To all Fanfic/fanart/ fandom content writers/creators/artists/anyone creating fandom content
As we enter the week of 22 July, I wanted to write something hopeful for any writers, artists and content creators out there, because letâs face it, things happening around the world is so grim and most of us are trying to survive the days.Â
So, hereâs something hopeful for any of you who need this.đ
Please reblog this as much as you can as I would love for fandom writers/creators/artists and for fanfic readers to read this.Â
A small background about me - I write fanfics, mostly in the Avengers/Stony fandoms. And itâs what Iâve been doing mostly for a few years, despite schooling and transitioning to work.
Itâs my escape from reality. When things get rough, I start writing. Writing fanfictions gives me comfort because I know the characters and I love them, so I feel safe in a way and itâs stress relieving for me.
In 2018, I had to attend a compulsory internship so that I could get my diploma and graduate. My course offered a few positions and one of them was writing for television programs at a well known media company in my country.Â
I wanted that job so bad because I wasnât interested in the others, they were too âcorporate-likeâ. So I applied for it. They asked for my portfolio of written works.
And then it hit me. My God, all Iâve written so far were fanfics with male pairing. I come from a conservative country so LGBTQ stories are super rare and can be frowned upon. But thatâs all I had and it was all I could submit.
I did just that. I took excerpts from my WIP/published fanfics, and added them into my portfolio. I even went the extra mile and typed a short excerpt into a screenwriting format, like a legit script for a show! (TV writing internships pay special attention to your script writing abilities)
I was called for an interview a few days later. I was advised to bring hardcopy versions of my written work, so I printed out the stuff from my portfolio. I went for the interview and saw my coursemates, some of whom I consider really capable and smart.Â
I thought, thereâs no way my fanfics and I stand a chance in getting this job.
I went up first and had the usual interview questions. The last bit came, where the interviewer, a prominent executive producer in my country, asked for my written samples. I handed her the file and gave her a brief explanation of my work.
I told her I published my written works online and have a group of audience who read and review them. I also added that I use their feedback to improve my writing as a whole. She was nodding her head and reading the script of my fanfic I had written. I was hiding my smile. Everything she was flipping through were Stony and Avengers fanfic excerpts!
At last, she handed my file back to me and smiled. It signaled the end of my interview. I went back to my campus and sighed, already looking at the other positions to apply to.
Two hours later, I received the email that I had gotten the job, as a television writer intern at a prominent media company. And all I used were my fanfictions I had written!
I couldnât believe it worked. My fellow coursemates write really good content and I went into the interview with fanfictions and got the job!
To this day, when I think about this, I laugh. Not in a self-deprecating way, but in a way of disbelief, seeing what I can pull off.
To everyone out there who are thinking so lowly of yourself because all you have done are work related to fandoms, Iâve been there, and Iâm here to say that you are so talented coming up with unique content from something that is so fixed and rigid. So donât be hard on yourself.Â
Youâre not wasting your time just because you post stuff on AO3 or Tumblr. Every written work/art/creative content is a great way for you to practice and work on your skills. I mean, we all have to start somewhere, right?
Seriously, it takes a lot of talent, creativity and hard work to write fanfictions, draw fanarts and create any fandom related content. And it takes so much of courage to put your work out there in the open for anyone to read.
And thatâs the thing! Itâs a service that you are doing, letting people read your words, your story, letting people see your art and your creativity.Â
Donât be ashamed of your fandom works. And donât be ashamed of reading fanfictions. Theyâre a part of you. So donât think of yourself lowly. No way. Youâre all heroes, in your own ways.Â
Some of the best written stories Iâve ever read came from AO3, some of the best art works and funniest content Iâve ever seen are fandom related.
Youâve got this, you talented talented human being. Go out there and shine bright! đ
