Any advice for a shy writer that kinda wants to share there writing but at the same time is too scared? (I followed you from AO3 and eventually wandered over here...hi.)
*smiles* Hello! :3
Well, I can give you the same advise I got from a very good friend, back in the day.
Because I was writing my PJatO fics all for myself - well, and for my best friend at the time - and the thought of posting that stuff online was terrifying! But one day, during college classes, a buddy of mine sat next to me and he asked me what I was writing there during class. And I explained fanfiction to him. He asked me if I posted the stuff and I told him “Heaven no! I’d just embarrass myself! No one would want to read that!”.
“But you want to read that. That’s why you write it, right? So if you want to read it, then there must be other people who’d want to read it.”
And he hit the nail straight on the head. I mean, that’s why I started writing it, isn’t it? Because I wanted to read this specific thing and couldn’t find it. And I know the feeling of desperately looking for something - and the happy relief when you do find it after all. So, if I could bring this happy relief to even a single other person, then… wasn’t that worth it?
Isn’t that worth it? Worth putting yourself out there? That you might find others who desperately wanted to read exactly that thing you wrote. To find like-minded people.
I know it’s super scary. It’s incredibly scary to put yourself out there, especially when you pour your heart-blood into your writing. The thought of others not liking it, or even saying mean things (something that, sadly, has become more and more of a thing over the years).
It’s scary. And… sometimes, I still get scared about it, you know?
Every time I try out a new fandom, I get that sense of dread all over again, because it’s putting myself out here all over again. With a different community I don’t know. Will they like it, will they like me, will they accept me, will my ships be accepted, will I find my place among the fandom?
I delayed posting my first Shadowhunters fic for months. I had been writing for it for over half a year, before I gathered the courage to actually post it.
But the thing is… The thing is that despite just how scary and intimidating it can me, it is totally and absolutely worth it.
For every shiny rare ship I write and every single time I get a review with someone hyping it and being grateful that I added to what little is there for the ship.
For every wonderful, beautiful shiny person I met through fandom.
For every amazing follower and reviewer who encourages me to keep writing and makes me feel appreciated.
For every positive fandom experience I made.
For every safe, sane and nice corner of fandom that I found for myself in every fandom.
It’s worth it. Having even just one person you can make smile and get excited. If you manage to just make one really good friend through your fanfiction. If it can improve your writing just a little more, through feedback.
So, from one shy author who was scared of putting herself out there to another: It’s worth it.