#I grew up with a lot of sci-fi so I'm not surprised there was a lot of robots

[eldritchships]

how did u get into trabsformers n such? ive always recognized you as a fan of it butwas curuous how long youve been into it! and whether uve ever liked skmething like bionicles, other mechs, etc

I was first exposed to Transformers as a kid! I don't have an exact age but I was probably around 5 or 6? Because I was shown the first few live-action movies. I also watched the Transformers Animated cartoon, which was produced around the same time. So I was familiar with it but never super engaged? Until a few years ago when I watched some more of the then-recent cartoons, and that hooked me into becoming a full-fledged fan!

I never had any Bionicle but I did like the look of them! (As far as Lego goes, I was a Ninjago guy myself :] - And Ninjago did have a giant samurai mech I loved actually!!). I did recently rediscover how much I like Ultron from the Earth's Mightiest Heroes show, and he's a Marvel villain who's a sentient robot. There's a couple other androids from DC/Marvel that I've always loved too, like Red Tornado and Aya the Green Lantern. The more I think about it, the more robots and mechs I can remember liking that probably helped contribute towards my tastes now!

[pikahlua]

I've been in the dkbk fandom for 3 years and my husband is an anime only. We just watched the new episode and he was disappointed. He predicted that Star will die and the plot won't really move forward. He's a sci-fi fan and he's seen many a series fall apart after more characters, complexity, and a war are introduced. I've been avoiding spoling the manga for him but since he's lost interest, I spoiled him and confirmed that the manga has been in a holding pattern for 2-3 years with this final arc. I told him what you said about Bk's death and Deku losing his arms as being symbolic but he said those actions being reversed lowers the stakes and it's hard to maintain emotional investment if you know that major plot points will just get reversed. I wanna believe in Hori but I'm waiting for payoff instead of enjoying the story. Is what's happening really good storytelling if this final battle has been dragging on so long and Deku's characterization has come to a halt?

I’m hesitant to answer this. I said I wouldn't answer any asks that were looking to me for reasons to keep liking MHA, and I really don't want to encourage more asks like this--and yes OP, I don't know if you realize it but that's basically what you're asking. You've framed this question around your husband's opinions, but you're couching your own thoughts inside.

If your issue is that you and your husband like different media, then that's a marital issue to resolve; accept that you shouldn't always watch all media together, particularly if doing so isn't fun for both of you. But your husband doesn't like what's going on in MHA, and this is enough to make you doubt whether or not MHA is written well? Despite the fact that many, many people like MHA in its current form? That sounds more to me like you agree with your husband. It certainly doesn't sound like you tried to sell this story arc to him.

I decided I'll answer a question like this this one time because it'll help me summarize my feelings on these topics, though I'm sorry to say the topics I address may not be what you expect.

"We just watched the new episode and he was disappointed. He predicted that Star will die and the plot won't really move forward."

Is this really a surprise? I don't remember anyone being all that into this arc when it first came out. Everyone was saying Star would die, and yet most people did not correctly predict the actual outcome of this fight--that Star's quirk would be eliminated and Tomura would be weakened. Most guessed Tomura would steal Star's quirk and become overpowered.

"He's a sci-fi fan and he's seen many a series fall apart after more characters, complexity, and a war are introduced."

You mention sci-fi but uh, has your husband watched like...any other anime? Ever? At all? MHA is far from the first shounen anime to do this. You can't really make your husband like MHA if his problem is that he came to an anime restaurant and got upset when there was nothing but anime on the menu.

Seriously, MHA is not doing all that much different with its ending than what Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood did, and that's one of the most critically acclaimed shounen anime of all time. If he's predisposed to dislike the stuff anime does, that's not a writing problem. That's a mismatch of anime with his tastes.

It strikes a nerve with me because I grew up loving anime and was bullied for it by people with opinions such as your husband's. Now, the mainstream-ification of anime has drawn those same sorts of people to anime for whatever reason, and all they seem to wanna do is complain about anime being anime. Take sci-fi for example: I typically hate outerspace-themed media and the concepts such media often explore, and you know what I do? Not watch it. I've decided such media is not for me. Honestly, the same is true for a lot of anime too. I am very picky about anime because there are some tropes or themes I'm just sick of.

"I've been avoiding spoling the manga for him but since he's lost interest, I spoiled him and confirmed that the manga has been in a holding pattern for 2-3 years with this final arc."

This is where it sounds like you primed him with your own feelings, because it certainly doesn't sound like you were selling him. I don't even know what this means. "A holding pattern"? Do you mean the arc has just been going on a long time (see: welcome to anime being anime)? Or do you mean not much has happened with Izuku? Because I am getting a bit of a sense that your issue is you're an Izuku fan and his growth has been slow because the arc has had to wrap up all the other characters' arcs first. Because a lot HAS been happening with all the other characters (and we recently got some Izuku progression too).

The only other thing I can think of is an opinion I've had for a long time. I think a lot of anime fans don't realize they're not actually manga people. You watch an anime you like a lot and you wanna get up to speed, so you go to the manga not understanding that the manga is different from the anime. The pacing is different, as is the presentation and focus on details. The manga presents one or two story points per chapter, whereas anime episodes are 2-3 chapters compressed into one sitting. The anime's major selling point is its fast pacing, but this is not a selling point of the manga--of ANY weekly manga. "2-3 years" means very little in the context of a 15-page-a-week-AT-BEST manga.

"I told him what you said about Bk's death and Deku losing his arms as being symbolic"

The symbolism angle is one thing. I've never really understood why people like any media without symbolism--that's what gives a story its flavor, isn't it? If we're talking about tropes and familiar story structures, the artist's approach to familiar items is precisely what makes it unique and interesting to me. I wouldn't become invested enough to care about Katsuki's death if all that mattered to me was the surface-level event.

But are you saying you spoiled the fact that Izuku lost his arms? That's...not that big of a plot point to spoil if you ask me. Certainly not one I'd bring up as one of the greatest hits of this arc. This is another detail that makes me feel like you're particularly focused on Izuku, which is not a bad thing nor is there anything wrong with that, but Izuku doesn't actually feature very much in this anime season all things considered. It's hard to sell anyone on what's currently happening with Izuku in the manga since we just got to his stuff and it's not complete.

Again, this was what happened with Fullmetal Alchemist. The last arc covered the events of one day that ended the final war. The main characters were only occasionally featured and didn't do all that much in the season until the very end, as one would expect. When it was coming out in manga form, the pacing was admittedly very weird because of this storytelling choice, albeit it felt a bit different from MHA since it was a monthly manga and covered more ground per chapter. But when the same arc was adapted to anime, the feeling and pacing were very different, and a lot of iffy elements improved on me as a result.

"he said those actions being reversed lowers the stakes and it's hard to maintain emotional investment if you know that major plot points will just get reversed."

Is your husband someone who watches things only once and then can't rewatch and enjoy them ever again? Does he only watch stories for plot twists and once he knows the twist he stops liking it?

I don't understand this general obsession with consequences and stakes a lot of people have. Sure, they are elements that can contribute to a mood or feeling in a story, but they're far from the make-or-break linchpins so many people make them out to be. The "reversals" are major plot points too. I find much more enjoyment in trying to follow why a writer would do such things and what they're trying to say than wondering how likely some character is to die or how many people will be brutalized.

I'm in the camp that believes spoilers should not make a difference in whether or not I find a series "good" or whether or not I can invest in it. I personally have played video games specifically BECAUSE they were spoiled for me and it sounded like I would like them, and having those major things spoiled for me did not detract from my enjoyment at all. I'm not saying everyone has to be like me, but I do certainly think a story's ability to persist as an impactful and memorable work has very little to do with its stakes and everything to do with how it handles its story and characters. Was Star Wars memorable and beloved because of how many people were at risk of dying in it? Was something taken away from the story when Luke got a robotic replacement for the hand he lost?

Goodness, didn't the MHA fandom predict for years that Dabi was Touya Todoroki? And wasn't everyone just waiting for the reveal to fucking happen already so we could get it over with? And wasn't the entire fandom surprised and enthralled when the Touya reveal did happen precisely because it was handled in such a unique and cool way with Horikoshi's flair? Did predicting that twist really ruin anything for the story?

A good story is a good story.

"I'm waiting for payoff instead of enjoying the story."

I can't know what payoff you're waiting for. I've enjoyed all the events and details along the way, even if there were some expected dips here and there. When I went back and reread the entire arc in one go, the pacing really hit me differently and I got a lot out of it. If you're not enjoying the story, that's not about whether or not the story is employing "good storytelling." I've enjoyed plenty of stories that were told poorly and sloppily because there were other redeeming features that appealed to me. This is about preference. You and your husband have your own personal preferences, and that's okay! But you both have to manage your preferences with respect to each other and to yourselves.

"Is what's happening really good storytelling if this final battle has been dragging on so long and Deku's characterization has come to a halt?"

If you're actually interested in whether or not MHA has "good storytelling," I'd suggest you take a creative writing class or otherwise learn about the way stories are told in different media i.e. novels vs comics vs TV shows vs movies vs video games. But I honestly don't think that's what you mean. I think you're looking for permission to keep liking MHA even if you personally don't like its storytelling or how Izuku's character is currently being handled. I can tell you from experience that yeah, you can. Plenty of people do it all the time. Some people get so frustrated with the stories they like they write fix-it fanfiction. Some people appreciate the way a story is so perfectly written that they cannot build a fandom around it because they can't come up with anything to add. It's going to depend on you and how you want to approach the situation, and while I'm happy to talk about what I like about MHA and which writing choices I think are well made, that's not going to get us very far if you don't like the same things.

I do often find media that I personally think is not written that well, and like I said, sometimes I like it and sometimes I hate it, but if it's a piece of media with a large fanbase like MHA, I have a hard time calling its writing universally "bad." If it speaks to that many people in some way, clearly there's something about it that reaches people effectively, and who am I to judge? I'm certainly no expert in quality of writing. All I have are what I've taken away from my education in literature/writing, my years of experience with many anime that came before MHA, and my thoughts on all the other media I've enjoyed. My experiences will lead to different conclusions than others'. I know I don't like a lot of what's popular with most people, so I certainly can't hold myself out as some paragon of good taste.

