How to Throw a 'Star Wars' Christmas Party

It's finally December, which means the Christmas season is in full swing. In addition, we only have a matter of days until Star Wars: The Last Jedi releases in theaters. So in the spirit of fandom, why not combine the two celebrations and host a Star Wars Christmas party? Here are a few galactic ideas to get you started.

(source)

Decorations

No party is complete with decorations. Since you'll be combining forces here, you want to mix it up a bit. A little bit of Star Wars, a little bit of Christmas. For starters, you can cut out some awesome paper snowflakes with these unique Star Wars patterns. You could also create a starry backdrop with black paper and cut out stars or even glow-in-the-dark stars to hang up with your snowflakes. (Something like this.) Maybe even add blinking Christmas lights and a few starships to mimic the Battle of Yavin 4, complete with a giant Death Star cut-out. (Or you can decorate your Christmas lights to look like lightsabers.)

(source)

Of course, the real decoration would be a full-blown Star Wars Christmas tree, complete with one of the various helmets as the tree topper. If that's too ambitious, you could settle with a Star Wars wreath to decorate your front door. For more ideas, you can create a Yoda countdown chain (either for Christmas or The Last Jedi release) or make a few Star Wars ornaments to set around the food table.

Speaking of...

Food

One of the most important parts of a party is the food. Providing enough food or snacks for your guests will assure you have the most successful party in the galaxy! For a winter holiday atmosphere, you can make gingerbread cookies in the shape of Star Wars characters or these cute stormtrooper sugar cookies. Everybody likes chocolate covered pretzels, right? Add a little food coloring to the white chocolate and make them look like lightsabers instead. These would even double as a nice party favor.

(source)

Munchies like Star Wars themed popcorn or BB-8 Muddy Buddies will definitely satisfy anybody looking for something to snack on. You can use graham crackers and peanut butter (or Nutella) to create TIE-fighter s'mores, and this Bantha hot cocoa recipe is sure to warm up your guests.

If you need other Star Wars themed foods, check out the Star Wars Cook Book, and you can even make Wookiee cookies for Wookiee Life Day!

Though, your Wookiee cookies will never be this cute. (source)

Games/Activities

Another part of a party includes activities to keep your guests entertained. There are probably countless Star Wars related games designed for 12 year-old birthday parties, but why not make things interesting by playing pin the Santa hat on... well, any character from Star Wars. Darth Vader, Jabba the Hutt, Yoda, even Boba Fett--the possibilities are endless.

(source)

If you're in a crafty party mood, you can make light-up cards using a similar pattern to these May the Fourth Be With You cards, only give it a Christmas twist. You can also host an ugly sweater contest, since there are a plethora of Star Wars ugly sweaters to buy (or even to make).

When in doubt, you can always search the Outer Rim to find a copy of the Star Wars Holiday Special and enjoy ninety minutes of Wookiee and other bizarre things. Or... create a bingo card to go along with the viewing to make the night truly memorable.

Just in case this isn't memorable enough... (source)

Overall, make the party fun and your guests will do the rest. Decorate to your heart's desire, blending Christmas decorations with Star Wars themes and vice versa. Fill your table with yummy food and your house with good cheer, and your party guests will go home full and happy. Also, don't forget the music.

(source)

Continue Reading →

How to Survive NaNoWriMo: The Fandom Edition

It's that time of the year again when insane writers attempt to write 50,000 words in 30 days. It's National Novel Writing Month time. This may seem like an insurmountable task, and as the month passes by, participants may start to feel overwhelmed. But have no fear! The best and brightest minds from the world's most famous fandoms are here to give you advice on how to survive NaNoWriMo. So whether you're a participant or you know someone who is attempting this grand feat, here's a little advice, fandom style.

When you sit down to write, prepare yourself by saying:

(source)

Remember to wield your pen like Wonder Woman wields a sword, and you'll be sure to slay that word count goal.

(source)

If you're a write-with-music kind of person, you have to make sure you find the right jams. Nothing makes monster hunting writing hard when the music is distracting; just ask Dean Winchester.

(source)

If there are too many people distracting you, take a little advice from Sherlock and say...

(source)

Or if you need a little help, call on your friends, Avengers style.

(source)

When things get tough, take a break for...

(source)

Or share a pint with friends.

(source)

If you get stuck, make sure you have a back up plan, like Merlin.

(source)

Or take a page out of Rick Grimes' book and write about stuff and thangs.

