I’m Alex, and I’m a fanhackers volunteer! I was first introduced to fandom roughly twelve years ago, and haven’t looked back since. As with many people, fandom has been an anchor during some of the most difficult times of my life, allowing me an outlet for creative expression, a safe space to explore my identity, and access to a community of fantastic people with whom I’ve formed meaningful and lasting relationships. I’ve come a long way from the girl who would spend summer nights writing 100k+ self-insert fic at my grandmother’s kitchen table (I had about three jumbo notebooks full of the stuff).
Just to be clear: I still do that. But a laptop is more speedy than a pen and paper, and adulthood means I can write praise!kink without interruption and into all hours of the night. With the confusing mess that was my undergrad behind me—I have half a B.Sc. in environmental science, an honours in English literature and a minor in Irish Studies—I’m now pursuing a Master’s degree in Publishing, focusing on the intersections of fanfiction and the traditional publishing industry. It’s probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done.
I tend to join a fandom and stay there for a long time, and my home for the foreseeable future (though I visit fandoms extensively) is Supernatural. I’m weak for one fallen angel and world-weary hunter, and the found family the show has built and destroyed and built again. Other side-obsessions include: Sense8, Schitt’s Creek, B99, The Good Place, Killing Eve, Jane the Virgin, Derry Girls… the list goes on and on.
At the end of the day, I’m a Big Nerd just as obsessed with fans and fanworks (of all kinds) as I am with the source materials they transform. And I am beyond excited to meet new fans and geek out together, whether that be by writing posts or sharing submissions!