I fail! Help!

[tarotgal]

Help! My mother had a crossword clue she was sure I could help her with and I couldn't and feel great shame.

The clue was: Cosplay and fanfic are part of it.
11 letters. We think it's _ E R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
And it can't be plural, because "it" is singular.

I can't believe I can't figure it out, but all the good answers that pop into my mind don't fit (fandom, obsession, appreciation, convention) or don't make sense (performance), and I'm out of ideas now!

Any guesses?

Comments

[smokeycat-430.livejournal.com]

Is the first part of the word nerd? Is this from a newspaper so you can find out the answer the next day? Things like this not knowing an answer to finish a puzzle bug me as well.

[cowboyguy.livejournal.com]

Can a crossword answer be two words? Nerd culture?

[tarotgal]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh! I LIKE THAT! I was thinking "CreativeArt" next. But yours might be it!

[tarotgal]

It's the New York Times crossword (I didn't want to say in case someone googled it specifically for the answer, which would be cheating--but asking people isn't cheating. heehee)

Nerd is definitely good! I hadn't thought of that! I keep trying to make "creative" fit.

[cowboyguy.livejournal.com]

Can a crossword answer be two words? Nerd culture?

[cowboyguy.livejournal.com]

Can a crossword answer be two words? Nerd culture?

[tarotgal]

You got it! It turned out to be Nerd Culture!

[tarotgal]

Mom said it was definitely Nerd Culture! Thanks so much for the help!!!