I know this feels like the weirdest time to be doing this but I'm wondering if u have any advice for getting off anon and starting to interact w ppl u follow? I feel like lately the one-sided anon relationship is making me sad, and so many cool ppl have been leaving and I'm bummed I never got the chance to talk to them. But also I'm scared lol. Do I slide into ppls dm's? I'm realizing I'm just asking you how to make friends but dammit maybe that's what I need!
Hi anon! I don’t think this is a weird time, I think it’s always a good time to try and reach out or try something new! I love that you want to, this is lovely 🧡🧡🧡
I was a wallflower in various fandoms for a looooong time so I hear you. It is more fun (I think) to interact, though. And I get that it’s scary! New things always are. I think one thing to remember is it’s like anything else - when you’re learning a new thing you don’t hit a 100% success rate. You try stuff, see how it goes, see how it feels for you. I thought up some tips on the train today:
Try a couple different things — I think one nice thing about tumblr’s current silly UI is you do have multiple ways to interact. I feel like commenting under a post is pretty chill and low pressure, but maybe you don’t. So I’d say try a few things and see — comment under a post, reblog with your comments in the tags, reblog with actual comments in the post. I can honestly tell you that I ALWAYS read the comments people leave in tags and I love them so, so much. And yes, try sending DMs or non-anon asks! But check their profile first, they might have a note about DMs or asks there.
But what to say? I hear you. It doesn’t have to be long or intense. Try commenting on a fic or art or moodboard with something simple like LOVED IT or “this was great!” Same thing with the tags and reblog comments. You could send an ask that says the same thing or play along when someone is doing ask games. Even just leaving an emoji as a comment is great (I am an overuser of the eyes 👀 on wip Wednesday posts but I am LOOKING). I often stream of consciousness my fic replies and that works well for me, lol. Oh or just copy and paste a line you loved and then like emojis after or a scream, lol. Or a gif comment! On anything!
Don’t worry about over commenting on fic or art - I’ve seen this worry around tumblr, that people think they’re leaving spam comments? I don’t even know what that would mean, lol. I don’t care if 3 people in a row leave me a keyboard smash comment, I treasure every single one.
Interacting beyond fic and art comments - this is probably the next thing, right? It sounds like you want to have conversations with people! I think just sharing your thoughts is a great way to start. Like if someone shared a wip post, tell them how excited you are and what it makes you think about. Or if someone shares a new gifset or art tell them why you love it. Or for a poll, explain your vote! And for an ask game, ask about an answer or share when you would pick the same thing.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get a response every time — this is a hard one, I know. But people aren’t on tumblr all the time, and plenty of other reasons! That’s why I’m suggesting trying more than one thing, and also keep it up! It gets easier with practice and once you start you’ll find new ways to interact, too. But not everyone clicks and that’s just the truth. There are oodles of people in this fandom though, you know?
I totally get that interacting is daunting. But you don’t have to do everything at once. Just try things out and give yourself permission to have feelings about it. Remember you can choose how you respond, too! And putting a bit of info in your own blog header can make it easier to connect, for the people who want to reply to you. (what you’d like to be called, etc.)
I definitely made friends here by just becoming one of their steady commenters, or people who commented a lot on my posts. You get to know each other! Which is very fun.
I hope this gives you some courage! Be kind to yourself! And please feel free to send me more messages, any time. 🧡
Anyone else have any tips? 👀
gummygunk
prguitarman
jacobvanloon
kianamaiart
turnnoffyourmind
dailybridgerton
ellievsbear
