spireasalix

[spireasalix]

An introduction to permission statements for authors and other fan creators

Hello, dear author and other fan creators, grab yourself a drink, get comfortable and let me tell you about permission statements! Most of you might have not heard the term and this guide is meant to make you aware of them and maybe consider writing one yourself.

A permission statement is a policy on transformative works regarding fanworks of others based on your own fanwork. For example fanart for fanfic, fanfic for fanart, translations, vidding, making icons, remixing of fic, podfic and a lot of other work types. Personally I do podfics, or audiobooks of fanfics, and the general culture dictates that we get permission from authors before posting our works. I’ll illustrate permission statements exemplary with podfic, but really, all fanwork types and creators can be inserted.

Keep reading

[spireasalix]

for the second time in less than 3 months, a podficcer has thanked me for having a permission statement on my ao3 profile

my statement says that I welcome podfics and other transformations of my work, and it also says what I don't give permission for

these kinds of statements are helpful to your fellow fans who might be inspired by your work but uncertain how to talk to you about it. by giving (or denying) them permission up front, you save them that bit of anxiety and/or logistical stress

if you've never made a permission statement before, you can read this Fanlore page about them or check out @fanworkspermissionstatement for a handy template

[spireasalix]

Hi

I thought there was a time when jkr said there was a deleted scene where Theo and Draco talked at Malfoy Manor. Even though they weren’t friends, doesn’t this suggest that they had the most equal and respectful relationship compared to other Slytherin dynamics? What are your thoughts on this?

Hello,

Yes, she has mentioned a scene like that and I wish I could read it! Here's what she said:

Malfoy & Nott (Chamber of Secrets/Goblet of Fire) I liked this scene so much I tried to use it twice; unfortunately, it didn't work in either place so I finally laid it to rest in one of the cardboard boxes where I keep all my old drafts, notes, electricity bills and chewing gum wrappers. As in the case of Dean Thomas, I know much more about Theodore Nott than has ever appeared in the books. Raised by a very elderly widower and Death Eater father, Theodore is a clever loner who does not feel the need to join gangs, including Malfoy's. However, in this scene Theodore's father (the same Nott who was badly injured in the closing chapters of 'Order of the Phoenix') goes to visit Lucius Malfoy to discuss Voldemort-related business and we see Draco and Theodore alone in the garden having a talk of their own. I really liked the scene, firstly because it showed the Malfoys' home, and the difference between the place where Draco has grown up and number four, Privet Drive; then because we rarely see Draco talking to anybody he considers a real equal, and he is forced to see Theodore as such, because Theodore is just as pure-blooded as he is, and somewhat cleverer. Together these two Death Eaters' sons discuss Dumbledore's regime at Hogwarts and Harry Potter, with all sorts of stories that the Death Eaters tell about how this baby boy survived the Dark Lord's attack.

(Source)

She outlines pretty clearly that they aren't friends. The dynamic she describes actually sounds like they don't like each other and are forced to interact because of their fathers.

I honestly love everything about Theo she said in this above passage and really fits how I portray him and his dynamic with Draco pre-fic. A Matter of Chance's situation kinda changed Theo's character trajectory and therefore his dynamic with the other Slytherins, including Draco.

This scene paints them as equal in social standing (more or less) since they are both pure-blooded enough to be in the pure-blood dictionary (written by Theo's grandpa) and the Notts are probably rich enough that Draco can't posture with his money to Theo. But she also refers to Theo as "cleverer" (which is how I write him) which implies Draco feels a little inferior to Theo, and he is "forced" to treat Theo as an equal. He doesn't like that or Theo. And I think Theo dislikes Draco and talking to him just as much (or more), considering he prefers to be a loner rather than befriend Draco.

