sometimes I miss getting notifications that "so and so reblogged your post", and then I open it and there's a fucking reblog essay attached to a fic that i wrote. I'm not sure when that went out of style, and I, too, have changed how I reblog fic according to the trend I've noticed the last couple of years. But MAN there was no rush quite like the one where your mutuals and friends would comment on every line they loved and pick apart themes you didn't even realize you touched on. some of mine would even add custom memes and additional tag screaming.

just been thinking a lot about fandom and community today. I've seen discourse in 3 different fandoms now and I'm just sitting here with my jaw on the floor and wondering where exactly it all went sour. maybe I just got lucky the with the first fandom I participated in, idk. it just used to be interactive in a different way. of course, there are things I love about how it is now- I think in the place I've found myself, we as writers and consumers alike are more apt to toss ideas and themes around and not necessarily feel like we have to write a full-fledged story. there seems to be less of a divide between writers and non-writers than there was in my previous experience, which is really fun for me! we're all here to enjoy the same stuff, more or less. and I'm lucky to be in a place, too, where most of us respect what our peers are posting about, whether we enjoy it or agree with it or not. it's why I have a hard time jumping into a new fandom, mainly because it took me months to feel comfortable here, and I'm not sure I have the spoons to do that again somewhere else.

anyway, this is long and rambing and pretty much just thoughts off the top of my head, but yeah. good god, be kind to each other. don't be afraid to talk to people. have a good time. write stories and bounce ideas off of each other and block people who threaten your peace. and write big ass comments on your friends' fics. they'll kiss you on the mouth, with tongue. I guarantee it.