I Don't Think We'll Have Enough Place Settings.

[rionaleonhart]

On 3 August 2003, at the age of fifteen, I created a Livejournal under the name rionaleonhart.

I moved to Dreamwidth along the way, but I imported all my entries, so this Dreamwidth is functionally the same journal, and I still keep the lights on at Livejournal in case any old friends come by. So I've been keeping the same blog for two decades, from my teenage years well into adulthood.

It's hard to know what to say for this anniversary, really! This journal's been an important part of my life for so long, and I'm so glad that there's still a place for long-form blogging in a forgotten corner of the changing Internet. I've had a blast rambling about anything and everything over the years, and it's been great to share it with you guys.

I'm glad to know the people who've been here from the beginning; I'm glad to know my new friends; I'm glad to know everyone I've met along the way. I don't know if I have any lurkers, but, if I do, I'm glad you're here as well.

Thank you all for being here. I hope I'll still be here and writing in another twenty years.

(My AO3 account also had its tenth anniversary in January. Something about years ending in 3 makes me want to establish long-lasting fandom presences, apparently.)

If there's anything you've ever wanted to know about my presence on Livejournal or Dreamwidth, or about my fandom life in general, or about my ficwriting, feel free to ask in the comments!

Comments

[rionaleonhart]

Thank you so much! It's great to have this record of my adventures in fandom over the years, even if it's also occasionally embarrassing to look back on. You don't need that many italics, teenage Riona, I promise!

[sushiflop]

Many italics are required to express a multitude of thoughts and feelings! I also used a lot more italics 20 years ago, lol. The style makes me cringe a bit today but I also feel fond of that past self... she did her best and got us through, good job girl.

[wolfy_writing]

Did you ever read the book Emily of New Moon? Because it's about the childhood of a girl with a passion for writing, and she has strong feelings about italics.

[rionaleonhart]

I haven't read it, but I deeply understand having strong italics feelings in childhood.

[fishguts]

My grade school English teacher always taught me to be wary of over-italicizing, so naturally I got into the habit of over-using the caps-lock instead. It didn't help that I insisted on writing EVERYTHING on this very old typewriter my parents had bought me; if I wanted to emphasize ANYTHING, it was caps-lock or BUST.

Suffice it to say I can't reread my teenage writings without feeling as though I'm being shouted at. Italics are so soothing by comparison!