Sunday, March 23, 2014

It's hard being a Fangirl

There are so many fandoms out there, with elitists, snobs or better yet passionate fangirls for lack of a better name for them, that for some reason or another, that feel the need to put down other fandoms or the fans that love them. We are all passionate about one thing or another and don’t want to back down from our convictions or loves, but we are all fans that is our common link and we often forget that.

Being a fan of something or someone gives us the most joy and helps links us in a special way. We all need to just get along and remember that. That is the basis of all fangirls. We love something or someone!

A lot of avid readers of Young Adult books that were older than 18, back in 2005 when Twilight was first published forget that there we not many if any books to captivate us and get older readers reading this genre. Twilight whether you like it or not, opened the door for other books and series that many of us are clamoring for and reading and making successful and seeing them now on the big screen.  The Vampire Diaries written by L.J. Smith was out way before Twilight  back in 1991 and didn't have much of a following until the success of The Twilight books and then they saw the potential and bam we have a hit series on our hands. Yet some hardcore TVD fans will look down their noses at Twilight fans like they are pariah. Without Twilight there would be no TVD on every week, so maybe just say thank you.

Divergent fans that have been fans of the series for a while are on the fence from what I have seen in tweets that their beloved series is now a hit movie and that they will have to share it with the rest of the world that is just catching on. Well, again, if it was for Twilight and Summit a lot of people would not have known about this series. While we Twilight fans were standing on line and waiting at Tent City, they handed out Divergent to all of us. So some Twilight fans found the book and fell in love with it because of Twilight.

Fans are fans people whether we find the books on our own before they become popular in the book community or if we find them after that have been cast and are about to hit the big screen we are fans!  The more the merrier. Yes if you follow the book all the way to the big screen, you can bitch and moan and complain when they didn't cast your fave, but when it all comes down to it the more people that fall in love with the book or the newly released movie the better chances of success and sequels. So don’t complain when people “jump on the bandwagon” some people are a little slower to find the books, TV Shows or movies, but it doesn't make them less of a fan.

I was late to the Twilight party and until this admission no one knew about it! I found the books by accident after the movie was cast and right before they started the promos all over the TV and in the malls near us. I am still and will forever call Twilight my love. I hold my head up high and proud when I speak of the books and the movies. After Twilight, I found The Vampire Diaries books, I couldn't get enough of vampires and the YA section. I was disappointed that the show changed from the books, but for those that never read the books or didn't know about them it doesn't matter, it’s a huge success and there is no going back. I watch the show religiously and I can’t even imagine it would have been so successful if they never strayed from the books. And having Ian and Paul as the leads sure doesn't hurt, but the point it I was a fan and was salivating for the show when they said it was happening. I am forever grateful that fans caught on to the books, and the show and it’s the success that it is. For the “true” TVD fans to snub fans that are or {gasps} used to be Twilight fans isn't right. We are all fans!

Yes Twilight vampires sparkle, and TVD ones, need a ring to mingle in society with no one getting suspicious, but authors have a different way of writing. It’s that simple. Doesn't mean one vampire group is better than the other. I love the Lynsay Sands Argeneau Vampire books (Not YA, but so wicked and worth finding and reading) I found them after Twilight when I was looking for something different to read and stay true to my love of vampires. She took it to an entire different level and blows me away. I tweet, and blog about them any chance I get. I would love for more people to find her books and read them. The more fans the better.

We are all passionate about our loves whether they are books, TV shows, or movies. There is always room for more fans. It’s ok to love them and welcome and sometimes explain why a book is maybe better than a movie, and maybe get that person to now read the book. Maybe then the popularity would increase and that author would get more fans and maybe just maybe we could get more books or movies.

It’s OK to be a fangirl for more than one thing, it doesn't make you less of a fan, it makes you diverse and human.


What makes you a fangirl? What books, TV show or movies are you passionate about and would like to share with us. We would love to hear from you. 

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