Thoughts from an inadequate fanfiction author

I just read a Reddit post about feelings of inadequacy and jealousy in relation to other’s writing, that clawing in your stomach when you read something that is so gripping, so incredibly paced, or simply so wildly popular (dripping with kudos, comments, what have you) that you just want to quit, because you can’t write like that, you will never be as talented, as popular, etc, etc.

It’s such a ugly emotion that I hate to even admit to it, but I just feel like so many writers need to hear this and need to know they are not alone when they’re overcome with this feeling.

The thing that has really helped me is remembering that I’m the only person on earth who can tell the stories I tell.

Every person has a unique history and background that makes them uniquely capable of creating what they do.

I try to equate it to music. There are indie artists whose music I adore (Bright Eyes is a band that specifically comes to mind). What if your favorite band listened to Mozart or Beyoncé and thought, I will never be as talented at composing as Mozart or as famous as Beyonce, and therefore, I will never write another song.

How sad would you be, how bereft, if the artists you love gave up because they weren’t “the best?”

You are that perfect writer, not to everyone, but to someone.

That means something. It is so difficult to remember, but it all comes back to self-esteem. You are worthwhile and your writing is worthwhile NOT because it’s the best, but because there’s only one person in the world who could write it, and there is someone out there who needs to read it. Maybe you can make someone smile or feel or laugh, and what an incredible gift that is, one you shouldn’t hide.

So I urge you not to dim your shine for any reason. Keep going, find your audience, get better, KEEP AT IT. The worst thing you can do is give up, because that’s the only sure way you will never be that kind of amazing writer you wish to emulate.

If you’re curious, I wrote in college, then took a 10 year break due to feelings of inadequacy after having writer’s block and receiving a lukewarm response to some chapters I posted. I decided 2020 was my year and have written 42 works (some short stories, some long ones) since January. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t let anything stop me from enjoying my hobby again, and that’s why I want to encourage myself and others to feed their passions. 

The way I teared up reading this...

Coffee Dates: Barista Iwa

Just cutie Iwaizumi making you a coffee and teaching you too! ♥

drawn for: @titan-fodder’s java shop collab. masterpost found here!

Go read @meiansmistress matching fic HERE

SHSKASJSJSJSJ IWAAAAAAAAA

Reblog if you're a fanfic writer and you wanna know what your followers' favorite story of yours is ❤

last time I gave you fluff...

tomorrow I give you angst

❤F I V E M I N U T E S❤

Calling All Anime Fans!

Status: Accepting new members!

Anilysium is an 18+ only server (although we’re more of a community) of anime fans, and we’d love for you to join us! We have five categories dedicated to Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Haikyuu but there are also channels for Other Fandoms as well as plenty of general chat channels!

This server is about making connections with people that span the globe who share similar interests to yours. There are people who love all different animes, interests, hobbies, music, and more. It’s a way to bring friends with you in your pocket wherever you go!

Listed below are just a few of the perks of being part of our server, so if after reading this you’re interested, feel free to join us!

Please note: In order to join our server you will be asked to verify your age by sending us a photo of your ID. This can be something like a driver’s license, passport, college/university ID etc. WE ONLY NEED TO SEE YOUR BIRTH DATE, THE REST OF THE INFORMATION CAN BE COVERED UP.

♡ We currently have over 200 members, so someone is almost always online for you to chat about your favourite anime characters with! We recently implemented our Anichats, too, where you can sign up to be paired with someone to chat to every week, as an ice breaker.

♡ Due to our size, it’s very easy to jump in and make friends within the server and find people with similar interests!

♡  We have a team of dedicated mods to keep everyone in check and keep the server safe for all of our members!

♡ We have channels dedicated to writing, both SFW and NSFW, so having your work beta read has never been easier, and someone is almost always around to bounce ideas off of too!

♡  We have promo channels to share your work in(although we ask that you don’t just join to promote your work only, that’s not cool) as well as fic rec channels to search through when you’re in the mood for something specific!

♡ This server is a safe space, so you can come in and have fun but we also have venting channels for when things get a little(or a lot) tough. We have a dedicated role that can be pinged if you need to speak to someone straight away, too, so if you need immediate support, we’re here for you.

♡  We have Server Events pretty often! This includes movie nights, cooking nights, and gaming nights where we get together and just have fun!

♡  We’ve almost always got a collab going on, and anyone in the server is welcome to join in! 

♡  We have exclusive character bots (sfw, nsfw and basement versions) from our Big Five fandoms for you to interact with, too!

♡  We also have a picrew channel where you can find different picrews to make yourself(or your OCs!) easily!

The most important thing to know is that we are a community of anime lovers who will welcome you with open arms. We don’t care who you are or where you’re from, as long as you’re a good person then we would love to have you!

If this seems like something you’d be interested in joining, and you’re 18+ and okay with providing us with your ID, then please click the link below! We’re not scary!

click here to enter (PLEASE NOTE: Please don’t click the link if you’re under 18 or do not have ID. If you enter and don’t know that you needed ID, we will assume you haven’t read this post and you WILL be kicked.)

based off this amazing post by @striderepiphany 

sorry if someone already did this lol

@vanille--kiss this sounds familiar :lmfao:

Japan National Team

OMG, I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!!!!!

please don't mind this is a lil rushed, but DAMN I couldn't help myself I love all these boys so much and they needed to be drawn and I'm just so excited and can practically hear y'all cheering for the Japan National Team too!!! ♥♥♥

based on this Twitter pic

Sjdjeidjdi BABEEEE IT CAME OUT SO GOOD AHHHHHH

In light of the recent PostPlus nonsense tumblr is trying to pull, here's a reminder that monetization of fanfiction can lead you to legal trouble. On Ao3 it's against the TOS to even mention any money-sending site at all because of the conditonal protection they offer.

Putting your entire fanfiction blog behind a paywall is like pointing a neon sign saying "please sue me". I bring this up specifically because tumblr mentioned fanfiction in the post that they made and that is going to leave a lot of people misinformed.

Remember: Do NOT paywall your fanworks.

And rest assured, my blog will never be pay-to-read, even if this weren't a fanfiction blog. I think the whole thing is ridiculous.