(source)

If you make a mistake, do as Picard would and then move on.

(source)

When in doubt, go to the library...

(source)

Or add DRAGONS!

(source)

But overall, as you write, don't forget...

(source)

And may the odds be ever in your favor.

(source)

Good luck, NaNoWriMoers!

The thumbnail was used using an overlay from nanowrimo.org

Continue Reading →

Shipping

by Jaime Heller

Shipping ships,
so many ships.

Sinking ships.
Oh no, my ships!

Continue Reading →

The Fangirl Initiative Presents... Fandom Friday!

Welcome to our first ever Fandom Friday, a weekly blog meme hosted by yours truly. We can't wait to hear what you have to say!

What is Fandom Friday?

Fandom Friday is where you, our awesome readers, get involved with The Fangirl Initiative community! Every Friday, we'll post a question or topic that spans all fandoms—books, movies, music, anything—because we want to see what you love!

How do I join?

Easy! Head on over to your blog, answer the question however you want to, and then add your link. Once you've done that, check out some of the other links, maybe leave a comment or two, and enjoy the camaraderie that comes with being a part of a fandom.

Make sure to give us a link back, whether through a traditional link or this nifty button:

<a href="http://www.thefangirlinitiative.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzfRByaJ9EuKezvvBdqteUBXMsAq7ZQBr2L3e6CiF_oBwID3QDo6Lb1klPl40XgCY-6iFO-h7GV1_0TNrVwv3hLFuer53e0VWsGjMEn3RUGUSvpQ75bSpDOPOq6yRyigpJ_6okyabLgo/s1600/fandom+friday+link-up.png"></a></div>

For our first Fandom Friday ever, the topic is—are you ready for it?—your favorite fandom! Obviously. Whether you can't decide between your top five or you're hardcore in one fandom that will always be your favorite or even if you just want to list every fandom you've ever been a part of (because they're all your favorite), write something about your favorite fandom(s) and drop your link below. Here are some questions to get you started:

Why is it your favorite?

How long has it been your favorite?

What do you love most about it?

Continue Reading →

The Myers-Briggs Fan Types

In the world of fandoms, you'll run across every kind of person. Go to a midnight release. You'll inevitably see someone cosplaying a character. You'll see someone who looks (and smells) like they haven't left the house in weeks. You'll see someone who definitely doesn't want to be there, but is just there because their friend/sibling/significant other wanted them there. You'll see people who look like they belong in the fandom and people who very much don't. But what do the different personality types look like as fans?

ISTP

The Fanfic-er

(source)

Fanfic-ers love to experiment, to explore. If they find a fandom they like, their first reaction will be to change it up, to see what would happen if the story had gone differently, had gone how they think it should, rather than how the author thought it should. What does the author know anyway?

ISFP

The Fanartist

(source)

Similar to the Fanfic-er, Fanartists want to put their own spin on fandoms they love. But rather than rewrite the story, Fanartists will play with the aesthetics of the fandom, finding personal expression through something outside of themselves, whether it's physical art, makeup, cosplay, or something else entirely. There's nothing fun in leaving things as they are, so Fanartists will switch things up, just for the sake of it. Just don't criticize their work.

ESTP

The Everyfan

(source)

Everyfans have a finger in every fandom they've seen. Forget going all in on one fandom, Everyfans want the thrill of having it all. And they'll be an active part of every fandom they're in—until it gets boring. Because once the fandom stops being stimulating and interesting, Everyfans will move onto the next hot fandom.

ESFP

The Actor

(source)

Who does an interpretive dance to their favorite opening song? Who can be found at midnight showings in full costume acting out scenes from the last movie? Who will make people laugh when marathons get boring by making up dialogue? Actors, of course. Actors will read the room and make sure the entire room is having a good time. And they'll love it.

INFJ

The Shipper

(source)

Shippers want everyone to be happy. Particularly, they want everyone to be happy with everyone else. And their pairings would work, too, whether it's a platonic friendship or a bromance or a full-blown romantic endeavor, because they know how to find the path to success, no matter how long it is. Shippers know that love is pain, but they also knows that love will fix the world. Any world.

INFP

The Big Ball of Feels

(source)

Big Balls of Feels can't handle any fandom, but they love them all. You'll often find them squeeing and clutching their hearts and crying over cinnamon rolls. When they're in a fandom, they're all in, because their poor feels can't handle more than a few fandoms at a time.

