The bonds that are created between a writer and those who read their works are so special – there’s just something about knowing that someone took the time to read your work, and got the enjoyment out of it that you hope for. That’s why comments mean so much, because it’s an acknowledgement of the effort put in, and it’s a reminder that we’re kind of not just screaming into the void, but it’s also a way of connecting. When someone points out a line that they really like, it means that the writer has left an impression, even just for long enough for the comment to be written, and that’s incredible. (I remember once, someone commented asking when I was going to write for the show, and I still haven’t forgotten that comment – it still spurs me on.) I think one of the best parts of writing fanfiction is the bond that can be made with the readers. It’s a wonderful bonus to the fandom experience. […] Connecting with readers makes it feel less like the writing is all happening in a vaccum, it’s a fun reminder that there’s a real life person on the other end, reading these words that are so often spun in solitude; I’m a big believer that once something is published, it becomes the readers, for them to enjoy and keep and just make their own; it gets a little surreal when you realise that your words are in someone else’s mind, but still amazing. And the ability to take an idea, no matter how outlandish and unrealistic, and slip your OTP in there, is a joy that I haven’t found elsewhere.
author appreciation day
Writing fanfiction has been such a fun part of my life. Everything else in the world can be chaotic and difficult, real life and real decisions constantly knock on my door. But writing fic has given me a mental break, a place where people can appreciate something I created in a shared community. I have been so blessed, I have received comments and support and kindness from the community and it reminds me that my creativity and passion is appreciated even if it doesn’t always feel that way.
THANK YOU CARD SUBMISSION FORM IS LIVE
If you signed up to write a personalized thank you card to an author for the event, I will be sending out reminders in the next 24 hours with key information that it tailored to you specifically. It will include:
- Final assignments (for those who were willing to write to more than one author or had no author preference)
- Links to the page(s) where your author posts their works
- Link to the submission form (which you can also find here)
Please be sure to check your email and/or messages on Tumblr or Twitter for yours!
The submission form will now close on September 4th at 9:00PM EST.
Due to the craziness surrounding the cancellation and #SaveShadowhunters, I have adjusted the event schedule. This will give me about a month to get everything ready to mail and email, so please make sure you submit on time.
A few friendly reminders:
- Your message does not have to be extremely long or elaborate, but please tailor it to your author(s)
- You do not have to purchase a card or pay for postage
- Please fill out a separate submission form for each author you are writing to
Not sure what to write about?
- What do you like the most about their fics? (i.e. writing style, characterization, etc.)
- Do you have a favorite fic that they’ve written? Why does it stand out?
- Is there a quote from the narrative or piece of dialogue that stands out? Why does it mean so much to you?
- How does their writing make you feel? Is there a specific fic that makes you feel something that is especially strong?
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me!
Anonymous asked:
Can the authors who signed up to receive cards also sign up to write them? I submitted my info for both, but I would also really love to write some thank you cards for the other authors on the list.
You absolutely can! Thank you so much for your interest in both aspects!
Author Appreciation Day Update
As originally posted to the blog’s affiliated Twitter account.
In advance of tomorrow’s reminder for Author Appreciation Day, I need to voice something.
I realize that people have lives outside of the fandom and that taking a short poll takes a lot less time than signing up for and writing a short thank you message. 39 people (out of my over 1400 followers) participated in the You Pick the Tag Event last week, which is one of the highest numbers I’ve had in nearly a year and a half of operating the blog. Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely excited that people seem to like this event and want to take part in it.
But we’ll be halfway through the Thank You Card Writer sign-ups this week, only needing 26 people total to take part in it, and to have well under half of the number of You Pick the Tag participants signed up (and well under half of the number needed for every author to be written to) is a little disheartening. I hoped readers especially would want to take a bit of time to thank an author in the fandom.
Like I said, I realize that people have things going on and time can be extremely precious. But the same can be said for the time authors spend thinking about, planning, writing, editing, and re-writing fics that they freely share with all of us. They spend days, months, even years on beautiful, elaborate pieces of art that we get to read because they take time out of their busy schedules to make that happen. And the fact that over half of the people who have signed up are authors themselves who want to spend more of their time showing gratitude and support to their fellow writers doesn’t surprise me at all, because the authors in this fandom are always beyond supportive of each other.