(Also I love how she says Draco and Theo talk about Harry in that scene. I really wish I could read it)

(Also also her stuff about ghost plots, scenes, and characters that just don't work makes so much more sense to me after writing and publishing my own novel. I love how it turned out and I'm really proud of Iridescent the way it is, but I had a lot of ideas and whole characters and subplots that got scrapped because they didn't work. There were scenes I loved that were left on the cutting room floor because they didn't fit and made the story and pacing overall worse. Though some of these scenes and one of the cut characters would make an appearance in the sequel if I get my way. It's a really interesting process, honestly, and I find it doesn't happen with fic the same way since the process of writing an original novel and writing a fanfic are a little different in that regard)

[spireasalix]

Severus Lives, but not freely, many want his head, Voldemort's followers must say. The need of a bodyguard at every public event is humiliating but becomes a habit, Harry volunteers and becomes his most paranoic protector, the need to protect the one who cared for him so much is unbearable.

Harry means well but he really needs to stop death-staring to the Waiters...

[spireasalix]

just realized Harry's narration gives us pretty detailed descriptions of two different sets of Draco's dress robes. (the "handsome" dark green ones, and the high-collared black velvet Harry doesn't like as much as the green because it makes Draco look like a vicar.)

... but we have no idea what Ginny wore to the Yule Ball, or the Slug Club party. We only know about the low-cut pale gold bridesmaid dress because Fleur and AUNT MURIEL describe it.

[spireasalix]

Quiet moments™

[spireasalix]

[spireasalix]

“She’s tough, Luna, much tougher than you’d think. She’s probably teaching all the inmates about Wrackspurts and Nargles.” 

Luna + being almost absurdly competent and level-headed in times of crisis

[spireasalix]

Okay unpopular opinion but what if Ron and Draco became friends first

Like during 8th year when everyone is trying to get back on with their lives. Draco and Pansy are playing wizards chess and Draco always wins and he says “CAN I GET A WORTHY OPPONENT FOR SALAZARS SAKE”. Ron obviously comes through like “IMMA BEAT YOUR ENTITLED LITTLE ASS MALFOY”. And BOOM just like that they start talking and slowly become friends. After that Drarry slowly starts happening and you know for damn sure that Ron yells “Kiss him Harry for gods sake”

[spireasalix]

Hi! I was wondering what are your top drarry fics to read? Is just that I’ve wanted to read something good and “new”. Thanks x

- Falling Stars, Catching Lightning by daftfear

Rated Explicit, word count 6k.

Draco’s talent and skill as a tattoo artist are without equal, but when Potter comes in asking for a custom piece that’ll take several sessions to complete, Draco finds his abilities and professionalism tested.

- Make Me A Headline (I Want To Be That Bold) by dicta_contrion

Rated Explicit, word count 31k.

Draco never expected to see Harry doing that again. Especially with someone else, in a grainy photograph that’s landed on his desk one Monday morning.

- Save My Wonders by sdk

Rated Explicit, word count 21k.

Immediately chocolate assaulted Draco’s senses. Warm melted chocolate mixed with his mother’s roses and… something else. Something new. Freshly scrubbed skin and maybe a faint sheen of sweat. It was so familiar…

And it only intensified when Potter came up behind him.

- Unhook The Stars by jad.

Rated NC17, word count 70k.

“Love is like a Rubix Cube: there are countless wrong twists and turns, but once you get it right, it’s perfect no matter how you look at it.” Sixty-thousand words of pornographic discourse between two boys-turned-men that still haven’t learned how to communicate like normal people – with words. Guest appearances by Pansy Parkinson, Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger, Blaise Zabini, Teddy Lupin, Gregory Goyle, the Weird Sisters, ex-wives, several Weasleys, a Boggart, and a Honey Badger.

- Stop And Stare by Saras_Girl

Rated Mature, word count 78k.

Harry’s life is full of care, he has no time to stop or stare; he has no time for anyone’s shit, until his friends aren’t having it. A story about the unravelly things. 2015 advent fic.

- Any Instrument by dicta_contrion

Rated Explicit, word count 131k.

Draco Malfoy wouldn’t go back to England for anything less than an exceptional case. Being asked to figure out why Harry Potter can’t control his magic might be exceptional enough to qualify.

- If The Fates Allow by Saras_Girl.

Rated Mature, word count 81k.