It's okay to like or dislike whatever for whatever reason. I don't always stay with the same fandom. I move around when I find new and good things. I sometimes come back to old things I loved and like it anew or find it underwhelming as I currently am. As of right now, I'm actually willing to say something I never was before, which is that MHA might be one of the best-written manga if not the best manga I've ever read. While FMA is top-tier, its themes are a lot safer than MHA's ambitious goals. MHA was always going to be controversial in some ways just because of what it attempts to do, such as telling its story through comic book-themed superheroes. It also says a lot of political things that risk alienating readers. The levels of risk MHA takes are part of what makes it amazing to me and what makes it a worthwhile piece of art to enjoy. I'm so happy it exists, flaws and all. No story will be universally loved, and that's something I accepted a long time ago when I decided I wouldn't let the bullying stop me from liking anime. All I can hope to do is have the courage to love the things I love and the grace to leave alone the things I dislike for others to enjoy.

[honeybewrites]

Writerly Questionnaire

Thank you @paeliae-occasionally for the tag, @harmonic-melodii for the tag, @the-golden-comet for the tag, @sableglass for the tag, @the-letterbox-archives for the tag,

@ominous-feychild for the tag and @willtheweaver for the tag!! Also thanks to @davycoquette for creating the game!!

About You

When did you start writing?

Hmm, that shouldn't be a hard question and yet here we are. Honestly, I don't know. I have a really shitty memory, especially when it comes to my childhood. I think I might have been around ten when I first started?

Are the genres/themes you enjoy reading different from the ones you write?

No, I definitely like writing the same stuff I read. Fantasy and sci-fi is my jam! Throw in some massive world building, some angst and whump and you've got me hooked.

Is there an author (or just a fellow writer!) you want to emulate, or one to whom you’re often compared?

I definitely haven't been compared to anyone. I would like to emulate Brandon Sanderson in the sense of his massive world building and phenomenal magic systems.

Can you tell me a little about your writing space(s)? (Room, coffee shop, desk, etc.)

I don't really have a set space. I often write on the living room couch because it's the most comfortable. I do have a desk that I will occasionally write at, but it's pretty uncomfortable after a short while, and I mostly use it for other work instead.

What’s your most effective way to muster up some muse?

The car or the bathroom. I know it's sounds super strange, but driving without any music, or better yet riding with it, often gets my brain thinking. And wether I'm showering or just washing my face, a lot of my best ideas come to me in the bathroom.

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and places you write about?

I really don't know, but I doubt it. Like I said, my memory is shitty. We had moved about five or six times by the time I graduated high school. It was all in the same city at least, but different parts of it. As for people, I was a hermit. I didn't have any friends or hardly ever talk to people my age.

Are there any recurring themes in your writing, and if so, do they surprise you at all?

Does whump count? On a more serious note, I haven't done what I call a deep edit in years. I think, just off the top of my head, trauma and abuse are pretty reoccurring, along with internal emotional issues like trust.

Your Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character? (Current WIP, past WIP, never used, etc.)

That's a tough one! I love my babies! I think my current favorite would be 703. She's been around the longest and honestly, she'd helped me through some bad times and I'm not sure I would be here without her.

Which of your characters do you think you’d be friends with in real life?

As much as I love her, 703 and I would not get along. She's a little too trigger happy and I'm a little too non confrontational. I think Rage and I would hit it off pretty well though. Maybe Fres too if I could break through their barriers.

Which of your characters would you dislike the most if you met them?

I have said this before and I'll say it again, Master Gerd. That man is a straight up bastard and I would gladly choke the life out of him if ever given the chance. He just makes me so angry.

Tell me about the process of coming up with of one, all, or any of your characters.

It's pretty different for each one. Sometimes they start with a name, other times they don't. It is pretty consistent that I just start writing them into the story before coming up with all the details. If the character sticks around and starts to have a more predominant role, that's generally when I'll go into detail about their backstory and they get their own file in my doc. But this isn't always the case. Sometimes, I just already know all this information from the start and I can write it all down. 703 was like that. Sometimes things come up along the way slowly. But for the most part, I just start writing and everything else works out fine.

Do you notice any recurring themes/traits among your characters?

Trauma!! Gotta have the dark backstory haha! Most of my OCs have very unhappy and traumatic childhoods/young adult lives 😈. Protectiveness also comes up quite a lot along with being physically strong. I mean, most of my OCs are in a "cult" of some kind that generally goes around fighting things... okay maybe cult is a theme too now that I'm thinking about it. I've got the Mors (bad cult) Oraniz (morally gray cult) Ryuk's pack (wholesome cult) and mafia like organizations in Rune Storm (also bad/morally gray cults)... yeah I think that might be a theme.

How do you picture them? (As real people you imagined, as models/actors who exist in real life, as imaginary artwork, as artwork you made or commissioned, anime style, etc.)

Animation style. I've always wanted, especially when I was younger and life hadn't taught me anything yet, to have my work turned into an animated series. Even now, that little dream, that I realize is very unlikely, stays the same. I think you can do a lot more with animation than you can live action, and it's always how I've imagined my OCs. Albeit it is a little more "realistic" animation, like Dreamworks, Disney, those kinds of things.

Your Writing

What’s your reason for writing?

If I don't write down my OCs and world, I'm pretty sure I'll go mad. I love sharing my writing, but I write for myself first and foremost. And writing has gotten me through a lot of really hard times in my life. It's something I can always turn to and it helps me express and process things. I can't imagine my life without it. It's just a part of me.

Is there a specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating coming from your readers?

Honestly, just saying you enjoyed it is more than enough. I never thought I'd have anyone that would be interested in my writing enough to leave comments on it. Every time I get one on anything I post, it always makes me smile.

How do you want to be thought of by those who read your work? (For example: as a literary genius, or as a writer who “gets” the human condition; as a talented worldbuilder, as a role model, etc.)

I think I’d like to be seen as just a really good world builder and nice writer in general. I don’t really have any expectations 😂

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

Um world building maybe? I’m not really sure I’ve got any greatest strengths deal when it comes to writing. I don’t think I’m horrible, but I’m certainly not great or anything.

What have you been frequently told your greatest writing strength is by others?

Uh, no. This is the only place I’ve ever talked about my writing. Don’t exactly have any irl to discuss it with or anything I trust to read it. That would get me in a less than ideal situation pretty fast.

How do you feel about your own writing? (Answer in whatever way you interpret this question.)

I think it could use a lot of work if I ever want to publish it. I definitely enjoy doing it, but I don’t think it’s all that great.

If you were the last person on earth and knew your writing would never be read by another human, would you still write?

Yes. Honestly, I never thought anyone would be interested in my writing anyway. Plus, if I’m the last human, I need some form of entertainment haha

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely what you enjoy? If it’s a mix of the two, which holds the most influence?

I’d like to say it’s pretty much for my enjoyment, but I’m sure there’s some influence of what other people might like too. I’m a chronic people pleaser unfortunately

Tagging @yourpenpaldee @fractured-shield @anaisbebe @aalinaaaaaa @nczaversnick

@kaylinalexanderbooks @wyked-ao3 @diabolical-blue and anyone else who wants to hop on!! Seriously, everyone should do this tag game, it's super fun and insightful!

[tjodity]

did some art for an oc for a sci fi setting I'm thinking a little. Her name will probably change but I was struck really strongly by his personality and details abt his character before I got a solid name. she was originally going to be thrown into a sort of space opera thing but I kinda want to write space station fluff now

[ID 1: A large white square with text and several pieces of art digitally drawn on. The main text reads "Taraneh. She slash he. Grew up on a planet; currently works maintenance on a space station. Aroace. Hobbies include trying to cook, kissing her giant insect friend, and trying to write poetry." Main text ends. The main drawing is a sketched headshot of Taraneh. She wears a hijab folded so that it wraps across the bottom half of his face, across her head, and draped around her shoulders. A hair band decorated with a simplified lunar cycle is partially visible on her forehead below her hijab. She has acne scars around her cheeks. Her pupils are dark and she has small wrinkles around her right eye. Her left eye is half closed and looking in a different direction, with more wrinkles beneath. Her eyebrows are scraggly and thin. She looks neutral. A smaller drawing towards the left shows Taraneh in a hijab that doesn't cover her face. Her smile is slanted, and she looks excited. There is a blank text bubble beside her. She is making broad gestures with her hands. A note beside it says "Can't emote with his full face but feels a lot of things and uses her hands to emote more." Note ends. A doodle towards the top is labelled "Work uniform." Taraneh wears a hijab similar to those used for sports, with no folds, and she wears a respirator on her face. She wears a tanktop above an undershirt which covers her arms. She wears jeans with kneepads and a carabiner with tools attached. She is sweating, wiping her face with a towel. Her other hand holds a toolbox. There are two drawings to the right. Both are colored. The first is labelled "Teens". In it Taraneh is thinner and shorter, a teenager. She wears a a layered outfit, with embroidery, ruffles, and flower patterns running down the arms. Her skin is dark, and she wears a teal hijab. He is waving at the camera. The second drawing is labelled "Early thirties". It depicts Taraneh more closely to how she appears in the other drawings, taller and with broader shoulders and slightly darker skin. She wears grey boots and a dark blue baggy jumpsuit. Over the jumpsuit she wears a dark grey simple skirt with large pockets running across it, and a grey coat with purple and orange coloring around the collar. Above that he wears a blue satchel. She wears a teal hijab and a dark blue hair band. He is standing with his arms at his sides. The fourth drawing is back to being colorless. It depicts a tall alien creature from the chest up. The alien's head is comparable to a praying mantis, except that there are odd cones at each side of their head, their mandibles sit in a circle on their neck, and the lower half of their face is a segmented vent-like structure. Their torso resembles a human, if it was covered in an exoskeleton. Taraneh has her arms wrapped around the alien's neck, and is leaning into their shoulder. She is hugging them. His eyes are closed and he looks happy. The alien seems startled and raised one of their claws in surprise. Both Taraneh and the alien are blushing, though the alien more so. The caption reads "Me and my boy best friend." END ID]

[Images two and three are higher resolution depictions of the last three drawings.]

[albatris]

Writerly Questionnaire!

thank you @davycoquette for tagging me :3

About You

When did you start writing?

I started when I was a lil kid, probably about 6 years old!

Are the genres/themes you enjoy reading different from the ones you write?

No, they're much the same! Horror, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery :3

Can you tell me a little about your writing space(s)? (Room, coffee shop, desk, etc.)

It's just me n my laptop wherever we end up! Usually on the couch or in bed! I love writing in coffee shops but I'm often too anxious to be around other people ^^;

What’s your most effective way to muster up some muse?

