Reader goals: Your fav fan writer and your fav fan artist going back and forth in a delicious cycle of fic and art, until you’re printing out Tumblr pages so you can roll around in a pile of them
Here’s some of the other fandoms I like to watch from a distance. I put an * on ones I guess I might qualify to be in, and/or that I feel obligated to watch/read when I see them. I think what I like best about other fandoms is finding more excellent fanartists and shipping discourse.
[Oh! Just remembered, you might want to check out my huge recc list]
Media in no special order:
Tom Cruise* – yeah I am a low-level Cruiser, throw in most of his 80′s and 90′s movies here in this bullet ^_____^
Tom Hiddleston – *sighs*
What We Do in the Shadows*
Only Lovers Left Alive*
Crimson Peak
Sherlock Holmes* (RDJ movies, mainly)
Hannibal* – primarily the TV series and secondarily the movies
Marvel movies (w/ subcategories for ships: Stucky, Stony, ummmm I like all the ships, really!)
Disney*
Pixar too, but not as much as the 2D traditional Disney movies.
The Shining*
American Psycho
Jurassic Park
The Walking Dead*
The Office
Arrested Development
Dr. Katz
Home Movies
Star Wars (movies only, not comics or novels)
Lord of the Rings trilogy (movies only)
South Park
Attack on Titan/SnK
Sailor Moon
Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki
the X-Files (the older series!)
the Addams Family (I love the Adult Wednesday youtube person!)
the Lost Boys
Edward Scissorhands
Other stuff in no special order:
CATS
FASHION
Goth goth
Halloween stuff
candles
photography/aesthetic stuff
glassware, handblown glass
architecture
animation in general
concept art/behind the scenes info
vintage portrait photography and art
classical art and sculpture
Places: Paris, New Orleans, France (<–duh), Greece, Rome, Italy, New Zealand, California, NYC.
I don’t think I have enough depth of knowledge* of other media to consider myself a real part of their fandoms, but I like other media, obviously, and I sometimes reblog it here under #Not VC along with other Not VC things. #VC Adjacent is for things that are evocative of a VC feel, even if only in the remotest way!
Admittedly, my standards are VERY high re: “depth of knowledge,” but the amount I do know about others might qualify me as being considered “in” some other fandoms. What even qualifies you to be IN a fandom? Just liking a thing? Or having headcanons about it? Enjoying discourse about it? IDK.
a generalization of what i and most other artists experience constantly, it’s happened like 3 or 4 times in the past two days and wow had to get this out
I cannot lie, I’ve done this, and still find myself about to do it occasionally. Don’t everyone, it’s really awkward. Talk a bit, and if you find common ground, you’ll hit it off. If not, well, that’s okay. Can’t be friends with everyone.
The best one of these I’ve seen yet— in-depth and adorably illustrated.
The first and last examples have made great friends, the former with some coaxing because when I first talk to you the last thing I want to talk about is your creative insecurity, holy god.
The middle ones, I just wait for them to flutter off to their next obsession.
Stop condemning and judging people for their fucking ships. What you like to read about does not reflect what you care about, approve of, or want for yourself in real life.
Can people be skeevy about ships? Certainly. Are there fandom trends that reflect the racism and sexism of society at large? Definitely! Does harassing individual fans for what they like help any of that? No.
Promote the ships you like, instead of using them as a stick to beat other people with.
Meanwhile, people have been into fucked up ships forever, and somehow the internet hasn’t burned down in an inferno of abuse apologism.
And do you realise what you’re saying, when you talk about young girls and women being drawn into abusive relationships because of the fic they read, or the art they draw, or the meta they write?
You’re telling them it’s their fault.
