snowflake challenge #4

[svgurl]

Challenge #4:
Since this is the start of a new year, this challenge will be to set your own goals!

I looked over the goals I set from last year to see where I was and then set them accordingly. A lot of repeats, but some amendments too. :)

Fannish:

Write fanfic again and find joy/inspiration in doing so. Last year, I wanted to participate in less exchanges and write for myself more and I ended up doing way less exchanges, but that was because I just wasn't inspired at all/slightly becoming detached from fandom. So I'm hoping this year will be more positive

Complete my ficcish obligations - there are some way overdue ones that haunt me and I would like to actually get them out of my head.

Try to write for a new fandom. I think I would like the challenge.

Be more present and active, in both my DW and in my chosen fandom spaces. I think I get tied up to one spot (I drifted off to Tumblr for a brief period) and forget about the rest and I would like some balance.

Non-Fandom:

Travel. I said this last year too, but somehow it got away from me. This year, I would like to get out of my city and preferably the state.

Get organized. Another repeated goal. I have finally started parting ways with clothes and things i don't use, and I need to continue with that.

Be a better cook. I love to bake and I do enjoy cooking what I know, but I want to try new recipes. My mom is a great cook and I need to take advantage of that and have her teach me, especially my favorite foods that she makes.

Learn a new skill. I tend to get stagnant and comfortable and I'm pretty bad about being ... bad at things/not good immediately. I'd like to test my comfort zone.

Exercise consistently. I go through periods when I'm good and then weeks where I just fall off and I want to stay active on a regular basis in some way, even if that means just taking walks around the neighborhood.

Comments

[ragnarok_08]

I want to write more fanfic too, and to write for new fandoms as well.

Yes, exercising consistently is a good idea too :)

[svgurl]

Good luck! I hope you're able to do that too. :D

It's just nice to maintain consistency and I'm hoping I can reach that stage soon.

[wearing_tearing]

Good luck with your goals! Maybe trying to write for a different fandom will spark that inspiration flame again :D

I tend to get stagnant and comfortable and I'm pretty bad about being ... bad at things/not good immediately.
Literally me. I've decided that this is the year I don't care if I suck at things.

[svgurl]

Thank you! I always get a little nervous when I want to go into a new fandom, especially one that is established, but I am hoping that something different will inspire me, as you said. :D

That's awesome! It's definitely a mentality that gives you some freedom.

[wearing_tearing]

You can do it! There re many new things cropping up and established fandoms that have new content coming out and/or are super active. I'm sure you'll find inspiration <3

[svgurl]

I appreciate the support! I have ideas, but writing for a bigger fandom/ship adds to the intimidating aspect, but I guess everyone starts somewhere. Thanks! I hope so. ♥

[prisca]

Sometimes, writing for a new fandom can bring back more fun into your fannish life. But there are other times when I love to go back to the good old times and create something for fandoms no one but me is still thinking about.

[svgurl]

That's what I'm hoping for. A change will help inspire me to be creative again. But I'm the same way - with both reading and writing fic - I just like to go back to my old favorites. There are just some fandoms that are with you forever. :D

[kitarella_imagines]

I hope you get to enjoy fandom again. Looking back at my list of fics, there were years where I hardly wrote any fics, and some years, like 2023, where I wrote dozens. It is like a rollercoaster isn't it.

[svgurl]

Thanks! And yeah, it really is. The creativity and motivation hits stronger some years and then fades others. I'm hoping 2025 will be better in that sense than 2024. :D

[kitarella_imagines]

Yes, it is like an ebb and flow of a tide, isn't it. We can't control it. Please don't worry about it though, let it just come and go as it does. It's possible to get creatively exhausted, when I get like that I just read other people's fics and absorb them, to give my own brain a rest 🥰

[svgurl]

It really is. And that is what I'm going to do. Sometimes, I try to force it and it does work because once I get myself going without any distractions, I can focus but it isn't something I can do consistently. Reading and enjoying other people's fics is a great way to spend some time too! :)

[kitarella_imagines]

yes, I'm the same, I can't force writing except occasionally. But it doesn't go well if I do, I find it's better just to wait and live life, til inspiration comes along.

I think reading other people's fics gives your imagination a rest, doesn't it 😊

[svgurl]

Sometimes, I just want to or have to, when trying to meet a deadline, but yeah, not sustainable. I get waiting for inspiration to hit on its own.

It definitely does. And way less stressful.

[kitarella_imagines]

Yes sometimes I want to meet a deadline, but it's usually a deadline of my own making. I want to get the ideas out of my head and into a story, so it feels complete. Only other writers understand that, don't we.

Did I show you this? Creative rest is a thing.

The 7 Kinds of Rest You Actually Need

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-different-kind-of-therapy/202212/the-7-kinds-of-rest-you-need-to-actually-feel-rejuvenated

[svgurl]

I get that - I want to make my own deadlines but the person running this show (me lol) has no power over myself. Usually it's exchange deadlines that keep me on my toes because I am responsible for someone and have a commitment. That's part of the reason I signed up for so many in the past (and my fandom FOMO).

