#Also if you look at the main text of LotR and the appendices

[wheel-of-fandoms]

He's such a hack. "What's Aragorn's tax policy"? Bitch, life on your stupid planet wouldn't look anything like life on Earth with "seasons" like that. Also *how* do those "seasons" work, physically, geographically? And yeah, it could be magic, but in that case you have to say so, and explain the magic of it to some extent.

(Granted I only forced my way through the first two books, but in those two he never addressed any of this, or even hinted he wanted to address it. And from all the discussion I see on here, I have seen no indication that later books did either)

Hang on… in Game of Thrones, a character, a lord, is called ‘soft’ for letting the peasants in his land into his castle to protect them from attacks.

… 

THAT’S THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT OF A CASTLE!!!!!

[aelaer]

Tagged: All about me and fanfic

Thank you for tagging me @dragonnan! My fan fic history is a long one... and in three fandoms. Which is why most of this will be under a cut for anyone who has a lot of time to waste. And is morbidly curious. But there’s some (okay, dozens) of fanfic recs for three fandoms under there too, sooooo.

Tagging at the top so you don’t have to read my verbose-ness if you don’t want to: @amethyst-noir @cairistiona7 @mdcbd @phierie if you’re interested in giving it a shot :)

1. At what age did you start writing fanfiction?

13. You can still find my earliest works online, too; I kept up anything that wasn't completely deplorable (though fanfiction.net deleted my stupidly popular, several hundred reviews of a story I did in 2004 because it was script format. The bastards xD Popular with all the little kids).

2. Who is your favorite author?

Lmaooooo what a question. Okay so for three fandoms. The big thing that’s common between all my favorite authors is that romance is not a primary genre with any of these writers. So if you like gen (of all genres) you’ve come to the right post.

If anyone here is a LOTR book fan (especially Aragorn), let me direct you to storiesofarda.com. It’s an old site, not even mobile friendly. Anyway, go read the works of Cairistiona and Meckinock. If you're more into hobbits and anything fluffy, go read Shirebound. That I remember their names since I was last active in fanfic in LOTR in 2011 speaks to their quality. I've had the honor of meeting Shirebound several times in real life as well, this last time in New York back in April after several years apart (though I'd like to meet Cair one day for sure, as well). I had a lot of favorites years ago but I’d need to reread the old stuff to see what still lives up to my expectations.

Scanning my favorites in Sherlock, Jolie Black , CaffeineKitty, and hollyesque on AO3. Stillwaters1, chappysmom, Radon65, and Morgan Stuart from fanfiction.net. But I have a couple favorite stories from authors who only wrote a couple fics (below).

Now the MCU (okay basically Doctor Strange, let’s be honest), on AO3: Grim Revolution and merrywil (the latter is pretty new and needs a hell lot more attention, she is a great writer). I love those long, introspective character one shots. There's not a lot of authors who don't focus on romance in the MCU with Stephen as a main character -- indeed, it’s partially nonexistent -- so shorter list. ElenaCee wrote some great stories just after the first film but has sadly moved onto other fandoms.

Dragonnan on AO3 is currently my favourite whump writer. Two of my fandoms and lots of my favorite tropes. I feel spoiled. My favorite romance-is-their-primary-genre writer is amethyst-noir for her characterization of Stephen combined with the oh-so-fun (for us) scenarios.

3. Favorite type of scene to write?

I can usually tickle myself quite a bit when I get some really great situational comedy into a story. I can never be fully an angst/whump writer because I adore comedy. So yeah, situational comedy for sure.

4. What is your favorite fanfic?

Stop asking me these questions ahhh. Okay so I'll be mentioning fanfics not by any of the authors listed above (which are in my most favorite stories too but, well, their works are all favorites anyway. Just look at all their works in said fandom for more favorites if you’re lacking reading material and have similar tastes. And once you’re done reading all the works by those authors, come back here for more. Seriously, read the authors above).

I listed these fics in alphabetical order because that seemed most fair.

