itsadrizzit

Yes! This captures so much of the thing. It's not just "what is the good fic in the fandom?" it's "what is the fic in the fandom about my pairing that hits these feelings and leans into these tropes, etc. Which like, AO3 tags can get you far, but sometimes it's much easier to just look through someone else's thoughts rather than going through the search and then trying to rely on the often cryptic summaries. Especially if it's an author I've not read before it's like...well, it could be fine, but I don't have time to risk right now so let me mark it for later and then inevitably forget to go back and read it.

Nowadays, I do know good writers in my part of Tumblr but they write for teams I can't be arsed to read about (which I won't go into there). I've got nothing but love for them and if push came to shove, I'd beta the fic in good faith and cheer them on, but... my fandom involvement stops there. Sorry, not sorry.

YES THIS!!! I follow a lot of talented writers, but when it comes to what they write I'm like...ehhhhhh not my thing. I want to support them because they are friends and many are supportive of me, but like...I guess we can just be friends who don't read one another's work because that pairing will never do anything for me no matter how brilliant the writing.

I know that you are unapologetic about these things

It's true. I'm too old to feel shame over stating my opinions (unless they are obviously wrong or harmful, of course) all the time. As you said, if you don't ask, you don't get.

Thanks