Playlists, baby!! Or watching/reading something that scratches the same itch as the stuff I wanna write. Usually some good horror :3

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and places you write about?

Oh, absolutely! My works are very Australian in nature!

Are there any recurring themes in your writing, and if so, do they surprise you at all?

There's themes of uhhhh.... isolation vs. connection, that's one that comes up a lot. Mental and physical illness too. The bendy nature of reality. Anti-capitalism. I'm often surprised when the same themes pop up over multiple works, since I don't often plan it that way haha

Your Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character? (Current WIP, past WIP, never used, etc.)

My favourite character currently is Alex! Alex is from "A Rental Car takes a Left Down Rake Street and Disappears". It's a vampire lawyer who preys on despicable predators human society will never hold accountable. Alex is an intensely private person who prefers to keep to itself, but it's also deeply kind and always looking to help others when it can. It enjoys gardening, sleight of hand magic and expensive wines :3 Alex has my favourite character arc in the trilogy!!

Which of your characters do you think you’d be friends with in real life?

Ripley!! Her sense of humour is similar to my IRL best friend's. She's loud, boisterous and silly, and the fact that she talks so much means I wouldn't have to talk as much which is always a bonus c:

Which of your characters would you dislike the most if you met them?

Quinn. They're such a shady bastard. They'd hate me and I'd be scared of them lmao

How do you picture them? (As real people you imagined, as models/actors who exist in real life, as imaginary artwork, as artwork you made or commissioned, anime style, etc.)

Here they are!

The characters of my two main projects, drawn by me :3 A Rental Car takes a Left Down Rake Street and Disappears on the top and All the Doors are Open on the bottom!

Your Writing

What’s your reason for writing?

It's my way of communicating with the world and connecting to others!

Is there a specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating coming from your readers?

When people tell me they resonate with my stories in terms of, like, shared experiences... I love that! Some of the comments I still think about all the time have been from fellow psychosis-havers telling me they resonate with my depictions of psychosis or that my stories made them feel less alone. But I adore all comments!

How do you want to be thought of by those who read your work? (For example: as a literary genius, or as a writer who “gets” the human condition; as a talented worldbuilder, as a role model, etc.)

I wanna be thought of as... spooky... >:3

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

Characters and worldbuilding! By worldbuilding I don't mean Creating Worlds (I suck at that) but crafting unique premises and putting my own spin on things like vampire lore and interdimensional portals :3

How do you feel about your own writing? (Answer in whatever way you interpret this question.)

I'm very happy with it!

If you were the last person on earth and knew your writing would never be read by another human, would you still write?

Probly. I think I'd go stircrazy without it. It's my way of understanding and processing the world and my feelings on it. Plus I'd get bored otherwise.

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely what you enjoy? If it’s a mix of the two, which holds the most influence?

Both! But I'd say I mostly focus on what I might enjoy!

[kinniie00]

HEY BUDDY :D !!! lion, maine coon, american shorthair, tiger, cougar, and fishing cat !!

HIIII!!! 👾

This is so many omg

Lion - I'm probably most proud of how far I've come over the last few years, I went through a lot and am still learning to live with some of it. It's definitely shaped a bit of who I am now, but I'd like to think I have grown from it and carried it with me rather than living in that dump forever :) AND MY FRIENDS IM SO SO SO PROUD OF THEM AND HOW MUCH THEY'VE DONE AND I WISH THE BEST FOR ALL OF YOU :((

Maine Coon - Honestly I'm not too sure how others would describe me, or even how to encapsulate my personality into one word--I'd like to say I'm energetic but I also have my moments of not being as much, I'm nice but I know I can be a bitch, I'm a lot of things but I'm really unsure of what word could describe me, plus I don't remember any good descriptive words rn :') (I'm so tired)

American Shorthair - I have many things that comfort me, id say my friends are my biggest comfort, as cheesy as it is. My friends remind me I'm not alone and have reasons to keep going, even when it feels impossible. I also often tend to latch onto games and streamers/YouTubers for comfort (a big one is hermitcraft!! :D), many of the people I watch now are people who practically raised me and I love them dearly. Another few smaller things that I find help comfort me are things like music, tea, or small things like animals (my cat!!!) or stuffed animals :3

Tiger - Another one that I'm not entirely sure how to answer :( "Being cute and being mine" -☀️ I think I went through the 5 stages of grief trying to come up with something that's all you're getting, oh yeah and my worst is probably the fact that I'm indecisive or like impulsive idk

Cougar - Hehehe fandoms 😇 Definitely undertale, fnaf, and sanders sides in the later years. I was (unfortunately) an aphmau kid back in 2015 but that was more watching her content and less fandom stuff. The undertale and fnaf ones definitely didn't ever stop, I got really into sans aus back during covid and relied on all three of those fandoms for comfort during the quarantine too. Sanders sides definitely helped me over the years before and during covid, it was definitely a rough time in my life as I was learning new things about myself and others around me, and it helped me so much with learning how to be me and accept myself as I am. As for a fandom I'm really active in now, id say the one I'm most active in is Hermitcraft (so surprising!!! 🙀) I got super into it back in season 6 when grian joined because I watched his content before he joined, and now I watch most of the hermits, I do tend to focus on a few each season while watching the occasional stream/video from the others though! I also listen to the imp & skizz podcast, and I find it rather comforting when I'm stressed, I love the hermits so much and they've definitely helped me so much without even knowing :) (and the fandom is so silly I love everyone)

Fishing Cat - I have so many I'm definitely going to forget some, I love learning new things and it's led to many hobbies that I do and will probably get back into in the future! :) I do crochet, it's something I have been learning since I was really young but couldn't get the hang of it for the longest time because my mom had a hard time teaching me it since she's left handed, I love reading, I read all kinds of things from old novels & poetry, romance and mystery, to nonfiction and sci-fi, I enjoy reading anything as long as it can keep my interest, and I loveee getting reccomended books (even though my to-be-read list is SO long), I like small crafts like jewelry making but it hurts my hands (especially the more intricate ones like fancy necklaces, bracelets, earrings), i love gaming, its a big part of who I am seeing as I grew up doing it, and even though i dont it as much anymore I still enjoy it and love playing games with my friends!! I enjoy drawing, but it's stressful because I'm not great at it and am way too perfectionistic over it. I used to paint but I never got too good at it and never had proper supplies, it was very fun though and I'd definitely get back into it sometime down the line. I listen to a lot of music, and watch youtubers/streamers. I like to go on walks, but with some of my health issues I don't go on them as often (I definitely will do more this summer though!!) and hanging out with my friends and animals. I plan on getting into sewing and possibly cosplay sometime so that will be fun to learn! I love creative hobbies, despite how stressful they can be when they don't go how I wanted it to :) I love seeing things I'm able to make evolve and get better and I get better at doing it, and I love consuming information and seeing people be people!!

I'm so sorry this is a lot of yapping even for me 😭

[mrbexwrites]

Writerly Questionnaire Tag

Tagged by @cowboybrunch a long while back- sorry Sav that it's taken me so long to get to this!

About You

When did you start writing?

I've always sort of written- ever since I could write. It's just been one of those innate parts of me, that I can't really pinpoint exactly when it started. I've always had a catalogue of stories in my head, but it's only been recently (since 2020-ish) that I've made a conscious effort to set time aside and write. I've been writing novels/WIPS since I was a teenager, but always on/off. (It took me close to ten years to finish my first WIP because I wasn't very strict about writing time!)

Are the genres/themes you enjoy reading different from the ones you write?

I love Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Crime, Thrillers, etc as a reader, and I mostly write urban fantasy. That said, if someone gifts me a book, I will read it- regardless of genre- which has allowed me to read some amazing stuff (and equally terrible books!) that I wouldn't normally pick up.

Is there an author (or just a fellow writer!) you want to emulate, or one to whom you’re often compared?

I think my writing style is probably closest to Jacqueline Carey (or at least, who I like to think my writing is comparable to, but it could just be that she writes first person pov fantasy books, and that's where the similarity ends!) There are so many Writblrs on here who I am just in awe of and would happily sell my soul to have half as much talent as them @words-after-midnight @sarahlizziewrites @queen-tashie @cowboybrunch @surroundedbypearls... the list is exhaustive, and I can't just copy/paste my mutuals onto this, as otherwise, it'll probably be marked as spam!!

Can you tell me a little about your writing space(s)? (Room, coffee shop, desk, etc.)

I mostly write in my bed with my laptop, because I am a goblin. I do have a desk, but I don't really use it as it's a Work From Home space that was leftover from lockdown, and I don't want to associate fun-hobby with real-life-work-shit. So bed or sofa, mostly, curled under a blanket with a cup of tea.

What’s your most effective way to muster up some muse?

I stick in my headphones, listen to the music on my old MP3 player (honestly, it's so old guys, it has all the songs I've enjoyed since my first 128mps MP3 player- nothing gets deleted, just added.) and I go for a walk. I'm lucky to have a small loch/nature reserve near my house, so I walk through that, enjoying the surroundings while my brain soaks in the familiar music, and just resets my creative juices.

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and places you write about?

I think so- I definitely have a dark sense of humour thanks to my job, but also just Scottish people in general. We're bleak for the most part- limited sunlight and a lot of rain will do that to a people. Memento Mori Part I is set mostly in an area of Glasgow that I'm familiar with. The canal that I used to cycle along on my way to work features quite heavily.

Are there any recurring themes in your writing, and if so, do they surprise you at all?

Found-family, building the life you want, trying to be a better person despite the odds, trying to do the right thing...I have noticed a pattern with the tropes that I add to all my characters, in addition to the trauma I give them. Therapy is expensive, and OCs are easy to come by!

Your Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character? (Current WIP, past WIP, never used, etc.)

Mavis is my current favourite, mostly because I've been writing her story. She's more fun than my usual OCs, because she doesn't give a f*ck, and that's really liberating. Morgana is dear to my heart, but she carries a lot of my anxiety. Ylarae, my first proper OC from a book series that I started to write over twenty years ago (f*ck, I'm so old) will always be my favourite however; she took a lot of my childhood/teenaged angst and just rolled with it.

Which of your characters do you think you’d be friends with in real life?

Morgana, because we're so similar. We'd probably meet in a support group for generalised anxiety! But I'd *love* to be friends with Avery, because they're everything I'm not; carefree, exuberant and hedonistic!

Which of your characters would you dislike the most if you met them?