What’s that crackling in the walls? Harry has no clue at all. He’ll eat some cake and drink some wine. Because he is completely FINE.

–A story about life’s disregard for our plans.

[spireasalix]

The Hawthorn mystery: why did Draco's wand work for Harry?

Hi, Anon! Hope you don’t mind me answering it in a text post! Just better formatting, I suppose. Looks better on my blog, anyways. Thanks! 💜

About the question: well, no one knows for sure, but we can talk about wandlore and maybe we can get some answers. Shall we?

(It’ll probably have a thousand typos, because it’s a shitload of text, so forgive me, my buddies. Love you.)

To be honest, this is a subject JKR failed to explore, even though the Elder Wand was so crucial to the story. We don’t really learn that much about how they work or why they are needed, besides the basic of the basic.

As we know, the wand chooses the wizard. That alone can explain a lot about why certain wands work for people and others don’t. But it’s way more complex than it sounds like.

For example: Harry was chosen by the Holly wand with Fawkes’s feather. And it makes sense, because he’s a horcrux, so he has a part of Voldemort within him. But I wouldn’t say that’s the reason, even though it seems obvious. Because the wand recognises the nature of the wizard, what they intend to do with it, who they are and will be.

No one knows how it does that, not even wand makers, but it’s more than identification, especially at such a young age. That’s why most wands stay with wizards for a long time, unless they are broken or stolen. Because even though they change as people, the core (quite literally) is almost always the same, to the wand. The signs were always there. It’s practically divination, to be honest.

‘The wand chooses the wizard. That much has always been clear to those of us who have studied wandlore… if you are any wizard at all you will be able to channel your magic through almost any instrument. The best results, however, must always come where there is the strongest affinity between wizard and wand. These connections are complex. An initial attraction, and then a mutual quest for experience, the wand learning from the wizard, the wizard from the wand.’ - Mr. Ollivander

Now, if you take a look at each of the properties of the wands, you’ll be able to understand Draco’s wand, why it was so friendly to Harry and why it was able to help him kill Voldemort.

1. The wood

It’s chosen according to your birth tree in the Celtic tree calendar. Yes. This is something most people don’t even know, and it’s so important because it makes wandlore a bit easier to understand.

Why? Well, it obviously relates to Astronomy, Astrology, divination… So it’s easier to understand how it’s shaped to suit people’s personalities, their magic cores as wizards, etc. The wand is not the source of the power, it’s a channel to concentrate the power from within the wizard. So you could say the wood represents the nature of the wizard, what he’s already born with.

To understand how the wood alone can say a lot about a wizard’s nature, let’s take a look at what Ollivander has to say about Hawthorn, Draco’s wandwood:

The wandmaker Gregorovitch wrote that hawthorn ‘makes a strange, contradictory wand, as full of paradoxes as the tree that gave it birth, whose leaves and blossoms heal, and yet whose cut branches smell of death.’ While I disagree with many of Gregorovitch’s conclusions, we concur about hawthorn wands, which are complex and intriguing in their natures, just like the owners who best suit them. Hawthorn wands may be particularly suited to healing magic, but they are also adept at curses, and I have generally observed that the hawthorn wand seems most at home with a conflicted nature, or with a witch or wizard passing through a period of turmoil. Hawthorn is not easy to master, however, and I would only ever consider placing a hawthorn wand in the hands of a witch or wizard of proven talent, or the consequences might be dangerous. Hawthorn wands have a notable peculiarity: their spells can, when badly handled, backfire.

I think Draco’s whole storyline is in there. His conflicted nature (he’s a Gemini, for fuck’s sake!), his turmoils, how actually talented and powerful he is. 

(It’s also a sign Draco should become a Healer. Sorry, that’s my headcanon and I can’t shut up about it!)

Also, the reason Harry’s spell backfires is right there (because Harry was not evil nor wanted to kill Voldemort, he tried to save him until the end). And the fact Hawthorn is not easy to master. Keep that in mind.

2. The length and flexibility

Both aspects of wands are so underrated. 

