narrative have to tolerate microaggressions with their escapism, we're heading backwards. It's only really escapism for people who are uplifted by the narrative. And holy fuck, what a problematic narrative. And that's the baseline for our escapist media? The media that is supposed to be where we can go to escape the problems in real life? Where we can ignore real-life problems and create whatever world we want instead? Sorry, that's depressing for a LOT of us, not enjoyable escapism.

There's so much more to this issue. I could write a fucking thesis. But I'm actually fucking sick and tired of being hit back with fan-splaining from people I've never even spoken to before whenever I talk about this.

The truth is, no matter how much you might not believe it, the network absolutely can change the title if they want to. There are numerous ways they could do this by launching a rebrand. It's not fucking illegal lol. If they really want to uplift Carol and a more inclusive marketing message, they absolutely have the power to do whatever the fuck they want, and yes, that includes changing the title. Again, there are several creative options available to them.

The ONLY questions mystifying the decision are:

1. What is happening behind the scenes that they need to account for?

2. How much money would they have to spend?

3. How much money do they stand to make?

We are not, by any means, "stuck with" the Daryl Dixon title that more than half the target audience hate.

[arcane-vagabond]

Hey.

Go ahead and get settled because this will be...long, in true Liz fashion.

So, by now I'm sure most of you have heard what's happened. If not, you can search this blog for some answers or others for more.

I joined this fandom offiicially at the end of September after being a long time lurker. I had just lost my job and times were uncertain for me. I felt inspired to write, and as someone whose formative years were shaped by the fandom experience, I wanted to feel that sense of belonging again - to feel like a part of a community. I've talked about it on here before, but I started my fandom days in the original Hunger Games fandom when the first movie had just come out, and then I shifted gears towards the SuperWhoLock fandom. If you know anything about SuperWhoLock, then you know you had to have pretty tough fucking skin to be a part of any of it.

Of course, this was back in the day when fandom was an actual community and not authors having to beg for scraps of engagement and people thinking its a numbers game. I was a fairly large blog within the SuperWhoLock community (Waywardly-Carrying-On was the username), but I left fandom for a few years because life got hectic and I felt like I had outgrown the fandom itself as I was no longer watching any of the shows. As the years went on, I started to yearn for the fandom experience again, which is how I found myself dipping toes into several different ones.

I was so excited to publish my first fanfic. I had convinced myself that I wasn't a good writer (much to the chagrin of my irl friends), and I had put a pause on writing my original story. I wanted to write this idea about a cowboy and a girl using characters that I had grown to love like I did way back in my older days. So, I started posting, and I was so excited for the story, that I kept posting almost daily. MamaMay was one of the first people to embrace not only my story, but me as a person into the fandom. She made me feel welcomed and wanted.

Pretty much right off the bat I was already getting anons telling me that I was being too much and that I needed to calm down with all the posting. I was confused because...this is Tumblr. It's literally a blogging website? Why wouldn't I post? I decided to ignore the mean words (not before giving my opinion, of course) and kept on doing my thing. Well, the anons got continually worse and worse. I had a suspiscion as to who the anons could be, but I never had concrete proof. So, I experimented with blocking suspects until finally it worked. I'm not naming names because that's not my style, so don't even bother asking.

The fact of the matter is, some of you have entered fandom spaces for the first time, and you don't know how to act. You don't care to learn fandom etiquette as you've made abundantly clear by calling fandom olds every name under the sun while utilizing the anonymous feature. Newsflash, you're part of the problem. You're the reason why authors don't want to publish anymore. You are the reason that something that's supposed to be fun is starting to feel like a goddamn chore.

How many times can authors on here say that we aren't machines? We have lives outside of this website: family, friends, jobs, school, etc. Some of you really are just hellbent on making everyone around you miserable, and it's sad. You can't just leave well enough alone and let people enjoy something, no you feel like everyone has to enjoy it the same way as you.

Some of you go after authors on here because of some weird sense of jealousy too. I don't know why my shit blew up, babe, I really don't. But I started out with no followers and no support just like everyone else. I'll tell you what helped me though: following fandom etiquette and reaching out to other creators to build an actual community. None of this "I've reblogged three of your things and now I'm messaging you so that you return the favor." No, I reached out to make actual friendships which is what fandom is SUPPOSED to be. If someone was clearly not interested, it was fine!! I backed off and kept doing my own thing.

