Hello love! Thank you so much for this ask. My response to the first question came quite easily, but I needed to think of the other two.
What extremely specific advice would you give yourself when you were a baby fanfic writer?
JUST. WRITE. IT. DOWN. Write it bad, write it well, write it AT ALL. Text it to yourself at midnight. Don't let that idea go. And take breaks. You can't write at your best every day, especially when writing is a hobby as it is for many fanfic authors. Love yourself, love what you're writing, and it will come.
5. What is a fav fic you've read that's gotten under 200 hits?
Ok I found it really difficult to find fics with less than 200 hits so I went with fics with less than 100 kudos:
-"Pink Pony Club" by @yams-77 FW modern AU Bhodoc that had me sobbing, laughing, and choking from both. So good and I can't wait for more.
-"Say You Repent" by mynameisfireheart on AO3. Nessian priest kink smut. What can I say. Scratched a particular itch of mine INCREDIBLY well.
-"& eyerone is already home (but i'm on my own)" by legally_blonde. Modern AU Nessian that hit me in my feels so hared. I've read it so many times and every day wish it gets a follow up.
10. What is a book you recommend everyone read?
Gods, I really don't have a great answer here because reading is such a personal hobby. But I do have books that have influenced me in such a powerful way that I don't think I'd be the same person if I hadn't read them.
"Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls. A coming of age story that will leave you staring at the wall for three to five business days contemplating loyalty, love, perseverance, death, and the deep bond between humans and animals - both as pets and predators. I've never been the same, and I'm better for having sat in this grief.
"The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller. A very well written novel that uses specific tone I found quite intriguing, especially as an author. Another coming of age story in a way, that explores sexuality, pride, fate, and sacrifice.
Strongly encourage preceding or following this book with a read of "The Iliad" by Homer, which might be one of my favorite books of all time. A beautiful poem which explores humanity, divinity, fate, choice, pride, and loss. This epic explores death in a shocking a beautiful way that has stood the test of time in more ways than one. I quite enjoy the Robert Fitzgerald translation and the Emily Wilson translation is on my TBR.
"In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote. Truly one of the books that's influenced me most. The first American nonfiction true crime novel which covered the brutal murder of a Kansas family. Truman Capote interviewed not only members of the town where the murders took place, but the murderers themselves in prison. He also attended their executions. Their relationship is one of interest and debate by scholars, which is explored in a 2005 movie "Capote" about the writing of this book starring Philip Seymour Hoffman. A stunning piece of journalism and an interesting look at American history. How far would you go to find the real story? And how graphic is too graphic?
Okay - I guess there's definitely a theme. Everyone should read at least one book that makes them face their own humanity, mortality, and their beliefs about death. Whether you do that through a safe fictional space or a more direct avenue, I cannot recommend it enough. It's a topic best tackled before you're required to face it's reality.
If you stuck around for the whole post, THANK YOU. I hope you enjoy these recs and read at least one. If you do, please share your thoughts with me! I'd love to hear them. If you want to ask any other questions the prompt list is here, and my inbox is always open.