LOTR (Most are book-verse. I need to reread a lot of these. Most of these authors have several works for the fandom, though I think each of these particular stories have Aragorn as a primary character):

A Proper Course of Action by GadFlyGirl (absolutely hilarious one-shot after Helm’s Deep about ‘the Denethor situation’)

Across the Years by MistyC (a very creative and well-written story that spins an old cliche in a much more interesting way)

Butterbur and the King by Eledhwen (fantastic character one-shot from one of my favorite minor characters)

Conversations with the King by athelas63 (great characterizations, good healing scenes)

Conversion by Pentangle-linnon (for everyone who says that first person can’t be done in fanfic - read this one-shot, then tell me what you think now. A work of pure brilliance)

Crossroads of Light and Shadow by Mirach (this one I recommend simply for the creativity alone; the art she was able to execute with the text in flipping fanfiction.net is really mind-boggling. Very creative!)

Doomed to Live by fliewatuet (it was never completed, but it’s so freaking good that I am putting it here anyway)

For Every Evil by Mirrordance (fantastic modern incarnation AU that spun out into a series)

Greet the Dawn by Neoinean (a great, very long long-shot with two characters meeting and it’s just a great combination of humor and angst. More great characterization)

Helping Strangers by Imaginigma (fantastic one-shot, really interesting OCs, a wonderful scenario)

In Shadow Realm by Legolass Q (original concept, well-developed characters, engaging plot, truly magnificent)

Light Fingers by Aearwen22 (I think this is the only fic here that doesn’t star Aragorn- he’s a pretty minor character. Brilliant brilliant characterizations of the OCs and a look of a part of society often ignored in LOTR fan fic)

Pale-Faced Tark by Carafinwe (everything by this author is brilliant, but the visceral imagery she managed to capture in two short chapters here still blows my mind)

The Patient by Scribe (another fantastic modern incarnation AU that spun out into a series)

Ransom by MP brennan (man I just continue to see how much the LOTR fandom completely spoiled me with all of these brilliant, plotty fics. Another original concept with brilliant OCs and fantastic execution)

Shattered Stones by MCat711 (a very creepy, original, well-executed one shot that keeps you guessing the whole way through)

The Weight of Power by Nefhiriel (does it follow canon as established by the Appendices? No. Do I care? No. The story’s absolutely fantastic and makes those small discrepancies mean nothing. This was also the first story I ever drew fan art for. I then made something for Shirebound a year later, then didn’t make anything again until that Ebony Maw piece I posted a bit back)

With Hope and Without Hope by docmon (AU scenario in that the Three Hunters are captured while trying to rescue the Hobbits. Very well-thought out and compelling plot, fantastic characterizations all around)

Sherlock:

Annie’s Song by Berouge (One of the only romantic-leaning fics listed here [Sherlolly], but that is due to its excellent characterization and execution. Creative one-shot.)

The Case of the Missing Bus Ticket by Unsentimentalf (I think I burst a rib laughing to this story. Long one-shot. Situational humor at its finest)

Constantly by thesignofserbia (great one shot concerning Serbia)

Drowning by Dayja (I like a lot of her stuff. Angsty.)  

Firestorm by Dustbunny13 (This is... beyond words. So gorgeous. I adored it from beginning to end. Have read a few times. Sometimes accept it as season 3 alternate canon, it’s just fantastic)

Fortune and Bust by ThessalyMc (a wonderful gap-filler fic, very similar to a lot of my favorite authors listed above in quality and type of content)

The Green Blade by verityburns (excellent case fic)

The Holiday by Scriblit (both whumpy angst and humor and case fic? Yeeeessss. Another I’ve read several times.)

Landscape With The Fall Of Icarus by Caitlin Fairchild (another Serbia fic? Yes predictable of me)

London Orbital (another story, very long one-shot, where I burst a rib laughing)

Rigging screws, size 1 3/8 inch, galvanised by AJHall (another excellent case fic)

World Enough, and Time by StoneWingedAngel (an excellent and creative execution of a trope that you'll realize by the time you get to day three)

Doctor Strange (unless stated otherwise, they’re all one-shots. Need more multi-chapter fics... or just gen Stephen content in general):

The Architect by mudgems (a great what-if with Stephen, Loki, and the Time Stone)

Born of the Same Impulse by GwendolynStacy (WIP multi-chapter. Time stone shenanigans send Stephen and Tony back to just before Ultron and a few months after the car accident, but before Kamar-Taj [the accident happens in 2015 rather than 2016 for this to work. It’s brilliant])

Citizen Erased by Imagined (WIP multi-chapter. One of the only romance-is-a-major-genre story [ironstrange] on the list, but the plot concept is incredibly unique, the mystery is being unraveled so wonderfully well, and the collection of characters is really fantastic and in-character.)

