#Association of Writers

[kathylbrownwrites]

Living Your Best Writing Conference

In a fit of enthusiasm last fall, I registered for a big, well-regarded writing conference, the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP), But as the time to head out to Kansas City drew near, I found myself more and more second-guessing the decision; my cold feet had nothing to do with the conference offerings and everything to do with my interior emotional landscape. I reflect on all…

[lanada]

MOEBIUS / Jean Giraud

[drchucktingle]

huge honor to see CAMP DAMASCUS on longlist ballot for STOKER AWARDS. deeply moved not only by way this book has been accepted but by way my own unique trot has been accepted. HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION have ALWAYS treated me so kindly. autistic characters from autistic writers can do anything

[mollysunder]

The biggest tragedy of Jayce's raid on the shimmer refinery wasn't just that he killed Renni's son, it's that that kid died slowly without any sort of comfort or aid. That boy was alive and wheezing by the time when Jayce and Vi slowly (kind of reluctantly) made it down to the ground floor and was still alive enough for Jayce to look directly at him as the light left his eyes.

What's worse is that he died surrounded by shimmer, a single drop could have saved his life! Anybody at the refinery that could have helped him, even in theory, was held at gunpoint by the Enforcers Jayce and Vi brought and could only watch him die. And then his body's just left there for his mom, Renni, to see. This boy was the kid that pulled the alarm on the Enforcers in the first place, he absolutely knew why shimmer was so important to their operation and once Piotover got involved he's deprived of it's aid.

[nosferatini]

[🎙️Podfic] Geminids - A “Teach Me” Side Story

By @nosferatini

The lovely NooRose93 and incredibly talented @gahellhimself-blog allowed me to make a podfic of this beautiful story of brotherly love!

Listen to the Geminids Podfic! 🎧

Featuring little Nosling as the voice of baby Crowley 👶🏻

(Note: No babies went underfed or uncuddleld in the making of this podfic!)

Geminids is a side story for GaHell's wonderful "Teach Me" comic, written by NooRose93. Read Geminids - A Teach Me side story on AO3!

Please support GaHell on his Patreon and Instagram!

**Summary:**

Loki and Crowley are there for each other through thick and thin. This is a story of how they met and became brothers.

Special thanks to my beta listeners @kunigun and @outrageousring5655 ♥️ as well as the @goodomensafterdark and @whickberstreetwriters communities for all the love and support in making this podfic.

[angie-words]

Another @aug-kissed inspired cinquain, this time using the prompt Frantic Kisses

Savour

When I

return to you,

starving, seeking your taste,

let me savour your fierce blessings

this time

[ilkkawhat]

Hello, Sister. I would like to tell you about a dream I had.

[makorragal-312]

911 has the opportunity to do the funniest thing EVER and have Buck drive into work with Bye Bye Bye playing in the background.

Just imagine the power of Bi Buck with the bisexual anthem

[moookar]

I want you to remember that "cringe" in the sense that "cringe is dead" is not just a word. It's a mindset. It doesn't go away when you stop using that specific word, and you still need to be mindful that you are not assigning negative moral value to harmless-if-weird interests or concepts

[the-golden-comet]

✨🏴‍☠️Playlist character personality tag🏴‍☠️✨

Thank you for the wonderful and creative game here, @mauannacreates and here @willtheweaver ! I have a song all ready for this character:

No, it isn’t Peter. (Gasp) I know, I know. Shocking, right? However, the character IS from Peter Hart:

Baron Alastair of Port Mayor.

For those of you who haven’t met him yet, you’re in for a treat 😎✨

He is the head of the British Naval Fleet in his province, hired by Duke Matthias to hunt down the Golden Phoenix Gang and bring his son Prince Benjamin back alive. His methods of doing this are��.unethical in the VERY generous sense, and conniving at the worst. He is a pirate killer, but one who is willing to make deals with pirates and rival ports to satisfy his own political agenda. After all, how does one challenge a chaotic, crazy captain like Peter Hart? With an equally chaotic (and possibly crazier) Baron.

From the musical Hamilton, “You’ll Be Back:”

The “love” that is being referred to in this sense isn’t a romantic love, no….it’s a love of absolute power this crazy bastard has over many. As Peter describes him with disdain on his tongue:

“He’s got his hands in many pockets.”

