Fandom Discussion: What have you learned from being in HP fandom?

[themostepotente]

I thought I'd do a post on what I've learned from being in fandom over the past two years (well, just a few months shy) that I've been involved. I invite everyone to come and do the same. First;

1.) Tell us how long you've been involved in HP fandom.

2.) What drew you into fandom?

3.) What lessons have you learned that made the transition/being involved in fandom easier? List as many as you like.

I'll go ahead and get the ball rolling.

I think the most important lesson that I've learned is that not everyone is going to warm to your writing. Person A may not care for your writing style, but persons B and C might. Fandom is a big place. There is literally something out there for everyone. The key is not to get discouraged. Easier said than done sometimes, I know.

Another important lesson I've learned is that some writers are just plain better, and I'm perfectly okay with this.

Lastly, and this is a touchy subject for some -- friending/unfriending. Yes, it sucks to be unfriended, but really, why get upset when it's either a.) not personal or b.) out of your control. Best thing to do is just move on. What was it I said about fandom? Oh, yeah -- it's a big place. There are other friends out there :-)

--P

Comments

[curia-regis.livejournal.com]

1.) Tell us how long you've been involved in HP fandom.

Far too long. Hehe. Okay, since Feb 01.

2.) What drew you into fandom?

Boredom mostly. I had nothing else to do that day so I figured, hey, why not google "Harry Potter".

3.) What lessons have you learned that made the transition/being involved in fandom easier?

Lurk first. *nods* Most important lesson. If you don't lurk first you make all sorts of gaffes and people tend to judge you on what they first thought of you. Unfortunately.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Boredom mostly. I had nothing else to do that day so I figured, hey, why not google "Harry Potter".

I've googled my LJ name out of boredom. *snickers*

[froggie.livejournal.com]

1) Only about a half a year...but I guess that's enough to become obsessed.
2) Curiosity. I went, "What's this?". I reacted, "Oh." I continued, "MORE!".
3) Advertise, but don't whore your work. Be nice and initiate discussion, but be open to ideas. You can't friend everyone or your computer will explode.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

3) Advertise, but don't whore your work. Be nice and initiate discussion, but be open to ideas. You can't friend everyone or your computer will explode.

Question: When does advertising end and whoring begin?

[bethbethbeth.livejournal.com]

1. November 2002. I'd read the first book when it was published, then avoided all interaction with HP (and the fandom) until around the time that CoS was released.

2. Hard-core pimping from friends, and I couldn't succumb (i.e., read any of the fanfiction) until I'd at *least* read all the books (through GoF). Which I did. In 1 1/2 days.

4. I don't think I learned much that was specific to HP fandom that I didn't already know from my other fandoms (i.e., HP wasn't my entry fandom), but some things that I'm glad I already knew:

-Not everyone shares your attitudes about writing, characterization, fannish interaction, or anything else related to fandom.
-There are a lot of interesting people out there, and not all of them are in your immediate circle of friends.
-For every two people involved in a kerfuffle, there are usually three opinions about how it started.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

-For every two people involved in a kerfuffle, there are usually three opinions about how it started.

One person's, the other person's, and the truth, eh? *G*

[pen-and-umbra.livejournal.com]

1) Seven months, according to a quick count on the fingers.

2) The copious literary buttschmex. Also, my long-standing love affair with misanthropic, big-beaked, snarky men in books.

3) Learning the art of judicious advertising and being smart about it. Not taking disagreeing opinions, asshattery, or the fandom too seriously. Write write write (or draw or...). Embracing the art of spelling and the lore of grammar. &c.

Great topic. :) Looking forward to all the replies.

[ldybastet.livejournal.com]

For being "children's books" I think there's quite a lot of subtext... or is that only my dirty mind? ;-)

Interestingly enough, it was fandom that made me see that grammar is fun. I've never been bad at grammar, I just never had to study it to get everything right on the tests. These days, I find uses of commas, semi-colon and ellipsis interesting! lol

[alchemy]

1. Right at 3 years.

2. I saw the first movie when it was released on DVD, and the rest is history. I checked the books out from the library immediately, and have been a hopeless case ever since. When I like something, I tend to obsess, so this was a natural course for me. I will admit that I had many friends who were into HP before I was, and I actively fought against getting involved with it in any way because I could just tell that I would get sucked in, and at the time I was involved in the LOTR fandom. I felt like I couldn't more than one major obsession. In the end, HP won. The first site I was involved in fandom with was Diagon Alley, which I now co-own.

