Snowflake - Day 2

[prisca]

In your own space, talk about your fannish origin story. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it.

My fannish origin story ... hmm ... I am wondering when it starts. When I was a child, I could barely read, but I got my first 'Pucky' book at Christmas from my grandma? Some years later, when I discovered the books of Enid Blyton, devoured her 'Adventure' series first, until I moved on to the 'Mystery of...' and 'The Famous Five' series? It was then that I decided to be a great author like her one day, and I started writing my first fanfiction. Without even knowing that some like fanfiction was exciting ;)

Well, I guess, my true fannish life started years later when I discovered the movie 'The Fellowship of the Rings'. I knew nothing about Tolkien or that this movie was only the first of two more to follow. I just knew that I had fallen in love.

Everything else came almost on its own. I read the book(s) and started looking around on the internet for other people sharing my love. I discovered communities and even a (German) fan club for LotR. It was only a matter of time before I dared to widen my horizon even more and create my first Livejournal.

There, I found the first fanfiction stories I've ever read. I gathered all my courage to post one myself. And one more... and one more... Today, about 18 years later, I have seen some ups and downs; no, fandom is not the same anymore like it have been so many years ago, but I am still here, writing this post, and it feels good.

Comments

[vendettadays]

This is such a truth: fandom is not the same anymore like it have been so many years ago, but I am still here, writing this post, and it feels good.

Thanks for sharing!

[prisca]

Well, I guess actually life is changing throughout the years, and we change, too. So it shouldn't be such a surprise that also fandom changes.

[sisterdivinium]

It really is good to still be here :) And I always find it interesting when people mention fannish groups in other languages! That's certainly something I never experienced for some reason, always defaulting to searching for the English circles directly.

[prisca]

Well, I am from Germany; I practiced English only at school, and stopped thinking about it as soon as I possible. For me, signing up at Livejournal was a big step. Today, I am glad that I overstepped my lines, and I feel much more confident today when it comes to reading and writing in English.

[sisterdivinium]

Oh, yes, it's just that I'm also from a non-anglophone country (should have mentioned that, sorry!) and here it seems almost a 50/50 split between people who search for "local" fandom first and those who stumble upon English-language fandom first even though they can't fully understand every word -- at least as regards people I've known personally.

Challenging yourself and taking that step was a great choice. After all, not only did it get you here today, it also made you grow your skills and that's one lovely combo! :)

[barbaratp]

Adorei ver mais alguém que começou no fandom por leitura de livros de mistério e aventura assim como eu. Que alegria u.u

Não creio conhecer no entanto os títulos indicados além de Tolkien (ele é meio que universal não é mesmo?)

É incrível como quando a gente lê algo maravilhoso a gente queira fazer o mesmo. E no fim do nada estamos nas fics fazendo uma virar muitas e lá se vai história...

[jacieleigh]

A lot of people I've known simply disappeared from fandom one day, leaving no forwarding address (or reason for leaving, nor any hint of what was going on). It's really nice to see other people who have been around fandom for many years who have stuck around and keep on going!

[prisca]

Oh yes, same here. So many fandom friends vanished into nowhere, and my main fandoms started to die without them. Sometimes, I was thinking about it, just to give up, but then I reminded myself that as long as I can have fun with writing my stuff, this is much more than leaving everything behind.

[pattrose]

You d o so much for fandom folks. You’re always so nice. And I love your[ challenges online. I’ve met so many people through the snowflake challenges.

[prisca]

Thank you. I am glad to have met you :)