Ah, shipping the number one reason I have way too many fandoms to count, I think everyone knows what it is by now. 

 I mean, anyone who has read a fanfiction or been in a fandom for a long time would know what it is. It's actually such an amazing and fun thing that people do, and it's so amazing that I had to mention it for this Valentine's Day issue. So let's get right to it!

If you don't know what shipping is, it is sort of like a pairing between two people that you like together (it can be a boyXgirl, or a boyXboy, or girlXgirl) and then you kinda mash up their name together. For example, my personal favorites. Dramione (my very first ship which is Draco and Hermione),

Captain Swan (OUAT's Captain Hook and Emma Swan), Sherlolly (Sherlock and Molly), Klaroline (Klaus and Caroline)

and my most recent; Reylo (Rey and Kylo Ren). 

 These ships are also one of the reasons I joined Wattpad, there are actually pretty good stories about each of these ships here in Wattpad. My friends and I ship a lot actually, our entire grade had a phase where we all were shipped with somebody (including me).

And honestly, it was really fun, but sometimes it can get out of hand. But luckily for you guys, you get to learn from my terrible mistakes! So this is sort of a guide to shipping. So let's get to it. 

Do's

1. Be Open. No pun intended, but you have to be open to all the ships in your fandom for you to enjoy it to its full potential. If you already have a ship, be aware that not all people share the same opinion as you. An example situation. My best friend ships Harmione (Harry and Hermione) while I ship Dramione. Although it may be painful for both of us, we still enjoy each other's ships and coming up with theories to prove which is really cannon. You see? It's fun as can be when you ship fictional people!

2. Be prepared for the unknown. As a Class A Shipper, let me give you advice: take caution and tread lightly. Warning! The Shipping Realm is a dark path not for the faint hearted. It is full of heartaches, deaths, feels, and terrible, nail-biting, hair-raising, cliffhangers. You seriously have no idea how many tissue boxes I have used up for crying over sad and heartbreaking fanfiction, honestly at this point, my parents have thought of bringing me to therapy for it! So be careful! 

3. Imagine the Impossible. Heck, I'll just say it: be as creative as you want. In making beautiful ship names such as JohnLock, PhAn, AlexLiza, and, KyLux, In thinking of scenarios for Imagines like Emma Swan training with the Avengers, Harry drinking nectar with Percy, or America Singer in a Dauntless outfit with Caleb. The possibilities are unlimited!

4. #Updated. Three words: ALWAYS. BE. UPDATED. You may not know, your ship just might come true, in a book or movie!

5. Don't Be Afraid. I strongly believe in this and give this as advice, especially to those people who are really shy, don't be afraid. Why? Because I know a lot of people who have a lot of talent but are too scared to publish their work because they're afraid of hate comments, and disapprovement. I just have to say that you shouldn't be afraid to share your talent with the world, especially if you know you're good. Who cares if some people hate it? There are always people who don't like what you like, but that also makes you stronger. Who knows? A celebrity or the person your writing the fanfiction about might just happen to see it and admire it!

Dont's 

1. Don't take it seriously. This advice is usually for PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING SHIPPED. Just remember: Shipping is for fun and entertainment, not a way of embarrassment or bullying unless taken too far. I used to be shipped with my seatmate, whom I was best friends with, until they started shipping me with him. And it's really sad that some ships really break friendships, and also it hurts other people.

2. R.E.S.P.E.C.T.! Please, for the love of all things beautiful and lovely, respect each other's opinions! I always see people fighting in Tumblr about their fandoms with hate comments like, "Sherlolly is like its fans; garbage!!" or "OMG! StormPilot is so disgusting!" and I really detest things like that. Please, avoid these things because people have different ways of thinking and God didn't give us all the same mind. So, I know I'm being so innocent here like I'm such a saint and I'm all little good two shoes(even though I am not) but please respect each other.

3. Don't take it too far. This advice goes to everybody. Please don't take it to far! This doesn't mean you can't express your thought on something but do not hurt other people to do it. There are a lot of people who get hurt easily so please be careful with the words you use.

I always was a hopeless romantic, and having a ship just made it 2x better, honestly, I do not know what I would be without it.