#BUT I struggle more with fanfic than my original ideas tbh so

[pumpkinmetaphor]

🥘😱😁🙌 for the ask meme! Sits in your inbox with my big rainbow swirly lollipop

side note I hate that it's called an ask meme. This isn't a meme. What's so funny about it. It's so stupid there's nothing intended to be funny why are they calling it a meme this is like when I was 7 and would ask my dad if I could play videogames so he'd go on YouTube and put on a video playthrough of a game thinking that's what video games meant

☝️🤓 um ackshually...

The term "meme" originates from Dawkins's "The Selfish Gene" and is defined as a "replicator" and a "unit of cultural transmission." So a meme is not defined by how funny it is, a meme is defined by being passed on and changed and adapted and propogated and disseminated, now almost entirely understood in the context of online media. So an "ask meme" is called that because it's a cultural unit (understood by Tumblr culture, specific niche, specific demographic) that is being passed around and changed etc. Quote: "Examples of memes are tunes, ideas, catch-phrases, clothes fashions, ways of making pots or of building arches. Just as genes propagate themselves in the gene pool by leaping from body to body via sperm or eggs, so memes propagate themselves in the meme pool by leaping from brain to brain via a process which, in the broad sense, can be called imitation."

(dragged out via cane before I can start talking about Baudrillard)

ACTUALLY ANSWERING NOW

🥘What wip are you most excited about?

Aside from the new chapter dropping in the next hour or two? Chapter 11. Other than explicitedly chapters of Okay, Cupid! would be probably a side one-shot I have that functions as a chapter 11.5.

😱What's your greatest fear as a fanfic writer?

2 things. One, that people would feel something I've put a huge amount of time and effort into writing and THEY'VE put a huge amount of time and effort into reading jumps the shark at the last hurdle. I've been sitting on Chapter 9 for a while, and will probably be delayed with each chapter going forward because, despite planning this all out in like May 2023, I keep being like "oh no...what if this is the final cringey ooc straw for the reader?"

Two, I teach. I don't particularly fear my students finding my ao3 as much as I fear them finding my tumblr through my ao3 or any of my writing from when I was a preteen or a teenager. I also have less of a fear of them finding my fic and thinking eurgh she's so cringe lmao and more of a fear of them finding my fic and being like "this is poorly constructed and ill conceived, and you think you can grade our essays?" I wake up in a cold sweat.

😁What makes you happiest? New fic comments, kudos, bookmarks, user subscribers, story subscribers, or Tumblr asks?

All of these make me very very happy. But my heart does soar whenever I get a comment. I do read my bookmark comments, appreciate my kudos, and enjoy Tumblr asks once I get over the initial sense of dread upon seeing the notification and thinking I'm getting hatemail. But I sometimes just reread my ao3 comments to myself, kicking my feet. Helps me get over the aforementioned fears that I'm going to start producing garbage.

🙌What's a line or paragraph of yours that you're proud of?

You're going to have to wait and see some of them in the next chapter. BUT. I'll pick one or two bits that I think are my magnum opus from Okay, Cupid! Even if my writing for Homestuck is probably better tbh.

If "Kyoya and Kaoru went to see Venus in fucking Fur on Valentine's Day" has no automatic gigglers, then I'm dead. Sometimes you've got to laugh at your own jokes.

likewise, out of anything I've published for this fic so far, this entire scene with Akito was my favourite to write

kyokao equivalent of "you wear fine things well" in my head. Way to make it awkward. I struggle a lot as someone who worked as a scriptwriter and an animator to get actions and physical expression across in writing. This is one of the only parts I'm actually satisfied gets the physical action down without being overly clunky. Imo!

[isa-ghost]

✨️ A (Witchy) AMFMN Update ✨️

Also I finally admit I'm famous at the end, war is over and yall won, come read my confession /hj

Spoke to Apollo about AMFMN struggles just now. I say struggles but that sounds scarier than it is, really I just mean grappling with motivation and the energy to write for long periods of time.

It boiled down to the fact that I won the battle against my grief with QSMP ending and no more ongoing Death Family content, but it cost me my motivation to write. That's not to say that the fic is dying or anything, basically I just need to find a new source of motivation, even if that motivation is myself.

But as long as I stay in-tune with myself and keep at writing because I WANT to rather than relying on something fueling me to keep going, I'll be good. Which is what I Have been doing, it's just not been easy. But that's to be expected.

He ended things off saying don't feel discouraged just because the process has gotten a little harder and slower. If I'm ever struggling with motivation or something else to do with the writing process, I can always come to him for guidance and encouragement.

Tbh I really needed to hear the last part even though I already kinda knew it. I'm not entirely sure how me being cheered on by him and him being SO INVESTED in Phil and AMFMN has looked from an outside pov, but Apollo genuinely has been such a devoted fanboy and a great mentor through baby's first huge creative endeavor in a fandom. I've always stuck to OC and original stuff, so fanfic has been a really interesting and different experience.

Also for shits n giggles I asked him if I'm actually "famous" like everyone's been insisting because I love enabling him to be silly with messages. A while back he actually told me AMFMN was gonna pop off and get popular and stuff like that but I never really felt like it had? And some of my other circle members had echoed this to me too, but I still never felt that moment of like "okay yeah, it's popular."

Surprisingly, the first of two tarot cards he just gave me about "being famous" is actually a legit answer. He was saying don't be afraid to indulge the ego sometimes, it's okay to do that if you're not being a dick about it. I did something cool and I deserve to enjoy the pride I have in the success of the fic. And my refusal/denial to do so is kind of rooted in my broader issue with self confidence and whatnot. So lowkey he's bonking me on the head for Indeed Being Just Like Phil, Who Can't Actually Take A Fucking Compliment Or Praise.

The second card he pulled about it was sillier, since that WAS the intention of me jokingly asking him if he did think I was "a famous author." And of all fucking cards to pull he pulled DEATH. Which is SO FUNNY because *gestures to Phil's ties with death* but ALSO THAT CARD IS GENERALLY SO ALARMING TO PULL?? The gist of what he was saying with it is that if I stop letting self image related bs cloud how I look at "my popularity" so to speak, it'd actually hugely boost my confidence and lead to even more success with the fic. And while he can't confirm it'd get me "noticed" by Phil (as some people have for Some Reason said it should, it's not my goal), however that would go down, that IS a possibility. He just kinda said "take the fucking compliments, idiot. If you stay humble without downplaying things, you COULD pop off to the degree some people are already saying you should.

Which tbh,, I DID have a Phil pegs member recently put in perspective that most fics don't pass 1k hits on AO3. I don't know how true that is bc I Didn't Go Here (fic writing) until I got the idea for the AMFMN, but the fact that it has over 8k hits is apparently a huge deal?? And I guess my newness and inexperience with the fanfic scene just has kept me unaware of that?? So statistically speaking, AMFMN *is* famous? Which I just still cannot fathom LOL.

Idk, it's weird to think about. I legit do feel like just some guy who's simply passionately vocal about This Cool Thing I'm Doing. But I will admit, even if I don't Feel "famous" and can't take praise to save my life, it's been genuinely really sweet to have people drowning me in compliments and stuff??

And if I'm being honest, it really does motivate me to keep going, because it's nice to know that people really really like the thing I'm doing. People theorizing and being invested in the story has been the #1 thing making AMFMN so fun. I LOVE watching people try to work out what's gonna happen, when I'm foreshadowing, and yelling at me when I nuke them with angst.

I guess that's a long-winded and self-reflective way of saying thank you to everyone who's been so ride or die about AMFMN so far. Like seriously. It's hard to actually Process all the love but it means the world to still receive it??

But yeah, uh. God says I'm famous guys. Guess I have to admit it now. /silly

Anyway, AMFMN may be slower to update (for now) but I do absolutely mean it when I say it's not gonna die. I am legit too excited about shit I have planned to let it happen.

I wanted to finish Chapter 7 by yesterday but Shit Happened and so I'm gonna try to aim for this weekend instead. If I remember correctly I don't have any plans Saturday so,,, PauseChamp

Also as a quick note, I was gonna say this in the tags but it should actually probably be seen by people: #AMFMN things is the tag I use to save my own posts related to the fic on my blog, BUT if anyone wants to, or is already making theories, art, shitposts, memes, or just generally posting about the fic, I DO check that tag sometimes to see if there's anything not from me. So uh. If you haven't used it already, definitely feel free to use that tag for your own stuff related to the fic too, I will be looking. I 1000% want to see anything and everything people might be saying or posting. It's by far the most rewarding part of writing the fic. :)

[wetcatspellcaster]

For the Truth or Dare post, if you like, would you answer any or all of the following 🌵🥤🦷☁️ (particularly curious about that last one!)

🌵 ⇢ share the link to a playlist you love

This was my OG go-to Astarion playlist back in early access days, and it still fucking slaps tbh.

🥤 ⇢ recommend an author or fanfic you love

So, as I've said before, I don't tend to read for the pairings I'm writing for (bc of imposter syndrome more than anything, and to avoid muddying my own ideas) but!! I do read a lot of bg3 for other pairings!!

one of my absolute favourite authors currently writing is @pouroverpaloma, and her rolan/tav smut one shot is so fucking good and so fucking sexy!!! who knew rolan was capable of such energy? Good for him!!!!

🦷 ⇢ share some personal wisdom or a life hack you swear on

(answered here and here)

☁️ ⇢ what made you choose your username?

so.... my first tumblr blog was a Once Upon Time/Captain Swan blog, back in the day, but I struggled to engage with media fandom as someone who wasn't a gifmaker/fic writer at the time. I started a book blog as a sideblog, found I was enjoying myself much more there and making more of my own content without fear, in an almost entirely text-based fandom, and so I started a new blog. that was when I came up with 'howlsmovinglibrary' (big fan of Howl's Moving Castle, obvs). i liked the username so much that it became my username on literally everything, and same for when i got AO3 (I've renamed my twitter and my insta since, bc those are my professional platforms lmao)

as for wetcatspellcaster.... this was originally my dragon age sideblog, at a time when my fic was really super popular. it had a dragon age name and then I username switched in preparation for bg3 full release...

