#it was unnecessary and discouraging as a writer and I did not appreciate it. I don’t like what I wrote either but I dislike more that peopl

[privaterecording1clips]

I have been away since the MCC, and I haven't been really posting things or keeping up with the group activity. Imagine my fucking reaction when I wake up on a Sunday morning to Discord exploding over night.

I have some conflicting emotions towards CCs talking so openly about fanfics. Part of me is glad that they acknowledge our existence, like I know a few of them are here, and even seen my own posts, like OMG MY STREAMERS KNOW I EXIST. And fanfics, it's huge! It's a step up from liveblogging and headcanon posts, it's a fanart in its spirit, but painted with words, and similarly poured the author's soul into.

But there's like that thing with...prejudice? I've seen people mention fanfiction in Chilled's streams before, and in yt as well, and there were not exactly positive opinions. I know they were talking about there being very few smut works, but it feels like they were bringing them up the most, and it's just frustrating to not be understood in the right way. After all, everything we do here, and everything we write on Ao3 is us expressing our love and support in the ways we can, none of us have any malicious thought or want to be hurtful and spread hatred or smth.

Do you think there's a world where they could speak of Tumblr/Ao3 part of their community from a bit of a different angle? Do you think that fanfiction should be acknowledged and spoken about more?

(Also, I know it's stupid, but I feel just the tiniest bit salty. I wrote good stuff, why won't they talk about me too?!)

Yeah, I have very conflicting emotions about it too. (Mostly I feel betrayed by whoever was linking Platy fics LMAO)

Tumblr and Ao3 get a bad rap for being “cringe” I guess. Personally I think that they are the only places left on the internet that are well-known and not too corrupted by capitalism and algorithms (especially Ao3 my beloved). But I really don’t give a shit - I hate cringe culture with a passion.

But yeah. It’s the whole thing of like. You can’t post works on the internet and expect people (especially the streamers themselves) to just not see it? Because it’s out in the public. They have every right to view it.

But, I’d personally rather my fics NOT be spoken about on a livestream, in front of thousands of people. That’s just my preference, because honestly the reason I post fics at all is this is a very small fandom, and they won’t blow up or be noticed and judged by multitudes of people. I’m far more comfortable with a small audience, and I would not want my fics to be mentioned on stream where lots of people (far too many for my liking) may go looking for them. (This is why I post more about PR1 than mcyt, even tho I love both equally).

But i think if the streamers are fine with fanfic being posted, I see no reason for people to hate on fanfic??? In fact, I see no reason for people to hate it at all? You can inform someone that a creator is uncomfortable with fanfic/certain types of fanworks and ask them to take it down without being a hater. Decency is not difficult, and when you’re in a fandom that is not against fanfic and stuff I don’t see why you’d ever waste your energy hating on something that literally doesn’t effect you?

It’s the same thing with any type of hate comment. If there’s no reason to be upset by something other than the fact that You Don’t Like It, take some preschool advice and walk away. It doesn’t concern you. (Btw Tasha, I don’t mean you specifically, I mean the Royal You!!! Sorry if this was confusing I just realised lmao)

Sorry for getting pretty serious, but I am just quite upset by people who discourage artists when they haven’t done anything wrong.

That said, if a creator has expressed a desire to not have fanworks made of them, then I implore you to respect their boundaries. It’s just the kind thing to do.

[potatomountain]

I want to come on the record and say yes what you did was wrong but the hate mail needs to stop.

Everyone sending hate mail is the wrong. It's unnecessary and frankly doesn't make anyone any better. It's only going to serve to hurt you more.

To anyone reading this: Doom has acknowledged that they did something wrong. That's it. End of discussion.

Jackie is my friend, so I understand why she's hurt. I would be just as hurt if someone had done this to me as well. I have stories I've spent literal years working on, defining character relationships, refining those characters, writing and rewriting plot points. It's a hard thing, coming up with your own story. So I understand why the authors are upset. A lot goes into these stories, more than readers will ever know.

Anyone who doesn't write doesn't know how sometimes we just sit and stare at a blank document because we don't know what to write. How many sleepless nights, late night crying sessions, and copious amounts of coffee/energy drinks go into making these stories. And guess what. We do it all for free.

Sorry, I went off on a tangent at the end there but guys, please be kind. Stop calling Doom names and sending hate mail.

Finally, I hope this doesn't discourage you from writing, Doom.

It takes a long time to hone this craft. Keep at it and don't be afraid to ask for help. The writing community is full of people who are more than happy to help you. -booki

Thank you so much for this.

I'm taking a break and re-evaluating my writing and other things a lot. The last thing I wanted was to hurt Jackie and the other authors and I'm doing my best to make up for it how I can.

I'm going to do my best to make sure I never hurt another in this way again and I wish nothing but the best for Jackie and her stories and everyone else.

And yes I would also appreciate the hate to stop. I know plenty how wrong I was and I'm working on it. The names and more have not been helpful. I've had a lot of other writers and moots and readers express their care and support and it means the world to me.

I don't condone what I did, I don't want anyone to condone what I did, but the harassment is just that- harassment.

So again I appreciate this very much. Thank you.

[taintedsoul-if]

Oh no, YanYan I've noticed some nasty anon upset you on the other blog 😩 Some people just suck. They are too immature to just shut up and step aside when it's needed. You know for me it's quit ridiculous that somebody threatens to not read the story not because something is really wrong with it, but because "oh no I'm egocentric princess, the whole world must revolve around me and you author must write what I want! Did you hear me?! WHAT I WANT!". Just pathetic. Until one hires you as their personal well-paid writer they has no right to demand anything from YOUR story. Jeez…imagine how pitifully dramatic must they act in supermarket: "what's this?! they don't have an apricot yogurt?! you know what, I'm gonna call the manager, yell at them that this place doesn't meet my little princess expectations and I will never ever come back here again! Did you hear me?! I said NEVER EVER AGAIN!!!".

Constructive criticism is a good thing, but " 'wrong' RO's gender" and "the author doesn't write what I want the way I want" are not constructive criticism but bullshit.

Don't waste your energy on them, my dear, it's not worth it. There are a lot of people who truly appreciate and enjoy your work😌

😃 they really aren't worth it. At the end of the day we're all adults. If they want to act like a petty ass toddler who craves ice cream then they can go right ahead. I do not believe in having unnecessary arguments and that is why I told that person last night "Aight do your thing. Bye." Cause I ain't got time to be pacifying a grown ass adult.

I won't stop writing. Besides I do not doubt my writing abilities. I have what it takes to continue chasing my dreams and I won't allow some keyboard warrior to come here and break my spirit. What most don't understand is that, one only knows what a person wants them to know. A person who I just met in passing has no influence over me whatsoever because like I don't know you. So let them continue yapping.

The ones who're yapping can hardly construct a proper plot line for a story.

All imma say is if one doesn't like a person's content there's no need to discourage them. Just scroll.... simple.

Thanks for looking out for me once again Blushing Anon.

[novellaquill]

John Wick with a Magic S/O Part (1/?)