Some of you think being mean on the internet makes you big and bad. Guess what! It doesn't! It's loser mentality and I feel genuinely sorry for you. I'm sorry that people in your own life made you feel so small as to feel like you had to lash out at strangers on the internet who are just trying to have fun.

Anyway, this is my really long way of saying that I am taking a break for a little bit. I have no idea how long it will be - could be the weekend, could be a couple of weeks, could be forever. I need time to decide if this is something I want to keep persuing. If I come back, I don't know if I will remain a TGM blog or if I'll shift gears and hop into another fandom with a rebrand. Guess we'll just have to see.

To the people on here who have been a constant source of joy, laughter, and support: thank you. From the bottom of my heart. Your presence has meant everything to me, and I hope that my break sees me wanting to come back and giggle about the silly plane movie with you all again.

Nothing but love,

Liz 💛

[fansplaining]

Hello! I just read your article Endless Appetite for Fanfiction. It was very good, and touched on a lot of problems we are faced with in this era of media exploitation. And I agree! There are so many threats! But I do think the future is still in our hands. As the producers and curators of the fandom, we get to steer our audience and peers in the direction we want it to go. Mostly by sticking to our guns and continuing to function as normal, and to teach newcomers the way of the land! We can write PSA's, do disclaimers, continue writing fic the way we want to, comment on each other's work, maintain visible fandom friendships, etc. There are so many things we can do! As long as we want deep connections to the work and each other ( which is why we are doing this in the first place), they can't take anything from us. If anything, we are more established than ever. Anyway, there is hope. <3

Aw, thank you so much for the lovely message, anon! That's this article, if someone still hasn't managed to see it haha.

I definitely agree that we should keep doing all the stuff you've beautifully articulated. Sometimes I feel that as fans and fic writers, there's not much more we can do: so much of this is about external forces we can't control.

As a journalist, I do feel like I have a little more in my arsenal—like reporting on the for-profit fic binding in a mainstream publication, which definitely brought it to the attention of people outside fandom. With these recent AI grifters, they capitulated pretty quickly when fandom pushed back, but I worry the next guy will be a bit more pro, or a bit more uncaring about public outcry. Legally, we do have rights here, but we're decentralized, and unlike Disney etc, an individual fan doesn't have a team of lawyers that can sit on Etsy or wherever, constantly issuing DMCA claims—let alone bring a lawsuit.

Then I think, I'm a fan and a journalist, and so many fandom people have professional skills that can help here. The OTW exists because trained pros—librarians, developers, lawyers—have donated their skills over the years. But they can't be the single centralized group in transformative fandom, and I often worry that many people treat them that way. It's partly why I've been excited to work with the EFF recently, since they're interested in being another transformative fandom advocate. But I also think there's room for much, much more.

So I do have some hope on the external side—it's hard to see what shape our pushback will take, but I know there are tons of fans who will push back! Within fandom itself, it's just as you say: we can make our spaces vibrant and welcoming and meaningful, and we can keep creating and sharing with people in those spaces. I have zero plans to stop writing and publishing fic, no matter how many jackasses swoop in and try to profit off it. And I'm grateful that so many of my fellow fans feel the same way.

Thanks again for your message—I really appreciate it. <3

[erithel]

Hi! Happy birthday! (If it still is in your timezone, and if it's not - happy belated birthday!)

Seeing your latest post, i wanted to tell you how much your fics, comics and art in general changed my life.

Reading your fics got me through the hardest times of my life. It's written to a degree so high it's astonishing. No fic i have ever read has made me feel the way yours did. Each and every one of them - even the unfinished ones - are so important. To me and so many others who have read them.

The things you write about, the angsty, sad and angry parts of life many are afraid of - they make processing the accidents that happened in your readers' lives so much better. Reading the characters letting their feelings out, reading them talk about the harsh truths, is what makes doing it in real life so much easier. It makes it less frightening.