ENFJ

The Theme Partier

(source)

Theme Partiers have a lot of friends and a lot of feelings. So what better way to express those feelings than with all those friends at a fandom-themed party? Not only do Theme Partiers use their parties as an outlet for their need to be with people, they use parties as an excuse to win others to their fandoms. Because is there really anything better to advocate what you believe in than a party?

ENFP

The Efangelist

(source)

Efangelists want everyone to love their fandoms. There aren't other options. Because how can friends be truly connected if they don't have connections at every level? Efangelists have unending energy and will come up with increasingly creative schemes until the entire world knows about and loves their fandoms, with all the best intentions, of course. What do you mean it's weird? You'll love it!

ISTJ

The Shusher

(source)

Shushers are rational above all else and like to have all the facts when it comes to their fandoms. And obviously, the best way to get all the facts is to pay attention to the book/show/movie. And you interrupting their research... well, that's just impractical. So shush. We'll analyze it later.

ISFJ

The Fan Mom

(source)

Fan Moms, just like their distant relation the Soccer Mom, just want everyone to be taken care of and included. Supportive, enthusiastic, and observant, Fan Moms will purposefully become the center of any fandom group, only so that they can more easily reach everyone else. And you can always bet that Fan Moms will be at any fandom gathering with snacks and a shoulder to cry on.

ESTJ

The Orderly

(source)

Orderlies know exactly how people in a certain fandom are supposed to act. You can find them weeding out gifs that aren't true to the fandom, moderating forums, or single-handedly building a fanbase around something. But they know that groups are best when individuals hone their strengths, so if you need someone to sort you into a Hogwarts house, the Orderly is your fan.

ESFJ

The Yes Fan

(source)

Yes Fans are into whatever their friends are into, and they're into it wholeheartedly. When their friends switch fandoms, they switch fandoms. But they'll also take a piece of every fandom with them, because when they can't be surrounded by their real life friends, they'll take solace in the company of their fictional friends.

INTJ

The Closet Fan

(source)

Closet Fans are as much a fan as anyone else, sometimes even more so. They'll care deeply about fandoms, but they don't see the point in broadcasting to the world what they do and don't love. It's none of the world's damn business, anyway. Until someone is wrong, that is.

INTP

The Theorist

(source)

Theorists often publish articles with the tagline, "This will blow your mind!!!," though they probably didn't actually add that line. Theorists are amazing at connecting the dots, solving the murders, drawing parallels between fandoms, coming up with fan theories spanning not only decades of a fandom but often multiple fandoms at once. Talk to them for too long and your mind will most likely explode.

ENTJ

The But Actually

(source)

Who can spot a flaw from a mile away and has no problem pointing it out? But Actuallys. They know how the world works, and if a fandom ignores that, But Actuallys will let you know. They'll argue plot holes for hours, and they'll be the ones walking out of movies going, "that could never happen," and then going into extreme detail as to why it could never happen. Prove them wrong, however, and you'll win their respect. Until you take your argument just a step too far. "But ACTUALLY..."

ENTP

The But What If

(source)

Similar to the But Actually, But What Ifs will also be the ones walking out of movies saying, "that could never happen." But rather than explaining why it couldn't happen, But What Ifs will come up with an infinite number of scenarios that might have fixed the plot hole. And even if there wasn't a plot hole, they'll argue different scenarios, different plots, until you're blue in the face. What? It's fun.

What kind of fan are you?

Continue Reading →

The Fangirl Mixtape: Beach Vibes

With summer in full swing and the sun shining bright (usually), it's prime beach weather! In honor of that, The Fangirl Initiative team pulled together some of our favorite beach songs, just for you. Whether you're splashing and swimming or tanning with a great beach read, or even if you're just stuck at home dreaming about the ocean, these tunes will give you all the summer beach vibes. I hope you love them as much as we do!

This Fangirl Mixtape was made for you with love. If we could send this to every one of you, we would, complete with hand-drawn hearts and awkwardly worded compliments. Every time you listen to this, know that here at The Fangirl Initiative, we think you're awesome.
 

What are your favorite beach songs? 

Let us know in the comments!

