abiamm

[abiamm]

cannot recommend more putting secrets and hints in your creative work that you dont expect anyone to figure out

[abiamm]

On a 'Work Trip' we go- Heikazuscara

Imagine this: you're the best detective in the Tenryou commission. You spent your youth training in the martial arts your father led you to know, and after cutting ties with most family and friends from childhood, you've learned to fend for yourself without problems. Your intuition alone can carry you through catching the most dangerous criminals in all of Inazuma, however arduous the process may be.

And yet your boss doesn't trust you to lead an investigation team in an overseas 'work trip' to Liyue.

This is the predicament Heizou found himself on a tuesday night, when, having brought up the idea to Sara, she had turned it down inmediately.

"But, Madam Kujou, you know that even when I am bombarded with the hardest cases one after another I get all my work done in a timely fashion!" protested Heizou.

Sara looked at him unbelievingly, "and yet you're never in the commissary, or actively patrolling."

"Well, I'm here right now, aren't I?" Heizou's smirk lessened under Sara's questioning gaze, "also, you never come in when I am here, and as for patrols, I don't think we should leave the defense of the citizens to someone as measly as a mere detective."

"And you're implying that this expedition is solely for work reasons?"

"... yeah?" Heizou tried to say it confidently. He really did. But something in Madam Kujou's stare made him think that she suspected he only wanted to attend the Lantern Rite with his boyfriends. It had been a while since he had seen Captain Beidou, and a reunion with Lady Ningguang and Yaoyao was way overdue. But well, it wasn't as if he needed anybody's permission to do whatever he wanted anyway. If he took a few days to investigate a criminal trail in southern Yashiori island, then no one could object to him being away. (and even if they did, who'd have the guts to fire the best detective in Teyvat's recorded history?)

When he got home, he told Scara that Sara had allowed the expedition, but on the condition that they travel on their own expenses. Paid time off, basically, outside of Heizou's official vacation days, and seeing as they had already aranged for the Crux to dock in Inazuma to take them, transport wouldn't be a problem. While Scara was surprised at first, he coud see that the day's cases had worn his detective out, so they headed to bed after eating the yaki onigiri Scara had prepared. Kazuha was already asleep, but before tucking himself under the covers, Heizou pressed a kiss to his forehead and wished them both good night.

Zuzu, being asleep, woudln't have heard, and Scara, while still awake, had no need for that kind of rest and would probably not invoke sleep tonight. Instead, he resorted to kissing Heizou and telling him to go to sleep.

-- .. --- .. --

The next week, Heizou headed to the police station to turn in some paperwork for a criminal that'd been caught during the weekend. On his desk, he realized, lay a fancy looking envelope sealed with none other than Madame Kujou's stamp. He read the letter's contents very carefully.

Well, it seemed like Madame Kujou had had a change of heart! He wouldn't have to sneak around anymore, as she had permitted his abscence for a full week. With that in mind, she did mention that she'd like him to finish his workday without sneaking out. Oh well, maybe bearing through a police station lunch was worth the week that awaited him.

[On ao3 at On a work trip we go]

[abiamm]

Do you wanna know how to write? You don't need writing classes. Or workshops. Or buying that youtuber's book on how to craft the perfect story.

If you wanna know how to write, you need to READ.

Read stories. Read widely in different genres. Read in YOUR genre. Read that 10 page childrens book. Read that 600 page epic fantasy. Read a fanfic. Read a web serial. Read. Read. Read.

Thing is that if you read, understanding how a story works become instinctive. You intuitively know what works and what doesnt, because you learned it all through the stories you read. As you write more and more you start to hone that skill.

If you're just a beginner, it won't happen right away. But eventually you WILL become more confident. You WILL know how to write. Because you understand story structure. You've seen it a million times.

[abiamm]

Writing advice you're not going to like.

People sometimes send me Asks wanting writing advice.  I suck at it.  I don’t really know how I do the writing, or how one should do the writing, or what one should do to get better at the writing.  All I can ever think to say is “write a lot of stuff and you will get better at the writing.”  Which is true, but hardly a bolt from the sky.

Well, as it turns out, I do have one piece of Legit Writing Advice, and I am going to share it with you, right now.  If you were in any of my writing workshop groups at a con, you’ve heard this advice already.

Warning: you’re going to fucking hate it.  But if you do it, you will thank me.