Ollivander wrote, about the length: “longer wands might suit taller wizards, but they tend to be drawn to bigger personalities, and those of a more spacious and dramatic style of magic”. 

So it’s no surprise Hagrid’s is 16" and Ron is 14", because they are both tall and quite dramatic in their demeanour. Meanwhile, Harry is 11" and Draco, although slightly taller than him, is 10", showing how his magic is more introspective and he is more guarded, closed off. 

(Lol wands are so phallic, impossible not to giggle while you discuss lengths)

He also wrote, about the flexibility: “denotes the degree of adaptability and willingness to change possessed by the wand-and-owner pair”.

It’s no surprise, then, that Bellatrix’s wand is rigid or that Harry’s is flexible. Her wand was always intended for evil and madness, because it’s in her nature; Harry’s, on the other hand, was flexible enough to adapt to his nature, even though he was part-horcrux and could end up being evil. The wand knew better.

Draco’s wand is reasonably flexible. Which could mean it’s consistent, but if forced, adaptable. So again, it’s not in its nature to just accept changing allegiances. It will fight until the end not to be mastered.

So both its wood and its flexibility are huge indicators of how hard it would be for his wand to be mastered and change loyalties. Again, keep that in mind.

3. The core

The core is an even more complex aspect of wands. While the wood represents the wizard’s nature as a person (their body and heart), the core represents the nature of their magic. It’s in the way they use it, the potency, what they’re good at, etc.

Now let’s take a look at Ollivander’s comments on Unicorn hair, Draco’s wand core:

Unicorn hair generally produces the most consistent magic, and is least subject to fluctuations and blockages. Wands with unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts. They are the most faithful of all wands, and usually remain strongly attached to their first owner, irrespective of whether he or she was an accomplished witch or wizard.

Minor disadvantages of unicorn hair are that they do not make the most powerful wands (although the wand wood may compensate) and that they are prone to melancholy if seriously mishandled, meaning that the hair may ‘die’ and need replacing.

Wow. I mean, this is illuminating, isn’t it? First of all, even though Hawthorn is contradictory, it is balanced by the hair, making it a more consistent wand.

(Oh, and it’s a great property for healers, because the Unicorn is known to be pure and its blood can keep you alive. So, again, Healer! Draco, please.)

It’s also the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts, and that is a clear sign that Draco was never a dark wizard by nature, he didn’t want to be dark. He wasn’t dark, otherwise this wand wouldn’t have chosen him in the first place.

And last, but definitely not least, they are the most faithful, and tend to remain attached to their first owner. 

Well, there’s that then. All the aspects in Draco’s wand are adamant to it being difficult to master and even harder to change allegiances. It would fight until the end to work only for its master, and the hair could even die from it. 

So why did it change masters that easily, then? That’s the question, innit?

Here’s what JKR has said about the whole Hawthorn wand business:

‘So one would expect a certain amount of loyalty from one’s wand. So even if you were disarmed while carrying it, even if you lost a fight while carrying it, it has developed an affinity with you that it will not give up easily. If, however, a wand is won, properly won in an adult duel, then a wand may switch allegiance, and it will certainly work better even if it hasn’t fully switched allegiance for the person who won it. So that of course is what happens when Harry takes Draco’s wand from him…’

Not trying to correct JKR because she’s the fucking author, but doing it anyway: Draco and Harry didn’t duel, dear Joanne. He only took the wands in a hurry. He never disarmed him. Proof?

As Ron ran to pull Hermione out of the wreckage, Harry took his chance; he leapt over an armchair and wrested the three wands from Draco’s grip…

Well, well, well. No duel. How… interesting.

JKR’s argument here is that, even though they didn’t properly duel, Draco was disarmed the muggle way, with a good old shove. Well, again, not trying to diss her own understanding of her world, but this pathetic wrestle doesn’t count. If that was all it took, then wands would be pretty useless, hm? Their allegiance should survive a shove. They’re expensive, God’s sake!

Let’s read JKR’s own canon a bit more, shall we?

