2024 Snowflake Challenge #7

[spiralicious]

Challenge #7

Make a list of fannish and/or creative resources

First I want to point out my standard “My three most used resources are (aside from DW & AO3) are”:


- Fandom wikis in general. Most fandoms have them, some have several. Some are sparse and some have more information than you thought could exist about a fandom. They are an invaluable resource overall. It's the first place I direct someone when they are having trouble finding information.

- Instagram. This one surprised me. It's practically replaced Pinterest for costuming tutorials for me. It's also been a great resource for fandom lore for me. The more I use it, the more fandom uses I have found for it. The downside is that searching for something specific can be difficult.

- YouTube. This one is on a lot of people's lists. You can find almost anything there; discussions, tutorials, research information, clips, etc.

Honorable mention:

- Podcasts on Spotify. These have been helpful for me in terms of researching topics and particular fandoms, but it's not in my top three because it requires a lot of searching and listening to find just what you are looking for.

While these are pretty basic in terms of resource recommendations. All three of them have been invaluable to me since I lost all my bookmarks and while I haven't had a computer.


More specific things:

- The Svengoolie blog comments: For context, Svengoolie is a horror host out of Chicago that airs a weekly show of the same name. Each Saturday morning, he (or whoever does it) posts a blog post announcing this week’s movie with a synopsis and maybe a few other tidbits. The second that blog goes up, people start talking in the comments and do so for hours. Some of it is causal chit chat, but it is also people sharing movie lore, food they have prepared in a meal themed after the movie, behind the scenes photos, honestly, you never know what is going to be in there in the hours leading up to the movie. There are also people who stick around to do watch along in the comments each week in their respective timezones and it can be a good resource for helping analyze a movie or just group fandom enjoyment.

- krazykattstableemporium This one is a bit of shameless self-promotion. It’s my table comm. Basically, I write an obscene amount of prompt lists and they needed a home. Also, we adopt (with permission) prompt lists from dead comms. My co-mod codes them into tables and we post them at the comm as we are able. Currently, there are 25 viewable tables, 49 that are posted but I need to make public, and 5 (6?) that have been requested and are in progress. So feel free to stop on by and grab some prompts.

- whatif_au: A multi-fandom writing comm with bimonthly AU prompts. There are no minimums or true deadlines, and the vibes are good.

- fffc: A multifandom writing comm that hosts a variety of types of challenges, this includes, weekly prompts, monthly challenges, quarterly challenges, roulette, bingo, and more.

- allbingo: Multifandom bingo comm. Members host monthly themes, they link to a really nice bingo card generator, there is the occasional friending meme, and they allow you to show off your bingo claims from other bingos as well. It’s pretty laid back and a fun time.

- femslash100100: A sister comm to femslash100 & femslashficlets where their sister comms’ prompt tables are available for writing with no claims required and no deadlines, so if you missed out or missed a deadline, you can still play.

- get_knitted: A crafting community with optional daily check ins to talk about your projects and encourage others. It is also a great place to ask for help.


I may add to this later, but the computer’s little countdown clock on my allotted library computer session is yelling at me.

Comments

[muccamukk]

How do you find good podcasts on spotify? I've tried that route, and ended up with some less good ones. I like the BBC show In Our Time though, for some historical stuff.

[spiralicious]

It is honestly a slog. It requires much searching and much trial and error. I swear there is something wrong with Spotify's search algorithm. I have honestly had the best luck finding things on other platforms and then seeing if it has a related Spotify podcast, for example if there Instagram or YouTube channel I like and find useful, I look to see if they have a podcast on Spotify. If they do, I give a few episodes a listen to see if there is more information available or expanded upon in the podcast. If so, I save it. Another way has been to look at the recommended podcasts. I don't remember how to find it exactly, but if you are listening to a podcast, there is a page you can scroll or swipe to that is links to "listeners of this podcast also liked," and it is a gamble as well, but it can save a couple steps sometimes.

In short, unfortunately, there is no good way to find good podcasts. It is as much luck as it is determination.

[madeline_gwydion]

Instagram. This one surprised me. It's practically replaced Pinterest for costuming tutorials for me. It's also been a great resource for fandom lore for me. The more I use it, the more fandom uses I have found for it. The downside is that searching for something specific can be difficult.

This is interesting. I literally never thought to check Instagram for fandom related stuff. I'm so old that when Instagram started, I got the impression that it was "Facebook with selfies", decided it was clearly not for me (I hate pictures of myself...;-)) and subsequently ignored it. Maybe I should finally start using my account. ;D

I also joined your tables comm. I like tables. ;-) I never get around to actually writing for any of the prompts, mind you, but I can always dream...;D

[spiralicious]

I literally never thought to check Instagram for fandom related stuff. I'm so old that when Instagram started, I got the impression that it was "Facebook with selfies", decided it was clearly not for me (I hate pictures of myself...;-)) and subsequently ignored it. - Honestly, same, for years, but during 2020, during the bulk of the lockdowns, it was primarily where most of the SPN fandom stuff was originating from and then Instagram made it to where you had to have an account to look at posts (unless you were linked to an individual post) and in the midst of that, I broke down and made my own account just to see things. The more I used it the more fandom stuff I found for other fandoms. Eventually, I made a new account for posting craft creations and pictures of my cat (may my little monster RIP), though I still use it way more for saving recipes, crafting tutorials, fan art, and fandom lore, (among other things) than actual posting of my own stuff.

Thanks! May the tables give you joy no matter how decide to use them (or not) :D

[madeline_gwydion]

crafting tutorials, fan art, and fandom lore

Yep, definitely going to have a look if my old account still exists. Those sound like excellent ways to "waste" a few hours. ;-)

[spiralicious]

The hard part is training the algorithm to send you what you want to look at, but once you get it there, it can be a lot of fun :)