If you have a piece of fiction you’re serious about, something you might want to actually shop around, or just something you really are into and want to make it as good as you can…do NOT edit it.

Repeat.  DO NOT EDIT.

REWRITE.

As in, print out the whole fucking thing and re-enter it, every word (or use two screens).  Retype the whole thing.  Recreate it from the ground up using your first draft as a template.  Start with a blank page and re-enter every. single. word.

I hear you screaming.  OH MY GOD THAT’S INSANE.

Yes.  Yes, it is.

It is also the most powerful thing you will ever do for a piece of fiction that you are serious about.

Now, let’s get real.  I don’t do this for most things.  I don’t do it for my fanfiction.  But if it’s something original, something I might like to get to a professional level - I do it.  You absolutely COULD do it for fanfiction.  It’s just up to you and how much time you want to sink into a piece.

You can edit, sure.  But you WILL NOT get down to the level of change that needs to happen in a second draft.  You will let things slide.  Your eyes will miss things.  You will say “eh, good enough.”

The first time I did this, on someone else’s advice, I was dubious.  Within two pages, I was saying WHY HAVE I NOT BEEN DOING THIS ALL THE TIME.  I was amazed at how much change was happening.  By the time I got to the end, I had an entirely different novel than the one I’d started with.  When you’re already re-entering every single word, it’s easy to make deep changes.  You’ll reformat sentences, you’ll switch phrases around, you’ll massage your word choice.  You’ll discover whole paragraphs that don’t need to be there at all because they became redundant.  You’ll find dialogue exchanges that need reimagining.  Whole plot points will suddenly be different, whole story arcs will reveal their flaws and get re-drawn.

You cannot get down to the fundamental level of change that’s required just by editing an existing document.  You have to rebuild it if you really want your story to evolve.  You will be AMAZED at the difference it will make.

It will take time.  It will seem like a huge, Herculean task.  I’m not saying it’s easy.  It isn’t.  But it is absolutely revolutionary.

Try it.  I promise, you will see what I mean.

*PSA: Tipsy!Lori wrote this post.  In case you couldn’t tell.

[abiamm]

hi!! i’ve just started writing a fic and it’s going well (a friends to lovers) but i’m having trouble with the transition part of the story. the two have already confessed, but i don’t want them rushing into anything bc it just wouldn’t make sense. do you have any tips on how to ease them from just being friends to dating? i don’t want it to be super quick but i also don’t want to drag it on forever. thank you again!!💗

Points you could include to ease your characters from the friend phase into the dating phase:

trying to be extremely nice to the other because they're still unsure which extent of affection is "right" and feels "appropriate" for their relationship

getting used to sharing what used to be something they had/kept just to themselves (are there maybe certain parts they're struggling with?)

learning more intimate things/details about the other that maybe surprise them

having awkward moments when doing "couple things" they have never done before together (laughing about it together afterwards)

noticing that certain dynamics that their friendship used to have changed for new dynamics that came with dating. maybe they're missing what had been. maybe they're trying to get that back (they would probably have to mention it to the other. are they comfortable with that? do they feel the same way?) maybe they're learning to like the new version of their relationship

being unsure whether the other expects "more" from them now that they are dating

trying very hard to be good enough for the other but maybe this gets uncomfortable for the other as well because they've always been enough (maybe it's time for a talk about expectations)

being super excited/giddy whenever they see each other, maybe that means they need some time alone to calm down and relax again

trying things together and learning that they don't like them. so, they're trying something else

slowly being introduced to the other's friends and family as their new s/o (maybe feeling awkward and being happy when everyone knows it and becomes normal about it)

being happiest when being with the other just fills them with serenity, and they want that all the time, preferring it to the ecstatic and at times nauseating excitement of being freshly infatuated

Every relationship is different. Every couple goes through different things that lead them to a familiar and casual state of dating. But the list above contains a few things a fresh couple might experience in their first time together as a couple. Maybe some of these help you with your story.

In order to achieve this gradual progress from friends to dating to lovers, I would recommend including a few points similar to the ones above and showing how these single things bring them a bit closer together afterwards. With everything they experience as a couple, they create a new part/dimension of their identity as a couple. Show the smaller and bigger effects these shared new experiences have on their relationship. One step at a time (as slowly or quickly as you like), you can bring your couple closer together.

