Let me tell you all a really silly ZoNa story
...of experience, not a fanfic.
So, it’s no secret that I am Hanzatsu-Hime on fanfiction.net, and I have been writing ZoNa for about ten years or so.
I really love going back and rereading my stories to see how much I have grown as a writer. However, there is one story I will not reread.
One story that almost made me give up writing entirely when I reread it that one horrible time.
I had a friend that introduced me to a song called Jasmine by Youth Asylum (no, it isn’t as hard core as the group’s name sounds). I am a sap for cheesy boyband songs and I really got into this one. So what did I do?
What did I, new to the One Piece fandom, an eager beaver to write fanfiction for her latest OTP, decide to do?
I made a story where Zoro reworked the lyrics of a song called Jasmine and made it about Nami.
Cringe if you need to. I do, whenever I think about this.
Because not only did he sing it, she ‘accidentally’ overhears it! What are the chances!?
Just…oh my gosh, it has to be the cheesiest thing I have ever written. And I think it was about two-three years later, I decided to reread it and I nearly never gave up writing entirely. I am not joking. I genuinely thought it was the worse thing ever and I had disgraced my pairing for writing something as ridiculous as Zoro singing.
Roronoa Zoro, singing to Nami, with words he had created on the spot to the tune of a song he heard.
A song that does not even exist in the One Piece world.
He basically sang her a love ballad of his own design – RORONOA ZORO!
I left fanfiction for a few years after that and even when I came back, I never ever ever look at that one because it is probably the greatest shame on my writing record.
So my horrible confession has a purpose, and I hope it means something to you guys that I am bringing this embarrassment to your attention.
Even if you think your ideas aren’t good enough, or that you can’t write or draw as well as someone else, do it anyway!
Sure, I just ranted about something I did that I hate. But it was the first step of me writing ZoNa fanfiction. If I hadn’t written it, I wouldn’t have gone on to write my next story that has roughly 200 reviews. Or my next one, that’s about 170 or so. My ZoNa stories are some of my favourite piece I’ve ever written (not that one obviously) and I am authentically a stronger writer today because of them.
As much as it pains me to know I wrote something so painfully corny, it helped me on my way to becoming the writer I am today.
And that’s what I want you guys to think about when you are doubting yourself! You never know how much you’ll grow until you plant the seed of an idea and let it sprout! Even if it is also the cheesiest thing you could ever create, make it anyway. That story is still up on fanfiction for anyone to read because I respect what it is in the timeline of my writing, and no writer makes perfect content all of the time.
Don’t be afraid to make something because you think it won’t be any good, because the only true disappointment would be not allowing yourself to try it out.
I know that there are people who have all of these ideas in their head and just can’t write them out – I have those moments too! – but if you DO happen to have a story or an idea for fanart rolling around and are unsure if you should make it?
It may be your ‘Nami’ (the story) someday! And you can look back on it and laugh and cringe and be proud of how much better you are after the fact.
Think of it as Nami drawing her first map before studying cartography.
Or Zoro throwing his first swing of a sword and being unaccustomed with the weight of the blade.
If it is something ZoNa, you know we will always share it with your fellow nakama here~ If it’s for something personal or even another fandom? It’s all good!
GAMBATTE!! You can do it!