Caleb- he has a lot of my exes' personality traits (like I said, OCs are easier to come by than therapy!). My antagonists, I mostly try to humanise and try to understand their reasoning, but Caleb is just a c*nt. 👍

Tell me about the process of coming up with of one, all, or any of your characters.

My brain hallucinates them, and just makes them... They just appear. That's pretty much all there is to it. I don't know how it happens...it just does.

Do you notice any recurring themes/traits among your characters?

Lip biting; I didn't realise how much my OCs bite/chew their own lips. It's only when I re-read a first draft, I'm like "Again?! Really!". I add it a lot, apparently.

How do you picture them? (As real people you imagined, as models/actors who exist in real life, as imaginary artwork, as artwork you made or commissioned, anime style, etc.)

Because they just pop into my head, they appear as their own people, fully visualised by my imagination. I'd love to commission some art, but then I'd have to try to help someone else see the picture that I see in my head when I think of that character, and we all know, my descriptions are shit! But that said, I'd like to see what an artist would be able to come up with based on my ramblings! In a morbid curiosity kind of way!

Your Writing

What’s your reason for writing?

As previously stated- it's always been a bit of a thing. I just like to make up little stories and write them down.

Is there a specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating coming from your readers?

Tbh, any sort of attention is nice, and bonus points if it's something nice, or constructively critical. I'm aware that I;m not a *great* writer, but I'd like to get better. So a comment saying something went well, or could be improved upon by using x or y, is always appreciated. I'm my own worst critic, so having some outside perspective is reassuring but also terrifying!

How do you feel about your own writing? (Answer in whatever way you interpret this question.)

I swing between thinking I'm a genius at times, then feel guilty about being a narcissist! Whilst at the same time, cringing internally at how basic and lame my WIPs are. There is no middle ground- it's these two moods or nothing. Good/Bad, nothing in between, but seeing other people's posts, it seems to just be a writer thing, which is very reassuring to me.

If you were the last person on earth and knew your writing would never be read by another human, would you still write?

Probably- It would fill the time, and probably help me manage my anxiety about the lack of clean drinking water, food, antibiotics, the horror of watching everyone else I love die, the guilt of being the sole survivor....the crushing weight of reality...

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely what you enjoy? If it’s a mix of the two, which holds the most influence?

I write for me, and me only. It's nice if other people enjoy it, but ultimately, I'm never going to be a published author, and I enjoy the freedom of just being able to write my silly little WIPs. I don't have the energy to keep myself happy, let alone other people!!

[urnumber1star]

Writerly Questionnaire

Thanks for tagging me @agirlandherquill !!

About me 

When did you first start writing? 

It’s hard to say. I’ve come up with stories in my head for as long as I can remember. But the first thing I wrote down was an unfinished book from when I was about six.

Are the genres/themes you enjoy reading different from the ones you write?

Not really. I love reading sci fi just as much as I love writing it. But I love reading fantasy and historical fiction but those two are the most difficult for me to write. 

Is there an author (or just a fellow writer!) you want to emulate, or one to whom you're often compared?

I love Brigid Kemmerer's writing style. It's just so descriptive, and fluid and pretty and I love it! I want to be able to write like that one day. I actually have never been compared to any other writers before. Mostly because I’ve been SO SHY about sharing my writing. But I'm doing a little better at that.

Can you tell me a little about your writing space(s)? (Room, coffee shop, desk, etc.)

I mainly love to write wherever I can. If I get a sudden burst of motivation I’ll grab my computer and sit down wherever I am at the time. But I mainly write at night while I'm in my bed. I find that I'm much more relaxed and motivated at night. 

What's your most effective way to muster up some muse?

If I'm struggling with writer's block or just feeling like creating another WIP I will put my music playlist on blast. Music has always helped me imagine different scenes and characters, and after that I make a new google doc and just start incoherently jabbering about scenes and character ideas I have until they all fit together! Then I make it a little more coherent of course lol

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and places you write about?

Not really. The places I write about are always so different from the modern day. But I do sometimes accidentally inspire a character's personality off a friend or someone I know. 

Are there any recurring themes in your writing, and if so, do they surprise you at all?

Twins. For the life of me I don't know why. I am an only child with no siblings and in every single story I've ever written since I was six there have been at least one pair of twins. It’s like my trademark lol. Along with lots of action. I love intense, gut-wrenching action scenes. 

My Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character? (Current WIP, Past WIP, Never Used, etc)

I think my current favorite character is ironically Talia from my current WIP. She just reminds me of a really close family member of mine and I also just love writing about her. She’s very spunky and pretty funny. Added bonus because she's a twin (the blasted twin thing again) and she’s an artist! And a boss lady. :] 

Which of your characters do you think you'd be friends with in real life?

Micheal and Talia. Talia’s an artist like me and Micheal is just a nice and cool guy that I’d like to be friends with :)

Which of your characters would you dislike the most if you met them?

No One. You will get no context as to why. But I think you already know why.

Tell me about the process of coming up with one, all, or any of your characters,

Fun Fact! BRS is technically a rewrite of an old WIP from like two years ago. It’s very different now but still. I ended up just simplifying everything and having only one character to completely focus on first then figure out their personality and the people around them. Then I expand upon the people around them. And I keep doing that until I flush everything out. 

Do you notice any recurring themes/traits among your characters?

Constant sarcasm and a massive sense of humor. Just like me TwT 

How do you picture them? (As real people you imagined, as models/actors who exist in real life, as imaginary artwork, as artwork you made or commissioned, anime style, etc)

I imagine them in my artstyle. I imagine them animated in a very distinct way. It makes imagining their scenes very fun and vibrant!

My Writing

What's your reason for writing?

Because I wanted to find a way to tell all the stories in my head as a little girl.

Is there a specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating coming from your readers? 

ANYTHING. Honestly anything is just so rewarding for me. But my favorite comments to get are questions asking about details, or someone comparing my character to one they saw on TV. It makes me very happy :)

How do you want to be thought of by those who read your work? (For example: as a literary genius, or as a writer who "gets" the human condition; as a talented world builder, as a role model, etc)

I’m not sure. Just someone who can make an interesting story people like! 

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

World building. I could talk for hours about the politics, currency, social aspects, technology etc in my stories. I’ve always enjoyed fleshing out my settings. It just makes the story feel so much more alive!

What have you been frequently told your greatest writing strength is by others?

Dialogue actually. My cousin read a WIP of mine a while ago and she claims that it’s good so…. I do trust her judgment though as she is an amazing author.

How do you feel about your own writing? (Answer in whatever way you interpret this question)

I honestly hate most of what I write. But I love the process of imagining it and perfecting it later after I’ve improved.

If you were the last person on earth and knew your writing would never be read by another human, would you still write?

Yep! Because I don't know what I’d do if I had all these ideas in my head and couldn't let them go! Plus it's just so therapeutic. 

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely what you enjoy? if it's a mix of the two, which holds most influence?

I write what I want to. Which is mostly what I’d like to read. But I write for me.

Boy this was a long one, but it was very fun!

Tagging @leahnardo-da-veggie @the-ellia-west @illarian-rambling @kaylinalexanderbooks @mysticstarlightduck @melpomene-grey +anyone who wants to <3

[astramachina]

Writerly Questionnaire

i was gonna snatch someone's open tag but @the-golden-comet (ty!!!) hit me with one so here we go. this is probs gonna get long and I apologize in advance.

About Me

When did you first start writing?

I was probably writing two page "sensationalized diary entries" when I was 8, but my first foray into proper "I am writing a piece of fiction" was at around 15.

Are the genres/themes you enjoy reading different from the ones you write?

Kind of but not really? I do enjoy reading a good romcom every now and then despite never having written one (and not intending to YET), but I mostly read horror and sci-fi which are my two genres of writing choice.

Is there an author (or just a fellow writer!) you want to emulate, or one to whom you’re often compared?

When I was younger I really wanted to be able to emulate Terry Pratchett's prose, but the more I wrote the more I realized there's no real emulation when it comes to one's own authorial voice, just bits and pieces of all of whom we've enjoyed along the way. Nowadays I don't really care for the idea of comparison, but if it's a must, Grady Hendrix's approach to blending horror with humor is golden.

Can you tell me a little about your writing space(s)? (Room, coffee shop, desk, etc.)

98% of active writing magic occurs in my bedroom, at my desk, mostly on my laptop because it's the only piece of tech with a word processor. When I'm feeling feisty, I'll light a scented candle (apple & cinnamon) and instantly give myself an allergy.

What’s your most effective way to muster up some muse?

MUSIC. Or taking a shower. Or chillin the backseat of a car with my headphones on. Growing up I had painted the words "movement inspires creation" on my closet door because car rides really were the prime way to summon The Muse.

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and places you write about?

Oh, absolutely. Sometimes it's more obvious than others! For example, Define Home to Me is a folk horror set in a fictionalized version of the town I grew up in. In The Unbinding, it's all about the familial tension that permeated my developmental years. I love writing modern day gothics for that very reason.

Are there any recurring themes in your writing, and if so, do they surprise you at all?

My characters? Queer. Usually POC. Sometimes disabled in ways that makes them moving through the plot impossible. A lot of the times there's some scathing commentary against colonialism and imperialism, trauma, generational nonsense, and so on. Do they surprise me? Yeah, actually. Like hey what are YOU doing here, this is supposed to be a story about space monsters and weird gas stations out in the American West, ain't nobody got time to study the decay manifested by settlers on my culture, the fuck.

My Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character? (Current WIP, past WIP, never used, etc.)

UHH probably Ricky Kronbach? He's a fandom OC which means I'm able to play with him while being unbound by cohesive narratives. I can put him in a blender and he'll still manage to flip me off. He's a brat. He's a weirdo. He's everything to me. Non-fandom wise, probably Verne from The Singularity Project. He may be a side-character and a... anti-hero? Kind of? But he has my entire heart because my god he's a hot freaking mess of a human being.

Which of your characters do you think you’d be friends with in real life?

Probably Mike. He's a cool dude and by far the most normal. We'd talk about plants and watch The X-Files in his living room.

Which of your characters would you dislike the most if you met them?

Nick Miller from The Unbinding. He may be the MC but boy is a massive dick that needs to get his ass kicked into gear.

Tell me about the process of coming up with of one, all, or any of your characters.

