For the fanfic ask meme: 1, 3 and 50
Thank you for asking, wonderful talented writing gem.
1. What was your first fic and could you stand to reread it today?
I would never be able to reread anything from those dark days. Even some older work from the last year or so I struggle to reread. The first piece of fanfiction I ever wrote was an angst bullshit piece for the Rozen Maiden fandom, and it was full of purple prose and was focused entirely on Suigintou.
Subpar anime. Was… I think twelve or thirteen, when I wrote that.
3. In your opinion, what’s your best fic?
I think Wayward Souls is my best fic, honestly. It’s a miracle that it was even complete despite how much I loved writing it and planning it. Killua and Gon are very, very difficult to write for many reasons, but are also very rewarding. So yeah, I consider that to be the best.
A… not-so-close second, would probably be Lex Talionis. And that’s not even close to being finished yet. It just, has the most recent version of prose I’ve experimented with that actually seems to be working, and I think that’s going to be the pinnacle I’ll be able to reach for Boku no Hero Academia.
Who knows, though. Maybe a fic will surpass Wayward Souls someday.
50. Has writing fanfic had a significant impact on your life? Would you say it’s entirely positive?
This is a fantastic question.
Fanfiction provided the escape I needed back in middle school, when I didn’t know how to express my anxious self in a hobby that I wasn’t accustomed to comfortably yet. It provided a way for me to express my ideas and receive constructive feedback on top of it. And, it was free–that in itself was helpful.
Fanfiction has taught me many lessons, actually. Learning how to outline projects, develop distinct characters after working with the intellectual property of others, and worldbuilding all stemmed from venturing into fanfiction. I think it’s a valuable exercise in various areas for writing and can lead to exponential growth in many people. Of course, it depends how you use the opportunity like any other.
I’ve also, through Archive of Our Own (and Tumblr, now) in particular, met some of my closest friends. Which, when diving into fanfiction way back when I was a frightened barely-teen, was not something I ever expected possible.
I think that fanfiction, like most things, can have positive and negative effects on people who choose to do it. There are negative sides when the writer (myself included) struggles to understand the balance between actually loving your work and knowing when it’s okay to stop. It’s hard, at times, to believe that you don’t owe anyone anything, despite the potential thousands of readers who track and follow your work.
There’s a dangerous allure of validation and addiction that can stem from becoming wrapped up in the world of fanfiction and fandom in general, but there are too many rewarding aspects to just kick it off completely. I don’t plan on writing fanfiction for much longer after my current projects are complete (these current ones may just be my last), but I will never forget what the act itself has taught me as a person.
Without experimenting with fanfiction all those years ago, and then trying my hand at it once more in my last (and most strenuous) year of college, I would not be even close to the writer I am today. Fanfiction aside, we are always growing as creatives, and expanding as we learn.
So, yes. I consider fanfiction to be incredibly valuable for a lot of people. I can’t speak for everyone, but for myself? It’s a part of me. It’s an escape. A series of exercises. It’s an amalgamation of creative ideas and fandom expression that can be used in so many different ways, and part of that extends to multiple communities who want to share in those experiences with you.
There are very few things like being a fanfiction writer who continues learning and attempting to hone their craft. I wish to be a published author someday, and the growing confidence I’ve achieved has mostly stemmed from what I’ve learned in taking that chance all those years ago, and creating my first account on FanFiction.net.
This… was a surprisingly pretty emotional ask, but I love this question and think it’s valuable for any fandom creative to think about. Express yourself, learn while you create, and embrace it.
And, have fun. It’s easy to forget how important that is sometimes.
Thank you for the wonderful questions, @fireolin.
