ginseng & honey

In the past two years I've seen two of my favorite IF stories be drastically altered or become a meandering mess because the authors got so much "criticism" about their characters or plot and they ended up changing so much of their works to accommodate obnoxious fans that those IFs aren't updated anymore, or the author has come out and explained how they don't feel motivated to continue the project.

Creatives have got to develop thicker skin. You are writing the thing and you know what it's supposed to be. Stand up for yourself and your creations. And learn the difference between constructive criticism and plain toxic fans wanting to censor anything they don't personally like. If they want a story that fits their wants and needs they can write their own or find other media that better fits their interests.

We are all currently suffering under pressures to censor ourselves and our creative works. This is everywhere in every country and nation on earth. Write the trans characters, write the dark skinned characters, write the psychosexual violence, write the dark themes, write what services the characters and the story you're telling. If it doesn't land it doesn't land, but at least it was made unapologetically. You get up and try again.

Stop letting little random idiots online direct your thoughts. They aren't privy to the process. They aren't oracles and experience no divine intervention. Do not let the little idiots demoralize you.