Fandom Joy

[mesotablar]

Challenge #13: In your own space, share a favourite memory about fandom: the first time you got into fandom, the last time a fanwork touched your heart, wild times with fellow fans (whether on-line or off-line), a lovely comment you’ve received or have left for someone.

In the past I had headfics, and yes there were those years when I enjoyed self-insert lucid dreams while reading the Harry Potter books, but what really got me into fandoms and fandom communities was 'From Dusk Til Dawn'. I didn't want it to end where it did, I wanted more, but my brain was too caught up in other stories already.
That is when I searched out fanfiction and found AO3.
and on AO3 I found a particular fic. 
Even now I can close my eyes and see the scene. It was everything I wanted, and it was not alone. There were hundreds of fics, thousands, millions of fics freely waiting to be devoured. 
I may have read fannish things before, but it was that moment as Kate Fuller sweated on a hot Summer night outside a motel, feeling angry and depressed and alone, that I treasure as my gateway into fanfic.

Shout out #2 goes to *person who I know wishes to remain anonymous* for commenting on my fic and inspiring me to write again! My 100,000+ words last year were literally because of your push!  

Comments

[turps]

Even now I can close my eyes and see the scene. It was everything I wanted, and it was not alone. There were hundreds of fics, thousands, millions of fics freely waiting to be devoured.

That's such a great description, and one I can relate to.

I'm glad you found A03 and your anon person who inspired your writing. Having someone like that is such a great thing.

[mesotablar]

Sometimes I still have to pinch myself that the stuff I read on AO3 is free and not some publishing house's leaked back-catalogue!

[seal_girl]

Some comments just arrive at the perfect time.
♥

[mesotablar]

It was an alignment of the stars!
And now I never pass on the opportunity to comment, because there is the chance I'll be that for someone else!

[seal_girl]

I love that attitude and you are so very right. I'm not great at commenting, somehow my brain sticks and I get all weird about it.
But I've been looking through a lot of these snowflake answers, and a very common theme is how much a small comment can mean to someone, and you might never know how much it matters to the author at that time.

[svgurl]

Even now I can close my eyes and see the scene. It was everything I wanted, and it was not alone.
That's such a good feeling. To come across people who share your interests. Fandom is so useful for that.

Yay for the person who commented! Seems like perfect timing. I bet they were thrilled at what they inspired with their words. :D

[mesotablar]

Fandoms are like the friend filters for the internet :)

They got a lot more to read, that's for sure! and now we have really active discussions. It is so great!