#aasoaf updates

[writernopal]

So I did it...kind of! 😅

Well, my friends, it is the last day of Nano, and I survived! Now let's see how I did by the stats...

That's 25,032/50,000 or 50.06% if screenshots aren't your jive. Which means no Nano win 😢

HOWEVER

I REFUSE TO COME OUT OF THIS CALLING MYSELF A LOSER

I am so fucking proud of myself. Not only do I have 25K more words than I did at the start of the month for AASOAF 3, but I also wrote 8,789 words for M.O.W, bringing me to a cool 33,821 words for November.

That is like actually insane output for me, especially because I have never worked on more than one WIP at a time. Frankly, I didn't think it was possible yet here I am doing it! And I learned and refined so much about my writing, editing, and ideation process!! I used writing sprints for the first time. I implemented new productivity practices, like making little phone prisons (pic below the cut bc they turned out so cute haha). I sharpened up my style and spruced up the bits that make it special. I read a passage from AASOAF 1 the other day bc I was feeling nostalgic and compared it to AASOAF 3 HOLY MAMA the difference is INSANE.

And all of this while still dealing with life 😭 Family commitments, stressful work deadlines, trying to prevent burnout (which hit me anyway rip), unexpected job hunting (resume and interview prep can fuck right off, but wish me luck it's still in flux), and trying to find time for myself (rip my BG3 solo campaign. i miss my computer boyfriends lol). It also occurred to me that I should stop drinking coffee (still going strong btw!) bc it was meshing VERY poorly with my SAD so I've been having more cranky days than non-cranky ones 😅.

Oh, and *shuffles through notes* did I also mention that I've been working on the AASOAF 3 companion material which is all uncharted territory that I am figuring out by the seat of my pants lol? Yeah, that too.

SO

Would I have liked to hit 50K? hell yeah

Did I win nano? no

But did I WIN nano? FUCK YEAH

ps: everyone is a nano winner in my heart. have a medal and a hot chocolate (or any warm beverage of your choice) 🥇☕

^ phone prison

[outpost51]

The 51 Post

This week sucked a whole lot actually (I started this draft on Tuesday, and I haven't touched it until 5pm Sunday) but I read a lot of pretty good shit so I think it balances.

Contents:

Things You Might Have Missed

This Week's Jams

WIP Breakdowns

From the Skwad

Around the 'Blr

Things You Might Have Missed

get on my taglists for WIP updates, 51 post, tag games, and ask events!

BRHP: Chapter 15 posted; Talus is having a Bad Time.

I stabbed Adrien real good

BRHP: Chapter 16 posted; baby's first fight pit, and a family secret is revealed.

Not new, but I dug up Adrift and The Sky, The Stars, and Me so enjoy the spooky space shorts.

See more entries for SSSC 006 below, mine is here: i'll take everything.

Growing Pains: the 6th entry into the Lighthouse in the Fog shorts; our new Keeper is definitely adjusting so well to her new life.

I'm starting to release chapters of Unlikely Adventures on tumblr now!

This Week's Jams

stargazing || power-haus, solarays [spotify/youtube]

up down || boy epic [spotify/youtube]

gasoline || chymes [spotify/youtube]

dangerous || new medicine [spotify/youtube]

she went that way || missy [spotify/youtube]

illuminated || hurts [spotify/youtube]

WIP Breakdowns

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

HI YOU GET TO MEET KADMOS IN CHAPTER 17 AND [SPOILERS] IN CHAPTER 18 I'M REALLY EXCITED

Unlikely Adventures of Bitchface and Go F*ck Yourself

zadimus needs to stop it. that is all

Blinding Neon, Shades of Grey

you know what's fun to write? drug/dream sequences. you know what's even more fun? writing one for a detective in a flashy nightclub with murder on her mind

Stellar Parallax

saren is about to go do a Very Kill and jaen is So Excited About It. also wrex. but mostly violence

Lighthouse in the Fog

7th short will be coming out some time tonight, @thetrashbagswasteland picked some yummy prompt words

In the Works

y'all 🥺💕 thank you i needed a bunch of open-ended prompts to get the brain noodles out so i can hopefully not burn out on the main wips. i've still got the same backlog otherwise lmao

From the Skwad

IMPORTANT @fenrir-kin fell prey to the hellsite shenaniganuke, and is currently @vikingfenharel until it (hopefully) gets sorted.

