Reader Autobiography by Judy Yeung https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa A saga of my journey as a reader. Most of it is fanfiction. Sue me. en-us 2022-06-01 19:00:55 UTC 2025-12-11 15:43:12 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-uploads.storage.googleapis.com/1720890627/d873c4fa60b711b31e0e9f9f066ffb5b/image.png Earliest Reading Memory: It begins jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208239581 My first reading memory would be in first grade where I was first introduced to chapter books. I remember liking Magic Tree House and feeling powerful as I crunched through those books like the nerd I was. I blitzed through books with a nigh blood-thirsty fever that would signal a reoccurring trend. It was here that I began to really fall in love with reading and the journey that it would bring me on. ]]> 2022-06-02 01:36:13 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208239581 Shift: I find out fanfiction is a thing jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208243451 I know what you’re thinking. “Oh no, crappy romances written by teens would’ve never been in a relationship” and you’d be right for the most part. However, there’s a side of fanfiction that few people see and I discovered it. Fanfiction was an experimental playground and I absolutely loved it. Machiavellian protagonists? Time travel with a concerning amount of angst? Intelligence 9000 protags logic-ing their way through the plot? You name it, a decent writer has probably written it.  

(Also the rating and filtering systems are really good. The summaries are nice as well.)


]]> 2022-06-02 01:37:30 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208243451 Much Important Book jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208248506 The Harry Potter series is perhaps the most influential series that I’ve read primarily because my parents hated it. (I realized I need to explain this). Prior to this, my parents were pretty neutral about my reading craze. Despite them telling me to read some nonfiction and to stop reading in class, they didn’t really mind me reading. That is until I brought home a book of Harry Potter. My dad had apparently watched the first movie and promptly declared it nonsensical and brain-rot inducing. Child-me took this as a challenge and then proceeded to draft extremely elaborate plans to be able to read Harry Potter around the clock. I would wake up at 5 in the morning just to be able to cram in 2 hours of Harry Potter before and try to sneak my copy of 
"The Order of the Phoenix" out of the house so I could read on the bus. While this story may sound a tad concerning, I assure you that this experience greatly strengthened my love for reading as my devotion was tested against the views of my father. This also sparked the sense of independence that would later contribute to my fanfiction arc.


]]> 2022-06-02 01:41:56 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208248506 Much Important Book jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208249336 I remember randomly grabbing the book "Martin the Warrior" off of the shelves of a library in Dover. Little did I know, that book was part of a series called Redwall that would soon become one of my favorite series at the time despite not really understanding what the book was saying. All I knew was that it was cool and pretty dope. ]]> 2022-06-02 01:42:40 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208249336 Much Important (Book?) jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208251353 Up until this point in time, there hadn't really been any fics that I truly and whole hardily loved. Walk on the Moon would be the fic that would remain my number one for a very long time. What really stood out to me about this fic was the uniqueness of a villain MC (main character) that was well-written and not overly edgy. The MC's motivations are clear and make plenty of sense, which leads to some of the best character writing that I have ever seen.


There really isn't any fanart for this fic that I could use as 'cover art', so no art for Walk on the Moon.]]> 2022-06-02 01:44:17 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208251353 For the Want of a Nail Series jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208257419 2022-06-02 01:49:23 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208257419 Pied Piper jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208259321 This fic is only on here because of this fanart. Don't get me wrong, the fic is really good and is on my top ten, but the fanart is really good.  

Plz don't deduct points for this. Look at the fanart. ]]> 2022-06-02 01:50:58 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208259321 jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208266503 2022-06-02 01:56:49 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208266503 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208267419 2022-06-02 01:57:34 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208267419 My Favorite Thing About Reading jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208274014 That feeling of ohmygodsogood whenever I find something new and binge-worthy is perhaps my favorite feeling in the world. This usually results in me taking a several-day break from the world as I dive into the world of reading. Something else I absolutely love is when an author I really like has written some other amazing works. The resulting binge usually becomes the highlight of the month. 


