My dear LaLaLand,
I received your last review today, in the middle of class.
You're right. I haven't published fanfiction in over four years. I've never stopped reading it (because I'm a sucker for characters I already loved), but as for writing it, life caught up to me, and this endeavor was put on the backburner, indefinitely.
When I wrote this story, I was probably a freshman in high school, and trying to figure out what I wanted my life to be, and what I wanted to do with it. School was stressful, and I wasn't able to write what I wanted there, so fanfiction was where I poured my heart and creativity and ideas. I'm sure if I go read some of my old stuff, it'll be a major cringefest, but there's nothing that I regret writing, because these stories took me to where I am today.
Now? I'm studying English and Creative Writing at one of the most prestigious writing schools in the country. I've written thousands of pages of original material, and I keep learning and growing and creating new work every single day. I've had my work published and performed, and I hope that someday, you'll recognize my style in a book or on a stage somewhere.
But it all comes back to this. Fanfiction is where I grew as a writer. I was able to explore prose, plot, character, language, and formatting. And most importantly, I was able to receive criticism, and love for what I was doing. Which is why I am where I am today. Because of readers and reviewers like you, writing is ingrained into my very being, so don't worry; I am never going to stop.
To all my readers, past, present, and future: I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are the ones who encouraged me and gave me space to be free and to learn more than I ever could have on my own. I will owe whatever career I have to you, and my eternal joy and gratitude.
To other writers: This may seem like nonsense or whimsy right now, but I promise you, if you love this and you are willing to work for it, then you are going to be able to make it as a writer. This is a community where you don't have to be scared of making mistakes, because you are simply writing for the pleasure of doing it, and your readers are reading for the pleasure of reading it. Take chances; you never know where they're going to lead. This is your foundation; build on it.
And so, LaLaLand, I did get your message, and you have no idea how much that means to me. To know that there's someone out there who my writing changed, even the slightest amount, is more than I ever could have expected or hoped for. I don't know if you'll read this final author's note, but if you do, know that I am forever grateful to you, and that I love you and your ideas, and your willingness to support a high schooler just trying to write something that she loved.
You're right; we are in very different places now than we were four years ago. But those places... those are where we began. Those are where we'll always be.
Love,
Brigid (a.k.a. PeaceLoveAndCheese)