The Stories that Built Me, a Love Letter to Fandom

It is a truth universally acknowledged that an Enneagram 4, in possession of a deep love or fandom, must be in want of a quote board.

So when I couldn’t find what I was looking for in stores or online, I turned to my own devices. And I’m proud to announce that after many burns, intense neck pain, and more than a few headaches, I am THRILLED with the results. It’s everything I could have asked for and more, and I must say I’m inspired to write every time I look at it.

In fact, I enjoyed the process so much, I’ve decided to make some more! If you, like me, have an obsession with fandom, movies, quotes – anything, really – I can design a board you love as much as I love mine. Check it out:

Anyone who knows me would agree that I tend to get REALLY into my fandoms. Honestly, I’ve developed something of a complex about it, but that’s a topic for another time. In my humble opinion, there is nothing better than being carried away by a good story. So when I found myself in need of some inspiration last year, I decided to put my eccentric love of book and movie quotes to use.

If there’s one thing I look for in my decor, it’s that unnamable feeling in your gut that says I need this. It’s never been enough for me to look at a piece of art and say “oh that’s pretty,” and slap it in my space. No, if I’m going to put something in my office, my bedroom, or even my car, it has to speak to me on a soul-deep level. It’s been one of the great annoyances of my life – I’m not sure how many of us there are out there, but wherever you are, if you agonize over every single decorative item you buy and whether it’s the right choice for you, I see you.

Why A Quote Board?

Simply put, I believe in the power of words. It’s something I thought everybody shared. Growing up I was constantly quoting movies and TV shows with my brothers. It wasn’t until I got to college that I found out not everyone can name every single actor during the trailer for an animated movie. I have to say I was disappointed when I found out that deep quoting is considered obnoxious, because it’s one of my favorite things to do.

So I’m looking for the rest of you out there – the people like me who are moved to tears by quotes and stories (and I’m not even talking about sad stuff). I know they must be out there because I’ve seen the memes.

Deep-quoting aside, I think most everyone has a quote or two rolling around in their head that inspires them. It doesn’t matter if it’s scripture, fiction, or wise words from an old friend. Any way you slice it, humans are moved by language. Pardon me but that whole sticks and stones thing is bullshit. Words can create and destroy, they can rally or divide, and they can give us peace when nothing else seems to do the trick.

So anyway, back to the quote board.

The Process

I knew I wanted it to be big. But I must say when I brought home a 2′ by 4′ board at Home Depot, I was intimidated. So I started with what I knew. It all came down to categorizing the stories that were most important to my personal development. Obviously, I started with the big ones: Avatar, the Last Airbender, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, you get the gist.

To my surprise and delight, I ended up with more room on the board than I originally planned. Turns out you can fit a lot of stuff into eight square feet of space. I was able to cram so many of my favorite things, though I know I’ll have to add to it as I consume more stories.

Here’s a little taste of my process to get you inspired for your own board:

Start With the Images

I knew I wanted Uncle Iroh beneath the tree, and I knew it was an image I wanted to dominate the board. I could have been satisfied by any ATLA character, but that scene with Iroh, along with the general symbolism of trees, captured the wisdom, patience, and love that I aspire too, while also punching me right in the feels.

Likewise, I knew I wanted the text of The One Ring. What a powerful symbol, one that has graced my phone and computer wallpapers more than a few times. I could have chosen the White Tree, but I already picked my tree

It seems a small thing, but I also knew I wanted the silhouette of Toothless. How to Train Your Dragon is a trilogy so well planned and so beautifully told that walking out of the theatre felt like coming back down to earth.

And of course, I had to include The Witcher, because it was the first story in a long time to really get under my skin. There’s something about Geralt and Yennefer’s exploration of all things grey that is not only entertaining, but incredibly thought-provoking.

Once I had my images in mind, I moved on to the quotes.

Gather Your Favorite Quotes

I wrote down the titles of my favorite stories, and within each of those titles I scribbled the quotes that most inspired me:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” -Jane Austen, who was one of my earliest inspirations on the path to becoming a writer.

“The stories we tell have power, of course. But the stories that go untold have just as much power.” – Sabaa Tahir, who masterfully tricked me into reading an exciting YA fantasy that turned out to be an opus on the nature of suffering.

“I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you,” – J. R. R. Tolkien, with whom I have my share of disagreements, but without whom the world would surely be a darker place.

It’s like my own personal stock of blatant callouts and easter eggs, and I didn’t have to compromise on a single point.

And thus the point of my quote board was found: The Stories that Built Me.

What better way to pay homage to some of the stories that made me the writer – nay, the person, that I am today, than to immortalize them on my wall?

Fandom is the Great Equalizer

I spend a lot of time lamenting my decision to get an English degree. And don’t get me wrong, it was the most foolish decision I ever made. That said, it was also one of the best decisions of my life.

See, as an Enneagram 4, I have a tendency to believe that I am uniquely outcasted. More on that later. But what I learned at UVU was that fandom is the great equalizer. Count up all the things that separate us: race, religion, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and you’ll notice that one of the few things that can bridge that gap is fandom.

In college I connected with people I might never have become friends with (being a horribly anti-social introvert with trust issues). And all because in spite of the quirks that make us different, we all know how to fall in love with stories. And when we meet people who share that sacredness, we can’t help but love them, too.

Got Any Ideas?

I hope this post has got your ideas flowing! Whether you’ve got a specific vision or just a mess of ideas you’d like help making sense of, I’d love to work with you. Together I know we can create a design you absolutely love, and I’m so excited to bring it to life. These projects are time-intensive so I can only take on a couple at a time. Order today to get your spot!