Hope this helps! <3

[abiamm]

how do you write a fic and make it like

long?

ok actually i did give a brief workshop in a fandom server on this once. Here’s the sparknotes:

Stage 1: brainstorming

- decide the topic of your story. write down the idea that sparked your inspiration and start there. this is your core concept from which everything else arises. write down everything that you come up with when thinking about your story, even if you don’t end up incorporating it.

- if you don’t have ideas, most of my fic ideas arise when talking about my fav characters with friends who also love them.

- pin down a few essential aspects of your core concept. is it an AU or canon compliant? ship vs gen? is it going to focus on an overarching plot or a particular character’s personal journey? what ao3 rating do you expect it to be? what trope tags do you think you’ll add?

- make a pinterest board and a playlist for your fic concept. i’m serious this helps you solidify the tone, setting, and mood of your story and can provide more inspiration

Stage 2: outlining

- now that you know what your fic is gonna be about, it’s time to break down the story and make it a complete narrative. Your outline can be as detailed or as bare bones as you want. some writers don’t make an outline at all, but i cannot even begin to comprehend their power, and if you’ve never written a long work before i highly recommend starting with an outline.

- the two most important things to keep in mind during this stage are PACING and STRUCTURE. Characterization is secondary in this stage but still important. Now is the time to establish the setting and the major plot beats.

- decide the narrator, point of view, and tense during this stage

- if you’re stuck for ideas, here’s a cheat for pacing — come up with just 3 things: a goal, a time limit, and stakes. What does your protagonist want to accomplish, how long do they have to do it, and what are the consequences if they don’t achieve it in the time limit? Character A is in love with Character B and wants to be with them (goal), but Character B is moving away at the end of the summer (time limit). Character B risks rejection, and losing their friendship with Character A (stakes). Boom, you already have the skeleton of a story. Try to identify these elements in your favorite stories, it helps you practice this and can give you ideas for your own story. Frodo has to deliver the Ring to Mt. Doom (goal) before Sauron’s armies overwhelm Gondor (time limit) or else the world will fall into shadow (stakes). Obviously, this is just one plot formula among a wide variety and there’s no one right way to write a story, but it can get you started.

- Another way you can start is by detailing some exposition events, some rising actions, a climax, and resolution. If you already have a climactic scene in mind, you just need to figure out how your characters get there and what they do afterwards.

- once your outline is done, you should have a general feel for how long the project will be

Stage 3: drafting

- now it’s time to write the damn thing. sounds simple but it’s not

- practice getting into Da Writing Zone. when it’s time for me to get serious, I have a few video game soundtracks i’ll put on through my noise cancelling headphones, i’ll make myself some tea, and i’ll light a candle. i have basically conditioned myself to write when i hear the journey soundtrack or when i smell my pomegranate candle.

- Each scene that you write should serve a purpose in the overall narrative. I personally determine whether each scene contributes to at least one of the following: worldbuilding, progressing the plot, or characterization. a good scene will accomplish two or even all three.

- consider the voice, whether you’re writing from first or third person. are you telling the story with stern reverence, poetic wonder, snarky indifference? consistency in voice strengthens the story.

- keep suspense in mind, too. you dont want the protagonist to know everything right away — be intentional about what information they learn and when. what the protagonist knows and what the reader knows can differ, too — this is the source of dramatic irony. or you can keep the reader ignorant and have them discover plot elements at the same time as your protag. the intrigue!

- take your time. pace yourself. writing is hard and you don’t have a deadline when it comes to fanfiction. if you’re in a rut, something that i do is that i force myself to write 200 words — if i do that and i’m still not feeling it, i stop there and try again in a few days, but a lot of the time i just keep writing once i get past that hurdle of just starting.

- beginnings are always hard. keep in mind that this is just your draft — whatever you write doesn’t have to be the final version. just start at a point that seems interesting to you.

- as a general rule of thumb, if you’re bored writing something, it’ll be boring to read, too. you may tell yourself that you HAVE to write this dry section about worldbuilding or write how the characters get from one place to another, but do you really? how much would it affect the story if you skipped that? can you approach it another way, or work it in in another scene?

stage 4: editing

- kill your darlings. if something you wrote is out of place or unnecessary for the story, but you like it anyway, get rid of it. save it in another document for outtakes, but don’t give into the idea that a section is valuable just because you spent time on it.

