Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
Samantha Pennington has one of the best day jobs we’ve come across—she spends her days reading. As the Community Engagement Specialist at Wattpad, she reads through fanfiction submissions. Pennington first joined the Wattpad team in 2013 as a content intern, and she’s been the resident fanfiction guru since June 2014.
Aside from being a voracious reader, Pennington is an enthusiastic eater and an intersectional feminist. She is fascinated by fandom, modernist literature, popular culture, and emojis. When she’s not scouring the internet, you can find her daydreaming, binge-watching television shows, and petting other people’s dogs.
Follow Pennington on Wattpad @samantha, Tumblr, and Twitter at @sammietutu and read on—we asked her about the most unexpected fanfic story she’s read to date, and trust us, it’s worth diving in.
Q: How did you discover your passion and arrive at Wattpad?
A: I’ve been a fangirl for as long as I can remember, and my passion for fandom was always a natural inclination. I was super keen and precocious as a kid, devouring books, TV shows, and movies with unparalleled zeal. I penned tomes of Harry Potter fanfiction with my bookish elementary school friends, joined roleplay forums, and engaged in serious debates about the futures of my favourite fictional characters online. My penchant for literature, pop culture, fandom, and media grew throughout university, and it was actually all of these things that helped me land an internship on the content team at Wattpad. Today, I’m lucky enough to be able to fangirl in a professional capacity as a Community Engagement Specialist for Fanfiction.
Q: If you had to pick, what’s the best part of your job?
A: As Wattpad’s resident fanfic guru, I’ve had the privilege of immersing myself in a community that knows no bounds (in the best and most interesting ways) and becoming fandom trash in the process. One of the best parts of my job at Wattpad is interacting with fannish writers and readers every day and seeing the immense power and potential of such a creative and enthusiastic breed with which I so avidly identify. Learning about other fandoms, joining new ones, and getting to know amazing people in the process is so much fun. I love being able to connect with people and the stories they tell, and I think the ways in which they choose to do so is something that continues to fascinate me.
Q: What’s the most unexpected Wattpad fanfic story you’ve read?
A: The most unexpected fanfic I’ve read on Wattpad is called Kim Kardashian: Trapped in Her Own Game by a wonderful, hilarious writer (and friend) named kfan. Basically, the real Kim (who wants to smash the patriarchy) becomes stuck inside the world of the Kim Kardashian Hollywood game and must use her powers as an emoji-casting witch to defeat the forces of evil that threaten to keep her from getting back to the real world. It’s a fun, smart read, rife with celebs, pop culture references, and lots of laughs.
Q: If you could take any fictional character out for a drink, whom would you choose and what would you drink?
A: This is such a difficult question to answer, but the first fictional character that popped into my head was Kat Stratford from the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You. We would drink tequila and dance on tables, obviously.
Q: What would you tell your 13-year-old self?
A: Hating stuff isn’t cool. Your passions and obsessions are valid. Embrace your geekiness and make it your own.
Emma Bauer is a Being Geek Chic Contributor. Clearly, she’s got great taste. She is a PR enthusiast, dog lover, tea drinker, art appreciator, and of course, aspires to Be Geek Chic. Follow her on Twitter: @emmalynnbauer
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