June Something - Day 5

[kate]

Day 5: Compare and/or contrast your very first fandom obsession and your very latest fandom obsession.

I mean. When I was like…. 7? I was SUPER obsessed with Star Wars. But I was 7. So I was being obsessed all by myself. I was writing stories even then, but just for me. I never even thought of writing them down until many many years later. I think I had a few little things back in 1995-2004, random bits of various fandoms, but it was Alexander (2004) that turned me into a fanfic writer for real.

So now it's MDZS, and it's tough to really compare these because I wasn't part of fandom when I was a Star Wars fan. I didn't have any clue what fandom was for many years after that. So just the experience of being in fandom now, of knowing these are my people, is the best part about ANY fandom I'm in. I really, truly don't think you could've convinced me that I'd end up in Chinese drama fandom, like, literally up until it happened. Though all it took was a few posts of Lan Wangji's flowing hair on my dash, lol.

Other differences – I wrote self-insert back then (who didn't?) and don't now, except when I add myself as a side character (most often a friendly auntie or something) because I like to take care of my babies, even in fiction. But I wouldn't write a character x reader fic, or blatant self-insert fic now. Mainly because it's less about me escaping to the places I long to be and more about simply exploring the worlds and the characters.

Yeah, those are the biggest differences. Other than age, practice, and experience, lol, which make a huge difference in fandom enjoyment and the way I create for fandom. My obsession itself still feels very much the same, the depth of emotion and attachment. I just have a shared lexicon for it now, which is amazing.

Comments

[squidgiepdx]

Speaking of self inserts, that's one of the things I loved about X-Files, and writing Mulder/Skinner. See my first name is Walter - so writing, "Fox smiled, then leaned close and kissed Walter as he entwined their fingers" means one thing to the reader, and two things to me. :D

[kate]

Oh my gosh, that's amazing! How convenient!!! You know there are a lot of Kates out there, but never has one of them been a fave enough that I could read fic about her. Sadfax.