LITTLE DID I FUCKING KNOW-!!!

Truth or dare ask!

[comicgoblinwrites]

I need to come clean about how much Baldur’s gate 3 has been impacting me. It’s… it’s bad y’all. Other than finishing the last couple chapters of TFBS I have not written, and I’ve barely thought, about any stories aside from all the bg3 headcanons and fic ideas I have.

I have brainworms. I haven’t been this inspired and this consumed in months. Maybe years. It’s… refreshing.

I’m not upset about it—I think I’ve been a little lacking in the media department and have been struggling to find something that hooks my interest (tlt aside). And then I started playing bg3 and I… I can’t stop the thoughts. So many ideas.

Listen. Listen. I’ve never written fanfic. I’ve barely done fan art. Now I’ve got like, half a journal full of writing and comic ideas and and—agh.

TBH I think it’s probably bcs I read for my job, so when I get off work more reading is just laborious. But I still want stories, so games and shows have been where it’s at for me. And I loooove that I get to participate in video games, it’s so much more satisfying for the adhd brain.

Anyway. I’ll be sharing some of those soon. Apologies to the folks who followed me for just the original fiction, idk what to tell you my blog is like my study: a complete goblin hoard of all my favorite things, whether or not they’re my IPs)

Im still working on my other stories, but they’re kind of at a place where they need to rest for a bit before I kick back in with them.

I’ve got a lot of art to share though! Stay tuned…

[eliotquillon]

Hello writer ask gamer, 1, 5, 9, 24, 27

1. What font do you write in? Do you actually care or is that just the default setting?

okay listen i know this is psychopath behaviour but. i use arial 11 and yes that is the google docs default setting. it’s not for lack of trying to be a times new roman girlie!!! but i just seem to write more in default

5. Do you have any writing superstitions? What are they and why are they 100% true?

“if i update a draft that’s more than 6 months old without saving a copy of the original version i will hate whatever i add to it”. this is literally the opposite of true because if anything it stops me from going back and continuing old drafts after i’d had a brainwave but my BRAIN WANTS WHAT IT WANTS

9. Do you believe in ghosts? This isn’t about writing I just wanna know

i don’t!

24. How much prep work do you put into your stories? What does that look like for you? Do you enjoy this part or do you just want to get on with it?

i am very much a pantser and not a planner in that i will have an idea of how i want to start and how i want to end + generally have key moments i want to include in between, but how i get there is usually something i let happen naturally when writing bc that’s the part i enjoy. so no detailed outlines for me lol and honestly i find even basic outlines to be really tedious. very much something i’ve had to force myself to do. however i will do a lot of research if i’m doing specific details - i think for my bucharest fic i spent like 4 hours googling 1970s kgb pistols. i tend to really enjoy a lot of the research sections tbh, altho my current shelby wip has me TEARING MY HAIR OUT over californian district elections lol.

27. Who is the most stressful character you’ve ever written? Why?

most stressful original character: kiara stonehurst!! she made tear my hair out because her whole deal was that even though she was nasty and cruel and unfiltered about being brutally honest, she 100% believed she was correct in being that way and looked down on everyone else for not doing the same. a very black and white moral view of the world i guess. she was very very fucked up and borderline delusional and it was hard making her sympathetic without making her likeable? i don’t think i ever managed it in the end. i still love her to pieces though

most stressful character in fanfic: NERO. every fic i write with him is a fucking trial and tribulation wherein i am on the struggle bus. i can’t get into his head at all. sorry max!

[iztopher]

If you're still taking those fanfic asks: ❤️ 👻(if not a wild one, then one you're fond of/have been thinking about lately) 🎁 🦈(or published fic that was hardest to write)!!

YESS thank u!!!

❤️ What is your favorite line that you’ve written in a fic?

“I can’t do anything with this fabric in the way,” she says, and finds her voice is uncharacteristically sheepish. She’s at an impasse; she certainly knows better than to ask him if she can take off his breastplate. She’s not even sure she wants to– there’s something about her mental image of Galahad that belongs in shining metal, like if she stripped off too much armor he would disappear right along with it.

yes this fic is nearly four years old. yes it remains my favorite thing i've written

👻 What is your wildest headcanon?

I have trouble qualifying what my Wildest headcanon would be but one that I haven't talked about much and is definitely me taking an idea and running with it is that Aveyond vampires don't actually get married. I feel like immortal beings that all come from different cultures would fundamentally have a different approach to relationships than mortal ones, or a community that all originated in the same place, and instead of getting married, they celebrate milestones for their relationships - decades, centuries, etc.

On one side of things I feel like committing yourself to someone for your existence would be less common when the existence is theoretically forever, and on the other, I feel like the concept of committing yourself to someone once would feel kind of... cheap? when that could potentially stretch out for centuries. Like, I think because of their lifespans, reaffirming "I love you, I want to be with you" continually is way more important in partnerships than legally putting it into words once. especially because there's no kids to worry about from a legal standpoint with vampires LOL

I think Te'ijal wanted to get married because she thinks it's charming and human and she loves that stuff and everyone else in Ghed'ahre thinks she's a little weirdo for it. I think it would be SO FUNNY if everybody understands that Te'ijal and Galahad are a Thing but the concept of "unwanted marriage" is so foreign to any other vampire that they continually misunderstand the relationship and make Galahad want to explode. Which brings me to the next question.

🎁 Have a piece of a WIP you want to share?

Eventually, Galahad gets fed up with the fact that people keep asking about Te’ijal, his heart, his other half, his lover. Head in his hands, he groans, “has no one in this town heard of a wife before?” When she tells him, he goes quiet. She expects dismissal, or scoffing, or maybe anger – but he just looks away for long enough to re-contextualize the past decade in his head and turns back to her once it’s all fallen into place for him. “Is that why you wanted to marry me? Because you knew no one would ever willingly agree to be with you more than once?” Despite his best efforts, cruelty is not Galahad’s strong suit. That, though. That gets close.

from the aro autistic te'ijal character study i have been chipping away at for a few years now >:3c

🦈 Which character is the toughest to write?

tbh anyone not from aveyond, there's a reason i only write aveyond fic, but within aveyond / characters i actually write, Lars

to me the appeal of lars is entirely in a fic writer's spin on him and i really struggle into spinning him into something that feels like it lines up with canon while also making me like, excited to write him. i would infinitely rather read other people's lars fic than try to write my own

[aew-kun-age-regression]

1. Oneshots

2. I start with an idea and then just go from there.

3. There isn't one I just am given an idea or I think of an idea and then force myself to eventually write it.

4. Things that happen to me or random ideas that I come up with 🤷‍♀️ /any requests I get.

5. I do like it, I think it is an important part of writing however I am sensitive and so depending on how its worked I can get upset.

6. Sometimes I let one of my friends read it before I post however I don't do this often.

7. I don't 😂 I just write and whatever happens happens, pov's change quite a bit in my fics and I hardly even noticed I've changed perspective.

8. I prefer the middle as by that point I'm into the flow of writing and am starting to get ideas.

9. I comment on some stories I read but I generally just revlog stories as I feel awkward.

10. I don't even understand lol :)

11. 3 Favorite fics:

Baby Scarab by @80pairsofcrocs

Long Distance by @sfwregressionfanfictions

Little Scarab by @lokislittlemidgardian

12. Feedback helps me improve my writing.

13. "Write what you know" - don't push myself to write something that I can't, it's not worth the stress.

14. I use personal experiences, I struggle to write or read angst however I can do it. However I do struggle to regulate on what point is too much.

15. I don't write any NSFW so I don't write smut 🙅

16. I have a Caregiver!Dean fic currently in the works, I can't give any more info as I don't know what I'm doing with it yet 😂 I just know the character I'm doing.

17. I don't write, eventually I will be back and be able to write again. Sometimes if I've been away for too long I will just force myself to write, one of my friends is very good at giving me random bursts of motivation.

18. I title them afterwards as they generally end up different from what they were originally supposed to be. I link them to what happens in the story.

19. Age regression/de ageing.

20. I don't know how to explain it but my writing stays the same and there is a clear pattern in my writing.

21. I would if I knew how or anyone that wanted to.

22. I won't write any NSFW, I don't write anything to do with cheating on someone ever. I tend to not be able to write angst, I can only write hurt comfort. (Most fics I write are age regression based)

23. If its not making you happy, take a break.

24. If someone tells you they don't like how your writing then just stop and quit and move onto a new hobby. (You should never let anyone dictate what you do and don't do <3)

25. This one -> Means the world to me.. (This was quite hard as I am very happy with how most of my fics have done, I am very lucky to be part of such wonderful fandoms.)

26. This one -> What was your favourite part..

(This was based on a bad day out that I had and this is basically what happened exactly, without the comfort aspect. So I think this was a roller coaster of emotions)

27. My favourite part of writing is being able to create content for people to enjoy. My least favourite part of writing is when I struggle to think of an certain word and then I can't move on until I think of the word.

28. I generally write a fic within a day or two so normally I write a fic or half a fic a day.

29. Non existent tbh.

30. I wait till its all polished however that my polished is most likely the same quality of most others rough drafts.

31. Plot, and them from there I choose characters based on who I think works best with the plot (unless it's a request where they only tell me a character what they want rather than a plot and then I reverse the process.)

