Avery K. Tingle, The Gamer Author

This week, I published a new fanfiction in the Mass Effect universe. There was never a moment, from writing to publication, that I was comfortable with this story. Mass Effect features a sprawling narrative. It’s difficult to find two people who played the exact same way, and the experience is deeply personal for all of us.

The majority of Mass Effect players choose the Paragon, or ‘good’ route. I don’t. I play full Renegade virtually every time I play. Mass Effect is a safe place for me to express my darker impulses without consequence. I will go to hell and back for my crew. Everyone survives the suicide mission in part two. But the council never survives my playthrough and I’ll burn the universe to the ground to defeat the Reapers.

This was the playthrough I imagined as I was writing this story. My Shepard made hard choices no matter the cost. My heart rate was in the triple digits as I published: I’m pretty sure I’ll be torn apart for this. But I published the story anyway, and I’d do it again. Here’s why.

1). If It Resonated With You, It Will Resonate With Someone Else.
We’re not as alone as we think we are. We often need someone else to tell us it’s okay to be ourselves. If your story hit with you, it will almost certainly hit with someone else. Your audience is out there, but they’re not going to find you if you don’t tell your story.

2). Stay In The Habit Of Publishing.
Don’t take this as carte blanche to churn out crap work for the sake of relevance. But beyond keeping your name out there, publishing regularly builds the habit. Anything that’s a habit becomes easier to do. This was the first time I published a story and hit every mark on my checklist without having to refer to it. The anxiety behind the endeavor is passing. It may be the same for you,

3). It’s Your Story.
This is a continuation of the first point, but no one else can tell your story. In the case of a fanfiction, no one else can tell your version of that story. It was given to you for a reason. Not everything you write is going to resonate with the masses, but sometimes it’s more important to get the story, and experience, out of your mind, so you can move on. It’s your story. Tell your story.

Thanks for reading.

Avery K. Tingle is a scifi/fantasy author currently residing in the Las Vegas area. Owned by two cats, he is passionate about social justice, Star Wars, and mental health. Connect to his award-winning writing and social media here.