I'm a very story-centric person, so a lot of the times story comes before the character. I'll have a solid plot and setting and when the time comes for a vehicle to move through said story, I get to work on the character. It's one of the reasons why I only wrote fanfic for so long! I'm bad at creating interesting and unique OCs so a lot of the times they're just some guy (gn), though they do tend to grow and sometimes throw fits when certain events want to take place that do not match their personality.

Do you notice any recurring themes/traits among your characters?

Not to me cringe on main but for a good two years I realized that the main love interests in multiple of my projects were 1) dark haired 2) blue-eyed 3) British. I'm still bewildered by this. Other than that, family trauma. LMAO

How do you picture them? (As real people you imagined, as models/actors who exist in real life, as imaginary artwork, as artwork you made or commissioned, anime style, etc.)

Depends on the project! TSP is a very special case in which I see half of the characters as actual real people. Other times I go with "actor faceclaims" so that it makes writing feel like a movie.

My Writing

What’s your reason for writing?

Fuck if I know. I just like doing it. It's this pit in the center of my chest that needs to be put the into word or else I feel like I'm going to explode.

Is there a specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating coming from your readers?

Give me those deep-dives into lore speculation. Or if it's something on the more risque side of things, I was feel a deep sense of satisfaction when commenters slip into the TMI scale of things.

How do you want to be thought of by those who read your work? (For example: as a literary genius, or as a writer who “gets” the human condition; as a talented worldbuilder, as a role model, etc.)

As the guy who makes people feel things while reading. Regardless of what feelings those might be.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

Foreshadowing (usually accidental) and setting descriptions.

What have you been frequently told your greatest writing strength is by others?

"It's like I'm reading a movie," is something people have been telling me for well over a decade. Which is mainly the reason why part of TSP's story is visual! I want to try just how well the medium translates through my specific lens.

How do you feel about your own writing? (Answer in whatever way you interpret this question.)

The entire range of human emotion. I recognize that not everything can be (or should even be, for that matter) a banger. Some stuff is shitty, and I will hate, and I will feel unsatisfied, and will make me never want to write again. Other stuff makes me feel like I deserve at least some kind of award, even if the award is "a nice cup of coffee with a lemon loaf". Sometimes I'm proud of it, sometimes I'm not. Sometimes it's fun, and sometimes it's not. Not only is it alright but it is necessary to slip and slide along that spectrum. Which is to say-- I am satisfied whenever I engage in the craft.

If you were the last person on earth and knew your writing would never be read by another human, would you still write?

Hell yeah I would. I'm my own audience first and foremost.

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely what you enjoy? If it’s a mix of the two, which holds the most influence?

I write for me, myself, and I, and actively choose to share that with others. I did my time of trying to write for a wider audience to appeal to the mainstream industry and that just ended up with me hating every damn moment of it, so here I am. Horror and sci-fi aren't as popular as other genres which usually translates to limited reach, but man, those who match my freak will match it, and that is all that matters.

I SAID THIS WOULD BE LONG. not gonna tag anyone's notifs so i'm leaving this baby as an open tag!

[annwayne]

Writing Interview Tag Game!

Thanks @bagheerita and @chaniis-atlantis atlantis for the tag!! This looks like lots of fun :3 Interesting to see what all everyone says.

(questions w/o answers below the read more.)

About me

When did you start writing?

Sixth grade, otherwise around 10/11? I think that's how old I was in sixth grade lol.

Are there different genres or themes you enjoy reading other than the ones you write?

Absolutely! I write mostly romance and fantasy/sci fi, but I love most genres. Murder mysteries are a particular favorite of mine.

Is there an author you want to emulate, or are compared to often?

Not a clue. I read voraciously as a child until college, and just now I'm starting to pick the habit back up again-which is to say I couldn't tell you what authors inspired me as a kid and I'm not familiar enough with any authors I'm reading now to tell you what I want to emulate. No one has compared my writing to anyone that I know of.

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

I mostly write on the pc, which is in our office. The desk is not deep enough to my liking but the chair is comfy. Perry's got a bunch of little knickknacks all around the monitor (since it's his side of the desk technically) and I've got a bunch of shelves full of decorations, collectables, so forth, along the wall/in the shelves that connect to the desk.

What’s your most effective way to muster up a muse?

Engage with the material that first sparked inspiration over and over and over again. This keeps the ideas flowing and often brings about dreams of said material, which help greatly.

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and/or places you write about?

Hahahahahaha. Ha. Yeah, you could say that.

Are there any reoccurring themes in your writing? If so, do they surprise you?

Yes and no. See the question above.

Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character?

You're asking me to pick a favorite child 😩 Ok. I'll talk about Alice bc I'm working on the sga bridgerton!au. Alice's backstory isn't fully figured out, I'm debating if she'll be adopted or not. I know for sure her relationship with her family is terrible and that's why she was so willing to join the Atlantis expedition despite no guarantee of return. She never learned how to balance work and life, thus leading to a rather isolated adulthood where she spent most of her time in the lab. But hey, her work was well acclaimed and got her to the Pegasus galaxy. Her personality has really come through while working on this bridgerton!au fic. She's terribly anxious, but aware of that anxiety having little logic behind it, so a lot of her actions are based on being brave despite being terrified. She's very courageous in that sense. I'd say her biggest arc (at least in the bridgerton!au) is learning how to voice her wants. She's good at speaking up for others but not so much for herself. Also genderweird feminine presenting chubby scientist in 2000's woo.

Which of your characters would you be friends with in real life?

I can't deicde if it'd be a "get along swell because they are so similar" or a "so alike they can't stand each other" situation with my fandom ocs tbh. I think I might befriend Anya and Awyn, but Alice might upset me too much lol. I can say, for my Angel and Death characters from an original work of mine, they would be my friends.

Which characters would you dislike the most of you met them?

Again, not sure. Hard to tell.

Tell me about the process of coming up with your characters?

I watch a show I like a character I make a sona/insert/version of myself I think would fit well in that world, make a cool story, and be a good ship with the character I like. Then the character blooms as I write.

Do you notice any reoccurring themes/traits in your characters?

Parental issues, adoption abandonment, cults. Yeah. There's a few.

How do you picture your characters?

I usually draw them! :D

My writing

What’s your reason for writing?

Self expression, I can do it better (fix-it-fics), and entertainment. The process of writing itself is very enjoyable for me.

Is there any specific comment or type of comment from readers that you find particularly motivating?

When readers pick up on foreshadowing and hints I'm putting down, when they leave behind long "book reports," as I call them, detailing narrative devices/thematic beats/etc., and when they tell me outright how excited they are to read more of the story. But literally any comment is like gold to me.

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

Uhh. I've never thought of this before. I hope they enjoy my writing? And my ocs? I wouldn't mind being thought of as the person to go to with oc thoughts-not even about my own but anyones. I love ocs. I love seeing someone new I get to learn all about thrown into a world with all these characters I love. It's such a fun thing.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

I'm not insecure with my writing lol. Art school really took the brunt of that one. But for a technical answer, I'd say character dynamics? Like. I'm good at a lot of things, but I think recently my ability to emphasize the emotions two characters have for each other (whatever those may be) has improved immensely.

Have you been told what is your greatest strength as a writer is by others?

I've been told I capture individual character voice's rather well. The trick, imo, is once you have heard the character speak enough that you can hear their voice in your head, you can tell when dialogue fits them or not. (obviously this goes for mediums where there is an aloud voice to hear lol.)

How do you feel about your own writing?

I love it! I'm a good writer and I'm always improving.

If you were the last person on earth, would you still write?

Yep. Re-reading my writing is fun!

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, do you write purely for yourself, or is it a mix of both?

Might be a mix? When I have an audience in mind (like for trades, gifts, and friends who are hype about wips I share with them) I tend to think past myself into bigger ideas. I'm still writing what I want to read, but I'm just giving more thought about the execution lol.

npt: @wolveria @nimata-beroya @silverwings22 @klynnvakarian @the-itzy-bitzy-spider

About me

When did you start writing?

Are there different genres or themes you enjoy reading other than the ones you write?

Is there an author you want to emulate, or are compared to often?

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

What’s your most effective way to muster up a muse?

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and/or places you write about?

Are there any reoccurring themes in your writing? If so, do they surprise you?

Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character?

Which of your characters would you be friends with in real life?

Which characters would you dislike the most of you met them?

Tell me about the process of coming up with your characters?

Do you notice any reoccurring themes/traits in your characters?

How do you picture your characters?

My writing

What’s your reason for writing?

Is there any specific comment or type of comment from readers that you find particularly motivating?

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

Have you been told what is your greatest strength as a writer is by others?

How do you feel about your own writing?

If you were the last person on earth, would you still write?

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, do you write purely for yourself, or is it a mix of both?

[mwezina]

Author Questionnaire Tag Game

I was tagged by @ladyniniane. Thank you for tagging me! I learned so much more about you and it was really interesting! We should definitely swap manuscripts at some point.

About me

When did you start writing?

I started writing at 11 or 12, whenever grade 6 was. I started writing a fantasy with me and my friends as the main characters, facing down some unknown threat (that I still never figured out). I was a Mary Sue of course, but that was actually a lot of fun.

Are there genres/themes you enjoy reading different to the ones you write?

I love reading fantasy and I love writing fantasy. I abhor sci-fi, but a lot of my writing has sci-fi elements. I think I also like writing romances, but I actually kind of dislike reading romance. I find most romances too contrived, but crafting them myself is rather interesting.

Is there an author you want to emulate, or one to whom you're often compared?

I really like Neil Gaiman's writing. There's a very nice flow to it, and I love the way he describes things. There's a fluidity and structure to his writing that I really hope to emulate.

Lionel Shriver is another writer that I find absolutely fascinating. Her character work and introspective tone were pretty groundbreaking for me as a teen, and they encourage me to seek the deepest and darkest parts of my characters and bring them out, not just allude to them.

I absolutely love Alice Munro's writing (current scandal aside). There's a quietness and a horror to the mundane in her writing that I would love to capture. But I think you need to live a certain kind of life to write with so much insight, and yet so much silence.

Finally, I hope to write not in the style of Stephen King, but in the way that he writes. I want to write clean, write fast, and write without looking back.

Can you tell me a little about your writing space?

I write mostly at my computer, but sometimes on my phone. I find I do my best first drafts in transit--whether that's the airport, on a plane, or on the bus. For second and third drafts, I need to be parked somewhere quiet, or a place where the ambient noise does not stand out to me in any way.

What’s your most effective way to muster up some muse?

