#m. dearest

Oh, nonny. I know exactly how that feels. I have...I think...3 or 4 unfinished fanfictions because I keep writing chapters, but they feel so empty to me too. A few months ago I managed to update one of my fanfictions with the same fears that you have--maybe there’s errors I didn’t catch, or the feelings I want to portray won’t shine through compared to other fanfics I’ve read--but I got positive feedback.

Sometimes it’s as small as a “I like what you’ve done. Hope to see you on the next update” or a favorite/kudos/etc. Lately, I’ve been writing up oneshots because at least the ideas I have for my primary fics are still saved in some way and just putting out one of those ideas for someone to see gave me a bit of my motivation back.

Do you have any fellow fanfic authors that you’re friends with? Maybe have one of them proof read some of your work. Or if you’re just feeling empty, then write up something based on that feeling. The most I can suggest is write based on how you’re feeling whenever you’re feeling it. You can apply that feeling to a character or a situation that you hadn’t yet considered for your plot line.

Do what you can to keep writing even if it doesn’t feel worthwhile. Don’t lose your passion; if you can still feel it within you, then you’re still capable of expressing it through the words you write and share with others.

I know a bunch of us either write, draw, or both. For me, it’s been music and old movies. Lately, it’s helped me revive the motivation to complete unfinished works. 

So what inspires you to create?

That’s not a bad thing, anon. Everyone has their little niches of fanfiction that we fall into. Mine is character development and the time flow of a story. As long as you’re not physically recreating the literary torture that you’re reading, I’d say you’ll be just fine. 

Like I’ve read from authors who are studying to be doctors and the like and they give some great incite on the appropriate reactions of patients and physicians (ie. bodily functions, initial diagnoses, estimated recovery times, types of physical therapy required, etc).