anadrym

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Hey you ever think about The Characters so much to the point where

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i get so happy when people that are new to fanfic writing, or just writing in general, post their work on ao3. despite their doubts, despite their fear of something so personal and vulnerable being perceived, they still press that button, and i turn into the equivalent to a proud mom cheering on the sidelines. like yes! you did that! your work is worth seeing! you deserve to share your passion for and be part of a community! i’m so proud of you!

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when you write “he nodded” for the 27th time in one chapter, and now you’re questioning if humans even nod that much or if your characters are just emotionally repressed bobbleheads.

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if it's good enough for you, then it deserves to be made. don't let anyone else decide if your story is worth it or not.

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Someone is reading one of my old fics, and it’s a long one. They keep leaving these lovely thoughtful comments and most of the time I don’t remember what I wrote.

So I go back and read the chapter, and I haven’t read it in years. So I appreciate it all over again and get to have a conversation and it’s lovely.

It’s the wonderful experience and I am so grateful.

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If I haven't replied to you, I promise I will, I've just been distracted recently. :)

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i know i've said this before but it bears repeating: it is absolutely unfair that i have to go to work instead of spending all my time writing

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Extended Author's Notes for Left Behind Ch3.

Spoilers!

Chapter title is from "The Call" from the League of Legends 2022 Cinematic.

I absolutely love this conversation between Caitlyn and Petra. I don't know, I just really like the way the dialogue ended up.

Y'all were right! The guy who noticed Caitlyn leaving the Tower of Justice was bad news. He's not happy that Caitlyn attacked him (even though he was totally fucking asking for it) and that could potentially have consequences. ;)

I actually went back to add in the bit where, as soon as Caitlyn lowers her gun, Petra pulls her own gun out. She's looking out for Caitlyn, even if she's not always nice about it.

So, remember that line in the last chapter, where Vi was thinking about trophies and mounted animal heads and bodies strung up on the Bridge? She didn't see Tobias' body; she wasn't… awake for that. Hmm.

My personal headcanon is that Vi's anger builds up slow and steady, while Caitlyn's is kept carefully hidden until she just can't hold it anymore. And when she finally explodes, she's fucking terrifying.

Another thing about Caitlyn's reaction here: she canonically covers her grief with rage; think about how she handled her mother's death (and, yes, she was being manipulated, but still). Now multiply it - her father, her partner, her home, everything and everyone she knows. Just gone. Ripped away violently and without warning. Of course she wants revenge. Of course she's going back.

It's so fun to have Cait contradict herself immediately. "I'm not having this conversation right now" -> Sits down to have conversation seconds later. "I'm not making any decisions right now" -> Well, the first line of the next chapter is "It only takes an hour for Ghost to make up her mind."

Petra has dealt with a lot of people who try to close themselves off to keep from being hurt more, which makes her exactly what Caitlyn needs here: a non-judgmental listening ear who won't be driven off by the rage that comes with grief.

Caitlyn is not actively suicidal. She's passively suicidal.

You know how I didn't say anything about Vi's blood and brain matter in the first chapter? You know how brains make up details to fill in gaps? (Vi did get shot. But Caitlyn might be overestimating how… destructive it was.)

"I'm not that reactive." Sure, babe.

Caitlyn is 30. It's time for her to struggle with stagnation and self-worth and making rent. Write what you know.

Ah, yes. The nutrient feed. I'm just adding on to the dehumanization aspect. I'm sorry, Vi. I promise I'll give you a happy ending.

"Forces her expression to flatten" - that's important. Vi deliberately goes expressionless, and that will come up again later.

The longer it's been since a Maintenance session, the more Vi's mind clears. That's why she can pick words out of conversations here.

I couldn't go into it because Vi doesn't remember, but the pair of children's bodies that she remembers seeing pinned beneath rubble? Mylo and Claggor.

I liked throwing that little contrast in at the end. The last time Vi was with someone who cared about her, the world was burning down around them. Now, on a beautiful spring day, she's surrounded only by people who see her as a thing.

Little teaser for next week: Caitlyn will be reflecting on her past five years and will make a decision. Vi will be suffering, and we'll get to see her carry out that "kill" command. >:)

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my brain at 3am: we should write

my brain at 3pm: nap time

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Chapter 3 of All the Things We Left Behind is up!

I'll post the Extended Author's Notes later today, probably.

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[anadrym]

YOU can write whatever you want whenever however forevrr. i have to write something perfect and earth shattering and i have to do it perfectly the first time or else

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I am incredibly serious right now when I beg you all, please, and if you have Twitter or Tiktok or whatever to please spread the word: click on an author's profile on Ao3.

You want to know if an author has written more? Want to know if they're still writing? Want to see more from them? Want to know if they've written a trope or kink or sex scenario you enjoy?

Click on their name. And look at their profile.

I cannot tell you how many times in the last six months someone has read a new or newer fic of mine and said they (a new reader who has read nothing else I've done) "can't wait to see what you do next!" I've written 50+ fics and over a million words already.

"I don't know if you're still writing..." click on my profile. I am. I literally wrote a 128k+ fic for that ship last month.

"Would you ever do X?" "Please do Y!" I already did. Click on my name and look at my works.

Archive of our Own is a library. It's an archive. Not social media. It is your responsibility to fight back against the laziness that corporate algorithms have trained into you.

Click my author name. Just click it. Just click it.

Before you demand more, or ask if a writer will do XYZ, or wonder if the author still writing, or anything - click on their profile. Click on the author's profile.

I'm not trying to be mean or condescending or anything like that. I'm just exhausted. It's disheartening and frustrating to repeat myself ad nauseam, because someone couldn't take thirty seconds to do the tiniest bit of work to see if I've written lately, if I've written more for their ship, or scan my works to see if I've written what they're asking for. Please. Please. I'm begging.

Click the author's name, and explore before you ask.

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PSA for fanfic writers

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