Fandom transitions

[icarus]

It's a tricky thing to be experienced in one fandom, have connections, know the lay of the land, have a reputation as an author and as someone who writes meta...

...and then move into a fandom where you're an Icarus-who?

It's been good for me. Like broccoli or brussel sprouts. I trip over myself in ways that I didn't when I was new to Harry Potter, find I have... expectations that I didn't even realize.

Okay. Let's face it. I've been spoiled. :D

I've grown used to writing and hearing a fuss among those who like my writing. I don't expect it as my due, I feel strangely surprised and grateful every time, like the world vanished in between stories and I just discovered proof it's still there. But I have grown used to seeing the world reappear, once again and thank goodness.

I'm not used to being the newcomer. I'm not used to hearing that note of critical surprise. I'm used to getting "OMG Icarus liked my story!!!!1!" when I review. Used to cringing a little when I get that sort of response and going through a period of "okay look, my shit's brown too." Used to a little special treatment that I've never noticed until now.

I don't mind it. It's just startling. And it's a long way down off this high horse -- much further than I expected. *Icarus laughs and shakes her head.*

Someone fetch me a ladder? Oh. Right. I have to get it myself now.

Comments

[djin7.livejournal.com]

*bows to you*

Will a little fangirling (http://www.livejournal.com/users/djin7/20870.html) help you out? Cuz I'll do it, if I have too!

Cheers!

[guest-age.livejournal.com]

I, too, am willing to turn into a squeeing fangirl if it'll boost you up a bit. But I know what you mean about changing fandoms. I did it, too. And it sucks when you start the new fandom because there's this really long period where no one really wants to read your stuff. The trick is coming up with a really original idea that no one has ever done before (I must say that to me, yours would be "Beg Me For It." I've never read anything like it before or since). And of course, write well (but I hardly need mention that to you...you have that base covered). Just hang in there and hold your head up high. Conduct yourself with grace and humility, and before long, you'll have a whole new batch of squeeing fangirls knocking down the door to your LJ. :-)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

The non-readership's not so much of an issue. You hit the nail on the head with this one:

Conduct yourself with grace and humility

Indeed. I find I must prove myself all over again to the Tau'ri, where once I was First Prime of Apophis. And that alone meant something.

Icarus

[guest-age.livejournal.com]

Just don't go stomping in and say, "I demand to be treated like the fanfic goddess I am!" Hehe. (I know you wouldn't do that, but I have secretly crowned you the queen of the HP universe.) However, I must say that the mental image of you (in my head, you look something like Christina Ricci, but with longer hair...I don't know why. I think it's that drawing of Snape icon...for some reason, I connect it with you...*shrugs*) stomping in and shouting that is quite amusing...*giggles fangirlishly*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I am well and truly spoiled. :D

*reads again* You posted this at the beginning of the month? Thank you. And what do you mean Nym's taken down Shattered?

Icarus

[djin7.livejournal.com]

And what do you mean Nym's taken down Shattered?

Yup. And there was a big scandal about it on LJ a short while ago...someone was trying to get a copy via unconventional means...when it had clearly been taken down by the author for re-editing.

That is about all I know. *g*

Cheers!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Yes. I still have a bootleg copy of MartianHouseCat's unfinished epic. Hee. ;)

Icarus

[djin7.livejournal.com]

Bootleg Fanfiction!
Hah!
There's some irony in there somewhere...
*g*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Yeah. You've got a point there.

Icarus

[cofax7]

Ah, yes. SG-1 has been good for my ego, in the down-sizing way, since I was rather totally a BNF in Farscape. But SG is way too large for my name to get much farther than the 40 or so SG fans on my flist.

You can never be too humble, as they say.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

SG-1 has been good for my ego, in the down-sizing way

*high fives* Tell it, sister.

Although I have to admit, after the Harry Potter fandom the words "large" and "Stargate" in the same sentence make me blink. My experience is the larger the fandom, the larger the readership. It's a matter of odds.

Icarus

[marauderthesn.livejournal.com]

That makes a lot of sense to me. I'm not going to claim that I'm widely known in HP fandom, but I'm fairly well-known in certain areas of it, and I think being in a different fandom would probably be very odd for me.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I'm fairly well-known in certain areas of it, and I think being in a different fandom would probably be very odd for me.

Yes, you are. And yeah, it is. I think it's my long-term fandom monagamy has me blinking. Like a new relationship, I've just discovered that I have to go through teaching him not to leave the toilet seat up all over again. There's this fogged feeling of "Didn't I do this already?"

Icarus

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

*laughs* One heck of a reality check. It's like I REFUSE to get sucked into writing other fandoms' fanfiction, except in odd cases, for that reason among several. *pets you* *fangirls you*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*laughs* One heck of a reality check.

