mistreatment of fanfic to published pipeline

I made a post on here a few days back about wanting to become a writer and so many of you had amazing advice and assured me that I’m already a writer and offered amazing tips.

One of those tips was to write fanfic which I’ve done in the past, always under a pseudonym. It’s been a while since and tbh none of my old stuff is good but since I’m taking my writing career seriously now, I’m considering going back to Ao3 and maybe wattpad under my actual name.

Problem is I want to be taken seriously as writer. Wait. Before you judge me for saying this, let me explain. I hate the mentality and judgement arohnd fanfic writers (heck I am one) but I never felt like I was good at anything in my life and it’s so silly but I’m worried that I’ll always be known as “that Wattpad author” and be degraded for something that I’m working hard on. I just want writing to remain the one thing that brings me a sense of peace.

I know you’re probably thinking why I can’t just republish under a pseudonym- well I want to build an audience prior to trad publication which I really want to happen. But that side of me is just not letting me.

So I guess this is just my insecurities speaking or trying to create excuses but I’d love to hear what you all have to think about this.