THAT. LAST. PART. I’ve been saying this for ages. Women and girls do not have to be protected from their own fantasies, and telling women that they are putting themselves at risk for liking “impure” ships or fictional relationship dynamics is 100% victim-blaming bullshit that is also pretty fucking condescending.
can someone explain the alignment chart for me but in like, the simplest wording possible lmao
lawful good: i want to do the right thing, and following society’s rules is the best way to do that
neutral good: i want to do what’s right, and i’m willing to bend or break the rules as long as no one gets hurt
chaotic good: i’m willing to do whatever it takes as long as it’s to do the right thing
lawful neutral: following the rules of society is the most important thing, and that matters more to me than doing what’s right
true neutral: i just want myself and the people i care about to be happy
chaotic neutral: i want my freedom, and i don’t care what i have to do to keep it
lawful evil: to impede the protagonists (in whatever evil way) is my primary goal, but i follow my own code of morals even when it’s inconvenient
neutral evil: to impede the protagonists (in whatever evil way) is the my primary goal, and while i’ll do what it takes to achieve it, i also won’t go out of my way to do unnecessary damage
chaotic evil: i relish in destruction and want to do as much damage as possible while i try to achieve my primary goal
Here is a handy visual guide I made a while back. Part of my intention was to show the variety of ways that each of the alignments can be represented:
You can see/reblog my original posts here, here, and here.
I love you guys, too! You make my day on a daily basis *u* This is a social media platform after all, it’s all about making those connections w/ your followers and the ppl who you follow, even making some closer friends out of mutuals.
You actually already hit upon the main parts of running a great fandom blog, to quote you directly: “it’s not just about dedication and chasing off haters (which are super important) but like the mechanics of it (organizing posts, engaging followers, keep people interested).” And of course it’s about “being so kind and welcoming with all your followers!”
The main thing is to Make the blog you would want to see, and build social connections w/ other bloggers. You’re not posting into a void, this is a very public forum; ppl are more likely to engage w/ your content if you engage w/ them and/or their content, too. Some will just follow you for your content, some ppl are also looking for that *~meeting of the minds~*. I think that’s what ppl get from my blog, that their opinions are validated, or that they like to consider and possibly absorb whatever ideas I share here.
–It’s Not About Your Follower Count.– Mine fluctuates, I lose some and gain some
almost daily. It’s not like you’re going to get an award for it at the end of the year! If all you want are followers, then you’d have to ask a much more popular blog for pointers on that. If I gave just one person #feels through smtg I shared here, that’s reward enough for me. I think of it in terms of “What would have made my 15 yo self happy?” Bc she couldn’t find the fandom! My 15 yo self is always very thirsty for the content and the interactions of fandom >;} And I think that passion translates through and that’s why ppl choose to follow this blog.
I do have some pointers and they fit in well w/ what you wrote, I just rearranged the order a bit ;]
Make the blog you would want to see. Obviously! Don’t post stuff just bc you think ppl will like it, post what -YOU- like. Your passion for your topics will come through; that’s what ppl follow.
Add your commentary on reblogs respectfully. If you want to praise fanart, go for it, but realize that the fanartist might see it, especially if they posted it originally. I really enjoy reading other ppl’s commentary on all my posts, even when I disagree with it. Sometimes the commentary improves the post so I’ll reblog it, which promotes that other blogger, and that’s almost always appreciated. You can also message them directly and tell them you liked their opinion, strike up a conversation about it. You might make your new friend who’s always up for talking w/ you about X topic ;]
If you’re iffy on whether your commentary should be added, put it in the tags. I put lots of commentary in there and when ppl copy and paste it and reblog it to make it visible bc they liked it so much, it gives me such feels! I also read other ppl’s tags and it’s pretty hilarious when ppl write out their hyperbolic reactions like “WHY WOULD U DO THIS??” “MY HEART” and even the fake-mad stuff like “DELETE THIS” and I love that stuff.
Relatable stuff: So my blog is a fandom blog, and half the work is done for me w/ the characters and stories being relatable to ppl who love the them already. So if I can make posts that just exemplify those things, ppl who already relate to the material will relate to the posts. Like this one of Louis smashing his own reflection in the mirror. Ppl identify with him doing that, and by adding that textpost I’m underscoring his feelings of self-hatred. Ppl also sometimes have that same feeling when passing a mirror so it’s relatable.
TAG E-V-E-R-Y-THANG. Try to tag every character that’s in the post, whether shown in fanart or mentioned in the topic. Bc ppl track tags and then your post will end up in their dash, even if they don’t follow you.