Continue Reading →

5 Books That Capture the Fangirl Experience

Being a fan can be exhilarating, but it can also be isolating. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel weird for loving fictional characters and worlds so much. PSA: you are not weird. You are perfectly valid, and so are your experiences with stories. I've found five published stories that prove it! They sum up what it's like to be in a fandom, write fanfiction, love a fictional character... and they even discuss the real world to boot. When it comes down to it, these novels and their main characters get it, and they'll definitely get you. Here are five novels I've found that perfectly capture the fangirl experience. (Another PSA: While I used the term fangirl, I believe these books can be relatable for people with any gender identity.)

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, everybody is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath it's something more. Fandom is life. It's what got her and her sister, Wren, through losing their mom. It's what kept them close.
And now that she's starting college, introverted Cath isn't sure what's supposed to get her through. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind? -Rainbow Rowell's website

This book is iconic and aptly named. It centers around Cath, a shy college freshman who writes fanfic about the wizard Simon Snow and his nemesis, Baz. (They make appearances in the form of snippets of Cath's fanfic.) The book centers around her online interactions but also her attempts to integrate into a new college and the frightening hemisphere known as Real Life. Along the way, she navigates relationships of the platonic and the romantic kind. (There is, of course, a squee-worthy romance and a perfect love interest for you to fangirl over.)

I connected with this book personally because of Cath's anxiety, which I felt was very realistic. The realism overflows into how fandom was portrayed as well. Overall, Fangirl lives up to both its name and its hype. (Bonus: if you like this one, pick up its companion novel, Carry On, which is named after Cath's fanfic and focuses solely on Simon and Baz.)

2. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, and friendless. Online, Eliza is LadyConstellation, anonymous creator of the wildly popular webcomic Monstrous Sea. Eliza can’t imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves her digital community and has no desire to try.
Then Wallace Warland, Monstrous Sea's biggest fanfiction writer, transfers to her school. Wallace thinks Eliza is just another fan, and Eliza begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile. But when Eliza’s secret is accidentally shared with the world, everything she’s built—her story, her relationship with Wallace, and even her sanity—begins to fall apart. - Francesca Zappia's website

I just read this book, and it quickly catapulted itself onto my favorites list. On the author's website, it's recommended for fans of Fangirl, and that comparison couldn't be more accurate. It has a reserved main character who's creative. It has a swoon-worthy love-interest. (Seriously, I love Wallace Warland.) And it has a realistic, nuanced, sometimes-tough-to-read portrayal of mental health. Much like Fangirl, this book is interspersed with art and snippets from Monstrous Sea, which are fun to read. (I desperately need Monstrous Sea to be a real fandom now.) Eliza's role as a fandom creator and Wallace's role as a fan are both extremely accurate and comforting to read. It's a book that will make you feel less alone. And in a world where it's easy to feel lonely, that's worth more than gold.

3. Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here by Anna Breslaw

Meet Scarlett Epstein, BNF (Big Name Fan) in her online community of fanfiction writers, world-class nobody at Melville High. Her best (read: only) IRL friends are Avery, a painfully shy and annoyingly attractive bookworm, and Ruth, her weed-smoking, possibly insane seventy-three-year-old neighbor.
When Scarlett’s beloved TV show is canceled and her longtime crush, Gideon, is sucked out of her orbit and into the dark and distant world of Populars, Scarlett turns to the fanfic message boards for comfort. This time, though, her subjects aren’t the swoon-worthy stars of her fave series—they’re the real-life kids from her high school. And if they ever find out what Scarlett truly thinks about them, she’ll be thrust into a situation far more dramatic than anything she’s ever seen on TV… -Goodreads

Despite its title, Scarlett Epstein is a feel-good read. I laughed, I cried, and I felt all the feelings. It focuses on the titular heroine, Scarlett, and her secret hobby, fanfiction. Like the previous two books on the list, the book includes snippets of the fanfiction, but this time it's more than just snippets--it's huge chunks, like a story within a story, which ends up being just as engaging as the main storyline itself. What made the novel so great were its side characters--particularly Ruth, Scarlett's eccentric, lovable neighbor with a love for good fiction and good weed. Scarlett herself is just as eccentric with a strong voice and a lovable personality. Her character arc is emotional, engaging, and satisfying, both with regards to her role in fandom and outside of it. This book has aspects I think everyone can relate to and draw from. Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here is a satisfying look at both the fangirl experience and the human experience and where the two intersect.