✨👇 Check out Peter Hart down below 👇✨

Tagging (no pressure): @lavender-gloom , @willowseed , @cowboybrunch , @rotting-moon-writes , @diabolical-blue , @moltenwrites , @justabigoldnerd , @pippinoftheshire , @astramachina , @musicismymoirail , @yourpenpaldee , @pixies-love-envy , @aintgonnatakethis , @sableglass , +open tag! ✨

✨👇Tag list for writing snippets below. DM me if you want to be added👇✨

Tag List for writing tidbits (lmk if you want + or -)

@autism-purgatory , @jev-urisk , @talesofsorrowandofruin , @sunglasses-in-the-bentley , @glasshouses-and-stones , @alinacapellabooks , @fortunatetragedy , @deanwax , @dyrewrites , @honeybewrites , @drchenquill , @paeliae-occasionally , @lychhiker-writes , @thatuselesshuman , @zackprincebooks , @fantasy-things-and-such , @finickyfelix , @billybatsonmylove , @madi-konrad , @houseplantblank , @far-cry-from-finality , @froggy-pposto , @fractured-shield , @avaseofpeonies , @topazadine , @thecoolerlucky , @theaistired , @rivenantiqnerd @somethingclevermahogony , @noxxytocin , @leahnardo-da-veggie , @addicted2coke-theothercoke , @mysticstarlightduck , @the-letterbox-archives

[kimyoonmiauthor]

HWA writer is doing a vote on Artificial Intelligence and a round up on what graphic designers actually do and why you shouldn't shoot your foot.

So writer news the HWA is voting about AI use, both in writing and covers. Most of my social media bubble is saying NO. 'cause obviously, it's stealing other people's work, but there is also this guy...

I get it, a lot of people don't understand the process that graphic designers have to go through. But it's harder than people think and some of the cost is BUYING LICENSED PICS TO USE IN YOUR COVER.

Unlike AI, graphic designers pay the photographers, etc OR have really expensive equipment to make high res images for book covers themselves. My cheap camera was 600 bucks in 2019. That does not include background, lights, etc. If you're complaining about the cost of custom covers from graphic artists, think about the cost to hire models, costume, and the camera equipment.

But it's more than Oh, snap pretty pictures or pay for it, there are other principles that go into art which include composition (which I covered many times), color and color theory knowledge (which AI can't always do well because there is also psychology per culture that one has to put in.)

There is also typography and knowledge of the market and psychology. You're paying for a lot more than Oh, just slapped pictures together. You're paying for a human who can create something unique that shows off the elements of your book in maybe ways you didn't think about.

Graphic artists are artists because we do things like arrange your websites for you to maximize psychological interaction. Graphic artists are not on the same par as AI.

So, no, this is a horrible take. I use traditional and computer media. But you can't unite if you think, OMG, you drew that in a computer v. you drew that on paper versus and think the first one is invalid. OMG, you wrote that in a computer. You wrote that on paper. The principles the human is applying are pretty similar.

Many graphic artists also draw. Many people use both media.

When Will up there can explain the positives and negatives of what a tangency is and how to color adjust a photo digitally on levels+curves, and how those things can affect the psychology of people interacting with their final product, then he can talk about OMG, how digital art is ruining covers.

Graphic Designers also know how to typeset your covers, who usually do it digitally, so don't eff with them by slamming the people that work with you. Because lemme tell you, the thing that makes your covers and the back of your books look excellent is that tight yet quite difficult art of typography. If that graphic designer really cared, they put that little extra work into eliminating the rivers on the blurb for you to make sure it was that extra bit more readable. They cared about the color of the type and the type face. And those people too are graphic designers. Psychologically, great graphic design is chef's kiss and when typography is done just so, the potential reader *feels* it through the design and the emotion your book is promising to give them.

So don't disparage graphic designers. Even for the fraction who cannot draw, when they are good they HELP with your marketing that much more.

General advice: Don't disparage platforms. Don't disparage your fellow true artists/creatives. Because it's likely you'll have the opportunity to work with them someday, and do you want to cut off the roads to making your book/product the best it can be? Uplift. Graphic designers are not the same as AI. Graphic designers pay other artists for licenses to their work.

Add to that the HWA is holding a vote about AI writing, etc. And yeah, we kinda need to spread this info around.

Dear HWA Members, An open comment period will be coming soon on the drafted Horror Writers Association Al Policy which has been diligently crafted since March. Members, please look for a Special iMailer in your inbox by the end of the month with instructions on where to send your feedback. The feedback period will be open for open for 25 days. The Board of Trustees values art and artists and looks forward to the comments from its membership. Sincerely, Maxwell Gold Executive Director, HWA

[aphfanficwriters]

Still writing Hetalia fanfiction in the year of our lord 2024? Want to make fandom friends or just find that extra push to keep writing?

Then sign up to the HETALIA WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION today!

We are an active Discord server offering:

Writing: Fics, WIPs, headcanons, and review exchanges

Support: Stuck with plotting? Looking for a brainstorming buddy or reliable beta-reader? Need a hand with research? We gotchu!

