Dear Merlin Fandom...

[ella_rose88]

I posted this letter on Tumblr the other week, but I’m feeling frustrated again. This is what I said:

I’m getting quite frustrated with the Merlin fandom at the moment.

Firstly, I want to say there are lovely people in this fandom and people who do help out promoting my Arwen blog/s, which I truly appreciate.

But I find that it’s so hard when you try to promote a ship that’s considered a rarepair that you nicely ask blogs to help promote your challenges, you use a tag that they say we can use to help promote each other. But then some of them either don’t respond or do it. Yet you see them constantly promoting only certain blogs and/or ship/s (mainly Merlin/Arthur).

We are told not to blame them, we are told it’s not their responsibility. We are told if you want more of your ship, to do it yourself. That’s what I’m trying to do with @the–pendragons. And look on Tumblr we have 398 followers (and counting) and on Twitter we have 86 followers. So that suggests that there are Arwen fans out there.

I try my best to encourage our followers to participate and be involved, but that’s not necessarily easy. That’s why we ask other blogs to help us out by promoting it. I don’t think that’s too much to ask for. Especially if blogs/communities for particular corners of the fandom always promote each other. Why is it suddenly an issue when it’s Arwen or another rare corner of fandom? Why is the responsibility all on us and they have no responsibility/or role in trying to promote diversity (especially with blogs/communities that are Merlin general)?

I don’t get it and I’m sick of trying so hard and not succeeding as much as I want.

This is what I reblogged today:

Once again I’m frustrated and once again I’m asking the same questions. But I’m just at a lost on how to change it. I mean I know I should discuss it with the blogs/communities but I’m afraid too. I don’t want to offend anyone or start a fight. At the same time I want to be understood and not told the same thing as before. I’m not badmouthing these blogs/communities, they do try, it’s just that they might not realise how they could help us improve diversity in the fandom.

I’m aware that a few Merlin fans (that also mod) follow me and I hope this doesn’t offend you. That isn’t my aim, and if it does offend you I’m sorry. What I’m hoping is for advice and discussion on this issue.

Comments

[emrys_mk]

You are more than welcome to promote your community’s event in the merlin_canon community—in fact, I think you should still have posting privileges but, if not, let me know and I will give you posting access when I get home from work.

[ella-rose88.livejournal.com]

Okay thanks for letting me know :) I always forget what communities I can promote on etc. I’ll see if I can post on there and if not I’ll let you know :)

PS: I was able to post the promo there :)