I haven't seen it! Thanks for sharing! I'm looking forward to reading it. :)

[kitarella_imagines]

Oh gosh I never ever sign up for things where I have a commitment. I have far too many of those in real life, so I prefer to keep fandom relaxed, easy, no pressure, just write what I want, when I want. There are some people online who are fixated by a tight schedule of posting, running communities, pushing fics out regularly etc. Each to their own but it would turn me right off fanfiction if I was tied to a schedule, argh! I do not mean you, I just mean 'people in general'.

Hope you like that article, I have to keep reminding myself: if my writing brain is tired, GIVE IT A REST. Don't ever push it.

[svgurl]

That makes sense. It really depends what kind of personality you have. I totally get wanting fandom to be a relaxed experience and how the additions of deadlines and having to write for someone else would be offputting.

That's a good thing to remind yourself of for sure. :)

[kitarella_imagines]

Oh yes, everyone is different and likes different things. I seem to have spent my life looking after everyone else though, so fanfics are my place for ME and doing exactly what III want to do. Not looking after yet more people.

We need to take care of our precious imaginations and brains don't we. I'd be lost if I couldn't create stories.

[svgurl]

Fair enough. It's important to curate your own fandom experience and do what it takes to get the most out of it and that involves realizing what doesn't work as well as what does.

Absolutely.

[kitarella_imagines]

We do need to curate, don't we. I see fandoms as escapism, no rules, just a place to enjoy myself 😊

[corvidology]

What Would You Attempt if You Knew You Could Not Fail?

A dear friend gave me a coffee mug with that on several years ago and now I'll pretty much give anything that looks interesting a whack!

[svgurl]

What a great mug and reminder! It's great that you're doing that. I'm going to try to take a few steps in that direction and hopefully it will stick. :D

[flamingsword]

For stuff where I need variety to motivate me, like doing self-care, I have one of those free dice rolling apps and a corresponding list of things to do to both take care of myself and stay engaged. So if you wanted to try that you could maybe make a list of ten or twelve things that you think would be fun sometimes but that might, I dunno, hurt your knees or something to do every day.

Huh. Now that I’ve thought of it, I should probably try this. 😅 Yay for causing collateral thinking!

[svgurl]

Oh, that's a great idea! Thank you for the advice! I am definitely going to think about it and give it a shot soon. And I love that writing it out inspired you to try it too. I hope it works out for you! :D

[bradygirl_12]

Fandom is always a rollercoaster. 🎢

Relax, go with the flow, and you'll be amazed how things will work out. In 2024 I wrote very little fannish stuff in the first six months, watched an old show that was new to me, started writing like crazy in the second half. ☺️

Tackling a new fandom is an excellent idea. 👍

[svgurl]

Very true!

Thank you for the advice! I know you're right and it's good that you managed to find some inspiration in the second half of the year.

I'm hoping if I let myself get into a new fandom, it will give me that spark too. And maybe reignite my love for the old ones. :D

[yellowrosess]

Good luck with all your goals :-)

Same here with trying new cooking recipes and doing more exercise.

[svgurl]

Thank you! :D

Good luck to you too! I hope it works out for us both.

[tinkaton]

Good luck with all your goals! If I ever wrote out my yearly goals I think there'd be a lot of overlap with yours haha, I'm constantly thinking about how I need to work on writing more, exercising, getting organized, etc. There's just so much to do!!

[svgurl]

Thank you! I can imagine a lot of us have variations of those goals and I know I've had similar ones in the past too. And there really is! The time always just seems to fly by too. :D

[silveradept]

Here's hoping for success in your goals, and that the output from it all is informative, even if it doesn't get to your liking immediately.

[svgurl]

Thank you! I appreciate the kind wishes. :D

[royalblue31]

Good luck to you on all your goals this year! I too feel the WIPs haunting me lol.

[svgurl]

Thank you! They just really are like "hey, we're still here" and won't help but also won't shut up lol I hope you're able to get to your's too! :D

[linky]

These are some great goals, best of luck with them!! 💖💖💕

[svgurl]

Thank you! ♥ :D

[pianogurl330]

Good Luck for your goals this year! ♥

[svgurl]

Thank you! ♥ :D

[scintilla10]

Great set of goals! Here's hoping joy/inspiration strikes, either in an existing fandom or a new one. :D

I love including "learn a new skill" as a goal! It's hard to be in that learning/things not coming out how they are in your head place. But it's so cool to try new things, or let yourself just do something different.

Good luck! ♥

[svgurl]

I hope that getting into the headspace of something new will spark my motivation enough to want to write the old things too. :D

Thanks! I have trouble trying new things, because of being afraid to fail, but I want to work on that.

Thank you! ♥ :D

[musyc]

I have finally started parting ways with clothes and things i don't use, and I need to continue with that.

WOOHOO! You can do it!

[svgurl]

I appreciate the support! I've gotten a bunch out but I need to deal with a lot. The annoying part about shirts is you have to take them all out and them refold it, and folding has always been one of my least favorite chores lol