#I'm trying really hard to get at least one more fanfic update out before the year ends

[openphrase123]

What's your workflow for planning and then executing a long-term project, like the massive fics you write?

this is how i do fanfics And also original stuff and it's how i've been writing for like ten years (your mileage may vary though i think long project planning is a different kind of beast depending on the person.

also this is the same process as i have for making other media too but obviously with the language tweaked to fit the media (like this is how i plan and execute my game, too!)

have a scene or concept haunt me so thoroughly that i write a short speculative piece about it. if you get here and it's good but can't get past the next step, that's a sign it's meant to be a cool oneshot instead of something multichaptered

decide why i'm making it. what question am i trying to answer, what themes am i trying to explore?

write 2-3 chapters of it freeform style, not caring about where these scenes are going or how they flow into each other (for things that aren't fics, this can just be like. a small section of what it Is). if you're not feeling it here this is a sign to make the scope smaller and make the piece as short as you can tolerate it for. if you are feeling it, this is where you're figuring out the overall tone and style of how the wider work is going to go

figure out the ending. write the ending scene now if you have to. you can change it later but you need to know generally where you want to go

make an outline. how many sections do i need to get from the opening scene to the ending scene? what happens in each chapter?

for ME and how i post, if this is a fanfiction, write at least 25% of it before posting a single thing. or if nothing else write 3 weeks of updates.

start posting

vibe and write at least 3 weeks in advance. if you need a break you need a break. it's free fanfiction, people get it.

now, some creators will be like "whatever you write, take out 10% of it to be economical" this is the modern writer's equivalent of the devil talking. you need the fluff. you need the downtime. you need the epilogue. slow your fucking stories down. let people marinate in them. yeah if you're writing something short form or in a specific format you might need to take stuff out but if you're writing fanfiction or a novel or a game and there's no limit on how long it is. don't worry about spending a couple pages dicking around. every piece of human media from the dawn of time has had interludes, B plots, long meandering pieces of fluff... it makes the parts where the story Hits really stand out. inutile's tragic moments wouldn't be as effective if there weren't fun jokes or levity interspersed in between

that said you need to know when to stop adding shit. only put things in that you think you have a reasonable time to address fully and completely. you will learn this the hard way one day and i cannot teach this or stop you from making this mistake. i learned this mistake writing homestuck fanfiction when i was 13. but in my defense it's really easy to go overboard with homestuck fanfiction

panic because i'm like 90% of the way through and tired of it and start doubting whether the story was ever good at all and if this was wasted time

finish it. celebrate. wait like two months

reread my own work and say "this is sick as hell"

(if this is original work, this is where you start editing it. this is a different beast. i will not elaborate here. fanfiction is for fun and is at the same level as my original fiction drafts. on a rewrite everything will be more polished and purposeful)

repeat forever and ever as long as there are stories to tell

also. this one is just me because it's how my brain works. but ideally i work on two/three longform projects at once, so that when i get tired of working on one my brain will go "ooh shiny" and latch onto one of the other ones effortlessly. if you have adhd this will either work for you perfectly or it will ruin your life

[skyfallscotland]

Hi! I'm Amy (She/Her)

I write fanfic, which you probably already know if you came here from my AO3 page (where I go by hurricane).

Currently I'm writing for Fourth Wing.

My favourite colour is green, I love Taylor Swift and Fall Out Boy, and I hate spicy food (but love spicy books).

Below you'll find links to my work/fandom masterposts & some FAQ

✧ Fandoms/Works

Fourth Wing

ACOTAR

✧ FAQ

Do you have an update schedule?

Not really. Sometimes it's once a week, sometimes twice, sometimes not for weeks (though I try to only do that in between projects), it really depends on the hyperfixation.

How do you write so much?

I get super anxious about starting things and not finishing them (and then having people asking me about them) so I try to write ahead before posting, so it isn't always in real time. I do however write on average (based on year to date) 2.5k words a day, which I guess is a lot for most people? The simple answer is I don't work full time and I try to write everyday.

What's your writing process?

I prefer writing either in the morning or later at night. I always write in bed, propped up against the headboard. Sometimes if I'm home alone I'll venture out to the kitchen and feel supremely uncomfortable for no reason, so I quickly return to my low-lit cave.

I just write what I'm inspired to write when I'm inspired to write it. I've learned not to force it, that just makes writer's block worse!

Do you have any writing advice?

I do! I get asked this a lot, so I wrote a masterpost: Part One—the advice & Part Two—the resources

Can I bind your fic?

At the moment my stance on fic binding is that it’s fine if it’s only for personal use and not for sale, profit, distribution or commission. Please don’t use commercial companies like print houses (due to legal issues). I feel very strongly about fanworks being and remaining free, and the way fic-binding has been commodified recently worries me 💖

Do you allow translations of your work?

You’re bilingual, that’s so cool! I appreciate you asking 💗 I believe in fanfiction being accessible to everyone. I would request however at this time that any translations of my work be kept on AO3—there’s a checkbox you can tick to link it as a translation.

Can I use a scenario in your fic for my own or write something inspired by your fic?

Mostly, yeah. See my in-depth answer/thoughts on this here.

Can I use your characters for a fic of my own?

I respectfully ask you not to at this time. All my original characters from my series' are very close to my heart, especially Remi (the one people ask about the most) and their stories are not yet finished! So there's more you guys don't know about them. At the moment, I'm a bit sensitive about it and I'd like to keep them close. If you do still write something inspired by them, it's also highly likely I won't read it, at least until I'm finished the series. Thanks for understanding.

What else are you working on?

I have a dozen fic ideas for Fourth Wing, at least four of which I've already written bits and pieces of while working on Basgiath (Remi's Version). I don't run on any kind of schedule though, they'll see the light of day when they do and if they don't, then they won't!

I also have two original novels I'm writing, one of which I hope to finish in the next couple of months (it's in the plotting stage!) 🥰

Will you ever come back to ACOTAR?

I plan to at some point, hopefully this year! I just want to get through some of these Fourth Wing ideas while I'm still inspired and eventually I'll come back to write Callie's story and maybe some Feysand, or an Eris fic. It's tough because I've been writing that series in third and my FW works have me in first person mode. I find it very hard to switch between them.

Do you have any fic recs?

I do! Only for Fourth Wing at the moment, you can see them all here. I'm slowly adding to the list/collection 🌟

[fatgirlonadate-blog]

I've never written a fanfic before, but I'm so in love with LaDs and have run out of content. So I am now gnawing on the bars of my enclosure so hard that I've decided to start making my own. I'm not an especially good writer, so any feedback is appreciated. I'll continue to update in the next few days. Sylus X FMC (never named to protect the delulu) Mostly cannon but not strictly Will include jealous cinnamon roll Xavier possessiveness Intended to be quite a slow burn like in the game, but eventually spicy

______________________________________

Reciprocity

I'm dimly aware of the sound of drums in my ear; a steady, rhythmic beat. The sound is dragging me, unwilling, from the darkness encompassing me. I realize, as my consciousness begins to surface, that it's the sound of my heartbeat. I open my eyes instinctually and a blur of bright light and red swarms in my vision before I snap them shut again with a groan. 

The heaviness in my body and the rhythmic thumping sound recedes as my awareness comes back online. The sensation is strange, like my mind is floating up slowly from a deep pool. I blink blearily a few times until my vision clears and look around the room. The first thing I notice is the abundance of red and black filling the room. The couch is red, the walls are red, and the blanket covering half of my body is fuzzy and black.