So for example, that Louis gif is tagged: #twerkingdead (for the OP of that textpost) #textmeme (type of meme) #memeything (my word for my own memes bc they’re didn’t seem to fit the definition of a meme when I started doing them) #mirror abuse (so I can find this one or similar ones easily) #Louis de Pointe du Lac (for ppl looking for stuff about him) #iwtv #interview with the vampire (for the movie and book, which ppl track) #gif (in case smne just wants to look at all my gifs, or they want to block gifs w/ Tumblr Savior).
Mechanics of it (organizing posts, engaging followers, keep people interested)-
Variety: I post a variety of types of posts: fanart, fanmixes, fanfic, fanvids, music, commentary, news (old articles and new), other related fandom material, headcanons, RP, non-fandom things that are too good to pass up, non-fandom things that I can somehow lasso into being fandom things (#How to make a post a VC post), the occasional shitpost, cats (well I can’t help that c’mon), aesthetic sets… I tend to queue the things I’m not as passionate about bc as long as it ends up in my collection eventually that’s fine.
Brass tacks: Keep your theme clean.Make it easy for ppl to find your “Next page,” “Like,” and “Reblog” buttons. Make the text easy to read. I’m in the process of revising my layout bc it needs a facelift/makeover like, yesterday, but I’m patient, slow and steady wins the race ;]
Nav page/Tag list: I gotta do this, too. But it will make it easier for your followers to find the specifics of what they’re looking for on your blog, and then send you an Ask if they want more.
FAQ: I gotta do this, too. Bc first-time visitors to your page may not be aware you’ve answered smtg already. Though, on some topics, my opinion changed over time, so it’s kind of refreshing to reconsider the same question, especially if it’s phrased a little differently.
Post your own original content. Even if you can’t do graphics, you can write your thoughts, it might inspire fanartists.
“Shitposting”: So I try not to do this, bc I don’t want to be that offensive, but I get it, it’s just being silly. If that’s your thing, go for it! They sometimes make for good text posts for me to use in memeythings, admittedly. I’ve seen whole blogs of just shitposting and it can be really funny!
Comments on reblogs: Did smtg on your dash make you think of smtg related to your blog’s topics? Happens for me often. You can reblog that cool quote you found w/ your own commentary and ppl may jump on it.
Reblog immediately: fresh fanart, stuff that you know is news related to your topics. Fanartists who post original content love getting a bump!
Queue for later: older fanworks, things that are not time-sensitive, so that when you’re away from your blog, the content will still come out. Plus, it will be in the dash for ppl in a different time-zone than you. I have about 100 posts in my queue at any given time.
Moderation? Yes and no: So I have a personal post limit, I try not to post more than 10/day, bc I am really discerning about the fanworks and other stuff I post, and I also don’t want to spam ppl’s dash. HOWEVER, I have seen other blogs rise to huge success by posting up to their limit on a daily basis. So that’s up to you, but I feel like being more selective has given my blog a more curated feel.
Post respectfully: I know I mentioned it before but consider who might see your blog. Put spoilers under cuts when possible. If you have fiery criticism, that’s fine! But try to frame it respectfully, because the creator of the media you’re criticizing might see it and you wouldn’t want your blog shut down over one fiery post, right?
Being kind and welcoming with all your followers!-
Be the blogger you would want to interact with. Part of why I’m so open and responsive is that there were ppl I had fandom crushes on and the ones who were responsive to me made me so happy! Senpai noticed me *u* I still get that feeling from some fandom ppl. They know who they are.
Make friends with other ppl who blog about your topics. You can find them in the tags you follow.
Answer ppl who message you privately. They may be too shy to want to interact publicly. That’s fine.
Answer all your Asks. Be sincere with your answers. I’m behind on them, admittedly! But ppl have come to expect that it takes me awhile to percolate on some answers and it’s always worth the wait ;D Support your answers with reasons.
If you’re not getting Asks, post Askmemes. Here’s one site I found with them @fyeahaskmemes. Or you can invent your own, like, “Send me a character and I’ll tell you the first song that comes to mind about them.”