I kinda just force myself to write, haha. I do camp nanowrimo in the summer, so I have a certain "quota" to meet each day, then I set my alarm on 1-hour intervals and write away.

As I keep writing, I find I don't need a muse. I just go.

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and places you write about?

Absolutely. My background as an immigrant and feeling connected to two different places comes through in my work a lot. Characters frequently feel torn, and are stuck between worlds.

Also, I've been reading a lot of afrofantasy and afrofuturism, which use African mythology and ruling structures to inform the setting instead of European myths and ruling structures. I wanted to do something similar with my cultural background, both my home country and my current country.

Are there any recurring themes of your writing, and if so, do they surprise you at all?

I think many of the themes I deal with are acceptance, relinquishing power, gaining knowledge, etc. But I don't know if these are lifelong themes or not.

I think for right now, it doesn't surprise me. I've dealt with some recent losses, and before that, I've had a life where everything was about gaining power, privilege, and prestige. So it makes sense that I'm exploring acceptance of loss and giving away power.

My Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favourite character?

Oof. I think characters I've made that I love are not necessarily characters who have the most compelling stories. I really like my character, Samantha, the protagonist of my last novel, Hydrogen Bonds. I think her motivations are solid, and her relationships interesting. She also has a very strong voice and is rather well-rounded. However, the story itself had many issues, and I was unable to structure it in a way I liked. I think part of it is because the character itself was too strong. I don't really do well at character exploration stories, so I think such a lovely character was wasted on me, haha.

Which of your characters do you think you’d be friends with in real life?

Herm. That is... An excellent question. Probably Lucy, from the same novel? She's headstrong and loyal. Someone that I can see myself getting along with.

Also, I guess Derui, from my current novel. She's kind of a throwaway character, but she's kind of modelled after my real-life childhood friend, so we'd better get along, haha.

Which of your characters would you dislike most if you met them?

The protagonist of my current novel, Lunai, or her rival, Haiming. Those two are insufferable, with each other and without. So much pride and self-involvement.

Tell me more about the process of coming up with your characters.

I don't really think too hard about my characters. I just write the story, and the right people populate it. Many of my characters are composites of people I have encountered in my life. I try to make all my characters relatable with glimmers of humanity. I don't believe in making irredeemable villains. They must be understandable, at least to themself. So I try to shy away from drawing inspiration on people I absolutely abhor.

My protagonists are usually different versions of myself. Like what type of person would I be if I was more headstrong. Or what kind of life would I lead if I had followed all the expectations others had of me and never questioned it until now? That kind of thing.

Characters used to be more "real" to me, and I would treat them all like real people. But I've recently started to treat all aspects of my stories as tools to the story, including the characters.

Do you notice any recurring themes/traits among your characters?

My protagonists so far have all identify as women. Their journey is all about accepting loss or purposefully losing something they once considered important. I think my protagonists are pretty growth driven.

How do you picture your characters?

I used to try to find reference pictures for my characters, but now I just kind of think about which physical traits will be important for the story. Otherwise, I don't really think too hard about how they look.

My Writing

What’s your reason for writing?

I write because I like reading back on what I've written, haha. Like, there's this story I really want to read, and it doesn't exist exactly how I want it to, so I just write it.

I do hope for more people to read my stories, but so far just have my friends and partner read it has been pretty fulfilling.

Is there any specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating coming from your readers?

I think I just like hearing about people's opinions on my story. I love it when friends tell me what they think is going to happen next, and I can see that my foreshadowing has paid off. I also like it when my readers ask me details about the setting and their thoughts on it. Usually, their thoughts are way better than what I had in mind, or things I hadn't considered at all!

So having readers be so immersed in the story, that they are speculating on the setting, the characters, and the plot is really fulfilling to me.

How do you want to be thought of by those who read your work?

Oof. I'm not really sure.

I guess I want them to see part of myself? What they see is really up to them.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

I think my structure is pretty solid. I think my writing itself has pretty good flow. My readers all call my novels as "page turners" and they couldn't put it down. But I think the midpoint can be hard to navigate, because a few readers stopped reading at the midpoint. They say they just don't want to see bad things happen, because they can feel it. But... You know.

How do you feel about your own writing?

I think I am learning to write cleaner and faster. I personally enjoy reading my writing, so that's a win to me.

If you were the last person on earth and knew your writing would never be read by another human, would you still write?

Yup. If I were the last person on earth, I'd have to tell my stories. No one else will at that point.

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, or do you write purely what you enjoy? if it’s a mix of the two, which holds the most influence?

I write purely things I like. That's probably not good for trying to get published one day, but it's okay. I wouldn't mind fixing up my stories or taking them apart and putting it back together for a more compelling story. The inception itself though, I always write what I care about. If it's not for me, I probably won't be able to write it, haha.

I tag @derelictdichotomy, @saccharine-azure, @watertankafternoon, @aqsparkle, and @butchcraftmacncheese

This was a lot of fun, though kinda intense. So no pressure!

[mysticstarlightduck]

Heyy !

☀️ Sun - What's your favorite part of your WIP?

and

⚡️Lightning - Have you ever spontaneously added something to your story that you wouldn't have added normally? If so, what made you do it?

for Supernova Initiative pls ? :)

Thanks for the ask, @thepeculiarbird!

(Ask Game Here)

☀️ Sun - What's your favorite part of your WIP?

Let's see, (:

I really love the dynamic between the three main siblings of the story (Jack, Cassie and their adoptive brother, Deimos), and writing their backstory has been really fun so far as well (mainly because its really interesting to see how their past shaped them into the people they are today, as well as how their dynamics changed over time while also somehow remaining similar at times).

I love, love, love writing the sci-fi settings for this story. I have a lot offun every time I'm writing a new setting, planet, etc! Since Supernova Initiative takes place on a set of fictional, futuristic galaxies, I have a lot of leway to make the settings as unique and varied as I want, even outwordly or uncanny at times. I can have grimy, crime-filled mining moons with streets filled with neon lights, or a giant ocean planet which hosts some of the largest creatures in the system and has beautiful rings (like Saturn, but different, utopic-dystopian high-tech space stations ruled by the intergalactic Junction with an iron fist, etc!

I love writing my morally grey characters - Kye Thalax, Zenyth Astrophell and even Deimos Soll has a morally grey streak at times (though he is more 'chaotic good' than neutral lol). The contrast between them and the more do-gooder, kind personalities of this series - such as Jack Tithus, Lyorna Alyrii, Cassie etc - is really interesting and grants the story a great deal of variety that I think makes it even more fun to write! I also do love angsty, badass, hot and undyingly loyal antihero-type characters so I may be a bit biased lmao.

I really like writing and reading some whump, and this story has its fair share of it, so there's also that!

I like my character's unique quirks and how they all feel so distinct from one another in their own ways while also forming a cohesive and compelling team/crew.

⚡️Lightning - Have you ever spontaneously added something to your story that you wouldn't have added normally? If so, what made you do it?

That's a tough question lol. Since I'm a plotter, my WIPs and stories are usually carefully thought out and developed by the time I start the first draft, and this WIP (Supernova Initiative) especially, was intentionally tailored to my personal tastes, with my favorite tropes and dynamics, as I needed a passion project LMAO. But even then, there are a few things that took me by surprise as I reached the final stage of plotting and moved onto the first draft. So let's see what those things were!

Originally, Deimos wasn't going to have left the crew five years before the main story and had nothing to do with the set-up that had the team arrested in the inciting incident of the main act of this series. I usually don't like the "sibling rivalry" or "traitor sibling" trope in movies and books, as I think it is rather overdone and it often isn't compelling to me/feels annoying when not done well. However, as I reached the final stage of plotting, I realized this story needed a bit more stakes and that a bit more of internal conflict in the crew could spice things up, as well as give Deimos a change at a really meaningful redemption arc. So, I changed things up a bit: in the new, final version of the story, Deimos, Jack and Cassie grew up as siblings and best friends, but after they became adults and the civil war started, Deimos wanted to get involved with the conflict directly and rebel more openly against the Junction, while Jack & Cassie wanted to keep things as they were and continue simply undermining the Junction by stealing from it. This leads them to have an argument, after which Deimos leaves the crew but ends up caught by an insane warlord in the Khosmonian galaxies, who tries to turn him into a living weapon. He escapes a few years later, but is still being hunted by that General. With no resources and no other choice, Deimos makes a deal with the Junction to set-up the crew (since he knew how they operate and how their heists work) in exchange for temporary protection and with the promise of being given the resources to take down General Laylah. He later regrets betraying his family, as despite their estrangement they were still his siblings whom he loved more than anything, and ends up starting a redemption arc later on while trying to make amends.

Vesper originally wasn't going to be a relentless cyborg mercenary seeking revenge for the deaths of her brother and their mother. In the first version of an outline I developed for this WIP, she was actually a character much similar to Pax Stellaryn - she was going to be a spy and cadet at the Junction, and her personality was going to be much kinder, funnier and softer. She was also going to be a childhood friend of Pax's in another version of the series. However, I felt that their personalities were far too similar and that her character felt like her story was lacking something. So I scratched that original concept completely, and changed up her backstory, character and personality a lot and thus the cold, calculating, ruthless and painfully socially awkward Vesper we now know was created. And I quite love this new version a lot more!

Not exactly something that I wouldn't have added, but which was still an unexpected change I made in this story and which actually fit really well into the plot: Aleks Keldora was originally going to be an orphan, like quite a few of the other main cast. But somehow I felt that didn't match his personality and worldview, and also felt that at least some characters in this story should have happy, healthy, living relatives/family, so I scratched his original backstory and gave him two loving mothers who raised him with all the care in the world, and whom Aleks wants to give a better life to now that he has the means to help them.

[frankendykes-monster]

But the question of one's favorite version of the Legion of Super-Heroes is a deceptively complex one. It's not just a matter of team line-ups or creative teams, but the actual directions and themes explored by the franchise. The Legion has been relaunched and repackaged more than anything else in the DC Universe -- a universe where the line-wide reboot has become the go-to move -- and each time it's based on different ideas of what these characters mean, and what the future looks like. As much as they might be in the same continuity, the original Legion has a completely different set of ideals that it's exploring than the Dystopian "Five Years Later" Legion of the '80s, and when Mark Waid and Barry Kitson "threebooted" the Legion in 2004, their stories were a reaction to a completely different environment in comics than when they rebooted it the first time ten years earlier.