Just imagine having powers in the John Wick verse and hang with me for a minute

I’d imagine having a sort of low key life

if you are insanely power you wouldn’t really act on it

Magic only enhances what’s already there, so if you really wanted to keep your magic life from your personal life you could

I’d imagine you conducting your home life like Cassie Nightgale (The Good Witch) or Matilda

You help out those in need in a more subtle way and use magic for more minor inconveniences if you truly didn’t want to get up

No occult shop or palm readings or something like that

it’s too on the nose and too easy for someone with magic to target you

I could see a Bell Book & Candle in your life or maybe a librarian or a teacher, a needed and humble job

Hell you could be an entrepreneur, work in a mechanic shop, a connivence store

John wouldn’t care where you worked as long you enjoy it as it’s not too flashy or draw unnecessary attention to him

If your job was flashy he’d ask your relationship to be private he’s a loner

John has a lot of drama in his life and he doesn’t need more

If you have drama I’d think you’d be able to handle it without alerting your mortal neighbors

Your relationship and how you use your powers would depend on how you meet John

Before the events of the first John Wick:

You’re a well respected and needed friend to John and to his wife

You were moving into the neighborhood and happened to catch Helen’s eye so of course she dragged John over and boom acquaintances

He wouldn’t mind you as a friend but is definitely cautious

What normal person knows who’s walking into a room without moving or breaking concentrations from your current task?

It even happens with strangers you’ve never met

John a closed off person, the only one we made him open up and understands him is Helen

So imagine how offput he would be of you knew how everyone including how he is feeling

For a while he might think you’re a assassin or mercenary and keep his guard up around you

I mean you could be who knows

After awhile he gets used to it like everyone else

He brushes off as part of your charm but you both know it’s something more

Your relationship with John is purely platonic

He has Helen and you’re not looking to break up anyone’s relationship

If you do have crush on him impossible not to it doesn’t show and he wouldn’t notice if it did

Helen’s the only girl in the world to him, he could never cheat on not even in his mind

As we begin to reach the beginning of the first movie you’re relationship would grow when Helen gets sick, still platonic but you’re closer than ever

Wether you have a shop or not you’re know for your natural remedies and amazing advice

John would appreciate you helping anyway you can and for not discouraging Helen from getting medical attention

Most of your stuff is to make her time left as stress free and painless as possible

And that’s all John can ask for at this point

Part of making Helen’s life stress free would consist of making sure John is okay after she’s gone

Which would break you because she’s a dear friend and you don’t want her to die and you know her death would break John

It was your idea to get John a puppy, you knew Daisy would help him heal

It’s times like this when you wish that magic was just like the movies and take away all the bad things in the world

But it can’t

so you’re there for them, every step of the way

When Helen dies you say your goodbyes and wait for him to come of out her room

You bring her groceries and help clean up

You make sure he’s taking care of himself

You use your magic to help out and make sure nothing extra shitty happens

His wife died give him a break world

He’s not snappy and he doesn’t cry because you’re not babying him and he has no more tears to shed

He is getting increasingly more suspicious of you but is unaware it’s magic

This is where feelings are starting to surface but no one acts on it

It might just be because you’re both hurting and her death is too fresh it would be a betrayal

After the funeral and he receives Daisy he slowly gets better

He knows you had something to do with his new pet and he’s not complaining

You still help out whenever you can and he asks for you stay a little longer each time

Nothing happens but even with Daisy it’s hard to be alone

Soon you realize he’s there for you too in his own way

The relationship is still platonic but something is there

Just underneath the surface of two grieving friends something more is growing in the midst of tragedy

To sum it up your relationship with John before the movie is a slow burn

I couldn’t resist adding magic in the John Wick verse but it’s really low key and peaceful. If you guys like it I’ll make a part 2. After all this the beginning and there’s 3 movies. If there’s a part 2 it will be a lot more interesting I promise. Let know what you guys think in the comments and give me ideas please I’m suffering from writers block!!

~Novella Quill

[myulalie]

On modern comment culture

First off, I’d like to make the distinction between honesty, and being hurtful under the pretense of being honest.

Hate, be it anon or not, is hurting someone’s feelings on purpose.

You can receive hate and be a hater too. It might be easier, even, to go from the hate you receive on your work, and take it out onto someone else’s.

Here is how I picture a hater's mind: “easy to pour some hate into a comment section, you don't see the person and they receive nice comments. They probably won't even notice.”

Sometimes, constructive criticism, even with your best interests at heart, hurts.

We don’t expect it, it’s not what we meant to write, or we just didn’t worry about how our work could be perceived.

It might be a very European vs American perception of criticism, and I aspire to get better, so the choice I made is to receive constructive criticism (concrit for short).

I wish someone would tell me if I’m writing something that doesn’t work, and why it doesn’t. I wish someone would point it out if I misuse a word.

Positive feedback is great and encouraging, actual comments about what someone likes/dislikes and why is helpful.

Not wanting any concrit is the author’s choice and I respect it. This is the reason I only offer concrit to anyone who told me they’re interested.

I wish concrit was still a thing

Modern comment culture is protective of authors, and there is a general agreement that concrit, especially unsolicited, is unnecessary.

I fully support the fact that fanfic authors are writing for free, so they deserve basic respect for their work.

This doesn’t give them the right to be assholes.

You put your work out there, you have a responsibility to at the very least let people know you’re not interested in concrit, and to disable/moderate comments if you don’t want them.

If someone comes to bug you when you explicitly mentioned you’re not interested in concrit then yeah, by all means, tell them to fuck off.

I think it’s important to let haters know their behavior is unacceptable. As they say, the only way to deal with a bully is to punch them in the face (or make them face the consequences of their actions as a general rule).

The author’s reply to hate tells a lot about them, but their reply to concrit also does.

Being polite should be a given.

And it goes both ways!

Readers are offering concrit for free too, they take the time to do so because they genuinely want to help. They enjoy your story enough to want to interact with you.

I’ve had a lot more comments than usual with kinktober, and I’ve built up a new habit of replying the next day before or after posting my daily take on the prompts.

I am aware that the amount of comments I receive is manageable, and some people have to deal with a lot more every day (like, hundreds).

In my experience, replying to short and sweet comments can be challenging because a simple thank you message isn’t personal enough, and you as a writer don’t have much content to actually reply to either.

Longer comments often open up more possibilities to reply, even if it’s just to let the reader know how you felt when reading their comment.

I believe that no matter how shy or busy you are, copying and pasting a little thank you message isn’t that difficult, and doesn’t take that long. You could even leave a note in each new chapter to let your readers know you read their comments and appreciate them.

Acknowledging readers will encourage them to comment your fics more, and potentially to the benefit of other authors too.

Don’t start fights because of concrit

Readers, please know that a simple heart as additional kudos goes a long way. Saying what you liked or just that you're enjoying the story is really encouraging too!

If you’d like to leave concrit, maybe formulate your comment as a question instead of pointing something out, to avoid upsetting the author.

I’m sure you mean well when you leave a comment, and you don’t want to discourage the author if you like what they’re writing!

If the author is open to concrit, they’ll probably reply to your question and ask their own, which leads to a conversation. Better safe than sorry, offer concrit and wait for them to agree, there is no use in getting into a fight with the author.

A better use of your time as a reader would be to read even more, I’m not getting in the way of your fun, or go and offer comments & concrit to someone who is interested in what you have to say.