32. 3 Favourite fanfic writers:

@lokislittlemidgardian

@honeybeewritings

@jjtheresidentbaby

33. Yes I do, for ages growing up I wanted to be an author and I'd still love that.

34. With probably not much changing 😂 maybe my vocabulary and structure gets a bit better within 5 years.

35. A villain is just a person, in their story who is the villain. Perspectives are important.

36. I don't :)

37. Not really sure, I guess when I feel that an event had finished and the next thing is going to happen..?

38. Maybe?

39. I don't really have any atm 💀

40. This one -> Mini Winchester (I was really happy with the idea and I would love to see fanart of it tbh. Reality is I just want to see regression fanart XD)

41. I reread fics SO OFTEN 😂 I used to only read once and now I just go back to my favourites repeatedly.

42. The last fic I read was -> Baby Scarab (I was actually rereading it for I think the 4th time now lol) I definitely recommend it as it is amazing however it is important to read the warnings on each chapter!!

43. Second option, I can only do hurt comfort 😂 I can't stand just angst towards my favourite characters :(

44. ✨ Spelling ✨ (it's always been really bad)

45. Make them laugh.

46. Plot driven.

47. Like 6 times and then another 4 after I post it 😂 I always get a bad feeling that I've made loads of mistakes (normally I have made a few lol.)

48. I don't.

49. Sometimes I tend to just delete them. I don't need that negativity.

50. My longest fic was 14,000 ish words (and no its not posted on here 😂)

51. Not sure

52. I do as I love to interact with people who have taken the time to comment on my content.

53. I started as just a reader and then I found that in some fandoms I'm in we were lacking in content so I started to make some and now I'm 50/50.

54. When I finally start to get into the flow of writing and it becomes easy as I know what I want to write.

55. Currently my favourite character I have written for is a tie between Castiel and Gabriel, however my followers favourite seems to be Snape :)

56. I come up with or use decent plots.

57. As I write, I cant move on if k notice something is wrong.

58. Brainstorming.

59. Yes, however family knows I write but not what I write and my 2 favourite friends follow me on here <3

60. I have not.

61. So small fandoms I'm in have content amd I enjoy writing.

62. Love and hate them.

63. Don't read or write it.

64. ^

65. The Dean fanfic request I got :)

66. I honestly just shut down as I get overwhelmed.

67. Prompts.

68. Content for small fandoms.

69. This one -> its okay baby.. (It was my first age regression fic and it shows)

70. Enthusiastic to say I write, embarrassed to say what I write as I don't want people to judge or misunderstand.

71. I don't I just wait and see what happens.

72. Chronological I think?

73. Nothing 😂

74. I often project how I speak onto certain characters.

75. Writing the meltdown for -> Loud (As I was having a meltdown whilst trying to write it)

76. Literally all of my fics have scenes that don't make it in.

77. Not really.

Get to know your fic writer!

Do you prefer writing one-shots or multi-chaptered fics?

Do you plan each chapter ahead or write as you go?

Describe the creative process of writing a chapter/fic

Where do you find inspiration for new ideas?

Do you like constructive criticism?

Do you have your work beta'd? How important is this to your process?

How do you choose which POV to write from?

Do you prefer the beginning, middle, or end of a story?

Do you comment on stories you read?

Cltr+f "blinks" on your WIP & copy paste the first sentence/paragraph that comes up

Link your three favorite fics right now

how does receiving or not receiving feedback/support impact you?

what’s a common writing tip that you almost always follow?

how do you write emotional scenes? Do you ever feel what the characters feel? Do you draw from personal experiences?

How do you write smut scenes? Do you get very visual or detailed? How important is it to be realistic?

How many fic ideas are you nurturing right now? Share one of them?

What do you do when writing becomes difficult? (maybe a lack of inspiration or writers block)

Do you title your fics before, during, or after the writing process? How do you come up with titles?

What is the most-used tag on your ao3?

Have you noticed any patterns in your fics? Words/expressions that appear a lot, themes, common settings, etc?

Would you ever collaborate with another writer for a story?

Are there certain types of writing you won’t do? (style, pov, genre, tropes, etc)

Best writing advice for other writers?

Worst writing advice anyone ever gave you?

What fic do you wish you got more of a response on?

Which of your fics would you call your wildest ride?

What is your most and least favorite part of writing?

On average, how much writing do you get done in a day?

What’s your revision or editing process like?

Do you share rough drafts or do you wait until it’s all polished?

Do you start with the characters or the plot when writing?

Name three of your favorite fanfic writers.

Do you want to be published some day?

Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?

What is one essential thing to remember when writing a villain? 

How do you write kissing scenes?

How do you choose where to end a chapter?

Would you ever write commissions?

Share a snippet from a WIP

If someone were to make fanart of your work, what fic or scene would you hope to see?

Do you tend to reread fics or are you a one-and-done kind of person?

What’s the last fic you read? Do you recommend it?

Do you take a sadistic joy in whumping your characters, or are you more the "If you hurt them I would kill everyone and then myself" kind of person?

What mistakes do you keep making no matter how many times your beta corrects you?

Do you want to break your readers‘ heart or make them laugh?

How would you describe your style? (Character/emotion/action-driven, etc)

How many times do you usually revise your fic/chapter before posting?

What do you look for in a beta?

Do you ever get rude reviews and how do you deal with them?

How long is your longest fic?

What’s your total AO3 word count?

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

How do you spend your time when it comes to fanfiction? Are you primarily a fic reader, writer, or a perfect 50/50 split of both?

What’s your favorite part about the fanfiction writing process?

Of the characters you write for, which is your favorite? Has that choice been swayed at all by your followers/readers’ reactions to certain ones?

What’s something about your writing that you pride yourself on?

Do you prefer editing as you write, or waiting until it’s finished? 

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most? (Brainstorming, outlining, writing, editing, etc) 

Does anyone in your personal life know you write fic? if not, would you tell anyone?

Have you had a writer you admire comment on your fic? What was that like?

Why do you continue writing fics?

Thoughts on cliffhangers?

Something you hate to see in smut.

Something you love to see in smut.

Tell us about what you’re most looking forward to writing – in your current project, or a future project

How do you deal with writing pressure (ie. pressure to update, negative comments, deadlines, etc.)?

Do you prefer prompts and challenges, or completely independent ideas?

What, if anything, do you do for inspiration?

What work of yours, if any, are you the most embarrassed about existing?

When asked, are you embarrassed or enthusiastic to tell people that you write?

When it comes to more complicated narratives, how do you keep track of outlines, characters, development, timeline, ect.?

What order do you write in? front of book to back? chronological? favorite scenes first? something else?

What do you think makes your writing stand out from other works?

You’ve posted a fic anonymously. How would someone be able to guess that you’d written it?

What scene in [Fanfic Name] took the longest to write? What was difficult about it? 

Did you have any ideas that didn’t make the final cut of [Fanfic Name]? 

Do you have a favorite scene you’ve written from [Fanfic Name] story/chapter? 

[hismercytomyjustice]

If I had to guess, I’d say I’m writing at about 50% my usual speed because of how much research I’ve been doing for this fic. orz

More fic stuff below:

So far today it’s been research on Lolth and her former boo. And looking at maps trying to figure out what to incorporate in the two chapters I’m having to add closer to the beginning.

I’ve had to go back twice now, which has been super weird for me because I’ve always been a hardcore linear writer. I start at the beginning and go until the end.

Tbh I didn’t know if I could even DO that. Go back and add something, I mean. It’s just not how my writing brain has worked in the past.

I wound up going back twice before already, I think when I was at chapter four, to add a whole other scene to chapter two because it felt too abrupt.

I know it’s discouraged to edit while writing, but this was more so adding than editing?

I tend to write short, I think. I more often find myself having to add things rather than remove. Maybe that’s why the concept of “killing your darlings” has always been a little foreign to me. I don’t have enough darlings to kill. T_T

It’s kind of funny to think about though. Apparently ADHDers tend to have more divergent thinking than convergent thinking, but I think I’ve always treated what little outlining/brainstorming (bullet points of ideas for scenes) I do divergently while I’ve treated my actual writing convergently. I’m also a pantser, though I don’t love the word.

The second time, I was on chapter nine and realized not enough had happened between chapters eight and nine, so I added two new chapters there too. Or at least I think that’s where it was?

This time around I was on chapter 10 before I realized my already heavy Astarion story needed more Gale focused bits. I’ve gone back to add two new chapters after chapter four to fix this.

Who even am I anymore?! 💀 I don’t write like this. This feels illegal. 💀💀💀

It’s been nice having tumblr to externalize my thoughts on the whole process and on my writing in general though. More often than not, I’m hyperaware of all the little things I’m experiencing but I struggle to see the big picture. Journaling has always helped me with that. I wasn’t intending to journal about this in particular, but it’s helped me learn a lot about myself.

I feel like my writing has come a long way too, even if I struggle to see it most of the time. Like, I can’t believe it’s been seven years since I wrote my Cardcaptors fic.

I’ve actually been rereading a lot of my older fics recently. Having a terrible memory helps, lol. Feels like I’m reading something someone else wrote. Haven’t delved back into my original works though.

For me, with my fics I feel like the main thing I notice is that I could use more description of everything. Meanwhile, in my original stuff I feel like I struggle with description, writing strong side characters and villains, and overall story structure. This is probably true to a degree with my fanfics too, but I can rely more on the fact that, if you’re reading one of my fics, you’ve probably already got a good feel for a lot of that stuff because you already have an interest in the media I’m writing them for.

Right now, writing fics for me feels kind of like having the training wheels back on to a degree. I’m trying to use them to learn in a safer space than in my own head (lol). I am not nice to myself, though I’ve gotten considerably better over the years (yay therapy!). Being able to play in someone else’s world is a lot less fraught with things like “oh god I’m a failure, I’ll never be published, no one will ever like this, you’re wasting your time, what makes you think you can write, etc.”

Welcome back Pure O, it’s been a while! 💀 My OCD thought spirals combined with my perfectionism make my brain a not fun place to be, which makes me freeze up, overthink, and struggle to make any progress. I have spent so much time over the past few years just trying to get myself to write again and to not be so critical of my own work that I never create anything. Lol good thing I have therapy tomorrow because I think I just realized my OCD is probably a big part of what’s been causing that. In addition to good ol’ ADHD.