What the fuck is this? A gothic porno? And where the fuck are my shoes, I wonder, as I feel the soft blanket rub against my feet as I shift. I lift the blanket to look, and gasp in surprise as I see red swirling particles around my ankles. I attempt to kick them off, and realize I can’t move my ankles apart. Shit. I’m bound.

My heart hammers in my chest as I try to recall how I got here. The last thing I remember is the mission - infiltrating the N109 zone. Vague snippets of the night before flash through my mind; the black shot glass at the Nest, Rafayel's uncharacteristically serious tone, the prick of a needle against my neck, and an overwhelming hunger I'd never felt before. I’m broken out of my puzzle-piecing by a voice cutting through the silence of the room. 

"Ah, finally awake, sweetie? Did you get enough beauty sleep?" Sylus taunts with a smirk as he rises from the armchair to my left. 

I whip my head in his direction, and recognition floods through me. My memory begins to connect the sound of his voice and the sight of his face to our first meeting - the meeting where he casually murdered someone in front of me as if he was simply shaking their hand. I scramble into a sitting position despite my bound ankles, and awkwardly tug the blanket around me as if it is somehow going to shield me from imminent death.

"What...what do you want?" I rasp out, my voice dry and brittle from disuse. How long have I been asleep?

He advances slowly, and stops a few feet away from me looking every bit like the predator I know he is. My breath quickens as I look around for an escape. Rafayel knows I'm here. Xavier does, too. At least one of them will notice my absence soon. And there's a door on the far side of the room.

"Now what were you doing at the Nest, hm? It's not exactly a safe place for lost kittens." Sylus asks, cocking his head to the side but maintaining his distance. His voice is honey and razor blades, and it causes the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.

I subconsciously press my back harder against the couch not really hearing his words. His voice triggers more memories of the night before. I wanted to kill him. No, not just kill him. I wanted to devour him. But why? Unease coils in my stomach and I ask the same question as before.

"What do you want? Where are we? Did you kidnap me?" I rattle off my questions, my voice pitching higher with each word. 

His proximity and unreadable expression make me feel anaphylactic. Why is he just standing there? Is he going to give me a villain monologue before he obliterates me into dust? I need a weapon. Something. Anything.

My eyes catch on the lamp next to the couch. Ridiculous. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Maybe I could use it in a pinch. 

"Kidnapped? Such an ugly word." Sylus sneers, drawing my attention back to him. "Let's just say that I found something that belongs to me, and I don't like my things wandering off unattended."

He crouches down so we are eye level, and suddenly mind is not my own. The hungry, needy voice urges me again. This time more insistent than the last. Kill him. Take it from him. He's yours. Take it. I shake my head imperceptibly, willing the gnawing thoughts away. Is this his Evol?

Sylus smirks at me knowingly, "Focus, sweetie. Let's start over. Tell me your name and what you were really doing wandering around the Nest."

I break my eyes away from his and stare at a point over his shoulder; a shoulder that I cannot help but notice is broad and muscular and strong. Jesus Christ. What is wrong with me? I can feel warmth rise to my cheeks and will it away with every fiber of my being.

"My name is none of your business." I reply with a glare that is half anger at him and half at myself. 

"And I wasn't 'wandering'. I was investigating you, genius. For your countless crimes against innocent people inside and outside of this zone." I add.

That's not technically true. But my business is none of his business. I tentatively test the binding around my ankles and find them steadfast. Shit. There's not much I can do here.

"I work for the Hunter's association." I explain, my voice growing more confident than I actually feel. "They probably already know that I'm here. Save us both some time and just let me go."

He cocks an eyebrow and chuckles, "A hunter, huh? Cute." 

He stands to his full height and closes the small amount of remaining distance between us. I scramble away from him until my back hits the arm of the couch, but he quickly invades the small amount of space I created by looming over me. I can smell the clean scent of his cologne and the warmth of his breath against my skin. I swallow reflexively, eyes wide. For the first time in a long time, I feel small. Intimidated. My Evol is not exactly useful on its own, and shame burns hot through my veins as I realize how defenseless I am at this moment.

"I would be delighted if the UNICORNS were to stop by for a visit. The more the merrier, don't you think? But we both know that isn't going to be happening." Sylus says, reaching out to cup my chin in his hand. 

I jerk my face away from his hand and he gives my cheek a light tap with his fingers. Not a slap. But a warning.

"Relax, kitten," Sylus says and, if he were anyone else, the words might have sounded kind and soothing. But he's not. He's a murderer, I remind myself, as he crouches down and grasps my chin more forcefully. I grudgingly let him lift my gaze to meet his.

"As for letting you go, hmm..." He pauses like he is considering it for a moment. "No, I don't think so. I think I'll keep you."

The urge to jerk my face free of his hand is rising, but the low, predatory nature that has returned to his voice stops me from escalating the situation. I need to be calm. I need to keep him calm. Angering him only increases the chances of him killing me faster.

"Keep me?" I parrot back to him slightly dumbfounded, and then scoff. "For what? Money? Power? I have neither. I’m nothing. I’m no one. I'm an ordinary Hunter. You won't be able to ransom me for anything."

Sylus laughs, a genuine sound, and the corners of his eyes to crinkle. "Oh, kitten. You really don't remember, do you?" 

He releases my chin abruptly. I could swear I saw a flash of...something in his eyes for a moment. Guilt? Regret?

His hand drops from my chin to my chest, and he places it firmly over my heart. "You are so much more than you could possibly imagine." Sylus says, with a gentleness that shocks me so much that it takes me a moment to flinch away from his touch.

"Don't touch me," I bite out, slapping his hand away from my chest. "I don't know who you think I am, but you've got the wrong girl. You don't know me."

I hiss as he grabs my wrist roughly and watch helplessly as he pries open my closed fist and interlaces his fingers with mine. His larger hand dwarfs mine easily, his grip is firm and warm.

A different sort of unease settles over me. His proximity, his touch, the way his eyes linger on my lips when I’m speaking... I may not exactly be experienced, but I recognize that look. Hunger. And not the kind that’s satisfied with food.

I grip his hand tight in mine and let my short, almond nails dig into the back of hand. His eyes narrow in response, but I begin accusing him before he can say anything, “What are you then? Some kind of creepy stalker? A sick pervert?"

Sylus releases my hand and sits back on his heels. He watches me intently for a moment before speaking. "Stalker? Hardly. A pervert? Arguably. But that’s not why you’re here."

[ell-arts]

Funny you should mention that 👀

I actually did do something with this information... I started with it last year, and it is nearing the halfway point of completion...

The fic is basically my take on the first two episodes, written mainly in Cyli's point of view. Literally a big part of this fanfic is exploring Cyli and Skeebo's relationship, how the heck they ended up dating, and what events could've led to them breaking up (Spoiler: it had nothing to do with the cyclops. Although that scene will still come!)

One thing that not a lot of people Remember about pmatga is that in the very first episodes it's said that Skeebo and Cyli WERE DATING and only broke up bc skeebo couldn't/wouldn't save her from a larger ghost instead opting to run away and take off a ring which I'm assuming is a promise ring. Artist and Writers do with this information what you will.

[memberment]

Good evening

Guys I just got home from work and proofread everything I needed to including this next Dandelion chapter and I'm trying so hard not to just fucking SOB over it.

I hate it here I want out LMFAOOOOOOO THIS IS SO SAD WHY DID I WRITE THIS FR

10:59 update......

