fandomtrumpshate | finding your fan laborer

In some ways, our effort to boost fan labor this year has been wildly successful: we have almost one hundred fan labor auctions on offer this year, and y’all have responded to the fan labor roundup with incredible (and entirely appropriate!) enthusiasm. On the other hand, our fan labor auctions are – once again – getting fewer bids overall than other kinds of auctions, which makes us think that potential bidders haven’t taken the time to think through just how helpful some fan labor support could be.

So here’s what we are suggesting:

1) Take a minute or two and make a list of your “stretch” fics: the stories you would most love to write, but which feel as if they are beyond your reach. Maybe the story is set in a time or place you don’t know very much about; maybe it requires insight into experiences you yourself have not had; maybe it includes characters you’re not very confident writing; or maybe it’s just ambitious enough in scale or scope that you’re not sure you have the skill or the stamina to pull it off.

2) Now look at your drafts folder, or wherever your plot bunnies and unfinished fics live. Imagine having a beta reader, or a developmental editor, or even just a cheerleader to help you get unstuck, or muster up the momentup to keep going.

3) Look at this list of fan laborers, this list of people who have offered to step up and help you. If you win one (or more!) of these auctions, they will dedicate their talent and expertise and support to helping you bring your stories into the world.

4) Now start bidding.