Snowflake Challenge #5

[pensnest]

Challenge #5

Talk about what has improved in your life thanks to fandom. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

1. Fandom has improved my writing. I've learned from beta readers, I've learned from commenters, I've learned from betaing for other people, I've learned from writing comms, etc. My very first fanfic is this one. It's not bad, but I can do better now, and I have a better understanding of how to write and how to leave things out. I still remember my very first beta - I asked Berkeley Hunt, a fierce and terrible person (!) to beta for me, and she was great. Where is she now?

2. Fandom has brought me enormous amounts of fun, online and off. From hilarious conversations at conventions to LJ interactions to Camp Sparkle, there have been so many laughs. Friendships which still make me smile, even the ones that have fallen away. The joy of shared obsessions.

3. I have learned to think. So many thoughtful and worthwhile discussions. So many different points of view offered to me freely. I dare say I might have come up with some of the improvements on my own as I've had years of living in which to do it, but it would have been so easy to be hidebound and to assume that my life was the only one I needed. Fandom broadened me.

Comments

[jacieleigh]

It makes you wonder why people ever leave fandom! It is fun, and a great way to connect with others. I'm glad you've had so many positive experiences with it! I've also learned a lot and cherish my fandom friendships. *G*

[pensnest]

Even without a specific fandom to love, I feel 'at home' within fandom in general.

[turps]

This is such a lovely response to the challenge.

[pensnest]

Aww. I think fandom helped me to grow into a decent person. Not that I was unspeakably vile before, but you know what I mean!

[wenchpixie]

Friendships which still make me smile, even the ones that have fallen away. this is such a lovely point - those friendships that were only for a season or two, were still wonderful

[pensnest]

It's true - sometimes people just fall out of a fandom, or of fandom in general. Sometimes you never know why, which is unsettling. But fun is still fun, even when it's over.

[turlough]

I don't write but fandom definitely improved my icon-making and I completely agree with you on point two and three!

[pensnest]

I forgot about that! Yes, I had struggled mightily with Photoshop to produce posters for my theatre group, but once I found LJ I learned a great deal about how to use it, with all the icons I so happily made!

[ngtskynebula]

Indeed! The chance of meeting many different people fandom brings us has, also, helped me broaden my horizons. I'm definitely a more serene person thanks to many experiences and encounters I've had in the fansphere; I relate to you.