I'm thinking about an absolutely diabolical twist for the Trin series(it doesn't actually change the story in any way, if anything it actually makes it make so much more sense). Like, I've been ruminating on it since last night but idk if it's gonna throw people off. But at the same time like part twos and threes never do as good anyways so do I really even care?? Like, I'm just out here telling stories in fanfic font bc I would rather throw myself in the street than make OCs and not share my fun little stories.

I think I may commit to it.

I don't wanna say it on here though bc it's one of those plot twists you get will not forget even though part three is like FOREVER out.

The more I think about it the more I wanna do it. Someone tell me I should do it.

Oh my god I am shutting up and finishing reading Dandelion, y'all will hear my virtual screams in approximately one and a half business hours.

(11:43) I'm actually fucking sobbing and I didn't even start the last few chapters. Like, I'm actually crying over this. It's not funny.

(12:00) Never by mag lo coming on while I'm finishing up reading this is not funny. I'm devastated. I hope you all hate me after this oh my god I feel like I just ruined my own life. WHY IS IT SO MUCH WORSE AFTER BEING DONE WITH THIS FIC FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS. Jesus Christ. Yeah. No more angst from me for a long while. I'm banned.

(12:20) Me skimming through tags on fics debating if I want to pick up something new. Everything being totally normal. Suh happy. Trying not to stew in my own misery. And then I see such a vile tag my stomach twists and now I'm just like okay I'll go fuck myself I guess I'll go write or do my homework. I'm sorry, I adore ao3 and I'm never gonna be a hater, BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE WILD. LIKE I AM TALKING SO BAD I'M ACTUALLY CONSIDERING DOING MY HOMEWORK OVER THAT. LIKE I ACTUALLY JUST WIPED THE TEARS OFF MY FACE AND GOT OVER HOW SAD I WAS BECAUSE OF HOW GENUINELY SHOCKED I WAS. Like wow oh wow.

Anyways. Updates here if there's gonna be any. Also Dandelions up if anyones reading this LMAO

It's 1:40 in the morning and the beginning of Morning Glory is making me fucking unwell. I was not joking when I made that joke about like ten dreaded weeks of angst, Jesus Christ.

(2:12) This is my second time posting this exact part. Like I know I've posted this exact part. But I seriously love Christophe and all of his dialogue with my whole heart.

(4:31) I do not recall making Dova this tragic and I'm literally about to sob over him. LIKE WHY???? WHY DID I DO THAT??? WHY ARE HIS LITTLE SUBTLE BITS OF STORYLINE SO ACTUALLY PAINFUL AS THE STORY GOES ON????? (I am allergic to happiness I am my own canon event at this point)

(4:48) THE ABSOLUTE DEVASTATION THAT COMES WITH WANTING MORE STORY BUT IT SIMPLY NOT EXISTING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO WRITE IT IS DEVASTATING.

(5:02) Welp. I'm ruined and am now compelled by god to start working on Morning Glory again. We're at 73k rn. And only two chapters that aren't the prologue are under 4k. That's fucking terrifying. Like I have 17 minus the prologue rn. WE ARE LITERALLY THREE CHAPTERS AWAY FROM THE FOURTH OF JULY. THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ANOTHER 16/17 OF SUMMER ALONE. AND THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AT LEAST ANOTHER 14 AFTER THAT. LIKE THE 14 ARE THE PLANNED SPECIFIC EVENT CHAPTERS. BRUH. WHY DID I DO THIS????

regret.

regret is all I feel.

but I will push through.

(7:38) before I go to bed I will just say I am at 75.3k. I had no idea how I would even get close to 4k on a birthday chapter where the group effectively decided to just stay home and hang out. But now there is like 1.5k of them playing muffin time. It's wild. I love it. GOOD NIGHT.

[ian-loves-fanfiction]

Well

I finally finished I See You, Sundrop! by @shirajellyfish

Slight spoily warning!

It is 1:14 in the morning as I write this (editing about a day later) and I have my first day of my senior year of high school tomorrow, but I just had to get all of my thoughts out while they were fresh.

I have never, never hyperfixated on a fanfic so hard. I've never read 400k+ words of a single fic in under a week. Somehow I managed to do that and have time to draw fanart (something I'm pretty sure I've only done once before for a fic, actually) and do my irl life shit.

How, you may ask? By continuously staying up into the wee hours of the morning :D (like 4-6am type shit, don't recommend it even if I think it was personally worth it).

I think I was so hyperfixated on the fic that I honestly didn't absorb the emotions like I should have? I felt things, surprise, excitement, a Sense of Impending Doom (/hj), but I don't think I really felt them.

I was probably a little more dissociated while reading than I usually am lol. I was so absorbed that some things barely registered. I am 100% going to have to re-read everything.

At one point I worried the fic wouldn't have a happy ending. Doesn't have the "angst with a happy ending" tag afaik and it got much worse before it got better. Saw a comment on one of the end notes and was reassured thankfully TvT. I'm very happy everyone is ok.

Love how the after ending note basically boiled down to "everyone is fine and Felix finally got some sleep" lol.

This fic was just. So good. Riley is such a dynamic character, so awesome and so cool. I really want to headcanon them as autistic (some of their behaviors just. They just. It's hard to explain, but if you're autistic too I bet you probably felt it, just a lil. They got the vibes /hj) but I know some authors can be kinda iffy about people headcanoning their OCs (which I get).

It was really cool to see an honest to goodness nonbinary character, a full character and not a self insert or y/n (no shade, I love y/n stories too). It was just cool to see a complete OC, and I love that it was all platonic, even if Sundrop did catch a little bit of feelings.

Honestly I relate so much to that, as someone who gains and loses crushes pretty fast. I'm happy it stayed platonic though and Sunny wasn't hurt or stuck pining or something silly. Plus his absolute embarrassment and mortification at his slip up was pretty funny. Might try to draw it, if I have any left over motivation (the bottom of this post sure is interesting hint hint).

Update as I'm editing this about a day later: I can't stop thinking about this fic. It was just so good! I already want to re-read it but I know I should give it at least a little time so I don't burn myself out. This fic was probably the best story I've ever read. Period. Even better than the published books I've read.

Honestly without spoiling any more than I already have, read it. If you like the DCA, read it. If you like cool nonbinary characters and great platonic relationships, read it. If you like a plot that sneaks up on you before hitting you in the feels like a truck, read. It. Do it. It's sososo worth it, I promise you.

If anyone has some good fics to read (completed preferred but actively updated ones work too) PLEASE FEED ME. Now that I'm done with ISYS I am desperate for more DCA fics. I've read so many and I n e e d m o r e.

Bonus fanart to celebrate my completion I guess(?), embarrassed Sun boy!

I guess I just really like drawing embarrassed boyos. Sorry if it looks weird, I've never drawn a pose like this before :P

Shira if you're reading this, thank you. Your fic was just fantastic. Also thank you for helping me get out of my art block! I had it for the whole month of ArtFight (sadge) but I'm so happy to have some motivation again. Thank you.

[purdledooturt]

Thank you, @cinnamontails-ff, for tagging me - I really enjoy filling out these things 🙈

How many works do you have on AO3? 25.

