beanside | So...

It seems like a lot of people I know are having a rough fandom day today.

And others are just having rough days, period.

Here's the thing:

I've been in a bunch of fandoms. I started out in wrestlefic, then I landed smack in the middle of the Metallica fandom flame wars, where I happily threw gasoline until I nearly became one of those people. Pulled out, and have played in small sandboxes (or quietly in the corner of the big sandboxes) until now.

I was hesitant, getting into it. I mean, sure, the fic was awesome, but c'mon. It's a frigging huge fandom. So, I stuck my toe in the fandom pool. And people were nice. So I read more fic, and left feedback for a few authors.

And they were nice, too.

Then, last July, just after finishing Of Bastard Saints, I heard something about a convention. And I thought...well, that could be fun. But I don't know many people in the fandom. What if we're off on our own, and nobody wants to talk to us? That would kinda suck. But hey, vacation is vacation, right?

And I started talking to people. Like

coiledsoul, and we decided to get tattooed together. And then, I went to the Ren Fest with

mona1347 and she told us that she liked our fic! *twirl* And so, we started getting excited.

Wincon was (and will be again) awesome. We met people, we made friends, and we had so much fun. And as frustrating and annoying and teeth gnashing fandom can be, that's what I'll remember, and hang onto. That without fandom, my life would be so much quieter, and so much more boring. And I'd miss a lot of amazing, wonderful people.

So, many hugs and much love to everyone who's having a rough day, or for those who aren't and like me, just like a good hug. *grin*