]]> 2022-06-02 02:02:54 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208274014 A Very Important Moment jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208276914 There’s this one reading moment that doesn’t really fit in here but I feel like this wouldn’t be a reader autobiography without it. For context, I used to have a lamp on my bedside that I would turn on whenever I would read. One day, I was reading in my bed as usual. At some point, I looked over at my reading lamp to see that the lamp had been on for so long that the lightbulb had melted through the plastic of the lamp cover. For the next several years I wondered just how long I had sat there reading in order for the lightbulb to get hot enough to melt plastic. I still don't know the answer. The best I've come up with is at least 5 hours during one of the times I tried to replicate the situation. ]]> 2022-06-02 02:05:06 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208276914 Shift: I found AO3 jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208277275 Previously, I had been using a site called fanfiction.net that only displays story summaries and titles. This new site has a story tag feature that allows people to tag their stories according to what's in them.

It is here that I pick up reading again. Do you know that 25 mil number that I threw around earlier? At least 15 mil is from the past year alone. AO3 has very different writing culture compared to fanfic.net and I loved it. ]]> 2022-06-02 02:05:25 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208277275 Reading Goals jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208278438 I would like to step out of my comfort zone more often and try more 'casual' stories. Right now, I exclusively read angst and heavy action but I would like to start reading more lighthearted stories because I'm beginning to run out of good angst fics. ]]> 2022-06-02 02:06:27 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208278438 A Shift In Preference jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208280728 From this point onwards (8th grade), I can count the number of professionally published books I've finished on my hands.

On the other hand, I estimate the amount of fanfiction I've read to be at least 25 million words. For context, the entire Harry Potter series is about a million words. ]]> 2022-06-02 02:08:26 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208280728 Biggest Challenge Regarding Reading jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208315481 There are two things that I struggle with the most. 

1 - Finding good stories to read. I read 40-60k words a day casually and up to 150-200k when binging. Given the fact that the average novel is 90k words and many around 100-300k, I run out of stories very, very quickly. 

2 - Actually remembering to have a life whenever I find a good fic. Last week I found a fantastic 600k that is probably my all-time favorite. I didn't do anything other than read for 4 days, which is a problem. ]]> 2022-06-02 02:38:31 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208315481 Reading Mentors jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208318752 I don't particularly have a reading mentor as I generally don't like participating in communities. However, I could say that Reddit was a pretty influential when deciding the next fanfiction I would read. The long-form nature and culture of the site allowed me to see in-depth reviews of any fics before I committed to reading. ]]> 2022-06-02 02:41:30 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208318752 Fun facts: My method of finding fics at this time jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208321594 This covers 8th grade to 9th grade

Go on fanfiction.net
Sort by the amount of followers
Skip everything that wasn't an OC-insert]]> 2022-06-02 02:43:46 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208321594 Shift: I begin to read actually decent stuff jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208324102 It was around the end of 9th grade that I began to browse Reddit more often and diversify into other genres. It's here that I read a few Harry Potter fics despite never really liking the fandom, as there are far too many romances for my liking. ]]> 2022-06-02 02:45:57 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208324102 All-time favorite comedy fic: Seventh Horcrux jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208325028 It's just really funny.]]> 2022-06-02 02:46:46 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208325028 Excerpt: Seventh Hoxcrux jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208326577 "Hem, hem," Umbridge hem-hemmed. ]]> 2022-06-02 02:48:08 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208326577 Much Important Book: Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208334810 This fanfic is on something else. 

Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality, also known as HPMOR, is perhaps the largest fanfiction known for its good writing. There is a Wikipedia article for this fanfic. That's how big it is. HPMOR is also one of the first fics where I really felt a sense of community present in the work. ]]> 2022-06-02 02:55:05 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208334810 HPMOR is bonkers???? jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208340388 The ending of the fic has the main character in a dire situation with all of the cards stacked against him. The author then calls upon the readers of the fic to 'pass the final exam' and create a way for the protagonist to survive and escape. If the readers do not manage to offer a feasible solution within the given timeframe, the protagonist will die. 

The final solution involves creating anti-matter and quantum physics. 

There were official parties held around the US to celebrate the ending of HPMOR. This fic is bonkers. ]]> 2022-06-02 02:59:32 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208340388 Excerpt: HPMOR jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208345693 This is your final exam.

You have 60 hours.

Your solution must at least allow Harry to evade immediate death, despite being naked, holding only his wand, and facing 36 Death Eaters plus the fully resurrected Lord Voldemort.

