You know how sometimes you see something that reminds you of an ex and you’re compelled to go look through their social media and see how they’re doing? Well, recently I saw a post that reminded me of this place, and so here I am.
I joined the board in 2011. I was 14. And because I was 14, I lacked the critical thinking skills to realize that what y’all were doing was honestly pretty cruel. So I blindly read all of the stories, practically memorized the wiki, and talked to people on the board.
And what did that do for me? It made me afraid to post my own writing, here and everywhere else. I thought that if my stories weren’t perfect, then they were a sin, and that if I posted fic that showed how much of an amateur I was, then people like you would come and make fun of me behind my back. It took me 5 years to get over that fear enough to post any of the fic I wrote. Now, 8 years later, I just received a copy of my fifth professional publication.
I’m telling you all this story because it’s not just me. Of the few former PPC members I’ve kept in contact with, all of them agree that what you’re doing here is elitist and mean-spirited. You people have no pity for kids who are just beginning to learn how to write, people who use an unprofessional outlet to practice writing in a way that is fun for them. It’s a real shame too, because some of you are actually very good writers. Just look at the worldbuilding that’s gone into the PPC universe! But then you take those talents and use them to mock those who aren’t as good at writing as you are, and that seems like a waste. No one bursts from the womb writing like Shakespeare. You need to give kids spaces to grow. Eventually they might come to regret what they’ve written, but they don’t need your help to do that.
If you’re on this board and you’re still a teen and you’ve gotten this far into my rant, let me tell you this: making mistakes is part of growing up. It’s healthy. People who make fun of kids for making mistakes and being bad at things are mean people who don’t remember what it’s like to be young and vulnerable.
And to those in their 20’s and 30’s, particularly those of you whose names I still recognize, all I can think to say is get a life. There are better things to do with your time than make fun of beginning writers and groom young kids into thinking it’s cool to be an elitist. Go write a book or file your taxes or something.
This is the end of my rant. I probably won’t be replying to any responses or checking on this thread after I post it, so don’t expect any answers.
All the best,
The artist formerly known as TheMadHatteress