And because each version of the Legion is so thematically different than the others, the question of which one's your favorite has a lot to do with which of those themes you find appealing. For me, there's no question, and I'm sure this won't surprise anyone: I love the original Silver Age Legion.

Part of that comes from the same reason that I love a lot of Silver Age books, in that it's just full of bizarre kookiness, with a sci-fi setting that allowed the creators to ratchet the weirdness up even higher than they did in the regular line back in those days. There's one story in the '60s where someone's spying on the Legion and they can't figure out who until they realize that there's a tiny little man living in Sun Boy's ankle who was surgically implanted there by one of their enemies when Sun Boy went to the dentist, and it's hard to say if that was actually the craziest thing they ever did in those stories.

But more than that, there's an optimism to it.

When I talked to him about writing the Star Trek / Legion crossover, Chris Roberson told me that one of the things that attracted him to both franchises was that they both showed an optimistic future, and he's right. When you think about the time when the Legion was created in 1958 and those years in the '60s when they grew in popularity, that was the same time when people were building fallout shelters in the back yard and teaching school kids to duck and cover under a school desk in the event of an atom bomb. Nuclear war wasn't just a possibility, it was seen as something that was pretty much inevitable, and that was reflected in the fiction of the time. This was the dawn of the post-apocalyptic story, with increasingly grim visions of the future based on the destruction that we'd already seen.

But with Silver Age comics in general, and the Legion in particular, it was different. I imagine that the Comics Code and a desire to not get any irate letters from parents about terrifying their children with visions of nuclear holocaust were as much a motivating factor as any bright-eyed hope for the future when creators like Otto Binder and Jerry Siegel approached it, but the fact remains that they showed us a future that was thriving.

The Legion's 30th Century wasn't quite a utopia, but it wasn't a wasteland either. It was a glimpse of a future where everything worked out okay, with a galaxy of strange aliens from even stranger worlds united behind Earth. Well, okay, admittedly, they were less strange aliens and more "a bunch of white people and one green dude," but the sentiment was there. The very existence of that art deco skyline of the 30th century was a sign that we as a civilization had made it through, even when it was under attack by computer robots.

There's actually a story from 1964 -- the first appearance of Dream Girl, if you want to look it up -- where a few Legionnaires take a one-panel field trip to a world that actually has been destroyed in an atomic war, but for them, it's a strange historical curiosity that they're viewing from the outside. It's a "might have been" and not a "definitely will."

Of course, the fact that things worked out okay was to be expected. Even though we were in danger here in the real world, the Legion's future was descended from an Earth that had Superman protecting it, which points to another great element of the team. They have that same aspirational element to them that I love about characters like Robin and Jimmy Olsen, but it's applied to an entire universe. The existence of the Legion is predicated on two different ideas about Superman. The first is just that Superman is there to make sure that their future exists, and as simple as that might sound, the fact that we see the end result of what he does makes his struggle in that Never-Ending Battle against evil mean something. A dystopian future means that he failed somewhere along the line and that in the end, all of his good works didn't matter. A future that's bright and united, however, means that all of those times he saved the world from Luthor or Brainaic actually counted for something, that there was something out there to make it worthwhile.

And the second is that it's those battles, and Superman specifically, that inspire the Legion to form and use their powers to do the same thing he did. It's a pretty strong recommendation for his character that his legend and his accomplishments last for the next thousand years, and it lends a power to the mythology of Superman. It immediately puts him in the ranks of Hercules and Robin Hood, these figures that we still talk about a thousand years (or more) after they first entered culture. It just does it in a way that we don't have to wait around to see if it actually works out that way once 2958 rolls around.

Just as important as that, though, it casts the Legionnaires themselves as fans. Just like Jimmy Olsen, it brings the idea that the readers themselves could be part of the story to the forefront, with the added wish fulfillment of granting them super-powers and sending them off on their own adventures. It's something that Waid and Kitson touched on in their "Threeboot" Legion, going as far as to have the characters actually sitting around reading Silver Age comics and drawing inspiration from the adventures there to escape from the boring repetition of their world. Which, incidentally, may be a metaphor for what was going on in the rest of the DC Universe at the time. Who knows.

Anyway, that ties in with yet another element that I find really appealing, that springs right from the fact that they're so readily identifiable to the readers: The Legion are a bunch of kids. There are later versions where the same characters have grown up, but for me, that doesn't work as well at all. It breaks one of the best metaphors of the entire franchise, that they're children, a group that symbolizes the future, who also literally represent the future. They're the ones looking around at their world with fresh eyes and going "Hey, we should all just be like Superman." Adults -- with the exception of those who sit around thinking about funnybooks all day -- don't think like that, but kids do, and the Legion are a bunch of kids who actually have the power to make that work.

Incidentally, I feel the same way about the X-Men -- not that there should never be grown-up X-Men, but that there should always be some kind of emphasis on young characters and the school. The metaphor of evolution and the newer, younger species arriving to possibly replace the old is just too good to pass up.

Speaking of the X-Men, I think it's fair to say that that's a franchise that owes a lot to the Legion, and not just because Dave Cockrum originally designed Nightcrawler and Colossus as Legionnaires before they were rejected and sent packing across town to Marvel. Because it was set in the future and not bound to the rest of the DC Universe, the Legion was free to build its own continuity, and it took a path of change and dynamism that you didn't usually see in the Silver Age. Things didn't always end with a return to the Status Quo. Lightning Lad died, came back, lost an arm, and had it replaced. New members joined. Prospective members were rejected and formed their own teams. A third of Triplicate Girl was killed off "permanently" and she returned as Duo Damsel. Things changed.

But the most important thing that the X-Men and most other comics about teenage superheroes lifted from the Legion is that for the first time, kids with super-powers acted like actual kids. And by that, I mean that they were massive jerks to each other.

And I love that about them.

I wrote about this once for a book of essays on the Legion called Teenagers From The Future (available now in finer bookstores everywhere, tell your friends), but it really just boils down to this: When adults are jerks to each other, they're just jerks, but when kids are jerks it's because they're kids. Kids make up weird rules about things and get unreasonably angry when someone breaks them. They form clubs with bizarre secret rules that they take too seriously until they forget about them and never bring them up again. They're dicks to each other for no discernible reason.

And that is exactly how the Legion conducts itself.

Maybe the best example of this is the occasional recruitment drives, which are literally just stories where characters like Matter Eater Lad and Light Lass (she makes things less heavy!) sit around and tell other super-powered youths how much they suck:

I spent a good chunk of my youth attending public school, so I can go ahead and confirm that this is exactly what it would be like if teenagers actually had super-powers. He can avert nuclear war, but even Superman can't make kids stop being jerks to each other.

And they were jerks. Their very first appearance is based around going back in time to play a prank on this guy that they idolize, and it just builds from there. At least one out of every three stories is some variation on that theme, and they get weird with it. The first time Supergirl meets the Legion, they don't let her join because exposure to Red Kryptonite has made her "over 18" for like an hour. Keep in mind: this is a temporary condition and they are time travelers. And occasionally, they just turn on each other, living out a kid's idea of gender relationships:

There's a lot of Legion runs that I love, but that original has never been topped for how much it appeals to me, which might seem a little weird when you consider that I got into it around 2006 at the age of 24 after never reading a Legion story in my life and not when I was the age where I actually should've been identifying with these characters. But there's something there that I can't deny the appeal of, that combination of hopeful optimism and kids being jerks, of Silver Age weirdness and emotional authenticity, and the past's idea of what the future could be if we all made it through.

Chris Sim, writing for Comics Alliance, 2012

[seradae]

I wrote a book!

Spire Bound is my first published novella and is a romance/erotica hiding inside a hard sci-fi shell. You'll get to know Erica (she/her) and Lou (they/them) as they spend time together after a long time apart. Oh, and they happen to do that in a massive space station orbiting Earth. If you asked Erica for a summary, she would say, "lesbians in SPAAAAAACE-ACE-ace!"

Read on for a preview of the first chapter, or go to Amazon to get your copy!

Amazon link: https://a.co/d/aQRCJA5

2045-08-11 15:50

138 hours to departure

Erica floated near a wall, staring at her phone. She watched as the shuttle map updated, a blip coming closer and closer to the port. She fidgeted excitedly – tossing the phone between her hands every few seconds – as she imagined the fun they'd have over the next few days. Then she heard the characteristic click-hiss of the docking procedure and grinned so hard her face hurt.

A few moments later, the airlock door swung open and attendants began helping passengers out into the hub and onto the waiting train. She saw a flash of short blonde hair and kicked off the wall as she locked eyes with Lou, flying toward them and exclaiming, "you're here!"

She grabbed a handhold on the wall to suppress her motion and yanked Lou off to the side, pulling them in for a deep kiss. "God, I missed you."

Lou wrapped their arms around her and squeezed her so tight she was momentarily worried she might bruise. "I missed you too, baby! I thought you were going to meet me in the Donut?"

"I wanted to surprise you!" She kissed them again and then grabbed them tight and kicked off, aiming toward the train. "C'mon, another one won't be here for a few minutes."

The interior of the train was softly lit and each row of eight seats was arranged around a central aisle. Erica watched with amusement as most of the new arrivals chose seats on the 'floor' – ignoring that it was just a matter of perspective. As they got their lap belts fastened, she asked, "how was the trip? Why'd you end up so late?"

"The flight was fine -- short and uneventful -- but everything leading up to that was annoying as hell. The passenger trains from the Buenos Aires ring to the New York ring were down for almost a day; apparently a tether snapped and had to be completely replaced. So I had to transfer through the Bangkok ring and missed my shuttle," Lou grumbled.

Her eyes grew wide. "Wait, the entire tether snapped?!"

They laughed a bit at that. "Oh, fuck no. That would've taken a lot more than a day to fix. Just one of the redundant lines, but you know how strict they are. Either way, I'm just glad I'm finally here."

"Me too," she said quietly as she laid her head against Lou's shoulder. "It's nice being able to touch you again."

"Perv," they teased, turning to kiss the top of Erica's head. "I know it's only been a few months, but it feels like years. How's life been?"

"Pfft, takes one to know one. Honestly, it's been really good; watching this place grow and change has been amazing. And I was able to set up a few fun surprises while you're in town!" She reached over and held their hand, sighing softly as their fingers interlocked for the millionth time.

Lou perked up at that. "Oh? Like what? Can I get a hint?"

"Nope. If I give you a hint, we both know you'll figure them out. I know you're terrible at it, but be patient."

"Next stop: Euclid station, your hub for shopping, entertainment, and hospitality."