What's your total AO3 word count? 50,253

What fandoms do you write for? I am currently writing for Baldur's Gate, and I'm thinking of dipping my toes into Spy x Family, but according to AO3 I have written for: Baldur's Gate, Layton Brothers: Mystery Room (the iOS spin-off), Professor Layton, Persona 4, Pokemon, Welcome to Night Vale, Fire Emblem: Awakening, League of Legends, Frozen, Resident Evil (Village, to be specific), Lovely Complex, and Mystic Messenger. Additionally, from Fanfiction.net, I have written for Twilight, Legend of Zelda, Doctor Who as well.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos? 1. Pecking Order - Fire Emblem Awakening (305 kudos) 2. Backseat Gamer - Lovely Complex (237 kudos - smaller fandoms are sleepers, I swear) 3. The Rules Don't Apply - Layton Brothers: Mystery Room (218 kudos) 4. Happy Birthdays - Layton Brothers: Mystery Room (163 kudos) 5. Trapped in the Courtroom - Layton Brothers: Mystery Room (146 kudos)

Do you respond to comments? I used to not - mainly because I forgot my AO3 details and I never checked it! I don't actually get emails from AO3 to let me know I've gotten comments, so by the time I'd noticed it would be months ago that someone had left it. But I'm more on top of it now, and I try to reply to everyone who comments to thank them for their time at least.

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Got me out here checking my fics and trying to remember what's what - I think I tend to avoid angst because I have to fight myself on the daily to get out of that mindset, and mentally I'm not quite separated enough from it to be able to look at it objectively without it absolutely ruining my mood. Apparently my angstiest fic in AO3 in general is Accepting Defeat, and on the grand scheme of things it's actually quite mild, so there you go. There's probably some borderline depressing things on my Fanfiction.net account, given I was a teenager with no emotional regulation back then, but I ain't digging for that.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? I love 'love'. I love hope. I love happy endings. Soooo this question is actually terribly difficult for me. Hang on, let me have a look at the old catalogue and see. I'll give you the gremlin is encumbered again, only because that made me laugh the most and I really liked exploring that minor camp dynamic in BG3 for the ending.

Do you get hate on fics? Thankfully, no - I usually write for smaller fandoms so normally people are just stoked to see content.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind? I've only recently started, so I'm still working on it. I have a few on the pipeline but my first one is my currently only contribution to the Resident Evil: Village fandom, and it's for the Heisenhoes. I like to provide.

Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written? I don't have any crossovers published anywhere but I'm sure I've written them when I was younger, in some notebook somewhere, but nothing comes to mind. It was definitely, most likely, an anime x anime crossover.

Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I am aware of.

Have you ever had a fic translated? Again, not that I am aware of!

Have you ever co-written a fic before? No - I have commitment issues and writing comes and goes for me as a hobby.

What's your all-time favourite ship? Oh god, this is hard. I don't know!

What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? I don't write multi-chapter things because I am useless, but I did have this Egoshipping fanfic I wrote that I have published in Fanfiction.net (I really ought to move it to AO3 - maybe I'll rewrite it). It's called Being Second (warning, that's a fanfiction.net link), and it was pretty angsty but the last update for it was nearly 10 years ago now.

What are your writing strengths? I'd like to think I do humour pretty well.

What are your writing weaknesses? Oh, boy, where do we start? I can't finish anything multi-chapter for the life of me because I lose interest so quick, and the weight of expectation gets to me. I can't be consistent with anything, and I've only started writing out plot instead of just pantsing it with no general idea of what I'm doing. I tend to get lost in characterisation because I'm too self-indulgent. I have a lot.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? Here's the cringe bit, because I was young when I started writing - I used to type out Japanese phrases in romaji in my Detective Conan fanfics. It definitely would take me out of the experience now if I were reading it, so it might be a bit jarring if not done right.

First fandom you wrote for? I'm checking fanfiction.net for this one, because that's where your girl's roots are. Apparently, Twilight! 2009.

Favourite fic you've written? Please don't make me choose between my children. I'm proud of everything that I put out, because it is a battle to even muster up the courage to put myself out there in that way. BUT if I had to, I would pick Pecking Order, not because it's the one with the most Kudos but because I genuinely blow my own mind when I read it, thinking 'I wrote this?'

I can't think of anyone to tag so I'll leave an open invite to whoever would like to fill this out too 🥰

[killerandhealerqueen]

4, 6, 10, 12, 16 from this game. also, hiiii. how are you fam?

My darling hello! I'm good, I'm currently trying to finish my CSI: Miami fic Oil and Water (we're almost done, I'm on like...the last chapter) and then I'm going to either work on my Mignon au or work on the next chapter of 恨君不似江楼月 | Killer and Healer (I'll probably work on the next chapter of the rewrite because I try to at least get two chapters out a month (I'd like it to be more but I liveblog as I write so it takes a bit longer))

Anyways, onto answering questions!

4. what is the plot bunny you’ve been carrying for the longest? optional bonus question: do you ever wonder why you haven’t written it yet and experience deep existential dread?

My Howl's Moving Castle Killer and Healer au. I love Howl's Moving Castle and I think it'll make a great Killer and Healer au, I just gotta figure out which couple I want to write for: Yuezhi or Junchun. It would work with both, I just gotta pick. And the reason I haven't written it yet...fuck if I know. Probably because I keep getting distracted by all these other fic ideas that pop into my head

6. do you have any kind of consistent writing schedule or just hoping for the best?

Ehhhhhh...my schedule is like...pretty consistent, at least when posting one shots, but updating multi-chapter fics...fuck if I know. I do write every day, so I guess that could count as consistent. But my posting schedule is not

10. at what point in the process do you come up with titles, and how easy or hard is that for you?

Sometimes the title comes before the fic, sometimes the title comes during the fic, and sometimes the title comes as I'm trying to post the damn thing so...titles are not consistent for me. Sometimes they're easy and sometimes I have to rack my brain to get something that sounds interesting to read/might pique the reader's interest

12. do you ever have trouble focusing on writing? how do you get around that? 

The only time I have ever had a hard time focusing on writing is when I had other things going on around me/I was mentally in a bad place/overly stressed out. As for how to get around it...well...you have to stop being stressed/being in a mental bad place, which is not at all easy to do and you should never force yourself to write because you will hate everything you type (trust me, I have tried to force myself to write and I kept deleting everything I wrote because I hated it) so you should take breaks if that's what's best for you. Take a break until you can get into a space where you want to write again because forcing yourself to do something is never the answer and your craft will suffer because of it

16. where is your favorite place to write?

Oh, I like writing anywhere, but I guess my bed is my favorite. Brain juices really start to get going when you're all snuggled up cozy in bed

ask game for fanfic writers | send me asks

[melodioustear]

Hi friends - it's been a bit, here at least. Remember when we only had to manage one or two social media accounts to stay in contact with people because they hadn't dispersed to a dozen different places? That was nice.

If you're not aware, 2023 has not been kind to me, and I am presently living with my (very kind, very generous) grandmother whilst finalising my divorce. My health has been rough, managing my audhd has been rough, it's a rough year. But! I have taken a huge amount of joy and pride and gratitude in being able to continue my PhD and not having to take (another) intermission.

As such, it's been a teensy bit hard to maintain posting about how my research is going. But as I've recently come to find that asynchronous sharing is easier for me and more accessible for people than trying to maintain Twitch streaming, I want to try and post here a little more, even if it's very infrequent.

So, to give you a relatively swift update on where we are:

I had supervision last month and we did a lot of edit planning and nailing down of the issues with my chapter draft, which was just about complete before that meeting. A large amount of the problem was that I had separated my discussion about the survey results and my arguments for the chapter. I made my next target sorting this out, editing things together, finishing the chapter off and if possible doing this for the video games chapter too (spoiler alert: I will not be managing to do both).