The End of Infinity by FriendlyNeighborhoodFangirls (WIP multi-chapter. It’s canon compliant, only Stephen does a fantastic trick after canon and snatches Loki from the claws of death to go back to 2016 and fix everything. Peter, Tony also co-star. I am very much looking forward to where this goes)

Extracurricular Activities by EmptyHead (I am cheating here and linking a series. But it’s so damn creative, and while Stephen plays a big role, he’s definitely not the starring character. Synopsis is that MJ learns the mystic arts. It’s really brilliant!)

Geniuses by decotex (Stephen Strange's and Tony Stark's backstories, published before IW came out)

Hearth Sorcery by keshwyn (Another cheat here with a series of 5 one-shots, but this is too excellent and undervalued not to link. Excellent OC and world-building, highly recommend)

Holiday Magic by KarToon12 (Stephen plays Santa Claus for sick kids. It's adorable)

i hope you hold the mirror up (to show me what i chose) by CallicoKitten (Stephen and Tony being assholes to one another, published way before IW. I love it)

Like an Old Coat by ValmureEld (Could definitely see this as a follow up scene to the events in the Doctor Strange film. Great character interaction sequence)

Magic In Our Veins by Luna_Heart (the lack of Loki and Stephen interaction stories is criminal. Absolutely criminal. I want more!)

The Night’s First Watch by fathomfive (omg this is so good. So so so good. Excellent character study, I can’t recommend it enough)

of coffee and (questionable) first impressions by Phierie (Ooohh I love this alternate first meeting lots. Beat up on monsters and a coffee break after the work. Great stuff)

Project Code 131793 by StrangeMischief (Absolutely haunting and incredibly well-executed AU. I would adore to see more in this universe, it is so interesting)

Replay by INMH (the horror of Dormammu and coping with it)

You’ve Got Mail by Jadesfire (it’s about the mail situation with the Sanctum. What is not to love about that concept)

5. What tags do you avoid like the plague?

A/B/O, mpreg, not Mary friendly (for Sherlock), not Team Cap friendly, anti-Steve, anti-Wanda (or similar). Any of that anti-character bullshit, but in the MCU those are the two I see the most (and so probably make me rage the most. I once saw anti-T’Challa for instance and that just confused me more than anything). A bit of a rant in the next two paragraphs (I have Strong Feelings on this topic).

I don't tolerate the anti-character crowd. I really don't. Disliking a character is one thing and completely normal (I have my own list), but expanding time and energy to write just how much this character sucks is mind-boggling (and tends to make for really shitty fanfic. So you create a strawman villain of the character you hate for your favorite character to go against? Good job, you’ve made your favorite character appear entirely too stupid to deal with a well-developed character in conflict, and have made your favorite character 2D. Have a gold star). Your energy can be used elsewhere that isn't focused on hate. If you hate the character but aren’t creative enough to present them as anything but a strawman in your writing, don’t bother. Create an OC for your antagonist instead. Stop making canon characters so ridiculously OOC.

The real world is too filled with negativity to have it as part of a major focus in my fandom experience. It actually really, really bothers me that I cannot save a filter that automatically excludes all those anti tags as they haven’t been canonicalized on AO3. What perhaps bothers me even more is the number of kudos those hate-filled fics with incredibly OOC characters receive. The hypocrisy in this crowd is just astounding when you start pointing out the flaws in their favorite characters, too (FYI: All well-developed characters have flaws. I love Stephen Strange for his flaws. Before Stephen made his debut, Tony Stark was my favorite for similar reasons. It makes them INTERESTING).

Anyway, rant over.

6. What AU do you wish to write but feel like you won’t manage?

If I really really really want to write something, I'll write it. That said, there are things that I don't plan to write that I would adore reading (like that unfinished Stephen travels to the HP universe in Harry's fifth year fic ahhhhh I want that it would have made the 5th year so much better. Maybe if I bribe the original writer with fan art... wardmason you’re killing me).

