Fandom Snowflake Challenge, Day 12

[aadler]

 
Continuing the meme/challenge begun and tracked here.

Fandom Snowflake Challenge, Day 12
 
In your own space, talk about what you bring to fandom. It can be something tangible, or not. Leave a comment in this [the assignment] post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

What do I bring to fandom? Less all the time. When I first started in, even in the days before LiveJournal, I joined multiple organizations and chat boards, maintained a sizeable rec list (and regularly updated it), posted links to useful sites, and kept up e-mail correspondence with anyone who was willing. I still write stories (fairly decent ones), occasionally leave comments on people’s LJs, join remix events and summer_of_giles, and — my single new endeavor — created and run cof_remix (the Circle of Friends) once a year. All in all, though, my involvement and contributions have been dwindling for quite some time now.

Mostly, I’m a victim of my own constancy. Many of the things I used to participate in have faded out, and I haven’t searched out replacements as they appear. People who were in the Buffyworld with me have moved on to other fandoms, or sometimes fallen out of fandom entirely, and I’ve remained where I am while — again — not making enough new contacts to keep this corner of my world from contracting.

When it comes to it, though, the writing has always been the part that most interested me. All the other things were subsidiary to, and accents for, what had first attracted me. I would probably be doing fanfic even if there were no audience, if it were strictly for my own entertainment and never posted anywhere …

… but, frankly, not as much, or not long enough to still have me at it. Because, even if I’ve been giving less, I’ve always got more from my involvement in fandom than I gave, and that hasn’t changed.

Comments

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Guh! I'm getting so behind on these! In this case, I might just ditto yours. LOL The specifics would be different, but the gist of it would be the same.

[aadler]

The gist being that we both are more concerned writing (and reading) than with any other aspect of fandom involvement, even those in which we take some part. I can hardly object; even apart from that being my own inclination, your similar focus means that you contribute more of the things that most interest me.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Believe me, the stories you write are a massive contribution in and of themselves and I thank you for them!


Gabrielle

[aadler]

And readers who show their appreciation (such as yourself) provide some of the motivation that keeps me going.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I think what you are doing sounds pretty great.

[aadler]

It did look a bit more impressive once I listed it out, but that list actually breaks down to:

1. Write a fanfic on my own.
2. Write a fic for remixredux.
3. Write a fic for summer_of_giles.
4. Write a fic for (and coordinate) cof_remix, which signs up between four to seven participants per year.
5. Maybe write some more fanfic on my own.

Basically, writing fanfic. Which is how I got into fandom in the first place, so.

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

If connections are important to you, maybe explore shared worlds (http://penultimateproductions.weebly.com/shared-worlds.html)? They can be really fun and lively. I've been in Torn World for years, and some of my own have gained a lot of fans.

Re: Hmm...

[aadler]

Curious. I may check that out in some depth.

Re: Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I could give you an idea, then. Each shared world has its own kind of culture. Torn World is a great place for meta and practicing editorial skills. Schrodinger's Heroes is AU and crossover friendly. If you hunt around, you can probably find one you like -- there are lots more than just the handful I frequent and therefore list on my site.