Harry looked down at the hawthorn wand that had once belonged to Draco Malfoy. He had been surprised, but pleased, to discover that it worked for him at least as well as Hermione’s had done.

Pleased. Heheh. So gay. Anyway.

It’s funny that she included this in the book, because it contradicts her own laws of wands. According to them, if you steal/borrow someone else’s wand, it won’t change allegiances, obtaining only “fair results”. The allegiance only changes if it’s won.

Well, JKR, Hermione’s wand works perfectly for Harry even though he never disarmed her. Just like Draco’s, who he also never disarmed. So why do they change loyalties, or at least share loyalties? Harry sees both wands as friendly, and he naturally uses both with no problems.

So here’s my personal theory, from everything I’ve read and all the time I’ve spent overthinking the issue without being paid a single pound: 

Harry had their complete, absolute trust.

(Ok, it sounds stupid, but bear with me.)

People were part of the war for many reasons, right? For their families, their friends, themselves, for justice and all that. They keep their reasons until the end, hopefully. Right? Even those fighting for Harry, they had their own reasons.

Now, what was the main reason Hermione ended up in the middle of this war? It’s not in her nature to fight, she’s not a warrior. But she knew she had to help Harry. It was only Harry. She didn’t have family fighting alongside her. She didn’t have any other allegiance.

Why she never, not even once, mistrusted Harry? Ron did and they were so close. That’s because his primary reason for being there was his family, not Harry (that doesn’t mean he didn’t love or trust Harry, but he would choose his family, if he had to).

This absolute trust Hermione had for Harry has the same origin as everything good in Harry Potter: sacrifice. She gave up her own parents, her own story. She made a huge sacrifice for Harry. She gave up her doubts and any other loyalty she had to follow him.

What about Draco, you ask?

He had his family as his only loyalty throughout his whole life. But that went to shit, to be honest. His whole world stopped making sense. Everything he believe was a lie. He didn’t trust his parents anymore, even though he loved them immensely. He was so confused (“I love a good turmoil”, his wand said, happily).

And I think sacrifice is exactly what happened to Draco at Malfoy Manor. He made it by not identifying Harry, by betraying his own family and Voldemort and risking his own life (and he does that again in the Room of Requirement).

At that moment, his only hope, his only trust in the world was Harry. Because if Voldemort won, he was fucked. Not only because he didn’t want to live in that world he once thought perfect, but because he was a shitty Death Eater, he didn’t want to kill or torture. He didn’t believe in Voldemort anymore. He didn’t have anything else to believe, at that exact moment.

When he “lost” his wand to Harry, his allegiance had already changed in such a visceral way that it was easy for them to share his wand (and the Elder Wand, by proxy). Because he trusted Harry with his heart and soul. 

If that isn’t love, I don’t want to know what is, because it’s not good enough. 

I don’t even care if you believe in Drarry or not, if you think this love I’m talking about is romantic or platonic. Regardless, it was there. You can’t deny it. I won’t let you. Because otherwise, everything we know about wands IS A LIE. And the Wizarding World doesn’t live like that. Magic makes at least a little bit of sense.

(Even though what we’re discussing is fictional. Sorry, I’m that insane.)

And remember how Narcissa’s wand didn’t “understand” Draco? 

Her wand is unknown, but it’s said to resemble Lucius’s, so it was probably Elmwood, a wand considered desirable for purebloods. Imagine that. The nature of her wand was not the same as his at all. She was selfish and didn’t have any allegiances but her own family. Even when she makes that final sacrifice, lying to Voldemort, it’s for Draco. She couldn’t care less about Harry’s life. 

So her wand not adapting to him is a huge indicator that his loyalty wasn’t with his family at all anymore. They were with Harry now (the whole “DON’T KILL HIM! DON’T KILL HIM!” shebang is like a neon sign, innit?).

And loyalty means much more than just wands in Harry Potter. The two Death Eaters who betrayed Voldemort, Snape and Regulus, sacrificed their lives, reputation, love (doesn’t matter which kind). They were something so foreign to Voldemort he never once thought they betrayed him. 