I Love you. Yes! That's exactly what it is.

I'm sure it's good for me. *pouts slightly* *then laughs*

Icarus

[madsdog.livejournal.com]

I've found that moving to new fandoms? Makes me harsher on myself- having a reputation elsewhere makes me want to live up to it when I move- I've been in the HP circuit for about a year but have yet to post any of the multi-part story I've been working on through that time, while as if I was still in BtVS it would have been posted the instant I thought of the concept and first chapter, then abandoned while I worked on it a bit more before finally being completely rewritten.

And it's even more the case now that I find myself moving again- having had a good reaction while I was learning, I want a great one now that I know what I'm doing.

Does that make sense and not sound too conceited?

Just my experience/opinion.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Makes me harsher on myself- having a reputation elsewhere makes me want to live up to it when I move

You know, I've been thinking about this. I think you're right.

There's something wrong about wanting one fandom to "measure up" to another that I think can trip up your writing. Because the only way they can be measured against each other is if your stories in each fandom are similar.

Yet you can't really get into the fandom that way because they are different. You need to go deep into the canon to catch the flavor of it. There needs to be a... letting go... that lets you immerse yourself and allow the new and very different stories to surface.

Icarus

[noblerot.livejournal.com]

Someone fetch me a ladder?

At first I misread this as "fetch me a bladder." All I could think was, Jesus, now she wants our organs.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

At first I misread this as "fetch me a bladder." All I could think was, Jesus, now she wants our organs.

You should feel fortunate. That's not usually the first body part I ask for.

Icarus

[jaig.livejournal.com]

I hear a pop and a fizzle coming from around your head, sweetheart. That happens, and I should know. :D

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Yep. *grins*

Icarus *fizzes*

[dustandroses.livejournal.com]

Hey, well you've got a few fangirls already...I've been following you around ever since I found you! "Squee!!! Icarus wrote some new Jherico!" And I was thrilled when you commented on my fic Mitigating Circumstances...and I rec your stuff all the time. So see, I'm doing my part to help ease you back up the ladder.

:::Never mind me...I'm just waiting in que with WG for that BlackOps!Jack piece you keep teasing us with hints of...:::

Speaking of recs - we've discussed before that you and I seem to have similar tastes in Stargate fic, so have you read paian's newest For Now? Absolutely beautiful. I love her interpretation of Jack - he's got that hard edge that's so appealing to me. I have a feeling you'll really like it.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh holy cow. For Now is incredible. A Jack that's both fierce and tender and all Soldier. Wow. Thank you.

*fangirls paian!*

As for fanning (my ego) -- thank you. It's been subtley strange going from known to unknown. It has more to do with the very little things more than readership. I don't know how to describe it.

I think (I've been a fandom monogamist for years) it must be like the feeling someone has when they've been married and suddenly find themselves with someone new. It's just... odd. You're used to being, oh, settled.

Icarus

[dustandroses.livejournal.com]

It's funny - my experience in fandom has been just the opposite - I joined a small fandom intently concentrated on one single pairing, and immediately pissed everyone off by ignoring The One And Only Canon Couple - everyone's OTP, and writing the forgotten ones that have all gotten pushed to the side. I got a couple of BNF's in my corner rooting for me, and everyone else just ignores me! But then, of course, I've only been in the fandom for juat about a year...maybe that will change. In the meantime, I've picked up about 6 other realy small/rare fandoms with almost nobody in them. So my view of fandom is really skewed! The only sizable fandom I've ever really known is Stargate, and even with that, a lot of the BNF's are moving off into Atlantis. I can't imagine what it's like to be totally caught up in a huge fandom like Harry Potter.

Glad you liked For Now - I thought you would. I think I may go read it again...

[electricandroid.livejournal.com]

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY ICARUS! ALL HAIL!

*bows and scrapes a bit*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*waves hand in gracious acceptance* Thank you, thank you.

God. I can't believe I actually got used to it.

Icarus

[electricandroid.livejournal.com]

Don't fuss dearie - it is not your fault - you're good and people in Potterdom respect that. Now you'll just get a whole new horde of minions under your belt as you take over stargate - you already have LOTR if I remember correctly - and soon you can take over the entire world. And I can be an uberminion!

Probably am too friendly with cough syrup at the moment for sanity's sake - so lack of sense is pretty par for the course :)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

It's more subtle little things than a need for fanfare. It's just strange.

I'm an outsider. And because I'm watching the show a season behind the curve, I think I might end up staying an outsider (though it's late and I'm tired so...).

Icarus

[electricandroid.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling the same way in dipping toe into CSI fandom (writing but not posting yet - have betas etc)... I'm 2 seasons behind, so... YAY.

Snuggles you. All will be good. Now go curl up and sleep - I'd do the same except I have a job interview in .... 4 hours :)