The Adventure is begin!

That’s just. Not true.

I can still remember parts of the very first stories I read. Maybe not the titles or authors, maybe not even the most profound parts. But I remember them. A little line of dialogue, a creative description, something that sounded JUST LIKE the character(s).

For this ask game, learn more about the writer who reblogged this. Choose a number and send an ask. Remember, be polite!

What led you to start writing fan fiction? 

Do you consider yourself a writer? Why or not?

What experiences/influences have shaped your writings the most?

What themes/concepts in the canon do you most enjoy exploring in your fan works? 

What aspect of writing have you most improved over time? How did you improve this? What are you trying to improve on now? 

What is your writing process like? Describe it.

How do you balance the demands of writing with other responsibilities? 

How do you view canon works? Do you like to abide by them closely, or loosely? Why? 

Do you like getting requested writing ideas, or do you prefer to brainstorm your own? 

Do you enjoy sharing WIPs or snippets? Why or why not? 

What attracted you to the fandom(s)/media you write in? 

Do you prefer writing in silence or to music?

What are some must-read fanfics in your fandoms? Why do you admire these, and how have they impacted your works?

What aspects of your creative process do you enjoy most? Which are most challenging?

What programs/tools do you use while writing?

What's the worst writing advice anyone ever gave you? Why was this terrible advice?

What’s the best writing advice anyone ever gave you? Why was this good advice?

Are there any themes or tropes that you enjoy writing? Any themes or tropes you hate writing?

How has your experience as a fanfic reader impacted your experience as a fanfic writer?

(if you always read complete works only)

Reading along while an author is actively posting their fic can be a great experience. Much like watching a show or series that airs weekly, reading a fic that posts a new chapter every few days or twice a month etc. can be a lot of fun. Here are some ideas of things you can do to enjoy the experience, if it's new to you:

get intrigued - where is the author going with this? How are they going to roll out the plot that they described in their summary/tags? what tone are they setting in their first chapter(s) and how do you think that will carry through the story? So much is possible, and you'll get to find out!

read the author's notes - are there hints of what's to come? are they looking for suggestions? maybe you get to know the author a little bit or connect with their social media.

read the comments - You'll often see some back and forth in the comments section between readers and the author, especially if they are friends. You might also see some speculation about what's upcoming in the fic or some references to fanon or canon that might interest you.

leave a comment - this can become an enthusiasm loop where you shout your enjoyment at the author and they shout their joy at your comment back at you. It might even lead to friendship - either with the author or with other commenters. Even if the author isn't the type of person to reply, your comment will likely encourage them to keep updating the story.

subscribe - at the top of the fic, you'll find a subscribe button (if you're a logged in user). If you hit that, AO3 will send you an email every time that fic updates. You'll be able to read the fic soon after it's posted or save it as a treat or to reward yourself later.

get a friend to read it too - then you'll have someone to theorize with and squee with when a new chapter is posted. Having someone to talk to about things always makes them more fun.

if the fic goes on hiatus - you still had all the fun of reading it while it was still posting, and now you get to imagine what might happen next. You can still reread (and even comment, if you'd like) as often as you like until that new chapter drops, and if you're subscribed, you'll find out about it - even if it takes years.

Reading works in progress isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I think it can be a lot of fun - especially if you know someone else who's reading it too.

YOU AND YOUR STORIES ARE WORTH A MILLION BUCKS;

REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH TRACTION THEY GET

YOUR WORTH AS A WRITER CANNOT BE TAKEN FROM YOU BECAUSE IT IS NOT MEASURED BY NUMBERS

Also them

what will critics and detractors say about this?

is this as marketable as I can possibly make this?

Things that do matter when you're writing a story:

is this story meaningful for me, the author, to write?

You might feel really bad about your writing. It just doesn’t feel good enough.

Don’t worry, this happens to every writer under the sun! Here’s why you shouldn’t let that feeling get to you →

No matter how good you actually write, there will always be someone who does it better. And that’s okay. Writing is not a competition!

You can be someone’s favorite author without being the best author in the world. Being someone’s favorite writer is definitely more possible than being the best writer in the world. It’s simple logic.

Every writer is unique, and as such, their writing style follows. This means that a simple conversational style can be just as beautiful as some purple prose. So aspire to find your voice and be proud of it because it is unique.

You will improve the more you write and the more you read. This is so important to note that your older writing will never feel good enough, you’ll always find ways that you could have made it better. That’s simply natural!

Embrace that growth though - it’s what makes us artists. You never ever ever stop growing or learning. And arguably, one of the biggest mistakes a writer can make is →