One of the main issues that my supervisor highlighted was that in that draft, I had no fanfiction. In my fanfiction chapter. We'd discussed the ethical steps I wanted to take with citing fanfiction, such as not using archive-locked fanfiction, getting author consent to cite, and making sure I'm not citing a fandom with a history of abuse (to protect myself).

This is what I've spent this week fixing. I have found a fanfic which is, and I cannot stress this enough, utterly perfect as an example. It's in a fandom with canonical mental illness, the story is top 50 for kudos and top 10 for kudos-with-mental-illness-tags in its fandom, and it is complete at 225k words. The story is not only brilliantly written, but it has a meta-story within it that essentially makes fandom itself into a character, and then uses it as both metaphor and engine for the main character's healing. It doesn't present healing as linear, shows everything in shades of grey, and has spawned both its own fanfiction and fanart as well as so many comments from people explaining how the story helped them with their own situations. And best of all - the author (hi if you're reading this, you're wonderful) has given me permission to cite it. So this is now something I'm poised to start writing up.

The other side to what I'm working on to sort the chapter's issues comes from a workshop I did at the FSNNA conference this month. It was on a particular kind of data analysis called topic modelling and works as a really good jumping board for identifying connections within a large data set (which, if you take the write-in question text for my survey, I am working with). My hope is to use this to form a structure for my close-reading reflections, as well as potentially highlighting things I might've missed.

But, I am trying to be good and take this all slowly and steadily. Whilst I am behind where I wanted to be, it is only natural - as my mentor reminded me this week - that as my research progresses it'll deviate and transform in unexpected ways. This chapter may take a little longer, but others may be a little shorter - for example, my next chapter is on roleplaying and as my MA thesis was on that I have a lot more existing knowledge about the current work on it in academia.

And lastly, I had my first academic publication! I'm a real academic now! You can read my reflections on Madness, control and agency in video games at the Polyphony, where I talk specifically about the games Pillars of Eternity (& sequel) and Please Knock on My Door.

Thanks everyone so much for your continued interest in my work - I really appreciate it <3

[civilight-eterna]

Fanfic Writing Questions

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

Looks like 17, incidentally my lucky number!

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

204,980 so far!

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Right now, Arknights. If Ex Astris gets any more content though I'll probably lunge for it again. I'm also always open to writing Vocaloid stuff even though I'm a little embarrassed looking back at some of my earlier works. I don't write for RWBY or Danganronpa anymore. I've been kinda hurt by people in those fandoms and I'm baby (or was baby) so it kinda killed my heart for it.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? 1. From Hell to the Moon - 953 kudos My gigantic Touko/Komaru fic from back when Ultra Despair Girls had me in an absolute chokehold. I still love them but I kinda fell off from updating because I got a lot of comments like 'ughh i'm so sad this will never get updated' and the pressure got to me. 2. Between the Li[n]es - 425 kudos Another one I left on a massive cliffhanger for Danganronpa V3, my Miu/Kokichi/K1-B0 fic. I appreciate the support it received so much. I do enjoy writing robot sex. I fell off of updating because I made a friend in the fandom that kinned Kokichi pretty hard and seemed to feel like he was a much 'softer boi' than the way I wrote him and implied that my Kokichi was OOC and even though I didn't really believe it...well, you become your actions, so, by kind of, tolerating their interpretation it kind of neutered my own. We haven't talked in years. Sometimes I think about writing a quickie update chapter but I'm too into my other writing. As one comment put it: "came to nut, stayed for the feels", so I felt pretty damn good about the naughty scenes in this one. One of the more vulgar things I've published.

3. Other Side - 288 kudos My first fic for the RWBY fandom! I wrote it right after the Weiss trailer came out and we knew nothing, so a lot of the story is nothing like how the characters act now. I look back on it pretty fondly because it got me out of a pretty bad writing rut, but it's kinda bittersweet because I've moved on from RWBY. Still a sucker for Ruby/Weiss and I was overjoyed when Ice Queendom came out and gave them some spotlight. 4. Amor fati - 188 kudos My beloved golden child chenmiya fic. It makes me so happy to see this one climbing high into the list even though it's the most recent. A lot of tender love and care went into writing this and reading this is the key to my heart. Nothing excites me more than comments on this or any of my other chenmiya fics. It's basically my love letter to the ship. 5. Secondhand Smoke - 177 kudos One of my early entries into the ~problematic yuri~ genre from when Cinder/Ruby from RWBY had me by the throat. I got a lot of much-appreciated appreciation for writing these two and I remember this being the year that a bunch of my artist friends drew me Cinder/Ruby for my birthday! I'd never had anything like that happen before and I felt so loved.

5. Do you respond to comments? Sometimes! If you leave a lengthy comment I try to at least pop in and cry about how much it means to me haha.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Sour Grapes, easily. But is anyone surprised?

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Definitely dodecatheon meadia. If ever I've written something I can consider to have a true fairytale ending, this is the one. This one really healed my heart too! I felt like I had a real fire under me while writing it and these girls have deeply affected me. I don't want to say too too much about it since some people are very likely still finishing the game. But it's also a new feeling to be the first fic in a tag!

8. Do you get hate on fics? Thankfully not really.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Yeah, I sure do, almost exclusively-but I tend to have myself in this hostage situation of, "please make a 50k-100k epic to perfectly justify the characters having sex" that I occasionally escape containment from. I've gotten a little better at just laying the foundations quickly and getting to what I like to write, but it can still be a struggle because I get a little perfectionist with it. Which is funny because to me the 'perfect' smut doesn't exist, and it's made 'perfect' through the imperfections. I think the little bumps and hiccups and misunderstandings along the way are a lot more compelling to me than having everything go without a hitch, but there's definitely exceptions and different circumstances! Like when that's a big part of the story-like a character really really in control for another character's safety. When I write robot sex or medfet there tends to be a bit more detail about the safety side of things because I like to take the reader through the experience of safety too. I never turn right to the camera and go 'and now the safe way to do it is x' but I rely on the characters to express their expertise to each other, and their reassurance, and for the trust of the other character to speak for itself. haha, i rambled.

this is why for the lin/chen/amiya bondage i'm working on writing that i have a notebook with several pages of questions that lin goes through before tying people up. things like 'if you start to cry, does that mean you need to stop, or is that just what you need?'

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

Not really, the only one I've kind of written was the Ex Astris/Arknights one in dodecatheon meadia, based lightly off the fact that the games did a collab and I wanted to acknowledge them with the outfits of those girls from another world that they didn't quite get to know.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Oh, just once. But it was SO long ago and the person was pretty young I think and they were ashamed and took it down right away, so live and let live.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Some kind folks translated Sour Grapes into Chinese! I asked them for a link to where it ended up but I don't think they totally understood what I was asking. I was flattered nonetheless.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? No, I haven't. I do a lot of rping though still, though less publicly than I used to. I think if I co-wrote anything and published it it would have to be with @lanymme because she's my most trusted peer! When we talk about writing things and whenever she gives me feedback, she is so kind and spirited about it in a way that pushes me to do my best. Her encouragement is truly so earnest and even though I can be a little protective of my writing she has a really nice way about her of discussing how to make it stronger without making me ever feel like I'm not 'enough' as an author. I can't overstate how much I value her companionship; as an editor and a good friend and just lovely person overall. And when she leaves huge comments on my fics spotting all the little painstaking details I put in and mentioning them-what better satisfaction can there be as a writer? I always intend to do the same back but I am always just so floored and wiped out by the quality of her writing that I atomize before I can form cohesive thoughts. It just makes it all the more impressive that she can put together a fucking. bibliography of the story's moments and her reactions. So lanymme I hope you know how much I adore your style. /)///(\

