How far we've come

[spotzle]

So last Saturday when I took E to her singing lessons (yes! she does this now) I was listening to Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me, and their first caller/contestant was a very sweet lady from one of the M states in the Midwest (I forget which one). And they asked her, what did she do up there in her M state and she said, "I write Jane Austen fan fiction." Like it was just this normal thing everyone did (and in my world, this is true)

I did a mental victory lap at her daring because 1) it's national radio and she gave her real name and 2) they didn't mess with her about it. Well, they did, but not for writing it, but because they joke with everyone about everything. They were very respectful. I'm wondering if they would have blinked more if it was like, One Direction fanfic or something less "legit" than Austen.

I know fanfic has become much more mainstream and acceptable these days, but I still won't tell people I write it. I barely acknowledge it to myself.


Speaking of, *whisper* I started a new one yesterday, which was nice. I've written a few things since then, but they were original (OMG! WOW!). I don't prefer one over the other, but writing fanfic is like putting on a really comfortable sweater. It just feels good.

Also, I didn't recognize her name. Must be a new one.;)

Comments

[katharhino]

Interesting points. I don't remember if I ever posted about this but when I was working for the law firm at one point my boss was introducing me to another person and said "she writes Jane Austen fanfic" and I was like WHAAAAAT YOU OUTED ME!!!?????? I had no idea he even KNEW. His wife was a JA fan, so that's probably how. In retrospect, he didn't say it like a bad thing so I probably should have been cool, but it totally took me by surprise.

And your post is making me think, how would I react now. I think I even have "Jane Austen fanfic" in a couple of my social media profiles, although I'm still pretty low key about it, and of course I haven't written in years.