"That's the Donut, right? Isn't that where your apartment is?" Lou reached down to undo their lap belt to get up, but Erica pulled their hand away.

"Yes, but that's not where we're getting off," she replied with a smirk.

"I guess the surprises are starting early," they said inquisitively.

She kissed them on the cheek. "Damn right. I have my baby for less than a week and I'm gonna take advantage of every second."

----------

"Next stop: Spire Prime, luxury hospitality."

Erica detached her lap belt and gestured for Lou to follow suit. "This one's us!" They raised an eyebrow but didn't speak. "When we stop, just follow me."

As the train came to its stop, she pushed herself up and they both proceeded to the exit. As they left the train, they were greeted by a pair of attendants. One of them spoke kindly, "welcome back, Ms. Rae! And you must be Mx. Cruz, lovely to meet you and welcome to Spire Prime. Your luggage should be here shortly; we'll see that it gets to you as soon as possible. Would you care for assistance to your suite?"

They both smiled wide at the personal greeting. "No thanks, Tom, I'll lead the newbie," Erica said with a wink.

"Understood! Let us know if you need anything, and we'll see you shortly with your luggage."

She locked arms with Lou and kicked off the doorway, leading them towards the panoramic glass exterior wall of the module. They could see the whole Earth below them, fully illuminated, though at this distance it was impossible to make out details.

She grabbed handholds along the wall and propelled them around the module until they reached their room. She waved her wrist in front of the lock on the wall and the door opened, beckoning them in. She grabbed hold of them and the door and flew inward, past a bathroom and into the living room.

Lou had seen pictures of this place as it was being built, but they absolutely did not do it justice. They looked around the room, taking in the sights. "Wow... This is absolutely amazing. You didn't have to do all this, you know." They drifted toward the glass dome window at the end of the room, while Erica attached her purse to the wall near the couch.

She scoffed. "It's your first time on the Spire! We have less than 6 days; do you think we were just going to go hit dive bars?"

Lou twisted around to look at her. "... Are there dive bars here?"

"I mean, yeah. But they're faux-dive still. Gonna take a few years to really get them dirty; we'll work on that later. But for now, I just want you to enjoy yourself." She pushed off the wall and flew over to them, grabbing a handhold and pinning them to the window, kissing them hard. "And I want to enjoy you."

Lou's arms wrapped around her body and pulled her in tight. "I love you so goddamn much," they whispered as they bit her neck gently. Goosebumps appeared all over Erica's body and she moaned softly.

She let go of the handhold and the two entwined, kissing passionately yet slowly. They drifted in space together, exploring each other's bodies as they had so many times before.

Lou grabbed the bottom of Erica's shirt and lifted it, their eyes transfixed by the earthlight cast on her skin. They pulled it off and dropped it to the floor, then broke out into laughter.

Erica turned and saw the shirt spinning aimlessly in midair and started laughing too. "Forgot there's no gravity, didn't you?"

"It's still so surreal..."

"You get used to it. Next time, throw," she remarked with a chuckle, then pulled them back in and kissed them hard as she unbuttoned their shirt. She removed it with ease, as she had done many times before, and tossed it over her shoulder.

They each pulled off their pants, throwing them out of the way. Lou kissed their way down from her lips to her neck to her chest, finally sighing, "god, I missed this."

She put her hands on either side of their face and pulled them up to look at them. "Me too, love. But we're together now, and that's what matters." Her hands traced down their side and then across their panties. "And I haven't fucked you in far too long."

She deftly maneuvered her hand into their panties and they spread their legs. Her hand moved forward and then she slid a finger into them. Lou moaned and leaned forward to kiss her hard, clinging tight to her, lest they be separated by physics. She slid a second finger in and started to fuck them with abandon, feeling them moan into her mouth.

Suddenly, they heard a knock at the door. "Oh, fuck. The bags." She gave them a quick kiss and then shouted, "one moment!"

[divorceblogger]

Mid-Year Book Freakout 2023

Thank you for the tag @kazz-brekker! 🌻

1. Best book you’ve read so far this year

This is a hard one but I'm going to rule out the various re-reads I did this year (three!) and pick Rebecca.

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year

It's easily Dune Messiah - I don't think it's perfect, but I think I discovered lots of nuances in the series after re-reading the first book and dissecting Dune Messiah in that context has been really fun. The sequel also picks up the thread of the gothic atmosphere the first book was cultivating and continues to delve into that with greater detail which is probably why I grew fond it very quickly. Also Frank Herbert really got his shit together for it and committed to the criticism of empire that he was only really hinting at in the first book without forgetting to care for the characters and sympathise with them which I think really did something for me.

The series has a very TLT-esque balance of narrating the story, now that I think of it, in the sense that there are larger events happening in the universe around the characters while the narrative chooses to zero in on the personal tragedies of a select cast of characters in order to effectively convey the themes that it’s dealing with.

3. New release you haven’t read yet

I haven't really been keeping track of new releases much since I didn't care for a lot of the queer fiction Tor was marketing lately - but Our Wives Under the Sea has been on my radar for a while and it's the latest release I can think of at the moment because the rest of my tbr fully dips into books published pre-2000. I did read A Day of Fallen Night recently though, and it was published in Feb 2023, iirc.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

I'm going to cheat and say Alecto the Ninth although Tamsyn Muir said that release was probably going to be delayed. The only other release I'm looking forward to is The Bone Season #5 coming out next year-ish? (probably 2025 tbh).

5. Biggest disappointment

Books #2 and #3 in the Southern Reach trilogy were rather poorly done. I don't think Jeff Vandermeer is a very good storyteller, but instead has a lot to say about sci-fi and horror as genres - and those things are interesting but I'm not certain they can act as stand-ins for the actual act of storytelling.

I did still enjoy my reread of Annihilation though, but it was probably just nostalgia.

6. Biggest surprise

Wuthering Heights, although I'm not quite certain why. I think I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did.

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)

Daphne du Maurier - I'd tried to read and finish Rebecca before, but I really got around to finishing the book this year and it was very, very good. I enjoyed Rebecca so much that I kind of wanted to started My Cousin Rachel immediately; but I might have to put that off for a while because my tbr is very long at the moment.

8. Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character

I'm in Alia Atreides hell currently and I'm uncertain that there's any cure for it.

9. Book that made you cry

Harrow the Ninth! Books rarely make me cry and this was a reread but I still felt plenty emotional.

10. Book that made you happy

Solaris :) I distinctly remember smiling very broadly while I was reading the last couple paragraphs of the book. I think more people should read Solaris and also watch the film that Andrei Tarkovsky made based off of the book. It falls roughly under a category that I like to refer to as sci-fi horror, but it's also very Nona-esque, in the sense that it discusses the human condition of love with brutal honesty (I think basically all the sci-fi books I’ve read this year have dealt with very similar themes, especially with respect to their criticisms of imperial hegemony and environmentalism).

uhh tagging @phantomxblood @jaqobis @jelli-ace @wishesofeternity @honey-and-hibiscus-kingdom @iliyanaofcasimir and anybody else who might be interested in doing the game!

[runicmagitek]

NaNo is around the corner and I'm getting ready for Yet Another Keinatsu Longfic, so just dumping my thoughts here bc it's Friday and slow at work and it's been a while since I've done this. (Massive spoilers under the cut)

So in the game, it's mentioned that Project Ark is meant to prepare the 15 compatibles for life in the real world. The first 18 years are spent living in their assigned Sector within the simulation. The last 2 years are spent in a training session for final preparations. Due to the fuckery that happens in the game, the simulation is reset every 16 years after the Deimos invasion. Insert the events of the game here, where they finally break the cycle and free themselves.

However.

What if there were no Deimos, no Sentinels? What if everything ran its intended course? What if these poor kids were living their normal lives and wake up elsewhere and discover the truth? What would this two-year training program look like? What would be different in this AU, where everyone grew up in their assigned Sector?

Well, that's more or less this fic in a nutshell.

To literally no one's surprise, this is yet another keinatsu fic. It's very similar to WLYH in that it's got a bunch of angst and trauma recovery (all the more reason to lean into that comfort after all the hurt), but... it should be more light-hearted in comparison? Hopefully? It's hard to tell, because the abrupt shift of everyday life to "oh hey that was all a lie and now you need to get ready for the actual real world as humanity's only survivors" is... A Lot. And I don't think that's something anyone, let alone these kids, can digest in a single day, never mind two years.

Natsuno will be the main POV character, a) because I don't feel I write from her perspective enough, b) she's super fun to write, and c) I think out of everyone involved, she'd be the most excited about this reveal. She's actually living her sci-fi dreams! Why wouldn't she love that?! I'd also need to take into consideration a) what she did the extra two years in the simulation and b) the fact she didn't really have anyone else growing up, especially after Yuki moved. I looked up the rates at which high school students moved onto university in Japan each decade and for women in the 1980s it was stupid low. Like 15% ish, or so my research is telling me. So that plus Natsuno being Natsuno, I don't think she ever thought about higher education. Maybe she struggled with holding a day job. Maybe her parents pressured her into dating and finding a good man to settle down with and start a family with. All very Not Natsuno things. No shit she'd be happy to escape that and live this sci-fi dream come true.

But then on the flip side, there's Keitaro.

It guts me apart to think about how his 2188 iteration was aware of how long the simulation would run and being okay with his clone living through not just WWII, but everything pertaining to the atomic bombs and then the aftermath of losing the war. As much as I want to put Keitaro in a bubble and save him from this mess, if I'm sticking to this concept, I need to drag him through this hell. God, this is probably going to be the toughest part for me to write - this poor shell of a young man who has seen too fucking much. Which, again, is a big reason why the story will be from Natsuno's POV, because for the first half of the story, she doesn't know what he went through. She just thinks he's being quiet because he's shy, because maybe he's nervous or misses his home, because maybe he's like her and struggled to fit in due to being a weird nerd, so all the better to try and befriend him! 🫠

But overall, it's a very slice-of-life coming-of-age story that will probably read like a weird college AU. I just want to explore the worldbuilding possibilities along with what their relationship might look like in those circumstances. I really love their reincarnated soulmate vibes of always finding each other and always falling for one another. And despite the angst and trauma (yet again lolsob), I'm really excited to write about them meeting for the first time, learning about each other, and very slowly falling in love.

And according to my tracker and based on the current outline, the word count range is anywhere between 60k to uh.... 280k 🥲 it's a good thing I love these sweeties