14. What's your all time favorite ship? Chenmiya. I sort of felt inklings of it all throughout the beginning of the story and then chapters 7 and 8 sealed my coffin shut. Amiya sort of represents, I think, the idealism that Ch'en had wanted to believe in growing up. The world was really cruel and Ch'en adapted in her own ways, but she...rejects Amiya a bit because I feel like in her heart she can't let herself get too attached. She knows-or thinks she knows-that Amiya will lose hope and she'll feel that heartbreak all over. But slowly, her optimism and continued efforts to just...keep going, in a world that is cold, a world that shows her cruelty-it reaches Ch'en. And even though Ch'en puts up her front at first, Amiya's ultra-high empathy helps her understand who Ch'en really is, and she has the maturity to not begrudge her for the way she's processed things up to the events of chapter 7 and 8. As she puts it, "I saw the color of her heart", when talking about how Ch'en interacted with the kids in the slums that didn't have anyone else. And then she launches a rescue for Ch'en, and ends up so linked up with her memories and emotions that she just like. Becomes the other half of her soul in that fight. Amiya arrives with her optimism and hopes on the sheer chance that Ch'en is still alive and still needs her help and goes up the tower alone to find her and she does even against all odds. She talks about how she wants to cry when she sees her. In Ch'en's hour of need, Amiya arrives carrying the hopes of what she wanted to be herself, and they fight a battle where they are alone, saving each other, promising each other that they can do it, and they come out alive.

There are so, so so many more details about them. Ch'en's wishes for Amiya to call her by first name in a closer way, the way that Amiya shyly, obstinately continues to add some form of honorific for her. The way Ch'en inherited her abusive father's rhetoric and echoed his lines to Amiya to try to get her to distance herself from her in the beginning, only to apologize at the top of the tower and tell her she wishes she'd met her earlier.

But the main thing I always think about, at the top of the tower, is where black-snake-controlled Talulah puts Amiya in a prison of fire specifically to goad Ch'en. She wraps her in flames and says "I wonder how her melting flesh will smell"/something akin to that and Ch'en loses her mind and yells as her to "don't touch her!" and says "I'm the one you want, let her go!" etc., you know, all the good shit. So my interpretation of the scene is this: since the black snake can't make Talulah do something she doesn't actually want to do, I've always felt that the feelings behind that scene were of Talulah wanting someone close to her to really, truly understand how it feels to lose someone you love, and she saw Amiya to Ch'en as being someone analogous to what Alina was to herself. I think even if you read Ch'en's feelings for Amiya as non-romantic, Amiya was still so so dearly important to her to make her react that way, and that the black snake being cruel enough to try to leverage their relationship to, ultimately, kill Ch'en, who was Talulah's last tether to not losing control of herself fully-was so outrageously heinous. Ch'en could have killed herself trying to get Amiya out, which would have been what the black snake wanted most of all, since it couldn't quite urge Talulah to kill Ch'en directly, and it would have done so by preying on both Talulah's love/sorrow for Alina and Ch'en's love for Amiya.

scrolling up and seeing the wall of text i wrote and. yeah. there's still so much more.

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Between the Li[e]s. Danganronpa fandom just hurts too much.

16. What are your writing strengths? Aside from dialogue, I think my other big strength is that I'm not afraid to write what I want even if and especially if it's fucked up. I also feel like another strength of mine is that the characters will take over for me, and get me to write them truly as they are without letting me change them. Even if that results in me writing things I'm very embarrassed and shy about writing.

17. What are your writing weaknesses? I lack discipline. I need to get myself consistently writing more, but it's hard for me to make time to do it.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I don't tend to do more than a few phrases, and only then if it's a character's native language and I want them to call someone a cute nickname or something.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Princess Tutu. I was 13. it was the 4th of July. I was supposed to be in bed asleep. But I was using the string lights illumination to light up my journal and it was then for the very first time I felt the feeling of realizing that I could make anything happen that I wanted.

It was not very good at all! But I treasure the memories of having boundless energy to write with because I was just so excited to see something become real from something that had only till then been inside of me.

20. Favorite fic you've written?

dodecatheon meadia. maybe it's surprising because it's not one of my headliner chenmiya fics, but-it's a secret chenmiya fic if you squint!

and honestly even though the story of ex astris is a little patchy at times, by the end you feel just...gripped by the world building and by yan and vi in particular. so i remember writing for them, desperate to see the happiest ending i could make, weaving it in with the canon with as many of my favorite details as possible, and it felt so good. i wrote pretty much nonstop for a week straight and finished it. the feeling of just-DYING to write was burning under my skin after finishing the game and the satisfaction of finishing the fic was magical, even if it came with the usual...idk, 'fanfic post-partum' of sending your writing out into the world when it's all done.

tagging: @lanymme, @annierosaart, and anyone else who wants to do it!

[niennawept]

Tag Game - Fandom Edition

Tagged by @somebirdortheother, thanks so much, lovely! This was fun!

Your Name: On here, Nienna or Ni, if you please. I have 4-5 names that people regularly call me outside of that (IRL nicknames) but I prefer to keep that private.

Your First Fandom: Tolkien. Before I even knew what fandom was, I was composing fanfiction in my head about being Bilbo Baggin's niece (yes, before I read LotR, I somehow knew that he would have an adopted child because he definitely wasn't marrying a woman - A+, baby Nienna). At the time, I had no concept of what fanfiction was or what a self-insert was, but here I was, doing the thing at age 8. I think it counts, lol.

Your Current Fandom: Rings of Power specifically, wider Tolkien Legendarium also. And the thing you must know about me is I have two fandoms which are special interests of mine. 1) Tolkien and 2) Star Trek. Normally, when one is dormant, the other wakes up. So we'll count Star Trek too, even though that interest is currently sleeping (shhh, she needs her rest).

How did you first get into fandom?: Um, doomed by the narrative? My dad read The Hobbit aloud to me when I was little and then proceeded to read me LotR out loud a year later. I couldn't NOT form my whole personality around that (and Trek, which he introduced when I was 10).

How long have you been engaging in fandom spaces?: I discovered fanfiction online when I was 14. I used to write a long time ago, but college and grad school got in the way. I lurked for years (reading a couple longfics a week) but I didn't have the energy to create much myself. Adar and Rings of Power brought me out of that shell. So I guess the answer is: it's complicated.

How often do you read fanfic?: I'm almost always reading at least one longfic, although I have slowed down significantly now that I'm writing a longfic. These days I squeeze in reading one-shots because I set too ambitious of an update schedule and I'm trying not to get burnt out.

Top three characters from your current fandom?: Adar (my love), Tar-Miriel (who I am so worried about going into the next season), and probably Galadriel. I really admire how they let her be nasty enough to be credibly accused of being Morgoth's successor, by someone who would know. That's brilliant and gives her character a lot of room to grow into the Galadriel we know in the Third Age.

Have you ever written a fic for a fandom and if so, shout it out!: I do not think any of my very old fic still exists (thank the stars). But I'll link a few Rings of Power fics here (use caution, all three works are 18+):

Scars of Silver and Gold: A Second Age romance/adventure (Adar/OC) that will eventually answer the question "what is the best case scenario for Adar and his uruks that still fits within the constraints of Tolkien's legendarium?"