It also helps that you get immediate feedback with fanfics, at least on what’s working well. It’s hard hammering away at something day after day with no dopamine checks to cash. Especially if you have ADHD. I can spend just as much time on an original work that may never see the light of day, but with fanfic I am bound to get at least some people clicking the little heart icon and feeding the Netherese orb of self-doubt inside me!

Yaaaay self-reflection.

[saraminia]

Considering The Idea Of You is based on an incredibly poorly written scrubbed Harry Stlyes self-insert fic that somehow got published, I feel like the trailer is exactly what I expected, maybe slightly better

Yeah, I've heard that and that might have affected my opinion tbh. But I've also heard that the author denied that it was originally a Harry Styles fanfic. In any case, I think what I felt watching the trailer was second hand embarrassment. Idk why but I felt physically ill watching it lmao.

I think if it was a story about a secret relationship kept very hush hush it might be more compelling, but as it is, it seems to be all about this childish desire to have everyone know about how you're together with a famous guy who everyone wants. Like how he, on stage at a concert, mentions meeting her and acknowledges her in the audience. And after that it just seems to get worse. It looks to be more about dating a famous guy than about falling in love regardless of the guy being famous. Idk how to explain what I mean really, but it's just that it feels like this very juvenile "oh look at me, I'm the one he chose" and not so much about a genuine love story. I mean, I'm sure it is and the protagonist struggles with him being famous and all that, but the movie itself, I'm sure, will glorify the public relationship aspect. Like, there is a difference between enjoying your love and relationship without giving a fuck about anything anyone thinks and the need to have all those eyes on you so you can feel superior to all the young beautiful adoring fans. And it seems like this movie is all about the latter. Anyway, I've thought about this and talked about this piece of horse shit media way too much now. And that too without even having seen the movie yet lol. So I'll just leave this subject here. I have no more to say before I've seen the actual movie, if that ever happens, which I seriously doubt.

Sorry for the long-winded rambling answer. Apparently I had more thoughts about this than I thought I had. Which btw is usually a sign that it's a good piece of art/media 🤔 Makes you think.. jk this movie is still bs lol

[organized-chaotic-disaster]

@jambudweek Day 2: Singing and/or Humanity 

A Private Performance

Steven’s therapist suggests he turns to music as an emotional outlet after seeing the video of him performing “Never Giving Up.” Unfortunately, he has a difficult time in doing so, until Connie shows up.

Word count: 1,623

Post-SUF

(A little late into the day, I know! Honestly didn’t know if I was gonna finish this on time in the first place, let alone post it. It’s the first fanfic I’ve written in a few years, so please keep that in mind. It was fun, though! I hope you enjoy!)

(If you want to see more writing content from me, either snippets from my original work, or possibly more fanfiction, feel free to visit my writing twitter!)

“Hey! So, uh… my name is Steven Universe! Ah, you already know that, obviously… uhhhhh… sorry I haven’t really uploaded in a few years. My life got pretty crazy a couple years back and—uhhhhh… I just didn’t have the time to. Ah. Make more videos. Or anything. But! Ah… w-well, my therapist told me I should write a song about my feelings, you know, use it as an outlet? She saw my video from a few years ago, where I played that one song I wrote… I-I’ve had a lot on my mind lately and, uhhhh, she said it would be really healthy for me to—NO! This is too weird! I can’t do it!” Steven groaned in frustration, hands covering his face. Why had he let her see that video? He should’ve known she would suggest something like this…

“Steven?”

“Connie? Aw, jeez, what time is it?”

“11:30?” Connie walked into the house, one eyebrow raised. “That is when we agreed to meet up for lunch, after all.”

“I know, I’m sorry, I just… lost track of time, I guess.”

Connie glanced at the camera pointed at Steven, then turned back to face him. “Are you… recording a video?”

“Yeah,” Steven said, blood rushing to his cheeks. He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed to be caught trying, and failing, to film for the first time in years. “My therapist said I should try using music as an outlet again, so I wrote a song, and I was going to record it and everything, but it just… feels so weird, you know?”

“How do you mean?”

Steven crossed his arms and looked to the floor, feeling awkward with Connie’s probing questions and determination to not break eye contact. “I mean, I haven’t uploaded in years, and the first thing I do is dump all my feelings? I mean, sure, nobody knows the context, which in a way is kind of nice, it keeps some of it private, but also… isn’t it all weirdly personal?”

“Don’t musical artists tend to get all weirdly personal… literally all the time?”

“Yeah, but they’re used to having no privacy. I mean, that’s kind of their entire life, Connie.”

“Whoa, whoa,” Connie raised her hands in defense, shaking her head. “No need to get defensive, Steven. I’m not attacking you; I’m just trying to help you out.”

Steven sighed ashamedly. “I know, I’m sorry. It just feels like… I don’t know, I feel like I’m telling the whole world all my most personal feelings. Isn’t it fair to be at least a little intimidated by that?”

“I mean, yeah, of course it is. But isn’t that the whole point?”

“Huh?”

“Well,” Connie said, “one of the biggest issues you’ve had is being open about your feelings, right? Maybe this is your therapist’s way of helping you get more comfortable with it.”

“I mean, maybe…” Steven said, his tone unsure, though his mind was making the connections. “But it’s still a bit much, don’t you think? Showing this to the whole world and all, that is.”

“Sure, it seems like a lot, but this isn’t supposed to be easy. It’s normal to be scared, Steven.”

Steven was about to respond with some sort of sarcastic or moody remark but stopped himself. She was right, after all. But something still stopped him. Just because he knew it was supposed to be scary didn’t change the fact that he had so many butterflies fluttering around in his stomach that he wanted to throw up. Sure, he knew full well that he was supposed to be facing his demons or whatever, but facing the monster within yourself was a completely different story from facing the monsters within others, literal or metaphorical.

“… Steven?”

Right, Connie was still there and expecting a response. What could he say?

Sighing, Steven resigned himself to just telling her the only thing he did know: “… knowing it’s supposed to be scary doesn’t make it any easier.”

Connie’s face had a soft expression, one of kindness and understanding. She pondered his statement for a moment, eyebrows wrinkling in thought, before finally saying, “if it makes it any easier… maybe you could sing just to me?” Realizing the intimacy of what she’d just suggested, her face became flushed and she looked to the floor. “Only if you’re comfortable with it, of course! I just thought that focusing on one person—”

“That… might actually help.” Steven said.

Even though she was the one who had the idea in the first place, Connie looked surprised. “A-are you sure?”

“Yeah,” Steven shrugged. “I wanted to share this with someone, but immediately sharing it with the whole world might be a bit… too much. I think that sharing it with you would be okay, though. Baby steps, right?”

“Oh,” Connie’s shoulders relaxed and the colour in her face returned to normal. “If it helps, then I’ll just… sit right here?” She made her way to the couch and took a seat, brushing off her skirt while she did so.

“Yeah, that’s perfect!” Steven readied himself again, ensuring his guitar was tuned properly and putting his fingers in the right places. His hands still shook ever so slightly, but having her there made it easier. He already felt like some of the butterflies had peacefully left his stomach, easing his nerves. He found that he could even put on his cheery persona again, if with some effort. “Now, without further ado, here’s Being Human!”

His fingers began to dance on the guitar strings, perfectly hitting every note after all the hours it took to write them just right. He was grateful for the song’s somewhat lengthy intro because his throat was still tight with anxiety, even if he was only singing to Connie. He tried breathing deeply, just like his therapist had taught him to, before finally beginning to sing.

“Just a little time,” he sang. “Just a little something else instead.” He looked up to see Connie’s fingers tapping along to the music. “Just a little time.” The thought of Connie enjoying the song gave him a light feeling that bloomed in his chest, encouraging his song. “Just a little something up ahead I’m dreaming of.” He closed his eyes and tilted his head down, absorbing himself more into the music. “Being… being… human…”

He continued to play, glancing at Connie every now and then to gauge her reaction. All seemed to be going well; her fingers continued tapping, and she even bounced her knee to the beat at one point, until she noticed him looking. As for Steven, he poured his entire heart and soul into his performance (as one always should), and by the end of it, tears pricked his eyes. When his fingers strummed the last chord, he noticed that he felt much lighter than he had for a long while. He did another mental check of his insides, in which there was no butterflies to be found. Well, except for one…

Connie was clapping, exclaiming “Steven, that was great!”

… and that last butterfly was gone.

“You really think so?” Blood rushed to Steven’s cheeks again, this time not in embarrassment, but in flattery.

“Yeah! I mean, I know that it doesn’t matter how good it is, that’s not the point, but it really was a great song.”

Before Steven could process what was happening, Connie rushed over and hugged him with all her strength. His face became hot from the surprise and the joy it brought him. His arms rose to wrap around her, never wanting to let go. He closed his eyes, savouring the moment, but realized he’d seen something he shouldn’t have seen before he’d done so. Slowly, he peeled his eyes open, praying it wasn’t true, but…

“… aw, jeez, I was still recording.”

“Huh?” Connie said, confused, before she turned her gaze to where he was looking. Surely enough, the red button that indicated the camera was recording was on.

“Argh, I’m such an idiot! I’m sorry, I should’ve—” Steven cut himself short, because Connie was… laughing? “Hey, are you laughing at me!?”

“No, no!” Connie stopped, but it was clear she was struggling, as she kept supressing snorts and chuckles. Before long, her composure broke, and she burst out laughing yet again. “Okay, you’ve gotta admit it’s a little funny.”

“What is?”

“Just the fact that you were all anxious to record yourself singing the song and didn’t even realize your camera was still on when you eventually did manage to do it under the guise that it was a private performance.”

“… okay, you got me there. I’m not keeping it, though!”

“Oh, come on!” Connie pleaded. “Can I just have it, then?”