If a viable solution is posted before *12:01AM Pacific Time* (8:01AM UTC) on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015, the story will continue to Ch. 121. 

Otherwise you will get a shorter and sadder ending. ]]> 2022-06-02 03:04:04 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208345693 Magic Tree House jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208346528 2022-06-02 03:04:51 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208346528 Much Important (Book?) jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208355702 I just love this author their work so much. They've written several different stories under the series name "For the Want of a Nail". All 5 of their stories have been so good and evoked the 'AHHHHHH' emotion in me that I hadn't felt for a very long time. This series is what also made me try participating in fanfiction communities for the first time, which is something considering my hermit-ish nature.

By the way, the Want of a Nail series currently occupies 4 of the top 7 most liked stories on AO3, just saying. ]]> 2022-06-02 03:12:50 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208355702 It's Reddit. jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208364983 Yes I am a Reddit dweller. ]]> 2022-06-02 03:20:58 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208364983 Fanfiction.net jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208365758 This is the site that I start out on. ]]> 2022-06-02 03:21:42 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208365758 Archive Of Our Own jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208366799 Haha I can filter out everything that isn't angst now. ]]> 2022-06-02 03:22:43 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208366799 Much Important (Book?) jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208367267 Pied Piper, while being a well-written series, wasn't anything special to me until the author decided to sucker punch me in the gut repeatedly before taking my heart out and shattering it into a million different sad pieces. The MC becomes a well-known and beloved vigilante and then fakes his death to the entire world because of reasons. What happens afterward is the entire world and several characters grieving over his death in a manner that just breaks my heart. 


]]> 2022-06-02 03:23:13 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208367267 The Redwall series jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208376826 2022-06-02 03:31:27 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208376826 Why I don't read actual novels jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208377497 They're too short. 
They're too censored.
I can't sort through them. 
Too few risks are taken. 
I don't like romance
but I like drama
and prefer YA style stuff
while hating the traditional 'slightly sassy independent' protag\

It's a very hard combo to find in a post-Hunger Games world. 

]]> 2022-06-02 03:32:02 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208377497 Novels I have actually read jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208388485 There are actually some novels that I like though. Some of the classics such as The Handmaid's Tale and 1984 are really cool. ]]> 2022-06-02 03:42:10 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208388485 The Handmaid's Tale jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208389039 2022-06-02 03:42:44 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208389039 1984 jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208389425 2022-06-02 03:43:01 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208389425 My #1 fav fic jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208397737 ...is something that I probably don't want to name here because it's pretty dark. Very dark. And very, very graphic.  The MC gets an ability that lets him go back in time a little every time he dies. This ability gets used a lot. 

I really like this fic because of the character interactions and relationships that he builds with other people as he slowly opens up about this ability. Other characters slowly realize the truth about his 'premonition' and help him with the traumatizing effects of his ability. The fic is currently reaching it's final chapters, where it seems as though the MC is heading towards a happy and peaceful ending. yay. ]]> 2022-06-02 03:51:29 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208397737 jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208402528 https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/a-harry-potter-story-you-haven-t-read/story-z1hRf8Lej9V3uf30Pu4R3N.html]]> 2022-06-02 03:56:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208402528 Guest Spot jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208404116 Please feel free to comment on my Padlet!]]> 2022-06-02 03:57:52 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208404116 Shift: I stop reading as much jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208410022 Reading for me had already gotten stale at this point. It seemed to me that every book out there was a Hunger Games clone with little to no variation. On top of that, it was getting increasingly difficult to find good books. Cover summaries were useless and the Goodreads ratings didn’t work for me. Any good books I did find were finished in a day, which slowly caused me to fall away from reading. At some point though, I discovered that fanfiction was a thing and I quickly fell in love with it. ]]> 2022-06-02 04:04:03 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208410022 Quote about the nature of fanfiction jyeung23 https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208410756 “There’s a silver lining to every case where Sturgeon’s law applies, and that prospect of gold is plenty of motivation to dig through manure”.]]> 2022-06-02 04:04:55 UTC https://padlet.com/jyeung23/9tn63o1ao4qjlqpa/wish/2208410756