7. Do you outline, or write as you go?

Depends. The outlines only tend to come into play for long stories with several scenes, and writing tends to happen first before outlining.

8. What has been your favorite story to write so far? Why?

Such hard questions! Uhhh I had great fun writing in my youth but I can barely remember it. Within this last year, uh... can I just say all of them? I've written about 100k in 6 months, I'm clearly enjoying myself here. I’ve had vibrant moments of delight in writing or planning several of them.

9. Do you prefer to write one-shots or multi-chapters? Why?

Both. Just depends on the story I want to tell and how long that story is saying it should be. I like posting a variety too; have one-shots coming out while I am working on the longer stories in the background.

10. What is your favorite kind of comment?

Oh those deep analytical ones that clearly took time to write. They're so lovely and really make my day. Every fanfic writer knows exactly what type of comment I am talking about.

11. Why did you start writing fanfiction? Why are you still writing?

I started because I had just seen the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie and I really liked the characters (before the sequels ruined them in various capacities) and I thought, "I should put them in Middle-earth!" 45 chapters and 7 years later that damn fic got completed (after dozens and dozens of rewrites as my writing abilities improved over the years).

Now, it's because I really enjoy writing and I like playing in copyrighted playgrounds with characters and worlds I love. Yeah, I could write an original novel, but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

[unproduciblesmackdown]

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3. what is your gender presentation like?

i basically go with the flow.....honestly my Fashion Sense is real simple, really just jeans and tees (usually graphique) and yeah i also like throwing in a layer actually but also, unfortunately, I’m Sweddy all the time.....sometimes i like to wear something different, usually for Particular Occasions or just in the mood.......i rarely mess around with makeup and if i do it’s just like, idk, Maybe eyeliner lip gloss eye shadow....it’s more about having fun with it though like, really i’d go wilder when i felt like it and have it be like studio killers style colors down the face, i would cover myself in body glitter for fun b/c glitter is great and everyone is cowards..........i don’t really wear a binder that often nowadays but sometimes i totally do. it’s always been a bit confusing b/c i’ve never quite been able to fully Curate my own wardrobe cuz like, originally living with parents who really cared about my Gender Presentation, and after that not quite having the time / access / funds to go all out and do a lot of clothes shopping....but yeah honestly i think the jeans/shorts/tees is pretty much My Look. also that reminds me, yeah for the past ten years i’ve been in the process of cutting my hair shorter and shorter and i like it that way. rn it’s a great undercut that i continuously maintain myself via bathroom mirror lol......i Really don’t like that much length on the back or sides. i actually Have considered shaving my head but never committed and also a) that’s even more of a pain to grow out than an undercut and you gotta maintain it all the time. so yeah what i’m down to wear really kinda involves a mix of what’s considered Men’s Fashion and Women’s Fashion, but it leans very much towards those jeans/shorts/graphic tees/ no makeup / short hair. oh and sometimes i accessorize w like, bracelets / necklaces. but only sometimes and when i’m goin out and stuff. i’m not too fancy

6. top five favorite parts of your body (n why you love them)?

hmmm.....well i’d like to thank my legs for being long, b/c i am basically a solid 5′11″ or 6ft tall. i guess my vocal cords are a part of my body and i’m a tenor and we all know that altos and tenors are the best. body hair sure has “body” in it and is def technically part of it and i’m fairly hairy, my armpits are pretty solid and i’ve got hair on my stomach / thighs / chest and, excitingly, my eyebrows are connected and i get hair on my neck too (which is a little annoying so i kinda trim it down but i don’t like to shave it off completely b/c people think it’s weird and i’m testing them) my head hair is alright but boring tho, just brown and determinedly straight. uhh legs voice hair......i get freckles, and that’s great, my favorite physical trait probably. and uhhh.......well my brain’s doing a great job, i need that to be a conscious being, and can’t actually think of a fifth thing

8. how did you pick your name?