“Why do you want it? I’ll probably just record it again and post it anyway.”

“Sure, but…” Connie paused for a beat, finding her words. “That’s the first time you ever performed that song for someone else! It’s special, I wanna keep it!” When Steven didn’t respond, she persisted. “Pleeeeaaaase?”

“Fine,” Steven said, before immediately adding, “only if you buy my lunch!”

“Okay,” Connie rolled her eyes. “A small price to pay for a rare recording of Steven Universe performing his latest hit!”

“Yeah, whatever, you dork,” Steven said. He had a playful glint in his eye, realizing he could take advantage of her newfound victory. “I’ll race you to the dondai!”

“Wha—Hey!” Connie cried when Steven pushed her off, getting his completely unfair head start.

Naturally, after their debate over ownership of the tape, the couple had forgotten to turn the camera off, leaving its battery to die after recording hours of literally nothing but a forgotten warp pad and guitar.

[yvtro]

imo the more interesting tim&jason dynamic /is/ the "they're only like 2 years apart" one (esp wrt "jason was tim's robin"? seems (to me) to have more potential if it's like "this kid who is my age is doing cool shit, I want to do cool shit like them, because they're my age and that hits close to home") personally am genuinely unsure why "tim is a poor little meow meow" seems to be more popular despite how it fucks both their characterizations lol

i will answer to both of you here, as it's related to the same post!

just in case i want to say that there's plenty of aspects of tim's storyline that have lots of potential. and there certainly could be an interesting one involving jason too. alas.

i think in general fanon tim is just a poor little meow meow. it's really ironic how when he was introduced, the writers wanted to make him more "likable" than jay, and they didn't want batman to play a full-time dad, so in place of jay's insecurity and need for parental love tim gets two living parents and is, for the most part, self-assured. there's some canon progression which disturbs this status quo of course, but it's fanon that turned his storyline into one about neglect.

so apparently all writers should have done to make the new robin a fan favourite was keeping jason's struggles and just making tim wealthy. real "what's cool when you're rich but trash when you're poor?" moment. having attachment issues, apparently.

and don't get me wrong, there is place for meta about tim's parents being neglectful, even if the creators originally wanted to achieve the opposite. but i find the extent to which fanon pushes this idea and makes it his sole source of personality a bit astonishing, especially that canon tim, for the most part, doesn't share any of these issues. and personally, his initial motivations that stem from his fascination with vigilantism seem much more appealing to me.

as you said: "this kid who is my age is doing cool shit, I want to do cool shit like them, because they're my age and that hits close to home." maybe it's a bit simplified, but tim being just a child who gets himself into something much bigger than himself without really realising the consequences – and essentially both traumatising himself as a result (while also finding family, one does not exclude another) is a pretty fascinating concept.

and like. canon tim is plenty weird about jason, okay. so i think their confrontation at some point would be interesting. and probably awkward.

btw we don't actually get to see jason and tim's first interactions after jay's resurrection. i said it before, but for christ's sake, the teen titans tower incident is no longer canon, and for a good reason, especially that in that era jason is portrayed as having a psychotic break and tim hates his guts and calls him deranged?

how do you derive an enemy to caretaker trope from this is beyond me tbh. it sounds good in theory, right, because it refers to jay's inherent kindness, but you do have to make them "enemies" in the first place, or at least jason the aggressor – which you need to follow the ableist storyline for (i really doubt jason would actually care about tim much if he was more stable, and he definitely wouldn't want to hurt him), and all i can ask is: why. find something new.

i don't know, if there's any actually interesting tim & jason fanfics that don't follow these cliches you should let me know, because the majority of the tag definitely isn't for me.

[bbokkie]

Skipping Class With Highschool! Valorant Boys!!

Scenario: Skipping class with Highschool! Valorant boys on a Friday!!

Characters included: Yoru, Pheonix

(No Chamber or Sova here fellas, I think they’ll kill you before they even THINK of skipping class 🙄)

(I just wanted to say I got this idea in the shower whilst butt-ass naked. Shower thoughts really help tbh. I also originally got this idea because I was kind of “stressing” because I have a school orientation tomorrow sooo.. I might as well post something before I go to school tomorrow!!)

Disclaimer: This is more of a two fanfics in one other than it being in a headcannon situation soo.. yeahhh..

Yoru - Ryo Kiritani 

- The thought of skipping class never crossed his mind, he just forced himself to sit in class with a bored look for 30 minutes straight and mocking everything the teacher says.

- His phone buzzed in his pocket, confused and curious he looked down and took out his phone.

Text message from: Stupid Doo Doo Face 😠

And then he got even more curious. He pressed on the notification twice, his phone opening and leading him to his texting app.

Wanna skip class?

The text read. His eyebrows furrowed, his expression being: “Are you serious right now?”

He placed his thumb on the keyboard before typing a response.

No, aren’t you in class?

He sent.

Soon before sending it, a message quickly popped up as a reply.

No, dumbass. I’m in the toilet, now get out of class!!

He rolled his eyes, it’s not like he wanted to be here anyway. He slid his phone back in his pockets before looking at the teacher again and raising his hand. “Yes, Mr. Kiritani?” the teacher said, looking at him. “Can I go to the bathroom?” he plainly said. “Sure, be quick though.” the teacher smiled. He got up from his seat, exiting the classroom.

He took his phone out of his pocket once more, walking down the hallway.

I’m coming to the bathrooms

He typed before hitting sent.

Yay!!

Before even stepping into the bathroom, a familiar figure popped out of the bathroom. “Ryo!” the girl shouted. “Shut up!” The male whisper-shouted. “We’re gonna get caught if you do that shit.” he walked up to her, putting his phone back into the depths of his pocket.

“So, why’re we skipping class?” the male asked as the both of you walked down a flight of stairs. “It’s Friday, let’s just have an early leave or something.” you shrugged. “So, you have no plan whatsoever.” the male said. “Yeah. I just felt like it.” the girl smiled at him. “If you’re feeling like it, don’t drag me into it.” he rolled his eyes. “You did come with me though, soo.. that’s a you problem.” you fired back. “Whatever, where are we even going?” he said, stepping off the last step.

“You got any money on you?” you turned to him. “Yeah. But I’m not gonna buy you anything, if that’s what you’re thinking.” he said. “Ugh, I’m kinda hungry right now..” you mumbled. “Let’s go to an arcade!” you looked at him, and if you looked closely his eyes were practically glistening at the word “arcade”

“Sure. I mean, we’re already out class.” he shrugged, deep inside he felt like jumping up and down like a little girl who got candy. 

(Guys, Yoru loves arcades, I’m Riot by the way!!!)

The two of you looked at the gate ahead, the gate which held your freedom to go to the arcade. 

“What now, Sherlock.” he said sarcastically. “We climb it, of course.” you rolled your eyes. “All that to go to an arcade..?” he whispered. “Yeah, now help me up!” you demanded, hanging onto the gate like some cat. He didn’t say anything but watch you struggle with a questionable look on his face. He sighed, touching the gate before realizing it was open the entire time. “It was open the entire time, Sherlock.” he said, hiding a giggle underneath his breath. “WHAT.” you huffed, you were halfway on the gate too. “UGH, HELP ME DOWN!” you called out to your boyfriend. “Ew, hell no.” he snickered, opening the gate and getting out. “Ryo! Don’t leave me here to die, my skirt’s going to get ruined!!” you whined.

“Okay then, jump.” he plainly said, his arms out for you to be caught in. “Excuse me?” you looked down at him. “I won’t leave you here to die.” he chuckled. “No! You’re gonna make me jump and then move out of the way!!” you shook your head, holding onto the gate for dear life. “Well, guess you’re gonna die.” he shrugged, going out the gate. “WAIT..” you called out. “FINE, GET BACK HERE.” you shouted, he faced back at you. His arms opened once again. “You better catch me, goddamnit..” you whispered before impulsively jumping out of the gate and into his arms like a cat jumping from one box to another.

Your eyes were shut tight, you thought you were going to feel a harsh impact onto your body, but instead arms were wrapped around you. “Did you really not trust me?” he joked, putting you down.

“That was kinda hot, not gonna lie.”

“What.”

Phoenix - Jamie Adayemi

- I know this man skipped class a few times, and he’d do it again if he’s bored of the class.

- During lunch time you asked your boyfriend if you wanted to skip class with him, and his eyes lit up. In the back of his mind, he always wanted to be asked this by you. He always dreamed of skipping class with someone he truly and dearly loved, and today was the time!

- “Finally! Of course!” he jumped out of his seat out of pure joy.

- “Okay! Maybe.. last class?” you suggested. He nodded his head furiously. “Hmm.. around 3:30 then?” you looked at him, which he responded with furious nodding. You giggled before nodding your head too.

- The male kept looking at the classroom clock every 30 seconds or so, his leg jolting up and down by the millisecond. 

He looked at the clock once more, finally hitting 3:30 exactly. He grinned to himself, a sense of relief and excitement flowing through his veins. 

“Yo teach! Gotta go piss!” he raised his hand. “Uh.. sure.” the teacher said, quite unsure of what to even respond to that. The male jumped out of his seat, exiting the classroom in ungodly speed.

He raced down the hallway, making it in the bathroom area in.. again ungodly speed. Before he could halt himself, he accidentally bumps into someone on the way in. “Jamie?” you looked up at him. “Hey, babe!” he smiled widely. “You’re here early.” you giggled. “Sorry, I guess I was just excited!” he huffed, finally catching his breath.

“So, where to?”

The two of you made it to the gate, staring at it. “Mm.” you groaned. “Wanna climb it?” the male looked at you. “I don’t think I have the stability for that.” you whispered to him.

You jiggled the gate, the gate making a noise. “Oh, it’s open.” you said, almost dumb-founded. Phoenix laughed. You opened the gate but it echoed loudly, creaking with such volume a security guard popped out of ass-cheek nowhere.