3. Don't expect the fandom to fall in your lap. It doesn't work that way. You get out of it what you put in. Furthermore, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. If you start out as a bitch, people won't bother with you. Oh, and don't take things personally. This is the internet. Never lose your perspective, and you'll do fine.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

3. Don't expect the fandom to fall in your lap.

That's usually a newbie's first mistake, I think.

Love the Jesus icon, Anita. *G*

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

1.) Since starting an FF.net account in September of '03.

2.) I lost a bet in a chat session and had to write an HP fic as my penalty. I kept writing.

3.) I learned that there was more to the HP fandom than FF.net, thank God; that sometimes talking back to trolls *will* scare them off, but *not* always; and that I don't give a shit that some many people take issue with a gender-swapped Harry. The best thing I've learned is that writing for myself engenders the best responses from readers, so I don't worry anymore about sticking to a particular genre, style, or pairing.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

2.) I lost a bet in a chat session and had to write an HP fic as my penalty. I kept writing.

What was the bet, dear?

[cluegirl.livejournal.com]

1 -- A little over a year and a half, for HP fandom.
2 -- I needed a break from the pro-publishing slaughterhouse, and I was in love with JKR's world.
3 -- Write what you NEED to write. Nothing else. Don't write for your audience, write for your story. The audience will find it if you do. The world does not need yet another damned Snack fic, or another bloody Snarry non-con, what it needs is a story that screamed to be written, that kept you up nights and made you babble the plotline incoherently to your friends on chat. It needs stories that struggle to be born, and this is as true of fanfic as it is of any other kind of fiction.

The stories your audience will love the most are the ones that break the rules. Not the best-crafted, not the most IC, nor the most sexy, but the ones that surprise them. Just expect this, but don't try and fake that -- contrived audacity is basically ShockJocking on paper. You ought to know what the rules are before you decide you're going to break them.

Read everything. Not just fandom, not just your OTP, not just names you recognize. Read lots.

If a story calls, write it. If a story flops, write something else.
That's all.

[ldybastet.livejournal.com]

what it needs is a story that screamed to be written, that kept you up nights and made you babble the plotline incoherently to your friends on chat. It needs stories that struggle to be born

Wise words. A story with passion and inspiration behind it. *nods* Those are the kinds I like to write and love to read. I often let a plot or storyline simmer, and grow, festring in my mind until it demands to be let out. Why toss it out immediately?

[tarotemp.livejournal.com]

1. Next month will be my first anniversary. I've only recently come out of "lurk" mode, so I'm a newbie, technically.

2. I blame it all on seeing PoA - I got a bee in my bonnet coming out of the theatre and suddenly felt the intense need to immerse myself in everything HP. I stumbled across slash, and there was no going back.

3. Definitely what curia_regis said. Lurk first, learn the lingo, and the lay of the land - it makes it tons easier;
Be open to a lot of different thoughts and opinions;
There's a lot of gems out there in the communities (be it members, stories or artwork), you just have to be patient.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Be open to a lot of different thoughts and opinions;

I always expect people to disagree with me. I prefer it that way. *G*

[ldybastet.livejournal.com]

1.) Since... erm... I think I quietly sneaked into HP somewhere around May 2003.

2.) Lucius/Severus smut. *nodnodnods*

3.) I have learned that it's not dangerous to talk to people, even if you think they are very good writers. And, I don't have to write the same pairings or have a similar writing style as another person to be able to discuss and have fun together. I have also learned to dare more, to dare stand up and say I'm here, to dare and try something new, to dare to do something just for the fun of it.