As a writer, I guess you can always write more, and maybe thank readers for their kind words!

How to establish dialogue with your readers

Disclaimer: I’m still learning, and the amount of comments I receive compared to my free time is manageable. Before you proceed, please note I asked my reader for permission to use their comments as examples.

Myulalie: I would like to make a tumblr post about comments and include yours as an example.

It's to explain why I value them and how I proceed to reply, because I have strong feelings about author/reader relationships ^^

Would you be okay with that? It's totally fine if you're not, I am asking for permission because I don't want to make you uncomfortable.

Also, if you agree and for some reason change your mind once you've read the tumblr post, I'll remove it, no questions asked ^^

Reader: I don’t mind at all, I know a lot of people don’t leave feedback, for a variety of reasons, so any education in how/why is always important. I’m just glad my comments fall in to the good category 😁

Thanks for asking, you have my permission to use any you like.

The context is as follows: The characters went on vacation and asked friends to pet-sit their cats. I then used the characters’ cats as plot devices for the characters to move in together. A cat hid under the sink and refused to leave, which brought forth the “moving in” conversation.

Reader: Alcohol + other person = trautamised cat and an empty drinks cabinet... which I would be making them restock, oh and embarrassed friends... the cat might want to stay but I know the signs of a traumatised let.. sometimes taking a chance on something turns out to be the best thing in your life, so far, until the proposal

This reader is lovely and has been commenting on every chapter of this story, as well as some other stories. We never had any issue whatsoever and even chatted about their cat.

This is what I consider a good relationship, and when I read this comment I was surprised. I did not expect them to interpret the story this way.

The fact is, this reader is “wrong” because it’s not what I meant when I wrote (nothing happened to the cat, the alcohol part of the chapter is not related to the cat’s behavior).

This reader is also right because this IS what I wrote. The cat is hiding for plot purposes, but the plot also includes the pet-sitters getting drunk. I implied them making out, then regretting it later, thus behaving weirdly around each other, which was meant as comic relief.

I have seen replies to similar comments and needless to say people get into fights over such misunderstandings.

Here is my reply:

Myulalie: I would like to make the official statement that nothing bad happened to the cats D:

Ragnor & Jace's shenaningans were meant to hint at drunk making out and nothing more. The worse thing Church had to go through is second hand embarrassment I promise ♥ I can't bring myself to traumatise Church and I'm glad you pointed out that it sorts of look like something was wrong with him ^^ The only thing "wrong" is the plot device I used to have malec move in together haha :')

I appreciate this reader trusting me enough to point this out and letting me know how they feel.

I think it’s important to be aware of how this can be read. A beta would probably have told me how the chapter looked from an external point of view and suggested writing the same idea differently. As things are, I didn’t have a beta-reader for this fic.

Here is the reader’s reply:

Reader: Lol, good to know, although in my experience cats bring it on themselves, nosy little voyeurs that they are....

See how we solved the problem by simply having a conversation? This is why I appreciate concrit and do my best to treat readers well.

edit: upon checking in with the reader to make sure the post sat well with them, they told me they never meant it as criticism and actually found the chapter funny, their comment was written in a sarcastic manner that I totally missed!

There, you have it. I am full of good intentions and I still miss some of the meaning of the comment!

There was a second comment on the following chapter.

I’ll just mention that one of the cats dipped his paws in a can of paint and made a mess on the wall. One of the character makes a pet account on Instagram to post pictures of the cat’s “artwork” with paint.

Reader: I always love a story that ends on a happy ever after, although I do think alec was taking a big chance tying the rings to the cats collars, especially after the paint incident... we won’t go in to what I think of people having Instagram accounts for their pets, although the paining does sound nice...

This was a very cute story and I’m glad that they found their forever person :grin:

If you don’t get it, this reader and me disagree on pet accounts.

The fact is, they are allowed to express themselves, and they did it respectfully. I don’t think this comment is rude, and I don’t think this reader feels “entitled”. Quite the contrary, they’re polite and felt comfortable enough to let me know what they think.

I didn’t argue with them. My reply consisted in politely reminding everyone who might read this story that this is a work of fiction, and that it’s here for both the reader’s and the author’s entertainment.

Myulalie: Well, I definitely don't recommend doing your proposal this way IRL, fortunately stories are a safe space to make crazy proposals for entertainment's sake :')

I'm glad you liked the ending! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me all throughout the story, I really appreciated our chats ♥

edit: I thought we disagreed. We chatted again and they told me they don't have IG so they don't see the point of running 2 accounts, which fair. Because I used to run a pet account for my dog, I felt "attacked" where I absolutely wasn't.

One more example of misinterpretation!

I think the only way forward is together.

Authors deserve respect for their work, it doesn’t exempt them from being polite. Readers might need some sort of education on “comment etiquette”, and should be respected in return.

I want this platform to be a safe space for authors AND for readers.

[tommyparkerr]

Writers and Readers PSA Part 2:

See the first PSA here.

I recently received a lot of unnecessary hate on a story I’ve been posting on my fanfiction.net account and addressed it in an upcoming author’s note. I felt it was a good reminder for everyone, so I’m posting it on here as well.

*Altered slightly to fit a general audience*

As a friendly reminder, remember the difference between criticism and constructive criticism; I know the large majority of you know the line there, but some of you ignored it and chose to leave nasty reviews (that I have removed) saying how the sudden twist doesn’t make any sense, that you didn’t see it coming so that must mean I’m a terrible author. But I want to ask you—think of your favorite book and then think of the most shocking plot twist that took place in it. Did you expect that? No. But did you attack the author and tell them they were an awful author because of that plot twist (and the many others, most likely)? Absolutely not. Because you knew the plot had yet to be resolved—just like this story. No, it doesn’t make total sense right now, but that’s kind of the point. So the next time a plot twist happens and you’re not happy that you didn’t see it coming or you’re not happy because it doesn’t make sense—wait. Before you type something nasty and post it, wait.

It is so discouraging as an author to post something you’re proud of and have been planning for MONTHS and to be met with a very unpleasant response. I showed the reviews to a couple of friends ( @starsholland @kevyfanfics ) and they were appalled at some of the things that were said; I told them specifically that I’m so glad I wasn’t a beginning author, because if I was and I had that bad of a response I probably would’ve given up on the story and never tried writing again. Words hurt, guys. Don’t hide behind a screen and bully an author because they did something you didn’t like. And, better yet, if you don’t like something, LEAVE. Click out of the fic, close the tab, forget about it. If you find the above recommendations too hard to do, then this one is easy. I want to remind you that we are giving you free content, so do not think that you have the right to hate on what we’re giving you. Be like the “It’s an avocado...thanks!” kid. We are giving you a gift that we poured our heart and soul into—treat it like so. If you don’t have anything nice to say, either don’t say anything at all (wait) or leave. I would rather not have you as a reader at all.

For those of you that leave the kindest, bestest reviews amidst all the nasty, thank you so, so, so much! There’s a special place in heaven for y’all, and I wish I could give you all hugs and tell you how much I and every other author appreciate you but I can’t. But just know we have boundless amounts of love for you❤️

[andaleduardo]

I think a little epilogue to wrap things up a little would be perfect!! I'm sorry you got discouraged because of all that unnecessary discourse. Please continue creating!! You are a wonderful, talented writer!! Thank you for sharing your content with us!