“Hey! Where are you two going!?” the voice boomed. “OH, SHIT.” Phoenix yelled, he quickly took your hand and ran out the gate.

“HEY!!” the same voice shouted.

Phoenix cocked his head back before laughing loudly. You tried your best to keep up with his legs, you kind of had to since if you were caught lacking you’d have a face full of dirt. You chuckled which then bursted into laughter as Phoenix just ran.

He finally stopped when you two were far enough from the school, which left you both in a panting mess. He looked at you as he panted harshly before giggling again. “Stop giggling..” you smiled at him, trying your best to catch your breath.

“My mom’s gonna kick my ass later.”

“Lmao, same.”

(the end!! anyways, wish me luck for school tomorrow! I’ll gladly do a part two of Yoru’s arcade date or something if you guys like it! keep safe and sanitize your desks 🥰💋)

(also don’t worry about me not posting or some goofy shit like that, i like the clout sooo..)

(GODDAMNIT I FORGOT DONT FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE AWESOME BANGERS LIKETHIS!!!!)

[ultimatebethylficlist]

Veteran Author of The Month: June 2021

The featured veteran author for June is also a co-admin right here at UBFL: SquishyCool (or @im-immortal )!

SquishyCool can be found on AO3 and FFN under the same penname.

When asked what got her into Bethyl and what the fandom means to her, she said:

I’ve been a hardcore TWD fan since the show began airing, but that’s because of my love for zombies. In all honesty, I didn’t really ship anyone for the first 3-4 seasons. I kind of shipped Daryl with Carol, but then it became clear that it was a platonic relationship and in all honesty, I just wanted to see them both get some action lmao. Then the prison fell... and in those first moments of “Still,” when we see Beth and Daryl running and running and finally collapsing on the ground, breathless and exhausted... the butterflies started. Something clicked and I immediately thought, “uh oh.” The rest is history, especially considering how “Still” and “Alone” played out. I can’t explain how or why I’m still so heavily invested, especially considering my last 2 fandoms only kept my attention for about 2-3 years each, but here I am. And I love it! I am so incredibly grateful for the Bethyl fandom because not only has it helped me improve my writing so much more than I ever could have imagined, but it has also introduced me to some of the most amazing people, including someone who I now consider one of my very best friends! It’s my happy place :)

For her personal fic rec list, she recommends:

In The Maw by ronsparkyspeirs

Way Down We Go by LeathernLaces

Surfacing by lindentree

Wild Things (The Moonshine Poet) by Abelina

The Gift by Feliz

The Man Who Can't Be Moved by burningupasun

New Experiences Series by wallflow3r

Whisper Softly to Me by taylorcatherine

Interstice by leftmywingshome

To Love Like a Man by Seraphique

Death, Death (i defy thee) by alamorn

In My Blood by Courtneyshortney82

Let the Good Times Roll by gutsforgarters

Resolved by Allatariel

the weight of these wings by peachthorns

all my spaces are filled with you by annabeth_writes

A Little Jailbreak with the Little Jailbait by wandering_gypsy_feet

between the beginning and the end by sheriffandsteel

SquishyCool’s Works & Personal Thoughts:

Dirty Fingernails and Dried Blood Summary: What happened during the months between "Still" and "Alone"? Beth uses the last pages of her diary to write down every detail of surviving with Daryl. Thoughts: My first Bethyl fanfic. It holds a special place in my heart for that reason, though it is pretty rough. If I could go back, I never would’ve done it entirely in first-person. But I do plan to finish it one day. There are some scenes I’m particularly proud of, and I still have a long note full of ideas and plot points.

Most Wanted Summary: After Beth’s mother and half-brother are murdered in a drug war, the godly veil on the Greene Family operation is lifted, and law enforcement comes down hard. In an effort to protect her family, Beth commits a heinous crime that could mean life in prison alongside them. Now everyone she’s ever trusted is in police custody and her only chance at freedom is to get as far away from Atlanta as she can... Thoughts: Well, this is a must-read if you like my writing. I hope to one day convert this into an original fiction and maybe get it published, but I need to finish it first LOL. I got the idea from ONE scene of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and from there, it exploded into a huge mystery thriller (with lots of romance and smut). I’m really really proud of it, and I’m scared I’ll fuck it up tbh, so I keep putting off continuing it. But I really need to get back to it because I really want people to see what I have planned! (Also, this fic is the reason @courtneyshortney82​ started talking to me, so that alone is pretty historic lmao)

The Crow’s Song Summary: Beth and Daryl spend a few more days together in the funeral home and come to terms with all they've lost along the way. But soon, they must decide what comes next. Thoughts: This fic... this fucking fic. It took me a full year to write. I made numerous edits. I even got a little depressed while I was writing the last two chapters, and my bf didn’t know why until he read what I’d been writing lol. It’s honestly the Bethyl fic I’ve always wanted to write but just didn’t know how. I’m still really really proud of how it turned out.

Carnival Games Summary: Daryl is a traveling carnival worker and Beth is a barely legal farmer's daughter looking for a night of fun when the carnival comes to town. Thoughts: Omg this fic is so fun!! One of my first Bethyl fics, and one of my first Bethyl smut fics. Short, sweet, a little funny, and a lot hot. I am still impressed with myself on this one, especially considering how much my writing has improved since lol

Breathe. Please. Summary: Beth shows up at the Hilltop. Alive. Daryl can hardly believe his eyes. Until she's lying in his bed, an arm's reach away. And he can hear her inhaling... exhaling... inhaling... Thoughts: Another “fix-it” that I’m proud of. Tbh I didn’t think it was anything all that special, but a lot of readers have said it’s one of their favorites, and some say they reread it regularly, and nothing makes me happier than hearing that, so I am extremely proud.

picking @ scabs Summary: Sometimes, no matter how much you love someone, being with them just isn't right. But what wouldn't you give for it to be right? Can someone like Daryl learn how to swallow his pride and stop repeating the same mistakes over and over? Can someone like Beth learn to fight off her demons and allow him to get close enough to hurt her again? How can they stay away from each other when it's all too easy to fall back into one another? Picking a scab will leave a scar, but they both have so many scars already... what's a few more? Thoughts: This fic is very, very personal for me. It’s like my “therapy” fic. I have poured some of my deepest feelings and struggles into its chapters, and the whole idea that got me to start it was that I wanted to find a way to navigate and cope with ending my 3-year long relationship with my emotionally/mentally/sometimes physically abusive ex. I still have a lot of fond memories from that relationship, but even more so, I have painful memories. Not to mention, going through your early 20s as a woman in the modern day is a fuckin’ trip, so this kind of explores that. It’s really self-indulgent, I think, but I’m really proud of the smut in it. And more than that, I’m proud of the response. I’ve had a few people message me or comment to say that they’ve felt all those things, or have experienced similar things, and it’s really just... relieving. I put my heart and soul out there, and what I got back was “you’re not alone.” So yeah, this fic is special. I wanna finish it soon, but I have to be in A Mood to do so. 

In Toto Corde Summary: Despite a million reasons not to, Beth and Daryl fell in love. Then he made the ultimate sacrifice in order to keep all of his promises. Now, facing unimaginable consequences at the hands of witch hunters, Beth has no choice but to use her powers to bring Daryl back from the dead. "He won't be the same..." Thoughts: I LOVE THIS FIC. I love it so much that I had to rewrite it after like 4 or 5 years. And I already started on a sequel that I really hope I’m able to finish. Though it doesn’t have many hits, and I don’t think many people have read it at all, which I understand since it basically is entirely focused around Daryl being killed. But damn, I’m proud of this one, and it was really fucking fun to write because witch!Beth is just... the best.

risk it all (part 1 of in for a penny, in for a pound) Summary: Daryl Dixon has a pretty decent life, all things considered. He's got his own place. A good dog. A few friends. Even a girlfriend. He keeps himself out of trouble. Until he starts texting Beth Greene. And hell, if he ain't about to risk it all for this damn girl. Thoughts: This was supposed to be one short multichapter fic focused entirely on smut and social media. Then I got on a roll and it ended up being the beginning of a series! This fic is purely fun. Nothing too serious or heavy. I write it when I’m in a Good Mood because it’s my little happy place. I have plans for about 4 more fics before the series will be finished!

Don’t Make Me Haunt You Summary: So here's the thing: Merle Dixon is dead as fuck. And as it turns out, Beth Greene is the only one who can see or hear him. Which is weird considering she's never met or even heard of this guy, let alone anyone with the last name Dixon. That's her first problem... Thoughts: The reception to this fic has absolutely blown me away. I had no idea anyone would want to read about ghost!Merle haunting Beth and forcing her to solve his murder with the help of his grumpy brother. And it was all inspired by an episode of South Park lmao then I started really getting into it and now it’s just like, my super fun fic where I explore a range of emotions and all kinds of religious beliefs and different mythologies and I can build the world however I want and goddamn I just love writing this fic. Plus there’s a podfic for it! I can’t even begin to explain how much I love this fic and how proud I am of it :)

[lilydalexf]

Old School X is a project interviewing X-Files fanfic authors who were posting fic during the original run of the show. New interviews are posted every Tuesday.

Interview with Tabula Rasa

Tabula Rasa has 8 stories at Gossamer, but there are even more X-Files fics at AO3 and her website. She writes Mulder and Scully in a very lovely way. I've recced 3 of my favorites of her fics here before: Bird in Snow, Fall: East on M St, and Skuamorph. Big thanks to Tabula Rasa for doing this interview.

Does it surprise you that people are still interested in reading your X-Files fanfics and others that were posted during the original run of the show (1993-2002)?

I'm always extremely pleasantly surprised to get kudos (or, very rarely, a comment) on my old fic, but I'm always happy to see it! I did post them all (I think) to AO3. I'm not surprised people are still reading fic, though. It's an iconic show and now with streaming, it's really easy to watch older shows and natural to want fic about them!