I have also learned that Modding a RPG is killing one's social life and is a lot of aggravation and mediation. Sure, it's fun when it's running smoothly, but meh! Sometimes people just refuse to look past personal differences. If I had been aware of this before, it would have been a lot easier, because I don't think I would have started one. ;-)

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I have also learned that Modding a RPG is killing one's social life and is a lot of aggravation and mediation. Sure, it's fun when it's running smoothly, but meh! Sometimes people just refuse to look past personal differences. If I had been aware of this before, it would have been a lot easier, because I don't think I would have started one. ;-)

Modding is definitely a full-time commitment.

[a_belladonna]

1) This summer it'll be exactly two years ago I read the books for the first time - the first four in Danish translation, OotP in English. (And then I reread the first four in English. ^^)

2) My sister said I couldn't criticize the series if I hadn't read it, so I did. Then a friend of mine introduced me to some HP fan fiction. Or, rather, Snape het. It didn't take long for me to find the slash, though. (I knew about slash from when I read Star Wars fan fics.)
Then I lurked, until March last year, when I got my Lj-account.

3)
Being a non-native speaker of English, living in Europe and having classes to go in the morning all make "live" participation in fandom hard at times. Firstly because you have a limited vocabulary. (Or problems with grammar...), secondly because, well, when you guys are RPG'ing, chatting and discussing in posts, I'm asleep...
Though I must say my English has improved over the last year. (At least it feels that way!) So you could say that's something I've learned...

[ldybastet.livejournal.com]

when you guys are RPG'ing, chatting and discussing in posts, I'm asleep...

hehe, I know that feeling. Me and quite a few friends have solved that in a rather excellent way. We have turned the days around a bit and go to bed around 3 or 4 am. *grins* It does suck a bit to live in Europe sometimes.

What's good with LJ though (and that goes for RPGs on LJ as well) is that the posts and replies are still there, and one can always butt in later.

[danbi.livejournal.com]

1.) Tell us how long you've been involved in HP fandom.

A year in June, if we're talking on LJ. If message boards are included, since March of 2004.

2.) What drew you into fandom?

The third movie.

3.) What lessons have you learned that made the transition/being involved in fandom easier? List as many as you like.

To be able to laugh at myself - but that's an RL thing as well. I'd say that also, sometimes it's okay to be serious about something. For instance, I take my own friending seriously, though some people do not. So fine; it's all right to have that difference, if you ask me.

I really don't learn from fandom. I just try to enjoy it when I can, even when it gets wanky, cause that can be entertaining too.

That's all, really.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I really don't learn from fandom. I just try to enjoy it when I can, even when it gets wanky, cause that can be entertaining too.

Ha ha -- it can, especially when you end up on Fandom Wank and the wankees can't find said wank in your thread. *halo*

[wilde_stallyn.livejournal.com]

1) Since July '01.

2) I was already reading slash in other fandoms before I read the HP books. I read the books while on vacation and it seemed only natural to go looking for Harry/Ron fic when I got home. Of course there wasn't much good H/R fic at that time, but that's a whole other story.

3)-Being 'the quite one' doesn't work on the internet because no one knows you're there.
-You're not alone. No matter what your kink, someone in fandom will agree with you. You just have to find them.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

3)-Being 'the quite one' doesn't work on the internet because no one knows you're there.
-You're not alone. No matter what your kink, someone in fandom will agree with you. You just have to find them.

Even the scat whores can find support, even though I shudder to think...

[noticeably.livejournal.com]

1.) Tell us how long you've been involved in HP fandom.
I read the first book as soon as it came out, and jumped into fandom when CoS was released, although I lurked until '03ish.

2.) What drew you into fandom?
The people. :D

3.) What lessons have you learned that made the transition/being involved in fandom easier? List as many as you like.

1 - Not everybody is going to like you, and you aren't going to like everybody. It's just like RL in that aspect.
2 - Not everybody is going to like your fic/art. Once again, it's to be expected.
3 - Be happy with the friends you have, and don't let your friends-of list get to your head. Don't change into something you aren't...stay the person they friended. In other words, don't get a big head. :D

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

3 - Be happy with the friends you have, and don't let your friends-of list get to your head. Don't change into something you aren't...stay the person they friended. In other words, don't get a big head. :D

Egoism can be a problem. All it takes is one good story, it seems.

