A month ago to this very day, I sat behind my laptop screen contemplating on whether or not I should create a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" blog. It was an idea that I had been mulling over in my mind fleetingly before then, but I had never put it into action.
It was only around July last year that I started to put real pieces of my writing for public reading on the internet. I started off with simple "Twin Peaks" fan fictions and I set up a BTVS roleplay group on Facebook. To my (pleasant) surprise, people were complimenting my writing; something that I had never dreamed would happen. So I started to formulate and share BTVS opinion pieces in various groups on Facebook. I noticed that people seemed to interact with them a lot, which, again, I was extremely grateful for.
My first real piece came in early February of this year. I had opted to write it in my Facebook "notes" section because I wanted to utilise bold and italics, to add further emphasis to points I was trying to make. The piece was about Kennedy, specifically, why I like her character. Though I had expected people to leave inflammatory comments in the groups I shared it in, no such thing happened. Of course, some disagreed with me (which I completely expected), but even those who disagreed had told me that my piece was well-written. One of my favourite BTVS pages on Facebook, Jossaholics even shared it! At that time, I had only done it as a one-off piece in response to the constant hate directed towards Kennedy's character within the community. I wasn't looking to change anybody's opinions, as I believe that we all have our own individual interpretations of elements within the series, I just wanted to offer another perspective. Since then, I have re-vamped the piece for my blog, and you can read it here.
Fast forward to April, and I had another piece I wanted to write, this time, it was about "The Killer in Me" and why it is one of my favourite episodes. Once again, it garnered a positive reception. Nine days later, and I wrote a rather personal piece about why Willow is my favourite character. If I remember rightly, that was the most popular piece out of all three.
I realised that I enjoyed writing pieces so much that I wanted to make it a regular thing. However, I didn't want to continue writing it in my Facebook notes as not all of my Facebook friends are BTVS fans. So I began to think about my options. At first, I was somewhat skeptical about starting a blog as there were already quite a few brilliant, well-established ones. I didn't want people to think that I was trying to imitate anybody else. But then I thought, I have a different writing style with my own interpretation of elements within the series. I also wanted a space where I would be able to showcase parts of my ever-growing collection and write about them, so a blog was definitely the best option.
Before I started up Ms Buffy Buff, I had very little experience with blogging. I had experimented with Lana Del Rey fan sites a few years back, but I was in high school so I just didn't have the time to keep up with any of them. So starting up this blog was pretty much an alien concept for me, especially as I had to make sure that I wasn't ripping off anybody else's ideas.
Admittedly, I don't plan out many of my pieces. I have never been much of a planner in any aspect of my life, so I just write when the urge strikes me. The good thing about BTVS is that there are so many things to write about! Whenever I re-watch, I always find something new. It's quite incredible, seeing as I have loved BTVS ever since I was a young girl.
Some many find the concept of writing about a series that ended over twelve years ago ludicrous, but those who are not fans will simply never "get it". The same can be applied to just about any television programme. I have never seen the appeal of certain programmes, but I respect those who cherish the programmes. A television series can help people feel inspired, people can relate to characters, and I find it great fun to analyse the writing.
Of course I enjoy other programmes, but none have touched me as much as "Buffy" has. As I mentioned in my Willow character study, I was able to identify my own lesbianism through Willow and Tara's relationship when I was very young. I didn't know any gay people, so it was something that was wonderful to me. In general, I relate to Willow's character anyway, it's not every day that you see bookworm Jewish lesbian witches on television!
I also love writing articles for this blog because I barely know anybody in person who actually likes the programme. Here is my safe space to geek out and gush over a new set of trading cards, the music in the programme, etc. The best part of blogging, though, is the lovely responses I get from readers. Each "like" and comment means the world to me. I don't write for "likes", but it is still a lovely feeling, nonetheless. I really can't express my gratitude enough to my lovely readers, it is such a confidence boost! My most popular piece as of this entry has been my Illyria character study. I am going to be studying for my Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Creative Writing next year, so writing BTVS studies works as a good preparation. Not only that, but it is immensely fun to do! I have been given some wonderful opportunities through this blog (being able to review jewellery, for example), which is something that I certainly did not think would happen.
Once again, thank you all for reading my blog, "liking" entries and leaving feedback. I appear to be having some trouble with comments and "likes" being counted right now, but that is unfortunately a technical fault of Weebly's. If you would like to leave feedback, I would greatly appreciate it if you could please leave it on my Facebook page for the time being. I apologise for any inconvenience, but it is something that is out of my control.
