frodosweetstuff:silentauroriamthereal:Huh. I just read on a forum somewhere that apparently I...

frodosweetstuff:

silentauroriamthereal:

Huh. I just read on a forum somewhere that apparently I write too much and am not original or interesting or brave. Good to know, will bear that in mind the next time I feel badly for not having written more in a week. 

I could say a lot about the variety that I’ve written. I could defend myself. But I’m not going to. I’ve spent countless hours, literally, writing for free, for self-expression and for other people’s enjoyment. I don’t have to do that. I’m not saying that people aren’t allowed to criticise fan authors or fan artists, but do remember that this is a donation on our parts, yeah? 

*big big big big hugs* Please don’t let those comments get to you. First of all, you are a wonderful and much beloved writer. I, and doubtlessly, many many many others are thankful that you are in this fandom and that you give us your excellent fics! And from your posts here you seem like such a wonderful person, too. *more hugs*

You do not write too much - you are a blessing to anyone with a thirst for well-written, wonderful fic. Not original? Not interesting? Well, I for one, save your new fics for days where I know I’ll need the pick-me-up effect a satisfying read of an excellent fic will bring me - and I save all your fics onto my computer so that I’m always able to go back and re-read at any given moment, even if AO3 is down or my internet connection is wonky or whatever. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s giggled, smiled, gasped, grinned and sighed over your fics again and again and again. That’s not what I would do if your fics where not original or interesting. Not brave? WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? I have been in fandom since 2001 and I have read fanfics in their thousands - and I cannot for the life of me think of a fic I would call “brave”.

And finally, what sort of lowlife worm goes and posts such comments about a fanfic writer somewhere publicly? Everyone is entitled to their opinions - hell, I wouldn’t touch one of the most beloved fics in this fandom with a barge pole because it contains something I absolutely detest but do I go around advertising the name of the fic and author? No. Everyone has writers or fics they don’t like - luckily most of us have THE COMMON COURTESY TO NOT BASH THEM IN PUBLIC.

I suspect a case of strong jealousy from someone who feels their own fics do not get the amount of love and attention they deserve. Which is sad, too, because in a perfect world, everyone should get some degree of love for contributing to a fandom and sharing the squee and love and happiness - but still no excuse.

Anyway, you are one of my favourite writers in this fandom, I love your fics, I’m more than happy that you have such a high output (and that you post about your progress when writing - those posts always cause a small burst of happiness in me when I see them). I hope you’ll be able to get over this and feel happier again - to feel as happy as an accomplished writer of beloved, admired and valued fanfic should feel! *even more hugs* *hopes you are a person who likes virtual hugs because eeep, I did hug you a lot in this post*

Oh, you darling. Thank you so, so much for your comments,
there!! You’re seriously just so great. You’ve made me feel so much better
about all this! I’m totally thrilled that you look forward to my stuff so much
and don’t think it’s gotten boring or repetitive. Seriously, thank you so, so,
so much for that!!!!

As for brave – um, I wrote a fic wherein both Sherlock and
John die? I wrote a fic involving female-to-male spousal abuse, wherein a man
gets assaulted with a dildo and his back cut to shreds with a razor? I’ve
written watersports and RPF and evil!Mary (aka canon!Mary!) – well before that
was a popular interpretation of Mary in any way whatsoever, too!! I’ve written
toplock when it was unpopular and bottomlock when I felt like it. I’ve written
John anywhere from total dick to wonderfully warm and compassionate – sometimes
all within the same story, because that’s sort of the essential, paradoxical
nature of John Watson. I’ve written narrative poetry (the story Want qualifies)
– like, I definitely have made “brave” choices!!! Just because I’m not writing
squid porn doesn’t mean there hasn’t been bravery! I’ve written stories that I
knew would lose me buckets of followers, like the RPF and Scars (the abuse
fic). Even some of my heavier angst fics have lost me followers. I write what I
need to write, what I feel compelled to write, you know?

As for being a wonderful person – I don’t know, but I do
try! I try to be fair and supportive and generally a good world citizen, you
know? I don’t litter. I’m old/mature enough to know that complimenting someone
else doesn’t cost me anything or diminish my own self-worth or place in the
universe.

I agree – there are a few of those big name fics in the
fandom that I just can’t stand at all for a variety of reasons, or
characterisations that just don’t work for me. This stuff is quite subjective
to personal taste and I’m well aware that if one story isn’t to my taste, it
probably is to someone else’s and that my personal taste doesn’t dictate
whether or not a story was well written. People really have a hard time
separating their taste from their opinion of quality. But yeah – I strongly,
strongly feel that every talent has its own place to exist. It’s not a place
you have to carve out or take from someone else. It’s just there. Some talents
are larger or smaller and their spaces are accordingly larger or smaller,
maybe, but everyone’s talent has a place to exist. Once I learned that, as a
singer, I became a much happier person. Someone else being fantastic doesn’t
mean that you’re not also fantastic. There isn’t a limited amount of fantastic
out there.

Thank you so much for this. I’ve been answering other people’s
comments privately, but you wrote so many good things for all of us to
remember, so I thought I would answer this one in a reblog. And thanks for all
the hugs! I adore hugs! <3333333333333