Add graphics like gifs or fanart to your answers whenever possible, we are visual creatures! Try to include the source for your graphics. If they are a common gif reaction you’ve seen floating around, that’s not as necessary, but ppl put time and effort into making fanart, so linking back is advertisement back to the artist. Its respectful to do but they might also be really flattered that you used their art to illustrate your answer ;] If they ask you to take it down, do it as soon as possible.
If you don’t know the answers, toss it out for your followers to answer and/or tag ppl you think might know. It’s so flattering when ppl do that w/ me!
*~Ask Karma~* Send Asks to other ppl! They will probably return the favor. And your followers will enjoy watching the conversation.
Reblog and contribute to someone else’s Ask response. Although some RPers prefer that you don’t do that bc that may be a muse/muse thing. Can you add anything to the discussion? Even a funny gif might be adding alot!
A couple of Don’ts: It’s your blog and you can do whatever you like, but just from my experience, these are things that tend to be divisive rather than inclusive.
Don’t brag about your follower count. I get it, when I got to certain numbers I was pretty damned surprised that so many ppl wanted to follow me, how could there be ppl who even cared about my opinion in this fandom? When you reach your first few hundred, it feels really gratifying, so I wouldn’t stop anyone from being proud of that, butI have found, from watching interactions here for the past few years, that posting your follower count breeds jealousy among other bloggers, which can lead to drama and/or invite anonhate.
Don’t do too many Follow Forevers, if you feel the need to do any. Try not to post things that portray you as very cliquey/exclusive, unless that’s what you want to express. I have seen too many ppl post Follow Forevers, and those that were left out may have felt, well, LEFT OUT, and it engendered some off-site animosity and gossip. If you want to give a shoutout to a specific blog, do it as its own post, or send that person an Ask praising them, they will be very flattered 😉
Don’t repost art w/o source links. Do the google Reverse Image search and include the source link. If you’ve done that and found nothing (or a ton of pinterest/weheartit/etc. links), add in the tags smtg like, “Source unknown- if you know the source plz tell me and I will add it”. Speaking of which, I don’t know the source of the bunny pic above, if anyone knows it, plz tell me and I will add it! Generally, with ubiquitous memes like that, the source is unknown, so I usually don’t mention it in the tags.
Don’t take your fandom blog too seriously/personally. Even if you get anonhate (YOU WILL, everyone does eventually), or ppl write to you disagreeing w/ you (THEY WILL, everyone does eventually), be calm, collect your thoughts. Remember the old “sticks and stones”? Words can never hurt you. If you realize you posted smtg that you may regret, delete that post. It’s not a sign of failure or weakness to retract a statement rather than go deeper into a dialogue you may not be informed on enough to continue.
Chasing off haters-
Best way to chase off haters is to expose how silly and trolly they are by giving them the most minimal response possible. While it might not have been hate per se, smne sent me an anon that “vampires are stupid” and rather than argue the point, I just plopped in this gif of Lestat (by @gifsfortc) reacting [X]. A picture is worth a thousand words and I think what makes it even funnier is that it’s a gif, so he could be sobbing or being more emotional, but his expression is just a kind of pity!
You are not obligated to respond to hate, I give you full permission to just delete it.Isn’t it actually kind of better when you know they are constantly refreshing your page, hoping for a reaction that never comes?!
Hope all that helps! I’ve left out alot of normal etiquette for topics like social justice (bc that’s more along the lines of life advice than a fandom-specific blog), and left out specifics about blogging to my own fandom so that it can apply to any. I might do a followup post about engaging ppl in this fandom specifically.
As always, anyone is free to reblog and add their own ideas 😉
do y’all ever have that one mutual…..this majestic motherfucker with the great tags and the great blog and when they reblog stuff from you u actually feel your soul ascend and you’re in a constant state of awe and admiration like………talk to me bithc i’m begging u
Omg *flails* what a wonderful message to receive! “Damn perfect”?! Well can’t confirm or deny that but I FRICKIN’ TRY.
I’m deeply moved. Couldn’t just toss in the usual reaction gif, too cheap, had to give you smtg a little more special. More of a story. You’ve heard it before but maybe this angle, this variation on it, will feel as fresh to you as it does to me. I’m rambling a bit and having trouble editing it back so you get a long post sorries LOOK WHAT U DO TO ME all these feels!