What do you think of when you think about your X-Files fandom experience? What did you take away from it?

XF was my first fandom, definitely my first online fandom, and so it will always have a special place in my heart. Also... I had a great time! I stumbled upon and joined the Scullyfic email list by accident, but it was the best thing I could have done. I learned a lot about how to be a writer and how to be in fandom, and those lessons are still important to me. Foundational. Also, in terms of modern fandom drama, XF was more low-key on the drama (although it didn't seem like it at the time!). But I learned something that's always served me well: find like-minded people, and hang out with them. Don't worry about the rest.

Also... you can't control the show, but you kind of can control the canon.

Because of Scully, I ended up taking a forensic anthropology class in university-- and now I have a Master's in a forensic science! Part of the Scully Effect, and proud of it!

Social media didn't really exist during the show's original run. How were you most involved with the X-Files online (atxc, message board, email mailing list, etc.)?

Definitely mostly email list! I never really got the hang of message boards. Posting fic was exhausting, and tbh I never figured out how to work Ephemeral. I checked it every day, though! I loved, after a new episode, everyone sending in their thoughts and reading everyone's experiences together. Fandom was a lot more work back then, tbh!

What did you take away from your experience with X-Files fic or with the fandom in general?

That fic can be just as good, or better, than traditionally published works. There are works of XF fic that have stuck with me for years now, far more than some books I've read. That fan writers can know the characters better than the show writers. The fandom in general was really smart, and mostly more adult than me (I joined fandom when I went away to college, so I always felt at the younger end of the scale. That was good though!).

Also, my first time reading and writing porn. Not gonna lie, I was shocked the first time I accidentally read smut. But I adjusted fast. lol

What was it that got you hooked on the X-Files as a show?

I was still a kid (now we would say preteen) when the show premiered- I think in middle school. But I was already into ghosts, aliens, monsters, solving mysteries, and I'd already imprinted on the dynamic thanks to Square One (really)! I was also just old enough to start developing celebrity crushes. Hilariously, I did not twig to the fact that I'm bisexual the entire time I was in XF fandom, despite having enormous crushes on BOTH Mulder and Scully. Ahhhh!

Also, my whole family was into the show, but I was definitely the one with the hyperfixation. I used to take notes and record the episodes as I watched. It just had the right stuff and hit at the right time. And I've always been obsessive.

What got you involved with X-Files fanfic?

As a kid I also really liked Star Trek, and someone had given my dad a book about the history of Star Trek, which I read. This included mentions of fandom and fanfic. As soon as I had a private-- and perhaps more importantly fast-- internet connection (in college), I went looking for XF fanfic, and that was that. Hooked immediately. Also I shipped them A LOT so that's what I went looking for.

What is your relationship like now to X-Files fandom?

I tend to not go back to a fandom once I have a new fandom, so I wouldn't say I'm in it. I did hang around the edges for the revival, of course, because I wanted to experience that with the same people, but since the revival was mostly not that great (with a few exceptions), I didn't get pulled back into it. But I still think of the people I knew in the fandom a lot, and always hope they're doing well.

Were you involved with any fandoms after the X-Files? If so, what was it like compared to X-Files?

I've never left fandom, and I've been in a BUNCH: Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Bandom, Supernatural, now CQL/The Untamed and other Chinese-media fandoms, with many smaller ones in between or on the side. I feel like at their core fandoms tend to be similar, although where you host the fandom makes a big difference: Livejournal, tumblr, twitter. I think that because fandoms now tend to be bigger and more diverse (which is good) there tends to be more wank (which is bad). In some of them I was close to a group of people, some of them not. Honestly the best thing is when someone you know from an old fandom is in your new fandom. It's so much fun. I have really good friends thanks to fandom, and I've had them for YEARS. Like. 15 years.

Who are some of your favorite fictional characters? Why?

I tend to focus more on ships than characters, but some of my all-time favs: Scully, Hermione, Sirius Black, Castiel, Lan Wangji, Xie Lian. That's just fandom-oriented ones, otherwise we'd be here all day. :D

Do you ever still watch The X-Files or think about Mulder and Scully?

I don't often rewatch episodes any more, although if I come across an ep on tv I might. I definitely still think about them though! For example, I'm a teacher now, and just a couple weeks ago one of my colleagues mentioned he'd heard the students saying they shipped two of their classmates, and he was like "Ship? I don't get it" and I was like "HOO BOY, do I have a story for you!" And I explained how shipping came from XF fandom, and why. That was fun. I definitely still think about Mulder and Scully too-- I mean, they're cultural touchstones, so they do come up sometimes in greater pop culture. Also, I was in Hannibal fandom for a while, and Gillian Anderson is still The Best.

Do you ever still read X-Files fic? Fic in another fandom?

I haven't read XF fic in years, even the ones I remember as being really significant/important to me. I still have my all-time favs saved on an external HD though! Fic in another fandom- every day lol.

Do you have any favorite X-Files fanfic stories or authors?

Blinded by White Light by DashaK has stuck with me. Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the Ruby-Throated Warbler by I forget I'm so sorry -- that's lasted as my ideal post-canon MSR and as an interesting and different way to tell a story.  [Lilydale note: It’s by rah.] I was always thrilled to see fic by Brandon, JET, MaybeAmanda, Syntax6... and, frankly, everyone on the Scullyfic/ Emuse list. So many talented people in that fandom!

What is your favorite of your own fics, X-Files and/or otherwise?

Things Outside, which is the only thing I've ever written based on a dream, and I'm really satisfied with it. It was hard to write but so much fun to revel in the weirdness. I always kind of wanted to write more because I know a lot more about the situation, but otoh, I like the open, ambiguous ending (usually I am very HEA).

In other fandoms, King & Country in bandom (MCR) and in Supernatural I'm very proud of Hope and Clay. I struggle to write casefics even though I love to read them, but that one really worked out.

Do you think you'll ever write another X-Files story? Or dust off and post an oldie that for whatever reason never made it online?

I don't think I'll ever write something new. There is an old fic that may be done but it was smut so I was too shy to post it at the time. In theory if I find it and it's decent, I could post it!

Do you still write fic now? Or other creative work?

I do! I write fic very slowly, but I do write still! I have a million ideas for stories, but I'm so slow at the actual writing part.

Where do you get ideas for stories?

I usually take a jumping-off point from canon, or of course, something I need to fix or expand on. Or sometimes I start telling myself a story as I fall asleep and the idea grabs me long enough I can manage to write it.

What's the story behind your pen name?

I was getting into fandom and realized people didn't use their real names. I flipped through my history book looking for inspiration, and decided tabula rasa was a great name for a writer. I tend to add an X because it's rare to get "tabularasa" as a username, and the X is indeed for X-Files (so I'm something like tabulaxrasa most places). I usually go by Tabula Rasa or Tab, though. And I still use it because 1) it IS a great name for a writer; and 2) it's not fandom-specific so I can keep it in every fandom.

I identify with it so much I have answered to this name in class (oops). I have a "Tab" t-shirt (as in the soda, but I have worn it to Comic-Con for ease of ID-- better than a nametag!). And my mom got me a necklace with a "tab" typewriter key as a charm, which I adore. Yes, I have accidental merch of myself.

Do your friends and family know about your fic and, if so, what have been their reactions?

As you can tell from the above, my family knows (my family being my parents and sister). They are supportive! I think my mom read a couple stories? But obviously she has to know the fandom to get it... I got my sister into fic, and we even wrote a couple fics together (in Gundam Wing). She's a lot more selective about fandoms, but she's joined fandoms on her own, too. She's just not in one constantly, like me. :p

I tend not to tell not-online friends unless I have felt them out and know they're super fannish, or they bring it up first.

Is there a place online (tumblr, twitter, AO3, etc.) where people can find you and/or your stories now?

Most of my old fic is now on AO3 and I hang out on twitter a lot, @tabula_x_rasa

Is there anything else you'd like to share with fans of X-Files fic?

I'm really glad people are still in this fandom! It will always be so important to me. Thank you Lilydale, for this nostalgia trip!

(Posted by Lilydale on March 30, 2021)

[punkrockbuttrfly]

So I got tagged by @electrick-indigo to answer some questions about the fanfics I write

How many works do you have on AO3? 68. Most of those are things I write during Fictober challenges, so I’ll need to write something before October this year so I can have it be a nice number for a while

What’s your total AO3 word count? 152,901

What fandoms have you written for? Doctor Who, Classic, New and Big Finish (including Gallifrey and Bernice Summerfield), Kingdom Hearts, Power Rangers (show and comics), Star Wars, Metal Gear, Red Dwarf, The Mechanisms, Among Us, Undertale, and Untitled Goose Game. Most of those fandoms I’ve only written one or two fics for, most of them are Doctor Who related and also that one anonymous fic we don’t talk about but if you’ve read it you Know

What are your top 5 fics by kudos? Somehow Untitled Goose God is my most popular (for Untitled Goose Game, obvs) despite it being probably my shortest piece written in like 20 minutes inspired by a piece of friend art. After that is Revelation of the Laundry (New Who), The Standards of Trust (Star Wars, probably ongoing assuming I ever finish it), Time and Space to Study (New Who) and finally The Sevateem’s New War Cry (Gallifrey).

Do you respond to comments, why or why not? I try to, because I thrive on validation and am desperate for people to prop up my considerable ego. I like it when people tell me what they enjoyed about my story, and also half the time inspire an even better idea that I can write later. I’m really nothing without an audience to crib jokes from.

What is the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending? Honestly I can think of a few but the one that I’m going to promote is actually my most recent fic, Who commands, a Toy obeys (Doctor Who, The Mechanisms) where the Twelfth Doctor meets the Mechs’ own Toy Soldier and ends up having yet another emotional crisis, as 12 tends to do a lot.