Prompts: Take part in our word prompt challenges and flex your creativity – or don't! No pressure here :)

Get Featured: All members' fics are featured in our monthly round-up posts on our blog @aphfanficwriters

Gain new friends, fans and readers, and chat daily with seasoned fandom veterans who are still going strong (=ヮ=)೨

18+ members only. Antis & fanpols need not apply. This is an English-speaking group. Please reblog to spread the word, thanks!

[mollysunder]

Has anyone else noticed the distinct lack of crows this season? I suppose it's fitting because the crows were always present when Jinx acted as an agent of change for the story, while this season is more her just reflecting and absorbing what's happened in her life. Still, I miss those crows.

[nosferatini]

🎧Someone is Calling Him Shorewards🎧

Podfic by @nosferatini

PODFIC COMPLETE!

🎧Listen to the FINAL Chapter!

Or start from the Beginning!

Listeners Beware!

Here be the complete podfic of the haunting, heart-wrenching masterpiece written by @harlotofupdog !

A few notes:

I survived!😮‍💨 (Or did I? …Cue thunder…) But I couldn’t have done it without the Storm Jazz (previously Storm Jizz) support group. What started around harlot’s second published chapter as an emotional support group for the fic eventually morphed into a vast network of conspiracy theorists, support ducks, gerbils in trenchoats and the treacherous @ineffablecrankshaft producing what is surely the most devastating piece of art to ever fall before my eyes (I’m still mad at you!) to help (supposedly) everyone cope not only through the fic, but through the angst relapse of an entire podfic (sorry guys!)

You can check out Crank’s dark humored [censored foul language] art at the very end of the podfic by scrolling down, but I recommend you form your own opinion first. As harlot would say, there are no wrong interpretations.

I was blessed with an incredible musician and a series of custom heartbreaking artworks in @paperclipninja and @wingsofopal respectively, as well as a ferryboat full of beta listeners who have helped catch all the little glitches and improvements that I couldn’t have done without. Thanks to everyone for weathering the storm with me… I couldn’t have done it alone 😉 (cue *You can’t do it alone* in Anathema’s voice)

(Check out @wingsofopal On Instagram!)

If you like the podfic, don’t forget to give love to the original fic here: Someone is Calling Him Shorewards (AO3)

Eternal gratitude to @goodomensafterdark’s Chattering Order and the @whickberstreetwriters for their emotional and creative support during the production of this podfic!

[secretlywingedphantom]

What if... something did pass between our ineffable duo in the final fifteen?

Well, I wrote a one-shot about it, and it's a bit of a silly fic, really. It's about an angel and a demon preparing for the worst, but in the most delightful and delicious of ways 👀.

Here's a sample, and if it makes you smile please consider giving the full thing some love over on AO3!

+ + +

“Do you like it?” The angel’s voice was lower than usual, but if the demon noticed, he didn’t acknowledge it.

“Mmm. Not bad, actually.”

“They aren’t that bad, you know,” Aziraphale said quietly, “once you get used to them.” He met Crowley’s gaze and coquettishly batted his eyelashes.

Crowley sputtered and began coughing, and whether it was from the unfamiliar sensation of acidic juices rolling down his throat or his shock at the angel’s blatant flirtation, he didn’t know. But he did turn a very bright shade of crimson.

He pulled himself together, turning the sweet over again in his mouth and licking his lips. “This isn’t about enjoying a travel sweet, angel,” he scolded.

“Is it not?” Aziraphale had a satisfied smile on his lips. He was back to looking out the front dash, busying himself with a new star that had appeared in the night sky. He was trying to make out which constellation it belonged to. “So. What is it about, then?”

“Has to do with an old friend of mine. A magician.”

That got Aziraphale’s attention. He whipped his head back around, eyes wide as saucers. “A magician?”

“Yeah,” Crowley said casually, holding back his grin, “Harry was his name. Ring any bells?”

Aziraphale gasped, his eyes now bulging like overblown balloons. “You were friends with Harry Houdini?!?”

“Ehhh, ‘friend’ may be stretching it a bit. But yeah, we ran in the same circles. His entire schtick was based on deceit, so of course he was on my radar.”

“Of course he was,” said Aziraphale dryly.

Crowley ignored the snark and continued. “He was a fantastic magician, yeah. But! He was a lot of other things, including a brilliant inventor. He and I had... an agreement.”

Aziraphale cocked an eyebrow. “An agreement?”

“Yeah.”

“What sort of agreement?” Said Aziraphale, slowly.

Continue reading on AO3!

+ + +

Word Count: 6.1k

A big ol' bucket of thanks to my lovely betas of @whickberstreetwriters: @springofviolets, @azeutreciathewicked, @rofell, @westwardly, @ines2925 and MisterScruffyPoo. Mwah. You're the best.

@goodomensafterdark thank you for the reblog!