i am ruination.

she/they • teenager • absolute mess • bisexual disaster • in love with too many fictional characters • bookworm

[phantasymistart]

breaking news: the two thieves that just robbed you are in love

[veeaziel]

every day i am percieved™️

[biggest-gaudiest-poltergeist]

There is a reason for this though!

The original tweet summarizes it pretty well. Fanfic tends to be popular among certain types of neurodivergent people (aka people most likely to read excessively as a child, and have burnout as an adult) for the same reasons that we tend to hyperfixate–neurochemical signaling (I hope I’m using that phrase correctly). What I mean is, for people who are really dependent on changes in dopamine/serotonin/neurotransmitter levels, who have low levels or wonky neural reward systems (perhaps the most common types of neurodivergence)…people like us rely on dependable external sources of those neurochemicals. In order to function, we spend a lot of our free time trying to level out our brain chemistry using things that can reliably bring us a steady stream of joyful moments (rewards) without costing too much of the mental effort that is already in short supply. 

significantly: the investment of reading has to be balanced with a steady “return on investment”–and this return has to start fairly quickly. because again, we don’t have a lot of attention/energy to invest on tiring things. we have perpetual “low batteries” in that regard.

that doesn’t mean these stories are “simple,” or that they lack complexity or value–only that the reward has to come in short regular intervals, and it has to have a low “upfront cost.” these stories are only “easy” to read in the sense that the effort we put into them is rewarded in a timely manner. which is why fanfic stories are so perfectly formulated for neurodivergent readers–they are often beautifully written, but skip a lot of the upfront costs (of introducing new characters, of world-building, of getting the audience emotionally connected to the story elements).

the nature of fanfiction is that the reader has a pre-existing relationship with this world and these characters. that–combined with the shorter average length of fics–means that fan fics very quickly start rewarding the reader in a way that traditional fiction struggles to. that’s not a bad thing! and maybe it’s something more traditionally published writers should be paying attention to.

Fanfic, as a genre, has been uniquely helpful and accessible to many neurodivergent readers who would otherwise struggle to immerse themselves in stories. I’m glad so many of you have found a way to love and enjoy reading again! The important thing is that you are spending time inside stories you love–the way those stories are published or presented to the world is just one detail. The fact that you find joy in the process of reading (or listening!) to stories–that is what matters.

[attackofjak]

I feel understood 🥰

[biggest-gaudiest-poltergeist]

a bunch of people have reblogged this with the default “i feel called out” reaction….and i know when we say that we mean it tongue-in-cheek….but this comment sorta blew my mind & shifted my perspective up and to the left a little thank you♥

[zadabug98]

The Serotonin is stored in the Ao3

[biggest-gaudiest-poltergeist]

The Serotonin is stored in the Ao3

[kizo2703]

#this 100% happened to me#but i’m a middle aged writer and english teacher with an academic literature background#when i burned out got sick and had a breakdown i couldn’t read regular books anymore i could only read fanfic#i saw on twitter where someone said literature is prescriptive. you read the kind of fiction that fits your personal need#we’re all overwhelmed right now and that’s why we like the tropey fiction whether fanfic or romance novels or superhero movies#we UNDERSTAND the rules of fiction and dont’ have to work to understand while the payoff comes quickly. kiss. hea. battle/victory

[pjharvey-moved-deactivated20250]

liking a male character like hes my girlfriend hes my dad he is literally me i could fix him i could make him worse hes a whore hes my best friend hes my sworn enemy i just want to punch him i want to hold his hand i just want to send him to therapy

[englishnerd]

mr darcy having an existential crisis over a hand brush and henry fox mountchristen windsor fleeing the country after a drunk kiss have the same energy from different time periods i said what i said

[snoppy]

ok ok sweet one now. reblog this to gently place a slice of orange in the hands of whoever u rb from

[okidontcareanymore1001]

[abee33]

I feel like Remus is one of those cat people who can sleep anytime they want to, like he’ll literally just lay his head down on Sirius’ lap and fall asleep straight away. Sirius will 100% pretend to be irritated but will sit there and stroke Remus’ hair until he falls asleep too.

[jewish-space-laser]

what is like... the most on brand, stereotypical zodiac sign trait is true for you?

[someiconsx]

shadow and bone — headers.      ✧ like or reblog if you use/save.      ✧ @dearcardan on twitter.

[englishnerd]

...he’s literally just Jesper, convince me otherwise

[sixofbabycrows]

that scene where kaz throws the cane from one hand to another is my sexuality actually

[cillianmurphy]

BEN BARNES as THE DARKLING SHADOW AND BONE (2021)

[lesbian-renee-walker]

i am so excited for this i can't even-

[nocontextgrishaverse-deactivate]

nikolai: I don’t flirt, I just talk.

nikolai: it’s not my fault everything I say is smoother than peanut butter.

[samingtonwilson]

me in my bedroom at 1:13 am explaining my theories to my nightstand

[englishnerd]

productive things to do that are not studying

read a book

try embroidery

make a cup of tea

go for a walk

listen to a podcast

bake something

play with your pets

take your pet for a walk

write a story or poetry

read poetry

journal

play a musical instrument

meditate

draw something

get some exercise

make something to eat

sleep

learn to knit or crochet

do a photoshoot in your bedroom

do your makeup

write a song

play a game with your family or friends

call a friend

[the-bitch-mob]

fuck it. be creative even if you never really *make* anything. write out plot synopses of stories and then move on. design OCs you'll never use. make mood boards and concept art and don't do anything with them. life's too short to forget everything that inspired you and creation doesn't have to be "complete" to be worth the time you put into it.