[mizbean.livejournal.com]

1) It will be a year next week

2) I stumbled upon a fanfiction archive after I had finished OotP. I was immediately sucked in and read as much as I could get my hands on before finally getting the confidence to participate.

3) Reviewing stories and posting comments on other people's journals are the only ways to really meet people. Being courteous is always appreciated. Starting small, writing drabbles and ficlets, is a good way to get your feet wet. Participate. Pimping your work never hurts -- nobody is going to find you if they don't know you're there. Lastly, try not to take fandom too seriously. It's all for fun, or that's the way I look at it, at least.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

3) Reviewing stories and posting comments on other people's journals are the only ways to really meet people. Being courteous is always appreciated. Starting small, writing drabbles and ficlets, is a good way to get your feet wet. Participate. Pimping your work never hurts -- nobody is going to find you if they don't know you're there. Lastly, try not to take fandom too seriously. It's all for fun, or that's the way I look at it, at least.

Reviewing is a great way to get your name out there.

[andreanna.livejournal.com]

1. I was a nonparticipatory member of fandom for years starting back in 2001 with H/Hr. An oekaki board I frequented had a lot of fanart for Rhysenn's Irresistible Poison which made me a slasher :) I finally delurked a few months ago :D

2. My own curiosity. Recommended fics. Switchknife's essay of sorts on the reviewer finally spured me into actually being in fandom.

3. As it's been mentioned before, definitely get a feeling of the fandom before joining, so you don't embarrass yourself or offend someone else.

[pohland.livejournal.com]

Switchknife's essay of sorts on the reviewer

As a rather quiet but very intense fan of Switch - and a haphazard and somewhat guilt-ridden sometimes-reviewer - I'm interested in reading this essay you mention. Would you happen to have a link?

(Also, I've seen your art here and thereabouts, and I raise my hat to you. I like the cut of your jib.)

[oftheunderworld.livejournal.com]

1. 3 years! I started writing my first Harry Potter story after a few months into the fandom, and began posting it on ff.net (back when it was still okay) in January of 2003. That was after months of work on it, though....

2.) I didn't even know fanfiction existed until about 3 years ago...I was involved in some poetry group that had ties to ff.net, where I first began seeing fanfiction writers, obviously. I actually started in Animorphs and Star Wars, and made my way to Harry Potter. I got into the writing bit when Severitus made her (now infamous) challenge on ff.net...but after that project was finished, the writing effort was abandoned. I am now an official lurker.

3.) Um, I guess it was good to read some, but really, I think I jumped right into fandom before I should have. I was kind of stuck in one group of writers and didn't have a lot of exposure. So! Lurk first! Read first! Especially, especially, especially when attempting to write even halfway-graphic scenes.

...yay!

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

3.) Um, I guess it was good to read some, but really, I think I jumped right into fandom before I should have. I was kind of stuck in one group of writers and didn't have a lot of exposure. So! Lurk first! Read first! Especially, especially, especially when attempting to write even halfway-graphic scenes.

Lots of people have mentioned lurking. What's the rule on how long one should lurk though?

[blasphemy-broth.livejournal.com]

1.) It'll be year this summer, though I've only had my LJ about 6 months, give or take.

2.) I was bored one day, and was searching for something HP-related on Yahoo and instead stumbled rather ungracefully across Transfigurations. Other than textbooks and class notes, haven't really read anything except HP slash since then. And proud of it :D
And have you seen the icons around fandom? Nothing better!

3.) Lurking helps, at first. You get to figure out who's who, what they like, who you'd like to get to know better/read more of their stuff/squee over their art, etc. Also, I'm just now really starting to actively participate in fandom (gonna start writing stories soon, hooboy!)...but don't be ashamed to ask for help. If you can't figure out how to do a certain type of formatting, or if you need a beta, there's usually someone willing to help. We can be a rather friendly bunch.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

If you can't figure out how to do a certain type of formatting, or if you need a beta, there's usually someone willing to help. We can be a rather friendly bunch.