Do you write crossovers? If so, what’s the craziest one you’ve written? Well I did just talk about my Doctor Who/Mechanisms crossover, but I’ve also written a couple more. I wrote a Gallifrey/Red Dwarf one and a Power Rangers Time Force/Doctor Who one and that’s the extent of my crossovers, though I’m not opposed to writing more.

Have you ever received hate on a fic? Not really. I’ve had a few people comment to say they disliked an integral part of the story and then say nothing else, but I don’t think that qualifies as hate. Though tbh if they did I’d just laugh, like, how do you not have anything better to do? I know my writing isn’t good, that’s why I’m writing fanfic for fun to get better at it so that eventually I might be able to be good at writing.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Not so far, though I’m not opposed to the concept. I just wouldn’t really know where to start.

Have you ever had a fic stolen? No, and I doubt I will, although again if it did happen I’d just laugh. Like, of all the wonderful creators you could be stealing from, you picked me? Surely you must have better taste.

Have you ever co-written a fic before? Not yet. I’d like to, mostly because in theory it will get me to stop procrastinating and do a thing, and also I’d love to develop a concept with someone else with a different perspective and ideas. In theory I’m meant to be planning a co-written fic with someone, buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut spoons are in very short supply and it’s sort of not gotten off the ground yet (sorry!)

What’s your all-time favourite ship? I don’t do favourites really, and half of my “favourite” ships are canon anyway and I haven’t written much or anything for that ship. Based on the shipfics I have written probably my most prolific one is either Narvin/Leela or Liv Chenka/Helen Sinclair (which is now definitely not canon as of Stranded).

What’s a WIP you want to finish but don’t think you ever will? Considering that The Standards of Trust (linked above) is supposed to be a series of stories across Ahsoka’s life but I’m taken a huge amount of time to watch The Clone Wars already and also I refuse to watch her solo spinoff series because of bullshit casting decisions, I don’t think I’ll ever “finish” it.

What are your writing strengths? I have absolutely no idea. Why do you people read my writing? This isn’t even self-deprecating, I genuinely want to know what y’all like about my writing because I have no idea.

What are your writing weaknesses? Second verse, same as the first. But also my spoons deficit and tendency to procrastinate hard, but that’s hardly exclusive to me, that’s something most writers struggle with.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic? Never done it, probably won’t do it in any substantial capacity. I’ve tried learning languages before and I’m spectacularly bad at it, so I’ll most likely never have the proficiency to do it well enough to confidently publish something like that.

What was the first fandom you wrote for? Doctor Who. Also Gallifrey. The Macqueen Master battled Narvin. The Resurrection of Fear was the first fanfic I ever wrote after not having applied myself to writing fiction for a very long time beyond a couple of drabbles as a teenager, so it’s not very good, but hopefully it can serve as a demonstration of progression.

What’s your favourite fic you’ve written? Beyond the Stars, the followup to the Beyond the Grid arc of the Boom Studios Power Rangers comics that I wanted so much that I decided to write it myself, enough that hopefully soon I’ll get back to actually writing it, but this is one WIP I am determined to finish. By the end it’s going to be novel-length, and while it’s based on a non-original IP, it’s meant to be standalone enough that hopefully anyone can read it without needing context. Besides, do you need more context than “gay superhero found family space opera”?

Tagging @being-of-rain, @alison-is-a-lesbian, and @floptopus

[rebelsandtherest]

If you were going to write/read a public au, what elements would you like explored? Asking for a friend, of course

OOOooOoOohh man there is just so much to unpack, you know? It would be so interesting to explore a world where the nations are public figures, maybe even close to celebrities. I have too many ideas to list them all here, but here are a few thoughts:

1. Who is revealed first? Nearly all of the AUs I’ve read in this vein (and tbh there aren’t a lot out there) all revolve around the moment that nations’ existence is revealed to the world, and unless I’m mistaken, all of them (save for maybe one) imply that the USA is the origin of the leak. Whether that be through a breach in intelligence, incompetence, or Alfred flat out admitting it himself, this is a common motif in these stories and honestly, I kind of hate it.

Like, I get it. The nation who gets revealed first usually ends up being the focal character of any given AU, and seeing as the bulk of the fandom’s fanfic authors are American, Alfred gets a lot of attention. On the other side of things, people who dislike America will use this as a way to bash on Alfred/The US as a whole. All in all, the premise is popular and not unreasonable. However, it lacks creativity and imagination.

I have no idea if I’d ever have time to write my own nations revealed/public AU, but if I did, I have seriously considered having—and hear me out—Canada be the source of the info leak. Why? A few reasons.

Canada is one of the, if not the, most-liked nation in the world. Multiple polls over multiple years have always set Canada on top of the world in terms of good public opinion internationally. Seriously, virtually no nation has a beef with Canada except for the Philippines who had to play hot potato with Canadian garbage for a few years back in 2013/2014.

Canada, while being a member of NATO, the UN, UNESCO, G7, G20, I could go on, has historically taken a backseat to other more powerful nations, a trend which Canadian diplomats and PMs are continually trying to overcome. However, if Canada were to become the source of arguably the largest intelligence breach in the history of... well, if not the world, certainly the last millennium, I think that Canada might suddenly get all that attention it’s been after, just maybe not in the right way.

Several AUs that feature Alfred as the first to be revealed will also feature some scenario wherein the paparazzi or news mistakes Matthew for Alfred. I think it would be fun to flip this script and have Alfred’s big reveal come when someone mistakes him for Matthew. And suddenly, for the first time ever, It’s not “Alfred and his twin, Matthew,” it’s “Matthew and his twin, Alfred”. Also, this would drag Alfred into the spotlight and suddenly the US has to confirm or deny the whole nations thing, and holy shit, did they really confirm it? It’s not just Canada, what is happening? Where are the rest of them? How long have they known about all of this? Who else is out there?

Canada being the first spokesperson for all nations, just for a bit, before everyone’ identities are known. Just... I need it. Again, Canada is very well-loved around the world. (Whether this is merited or not I will leave up to you). But you have to realize that, when suddenly the world is full of essentially immortal beings, all of whom have been active and more often than not willing participants in the most heinous atrocities in history, people are going to be extremely mad at them. And when the humans are all riled up and demanding answers, the spokesperson for the nations, the first one to be revealed, the one who has to protect his fellow nations who are struggling to remain in hiding so they can control their own lives, is..... Canada. I just think that’s a great and interesting scenario.

2. How are the others revealed? Do they have a choice?

So after the news breaks and Canada is revealed, how do the other nations respond? I’ve already said that I think Alfred would be found out in short order due to his being practically identical with Matt. Someone sees him, thinks he’s Canada, he’s confused and insists he’s not, a bunch of online conspiracy theorists (who’ve lowkey suspected about nations for a while) come out of the woodwork with images of Alfred in U.S. military uniforms spanning the last century, and suddenly the US government is forced to own up to Al’s existence.

So you’ve got two big countries revealed. Who’s next?

Do nations go into hiding? If they do, do they have their government’s support?

Do some governments forcibly reveal their nations’ identities as some kind of PR move?

Do others just continue on with their lives and hope they don’t get found out?

Do nations just ‘out’ themselves on purpose to get it all over with?

How is the response different for nations who are women?

I have only very foggy opinions on who goes into hiding and who doesn’t, how other nations are revealed, etc, but it would be really interesting to discuss. (I do have specific opinions on Germany, Prussia, Sweden, and Finland, but that’s another post for another time.)

3. When the dust settles, what are the nations’ relationships with the general public?

This you can discuss in the immediate aftermath of the reveal, or even decades after, where the knowledge of the nations is ingrained in the international consciousness. 30, 40 years on, maybe some nations are still unknown and are still in hiding. Others may be full-blown celebrities, by choice or by accident.

Some go onto talk shows. Some do interviews. Some get cameo acting jobs in movies or commercials. Some run incredibly successful instagram, tiktok, or youtube accounts, and some just continue to live their lives as normal with the occasional human recognizing them now and again. 

Do the nations talk publicly about their personal histories? Their deaths? The things they regret? The people they miss most?

Do nations talk about history? Do they consider it unethical to correct humans’ perceptions of history? The interpretation of history is an extremely politically and nationally important subject, and governments will always have an opinion on the matter.

Do nations talk about their relationships with each other? If they do, do they speak of it in broad, diplomatic terms, or do they feel comfortable expressing details of their personal relationships with other nations?

Speaking of, what is the general public's understanding of how the nations are but are not ‘related’ to each other?

4. Nations’ relationship to politics and government post-reveal

Okay, so everyone knows about nations. Are the nations allowed to have political opinions? They’re supposed to represent all the people of their country, is it acceptable for them to express any particular opinion, even if the majority of their citizens agree with them? 

To what extent do governments censor their nations? Are there laws drawn up around this?

How much control do governments have over their nations’ lives? Does the public eye change this?

Are nations allowed to continue working for the government?

Do nations continue to conduct World Meetings in secret, or does it become a well-known international affair?

If something untoward were to happen to a nation, does it become international news? How much or little does the public learn about the nations’ immortality?

You have to know that in democratic governments, individual political parties and/or campaigning candidates would attempt to use their nations as a way to garner support. Even if the nation detests the party/candidate, everyone wants their nation to support their party. How do the nations deal with this pressure?

5. Nations’ relationships to each other in a post-reveal world

In a world where a lot of nations are practically celebrities, while some are still in hiding, how does this affect their relationships?

Would those in hiding avoid spending time with those who are famous, to protect their privacy?

How do well-known nations who are good friends with each other deal with public speculation on their relationship[s]? How do they deal with this speculation from government personnel and politicians?

Are the nations’ international travel plans monitored? How does this affect how they interact with each other?

Anyway, those are just some rambling thoughts I have. Maybe one day I’ll write a few snippets in this AU. I have a general idea of how the world might work in this AU, but have no desire to write a long fic about it. But maybe a oneshot here, a oneshot there. We’ll see what I have time for.

I hope that helps you- er, your friend. ;)