Thank you for being so kind and giving me an opinion!

I’ll try to focus on writing an epilogue then, and yes, it’s kinda sad that there’s always this kind of discourse that makes me doubt my own intentions with my writing. I did not mean to make things toxic or wtv, and now I feel this obligation to justify why I wrote certain things when even I don’t know the answer?

but anyway, it means a lot that you took some time to give me an opinion, I really appreciate it, I don’t want to disappoint the ones who do like Rooftop....

[mfackenthal]

The MFackenthal Show and @maxattack-powell!

banner by @whenyourheartskipsabeat

Hello all!  Welcome back to the MFackenthal Show!  I am so glad that you are here today.  If you’re new to the show, I encourage you to go here to find past episodes.  There are only a few.

The MFackenthal Show has officially been green lit for more episodes!  We used to only be able to afford to run the show every once in a while, but the people have spoken - they want to see the show more often!  The funding came through and we hope to give the people what they want!  Do you want to be on the show?  Do you have someone that you want to see on the show?  If so - reblog or comment or send a message to let MFackenthal know!  We’ll see what we can do!  We have this show and two others lined up for you!

I could not be more excited to bring you this next guest.  She has been with the fandom for quite a while.  She was one of the first people I started communicating with on a regular basis.  She has talked me up, supported me from the beginning and though she hasn’t written much lately - when she does drop a chapter - it’s long and it’s worth it!  Please welcome to the stage @maxattack-powell!!!!!  (Insert Cheering here!)

(Megs greets Max with a hug - which means that Megs essentially runs and leaps into Max’s arms.  Max is fairly tall and Megs is barely 5′3″) 

Megs:  Max, I am so happy that you are here!  Can you believe that you’re here today?

Max:  Haha, yes - I can.  But I am honored to be here.

Megs:  Max, sit with me.  For those in the audience who may not know you, tell us about when and why you joined the fandom.

Max: Yanno, I always made my best guess at this before, but I knew you were going to ask me this - so I looked it up.  Did you know that now there’s this Official Tumblr blog called @memories, and it knows down to the minute when someone joined? Let me go check it… *digs through the blogs posts* Okay, it was apparently 07/31/2017 at 1:17:15 PM, which means it must have been on the weekend because of the time of day haha.

As for why ... hmm, well… I found the Choices app one day, when it only had like… three series I think! Anyone else remember that time? 

Megs:  I do!  Because I was playing Hollywood University I think I downloaded choices the day the app came out.

Max: Awh!  Well, I fell in love with The Freshman Series. Mostly because of Chris Powell and Zack Zilberg, and a long time ago I was in another fandom that had tons of fan fiction/art… so I googled “Choices Chris Powell” and any other combination I could think of looking for possible fanfiction. The fandom was almost non existent at the time. There was actually one person, who has long since left the fandom due to fandom dramas - we all know the kinds I’m talking about - but a few others had started posting their works as well… and I got hooked. Eventually I felt the bug to write how I felt TF should play out as well, and here I am *looks back at the “joined tumblr timestamp”* uhh… 20ish months ago!  Haha!!

Megs:  LOL, when you put it that way it doesn’t sound like that long ago ... lets call a spade a spade - that was almost 2 years ago!  That’s amazing!  You have to have seen so much in this fandom!  What is it that keeps you around?

Max: There are so many awesome people in this fandom, in this world we’ve all created for our pixelated loves lol. Soooo many creative minds to follow and enjoy. The content people share, original or repost… it’s great. 

... Unfortunately it is also a double edge sword ... the drama, the jealousy, the rumors, the hate, etc. I’ve sadly seen far too much and it comes in so many forms… it’s unnecessary.

Megs:  I couldn’t agree more!  If you could tell the fandom one thing - what would it be?

Max: It would be that we’re all here because we want to have a good time. No one came here to get ridiculed, to be scrutinized or chastised for their opinions, their likes or dislikes. Real life has enough of that going on. We are all individuals - if you want to be treated nicely, fairly, etc. you must also do the same to others. There is no reason someone must agree with you or anyone else. Live and let live. Embrace our differences as it makes us who we are. Most of the issues I see stem from a simple difference in opinion. That is ridiculous. Everyone’s entitled to their own thoughts. We must build each other up, not tear one another down. No one here owes anyone anything, now go have some fun.

(The room stands up in applause!)

Megs:  You should definitely stand up and take a bow, Max! 

(Max does just as Megs suggests - but she also makes Megs stand up and do the same. Laughing, they both sit back down.)

Awh, Max ... okay, let’s get back to you.  We know that you’d fight anyone for the position of The Chris Powell Appreciation/Fan Club.  And for those who don’t know, Max has been retelling the full The Freshman series, interweaving dialogue and plot from PB but also adding much of her own content.  MC and Chris get a backstory.  Chris gets best friends from back home.  What is your favorite piece that you have written?

Max: Oh geez hahaha. Um… can I just say The Freshman Chronicles as a whole? I’ve written for different fandoms, and I have original WIPs but I’ll stick to the Choices fandom for this answer. I’ve put a lot of time into TFC. Tons of additional story work, research on characters and their backgrounds, PBs and my own OCs. You should see my file folder setup haha. It’s crazy… I have so many docs, pictures and gifs. Most organized by location (Hartfeld, Boston, New Haven, Cherryfield, etc.), then by character… and on some I get more detailed and split them by emotion and situation.

Megs: By what again?

Max:  Emotion and Situation ... Yeah. I warned you it was crazy! *laughs* TFC was the reason I joined tumblr really. Instead of staying a Nonny and only reading others posted works. I wanted to comment, like and reblog what I enjoyed, while I also worked on my own contribution to the fandom. I had a vision for Chris and MC that had more than the game could give, and I wanted to see if i was still any good at writing since it had been years and years… it’s funny to see how different my current posts are from my first over a year ago. Makes me want to go update a few because they could use a little help *awkward laugh*

Megs:  I’m sure we can all relate to that!  Hmmm ... I’m starting to get a feel for this, I think, but what is your writing process?

Max:  Lots of planning, mostly in my head. When I feel like I have a decent concept I might type out some notes or work it into my outline (another crazy thing I have going for TFC because it’s so big haha). But usually, once I hatch out a basic plan on where I’m going… I just start typing. Keeping the general plot and main points I want to hit in mind, I simply start typing… keeping it as organic as possible. It usually works out well. 

Megs:  Do you have any advice for other writers?

Max: First, and most importantly… do it because you enjoy it. Don’t do it for likes, reblogs, popularity, etc. If you’re having a good time dreaming things up and typing them out, that’s what’s important. The rest is just an extra bonus. Also, don’t give up. It’s easy to become discouraged, frustrated, distracted and more… but remember - your creative cells can’t be running all the time. They need to rest just like your body. Take breaks… go read, play games, hang out with friends/family, watch a movie… whatever. Just do something to help you relax, to reset and you’ll very probably find inspiration and/or motivation to continue. Remember, this is for fun. *wink and finger guns*

Megs: So what do you do for fun?

