Begin Again
With FanStory since 2009 — 16 years and counting

FanStory isn’t just a writing site - it’s a family. A community of people who care - not just about what I write, but why I write. They’ve seen me at my strongest and my most fragile, and through it all, they never stopped believing in me.

Writing has always been my lifeblood - my way of breathing when the world felt too heavy, too quiet and lonely, or too loud. Since joining FanStory in 2009, it has become more than just a writing platform. It became a classroom, a second home, and a refuge. A place where words weren’t just creative - they were healing.

As I look back, I realize how much I’ve grown. I’ve written all my life, but FanStory helped me evolve. Here, I learned to shape my emotions into stories that touched others. I found the courage to stop hiding behind the page and instead pour my heart into every character, every line. With each review, each contest, and each connection, I unlocked parts of myself I didn’t even know were waiting.

Over the years, life threw more at me than I thought I could endure - losses that shattered me, days where I doubted everything, and moments when grief made the act of writing feel like an impossible whisper. But again and again, I turned to FanStory. I poured my heart into stories, and in return, this community gave me shelter, strength, and the reminder that I wasn’t alone.

What began as a space to share words grew into a circle of friendships I deeply cherish. Strangers became encouragers. Poets and storytellers reached out not just with reviews but with prayers, laughter, and light when I needed it most. They helped me find my voice when it trembled. They believed in me until I remembered how to believe in myself.

FanStory has been the thread that stitched together not just my stories but parts of me that felt broken. I don’t write because I want to - I write because I must. For over fifteen years, I’ve had this place to do just that - surrounded by people who understand how powerful a story can be and how, sometimes, it saves you.

And that's why in my darkest of hours, I know I can Begin Again.

Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
With FanStory since 2011 — 14 years and counting

FanStory has been a major part of my life for a long time now. I'd be lost without my friends on here who all share the same love of writing that I do.

When I found FanStory on the internet, I had been looking for a site that had competitions. Seeing what this worldwide site offered, I couldn’t believe my luck. It had everything I wanted!

But the best thing about FanStory is not the contests - although they are fabulous - it’s everything else this site offers. I have met some incredibly talented writers over the last 14 years, and each one could have turned their back on me, the newbie. But it wasn’t like that at all. I have learned so much from these people. I started as a children’s poetry writer, and I thought I was really good. It didn’t take long to discover that I might not be as good as I thought!

It is at that stage you have to make a choice. Do you cancel your membership? Do you tell yourself they don’t know what they are talking about when they pick your baby to pieces? Or do you realize what a fabulous opportunity you have here? You get feedback on everything you write; you get helpful advice which all leads to what most authors want… to hold your own published book in your hands!

FanStory is a community of like-minded people who just want to do what they love - write, share, and learn. It is a family of writers. We care for each other. When we achieve something, the group is thrilled; if you are ill or hurting, they are there for you. They hurt because you hurt.

FanStory is so much more than a writing group; it’s the best one you’ll ever find or belong to. Be proud that you are a member of this family. I know I am.

Patty Mazzurco
With FanStory since 2003 — 21 years and counting

When I first joined FanStory, I was in a very dark place. I had just lost my husband to suicide, and the weight of that grief, along with the guilt, felt unbearable. I didn’t know how to carry it, let alone talk about it. Writing became my outlet. It gave me a way to process what I couldn’t say out loud. More than that, FanStory gave me a community—a place where I could be vulnerable, creative, and truly understood.

Over the years, life moved on. I’ve drifted in and out, but FanStory has always been there. It has felt like a safe harbor I could return to. This space has seen me through raising my boys on my own, through falling in love again and blending a new family, and through even more loss—my sister, my parents, close friends. So many chapters of my life are tied to this community and the people in it.

FanStory has been more than just a writing site. It’s been a lifeline, a place for healing, and a celebration of resilience through words. I’m deeply grateful to be part of something that continues to lift people up, no matter where they are in their journey.

shelley kaye
With FanStory since 2004 — 21 years and counting

So, I have been a member of this awesome writing site for 20 (plus) years now - November 28, 2004, I posted my first poem titled "where i stand". Well, I blinked - and it’s now 2025. I came to FanStory in 2004 when I was a 34-year-old widow, single mom. Now, it is 2025 - I am almost 55, and my daughter is almost thirty.