But I would really like to see more readers sign up as well, because fic writers don’t get nearly the amount of credit that they deserve for all of their hard work and dedication.
So let me break down the Thank You Card Writer responsibilities, just in case they aren’t clear.
- You need to choose an author to write to from the Author Claims List, as these are authors who have provided me with mailing information, enabling me to send their card to them. You can view it by clicking here.
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You need to write a personalized thank you message. It does not need to be extremely long or elaborate. Therefore, you do not need to spend a long time on it if you’re keeping it relatively short. This is your message; what you write is completely up to you.
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Submissions aren’t due until August 1st. You will have a month and a half to write and submit it, so you have quite a bit of time to work with. You can complete it based on when you have availability in your schedule.
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Once you submit it, your responsibilities are complete. You do NOT need to purchase a thank you card yourself. You do NOT need to send the thank you card yourself or pay for postage. I will take care of all of that once the thank you messages have been submitted.
This really is not meant to come across as aggressive or like a guilt trip. I simply want to make the event’s progress as transparent as possible, lay out exactly what is expected from participants, and hopefully encourage anyone who is considering participating to please sign up at their earliest convenience. You can do so by clicking here. Sign-ups close on June 12th.
To the authors who signed up to receive a card and may be reading this: rest assured that you WILL receive one, regardless of how low participation ends up being. I will write them myself if I have to. Thank you all for sharing your wonderful representations of Alec & Magnus!
Dear FanFic Writers,
Thank you.
No words quite fit what to say to you better than that. You’ve created worlds and dreams and shared with the countless multitudes of fandoms the tales of our favorite characters through your own eyes.
We’ve laughed and cried and loathed and joked and craved and wondered at the stories you unravel before us.
The worlds you’ve shaped, the memories you’ve created, but most importantly the lives of people you have touched with these stories is unfathomable.
Never forget that a mind, though it be a single, solitary person, altered by the words you’ve written is still someone in this world who has been changed by YOU.
Fanfiction writers….
You.
Are.
Irreplaceable.
Thank you for your gifts and your art and the light you bestow among the fandom communities.
I love, love, love reading Shadowhunters fanfiction. The amount of talent this fandom has is unbelievable. In order to consistently post on my side blog, I usually have to finish at least one or two pieces per day. I love reading all of them, but there are those select few that absolutely stand out because the author goes above in beyond in developing their world and I can’t help but get sucked into them. Fanfiction is a pretty beautiful thing. You get swept up in the imaginings of someone you’ve never met before as they explore characters you both already adore. As you read their words, you get to share something so close to both of your hearts. In that way, these characters’ stories – and your journeys with them – never really end. It’s a pretty amazing feeling and one that helped inspire this blog. To all of the amazing authors who continue to work their magic and share their fics, I’ll never be able to thank all of you enough for that.
@lbauman13579 / Admin of MalecFicLibrary, the United States
For more Author Appreciation Day posts, visit the tag here.
My favorite thing about writing fanfiction is the fact that, for me, it feels real. I personally don’t read AU’s, and that is because I prefer fanfiction that is just like the show. Cause then I feel like it actually happened. Post and coda fanfictions are my favorites! When the writer stays true to the character and write it in the right elements and environment. I just imagine that those actually happen. And I love that! I love that we can just write our own stuff and see it as a part of the show in a way. I also just love sharing something I keep so close to my heart with others who do that as well. It’s amazing and I’m so grateful to be in a fandom that values and cherish fanwork so much!
@nephilimsherriie (A03), Europe
For more Author Appreciation Day posts, visit the tag here.
I don’t personally see a divide between myself and those who read my fics; at the end of the day, we’re all fans of the same thing, and I hope that nobody feels too nervous or intimidated to talk to me, about my fics or anything else for that matter.
As a fic writer myself, I know how much work you put into your writing. I want to thank you all for creating absolute masterpieces that keep me going when I’m bored, sad or angry. Fanfiction is my whole world. I get lost in the stories but I cannot let my stories go too early. I need to relive it over and over again. And thanks to you, I can just sit and read stories, even whole books! about those characters. It’s the most beautiful form of sharing – because it’s creating something brand new with characters we’ve come to know as well as family or friends, allowing us to stay with them and escape into their world over and over again. And it’s all free. Thank you.
Malec Fic Library 