48. Please don't be afraid. You are not alone. In fandom, you will find people who like everything. I know it's the sterotype and common complaint that "gen gets no love," but I've written genfics that have been read and reviewed. I also have made many gen fanarts that have gotten love. I've found people to disscuss the purely gen asepects of favorite series with, too. (I mean, the last really big message board conversation I remember having in my fandom: We were disscussing the zoology/ecology of a fictional desert planet. No pairings in sight).

I know what you mean - a look in any corner of general fandom (this place for instance) gives the strong impression of fandom being a hormone-laden territory, but you'll find corners and other people who aren't into it as much if you look. I'd say "speak up" too, but you have to be careful in how you go about that since it's such sensitive territory for many people.

I'd also suggest maybe trying to write stuff that don't rub your personal convictions the wrong way just to be read/fit in. I've found when I try to do that, the quality of my writing inevitably suffers. Branch out and start writing the stuff you really *want* to write and you may be surprised at the readership you'll get. In any case, you'll have written something that *you* really want to read.