“I lifted the long wax wick, dipped it into an old flame, and carried the fire to a fresh candle, watched the little tongue grow orange and bright.
What a miracle, I thought. One tiny flame could make so many other flames; one tiny flame could set afire a whole world. Why, I had, with this simple gesture, actually increased the sum total of light in the universe, had I not?…
Because it was
something I could accomplish, like the little candle flame in the church making another flame and still
retaining its own light – my way of creating, my only way, don’t you see? One moment there were two of us,
and then we were three.” – Lestat, Tale of the Body Thief
Why am I quoting this? Like the vampires, we are a “found family” rather than a natural one, bc we draw ppl into this and turn them into one of us, if the addiction can hold! I see that it’s taken hold of you as it has me ;D
It’s not a fandom for everyone, but for those of us who are in it, well, it feels like we almost had no choice, we are hopelessly addicted ;u; When I get messages like yours I can’t help but feel a little like Lestat, like I’ve helped to add a little more light to the world, bringing in fresh blood (pun very much intended!) who might have a new and intriguing perspective on things to share, maintaining the older blood that’s aged like a fine wine, admiring the talent of our fanartists, fanfic writers, meta-analyzers, etc. and encouraging them to keep making more to feed our insatiable need of it! We make great friends within our ranks. Ppl have even met their life partners through fandom.
I also love that ppl shoot me VC news from FB, Twitter, etc., so that I can transmit it out to you so fast that by the time other publications pick it up, we’ve known about it for days already, and have helped each other deal with its impact if necessary, as proper family members should ;]
My closest friends that I’ve made here have been made bc they are as appreciative of this series and its wonderful, addictive characters as I am. Messages like yours keep this blog running and I can’t thank you enough for that *cries*
Hit the jump for moar…
The image above is not a screencap but a manip of a few frames, which I made in Oct. 2013, just a few months after the birth of this blog. I didn’t think anyone would care much for this blog, I expected it would only ever be a place I could indulge my VC addiction privately in public, like someone playing solitaire out in a park. A place to post a few of my graphics, a little of my sense of humor, and gather what little fanworks I could find for my own pleasure. Ppl saw it, ppl responded, ppl wanted to play Cards Against Humanity with me (to expand on the original metaphor, lol), and the whole thing has grown into a conduit through which I’ve gotten back SO MUCH MORE than was originally expected! It brought the fandom I had been looking for, and for the most part given up on finding, right to me!
Because you’re right, our fandom was dead, but only on the surface, driven into hiding by a creator who didn’t understand what fandom was and that it was a normal way to engage with canon. That sharing fanworks builds a community. There were plenty of us out there but few of us could find each other. We protected what little we had and shared it like contraband. She was within her rights and I don’t blame her for her actions, but as a result, I think we’re a much more appreciative group for what we have now than other fandoms who’ve had it easy from the beginning. I hope we are, anyway.
A lot of my sensitivity and care comes from a place of gratitude, and although I am a secular individual, I do try to preach the gospel of gratitude and civility back out to this family we’ve created.
I had ONE Real Life VC friend when I fell into this fandom, and she had to endure the fire-hydrant blast of my VC addiction, at close range, for about 20 years! She’s still my best friend, but let me tell you, she is grateful beyond words that you have all stepped in to take more of the brunt of my addiction now. She’s the one who nudged me to start a tumblr blog in the first place, which I resisted, mind you, so you should all be thanking her, too ;D
pop culture intertextuality is just so damn *fascinating*
today a parody movie (50 shades of black) comes out, based on the 50 shades of grey movie, which was based on the 50 shades book, which was based on twilight, which was somewhat based on interview with the vampire (which anne rice based on an earlier short story she wrote), which was based on Dracula and other vampire stories, which originally came from Dr. John Polidori’s The Vampyre (even though Vampires were a thing in folk tales before then, he was the one who made them all classy, etc.)
so really, like so many things, this is all Lord Byron’s fault.
I-want-my-IWTV 