What FanStory means to me is learning, growth, community and finding my tribe ~ I’ve learned so much in the last 20 years: poetic forms, meter, rhyme, prose stories, dialogue... and that’s just writing stuff. I’ve also learned about computer stuff, too - pictures, colours, presentation - and that poetry is an art form just like painting or sculpture.

I’ve grown a lot personally, too. I’ve found my tribe. They are writers and poets. I’ve learned to "write what I feel and feel what I write". I’ve learned to read over everything and let it sit for a day or two - then edit and polish.

I’ve learned that I write better than I talk and that the pen is my voice.

To live is to grow and to grow is to live - and learn. I’ve made online friends - the community here is amazing and helpful.

So - what does FanStory mean to me? Learning, living, growing, searching, finding - and more - within one community. For it is everything when you finally find your tribe.

Thank you, FanStory, for a great 20 years - and here’s to 20+ more! 🦄

Lancellot
With FanStory since 2006 — 19 years and counting

I was online searching for a place to post my poetry and short stories. I found FanStory. The monthly fee was reasonable, so I used my wife’s credit card to join.

My first stories were trashed - hard. I didn’t know what a two-star review was, but the damning comments that came along with it clarified things. Yes, I got angry, but mostly with myself. I showed my stories to my wife, who promptly said, “It’s trash. I’m not reading more alien babies stories.”

As a result, I was forced to improve. I achieved this by reading, accepting criticism (which was plentiful), and challenging myself. FanStory has something for writers and readers of all levels. You don’t need ink or paper - just courage and humility. Writing is a subjective art, and FanStory is your canvas. Get to painting.

rama devi
With FanStory since 2006 — 19 years and counting

When I first visited FanStory, back in 2006, I felt eager to trade critique in order to improve my poetry. At the time, I lived in an ashram in India and did volunteer work in a hospital connected to that spiritual community, which is run by The Hugging Saint (lovingly known as AMMA, which means mother in her native tongue, Malayalam). She has hugged over forty million people - thus the title, given to her by Peter Jennings.

One night, I saw a shooting star over the Arabian Sea and wrote my first poem since my teenage years (decades prior). When I gave it to Amma, she told me to write a book.

Wanting to first improve my poetic craft, I joined FanStory.

Trading critique proved a tremendous learning experience. I also discovered a previously hidden talent for giving critique, and I spent many hours a day doing just that. Giving in-depth critique is as educational as receiving it.

I ended up winning the reviewing contest quite frequently. The reviewing contest committee offers in-depth critique of your critique technique, hoping to help the reviewer improve so they can become a Recognized Reviewer.

I felt inspired by the professional-level critique the committee offered me. They also encouraged me to critique prose, which I had not done up until then. Another enthusiastic learning spree ensued. A few months later, I was awarded the Recognized Reviewer status.

Those first years on FanStory fueled what later became a thriving freelance editing and ghostwriting business. Eventually, I may publish my own work. For now, I am happy helping others’ writing shine to its best potential.

Another valuable aspect of engaging with this site has been the deep friendships with fellow creative writers. Since there were few Westerners at the hospital in India, it had been such a treat to engage in authentic, substance-driven connections with creative friends across the globe. When people share poems and stories, they share part of their inner selves. The friendships that evolve through such connections are truly rewarding and heartfelt.

The numerous contests on this site prove great exercises to spark the muse. FanStory has nurtured a huge number of writers toward their writing goals, and many of my friends and clients, some of whom are no longer active here, went on to publish and pursue writing careers.

Not everyone came here to improve writing craft. Many simply wish to share and interact with the community without an aim to publish. FanStory proves a great family for everyone - from aspiring serious writers, to retirees engaging in a beloved hobby, to veteran published writers wishing feedback on new work. It’s a great place for new writers who wish to dip toes in creative word-water.

mermaids
With FanStory since 2008 — 17 years and counting

This mermaid has been a part of FanStory since 2008. I appreciate the support I have received here. I write mostly fantasy poetry, with occasional nature poems, some prose, and spiritual poetry. FanStory is a wonderful place to be a poet. There is so much support and teaching here, especially around new poetic forms.

