Feeling overwhelmed

[hils]

I do love how the Merlin fandom has literally exploded in the few weeks since the show started. I've never been in a fandom since the beginning so this is a new and quite exciting experience that has allowed me to make lots of new friends.

I'm finding it quite difficult to keep up though. There is new fic and icons being posted all the time, which is awesome, but I just don't have time to read and look at it all. Considering I have LJ on in the background for the 8 hours I'm at work and then pretty much every evening too I don't know how the rest of you are managing.

I think my plan is to just keep my head down and read when I can, comment when I can, and write when I can. This is why I will never be BNF material. LOL!

The first Merlin fic awards have just opened. I haven't been in a fandom with fic awards since Buffy. I have never quite been able to work out whether I approve of these sorts of things. It's nice to recognise good work, of course, but at the same time it tends to always be the same people who get nominated and I feel bad for all the people who have clearly worked just as hard but don't get recognised.

Comments

[annwnrho.livejournal.com]

Hi Hilis *waves* before I start I do love your fics but I'm terrible at leaving comments but from now on I'm trying to leave one on every fic I know what it's like not getting many comments (Sorry I know I am replying to a post that you made a while back but it never hurts to say you like a fic is it?)

I'm not sure how I feel about the awards I think it would have been better later on after the series has finished and we've had the post series boom of fic and stuff. I quite like them as sometimes it can bring out fics that you've not seen before but there are so many fics out there and so many are good but there can only be one winner so I can see where you're coming from.

I'm managing by not having a life :D Plus Doctor Who fandom has died with tennant apparently so this is really my only active fandom so I really only have to keep up with this one.

I really hope you get more fic done soon and I promise I will comment on those ones :D

[hils.livejournal.com]

Hi!!

Oh, don't worry about not commenting on my fics. I was just feeling a bit whiny that day. LOL. So long as people are enjoying them I'm happy :)

There will certainly be lots more fics from me in the future \0/

Thanks for commenting *hugs*

[x-merlin.livejournal.com]

OMG I totally agree! I swear I go back almost twenty pages every time I go on my Flist and most of it is Merlin fic. Its so nice to see a fandom grow but it seems impossible to keep up with this one!

I'm a little wary of the awards as well. Its nerve wracking posting fic even with a bundle of LJ Friends to read it and make nice comments but I feel for the people that are too shy to ask for friends or join in with memes that are going to miss out! Still, that could just be my inner cynic talking! I guess we'll see! :)

Alex :)

[hils.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm just worried people will be all 'Oh, I didn't get nominated so I must not be good enough' and just stop writing :(

Hopefully that won't happen

[mahaliem.livejournal.com]

Even though I've won some awards, I'm still wary of them. If you're pitting fics against fics, I much prefer anonymous challenges because they're less likely to turn into popularity contests.

[hils.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've won some too and of course winning is nice but I dunno, fic should be a fun thing not a contest

[bittermint.livejournal.com]

Ohh, man! Where awards go, wank usually follows. It's been that way in every fandom I've been in.

I don't know why people can't just enjoy the fic without turning it into a big popularity contest.

[hils.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree! It's going to go pear shaped at some point I'm sure

[ebonystar.livejournal.com]

I've already worked out that I haven't been in the fandom long enough to be nominated, and as you say, there are so many people writing, you're never sure if your work is being read anyway. I know I've had the same problem that you have with comments, (I still need to actually find your stories to read :s)

So I'm just going to keep writing what I enjoy and probably try to let the awards sail over my head. Meh. *hugs*

[hils.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, I've only written 3 fics in this fandom so I'm under no illusions. LOL!

Here's the link to my Merlin fic

http://fandomcorner.livejournal.com/tag/merlin

Can I have a link to yours? Not sure if I've read any yet *is a bad friend*

[ebonystar.livejournal.com]

Funny enough, mine's the same tag. Lol.

http://ebonystar.livejournal.com/tag/merlin

I've started a multi-parter, there's a one off that needs a sequel, and one Morgana centric short... I shall be checking your stories out first though, tomorrow. :o)

Hope you like..

[hils.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thanks! I shall have a read later

[phoebesmum.livejournal.com]

An exploding fandom sounds dangerous. And messy.

I know how I feel about fannish awards - but if I'd ever been nominated for one, I'm sure I would feel exactly the opposite!

[hils.livejournal.com]

I won a few back in my Buffy fandom days and of course that was nice but I still don't think I like the concept

how the rest of you are managing

[ender24]

bwahh, i meant to reply to this since november...lol..

actually, since fandom , as you said, has really exploded like a supernova, the only way i manage is, I am nearly solely rely on the merlin newsletter.
and I skip all kind of icons and manips, unless they are from friends.

I know, some other manage coz they solely rely on recs.
they dont go and read themselves, but will only read something if its been recced. otherwise, they will just skipped everything else.

Re: how the rest of you are managing

[hils.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm only reading stuff that either has a summary that grabs my interest or is written by someone I know