Why Tag Theory

In other words, why would I do this with my life?

May 17, 2025

Wow, carolyn, this sure is a newsletter

Yeah, I know. My ~~first~~ second one, too.

1. Why Tag Theory? Why not be Normal (tm)?

The personal answer:

If you know me IRL (or if I ported you over from Beehiiv,) you know that I am physically incapable of starting regular, Normal (tm) projects. Also, I thought there was room somewhere online for someone to regularly talk SFF writing craft, the undisclosed fanfiction→ Ao3 → mind-blowing original fiction pipeline, and the general story trends I’m seeing as a guy in their 20s who is *deeply* involved in

A) fandom

B) online science fiction and fantasy short stories, of all things, and

C) the theory of the self.

And by “theory of the self,” I mean, “Why Am I Like This, I Could Be Doing Anything With My Life and Yet Here I Am Writing A Substack About Fandom, Tags, and Writing.” Hence, Tag Theory.

The real, grown-up answer:

Fiction is fandom is literature. It deserves a real spotlight.

2. What kind of audience and community are we talking here?

I’d like this to be a space where guys like me can regularly talk about the genre writing, its industry, and its trappings— whether it’s science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, or the slipstream, I’m a fan of all of it. Anything goes. Video games. Books. Stories. Film. Tag Theory will be a recommendation engine, critique space, and genre community all in one.

3. What am I getting out of Tag Theory?

Posts. Specifically, my posts, about whenever I can finagle them. I’ll keep it interesting. We’ll rotate through my latest genre obsessions, story recommendations, writing talk, and overviews of the SFF (science fiction + fantasy) short story circuit. I’ll invite on some guest authors and editors for interviews, occasionally, and I’ll do story and craft breakdowns when I can. It’ll be very in-depth.

And by in-depth, I mean that I’ll be putting my Very Expensive and Prestigious English degree to good use by critiquing the most brainrotting stuff you’ve ever seen. UChicago English Department, meet Disco Elysium fanfiction.

Free guys— you get access to the 4 most recent posts, plus comments.

Paid guys— you get access to all posts, all comments, and chat privileges. I may also open a Discord because I’m addicted to Discord.

Everyone— parasocialism. So, so much parasocialism.

4. What next?

Well, shucks. Thanks for reading all the way. If you’re curious about more of my awful author brand, I do memes, unintelligible editorials, and general community-building on my other publication, WYRMHOLE Magazine. Subscribe to the HOLE to get 6-7 monthly recs of the best science fiction and fantasy short stories our editorial team (AKA, writer guys in their 20s) can find. We have a great Discord, too.

You can find my website and fictional work at: carolynzhaowrites.com.