The Psychic File

by acollectionofcuriouscontent

In a world where the Mysterious Benedict Society never prevailed, the hope of the world lies in the lovers of truth, the brave and kindhearted, and the psychics. All of these people are listed in the Psychic File, a collection of information that, in the wrong hands, could destroy the rebellion in one blow. Reynie-Centered (Also on AO3)

1. A Message to the Reader

Hey there! Before the story begins, I'd like to do a quick introduction so you can get to know me and the expectations for this story.

This isn't my first time writing fanfiction, but it will be my first time publishing it chapter by chapter. For a long time, writing was, what I call, a "serious hobby". I was obsessed with learning all I could about plot structure, character development, dialogue, etc. This isn't inherently bad. In fact, as writers we should always be learning and practicing so our work can be its best. But my obsession with form became so intense, I would settle for nothing but perfection. Every aspect of my story would be meticulously planned and stripped bare. I wouldn't share it until I felt it was totally perfect. I believed every "Good authors do this…" and "Professional writers do this…" that I heard. Everything I loved about writing was gone. Writing was no longer fun, it was more of an obligation.

This is my attempt to recapture my love of writing. I will be flying by the seat of my pants, writing without a plan, not getting bogged down in details or worries about perfection. It will be messy, but it will be written with passion. The Mysterious Benedict Society has always been my favorite series, so I couldn't pick a better fandom to write for. The premise for this story is vague at best. I have no idea how it will end, or how we will get there. It may be 50,000 words, or much less. I may post three chapters in one day, or go a month without posting anything. Either way, I'm happy you're here and we can discover this story together.

If you are a writer, or really in any other trade whether it be sports or the arts, always remember to have fun. We got into these trades because we enjoyed doing them, and when we lose our passion, the overall work suffers. Let yourself go, and do what you do because you enjoy doing it (well worded, right?). I think that's even the whole point of fanfiction. You don't have to be good at something to do it. Our society tries to tell us that our time should be spent either earning us money or pushing us forward in life somehow. But you can write cheesy fanfiction without worrying about becoming a published author. You can sing screechily in the shower because you don't have to be a performer. Your hobbies aren't meant to be enjoyed, and it can be enjoyable to learn and get better at them. But if you find yourself viewing your hobby as a responsibility, rather than something you willingly choose to do, it might be time to take a step back, and go back to your roots.

So, without further ado, I give you The Psychic File!