My takeaway from secret santa selections
So I’ve been talking to a lot of people who are participating in the cssecretsanta this year and here are somethings I’ve learned.
1) It doesn’t matter how popular you may become in the fandom, you’re still going to find yourself fan-girling over someone else. No matter how good you think your work is, you’re always going to feel like someone is better. That’s ok, but don’t let it discourage you. By the same token, no one is ever too big in the fandom to approach. If you enjoy their work, reach out to them. They’ll be just as excited to hear from you as you are to hear from them. 2) Everyone is intimidated. There’s something about knowing that you’re producing something for someone specific, and there’s a chance that they may not like it. But remember, there’s an even greater chance that they’ll love it.
3) The fandom is still alive. I’ve seen a lot of people complaining over the course of season 7 that the fandom is dead. Are the numbers as large as they once were? No. But fans are still out there. They’re still producing fan fictions and artwork. They’re still talking about the show, gushing over things that happened years ago. That’s not going to change anytime soon.
4) This may be the most important one so listen up. Fan fiction can be a fickle thing, and sometime it’s just as much about pure dumb luck as it is about talent. There are some amazing fics that I’ve read that didn’t get nearly as much traction as they deserved and it’s not fair. If you like a story or a piece of art, tell the creator that. Let them know they’re appreciated. They aren’t mind readers. If you’ve written a story that didn’t get as many hits as you were hoping for, don’t give up. Keep writing, keep pushing yourself, and keep having fun with it. Eventually you’ll get there.