Things That Help When Sharing My Fics

Sharing my writing with other people is always going to feel vulnerable, no matter how many times I do it or how others respond. I doubt I'm the only one that gets nervous when posting online, so thought I'd share this:

Things that help when sharing my fics

1. Make sure I have a project or something to work on straight after posting

gives me something to think about other than how my fic is doing

stops me sitting there constantly refreshing ao3

ideally something not related to ff (so no WIPs)

2. Try to not look at tumblr/my ao3 until at least the next morning

gives me (hopefully) something to look forward to in the morning

keeps me from constantly checking if I know I'm going to check it all at once

my ao3 comment emails are disabled for this reason

having any other fics that I want to read open in their own tab also helps so I don't have to click on my user

3. Post about an hour before I'm planning to sleep

posting close to bedtime makes #2 easier, but

I also need to factor in time to calm down after the initial nerves

4. Read some other recently posted fics

partly I do this regardless of whether or not I've posted recently

but also it's nice reading other people's work knowing they're probably out there at that exact moment experiencing something similar

I've found some of my absolute fav ff writers this way

careful that if you do this you're not comparing

5. Be extra kind to myself

chances are my anxiety is going to be running high

this means I tend to be extra critical of myself for about a day after posting something

it helps to remind myself that there's a reason my inner critic is in hyperdrive

but that also means no reading, writing, or editing my own work

6. If nothing else, remember I had fun

remind myself that once the anxiety has passed I'll have a new chapter/fic from my favourite ff writer (me) to look forward to

and if even one other person reads it and enjoys it, I've made a new friend :)

Of course this is a checklist for the ideal scenario. There are other factors and days when my anxiety is already running high for other reasons. This isn't a set of commandments or a rulebook, it's a guide to help myself.

If it's not helping in the moment, I do something different.

More Posts from Kelpforestfire and Others

kelpforestfire

3 months ago

I’m sorry I haven’t responded to your message if it helps I have though about responding 37484388338 times today

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kelpforestfire

9 years ago

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kelpforestfire

3 months ago

me, reading my own incomplete writing : *gasp* and then what happened?

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kelpforestfire

1 month ago

“Public libraries are such important, lovely places!” Yes but do you GO there. Do you STUDY there. Do you meet friends and get coffee there. Do you borrow the FREE, ZERO SUBSCRIPTION, ZERO TRACKING books, audiobooks, ebooks, and films. Have you checked out their events and schemes. Do you sign up for the low cost courses in ASL or knitting or programming or writing your CV that they probably run. Do you know they probably have myriad of schemes to help low income families. Do you hire their low cost rooms if you need them. Have you joined their social groups. Do you use the FREE COMPUTERS. Do you even know what your library is trying to offer you. Listen, the library shouldn’t just exist for you as a nice idea. That’s why more libraries shut every year

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kelpforestfire

6 months ago

One of the most dangerous things in the world is not being able to say no to people because you don't want to upset them or dissapoint them. This will completely ruin your life in every way possible, at work, in your private life, your sex life and your friendships. It's a way of removing your own consent in your own decisions and go against your wishes, it is always a crime against yourself. Let yourself have a say. Upsetting people is better than traumatizing yourself.

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kelpforestfire

4 months ago

The Archive will be down for about 3 hours of maintenance tomorrow, Jan 14 at 22:00 UTC. Check what time that is for you: https://bit.ly/4aiO4Cs.

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kelpforestfire

9 years ago

Sometime you have to build a fence to keep yourself in, not to keep others out. I’m sorry.

Tags

for your safety Fenced In

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kelpforestfire

9 years ago

this is what I want

u ever just want to sit at the bottom of a pool or something. like if i could breathe underwater it would be a really nice, peaceful environment. especially if it was sunny and the water was nice and warm. just sittin there, watching the sunlight dance on the tiles? yeah. that’s a nice thought

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kelpforestfire

3 months ago

regulus would be the most insufferable person to do arts and crafts with. like its valentines day and the group gathers to make cards and have some fun, meanwhile regulus' running that shit like the navy asking you how hard can it be to draw a fucking heart?? have you ever even used scissors in your life?? just fold it in half and cut it!! ugh this is too much glitter!! what are you? savages?? guys what is this?? am i the only one who had four hours of calligraphy lessons everyday for six years? (he was). at some point he just says pass me the damn hot glue gun and makes all of their cards

safe to say they never did arts and crafts together again

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kelpforestfire

4 months ago

few things more humbling than the realization that you really do write the same fic(s) over and over again

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