finally writing again

[nanslice]

I've started writing again. I haven't written anything since September, 2022, and before that was a couple of Genshin fics, but I've not consistently written for fandom in quite some time. Part of it is because I have limited time for fandom so I prioritize art over fic. But the main reason is I was getting in my own head about what is actual good fic, whether I'm any good at it, not really vibing with what fandom seems to what most of the time. But I also haven't been reading fic either, which is kind of rough. My current fandom is Warhammer 40k and I know things are being written but it's so hard to focus on things and, I don't know, it just doesn't feel like as much fun as it used to be.

So I stepped back to the year 2000 and went to a website I lived on: GW Addiction. This website was the holy grail for me back in the day, most of my time spent online started on that website and then followed webrings and links to other, far off websites. I stepped back in time and I started reading some of these fics and, gosh. Those authors were having fun. Just, writing whatever the fuck they wanted to write.

And it kind of kickstarted my brain into gear! To just shut up and do the thing! Have fun with it! Not everything needs to be an epic or a sprawling masterpiece or the world's hottest porn! Sometimes, a fic is just a fun little snapshot of a ship and how you view them. And that's okay. That's preferable, even!

So anyways. I'm working on a fun little thing for ficinabox and I'm really kind of excited about it, hehe. :)

It's hard, taking a step back to get inspiration but not fall into melancholia and nostalgia for the past. I really miss how fandom was in the 2000s, sometimes so much so that it's a physical ache. I suspect this has a lot to do with all the Real Life bullshit that's been going on, both in my personal life and the world at large, that makes me yearn for a simpler time. (I know I've mentioned my nostalgia before and I'll probably mention it again, shrug shrug)

Who knows, friends, who knows.

Oh, but I'm currently on vacation and that's very nice. <3 One thing I'm planning to do is catch up on comments! I got this!

Comments

[hokuton_punch]

Congratulations on getting back into writing! *\o/* I hope you have fun with it, even with the melancholy and nostalgia.

[nanslice]

Thank you! I'm trying to use the techniques my therapist taught me in hopes to contain those feelings lol. Fingers crossed!

[sarajayechan]

I hear ya re: the 2000s. I read a post on Tumblr about how for all the flaws 2000s fandom had, people were creating. Fics, icons, art, webcomics, AMVs, fanmixes, people were less afraid to make things simply because they loved something and wanted to have fun with it. (Even with the Badfic Police and Mary Sue Hunters on the loose.)

I've stopped caring whether my fanfic is Good Enough or will pull in the clicks and views and gushing. As long as I'm happy with it, it's fine by me.

[nanslice]

Yes! There was an earnestness and sincerity that feels missing! Everyone's too afraid of being "cringe" now I guess. Including me! I'm going to write the dumb romansu things I've been wanting to read! Is this OOC? Well I try my best so who gives a shit!

Creating for myself used to be so easy; I'm going to focus on getting back into that.

(omg I bet I could make so many Warhammer icons!)

[ilyena_sylph]

omg, GWA is back functional?!?!?

the last dozen times i've tried to go there, Avast has said NO CAN DO, BAD SHIT AHEAD!

[nanslice]

I use UBlock and it's not throwing up any warnings! :)

[ilyena_sylph]

+gleeful screaming+

[rionaleonhart]

Oh, wow. I was never in Gundam Wing fandom, but the design of that website just punched me in the face with early-2000s Internet nostalgia.

Good luck with your fanfiction! Just writing whatever you want to and having a good time with it is a great policy.

[nanslice]

Right? So simple and clean but also: frames.

Thank you! I'm gonna do my best! :D

[vriddy]

Oh wow!! I was veryyyyy heavily into Gundam Wing at the time but I don't think I ever found that particular site!! It's so cool to find those windows into the past that are still open, aah, so many archives and old fan shrines disappeared.

And I'm glad it inspired you!! I should take some of that energy, too :D Been overthinking writing and "being good" a bit too much lately.

[nanslice]

I knoooow! And I loved exploring all the archives and fan shrines and seeing how individually people built their shrines based on what they cared about the most. It feels like things are so homogenized, almost commercialized. Like creators are content creators instead of fans, if that makes sense.

[vriddy]

Sadly, yeah, what you're describing makes perfect sense 🥲

[princessofgeeks]

I so relate to the nostalgia for the fandom of the 2000s. It was prime time for me as well.

[nanslice]

Yeah! And I know that part of this is rose-colored glasses but also, like. That was a really great time to be on the internet!

Honestly, I blame social media lol.

[yuuago]

Glad you've found a way to have fun with writing again. <3

[nanslice]

Thank you. <3

[cephy]

Oh maaaaaan, I remember GW Addiction... I didn't realize it was still functional! Definitely a shot of nostalgia there.

[nanslice]

Apparently it was down for a little while but it's back! A very welcome reminder that fandom is meant to be fun.

[lassarina]

I, too, miss the way fandom felt in the 2000s, but fuck yeah for doing fandom the way you want and writing what you want to write. It shouldn't be as much of a struggle as it is, but!