4. Gena/Finn by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Hegelson

Gena (short for Genevieve) and Finn (short for Stephanie) have little in common. Book-smart Gena is preparing to leave her posh boarding school for college; down-to-earth Finn is a twenty-something struggling to make ends meet in the big city. Gena’s romantic life is a series of reluctant one-night-stands; Finn is making a go of it with long-term boyfriend Charlie. But they share a passion for Up Below, a buddy cop TV show with a cult fan following. Gena is a darling of the fangirl scene, keeping a popular blog and writing fan fiction. Finn’s online life is a secret, even from Charlie. The pair spark an unlikely online friendship that deepens quickly (so quickly it scares them both), and as their individual “real” lives begin to fall apart, they increasingly seek shelter online and with each other. -Goodreads

Gena/Finn is a roller coaster of a book. Told in a unique format, there's no narrative in this book. Instead, "the story follows the unlikely friendship of two young women forged via fan fiction and message boards, and is told entirely in texts, chats, and blog posts." I'm a sucker for stories told in formats like this, and Gena/Finn didn't disappoint. It nailed the aesthetic of an internet friendship, right down to the formatting of the Internet message boards. (Finn even had a Tumblr!) The way Gena and Finn's friendship grew and developed was really relatable as well--it represented internet friendships in an accurate way that's rare to see.

Like the other books on this list, there are also fanfiction excerpts. And in this one, they get to go to a convention. There are just so many levels of fangirl life that get represented in this book. The last half of the book gets a little more heavy and a little less focused on fandom. However, I'd definitely recommend giving this book a try for what it has to say about fandom and relationships as well as the amazingly cool format.

5. Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

When BFFs Charlie, Taylor and Jamie go to SupaCon, they know it’s going to be a blast. What they don’t expect is for it to change their lives forever.

Charlie likes to stand out. SupaCon is her chance to show fans she’s over her public breakup with co-star, Reese Ryan. When Alyssa Huntington arrives as a surprise guest, it seems Charlie’s long-time crush on her isn’t as one-sided as she thought.

While Charlie dodges questions about her personal life, Taylor starts asking questions about her own.

Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently, making her fear change. And there’s one thing in her life she knows will never change: her friendship with Jamie—no matter how much she may secretly want it to. But when she hears about the Queen Firestone SupaFan Contest, she starts to rethink her rules on playing it safe. -Goodreads

Queens of Geek is a delight. It manages to be simultaneously light-hearted and full of depth. It focuses around one convention, so it's chock-full of fandom references, both to real-life fandoms and made up ones. Its characters are relatable and funny. We get to see two sides of fandom here--a fan's perspective and an actress' perspective--and both are engaging. There are also two adorable love stories within this book. One of them is between two best friends, and one of them is between two girls (which provides valuable representation). Both of them are absolutely fangirl-worthy.

While this is a fun, easy read, it packs a punch when it needs to. Much like Fangirl and Eliza and Her Monsters, one of the main characters has anxiety, and her brain functions differently. It was a great portrayal of what it's like to live with anxiety. Queens of Geek also tackles topics like feminism and social injustice. As if that's not great enough, it's incredibly diverse, with a Latino main character, a bisexual main character, and a main character with Asperger's. There's also a male as part of the cast, which shows that fandom isn't restricted just to the fangirls. Queens of Geek shows that fandom is a diverse community filled with all types of people and that it should be a welcoming space for everyone. Fandom is a safe space, a home, and a community, and Queens of Geek proves that exceptionally well. Definitely pick up this book if you want a fun, enjoyable read that showcases the joys of being a fan... and a queen of geek.

What books have you read that capture the fangirl experience?

Continue Reading →

Three Female Leads Who Started Me on the Fangirl Path

As a young girl, I was an avid reader. There was no such thing as Netflix, the internet still took twenty minutes to connect (and disconnected at every phone call), and female leads were hard to find. I was that kid who read everything in search of a book that I could read over and over, one that had a female lead I could daydream about one day being.

By the fifth grade, I had consumed nearly every book in our school’s library and still hadn’t found the heroes I was looking for. I didn’t entirely know what would define these women I was in search of, but I knew they would stand out when I found them. And stand out they did.

There are three specific characters who come to mind whenever I think back to where my passion for other worlds, stories, and ideas began. All three were very different from each other, from different time periods, and in different stages of life. Each one took control of her own destiny for different reasons and each one did it in her own unique way. One thing they all had in common, however, was that none of them let circumstances, rules, or expectations get in their way.

Although these books were written for younger readers, if you have the chance, I would recommend taking the time to read them. These powerful stories are inspiring, and each of them, in its own way, helped set me down the path to becoming a professional writer.