milo sky kilopascal burrows.......well for a long time “milo” was just like, my favorite Name....i don’t have many standouts there so it was hardly a competition, i probably took conscious notice of it via milo bloom, shoutout to my puzzling through 80s comics when things like the far side’s humor is very difficult to grasp at like, age 7. my informal-but-no-seriously Middle Names so far: for a long time it was like well “milo” is the only name i Specifically Want and there’s certainly nothing Significant out there....in true nonbinary fashion (and just trans fashion in general) going for those Names Of Objects, Baby!!!!!! i kinda leaned towards wanting something science-y related, science has Great names and terms and stuff.....and ever since taking chem i always liked the phonetics of Kilopascal and that it abbreviates as kpa lol........so i was like, fuck it, let’s go with that! and Sky is not only an object name that sounds nice but is also something i like. “burrows” occurred to me last summer when i was rereading lotr, which is a fun book obv, and also i read a fair amount of the appendices, those hobbit family trees, there’s a “milo burrows” who’s a cousin or something of frodo’s on the baggins side, i was like, oh i’m already a milo, i’ll take another character reference, love for it to be from lotr, “burrows” sounds fun and there’s nothing Else of ~great significance~ that i’d pick for a last name and god knows i’m never gonna think up a better one on my own, so, there we go. oh shit and i’m remembering that milo burrows is in the main text!! in the very beginning he’s left one of those Ironic Gifts: a pen and inkwell b/c he never answers letters. me neither. what an icon

9. what does your name mean?

aha! well! see above!! but let’s go ahead and get into etymology for fun huh. “milo” is a bit uncertain, if it’s a derivation of “miles” then that seems to be linked with the latin “miles” for Soldier, but it also is possibly from “mild,” meaning, Mild, or Peaceful, which comes from the root for milling something aka making it softer / finer, “milan,” which can mean.........To Make Tender.......could also come from “milu,” meaning Merciful. “sky” i mean in the literal definition but let’s look it up. says that in old norse that mean “cloud.” well i love clouds. kilopascal natch being the prefix Kilo meaning a thousand, and pascal is the unit of pressure named for a french scientist, i believe also the same mathematician of pascal’s triangle fame? yes it is, blaise pascal. love that shit too, man these french mathematicians......i am going to look up the etymology of the french name “pascal.” aha it is in fact like an alternative of “paschal,” coming from “pascha,” aka relating to easter, which comes from the hebrew “pesach” which of course meaning passover. burrows i’m presuming is the literal verb/noun b/c like, hobbits, but let’s etymology that too..... hey it says it’s a variant of “borough” which is great b/c i’ve been like oh “burrowburough” is a great Pun......apparently possible further roots could mean “stronghold,” “fortification,” “city,” “elevation,” “to dig,” “to protect/defend/save.” all fantastic, great

23. claim something as trans culture.

honestly being valid and wise............being young and relating to characters who are girls who don’t ~perform their gender~ properly. universal kinship there, really. and bmc

[ineffectualdemon]

After watching Return of the King today and the entirety of Lord of the Rings over the weekend (plus today) I was reflecting on Eowyn and I really think she is one of the best, most well rounded and fleshed out characters in all of Tolkien’s work

She is brave and bold and flawed and interesting

She is undoubtedly depressed and seeks death but also battles with herself. She’s at heart a survivor but is deeply damaged and battled with her depression constantly

Her story sometimes infuriates me because it is so relatable to my own struggles with my mental health

I even like her relationship with Faramir. Faramir understands her trauma. He lost family, he had to deal with his father’s mental instability like she had to deal with her Uncles when he was under the thrall of Saruman

And I don’t know but I felt he saw her as a strong, brave, interesting person

He had a lot of respect for he and showed it.

They seemed like two very damaged people who were able to support each other

But what I find infuriating beyond belief is that Tolkien wrote this incredibly interesting well rounded character and all the Tolkien clones that came after failed to take inspiration from her

Like we have a lot more good, interesting, we’ll rounded characters now but so many people who wrote fantasy after Tolkien failed to write Eowyns into their work

Look I have read a LOT of fantasy novels. Some have kick ass interesting women but so many reduce their female characters to damsels in distress or make them a prize for the hero (Arwen comes across as that in the main text of LOTR but in fairness there is a lot more to her in the appendices)

It’s not that Tolkien hated women. There is a distinct lack of them I grant you in the Lord of the Rings and of course basically none in the Hobbit but he did not write weak women. And Eowyn is arguably the most interesting character in all of his books and I hate that so many people read LOTR and somehow didn’t see that. Then they wrote even less women into their work

I don’t know. I just have a lot of thoughts and feelings about Eowyn