Max: I actually have a few things I do regularly. A big one is making costumes/props for conventions, small productions, etc. I also train and show horses. I do the same with my dogs, but more for competitions and not really any shows. I’ve always drawn, sculpted, painted since I was old enough to hold things with my hands… and about a year ago I started learning how to do it digitally as well. I run (not at all for fun haha) and play hockey (totally for fun), follow comics and watch anime. I've restored houses, cars and old furniture. I like to read as much as I can - that’s an important one. I also play video games. Something I’ve done since I was young… I've even competed, and won, a few gaming tournaments.

Megs:  You don’t know how to be bored do you?

Max: LOL, Megs.  Yeah, um, so there’s a “few” *makes air quotes* of my never ending list of interests haha. Gives me a lot to talk about with people, eh?

Megs: Not that I can understand how you’d have time for this ... but what do you do to help pay for your many activities?

Max:  Oh like, my job? Well that can be a simple answer… like “I work in software” but the more interesting way to say it is I use my MBA, experience in business, the financial industry and technology to improve and stabilize my customers environment through technological solutions that fit their specific needs. *presses lips together* I solve problems by designing solutions. Bored yet? Hahaha.

Megs:  No!  That sounds wonderful!  Who doesn’t want their stuff to be designed better?  Any chance you could start working for tumblr?  Some of us have a few complaints ... tags ... mobile losing our work ...

Max:  I’m not sure they could pay me enough to help them with all of their problems!  But, tumblr, feel free to send me an offer!

Megs:  Seriously - send her a 6 figure offer!

Max:  Okay, Megs, well now I have a question for you.

Megs: Uhhhh, Max, that’s not exactly how this is supposed to go. 

Max:  Yeah, don’t care.  Your fans need to know ... Hoooow do you find the time to read and review so much?! And I know that’s just in this fandom.  I know you read books and you may read for other fandoms!?  Seriously, it’s awesome. We need to clock your page flipping speed haha.

Megs:  *blushes* Oh my gosh, you have to stop!  Here’s the key to how I do it ... I wake up at 5:30am and read for about 30 minutes.  Then I workout and start my day.  I read in line at the grocery stores.  I read on my breaks at work. 

Max:  Oh my gosh - you’re such a nerd and I love that!  Okay, nerd, what is your favorite thing to do, besides reading all the things of course?

Megs: This show, of course!  And, of course, getting people to do silly things on this show with me.  For instance - with as athletic as you are, I hear you can’t jump? 

Max:  Megs, shhhhh.  You told me you weren’t going to bring that up.

Megs:  I did no such thing! (Meg says while laughing) I said I might not bring it up.

Max:  Uh huh.

(Kris Kross’s “Jump” starts playing in the studio)

Megs:  Come on - show me what you’ve got! 

(Megs starts “singing” along and jumping along with the song. Max stays seated.  Megs finally pulls Max up into a standing position. Max plays along and “jumps” next to Megs - getting no air at all.)

Oh, come on Max - put some real strength in to it.  Jump! Jump! Jump!

(Max jumps and gets the smallest amount of air time.)

Max:  *laughing* Megs - I’m tall!  I don’t need to jump to reach things!

Megs:  *laughing* That must be nice.  I got good at this type of jumping because I had to learn to jump up and gently grab things from the grocery so I didn’t knock everything down.

*continuing to jump around the audience - getting everyone to join her* And that’s all for the show today today, folks!  Thank you for watching!!  Have a great night!

[officialmaleclibrary]

This month we’re showcasing an author in the fandom who has written popular works such as melt me down. Lori is on ao3 and tumblr as @maialec (ao3), and we’d like to thank her once again for taking part in the OML author showcase! 

1. When did you start writing fics? Tell us a little of your journey as a fic writer.

I’ve always been passionate about writing ever since middle school, but I would only write original works or assignments for class. I guess my inclination to writing fics began once I actually started reading fics and I kind of learned the “tricks of the trade”. The first fic I’ve ever written was a coda for the season 2 finale of In The Flesh that you can still read on my AO3 page and I wrote it simply because there was a situation that hadn’t been addressed on the show and it really bugged me. So, I took matters into my own hands, something that a lot of fan fiction authors do. It’s basically the most common motivation for it.

After that, I took a really long hiatus from writing fics because I didn’t find a source material I loved enough to feel inspired by it. Until Shadowhunters. That is when I went back to it and I was reminded of why I love writing so much.

2. What fic of yours are you most proud of and why?

The answer to that would obviously be my most recent fic and my first ever multi-chapter, “melt me down”, that I worked on for almost two months. It wasn’t just the amount of work I put into it, but the fact that I actually stuck to it and finished it that makes me so proud of it, since I usually only write one-shots because they require less commitment. The idea for it came when I’d spent an entire week reading fake dating AUs with unhealthy tropes that simply did not fit Alec and Magnus (mainly miscommunication which lead to unnecessary angst), and I took it upon myself to make it as realistic as possible. Also really gay.

3. Who is your favorite character to write and why? Which character do you find the most challenging to write?

I haven’t written from the POV of enough characters to really think about it, but, if I have to look back on what I’ve written so far, I have a pattern of mainly writing from Alec Lightwood’s POV, since I identify a lot with him and I find it easier to keep him in character. As for the most challenging, I would say, the other side of the same coin, Magnus Bane, because, even though there’s parts of his character I see myself in as well, his experiences are so complex and I know so little of what it’s like to be in his shoes, that I have to put a lot more effort into making sure that my understanding of him and the way I represent him in my fics is as accurate as possible and doesn’t fall into harmful stereotypes that stem from laziness and ignorance.

4. What is the hardest part about being a fic author? The easiest?

The hardest part as a writer in general is definitely finding the motivation to keep writing. Even when I have a good idea of what I want to write, inspiration only strikes in the most inopportune of times. For fan fiction, it’s doing the characters justice. Even when you write them in an AU, where their goals and motivations may not be at all similar to the ones in the canon material, I think you have to stay true to their personality, and their essence. For me, there is only one thing that is easy about writing and that is having an epiphany about what I want to write next. Everything after that − bringing it to life, correcting it, doubting everything and still posting it in the end, waiting for feedback and getting discouraged when I don’t receive it − is extremely difficult.

5. What inspires you? Where do you find your muse?

As it is with any type of art, I don’t think you can force inspiration or look for it. In my case at least, inspiration comes to me at the most random moments from the most random sources. What is important to me is that I latch to it and put it on paper as soon as possible, before the magic is gone.

6. Do you write original content as well as fic?

Yes, absolutely. I find it’s important to step away from a universe that has already, more or less, been created for you and try your hand at writing something that is completely detached from it or its characters. Luckily, the creative writing class I’m taking at college gives me an outlet to do just that.

7. Do you have a favorite fic from another author?

Do I? There are so many it would take me an entire day to list them all. However, there is one particular fic that has marked me for life, better than a lot of published novels I’ve read, and that is “Teenagers Scare The Living Shit Out Of Me” by @Mellow_Yellow on AO3. Surprisingly enough, it’s a Ian x Mickey Shameless AU that, as much as I’ve grown to despise what that show has become, I would gladly reread any time, because it is a literal work of art.

