Desiderius Price

Ages ago, after the first Harry Potter film, I saw the DVD on sale, decided to buy it (thinking I’d give it away as a gift), watched it, and became hooked.  Read the books (1-4 at the time), saw the second film, and didn’t really want to wait.  I started to stumble into fanfiction, started reading, (initially I thought it was stolen material, as in, hacking JKR’s computer, before I came to understand it).  I enjoyed it and kept reading.   There was one particular fanfic I wanted more of, but the author wasn’t updating and I grew impatient.  Until this point, I hadn’t written anything since my high-school/middle-school days, so I wasn’t very confident, but I wanted it to continue; I picked up the keyboard, started typing.  That first fanfic is still posted (not on AFF because I wasn’t aware of AFF at the time, and it also violates the rules here), the sequel is still a WIP (last updated ~5 years ago); and I had even written adult “versions” for chapters of both fics that I’ve never posted.  Nowadays, I write original science fiction in a distorted dystopia that might come to pass. 
I suppose the moral is whatever cracks the ice, gets you to write.  For me, it was a nearly abandoned fanfic that I felt the urge to continue, and in the process, I overcame my self doubts.  My original stories wouldn’t have been written if it weren’t for breaking the ice a decade and a half ago, playing around in JKR’s sandbox for a while.

She’s currently in the chat, so you can pop in and say Hi to her.

The most important part is to write, it’s like a muscle.  If you wait until the story is perfect in your mind, it’ll likely never get written.

The most important part is to write, it’s like a muscle.  If you wait until the story is perfect in your mind, it’ll likely never get written.

The most important part is to write, it’s like a muscle.  If you wait until the story is perfect in your mind, it’ll likely never get written.

The most important part is to write, it’s like a muscle.  If you wait until the story is perfect in your mind, it’ll likely never get written.

The most important part is to write, it’s like a muscle.  If you wait until the story is perfect in your mind, it’ll likely never get written.

Melrick will appreciate your volunteerism on this topic (once his computer woes are fixed). 

In my stories, the overarching antagonist is society, with the collective requirement of group thought.   Don’t like it?  Then, you are the problem, and must be sorted out.  So, I’ll typically manifest that through characters in the story (ie, Ernest in Dolbourne Chronicles.)  
Of course, we all know who the real antagonists are … plot bunnies. 
 

They’re even more prolific than Mary Sue.

They’re even more prolific than Mary Sue.

In my stories, the overarching antagonist is society, with the collective requirement of group thought.   Don’t like it?  Then, you are the problem, and must be sorted out.  So, I’ll typically manifest that through characters in the story (ie, Ernest in Dolbourne Chronicles.)  
Of course, we all know who the real antagonists are … plot bunnies. 
 

I tend to prefer mine realistic, so that typically means the antagonist isn’t evil-evil, but rather, operating from a different point of view.  In my stories, that typically means the more “evil” characters believe they are doing the Lord’s work, believe that they are being righteous in doing so, or believe that they’ve been wronged somehow and it’s justice/revenge being levied out.

I tend to prefer mine realistic, so that typically means the antagonist isn’t evil-evil, but rather, operating from a different point of view.  In my stories, that typically means the more “evil” characters believe they are doing the Lord’s work, believe that they are being righteous in doing so, or believe that they’ve been wronged somehow and it’s justice/revenge being levied out.

It's my mother in law’s pet name for me

I know nothing about the situation, but it’s not like that stopped me from responding before! 
It’s a shame that those mods aren’t doing a better job at protecting an author from abuse (where they can reasonably do so).  Assuming the mods aren’t being malicious in this, I can think of some reasons.  1) the horde replied to the summons, so you’re now one voice vs many on the matter, and they chose to believe the majority.  2) The mods don’t like your pairing either (or one of them has become part of the horde).  3) Way overloaded, and, well you’re one vs many.  Trouble with trolls, it’s like weeds in a garden, let one stay, and you’re soon overran by them; chasing good authors away isn’t a good long term strategy.
I second JayDee’s opinion, be the adult.  If AO3 isn’t a good fit for you, well, AFF’s archives are open
 
 
 

And roast some trolls while you’re at it.  How much ketchup does it require to smother out the flavor of troll? 

And roast some trolls while you’re at it.  How much ketchup does it require to smother out the flavor of troll? 

I know nothing about the situation, but it’s not like that stopped me from responding before! 
It’s a shame that those mods aren’t doing a better job at protecting an author from abuse (where they can reasonably do so).  Assuming the mods aren’t being malicious in this, I can think of some reasons.  1) the horde replied to the summons, so you’re now one voice vs many on the matter, and they chose to believe the majority.  2) The mods don’t like your pairing either (or one of them has become part of the horde).  3) Way overloaded, and, well you’re one vs many.  Trouble with trolls, it’s like weeds in a garden, let one stay, and you’re soon overran by them; chasing good authors away isn’t a good long term strategy.
I second JayDee’s opinion, be the adult.  If AO3 isn’t a good fit for you, well, AFF’s archives are open
 
 
 

I know nothing about the situation, but it’s not like that stopped me from responding before! 
It’s a shame that those mods aren’t doing a better job at protecting an author from abuse (where they can reasonably do so).  Assuming the mods aren’t being malicious in this, I can think of some reasons.  1) the horde replied to the summons, so you’re now one voice vs many on the matter, and they chose to believe the majority.  2) The mods don’t like your pairing either (or one of them has become part of the horde).  3) Way overloaded, and, well you’re one vs many.  Trouble with trolls, it’s like weeds in a garden, let one stay, and you’re soon overran by them; chasing good authors away isn’t a good long term strategy.
I second JayDee’s opinion, be the adult.  If AO3 isn’t a good fit for you, well, AFF’s archives are open
 
 
 

Trust me, we’re not implementing degrees of tags. So stick to adding the 3+, and I can’t wait to read this one!

In the end, such a tag system would have to factor in intensity/duration/etc, and that’d just be more work for our already overtasked moderators. 
Also, how often do we stick to our original plans for our stories?  Tags grow in scope, or get introduced.  In the beginning, I wasn’t planning on Minor1 for any of my stories; however, I’m creating a universe so adding the tag can be far easier than rewriting a character’s age so they're 14 instead of 13.

In the end, such a tag system would have to factor in intensity/duration/etc, and that’d just be more work for our already overtasked moderators. 
Also, how often do we stick to our original plans for our stories?  Tags grow in scope, or get introduced.  In the beginning, I wasn’t planning on Minor1 for any of my stories; however, I’m creating a universe so adding the tag can be far easier than rewriting a character’s age so they're 14 instead of 13.

To me, I was thinking [abortion] is “I heard Mary Sue had an abortion”, [abortion+] being “Mary Sue went to Planned Parenthood”, and [abortion++] is “Fred inserted the coat hanger….”  Somebody looking for a gory abortion fic, would look for abortion++.
btw, this post has the warning code [abortion] on it!

Add in another human and you’re covered by 3+.  Now, [xeno] might be applicable too. 
And if this isn’t related to some new president of the United States, I think that requires its own tag, with big warning all around it.
- DP