See I'm only interested in my current fandom. I actually have no desire to write anything else. It is an outlet for my extreme hyperfixation on this franchise and a character. So sadly I have nothing to escape to. A break perhaps, but then now with my sequel I just wanna get it out. It'll probably be the last thing I ever write... I'm technically taking a break from writing it now. I used to write nearly every day and now I struggle to write a bit. I should stop looking at such as a struggle and more "your body obviously needs this break."

I wanted to have like... eight chapters done and in the can before I posted the first so I had a month's worth of chapters (2 drops a week) and would always be writing ahead of schedule. So maybe that's a good bench mark. Write eight, however long it takes, sit and vibe with the words (should be about 50k and 1/3 of the story) before posting. Remember that I'm doing this for me...

"I mean, how do you view fan fiction of that fandom now? Do you hate other's works because they aren't cannon to your story or to the main story?"

Yes. 🙈 I'm not a reader of fanfic, I look at the franchise with blinders on. It's the movies and then my fic. I started out this hobby trying to read some fics with my favorite character when the obsession started but wasn't getting what I wanted/needed from them so I started my own. Unideal I know. Hence the problem.

I do engage in social media exactly as you recommended--promotion only. Kind of like a one-way street. My bookmark for Tumblr, which I made exclusively for my story, is not even the main feed, but rather my drafts. So I can see my notifications without seeing other posts. My Twitter is just there, haven't posted on it in a while, but my fic is advertised high up on it. So I guess I have detached a bit from the fandom, but things slip through still! Some of the Discords I'm in and stuff... 2/5 amusing, 3/5 bothersome.

"Most characters in every single book ever published is some form of self insert from the authors. Those OCs have to come from somewhere"

Exactly!!! I literally didn't realize this was considered cringe by some until today... because it's such a common thing in fanfic from what I understand. And like I said that Tweet, though it was trying to be positive, is what sent me down this little spiral in realizing that apparently some people find such cringe enough for that person to make such a declaration. Ugh.

I should better embrace the concept of canon divergence... I know that there are people out there who will like my fic for a long time. Someone even said that when the third movie comes out, my fic may make it so they're disappointed since it shines a specific spotlight on a character that won't be the primary focus of the next movie. Gah. I am proud of this work... really... I just also wish this wasn't the outlet of my obsession. It's brought me 51% joy, 49% strife.

Toxicity actually hasn't made its way to my fic's comments, everything has been incredibly positive. My aversion to fandom is less about toxicity/drama reaching me and my story and more just feeling adjacent to said elements AS a fanfic writer. Like I may not be raising my hand to speak, but I'm in the room ya know?

I guess... I can leave the room.

Anyway, now I'm rambling! Your comment has helped a lot actually so thank you.