8. What’s something you’re looking forward to in the upcoming season of Shadowhunters?

Magnus’ intriguing storyline that we’ve been teased with a lot, more development for his character individually as well as regarding his relationship with Alec, more Downworlder politics hopefully, Maia being a season regular because I love her to death and whatever new VFX they have in store because they tend to step up their game every single time.

9. Can you give us a sneak peek to what you’re writing next? Or at least any hints to what’s to come?

I’m not working on any fan fiction at the moment and, since we’re on hiatus, it’s pretty hard for me to be inspired by anything, not to mention college is taking up most of my time and energy. I am working on something for my creative writing class though. It’s a very Poe-esque short story inspired by a really obnoxious bird that keeps knocking on my window every single day without fail. I took this real life event and put a dark and supernatural spin on it, something that I’ve noticed I tend to do with any original content that I write.

10. Do you have advice for anyone who might be interested in writing fan fiction?

Just write. Don’t be afraid that it’s not good, most of us start with really crappy works, but, as is the case with everything else, practice makes perfect. Another thing would be to actually read a lot of fan fiction, especially if you’re scared about characterisation, but remember that fanon is not canon, and fan fiction tends to distort our perception of certain characters and turn them into something they are not. And once you get used to it you start to believe that is who they are, when the reality is different. Most importantly, just have fun with it, because no one is paying you or making you do it for a grade. You’re writing because you want to and because you want to share it with other people who are just as passionate about it. And try not to get discouraged if you don’t get a lot of feedback right away. I assure you there are a lot of people out there who appreciate your work more than you think. Oh, and also don’t be problematic.

11. Do you have a writing playlist/do you listen to any music while writing? Why or why not?

I actually cannot write (or read) unless there is complete silence around me. However, when that is not the case and I still need to write, I like to drown out the background noise with classical music. I find it can be either soothing or extremely stimulating. I just look for 5 hour classical music compilations on YouTube and get to work.

[auparavantblanchisseur]

Fatherly Love

A few moments ago, I was planning to talk about social awkwardness, anxiety, depression and pressure. I will be speaking about it in a different way; however I want to talk tonight about fatherly love.

We all arrive at moments in our lives when breathing becomes almost unbearable, almost painful, when days go to and fro making days become weeks, weeks become months and so on, and so on. You feel trapped in a vicious circle that you created, that in a way or another, you are responsible of because we are ourselves responsible of our own lives. It could be seemly shallow things like money (oh man, that green stuff that comes from the Devil and from God alike), it could be insecurities, feelings of inner failure and whole bunch of human stuff that collides into our soul in the form of depression -my dear and old friend-, anxiety and a gracious touch of overwhelming personal paralysis. Moments when screaming is muted, noiseless, to our own standpoint, obsolete.

I wanted to discuss about my own darkness as an outlet, like most writers and poets do, as a way of understanding and overcoming it, but the thing is, I think I wanted to feed all of it. Vicious circle, never forget.

Since an early age I felt different from the rest, with different capabilities or sensibilities, I felt, as many of us humans have felt, unwanted or unnecessary for the grand project of Society. I realised, thanks to my mother (forcing me into it, God bless her) that I wanted to be a musician, that I wanted it so bad that I could hardly do anything else. I learned to appreciate sounds and colors in a way I didn’t think it was possible: I discovered my path towards abstract expression, something that changed my life completely since that early age and that has evolved so much that it is quite difficult to remember that I used to play the clarinet in orchestras (having of course the time of my life) and that now things like modern and old jazz have changed me, or better said, have gone pretty well with my personal evolution. I discovered music first and then something slightly different: philosophy and literature. Long story short, I became obsessed by the human thought as well as the written expression which make of me, if not a philosopher (I dare not consider myself as one, at least not yet), a thoughtful person.

When one grows old, the path one has led takes you so far from some standards that those feelings of unbelongingness develop if life and causality are not kind enough, if your self-image gets constantly hit by pre-established norms by one side and your own self-prejudice in the other and at some point, or several, you feel exhausted. You feel like the ways you said to be your own in life have led you to be a failure to your own eyes as well as Society’s. I am right now at one of this stages, or have I been for a while even though I categorically refuse to acknowledge that those stigmas were right and that I should have wanted to be an engineer or a lawyer, or a doctor. I am what I am.

I was feeling shady, impotent and exhausted, because of that and the fact that I have been working in something I almost dislike for so many hours a week that I tend to lose my shit. I remember that my father had written to me days ago, almost a week to be honest, and given the fact that we live in different countries and that I love him, I forced myself to reply and be honest, because, just because. I told him everything I wanted to write in this paragraph, I trusted my dad with my weaknesses and did not expect much, I just wanted to share with my old man my old truths.

One thing about my father is that he is quite different from me: he is astonishingly good at doing business, cutting deals, being a born and raised a merchant like his old man was. My grandfather was really blunt words-wise -really pragmatic-, he born in Greece in times of financial trouble, ending up in Venezuela, my country, when he was almost an adult. He became a merchant and taught my father to do the same in his own way. My dad, following his footsteps, became one as well in his own domain and gave us the best life he could, which was actually pretty good even though he says all the time that he wishes he could have done it better (do not say that, dad, you did a great job). The thing is, he became what I am not, and since I can remember, he never, ever, discouraged me of being whatever pleased me the most. He just wanted  me to be realistic about how life works in the human system and to be tough when needed to. He had three children, I, the eldest, was the hippie one. He never complained and I will always be thankful for that; he respected my life choices, he respected the man I am becoming, whatever that is.

For someone who never had the chance to get a college degree (or to finish high school, in any way) he’s been that person who wanted to know more than his environment let him and to actually integrate what he’s learned to he’s everyday life. He is the only true stoic I have encountered. He made me and transcribed his wisdom and more love that I could describe to me, giving me the tools to understand where I was standing, even though that those words he said I’ve already read them a thousand times in philosophy books. He did not only make me understand where I was standing but even better, to cool down for a minute and start over again. He says wisdom comes from the already experienced, but as a matter of fact, I would add that you need love and true understanding to past it through to someone else, and that’s exactly what he did for me.

It’s hard to look yourself on the mirror sometimes and see your dreams and passions behave as a deadweight on your shoulders, as if you are wronging life itself just for existing and wanting whatever your desires tell you to want. My father has not share the same passions I have (even though he introduced me to tons of music since I was born), and even so, he does not need to look myself into a mirror, he looks directly into me, that human being he co-produced, and with all the love he has he makes me feel respected and worthy of my desires, he sees someone capable that angst too much as he did, and as he does sometimes. It is almost shallow to try to explain how that makes you feel when thought through, but the thing is that if the person who has seen you since day one of your own existence is gladly capable of saying that I am what I am and that I can do whatever I want, including paying debts (a whole bunch of them) and taking care of myself, that I am a functional human being (even though God knows he’s seen me making lots of mistakes) and that I can do it, it, be it, that I simply can; that’s just priceless and in a beautiful way, truthful.

Our minds want us sometimes to fall in old vices of self-harm, others sometimes do not understand and some others don’t need to, because they are right there with you. I will be the human being I want to be, in arts and business if it may be, but I will be me and I can handle it. And that’s fatherly love, going back to your roots and to understand.  

