Old Fic/Art Amnesty Post
So there was a thread on the anonmeme about this, actually, where the OP encouraged people to post fic/art that they wrote/drew when they were younger. So I thought I'd host a similar kind of thing here, where we can look back on where we used to be and marvel at where we are now, because I'm pretty sure all of us are better Creative People than we were howevermany years ago.
("Younger" in this case, I think, means "I have improved considerably since I was this age.")
I'll even start. I'm not going to link to the full fic because uh, trying to preserve some dignity, but -- well, when I was in high school, I was a big Harry Potter fan. BIG Harry Potter fan. Obsessive, one could say. Remus Lupin was easily my favorite character from the series, which probably surprises none of you, and most of the fic I wrote featured him. This is the oldest one that hasn't been deleted from existence entirely. BACKSTORY: So most Lupin fans ended up writing their version of the conversation he has with the werewolf in the Dangerous Dai Llewellyn Ward in Order of the Phoenix. This was the version I wrote. I made the werewolf an actor because I'm fucking original like that. Also, I was fourteen.
---
The man said nothing, just looked at him and raised his eyebrows ever so slightly. Inwardly, Nathan sighed. He didn't know what was worse - the ones who were outright hateful, like the woman in the next bed, or the ones who thought they could help, who filled you up with meaningless words, who thought they could advise you and hadn't the foggiest notion what they were talking about. Perhaps this man was one of them. Hopefully, a simple chat would set him straight.
"Are you another one of those Healers that are trying to 'help' me? Because if you are, you can leave. I'm not in the mood to ponder the consequences of my existence, thanks. Don't you have your own life to attend to?"
Most people would have gotten the hint and hastily departed with a few quick words of consolation, not wanting to rouse a wolf's temper. Which is also pretty stupid, come to think of it, he reflected. I can't bite anyone now. This man was different.
"A hostile attitude tends to hold you back more than any condition you might have, especially around those willing to help," the man replied calmly.
"I don't need your help."
Again, that unnerving gaze. Why wouldn't he leave him alone? Nathan didn't need to be reminded of what he was. It was Christmas, for God's sakes - the worst Christmas of his life. He didn't need seasonal sympathy, didn't need sugary sweetness, didn't need strange visitors ready to "advise" him. He needed to be left alone. He needed space, he needed solitude. Why did nobody understand that? Why didn't anyone understand anything? Why did they pretend to try? He felt his fists clench. They didn't know a damn thing, none of them!
"I wouldn't be that extreme," said a dry voice. It was the man. He must have said the last part aloud. Wonderful. Now he would just get more fussy Healers trying to soothe him. Just what he needed. "It's hard. Hard for anyone to understand what it's like." His face grew thoughtful. "Even if they have an idea, even if they see your pain, even if they can hear what - what you go through...it's still hard for them not to be afraid. Even then, they never..." He trailed off. His face looked oddly pained, but somehow wistful.
Who was this man?
---
So, uh, yeah. I can post the really emo parts in the comments if I'm feeling super self-flagellating. Looking back on it, it's not half-bad for fourteen-year-old work. But, well, I was fourteen. It shows.
Your turn now, if you'd like. Post snippets/excerpts/screencaps/what-have-you of YOUR old work, and talk a bit about it if you want, and we'll all have a bit of a laugh over how much better we've gotten since then. (You can post stuff from whatever fandom you'd like, or you can post stuff that isn't fannish at all. If posting actual excerpts is too ACK, you can describe the kind of stuff you used to write/draw/etc. instead.)
Just as a reminder: righteous self-mockery is totally cool. Ribbing other people is probably okay, if they've indicated they're not averse to it. Don't be mean. I don't think this is going to be a problem for any of you guys, you're all pretty chill, but I want to keep the atmosphere a fun one. No throwing stones in glass houses, 'kay?
Let's see what you've got.
.
("Younger" in this case, I think, means "I have improved considerably since I was this age.")
I'll even start. I'm not going to link to the full fic because uh, trying to preserve some dignity, but -- well, when I was in high school, I was a big Harry Potter fan. BIG Harry Potter fan. Obsessive, one could say. Remus Lupin was easily my favorite character from the series, which probably surprises none of you, and most of the fic I wrote featured him. This is the oldest one that hasn't been deleted from existence entirely. BACKSTORY: So most Lupin fans ended up writing their version of the conversation he has with the werewolf in the Dangerous Dai Llewellyn Ward in Order of the Phoenix. This was the version I wrote. I made the werewolf an actor because I'm fucking original like that. Also, I was fourteen.
---
The man said nothing, just looked at him and raised his eyebrows ever so slightly. Inwardly, Nathan sighed. He didn't know what was worse - the ones who were outright hateful, like the woman in the next bed, or the ones who thought they could help, who filled you up with meaningless words, who thought they could advise you and hadn't the foggiest notion what they were talking about. Perhaps this man was one of them. Hopefully, a simple chat would set him straight.
"Are you another one of those Healers that are trying to 'help' me? Because if you are, you can leave. I'm not in the mood to ponder the consequences of my existence, thanks. Don't you have your own life to attend to?"
Most people would have gotten the hint and hastily departed with a few quick words of consolation, not wanting to rouse a wolf's temper. Which is also pretty stupid, come to think of it, he reflected. I can't bite anyone now. This man was different.
"A hostile attitude tends to hold you back more than any condition you might have, especially around those willing to help," the man replied calmly.
"I don't need your help."
Again, that unnerving gaze. Why wouldn't he leave him alone? Nathan didn't need to be reminded of what he was. It was Christmas, for God's sakes - the worst Christmas of his life. He didn't need seasonal sympathy, didn't need sugary sweetness, didn't need strange visitors ready to "advise" him. He needed to be left alone. He needed space, he needed solitude. Why did nobody understand that? Why didn't anyone understand anything? Why did they pretend to try? He felt his fists clench. They didn't know a damn thing, none of them!
"I wouldn't be that extreme," said a dry voice. It was the man. He must have said the last part aloud. Wonderful. Now he would just get more fussy Healers trying to soothe him. Just what he needed. "It's hard. Hard for anyone to understand what it's like." His face grew thoughtful. "Even if they have an idea, even if they see your pain, even if they can hear what - what you go through...it's still hard for them not to be afraid. Even then, they never..." He trailed off. His face looked oddly pained, but somehow wistful.
Who was this man?
---
So, uh, yeah. I can post the really emo parts in the comments if I'm feeling super self-flagellating. Looking back on it, it's not half-bad for fourteen-year-old work. But, well, I was fourteen. It shows.
Your turn now, if you'd like. Post snippets/excerpts/screencaps/what-have-you of YOUR old work, and talk a bit about it if you want, and we'll all have a bit of a laugh over how much better we've gotten since then. (You can post stuff from whatever fandom you'd like, or you can post stuff that isn't fannish at all. If posting actual excerpts is too ACK, you can describe the kind of stuff you used to write/draw/etc. instead.)
Just as a reminder: righteous self-mockery is totally cool. Ribbing other people is probably okay, if they've indicated they're not averse to it. Don't be mean. I don't think this is going to be a problem for any of you guys, you're all pretty chill, but I want to keep the atmosphere a fun one. No throwing stones in glass houses, 'kay?
Let's see what you've got.
.