One of my favorite pleasures of being here is reading the excellent poems and stories that members post. I truly enjoy exploring other writers' work. I feel so blessed to have access to so many interesting and talented voices.

Another positive aspect of FanStory is the chance to connect with writers from all over the world. It's enriching to read stories and poems from people living in many different places and cultures.

I’ve also purchased self-published books from a few authors here—something I never would have discovered if I weren’t a member. That’s just one more unique benefit of this community.

The encouragement I’ve received over the years has been key to continuing my writing. FanStory offers support, guidance, and excellent advice. My weaker areas—grammar and prose development—have improved thanks to thoughtful suggestions from reviewers.

I also enjoy the FanArtReview art and photos that can accompany our poems and stories. As a lover of art, I appreciate how an image enhances our writing. Some of the artists have even reviewed my work and thanked me for using their artwork.

I could go on and on about FanStory, but I’ll simply say that I’m glad to still be here. I always look forward to new stories, poems, and scripts. And of course, the contests are a lot of fun and a strong motivator—especially when the muse is silent.

Mrs. KT
With FanStory since 2007 — 18 years and counting

Creativity
Collegiality
Constancy coupled with Change.

These are the cornerstones of FanStory, as I reflect on my time as a contributing member since 2007.

FanStory offers its members a plethora of writing opportunities, but it also encourages members to post individual offerings in both poetry and prose. Under the umbrella of creativity, members explore a range of traditional and free-verse writings, as well as various genres. The creativity expressed by FanStory members throughout the years knows no bounds, affording members keen insights into the worldviews of their fellow peers.

The threads of my journey into the world of writing on FanStory seem woven by invisible hands—each twist and turn leading me to discoveries about my writing abilities I never anticipated. Writing has always been an integral part of my life: notebooks filled with half-finished verses; scraps of ideas tucked into drawers for “someday.” That someday arrived when I decided to move beyond private reflection and teaching and share my written thoughts with others.

How I came to discover this creative writing community is lost to me across pages of time. However, in January 2007, I felt a burning need to express my worldview through poetry and prose, and “sing my song” to leave a legacy of written memories and offerings for my family and friends.

In doing so, I joined a creative and collegial writing community whose membership comprised writers from around the world. They engaged authentically and provided keen and unique perspectives and insights in both their work and reviews of my work and the work of other members.

Said reviews by my fellow FanStory members were honest, erudite, and enabled me to hone my writing skills. Because of the feedback I received from my writing colleagues, I was able to publish my first book of poetry and short stories, At the Water’s Edge, in 2008.

Along the way, I also “met” numerous individuals who not only inspired and encouraged me but also became more than just their profile names. And in 2024, a group of such individuals, under the creative vision of former FanStory member Terry Broxson, invited me to contribute to a Christmas anthology of short stories. Twelve New Christmas Stories was published in September 2024, and to say that I am honored to have contributed to this undertaking with fellow FanStory members Terry Broxson, Ann Mullen, Lee Hill, and Jay Squires is an understatement; it never would have happened had it not been for my involvement on FanStory.

One of the many positive aspects of FanStory is its offering of numerous site and member contests, all of which keep the writing process fresh by providing scope and scale as well as traditional and non-traditional formats.

Throughout the years, I have placed and won numerous contests. And in 2018, I was even recognized as Writer of the Year, an accomplishment I mention because it validated my writing ability and encouraged me to continue in my pursuit to “sing my song.”

As in any human endeavor, change is inevitable. When I initially joined FanStory, there was less emphasis on the social ties among members and their shared experiences serving as reviews, and more emphasis on form and structure. However, FanStory exists for the novice writer as well as the more advanced and published writer, and throughout the years, there has been a constant effort by the administration and colleagues in holding members to the highest ethical standards, thus enabling members to write in an environment that is supportive, honest, and safe.

As FanStory celebrates its 25th anniversary, I know for certain that I am honored and humbled by the many gifts and opportunities it has presented to me.

And I look forward to continuing to sing my song in the coming years.

Here is to another 25 years of creativity, collegiality, and constancy coupled with change that FanStory daily affords its members.