Until the Stars Burn Out: Set in Cuiviénen, under the light of the stars. Eren, the one who will one day be known as Adar, shares a moment of tenderness with the partner he was made for, Erenyë. (Adar/OC). Based off of "Awake, Arise or Be For Ever Fall’n"  by @dwarveslikeshinythings

Mistletoe Mischief: Christmas-themed smutty Adar/Reader fic. Modern AU.

Have you ever drawn fan art for a fandom?: I have, but I am not willing to share anything yet, because I'm just not where I want to be skill-wise.

Share a personal headcanon that you feel strongly about: Mmmm. I have many headcanons. It is hard to pick one. I'll say this: the elves that went to Valinor from the Waters of Awakening knew that some of them where kidnapped and taken but they did not see any orcs/uruks until the Noldor made it back to Middle-earth. It makes the Battle-under-Stars that much more existentially terrifying. Thinking about writing a horror one-shot about this - imagine recognizing your old friend, twisted by centuries of torture among the dead. *shivers*

You’re trying to convince a friend to get into your current fandom(s) with you. what episode, clip, or scene are you showing them?: Mmmmm. I don't think there's a clip of ROP that I can pick that doesn't have spoilers. All the parts I'm most attached to are in pretty deep.

And finally, what does fandom mean to you?: Community. Enjoying the thing you enjoy on your own is marvelous but enjoying it with other people is even better! People have such wonderful different ideas about things and that's very cool.

Tagging (no pressure, just love): @dwarveslikeshinythings, @lazymeriadoc, @bananaphanta, and anyone else to whom this looks like fun!

[recurring-polynya]

Writing/Art Update 5/30/2023

I feel like I worked really hard last week, and yet I don't actually have much to show for it. I guess a lot of it is little stuff that piled up. I mean, I very much do still have a bit pile of dumb little tasks to do, but it's smaller than it was last week. I feel like I've had to do a lot of driving and socializing lately, too, which not only take up time, but wipes me out both before and after.

If you like extra features, I did finish up my go places addenda post last week. I have a lot of ao3 comments to reply to, but aside from that, I guess I'm pretty much done with that one. It gave me a lot of grief while I was writing it, but in the end, I think I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, and I have some good feelings about the end stages of sitting with it.

Onward and upward!! Sorry if this is old hat to my regular followers, but just to get everyone up to date, the new project is Ductwork, the next part of Heart is a Muscle. The preview summary I slapped on the end of What We Do with Our Hearts reads "Renji tries to not make it a big deal when he gets his long-damaged kidou ducts fixed; Rukia is having none of it. Byakuya would like to be removed from this narrative and yet can't seem to manage it."

I started it about a year ago, immediately finishing Hearts, and knocked out about 7700 words of it at the time. I'm kinda gun-shy, because last summer I really really wanted to finish a little in love and I tried and failed (tried and died, basically), a thing that has not been made better by the fact that people have started sending sad little messages like "i hope you finish this someday..." That being said, I am trying to be more realistic about my capabilities, especially because I have a lot more Mom-duties in the summertime. My goal is to make 20,000 words of progress before I fizzle out this time. I mean, if I do finish it, that would be great! I'm not gonna stop dead if I hit 20k. I do hope to participate in the Bleach Returns event this July, but whether that consists of a small break or a big break, I don't know. We'll see.

So, I already have a significant chunk of the first act done, but I'm having trouble moving forward, because I don't have a great idea of how the second act is gonna go. For now, it's two acts, it's evolving, and I'm letting it. I'm trying to let myself exist in creative mode and have some fun with that. In that vein, I just went ahead and let myself write The Big Scene, the scene that is the entire reason I am writing this fanfic. I wrote 3500 words on it this week. It's not done yet, but I am having fun. I've also been having little bursts of inspiration for scenes that follow and other things I want to do, so overall, I am in a good place. It's nice. This is good.

The overall document length at the moment is 12,617, which means I've done about 5k words since I started working on it, which is a quarter of the way there! That's distinctly Not Bad!!

In other news, I've been increasingly dissatisfied with Google Docs, so I am experimenting with writing this one in Microsoft Word. I don't deal with change well, so for now, I hate it, but I'm figuring out ways to make it more the way I like, and at least it doesn't constantly reload back to the top of the page. I will keep you updated. It's not like I can't just cut and paste it back into the other program, which I would end up doing anyway, because GDocs works pretty well for beta-reading and the AO3 auto-html script is handy.

[ebonydraygon]

So it's been a bit of a year... I'm fairly sure someone left a monkey's paw around somewhere, and I tripped over it by accident. That and getting a shiny new diagnosis of Crohn's Disease (does not make you an actual crone, that is a lifestyle choice, not an autoimmunity condition). As such I'm going to be very gentle to myself with these.

Creatively

Complete two writing projects

Technically? I finished the long form Gloryhammer fanfic I have been plugging away at for the last few nanos, as well as a few one-shots. I also did a bunch of writing work for larp but like my nano this year, it was hampered by my new health condition flaring up.

sew a piece of clothing for myself or Ben

Didn't manage this, though I did make a pretty hooded caplet for a friend! And have stuff together to make actual clothing things for people next year! Closest to a clothing piece I made would be a white plague doctor mask I made for Ben. It apparently needs more ventilation holes...

rework a cosplay

Not managed this year... though I suppose I am working on a new one, which is made via reworking an existing dress. Does that count?

Personally

eat more regularly/healthily

I'll just settle for actually eating at least once a day. Again, Crohn's is not a fun one when it comes to digestion and eating.

post progress pics more often

Semi managed! I managed to get into the habit of taking pictures of my work after each stream. Mostly at least. So my discord server has regular updates! Now for all my other media accounts...

support other crafters more

I like to think that I did actually do this. I certainly made a number of friends in the twitch crafting community, and I'm recognised by them in turn. I may also be very bad for throwing plushies at them, though that is mainly because I like giving people things...

General

Leave the house more

So funny story... at the start of the year, whilst I was in hospital, our washing machine broke. Thankfully, we have some really lovely friends who have a washing machine and a dryer. Which has meant we make weekly trips over the city with a bag or few of laundry and to hang out. Its leaving the house! It counts!

sort and clear spare room

Again, I've made progress, my fabric is all sorted, I've even started trying to remove the mould from the walls. Next steps are dismantling the old bed in there and giving it to our Pathfinder DM and then getting a new loft bed in there. Progress!

Get to the stage where we can get a cat!

One day!

This year has been a hard one. Most of it is finding a new balance with my diagnosis, as well as trying to get it under control. It has meant I have been more exhausted and it's let things slip. But over all, I am proud of what I have achieved despite it!

Highlights of the year include getting to stay in a castle for a week, discovering a new craft joy in cross stitch and medal making! Plus the joy when I made a bunch of medals for the local nanowrimo group and handed them out to people before November began. That joy is why I love crafting (and why I had to be bullied into actually selling them rather than just giving it away all the time). Plus getting to meet a bunch of my partner's online friends at last!

Tune back January 1st for the new resolution list and the thank you list for those that kept me going through the previous year.

[rinhaler]

The anon who just found out u were fuwushiguro here!!

Yes I absolutely understand the frustration from not performing as well with follower count to likes ratio - as an artist who used to be quite popular and likes went from thousands to only like seventy. At some point you feel like you’re not doing it for you, but actually for others. I’m happy you realised the happiness can come from writing and not only hate.