A call for a beta never fails to provoke a response I've noticed. There is that need for better fanfiction.

[sakurahoshi.livejournal.com]

1) I'd say a year and a half? I had a moment of HP fandom love when I first got into the series, but then I had a break before jumping on full steam at the start of last summer.

2) Good writing and art along with the sheer amount of work out there. I needed a continous fix of (mainly) H/D, and the fandom delivered and proceeded to drag me further into it than I had originally expected.

3) If no one takes to your work the first time around (or the many times after that), keep at it! No err... pain work, no gain... or something like that. Also, lurking doesn't get anyone anywhere. (Though, I will say that it's a good way to start in any fandom.)

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

3) If no one takes to your work the first time around (or the many times after that), keep at it! No err... pain work, no gain... or something like that. Also, lurking doesn't get anyone anywhere. (Though, I will say that it's a good way to start in any fandom.

I'm not a great fan of lurking myself. Glad someone else agrees.

[notrafficlights.livejournal.com]

1.) Tell us how long you've been involved in HP fandom.

A year and a bit.

2.) What drew you into fandom?

Muh, I dunno if it was really one person. nvr2blonde made me get a LJ, if that counts.

3.) What lessons have you learned that made the transition/being involved in fandom easier? List as many as you like.

Don't be a st00pid n00b.

Spell properly/use generally correct grammar and most people will like you more.

Join teh Sugarquill for a time, but leave before it makes you soft.

Join a Hogwarts Sorting comm if you want (ew, not for me though) but leave before it makes you hard.



Don't worry about canon too much, especially when the original creator has to use online canon encyclopedias to get it right.

Avoid het-canon wanks "discussions" like that plague. In fact, generally avoid het altogether.

Meet really cool people and suck up to them and get to know them, because they could turn out to be cooler than you expected.

Don't tell people outside fandom, because people will never understand (especially if you're a slasher), and people hate what they don't understand, because it's like that whole elevator-metaphor that Anne Rice stole from Hemmingway and that I'm going to steal from her here cos it's cool and true. Yeah.

Take pleasure in fandom. It's what it's there for.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I'm not even going to bother cutting and pasting anything here. I was amused by 'everything', especially the nOOb comment. *G*

[shikishi.livejournal.com]

1) How long: About a year and a half
2) being bombarded with fic via a music forum, I was interested in what drew people to write fanfiction so I started browsing some stories to find out what the "it" was. Found HP fandom and was suckered in.
3) *Not everyone is going to like you right off the bat, if at all. And you may not like everyone, even if they are on your friends list.
*Hits and counts and comments, while nice, aren't what its all about. If you write a good piece, if you enjoy it and find it the best on that "bunny" you could produce, be happy with it - even if it seems like no one else notices it.
*Don't write what your not comfortable writing, even if it seems that the entire fandom is doing it. If you don't feel right adding a smut filled sex scene, don't. If you don't have a clue how to write a smut filled sex scene, don't. PG and PG-13 fics do get read, it's ok to say "that doesn't belong here, that doesn't add to my story".

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

*Don't write what your not comfortable writing, even if it seems that the entire fandom is doing it. If you don't feel right adding a smut filled sex scene, don't. If you don't have a clue how to write a smut filled sex scene, don't. PG and PG-13 fics do get read, it's ok to say "that doesn't belong here, that doesn't add to my story".

I completely agree. In fact, I'm tired of writing sex scenes. They can be very distracting to the plot sometimes.

[reddwarfer.livejournal.com]

1.) Tell us how long you've been involved in HP fandom.
I have been involved for almost a year now.