(source)

Dove and Sword by Nancy Garden

Although Joan of Arc is not a fictional character, this story is a fictional take on the life and story of one of history’s most famous female warriors. Everything is told through the eyes of Gabrielle de Domremy, Joan’s childhood friend in this tale. Gabrielle is courageous, determined, and a woman worthy of admiration for her own merits, but it was Joan who captivated me.

Joan believed with her entire being that God had asked her to lead the army and fight, and she did it. Despite the odds, she pushed through and held fast even during her capture, trial, and death.

Ultimately, this work of fiction was the catalyst to a nearly ten-year obsession with Joan. While her real story was every bit as captivating and heartbreaking, Dove and Sword was the book I always came back to. Gabrielle’s perspective brings a level of depth and humanity to Joan’s story that the history books couldn’t. It took her out of the pages and brought her to life.

Joan was the first woman to teach me that following your convictions, regardless of what the world says, is one of the most important things you can ever do.

Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery

Emily was my kindred soul, my spirit animal. I don’t recall who gave me the Emily books, but they were a series I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to read. Written by the same talented Canadian author behind the Anne of Green Gables series, this trilogy was far less-known, despite having a TV show for a few years. I was skeptical because Anne of Green Gables had never held my interest the way so many claimed it did for them.

Still, I decided to give it a try, and within the first few pages of New Moon, I was hooked. Emily Starr reminded me so much of myself, though she was far bolder than I ever was as a child. In a time when girls were still frowned upon for excelling in school, Emily embraced her intelligence, recognizing her love of writing early on. She wrote as much as she could, whenever she could, no matter how much trouble it got her in.

Over the span of three books, you get to grow with Emily. When you meet her, she is a young, orphaned child, alone with two cold-hearted aunts, having nothing but her wits and imagination to rely on. As the series progresses, you walk with Emily through puberty, love, loss, and the pursuit of her dreams.

Her classmates and aunts often consider her to be foolish, but she still follows her heart in everything. Her circumstances, being fairly poor and with no super-reliable support system to lean on, never hold her back because she refuses to let them.

For me, Emily introduced me to the idea that a fictional character can become a dear friend, one who stays with you for the rest of your life.

The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce

This was the first series to really introduce me to the world of fantasy, thanks to the main character, Alanna of Trebond. The reader meets Alanna at the age of 11 when she and her twin brother are being sent away for their life studies. As a girl, Alanna will be sent to the monastery to learn how to use The Gift and become a great sorceress, while Thom, her twin, will be sent to the palace to be trained as a knight. The only problem is Alanna hates learning magic and wants to be a knight, and her brother wants to become a sorcerer.

Thus, Alanna of Trebond becomes Alan, Thom’s younger twin, and they trade places. Only their two closest confidants, who have raised them since the death of their mother, know about this.

Alanna is captivating. She is on fire, in her soul, in her heart, and in her personality. "Stubborn" and "determined" are hardly strong enough words to describe her. She was everything I hoped to become one day.

The thing that stands out the most about Alanna is she never aims to prove anything to anyone, other than herself. The idea that she can’t be as good as the boys rarely ever crosses her mind. When it does, it comes in the form of a fear she quickly squashes.

But Alanna is more than just a girl determined to become a female knight: she is also the one chosen by the Great Mother Goddess herself.

What captivated me about Alanna was her ability to eventually reconcile her destiny with her dreams, and make both flow together, entwining the strands of each so that they worked. She was never defined or controlled by her destiny, but by her boldness and desire to be exactly who she was without ever changing for anyone.

Alanna taught me to be bold in my dreams and to never let anyone tell me that my gender should restrict me from fulfilling them. In life, whenever I have doubted following my heart, I have always thought back to Alanna for courage.

Perhaps one of the most incredible things I learned from each of these three women was the power and positive influence of having fiction become a big part of your life. We all know the possible negatives, and they’re reinforced daily by people who do not understand fandoms. But when it comes to the right stories for each of us, they not only stick with us, but they become a part of us. They live within us, guiding us and, as odd as it may sound, helping us to create stronger roots for ourselves within reality. Most importantly, I strongly believe they help to take us outside of the boxes we are all placed within in society. We learn about how to break those walls down and expand how we view ourselves and the world.



As a fangirl, who were the characters that first introduced you to the world of fandoms, whether you knew the word or not at the time?

Continue Reading →