Outing myself

[stgulik]

One thing I have never had the nerve to do is confide to my extended family about my love of fanfic. But all that changed yesterday at my mother's birthday party, and the results were absolutely not what I expected.

During the course of several conversations - or one, long, funny, rambling conversation, I guess - it came to light that (a) I have an encyclopedic knowledge of HP trivia; (b) I am blog friends with another HP fan named teddyradiator, whom my brother began following on FB out of curiosity; (c) Teddy writes original fiction, and I am her beta; (d) the two of us met through a shared love of HP fanfic; and (e) now I write HP fanfic, too.

You would have to have been there. That last piece, (e), was a monster of a thing to come out and say. These people can be utterly ruthless, while claiming to jest, if they sense any kind of weakness in you. However, (a) through (d) went over alright, so I took a big chance.

And you know what? Everybody was just plain interested. My brother said, "Oh, are you a SHIPPER?" I said I was. He was pretty impressed with himself for using the word correctly--so impressed, he yelled the word several more times and completely forgot to ask what my ships are, which means I didn't have to decline to state. That would have been a step too far. I mean, HGSS is a tough enough concept for a lot of people; Snupin would have invited disaster.

My 16-year-old nephew remarked, "Please tell me you at least stick to canon." Nope! It's AU all the way, baby! And then he said, "Okay, at least tell me you don't mix different fictions together, like ... like crossing the stories with each other ..." Crossover? Yep, I have! They all pretended to be disgusted at that, but disgusted in a geeky fan way, which made me laugh.

I'm so relieved. We would never have had this conversation five years ago, when I first began. Fanfiction has come a long way, hasn't it?

Comments

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

{{{Hugs}}}

I remember when I first told select family members including TheHubs™. It was very difficult. I'm proud of you - it's very brave of you. Tell your brother that I'm very flattered and hope he doesn't shock easily.

And Bravo to your folks for loving you enough to accept and even geek out with you. I don't have that luck - I'm a sole HP lover in this neck of the woods, except for K and her family.

[bonsaibetz.livejournal.com]

Oh man. My family would have reacted far differently. I'm glad you weren't grilled about it iin a derrogatory way with words of "God," "Christian," "family values," "corruption of minors," "perverted," and "Satanic" come up in the ensuing discourse, which would have with the two siblings I still have contact with. And the one sibling I have no contact with would delight in telling the other two, in hopes of shocking them and "disgracing" me, which is why the only family that knows is hubs and kids.

You are so lucky, I can't tell you. Be thankful they accept it without judgement.

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

Wow, yes. So sorry to hear you have that burden in your life. {{hugs}} I do feel grateful and relieved that they thought it was alright, and part of the broader culture of fan geekery we all live in, and not worthy of slight or scorn. Your family makes mine look like pussy cats!

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

YAY! for you! My family- all of 'em- and all my coworkers know I'm into HP and fanfic. Two of my coworkers and several nieces are big HP fans, and one of my coworkers read the only fanfic I've ever posted... and he loved it!!!

I talked about it years ago cuz at my age there isn't anything they can say or do that will make me feel bad about it. There are definite perks to being the "oldest fart" in the group.

From time to time my daughter will even ask me "Well, who's screwing who?" in the latest story I'm reading. They're all very cool with it. As long as Mama's happy, they're happy. LOL!

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

"Please tell me you at least stick to canon."

Hee! What would be the point in that? :P

[lemonade8.livejournal.com]

LOL, you broke them in gently. Atta girl. They will eventually assimilate, resistance if futile.

I share what I read, not what I make, with family. If anyone gets lippy with me, I take great pleasure in telling them that 50 shades of gray was a Twilight fanfiction, so they need to rethink what is and isn't sneer-worthy. ;D It's funny how that seems to get me a free pass on mockery. No one is stupid enough to do it so far. I would absolutely shatter their best fantasy book for them, they don't dare.

When someone I don't confide in asks me who I ship, I like to tell them Percy/Giant squid. Now I can probably add on "Happy Days" crossover to that to really ruffle feathers. Thanks for the ammunition.

[slr2moons.livejournal.com]

I'm happy for you! That's so great! :D

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

"50 Shades" was one of the main reasons my brother was so cheerful. He actually said he can't afford to retire unless I write the next "50 Shades" and support the family!

[helenarickman.livejournal.com]

You are one brave woman! I would never dream of revealing my fanfic obsession with my family. I'm glad it went well!