My Valentine's gift

I am going to follow what the awesome Kkat (long may she reign) says and give a valentines gift to my loved ones...all of you guys. I like to call this, how to handle fanfic disillusionment or tiredness.

You all know my story, before I got back in the game thanks to you guys I wasn't into fanfics as much. Mainly because I fell out of loving the hobby due to me sticking with only shipfics and lemons. Heck, I even just sped read through the lemons to get to the sex and only started to read riffs. This was because, I too suffered fanfic disillusionment and I think how I broke it and hope I managed to keep it of might help you my readers too.

1) Take the time to read a bad fanfic i a while. To quote Linkara "I read the bad to appreciate the good," and that is what I do on a daily basis. Let me put it in this light, say you watch only the good episodes of your favorite show because a certain person told you what to stay away from. Believe it or not, you will eventually get bored with it, and your enjoyment of it will slowly dwindle. Now, why is it good to get a bad fanfic in a while, well...for me, its to remind myself how good it is that I have it here. After reading something like, "Sonic Final Destination" I was quick reminds of how wonderful the stories here are. Reading all of the poorly done Kim Possible lemons out there make me love things like "Tangled up in Green" the more. Seeing all of the "Sonic and Tails are gay lovers instead of brothers" stories out there make me enjoy Scootaloo and Dash the more.

2) Diversify! Ok, how many of you read fics that are in the feature box. Now, how many just use stories in the new category. Now, how many of you read my stuff when I update (That should be all of you) Me? I read from everywhere. Favorites from my fave authors, Favorites from other people, the groups, the feature box, and the updated bar. Why? Because I know that trying to use one source is not enough, because I know I miss a classic (Seriously, there are a few I love right now that sit back and go "I am a member of this group...how did I miss this fic"). This has the benefit of giving you a whole world to read and to find. Heck, my read later is still four pages long because I have also been busy reading everybody else's stuff. This goes for your fandoms too. Look, we may be awesome, but as I say at the beginning of every fandom fridays "Because, we need to explore". Did you know that Metroid has a movie like fanfic in "Blackdie"? Or She-ra has an epic series that features a crossover with LOTR? Did you know Sailor Moon has some actually GOOD fanfics? Yes, and I read those mixed with my pony. They help me to see the wide range of what people have written for all fandoms, not just our six brave mares.

3) Take a chance! Ok, remember when I said that I stuck with shipfics? Most of those were Sonic and Sally. Guess how many of those I found that were actually good. Now imagine how often I found were decent. Yeah, it was like that. Now, I am actually a Kim and Ron shippper, but one day I took a chance on Maternal Instinct, a Kigo fic...and I loved it. What I am saying is, while it is ok to have a bais (I will never read a Twilesta romance, ever) sometimes its fun to go ahead and try something out of your expertise. Hell, I tried Fallout Equestria in spite of it being something that I would usually avoid. And well...I am currently several fics read, am i the middle o an RP featuring Samus and Nyx, writing a Nyx fic, and will play Fallout 4 when I can get that controller from my brother. Sometime, its fun to explore.

4) If you are a writer, relax. Look, we all want it to be popular, we all want it to be loved, but what loved means is a very varied thing. Here's what I do to remind myself that my stuff is being read. I look at the views, comments, votes, and the faves. See, I know how I read, I don't always comment when I fave or upvote. Mainly because I don't know what else to say. A lot f people are like this too. They will read and either not leave a comment or a vote, they will just read and leave. It's kind of like watching a film, sometimes. I havent commented on every movie I have ever watched (That would take too long) but I will jump for joy when I find something I love. People are reading, they just won't say it or will comment on it.

5) Reread a classic moment. Have a favorite fic? Go and reread a great moment from there, trust me , it will be a blast.

Those are my personal top five. Do you guys have more?