Pros Fic Stuff

[londonronnie]

I reached a bit of a milestone a few months ago. After more than twelve years, and a total of 896 stories, I finally exhausted my 'wants' list with the Pros Circuit Library. Not that there weren't more stories available if I'd wanted them, there were probably another 1500 or so on the list that I hadn't read, but I'd reached the end of the stories

Comments

[natsuko1978]

All of which makes me realise what a huge amount of talent we have in this fandom. From participants in the Big Bang who have only been writing Pros fic for a relatively short time, to someone like O Yardley who has been entertaining us since the earliest days of the fandom. I am so pleased to be a part of it all - yay for Pros fic!!

As someone who really, really wants to write Pros fan-fic (and draw Pros fan-art) - and, indeed has both computer and two-ring file folders full to bursting with WiPs and attempts and random scenes, the talent and good-to-dreck ratio of this fandom - plus the longevity of the fandom - are, I have to admit, daunting. Like, why am I even bothering when XYZ exists, levels of daunting.

And that's just with what exists online - I'm not signed up to the library or even the CD-ROM. As a fan, it's great; as a writer, I despair.

[dollidaydream]

I hope londonronnie doesn't mind me replying in her journal (please say if this is not proper lj etiquette) but I just wanted to reply and say that I hope that you won't be put off because you measure yourself against other writers and artists. There are so many reasons not to be. For myself, I think of a particular artist whose talent and skill I can only aspire to, but I still produce art for a whole host of reasons. There will always be people more skilled than you and less skilled than you, but please don't let that stop you. There is so much more I want to say to you but I don't want to use londonronnie's page to do it. PM me if you want to chat! :)

[londonronnie]

Absolutely no problem, dollidaydream! Please feel free!

And a big 'thumbs-up' to all you've said in your comment!

[londonronnie]

Oh, please don't despair! I don't suppose there's a single writer or artist reading this who hasn't felt the same! It's a perfectly natural reaction when you've just read a brilliant story, or discovered a gorgeous piece of artwork - you just think "Well, I'll never match up to that, so why bother?" The thing is, you really don't have to match up to anything! There's room in fandom for all levels, all genres, all tastes... and don't forget, that story that you've decided is the best thing you've ever read might be not be somebody else's cup of tea at all. Who's to say that your story won't be the best thing that they've ever read?

Don't give up!

[natsuko1978]

Thanks!

Serendipitously (is that a word?) today over in ushobwri they were talking of the Two Cake theory of creative pursuits. Wherein the maker thinks, "Oh no! My cake is not as good as THAT cake!" but the audience think, "Yay! More cake

[londonronnie]

I don't need my stories - or indeed art - to be the best thing *anyone* has ever seen.

No, I don't think any of us have that in mind when we sit down to start writing or creating a new piece of art. The most important thing IMHO is to do the best job that you possibly can, and hope that someone somewhere gets some enjoyment out of it.

I think part of the problem is, when you are new to a fandom, no one is going to read your fic (or your LJ) just because it's *yours*

I do understand what you're saying, but every writer or artist has been in that situation at one time. I think you just have to 'go with the flow' and allow the story or artwork that's taking shape in your brain to emerge, and not worry about whether anybody is going to like it or not. You may get loads of great feedback, or you may get none at all, but the main thing is that you have written the story, or created the artwork, that you wanted to. Any positive reaction that you get to it is a bonus! *g