[lexdarcy]

Commenting on Fan Fiction

A friend of mine received this comment today on AO3: “Clexa has turned into bizzaro upside down world. Why can't I have one story with the Character I love? R.I.P original recipe Lexa. No other fandom works as hard as this one does to erase a strong female warrior from existence. Turning the Commander of the twelve clans into a weak weepy damsel in distress is disgraceful. But the constant trend of making Clarke and the Delinquents into super badasses seems to be a huge factor.” This is going to be my reply: (sorry for the essay!) Let me first start by saying your comments are somewhat correct. Yes this fandom does like to portray Lexa in a different light to that of The 100 TV show although there are a huge amount of stories where she is not. On the other side of that there are a huge amount of stories where Clarke is the "weak weepy damsel in distress" and as far as The 100 goes Clarke isn't that either. The 100 writers have never written either of these fictional characters as such. They have been written as equals both with strengths and weaknesses but within different but overlapping circumstances. However this is a fan FICTION site. People have loved these characters so much that it has INSPIRED them to write all types of VARIATIONS of these 2 FICTIONAL people. They have let their imaginations run wild and turn these characters into a multitude of wonderful different versions of themselves. After a very quick look at the quantity of The 100 stories I estimate there to be well over 50,000 Clarke & Lexa works. That doesn't include the Bellarke, Ranya, Linctavia etc. etc. etc. fandoms in which both Clarke and Lexa are included. 

How boring would it be if we had 50,000 stories all of similar themes? All telling, in essence, the same story. The other thing you haven't considered is the effort, time, and love these talented people have put in to these stories for us. Yes that “us” includes you. I'm sure they all enjoy writing their fictions, and they can be a labour of love at times, but they don't write these things just for themselves. They write them for others to enjoy too. Do you think that that means they want to be criticised for an idea that they've put down on proverbial paper? Do you think that the few sentences you've written here aren't hurtful or insulting? You may not be blaming this author, or others directly, but you accuse none the less. What would this world be like if we all conformed to what one person thinks? To what THEY WANT? (Do any dictators spring to mind? Because they should!) Scary thought isn't it? Yes I understand that you are entitled to your opinion, as am I, but perhaps before you share that opinion you should consider how your words may effect the people reading them. I did a search and noticed that you haven’t written anything on AO3? Perhaps you should consider writing a Clexa story and see what response you get? Then perhaps YOU can "have one story with the character you love" in it.

I for one am grateful for these people who spend precious time out of their days writing so that WE may get to laugh, cry, get horny, scream, get anxious along with all the other emotions, feelings and thoughts that these stories may induce in us. All for free I might add! I may not always like the way characters are portrayed or how the story is written but I still appreciate these people and the effort they make for anyone who wishes to read what they have written. Perhaps you should pause before commenting next time and think about what it is you want to say and ask yourself is it appropriate?

P.S. Maybe it might be worth you doing a better search on AO3 for the fics you are obviously going to enjoy. Their search tools are pretty good and I’m sure you can find enough to occupy yourself with, without feeling the need to make unnecessary comments on those stories that you won’t. Oh and just a thought... perhaps other fandoms haven’t diversified their characters so much because they aren’t as passionate about, or maybe obsessed with or as infatuated as we Clexa/Bellarke/The 100 fans are? Just something to ponder on... P.P.S. Yes I know I have replied anonymously but I have some input in to some stories (which I do not write, only help out with) and my name is linked to them and I will not have anyone upset, angered or discouraged because people choose to comment without thinking about the consequences of their actions.

Thoughts anyone?

Am I being over the top? Am I being unnecessarily harsh? Was it a necessary comment on a fic loosely based on Agents of Shield? Feel free to put me right if I’m way off the mark with this reply. Thanking you all muchly

[radioactivegrowth]

Writer’s Fear

I still remember when SV first suggested I start a "blog," way back when it was the cool thing to do and everyone else was doing it. I laughed and cringed (I wonder what the emoji for this would look like) and blushed and stuttered and eventually said, "Uh who me? No thanks, dude."

We were in London having the experience of a life time and even though there was so much happening all the time and even though I've been writing about my entire life for my entire life – that’s way before the Internet (much less blogging) was even in popular existence - the thought of labeling that process and posting it in a public place was....not going to happen.

I've always had a love-hate relationship with writing - I wonder if other writers do, too? People tell you you're talented, you enjoy thinking about writing more than actual process of writing, and you fear the result. Poring over the words, the structure, the grammar, the (lack of good) ideas! Endless self-criticism - it isn't pretty.

But SV persisted, and I actually started considered it until, inevitably, the voice in my head would roll her eyes (yes, voices have eyes) and say, "you think you're important or something?" (Pretty sure this voice also has a Brooklyn accent, permed red hair and is smacking her bubble gum. Go, read it again with that image.) "Who cares what you have to say! How embarrassing that you're putting your life out there - and for who? Ha!" (She has red nails, too, and she’s examining them as she puts me back in my place.)

I shared my fears with SV (left out the part about it being from Brooklyn) and she assured me that no one else would have to read it…but I’d still have to. I'd have to permanently catalogue the dumb things I did or the insignificant things I thought so that I could always look back on my own self-importance and wish for disassociation. 

And I was afraid. Oh man, was I afraid - of judgement, of showing more than meets the eye, of vulnerability, my imperfections, my immaturity. My lack of interesting ideas...I mean, what would I say? My teenage diaries were encyclopedically boring. This whole thing was a terrible idea. 

…So I did it. It's an unspoken rule I have with myself: you're afraid? Perfect, go get it done. No excuses and no exceptions. Face that shit and win! #competitiveZ

When I started, and for a while after, I couldn't even say the word "blog” out loud without shuddering. It screamed the opposite of humility, reeking of self-aggrandizement and the smugness that comes with wisely telling you about things you haven’t experienced yet, poor dear you. I was so conscious of this persona that I feared would overtake my writing at any second, so afraid of it further inflating my ego, and so worried that I sounded…unnecessary. This time the image in my head was of my brother, rolling his eyes at me, smirking, and saying “did you just say you write a blog?!” Kill me now.

But, slowly, posting grew on me and the more I wrote, the more I found things to write about. Blogging became a tool to process what I was experiencing and a way to communicate with others who were interested in my journey abroad (and prevented me from having to endlessly repeat myself). I found myself looking back on my writing, appreciating it artistically but also relishing in the articulation of the lessons I learned - for my own sake, irrespective of its reception by others. 

Today, nine years have passed since the beginning of that journey and a whole new set of fears (along with some persistent old ones) have been keeping any thoughts of restarting at bay: the talent you had disappeared when you didn't use it; you're too old now to catalogue mistakes and learnings; you have nothing new to say; the world is saturated with articles from thought catalog and all these other random sites eschewing unneeded advice largely from green know-it-alls. And the worst one: who do I think I am? What makes me more worthy to share thoughts and feelings? I'm a hypocrite for judging them and typing my story at the same time. 