Because loyalty free of ulterior motives is love in its most visceral sense.

And the same fucking thing happened to Draco, right? Voldemort never, not even once, was able to see what happened with his wand. Because pure loyalty was involved and he never understood it.

Love is always the answer in this series. Lily’s, Narcissa’s, Snape’s, Harry’s. And Draco’s, I would say, is just as meaningful. It matters just as much in the final battle. It was the reason Harry won in the first place. 

So again, that’s LOVE LOVE LOVE and not even JKR will change my opinion (sorry, boss).

I will never accept the Hawthorn wand changed allegiances, because we have proof it didn’t have any reason to, and it’s not in its nature to just do it. Furthermore, in Cursed Child Draco even uses this old wand again. 

He never lost the wand’s loyalty completely, he just shared it with Harry.

Game, set and match again. Drarry is real™ as fuck.

[spireasalix]

Harry Potter + Famous Spells

(art),(art),(art)(art)

[spireasalix]

He wants to laugh at the irony, he really does, as he lets Potter brand his arm and override the dark mark with a new one.

____________________________

(hey i managed to finish this just in time for valentine!) i’ve been listening to some harry/draco audiofics and was inspired to paint a little something as thanks to the hp fandom, since i can’t actually write and all. Thank you guys for your work!

[spireasalix]

“Is there something you want, Potter?”

[spireasalix]

I made these as a way to compile all the geographical vocabulary that I thought was useful and interesting for writers. Some descriptors share categories, and some are simplified, but for the most part everything is in its proper place. Not all the words are as useable as others, and some might take tricky wording to pull off, but I hope these prove useful to all you writers out there!

(save the images to zoom in on the pics)

[spireasalix]

Dealing With Criticism & the Bad Faith Reader

A list of resources on how to deal with criticism and the bad faith reader.

(Note: A bad faith reader is someone who looks for things to dislike or criticize when reading a book.)

Writing for the Bad Faith Reader A helpful article on how to deal with criticism from bad faith readers, how it can affect your writing, and what to do about it.

Confidence in Writing, Less Sensitivity to Criticism Offers advice on how to feel less insecure about your writing, and what to do if you’re sensitive to criticism.

Do Not Create Something for an Imaginary Bad Faith Reader Explains why it’s important to write the stories that you want to write, instead of writing for the bad faith reader.

Fear of Being Seen as Problematic Advice for writers who are afraid of being seen as problematic by readers, and advice for writers who are worried about other people’s reactions to their stories.

It’s Out of Your Hands Now Offers advice for writers who are worried about how people will react to their published stories (i.e., with reviews and criticism). Written by a literary agent.

Sometimes People Like or Dislike Your Writing A post that explains how sometimes people won’t like your writing, while other people will love it.

Life’s Too Short to Write for an Imaginary Critic A short thread that explains there will likely be people who won’t like your writing, but that doesn’t mean your writing isn’t any good.

For more inspiration for writers, check out my post Encouragement for Writers.

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I’m a writer, poet, and editor. I share writing resources that I’ve collected over the years and found helpful for my own writing. If you like my blog, follow me for more resources! ♡

[spireasalix]

Writing Resources List

I use my blog to share writing resources that I’ve collected over the years. I’ve recently gotten some new followers, so I thought I would make a list of many of these resources for easy reference.  

(However, this is not a complete list of all the resources I’ve posted. For more writing resources, feel free to check out my blog.)

Encouragement for Writers

Writer’s Block & Procrastination

Writing Your Story’s Plot

How to Write a Scene

Choosing a Setting for Your Story

Character Arc & Character Development

Character Traits

How to Write Heroes & Villains

Elemental Magic & Superpowers

Writing Magic Systems

Fantasy Writing & World-Building

Writing Fight Scenes

Swords and Bows

Writing Mermaids

Writing Relationships & Romance

Romance & Relationship Prompts

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I’m a writer, poet, and editor. I share writing resources that I’ve collected over the years and found helpful for my own writing. If you like my blog, follow me for more resources! ♡