Doing for the sake of doing: a fan fiction attempt
I don’t deny that I am a TwoSet Violin fan. Ever since I watched my first video from their channel, I’ve risked the prospect of a healthy sleep routine in favor of binge-watching their videos.
The two Brisbane-based classically-trained violinists, Brett Yang and Eddy Chen, are known for their hilarious content on the peculiarities of the life of a musician. More than entertainment, however, the comic duo offers education. I learned so much more about music from watching their content than I did in my elementary and high school music lessons. (I must admit those lessons were basic and still make the foundation of what I am learning today.)
More than entertainment and education, too, I found through TwoSet a community.
The university where I earned my college degree is revered for its music department. Its college dean, Sister Maria Anunciata Sta. Ana, SPC, is known not only in the religious community but also in the classical music industry.
I had always admired our music students in the university, although I must admit I didn’t like working with them in class projects. They’re almost always absent, late, or unreliable because, understandably, they’d rather spend time inside practice rooms, honing their craft. They won’t even play sports to avoid risks of hurting themselves, which may affect their playing or singing. Their dedication is incomparable to others.
Generally, albeit with a few exemptions, music students I’ve known in the university lived in a bubble. They have a language only they and their peers can understand.
I was in a bubble, too, but I pretended it did not exist. TwoSet made me realize it’s okay to acknowledge being in that bubble because I am not alone.
In my personal life, I barely know anybody else who enjoys classical music as much as I do. Music students with whom I’ve acquainted in college liked singing, but they’d rather sing songs in other genres. They enjoyed playing the piano or the guitar, but learning classical music repertoire was only for their training, a means to an end. (Not that these are bad motivations. I’m just trying to drive a point home.)
Online, even without my seeking it, I found people with common interests, echoing my sentiment of being left out because of my unconventional taste in music, feeling the same euphoria when listening to spectacular recordings of a piece, encouraging one another to keep trudging forward despite the difficulties of learning an instrument because practice makes better.
And the essence of practice applies beyond music.
I am not a musician, but I enrolled in formal voice lessons early this year thanks to the renewed spirit and encouragement I found from TwoSet and my fellow fans.
I would’ve had my recital in late March, but the national government has implemented a lockdown before then, so our classes and the recital had to be cancelled.
Recently, I read my first ever fan fiction. I won’t even consider myself a reader of fictional stories, more so, of unpublished, fan-made ones, but I realized my prejudgment of this modern genre is unjustified.
What I liked about Lysaanderr’s story is that it didn’t rely so much on the Breddy ship. Majority of the TwoSet fans I know online are hoping the two best friends from childhood become or are a real-life couple.
In a way, reading my first fan fic inspired me to write my own story, too. Or, at least, write fiction, a contrast to my usually straightforward and academic journal entries and articles.
This is another instance where TwoSet and the Ling Ling community made me challenge my perception of what I can and cannot do, daring me to venture outside my comfort zone.
Two nights ago, I finished writing the first chapter of what I think would be a lengthy work. It may perhaps be a novel more suited for NaNoWrimo, I’m not certain. As of now, I’m just letting the story unfold on its own.
There are things I realized from my seemingly trivial fan fic attempt:
First, society has transformed us into productivity-centered robots. Somehow, we’ve become wired to think that every little thing we do must be a contributory step to a larger goal, that is, efficiency. While jogging or commuting, some of us would listen to podcasts or audiobooks to maximize time. Hobbies, like blogging, drawing, or even caring for plants, are being monetized. It’s a win-win situation: you hit two birds with one stone.
However, nothing beats the calmness and comfort that comes with doing one thing simply for the sake of doing it. In an endeavor pursued out of personal interest, there is no goal other than the act of doing the work. There can be no better, more effective motivation than the wanting to do it.
Second, the joy of finishing something is like opium that fills us with the need, will, and grit to do more. The builder’s high is a sense of fulfillment that cannot be replaced by anything else.
Third, because fan fiction stories are borne out of passion than profession, the audience is more forgiving and appreciative in their reception and more generous and constructive when giving feedback.
This kind of encouragement is that little boost that can go a long way.