The friend who left you I can also relate to a bit, my ex best friend of 6 years also left me quite recently and it was like there was an empty hole in me because even if you’re not friends anymore, your brain can’t quite handle the change. I’m so sorry that happened to you, but the greatest challenge is to not only hold yourself to one person but to be open and try new possibilities, and that’s what you’ve seemed to done! You have new friends, new mental attitude, and a brand new beautiful blog (that I love the theme of btw!!!) You’re doing great and will continue to do so, because if there are 100 rinhaler fans I’m one of them, if there are 10 rinhaler fans I’m one of them and if there are none, I’m dead.

Also to the question you had, idk it’s just the way you describe certain things..? It’s hard to explain, I have about 50 fanfic blogs that I really love the writing of and fuwushiguro was one of them. Your world building, character description as well as development, SO GOOD!! And your wusyaname series was amazing, I used to check your blog religiously for any updates, and I’m happy you’re reuploading them here bc now I’m gonna reread them every week!

Also the way you wrote yuuji in the aita!sukuna fic was extremely similar to the first few chapters in wusyaname before he goes on that trip (if I remember right)

Have a great day/night :D

omg ARTIST AAAAAA im obsessed I'd love to see your stuff if you ever feel comfortable sharing with me sometime but no pressure ofc! I know it's very personal! ive been trying to get more into art but im finding it hard to balance practicing art stuff and writing. I also have massive art insecurity bc I don't think I'm good enough (same with my writing) so I totally understand if u wanna keep it all to yourself but go you for being a talented babe <3

interactions on tumblr suck and I'm starting to be able to tell myself it's purely luck what performs well and what doesn't, so I'm finding it a lot easier to write things I actually want to write now rather than what I think my followers will like.

Also yeah in regard to my friend, we were online friends and we'd only known each other for around two years but god i adored her and i still do tbh. I think about her and our memories all of the time we were so so close so her decision to just randomly cut me off really hurt. I'd love to talk to her again but I know I have to respect her decision and I wish her the best!

It's been a good opportunity to get back into writing so at least something nice has come from something so sad. And I love this little space so much! I'm glad you like my theme! It was greenish at first n i was like nope this aint the one i am a pink girl through and through!

ALSO AAAA THE WAY IM BLUSHING ABT AITA YUUJI BEING LIKE WUSYANAME YUUJI UR SO RIGHT 😩 definitely not intentional but god maybe i missed him more than i thought! I'm so excited to be reposting it though it's going to be like living through the magic of it all again and hearing what everyone thinks and stuff! I haven't read it in so long so I feel like I'm right there with you all hehehe

anyway thank you for supporting me always ur literally the best i adore u pls take care of urself mwah mwah mwah

[sidhewrites]

20 questions

tagged by the best bird @dreamcrow!

Tagging you !

1.) how many works do you have on ao3?

11 works, 1 series

2.) what's your total ao3 word count?

46,333

3.) what fandoms do you write for?

Trollhunters/TOA occasionally. Mostly I write original stuff off Ao3 so this may not be the most exciting thing lol

4.) what are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Tales of Arcadia: In Search of Home

A week in the Woods

Glimte

Wait

Parenting 101 BC

everything is TOA except for glimte, which is an original work you can read on Ao3 OR you can pwyw for the final edited version of it over on gumroad :3c

5.) do you respond to comments? why or why not?

yeah! i try to at least thank people for commenting if I have nothing else to say

6.) what's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

It's not an ENDING per se but Parenting 101 BC has the saddest chapter that's been posted I think?

7.) what's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I think Wait probably? If only because a Week in the Woods is nothing but fluff

8.) do you get hate on fics?

nothing that I've seen so far. If there's any hate my way, it's probably a vagueblog somewhere that I haven't seen.

9.) do you write smut? if so, what kind?

Meh. Like I don't go out of my way to avoid writing it, I just don't often write anything where it feels necessary personally?

10.) do you write crossovers? what's the craziest one you've written?

not legit crossovers but I love imagining my various OCs in the silliest possible situations. My favorite remains a spider librarian in centaur.world as a spidertaur

11.) have you ever had a fic stolen?

not my fic. I had an ooooold rp group stolen twice, but beyond that I haven't seen anything reposted and claimed. If there's something out there please let me know!

12.) have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! there's a fantastic group of russian folks who liked to read In Search of Home when I was updating it. If i start it up again, it's gonna be for them <3

13.) have you ever co-written a fic before?

Not in recent history nope

14.) what's your all-time favorite ship?

Honestly I don't think I have one? I like imagining various blorbos together but nothing stands out to me off the top of my head.

15.) what's a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

I want so badly to finish In search of home, but the motivation....the muse...they are away never to be seen again...

16.) what are your writing strengths?

scene setting and character building. Action and dialogue can sometimes feel stilted, but I'm really good at giving the narration a strong voice and making strong, 3D characters :3

17.) what are your writing weaknesses?

pacing and plot. I get lost in the weeds, or I dont go into the metaphorical grass at all, and it's so hard to find that middle ground. Fortunately for fanfic you don't need to worry about pacing quite as much as you would for more traditionally-written stories with a planned beginning middle and end

18.) thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I love it honestly. I threw in some spanish here and there for a bilingual character, and I think it adds some authenticity when you know the language. But if you don't, there's nothing wrong with just writing it in the language you do speak and just indicating that it's in a different language.

19.) first fandom you wrote for?

When I was 9 years old I was introduced to na.ruto and made my first OC. nothing was ever the same.

Although my first FIC fic was a H.arry P.otter fic when I was 11, posted on quizilla. Anyone remember Quizilla? That shit rocked. i loved those interactive fics.

20.) favorite fic you've ever written?

Honestly In Search of Home. It's just fun and silly and feels like a good continuation of my version of the series finale.

[terrorofstars]

for fanfic asks, 2 & 9? :D

2. What fanfic do you wish you got more response on?

those of you that follow me on Twitter know I'm mostly a threadfic writer, so it's hard to guage how well something does when a lot of it is just, 'did you get lucky with the timing of posting?'

because of that, there's actually a few that I wish had done better while they were still getting attention, but if I had to choose one I'd say this threadfic, mostly because of how much time and effort I'd spent on it. I'm not a planner when it comes to fics and I really don't like doing multiple updates. and yet this one ended up longer than intended, and I was forced to think ahead on how I wanted things to turn out. it was an idea I was super excited about and thought was pretty fun, so even though it didn't do poorly exactly, it didn't get nearly as much attention as some of my other threadfics, both shorter and longer. I hope it gets a second life when I eventually find time to copy it over to ao3, at least.

9. What’s your favorite line(s) or scene(s) that you have written?

this is hard because my prose and writing style is never as good as I want it to be, but I do rather like "Cloud Recess has burnt down before. it can be rebuilt. I do not need it the way I need Wei Ying." from Wei Ying is Home.

it's not the most prevocative line, but I really like the idea behind it. the fic is very short, just one scene really, since it was originally a one shot threadfic, but I'm proud of the way it captures their relationship. all those times Lan Wangji was asking Wei Wuxian to go back to Gusu with him, it was never about Gusu itself, or any other place they could have been going. it was always about being in the same place, trying to figure out the problem together.

and also how it makes Wei Wuxian realize he too now has a permanent home in a person, which he's never truly had before. I'm not gonna start analyzing every detail of my own fic, but I'm really intentional with my writing despite the overall lack of plotting, so any line or scene that can convey multiple underlying messages about their individual characters or relationship are ones I really like.

this was really fun, thank you for the asks! 💚 I'm always happy to talk about (and analyze!) my own writing 🤠