Through your fics i learned how to communicate so many problems and difficulties in the last two years of my life, i genuinely don't think i would be alive today without them.

Your art has made a place in my heart at least 3 years ago. Your art has been a lighthouse in a dark, dark ocean. Always saving the lives of so many.

Your art-style, your comics, are some of my favorites. It's so beautiful, and it's so delicate - every detail perfected to a fault. The plot in your comics is, in my opinion, on par with the plot of your fics. Every plot twist is masterfully crafted, each word impactful. The characters never lacking in any way.

Your effort is showing in ever comic page, in every new chapter of your fics. It's been a pleasure to follow your art for so long, seeing the new things you tried. It's never invisible, never wasted. The thought you put into every single piece of any form of art is appreciated, and very viable.

Your art is never going to be replaced as long as people buy and read it, and i know it's never going to be replaced because i am one of those people. I will always be exited to see your url on my notifications, never mind the state i'm in or how uninterested i am in the fandom at that point in time.

Your art saves lives, and it's not going to stop doing that. Never.

Thank you for continuously putting out your art, even at times when you felt like giving up on it.

I hope this made you feel a little better about yourself in that regard. Your existence itself, and not just the art you put out, is important and appreciated. By many. Please never stop doing what you love as long as it's not hurting you.

I had to sit on this message for a bit just to process it.

Now, I think I want to say three things in response.

This is incredibly meaningful and the fact that you took the time to type this all out means the world to me.

I hope that you are okay. Obviously since this is posted anonymously, I cannot reach out to you directly or privately, but learning how to process emotions and communicate issues is such a tough road sometimes. It's one I'm learning to do, myself, and I am so happy to hear that you are learning what works for you. Progress might not feel like it's there at times, but it is there, I promise.

Everything that's been written here should be validating for anyone who writes or reads fan content. Personally, I have always written stories that hold personal importance to me, and I know I am not alone. A lot of people use fanfiction as not only an escape but as a means of catharsis. It feels more personal, in a way, than some traditionally publishes books or widely available shows/movies. And it makes sense because people aren't writing about things that will do well in the market at the time, they are writing about things they truly want to write about. Things that often hold deep, emotional meaning to them, and they are simply using the form of already established characters to convey those things. Creating fanfiction can often feel like something not to be taken seriously (and, to be fair, there are those who truly just do it for fun). But I know I need to remember — and others probably need to remember, too — that you never know who might find your story at the exact time they need to read it. You never know how much these things might stick with someone, or what they could mean to someone other than yourself. Thank you for reminding me that even though these fan creations aren't taken seriously by so many, the chance that they might actually have an impact on even one person is the thing that matters.

[antiplagiarism]

Heads up, HP writers and readers

@reposterforkindle has seen and acknowledged this post. Thank you for removing the plagiarized works. I really hope you will join the fandom with your own stories one day.

We have a serial plagiarist on our hands who knows exactly what they are doing.

"Message me if you want me to take it down. :)"

How cute! How coy! No harm. No foul, right?

WRONG!

You did not write any of this. You are taking someone else's work and using it for personal gain. You are not crediting the OG writers and are violating copyright laws. Yes, even fanfiction has copyright laws.

Don't believe me?

AO3's legal team has done extensive research on this. DMCA can be used for fanfiction by the original writer.

Are you ready for potential legal problems, @reposterforkindle ??

"Reposting" or publishing these to Kindle will also land you in hot water. So all you Kindle peeps may want to check and make sure nothing has made it to the store.

@chippedchina-teacup has already been dealing with this account and another one by the same user. While their works have been removed, many others have not.

Okay, HP community we need your help getting the word out. Do you see a story you recognize? Let the OG writer know then block this account. Do not otherwise engage. Report. Block. These creeps don't deserve anymore of your time.

DO NOT HARASS! I really cannot stress this enough.

In the event of a name change (Imma about to be blocked in like 2 seconds lmao), here's the stolen work currently on the blog courtesy of GoFullPage- a chrome extension.

It's in PDF form on Google Drive. Drop me a comment if you have trouble accessing it and need it.

