Meara- that is terrible. My mother’s name is Linda Taylor, and she was a social worker in the 80’s when she was a victim of identity theft. She also has the same name as the Reagan “welfare queen”. She ended up adding her middle name (which is a family name) to all of her stuff.
She also had a friend who borrowed her car have an accident.
Therefore, she has never put her credi card information online nor has she ever let anyone drive her car (except me, once, when she had eye surgery). I used to think she was overly cautious, but I am beginning to see the light.
I always think of myself as “fandom adjacent” as well. I think it is almost like a Dunning-Kruger effect. Because I know or know of BNFs, I know I am not them- I have never produced any creative work, and except for this board, I rarely participate in deep conversations. Part of it is that there is really no place left to have deeper conversations as I am dissatisfied with any of the newer platforms, because given the opportunity, I would probably talk. I guess my fandom now is True Crime Review Podcasts…. that is where I participate the most (Crime Writers On and True Crime Obsessed.)
I would provide an alibi to anyone who received "sparkle more" writing feedback. If I ever offer that kind of feedback, I'd expect a) to be murdered posthaste, or b) for someone to realize that I've been kidnapped, possessed, or otherwise impersonated and require rescuing.
NGL, I really want to tell some of my medical-article authors that their writing needs to sparkle more. Like, "Please provide the statistical data to support your key findings in this paragraph, per AMA style. In addition, your writing should sparkle more. Luv ya lots!"
Compare/contrast:
"Your writing should sparkle more."
"Smile!"
I feel like "sparkle more" is the kind of feedback you get on college application essays.
I too feel fandom adjacent. Like, I mostly only read fic if others recommend it, or yuletide. And I don't write it. But then my friends who have gotten into a lot of shows with queer ladies and started going to this convention, are shocked that they've just learned about like, A/B/O or something, and I'm like "oh yeah, of course"
I read fic, occasionally leave feedback, post on dreamdiwth occasionally and I was using tumblr but Ih aen't checked in a while. I don't really hae something to talk about..well I do sort of (911 and Lone Star 911) but I end up annoyed at the fans on tumblr. and a lot of the fic for that..there isn't the abudnace of quality like I'm used to with other fandoms.
Also I'm not sure where to discuss things , I'd be fine with discord channels but I have no idea where any of them are or how to find them.
I hadn't participated in any fandom in years before January 2021, but I fell hard for Good Omens and have been reading tons of fic, even writing a little, and venturing into the wilds of Tumblr. I haven't made any friends in the fandom, though, and I don't know anything about Discord, so in that sense I do still feel fandom-adjacent, like I'm on the outside looking in. It's hard to make new friends!
Kate, shrift and I would be happy to virtually introduce you to Laura Shapiro, who is good people and so far into Good Omens you can barely see her.
