Woof. Hold my beer.
Y'all, let's please remember fanfic writers do this FOR FREE. FOR FREE!!! As someone who also is pursuing dreams in the arts and having to pay bills, the balancing act is draining as hell. Always. Any customer service jobs drains you, especially when you're a receptive, porous artist dealing with people and their needs; sometimes it's not even assholes. But being receptive to people ALL day takes something out of you. And then at the end of the day, you need to decompress.
Sometimes world building is decompressing. Sometimes it's not.
Also, like not to go on another tangent, but like actually artists (am including fanfic writers in this CUZ THEY ARE) don't actually owe anyone anything. Hot take, I know. But being a fan of someone or something doesn't mean you get to DEMAND (not ask kindly, but demand) more output, and I am including famous people. It's a transactional relationship on BOTH ends (plz read transactional as good lol I can't think of another word), artists provide art, artist enjoyer consumes art and pays for it/interacts with it. Also obviously you pour your heart into something, you want people to love it. You read something that lights you up, you want more from this person because you connected to it. And connection is why we do this, as the artist and the consumer. And kind/encouraging/helpful interactions between both sides helps create more, I believe that also. That is also a part of the artistic process!! How cool we can be a part of it too! And THAT is a gift, to both sides, in my heart I feel this.
However I truly don't think that means you can demand more. Sorry. Lol. This is a really hot take. People have whole lives outside of the things they create, even though they are The Artist to us, they are a whole person.
HEY SORRY LILY I GOT ON MY SOAPBOX. You truly don't have to respond or repost this, these are just my genuine feelings. I think you're such a skilled, talented writer, who I learn from!! And I just wanted to make my position clear lol (on your side). Anyway love you and thank you for making things for free, and letting us be a part of the artistic process. (Plz read encouraging/collaborative things are a part of the artistic process, demanding more is part of capitalism) lol. Love you bye!!
Thanks for holding my beer.
^ me with your beer the whole time i read through this
thank you for getting on your soapbox, i am honoured and flattered to have your words aimed at me but i also really want other authors on here to read it !!