Compound this with the fact that what I'm writing (because this is what's on my mind these days) is about tough breaks in a relationship, challenges with living what others might see as a dream life (so, like, am I allowed to struggle?), conquering body image issues, or learning lessons I should already know like "How to Have Fun 101." The nagging voice (this one looks like me but sounds meaner and snobbier) says you should be more perfect than this. Do you really want to draw attention to things that don’t need highlighting, that other’s don’t suspect? Don’t go alerting people to flaws they aren’t observing, that’s a dumb idea.

Vulnerability, nostalgia, imperfections, and relationships - these are all white-hot centers of pain and shame, full of learning curves and lessons that I keep thinking everyone knows but me. That, plus this damn ego of mine that can’t seem to stop taking herself so seriously: all of these are shining beacons of discouragement and wonderful excuses to continue ignoring the impulse to write. And yup, I'm afraid…and I know what that means.

No excuses, no exceptions, it’s time to go at it again and it’s time to win.

As I think this through (and desperately try to claw at a silver lining), I'm reminded of the value of writing that I often take for granted: evidence to help me make sense of myself and the world, the patterns and trends that I see. For example, I was afraid the first time I started, too. I felt too old then, too exposed, too silly. I spent hours in my head, hours fixing before posting and then editing after the fact. I worried about who was reading, what they thought of me, and dealing with backlash and criticism on what I shared.

But I also received encouragement, found my voice, practiced what I loved (and got better!), and gave myself the gift of neatly packaged reflections and lessons learned. Not to mention, I chipped away at my long-term goal of publishing.

So, no more procrastinating, here goes. I'm on a new adventure now and more than a little annoyed to discover that fears aren't once-and-forever conquered but rather friends that walk beside us, become our companions, loyal through landscape changes, birthdays, and iterations of ourselves. I'm thankful for the sparring partners they are and even though my heart is fluttering and I feel that familiar nervous nausea pre-post (see what I did there? #nerdalert), it’s time once again to bite the bullet, take the plunge, go ham, and any other cliché you feel like adding.

Here’s to taming the ego and being more radioactive. 

[seanmalatesta]

Want to Earn a Living Creating? Here’s Your Mountain

4 Truths You Need to Know to Get to the Top

At this point in my career, I’ve sold a lot of books. But I was hardly an overnight success. First came work in publishing and agenting. I learned how book sales worked—and didn’t work—well before I published a word of my own.

I want to use my experience here to puncture a thought bubble I encounter when talking with would-be writers and other creatives. I call it the Romantic View of Creativity. It’s not only dead wrong; if you fall for it, it will sabotage your success.

Wrong but Romantic

There are four main false assumptions in the Romantic View of Creativity (which parallels the Myth of the Starving Artist). Here they are:

The creative life is easy, if not effortless. It beats “real work,” in other words.

People will seek you out. Your creative fires will just burn that bright.

People will love you for your art. They will be happy to have such a rare individual in their midst.

You’ll easily make a living at this. And you might even get rich!

I am not exaggerating here. I have encountered creatives and other entrepreneurs who believe one, two, or all of these things. When these assumptions prove false, they often get discouraged and stuck. Some throw in the towel and quit before they’ve accomplished anything significant.

It’s a real shame—and also unnecessary.

What Creatives Need to Hear

The opposite of the four points above is closer to the truth. This will not be easy, and there are no guarantees of success. But you shouldn’t let that stop you, because there is good news here as well. Here are four truths you need to climb the mountain.

1. Real Creativity Involves Significant Work

Anders Ericsson is a psychologist at Florida State University who did the research behind the “10,000 Hour Rule,” as it was slightly misreported in the popular press.

In his book Peak, Ericsson urged readers to forget the 10,000 figure and focus on the now well-documented fact that mastery in almost any field or art form is the result of practicing a specific task for a long time, often thousands of hours.

Whether you want to be a great author, musician, painter, or comedian, it takes practice. You can’t just show up and expect most people to appreciate your unrefined talent. You must put in the hard work to intentionally practice and invest in your craft.

With respect to writing books—a field I know quite well—doing the work requires you to:

Come up with a great idea

Develop a proposal

Find an agent

Shop the proposal

Secure a publishing contract

Write the book

Rewrite the book

Submit it to outside editors

Process their edits

Finalize the manuscript

It’s not easy. This all requires significant effort. Successful writers have to be incredibly disciplined to pull it off. And you’re only just getting started at this point.

2. Real Creativity Requires Significant Promotion

Many years ago, an author told me, “Look, my job is to write the books. Your job is to promote them.” He was simply out of touch with reality.

Successful publishing requires that the author both write the book and assist in its promotion. I understand why many authors are uncomfortable promoting their own work, but this inclination is misguided. If you have invested the hours creating the work and really believe in it, why wouldn’t you want to get the work out to as many people as possible?

It is more important than ever to have a platform. When evaluating potential projects, the first question we asked when I was Thomas Nelson’s CEO was about the book’s content. The second question was about the author’s reach. It was rare for us to offer a contract to a new author who didn’t have a built-in audience that might buy the book.

3. Real Creativity Invites Criticism

From a distance, fame looks very attractive. Famous people are endlessly praised and adored, right? Wrong. Any time your head rises above the crowd, someone is liable to take a shot at you.

It’s easy to lose perspective when folks hurl those criticisms. I can receive one hundred positive comments, yet one negative barb will throw me for a loop. I suddenly think that everyone hates me, and I am ready to quit.

So take it from a fellow criticism sufferer that what you need is not an absence of criticism but perspective. It helps to sort the criticisms as they come in into three different camps: friends, critics, and trolls.

Friends love you and are willing to share with you the truth, even if it hurts a little bit.

Critics don’t have anything personal against you; they simply disagree with you.

Trolls are spoiling for a fight. They attack you because something is wrong with their heart. My best advice is to ignore them. If you engage them, it only strengthens their resolve.

4. Real Creativity Can Be Profitable, with Deliberate Action

For some reason, artists (and even some entrepreneurs) often have an uneasy relationship with money. They undervalue their work. They sell from their heels. This prevents them from taking the steps to make it pay enough to survive and prosper.

This makes little sense. Even the Bible implies that we should not feel guilty about charging for our work. As the Apostle Paul says, “A laborer is worthy of his hire.” If it’s any good, creative work is real labor.

When you put a price on something, you create value. Art that is offered freely without charge is often disregarded. In other words, if you, as the artist, don’t think it is worth anything, why should I? This is why I don’t think giving your work away for free is good for you or for the recipient. In fact, here’s a post on why you should do it for the money.

If you truly believe in your work, charge for it and find a way to raise your rates as your skills improve.

Don’t Be Scared

I hope that none of these truths scare off creatives who want to make a living from their talents. As truths go, these are not even that hard to swallow.

What I’m saying is don’t fall for the Romantic View of Creativity. It’s going to take practice, promotion, a thicker skin, and an eye for the bottom line. Some of these things may come easier to you than others but they ought to all be possible, if you set out to master them and keep at it.

You may not be good at these disciplines to start with, but think of it this way: How long did it take you to color in the lines, draw that bow string without squeaking, or craft the perfect opening sentence? Keep at it and you may be surprised what you achieve.

“ If you truly believe in your work, charge for it. Art that is offered freely is often disregarded.

—MICHAEL HYATT

Question: Which of these assumptions about creative work do you need to reconsider? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

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