Holy Smokes! The Firestorm Is Upon Us…

Posted by Credoroza in Fandom Fanatic - A Reader's Ramblings | 4 comments

Fandom (from the noun fan and the affix -dom, as
in kingdom, freedom, etc.) is a term used to refer to a subculture composed of
fans characterized by a feeling of sympathy and camaraderie with others who
share a common interest. Fans typically are interested in even minor details of
the object(s) of their fandom and spend a significant portion of their time and
energy involved with their interest, often as a part of a social network with
particular practices (a fandom); this is what differentiates “fannish”
(fandom-affiliated) fans from those with only a casual
interest.

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The fandom has always been a very emotional place to set up camp. With the multitude of stories posted daily, social media outlets, blogging, and now publishing, it was bound to happen. The firestorm is upon us. And what a firestorm it is. We have outright plagiarism, and not of the fanfic kind, author bashing, reader bashing, and reviewers of stories not actually reviewing the stories, but the authors themselves, sometimes rather harshly. And the all time upset, authors flouncing and pulling their stories along with them. Breaks my heart every time I see that happen.

A cornucopia of opinions, threads, and who has the longest reach to get their voice heard the loudest. Gone are the days when blogs reviewed stories requested and pushed by the fandom. It seems it is more a who knows who and who is momentary popular. Blogging what is believed people want to hear as opposed to standing by their original mission statements. There are still some out there, but they seem to get pushed to the back burners as they are unwilling to host, let alone be part of the whirling tide of drama.

The Sensual Six Superstars, as I refer to them, were six ladies that were the original draw to the fandom. They wrote and posted the most unbelievable stories ever. These ladies also conversed with their followers, blogged, and replied to reviews. But sadly, no new stories and many have pulled their stories due to unscrupulous actions of others and no longer update their blogs. They seem to have moved on. Once in a while you see a tweet or two, but nothing we the readers are just dying for, a new story. Sadly, these were the ladies and stories that drew me to the fandom and fed my growing addiction. And the initial drawing, The Twilight Saga. Basically how a great many of us wound up here, whether admitted or not.

There are however a whole new group of superstar writers upon us. But with anything new, a crop of new views and attitudes have taken over the fandom as well. Now are the days of “I have a RL” , “if you don’t like it, don’t read it”,  ”abandoned stories”, “waiting months for updates”, “over the top angst”, “complete smut, no storyline”, “ridiculing reviews on twitter”, “viscous readers leaving offensive reviews”, “writers attacking readers”, and the all time favorite, “a page of author’s notes prior to the story”.

And myself, a self proclaimed fanatic? Why do I stay? Why do I participate? Because I love the fandom. With all the drama and changing royalty, there are still a plethora of really good stories and really good writers, though, sometimes you have to work to search them out. There is still the ability to make social media friendships, though, you have to be a little careful there. The bloggers, the good ones are still there blogging away. The fandom is a changed world, a whole new world, and we as readers, followers, and stalkers, must adapt to it or be lost to the drama. And adapt we shall.

You should take a really good look at the fandom. The creativity and inspiration it inspires boggles the mind. I have read the most wonderful stories. Stories that you want to read over and over again. I have watched new writers tread in with their passions to tell a story and watched the fandom nurture them along. I have seen the most beautiful banners and manips created. How these women do what they do amazes me. I have read the most prolific articles on a fandom blog as well as fantastic interviews. Then there are the tireless affiliates consistently tweeting and blogging rec’s, writers, and contests. They should be hailed as the backbone of the community.

This brings me to charity. The fandom supports a great many charities. There are writers and web hosts that donate their time to wonderful causes. I myself participate in all of them by donating to the multitude of causes. What’s $5.00 to donate and receive in return a wonderful compilation of outtakes that writers have donated? You get some great stories that can not be found anywhere and get to see continuations of your favorites, all of these gifts plus helping these causes collect hundreds if not thousands of dollars for various charities. Who says the fandom is selfish and self centered? What other social media group gifts their donatees with such wonderful returns? What other social media group does things like this? Again, none that I am aware of.

I plan on staying firmly planted within the fandom walls. I will continue to explore new stories, pimp the ones I love, stalk my fav’s on twitter, blog away, and soak up the creativity the fandom inspires.

The fandom continues to give me the warm fuzzies of belonging to an extraordinary world. Where else can these happen? No where that I am aware of.

“Fandom Fanatic” banner created by Fandom’s own, Evieeden

You can check out her stories on Fanfiction here as well as her banners here