snowflake 2016: day 6

Day 6 - In your own space, create your own challenge. What’s something you want to see more people doing in fandom? Is there something you’ve tried that you think other people would enjoy if they gave it a go? Dare your friends to try it out, and have fun with it.

I don't know about having fun with this, but what I wish people would do is be more at peace with their choices, less upset by others' reactions. If someone doesn't like something you love or are good at writing, just let it go. Someone doesn't like your choice of genre, tense, voice, fandom, OTP, deeply personal headcanon? Well they're entitled, so don't let it bother you. We all have personal dislikes, some more logical than others. If we were all the same, there'd be no point in fanfiction. And if they're rude about it, they don't deserve to be taken seriously.

I was always a bit out of step with fandom fashion -- I wrote Glorfindel/Gil-galad when everyone around me was writing Glorfindel/Erestor (whose corner of fandom has shrunk dramatically, and who I now write with great affection), and I love my Elwing -- but it's taught me some useful lessons about going with my personal flow. In the end it's no good allowing someone to make you second guess your choices when this is something you do for pleasure and they are not paying you by the line.

Challenge: do what gives you joy and don't let other people's likes/obsessions spoil it for you.