I can’t be sure if I will ever be able to follow-through on and finish this side project, but it’s getting started that is important. Alas, here’s that creative push in the midst of the pandemic I’d been waiting for. •
The two Brisbane-based classically-trained violinists, Brett Yang and Eddy Chen, are known for their hilarious content on the peculiarities of the life of a musician. More than entertainment, however, the comic duo offers education. I learned so much more about music from watching their content than I did in my elementary and high school music lessons. (I must admit those lessons were basic and still make the foundation of what I am learning today.)
More than entertainment and education, too, I found through TwoSet a community.
The university where I earned my college degree is revered for its music department. Its college dean, Sister Maria Anunciata Sta. Ana, SPC, is known not only in the religious community but also in the classical music industry.
I had always admired our music students in the university, although I must admit I didn’t like working with them in class projects. They’re almost always absent, late, or unreliable because, understandably, they’d rather spend time inside practice rooms, honing their craft. They won’t even play sports to avoid risks of hurting themselves, which may affect their playing or singing. Their dedication is incomparable to others.
Generally, albeit with a few exemptions, music students I’ve known in the university lived in a bubble. They have a language only they and their peers can understand.
I was in a bubble, too, but I pretended it did not exist. TwoSet made me realize it’s okay to acknowledge being in that bubble because I am not alone.
In my personal life, I barely know anybody else who enjoys classical music as much as I do. Music students with whom I’ve acquainted in college liked singing, but they’d rather sing songs in other genres. They enjoyed playing the piano or the guitar, but learning classical music repertoire was only for their training, a means to an end. (Not that these are bad motivations. I’m just trying to drive a point home.)
Online, even without my seeking it, I found people with common interests, echoing my sentiment of being left out because of my unconventional taste in music, feeling the same euphoria when listening to spectacular recordings of a piece, encouraging one another to keep trudging forward despite the difficulties of learning an instrument because practice makes better.
And the essence of practice applies beyond music.
I am not a musician, but I enrolled in formal voice lessons early this year thanks to the renewed spirit and encouragement I found from TwoSet and my fellow fans.
I would’ve had my recital in late March, but the national government has implemented a lockdown before then, so our classes and the recital had to be cancelled.
Recently, I read my first ever fan fiction. I won’t even consider myself a reader of fictional stories, more so, of unpublished, fan-made ones, but I realized my prejudgment of this modern genre is unjustified.
What I liked about Lysaanderr’s story is that it didn’t rely so much on the Breddy ship. Majority of the TwoSet fans I know online are hoping the two best friends from childhood become or are a real-life couple.
In a way, reading my first fan fic inspired me to write my own story, too. Or, at least, write fiction, a contrast to my usually straightforward and academic journal entries and articles.
This is another instance where TwoSet and the Ling Ling community made me challenge my perception of what I can and cannot do, daring me to venture outside my comfort zone.
Two nights ago, I finished writing the first chapter of what I think would be a lengthy work. It may perhaps be a novel more suited for NaNoWrimo, I’m not certain. As of now, I’m just letting the story unfold on its own.
There are things I realized from my seemingly trivial fan fic attempt:
First, society has transformed us into productivity-centered robots. Somehow, we’ve become wired to think that every little thing we do must be a contributory step to a larger goal, that is, efficiency. While jogging or commuting, some of us would listen to podcasts or audiobooks to maximize time. Hobbies, like blogging, drawing, or even caring for plants, are being monetized. It’s a win-win situation: you hit two birds with one stone.
However, nothing beats the calmness and comfort that comes with doing one thing simply for the sake of doing it. In an endeavor pursued out of personal interest, there is no goal other than the act of doing the work. There can be no better, more effective motivation than the wanting to do it.
Second, the joy of finishing something is like opium that fills us with the need, will, and grit to do more. The builder’s high is a sense of fulfillment that cannot be replaced by anything else.
Third, because fan fiction stories are borne out of passion than profession, the audience is more forgiving and appreciative in their reception and more generous and constructive when giving feedback.
This kind of encouragement is that little boost that can go a long way.
I can’t be sure if I will ever be able to follow-through on and finish this side project, but it’s getting started that is important. Alas, here’s that creative push in the midst of the pandemic I’d been waiting for. •