[twopoppies]

Hi, sorry to bother but I'm a new-ish writer in this fandom (I write for larry stylinson) and I was just wondering how do I like get engagement with everybody? I just feel kinda outside looking in seeing alot of my fav big accounts share fics and get comments and kudos and I've been writing for larry basically since I started picking it up as a hobby (like 2021) like I've noticed this fandom prefers works to be published all at once or/and on a strict posting schedule with is probably why mine don't do very well 😂 but yeah I've just been writing for larry for a super long time (at least for me it feels like) and I haven't got any engagement on ao3 like literally at all (in total I've gotten like 10 kudos across 2 fics lifetime) and 0 comments in the span of the stories being up for 2-ish years now or 1 year...I just kinda feel shunned😔

Hi, sweetheart. I'm sorry it's taken me a few days to answer you.

So, yes. I'd say the majority of the fandom prefers their fics to be posted all at once or to know that the fic is done and is posting on a schedule. Too many times, people get invested, and then the fic is abandoned.

I really doubt you're being shunned, but I absolutely understand how it feels not to get the engagement you were hoping for. How are you publicizing your fics? If you're just posting then and hoping people will find them through tags or scrolling, that may be the problem.

I don't know that I'm any sort of expert on this, but making a fic post would be the very least I'd do. Write a compelling summary and make a mood board of whatever sort you like that gives readers a sense of your fic. If you don't have much of a following, send it to people and ask if they would mind helping you get some traction. I don't mind at all when people message more for a signal boost. I'm sure others won't mind either.

You can try messaging fic reccers, but I really don't know who does that on a regular basis. Maybe someone else can chime in. But, if you see fic recs on your dash, try messaging the people who are making them.

Beyond that, tagging your post well with clear tags of what people might search is really helpful. Tag it #Slow Burn, don't tag it #Slowest of slow burns ever oh my god I don't know how to tag. You know what I mean?

Does anyone else have any suggestions on how to get more eyes on your fics?

I've answered this a couple of times (probably with exactly the same advice) here: HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR FIC

[atalienart]

I think the number of likes, reblogs, and comments depend on the type of content you share. If someone hasn’t read about your OC then the chances of them liking it, reblogging it, or commenting on it decreases. When artist shares a drawing and it’s of a fandom they are part of they are more likely to like, reblog, and comment. I’ve noticed existing fandoms get more likes than OC since you’re appealing to a smaller demographic. I personally have never seen ai get as many likes, reblogs, or comments compared to the art real artist put out. I do agree fandom has changed and I think it’s just the newer generation is more of silent viewers (or would rather like than reblog or comment), and those of us who have been on tumblr for a while know the proper etiquette to show appreciation for a post to encourage the blogger is not only to like but reblog and comment too. 

Definitely, the more something's popular the more people will look for it and like it. I've never said otherwise. I also didn't say that Al gets more likes. From what I can see people who like art aren't super interested in Al shit, and even if it catches their attention initially, the enthusiasm dies instantly as soon as they find out it's generated by a machine. The problem with Al images is that they flood the internet, they're like garbage in a sea. People would like to enjoy some nice fish and coral but they are hit in the face by a drifting plastic bottle.

Fandom culture changed drastically. I don't blame young people that they aren't as active, because they are bombarded by "new shiny things" constantly. Every movie, show, game, book appears and you blink and it's gone and something else is hot and trendy, and you absolutely have to watch it or read it because otherwise you'll miss out. Sherlock was a shitty show but it was three episodes every two years and the fandom could theorise, write fanfiction and make art in the meantime so it was exciting. Now people get four episodes of Bridgerton and can't wait a month for another four. And that same month another 50 shows, books and games get aired and published, so would you even remember those previous episodes? Such consumption is tiring. Putting a lot of energy into something that would be irrelevant (or cancelled) in a week seems pointless. Hitting the like button is just less effort.

I don't know if tumblr is much different when it's about reblogging from other social media right now. People here are definitely very kind to leave a longer comment when you ask about stuff or point out something, which is really amazing, that's why I like tumblr. Messages are also great! I can't grasp twitter though, people there would rather die than leave a comment, unless it's some rage bite like "dogs are stupid" or "no one likes green". On insta I still feel awkward xD

Anyway, because it's the whole essay xD yeah, what you said is true.

