Fandom Snowflake Challenge

[dragonyphoenix]

Day 5: In your own space, talk about your fannish origin story. How did you come to fandom, why did you choose your fannish name, do you have more than one secret identity? Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

My uncle died in February of 2008. My mother, the following summer. I'd seen some Buffy reruns but didn't know that much of the show. My friend Susan, giving me something to help me through my grief, lent me her Buffy DVDs, season by season. I found fandom and fanfic. By the end of 2008 I'd started writing my own stories.

I still get lost in fanfic when I'm stressed. Actually, if I've been reading lots of fanfic, it's a pretty good indicator that I'm stressing over something. When I first got into fanfic, I was in a bad headspace. Not just from the deaths but from a job I couldn't endure and a physical illness. I'm not sure I would have made it through that time if it weren't for fanfic. Some days, other than my cats, it was close to the only joy in my life.

I'm sure you'll be glad to know I'm much better now.

Comments

[niki1988.livejournal.com]

Fanfic writing is one of the best escapses from things going on in real life.

[analise010.livejournal.com]

It's great that you found a constructive way to deal with the stresses of life. ♥

[rbfvid.livejournal.com]

Fanfiction as a way to deal with stress - I'm totally with you here. And in the darkest moments, when even fanfic doesn't help, I resort to kitty!pics.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

*hugs you tightly* Fandom is a wonderful refuge, isn't it? I'm glad you found it and that it helped you so much. I'm glad you're doing much better now, that's for sure. but please accept my condolences on your losses.


Gabrielle

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

Fandom really can be a place of refuge and solace in difficult times - it's a place to retreat, a place to call your own and a place to gather strength from the creativity and generosity of strangers who are also friends.

Hugs you hard. I'm so glad you're feeling better now. Remember we're here when you need us and we're not going anywhere.

s xx

[baudown.livejournal.com]

I know several people who found Buffy after the death of a loved one -- there's something about it that makes one feel so much less alone.

I'm happy that fandom helped you through the bad times. Fandom and fanfic do that for me as well, and I'm ever thankful for that.

[rattlecatcher.livejournal.com]

Of ways to escape and hide out from RL stress, you chose a pretty benign one. And considering it's a community that will be just as supportive of you in good times as in bad, it's hard to call it an escape. More of a pressure release valve, maybe. Go you. :)

[snogged.livejournal.com]

*hugs tight*

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks. This all happened a long time ago. I mean,yeah, I miss my Mom but I'm not in fandom just to run away from stress. *hugs*

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Excellent points. I definitely appreciate how supportive this community is. ;-)

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

There really is something about Buffy that helps. I don't know what it is, but it's definitely there.

I'm glad you found support too. Maybe that's part of the reason we can find support in fandom. There's a level of understanding each other and what we've been through that we don't, always, find in RL.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *hugs you back*

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

*hugs you back* Thank you. I saw something that reminded me of Mom today, a rooster calendar. She had a rooster / farm theme in her kitchen and when we were cleaning out her house my sister suggested we each take a rooster statue home with us. Sort of nostalgic but a bittersweet memory.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Ah, so that's why you post the kitty pics. ;-)

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I feel lucky to have found fandom. It's really helped me.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

It really is.

[double_dutchess]

Buffy fandom is great therapy indeed. I'm glad you no longer need it so much anymore these days.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Well, therapy therapy did make a big difference. ;-)