X
It was only around July last year that I started to put real pieces of my writing for public reading on the internet. I started off with simple "Twin Peaks" fan fictions and I set up a BTVS roleplay group on Facebook. To my (pleasant) surprise, people were complimenting my writing; something that I had never dreamed would happen. So I started to formulate and share BTVS opinion pieces in various groups on Facebook. I noticed that people seemed to interact with them a lot, which, again, I was extremely grateful for.
My first real piece came in early February of this year. I had opted to write it in my Facebook "notes" section because I wanted to utilise bold and italics, to add further emphasis to points I was trying to make. The piece was about Kennedy, specifically, why I like her character. Though I had expected people to leave inflammatory comments in the groups I shared it in, no such thing happened. Of course, some disagreed with me (which I completely expected), but even those who disagreed had told me that my piece was well-written. One of my favourite BTVS pages on Facebook, Jossaholics even shared it! At that time, I had only done it as a one-off piece in response to the constant hate directed towards Kennedy's character within the community. I wasn't looking to change anybody's opinions, as I believe that we all have our own individual interpretations of elements within the series, I just wanted to offer another perspective. Since then, I have re-vamped the piece for my blog, and you can read it here.
Fast forward to April, and I had another piece I wanted to write, this time, it was about "The Killer in Me" and why it is one of my favourite episodes. Once again, it garnered a positive reception. Nine days later, and I wrote a rather personal piece about why Willow is my favourite character. If I remember rightly, that was the most popular piece out of all three.
I realised that I enjoyed writing pieces so much that I wanted to make it a regular thing. However, I didn't want to continue writing it in my Facebook notes as not all of my Facebook friends are BTVS fans. So I began to think about my options. At first, I was somewhat skeptical about starting a blog as there were already quite a few brilliant, well-established ones. I didn't want people to think that I was trying to imitate anybody else. But then I thought, I have a different writing style with my own interpretation of elements within the series. I also wanted a space where I would be able to showcase parts of my ever-growing collection and write about them, so a blog was definitely the best option.
Before I started up Ms Buffy Buff, I had very little experience with blogging. I had experimented with Lana Del Rey fan sites a few years back, but I was in high school so I just didn't have the time to keep up with any of them. So starting up this blog was pretty much an alien concept for me, especially as I had to make sure that I wasn't ripping off anybody else's ideas.
Admittedly, I don't plan out many of my pieces. I have never been much of a planner in any aspect of my life, so I just write when the urge strikes me. The good thing about BTVS is that there are so many things to write about! Whenever I re-watch, I always find something new. It's quite incredible, seeing as I have loved BTVS ever since I was a young girl.
Some many find the concept of writing about a series that ended over twelve years ago ludicrous, but those who are not fans will simply never "get it". The same can be applied to just about any television programme. I have never seen the appeal of certain programmes, but I respect those who cherish the programmes. A television series can help people feel inspired, people can relate to characters, and I find it great fun to analyse the writing.
Of course I enjoy other programmes, but none have touched me as much as "Buffy" has. As I mentioned in my Willow character study, I was able to identify my own lesbianism through Willow and Tara's relationship when I was very young. I didn't know any gay people, so it was something that was wonderful to me. In general, I relate to Willow's character anyway, it's not every day that you see bookworm Jewish lesbian witches on television!
I also love writing articles for this blog because I barely know anybody in person who actually likes the programme. Here is my safe space to geek out and gush over a new set of trading cards, the music in the programme, etc. The best part of blogging, though, is the lovely responses I get from readers. Each "like" and comment means the world to me. I don't write for "likes", but it is still a lovely feeling, nonetheless. I really can't express my gratitude enough to my lovely readers, it is such a confidence boost! My most popular piece as of this entry has been my Illyria character study. I am going to be studying for my Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Creative Writing next year, so writing BTVS studies works as a good preparation. Not only that, but it is immensely fun to do! I have been given some wonderful opportunities through this blog (being able to review jewellery, for example), which is something that I certainly did not think would happen.
Once again, thank you all for reading my blog, "liking" entries and leaving feedback. I appear to be having some trouble with comments and "likes" being counted right now, but that is unfortunately a technical fault of Weebly's. If you would like to leave feedback, I would greatly appreciate it if you could please leave it on my Facebook page for the time being. I apologise for any inconvenience, but it is something that is out of my control.
X