[zeldaelmo]

I admittedly have not had a chance to catch up on your bibliography as of tagging you to know that, but I'm glad to see there are chapter names to pick your brain on. Would be very curious about "8. ...and one that wasn't stolen at all." and the combo of "Sweet Secrets" to "Miserable Decisions" catches the eye. Curious how you landed on any or all of those.

Thank you, Amelia! Lol, bibliography is the right term, there's a lot to discover! No pressure from my side, though, the stories won't go anyway, so there's plenty of time if something catches your eye.

"...and one that wasn't stolen at all" is a reference to the fic title "Stolen Kisses ".

Stolen Kisses is an AoC story where Zelda and Link confess their feelings after the battle of Fort Hateno. The King nearly immediately finds out and forbids the relationship.

They keep seeing each other to steal kisses, but when the occasion of a masquerade ball arises, they disguise themselves in such a way that they're able to kiss directly in front of the King. So, that one kiss isn't stolen at all...

When I wrote the story, there was a fandom challenge by @zelink-prompts about a masquerade ball and I wrote this chapter ahead of time and published it as a one-shot. That worked surprisingly well and I'm positive it gathered some of the attention the finished fic received in the end. Stolen Kisses is my most popular long fic to this day.

So here's one of my favorite paragraphs from the chapter:

Back then, when the war laughed them in their faces with its ugly grimace, they had agreed to live for the moment. She wasn’t sure if he tried to save himself from heartbreak when he refused to speak about their future or if he simply believed they had none.

Live now, worry later—it was a motto that suited courage, not wisdom.

***

"Sweet Secrets" and "Miserable Decisions" are from Inspiration, Illusions, and other Inconveniences. It's a modern AU where Link is Zelda's bodyguard. He's barely allowed to talk to her but that matters little anyway because she hates him and all what he stands for. Good thing he has his evenings where he spends his time as an artist! One night he makes fanart for a popular blog that published fanfiction of the heroes and princesses of old. Before he knows it, he's in a flirty online relationship with the blogger. There's just one thing: he can't shake the feeling that "Tetra" is someone from the castle...

Sweet Secrets is a chapter where Link chats with Tetra while he sits in his favorite secret spot. I coded the text messages so that they look like messenger posts because it's more fun to read them like this. There's a nice bit of flirty banter in this chapter but then, Tetra asks Link if he wants to meet up with her at the festivities for Hero's Day...

Which brings us to Miserable Decisions. Princess Zelda refused to pick an actor or other celebrity to play the part of the hero alongside her for the festivities (parade, show, and masquerade party), so the King decides Link is going to do it. That's not only a problem because he got into a fight with Princess Zelda and has yet to apologize but he also has promised Tetra to meet with her at the party...

She should be mad with her father, Link thought. He had fought tooth and nail that he didn't have to accompany her, but since her father left, her rage shifted unavoidably to him. She gave him a stare that made the icy beam of a Gleeok look like a refreshment.

Link broke eye contact, sighed, and said, “Be assured it wasn't my idea, Your Highness.”

He left the room with as much dignity he could gather which was admittedly not much. There was nothing to talk about to her. She didn't want him there, he didn't want to be there, and neither of them would get what they wanted.

I think Inspiration, Illusions, and other Inconveniences might actually qualify as Original Legend, but I haven't suggested it because the beginning is a bit BotW-ish with the "I loath my bodyguard" situation. Then again, it has the whole plotline with the writer/artist blog thing which is undoubtedly original...

Fics mentioned in this post:

[the-dead-gay-oscars]

NEWS

Hey folks! Thanks for staying tuned through all of this!

We're updating the plan a little bit, and I want to let all of the amazing participators here know. We had previously decided that we'd be voting for the "Best" of this or "Most" of this. But when you think about it, that's not what fandom is meant to be about, like, at all. We're here to share our enthusiasm, connect as a community, support each other, and definitely not compete in a way that could really easily tear each other down.

So we will no longer be doing a single "Best" or "Most" in our Marauscars.