- having a second set of eyes on your draft is a game changer. if you can get a friend (ideally another writer) to beta read your draft and make comments, it can make a huge difference. i always like to thank my beta readers when i post a fic because i appreciate their input so much!

- now is a good time to decide whether you want to post chapters as you write them or write everything first and post it all at once (or on a posting schedule). there are benefits and drawbacks to both but you know yourself best!

- once you are happy with your draft, post it! :)

stage 5: stamina

- writing is hard, and writing a long fic is really hard. even if you’re super passionate about a project when you start it, you will probably lose steam at some point depending on how long it is. at times you will be discouraged and unmotivated. it helps to have a friend who has volunteered to be your designated hype man for this fic. i like to have at least one person who i KNOW is awaiting my next chapter.

- the fact that you don’t get paid for writing fic means you have to balance your writing time with your life and responsibilities. you might have to take a hiatus. coming back to the project after a while can be hard — this is where those pinterest boards and playlists you made back in stage 1 come in. they help get you back into the groove of the story when you’ve lost inspiration!

- when all else fails, try reading books or fanfiction. it counts as writing. words in > words out. bonus points if you journal/leave ao3 comments about things you noticed and enjoyed about it (or, if you didn’t like something, what about it left you dissatisfied. don’t write this in an ao3 comment though keep it to yourself), it genuinely helps you get better at writing. like it makes writing easier

- believe in yourself!!! believe in me who believes in you!!!!

[abiamm]

How to show emotions

Part IV

How to show bitterness

tightness around their eyes

pinched mouth

sour expression on their face

crossed arms

snorting angrily

turning their eyes upward

shaking their head

How to show hysteria

fast breathing

chest heaving

trembling of their hands

weak knees, giving in

tears flowing down their face uncontrollably

laughing while crying

not being able to stand still

How to show awe

tension leaving their body

shoulders dropping

standing still

opening mouth

slack jaw

not being able to speak correctly

slowed down breathing

wide eyes open

softening their gaze

staring unabashingly

How to show shame

vacant stare

looking down

turning their head away

cannot look at another person

putting their head into their hands

shaking their head

How to show being flustered

blushing

looking down

nervous smile

sharp intake of breath

quickening of breath

blinking rapidly

breaking eye contact

trying to busy their hands

playing with their hair

fidgeting with their fingers

opening mouth without speaking

Part I + Part II + Part III

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

[abiamm]

3. Advent Special Prompts

OTP Christmas Prompts 💕

Two co-workers and friends can never hold a relationship over the holidays, so they have the tradition to be each other’s plus ones for every event, starting with the christmas office party and “usually” ending with the firework on New Year.

Ice skating sounds like a cute idea for a first date with lots of hand holding, but not if they both can’t actually skate and are lying more on the ice than anything.

Trapping the other with someone else under the mistletoe has become a highly competitive sport. But who wins if both get trapped together?

After spending Hanukkah with the parents and then Christmas with the in-laws is a lot of fun and full of love, but it’s also nice to finally have some alone time as a couple.

Every country has different traditions for Christmas when it comes to food: trying something new when they have always eaten the same dishes for the holidays feels wrong at first. But when it’s cooked with love by their favourite person, it can sure taste like new traditions.

Celebrating the first Christmas with the in-laws is not easy, especially if they’ve only met via skype before. But receiving the obligatory family Christmas sweater with their own name stitched on the front as soon as they enter the house makes all the worries vanish.

Every year it’s the same struggle: finding the perfect Christmas tree. This year, finding it in less than a minute feels wonderful. The problem is, another person has claimed the same tree and it doesn’t seem like a compromise will be found anytime soon.

[abiamm]

Touch Starved Prompts

It was strange to touch each other without one of them dying, but maybe touch was also something for the living.

Like magnets they moved together, pressing into each other's warmth.

There always needed to be a reason, an excuse for their bodies to touch.

Being touch-starved and needy was really starting to mess with their reputation as a tough guy.

It was like their skin was calling out for the other's gentle touch.

They didn't like to be touched by just anyone. But that didn't mean they didn't also crave it sometimes.

A coldness took over their body that only the warmth of another person could erase.

They wanted to be touched, to be missed, to be loved. Was that too much to ask for?

Leaning onto each other, just being close, was enough.

Their bodies fitting together like they always were intended to become one.