2.) What drew you into fandom?
Someone rec'd me this gorgeous art which was on erotic_elves and I searched the rest of the site to read some. I got into slash after a delightful Snape/Harry fic on The Restricted Section and was hooked and never once looked back to het.
3.) What lessons have you learned that made the transition/being involved in fandom easier? List as many as you like.
1. Lurk first. Read. See what you like. What others like. What guidelines to follow.
2. Review as often as possible. It is nice even if it is only a smiley face.
3. Make criticism constructive. "You suck" doesn't count.
4. Have someone look at your work. Writers who have too many mistakes make my head sore.
5. Don't be afraid to branch out to other pairings or fandoms.
6. Write for challenges. It makes you a better writer.
7. Write pairings you do not like. This also makes you a better writer.
8. Know your limits. Never write what you do not feel comfortable with. Ie. Non-con, chan etc.
9. Chat with others that write. It is fun to actually talk to someone who won't look at you all wonky.
10. Being a beta is a lot of fun. It helps you strengthen your writing skills and see plot holes. It makes you a better writer.

Friend/De-friend...don't care really. It is nice to have people want to follow your journal, but I could care less why someone does or does not friend me. I friend people who write or draw things I like and friend whomever friends me. :D

Leila

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

6. Write for challenges. It makes you a better writer.

merry_smutmas is exactly where I started.

[pauraque]

1. I read the books and started reading fic in early 2003, and started posting in May 2003, so a tad over two years.

2. I've been in other online fandoms, so it was just a matter of liking the books and finding out where the fic was. (Answer: Everywhere!)

3. I think the most important thing I've learned in this fandom is to loosen up. Write odd pairings. Write sex. Write kink. Don't be embarrassed about it.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

3. I think the most important thing I've learned in this fandom is to loosen up. Write odd pairings. Write sex. Write kink. Don't be embarrassed about it.

It always amazes me when slashers embarass easily, reddening as they type. This should be a great way to overcome inhibitions.

[mellafe.livejournal.com]

1. I've been in the fandom since 1998 with a hiatus in the middle.
2. I was drawn into fandom by the need to discuss theories and then to drool over schoolboys, you know the drill.
3. I've learned about sex, haha, that's the most important lesson. I've learned it's ok that I'm a girl and enjoy boys kissing. Also, that there's all kinds of people out there, and even though I don't agree with all, I can be friends with the ones I do without being a bitch to those I don't.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

3. I've learned about sex, haha, that's the most important lesson. I've learned it's ok that I'm a girl and enjoy boys kissing. Also, that there's all kinds of people out there, and even though I don't agree with all, I can be friends with the ones I do without being a bitch to those I don't.

It's more than okay to enjoy boys kissing. You can do so here without the persecution.

[casirafics.livejournal.com]

1.) Tell us how long you've been involved in HP fandom.

A couple years now.

2.) What drew you into fandom?

Another fanwriter, and a long-time interest in the books that just hadn't boiled over into full-bore fandom yet.

3.) What lessons have you learned that made the transition/being involved in fandom easier? List as many as you like.

DON'T TAKE FANDOM SO FUCKING SERIOUSLY. honestly. Just take it easy. Enjoy yourself. Ignore Teh Wank (tm). The more laid-back you are about the whole thing, the better an experience it's likely to be. ;)

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

DON'T TAKE FANDOM SO FUCKING SERIOUSLY. honestly. Just take it easy. Enjoy yourself. Ignore Teh Wank (tm). The more laid-back you are about the whole thing, the better an experience it's likely to be. ;)

Some people live, breathe, eat, shit, and drink fandom. These are the ones that take fandom too seriously and consider it a second job, or 'a job' I should say. *G*

[saridout.livejournal.com]

(i LOVE your icon)

1. my one year anniversary is coming up next month :)

2. i think that i was looking for HP fanart, and wasn't having any luck on elfwood, so i yahooed it. i was getting really annoyed cause almost all of the results were for these awful things called "Livejournals." eventually i caved and started looking at them, and it was like i was sucked in, never to return ^_^

3.bnfs, no matter how incredible i think they are, are just normal everyday fans just like me, and i should try to treat them thus. instead of pinging them randomly with "OMGYOU'RETHATFICWRITERILOVEYOUYOUAREAGOD!!!1!"

thank god i'm out of THAT stage O_o most of those poor writers are scarred and won't ever talk to me again.

i also learned that people shouldn't worry so much about being weird. SOMEone's bound to understand how you feel about something.

[saridout.livejournal.com]

i just looked back at everyone else's comments, and i think it's really groovy that so many people said something like my last line :)