But don't worry, we're not going away! What we'll do instead is have Marauscars Posts on specific dates (March 2 for sure!) where we release all of the nominees for one category and some of the things that were awesome about their blogs, to appreciate them. Then you can keep the trend going by reblogging with any fics that you thought of but didn't submit, or just sharing your mutual.

Dates with nomination deadlines for categories will arrive soon!

That all means that Nominations are still open! Please, continue nominating! Your support is so sweet, and in order to make this as fun as it can be we need LOTS of opinions-- we still have multiple completely empty categories!

Fandom is not about comparing ourselves. It is purely about having fun with people who are silly in the same way that we are.

The Committee would like to apologise if we ever spread any other message than that. Fanfiction is not meant to be a published book or the same kind of thing. It's a completely different vein of fiction and comparing it to that is missing the point on my part.

Another fun thing that we'll be doing here is group polls that DON'T have to do with rating our own work. It's mostly just a hype-up for the Marauscars Day, but it should be fun for all of us as well. Ships, etc-- there are a lot of Marauders fans here to weigh in, and I'm so pleased you're all here.

If there's ever anything that we're doing that causes problems or hurts feelings, please let us know. We want this to be for all. Also, if you have questions about any of the new guidelines please let me know-- I know this post is a little wordy, and hard to read.

Thank You!

❤️The Committee!

[synonemous]

well. it sure has been a while, huh?

I've written and rewritten this post so many times, but as the year is drawing to a close, I figured it was time.

I want to apologise for more or less falling off the face of the planet last year, and right after I published what I'm sure was at least a slightly concerning post. I won't bother you all with the nit and grit of everything that's happened, but here, have a tl;dr under the cut.

the long and short of it is that early last year, I received the very cheerful news that I have reoccurring ovarian cysts. while those aren't ideal, they were not the problem. the one that had made itself well at home was, however. in the summer of last year, I had that cyst as well as an ovary removed for my own safety. (this is your regular reminder to get yourself checked out regularly, no matter what "equipment" you have.)

now, the cyst wasn't cancerous, but the surgery put me out of physical commission for a good couple of months. that, coupled with the potential health scare that I'd been living with before the surgery itself, meant that I wasn't doing great creatively. I've basically been struggling with burnout since the start of 2023, and while I'm slowly getting back to writing, it's taking a while, and will continue to take a while. that's just recovery for you.

I have been, in the wake of the surgery and completely unrelated to it, dealing with other health issues as well. and it's been frustrating because it's taken me several doctors to even find someone that took me seriously. that has also not helped me creatively. with everything that's been going on, I've barely had any spoons left over to engage in fandom or social media, which has led to a lot of messages piling up and my guilt just getting steadily worse as a result. please know that I haven't been ignoring any of your messages or comments or reviews, I just have not been in the headspace to answer them. I am trying to be better at it, but that is also going to take me a while. I hope you can forgive me.

I hope that I will get some answers in 2025, including a diagnosis, so I can actually move forward with my life. cross your fingers and toes for me. I just may need it.

but yeah, as far as the actual the actual tl;dr goes: I've been burned out mentally and creatively thanks to Life™ and Health Issues™, but I'm hoping things will turn around soon. 🤞

[separatist-apologist]

Can I ask, in your opinion and as a receiver of the occasional hate message, how toxic is the acotar fandom? Bc I’ve written a real belter of a Tamlin fic, a real humdinger, a certified banger if you will. The only thing holding me back from publishing is if I’m going to get a bunch of teenagers shouting at me on the internet about their opinions 🥲

Tragically it's not teenagers you need to worry about but women over the age of 30 who peaked in high school and never learned to mind their own business.

I can't tell you if you're going to get hate or not- but I will say that not doing something because a small group of adult weirdos think its their job to police the fandom is a bad reason not to do something you're proud of.

So what if someone sends you anonymous hate? I mean this genuinely- what kind of person does that, you know? A coward. Definitely someone who lacks real life connection with people but also lacks the self-awareness to realize they're the problem.

I think that all fandom has its toxic elements and genuinely just blocking people + carving out a niche of friends within your little subsection of fandom makes all the difference. I know plenty of people write Tamlin fic and seem to do just fine (though I don't know what's happening in their comment sections to be fair).