Surprise Challenge 006 wrapped up with (mine's above): Just Take My Hand by @sparatus, Expanding the Vocabulary by @teamdilf, and The Storm Between Us by @thetrashbagswasteland

@equusgirl is going bananas with Sapphic Summer: i know with me, you'll get a little bit addicted, One Night, and will my hands ever be clean?

@sparatus also dropped chapter 1 & chapter 2 of Make Less the Depth of Grief and were it not for the laws of this land, i would have strangled him (affectionate) but also this tasty oneshot of Nautilea being so hot

@teamdilf HOW. New chapter of Alice's Adventures in Andromeda, another chapter of The In-Laws and the Grandparents, and another chapter in A Man of Many Talents. I'm calling witchcraft

@asher-orion-writes gave us this lovely oneshot set in Cardinal Sins and I'm??? yes

@princess-prawn dropped a new chapter of Next of Kin YESSS

@regalbois is writing his mlm war stories again and i'm vibrating please go read The Earth Abides

@commander-krios wrote more Dash/Leo (thank u for my life) and New Beginnings (thank u for TWO life wow)

Around the 'Blr

Art Claims are still going on for WIP Big Bang!!

@writernopal dropped character profiles for Magdalene and Sartor so this is your hint to get on the taglist for AASOAF 3

@tabswrites posted chapter 3 of Silver Sentinels and gave me life thank you, more please

@vacantgodling wrote this short for Lukewarm Rejection and we have no choice but to stan Trisha

@liv-is blessed writeblr with this snippet from Demigods i am eating it up

@void-botanist gave us this short for Another Ocean's Moon with LORE hidden in the tags hello

have you SEEN The Poster by @artdecosupernova-writing omg

@elshells dropped chapter 12 of Agent Ace YES congrats on the timeline choreography, bud!

wake up babes new Nameless Song short just dropped from @blind-the-winds

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Outpost Updates Taglist: @tabswrites @writernopal @freedominique @asher-orion-writes @liv-is @starknstarwars @captain-kraken

Ask to +/- in the tags, replies, DMs, or HERE!

[writernopal]

⚓Sail Spotted!⚓

The As A Stranger Or A Friend? series and Man O' War are now available to read on AO3!

Find them all here!

AASOAF 3 Taglist: @outpost51 @thelivingdeceased @faelanvance @captain-kraken @illjustpretend

@elshells @full-on-sam @the-mindless @zestymimblo @tabswrites

@void-botanist

M.O.W Taglist: @full-on-sam @illjustpretend @sparatus @outpost51 @captain-kraken

@the-mindless @zestymimblo @mysticstarlightduck @tabswrites @void-botanist

Join/leave the taglist using this Google Form.

[writernopal]

🏴‍☠️ This is your Captain speaking 🏴‍☠️

So I thought I'd make a little post to encompass some important updates and some changes that you'll probably notice around the old blog in the next few months! However, I will do you all the courtesy of putting this under a cut because holy mama it turned out longer than I expected 😅

Updates

I'm doing my first NaNo this year!!! I'm excited but also really nervous because 50K is an aggressive goal and I'm not sure I can do it BUT I decided that I'm just going to try my best. I won't be starting a new project for this, instead, I want to use this as a time to beef up AASOAF 3 as I'm a little behind where I'd like to be in terms of progress.

AASOAF 3 has a release date! Err, more like release season lol. The announcement is here in case you missed it, and includes some beautiful Mariel and Fay art for you to feast your eyes on! Spring 2024 is the time to watch so keep a close eye on the new release tag, witness moonrise on oepus, for any content/posts related to release activities! Obligatory plug for AASOAF 3's masterpost and taglist so you don't miss a thing!

M.O.W will go on a brief hiatus at the end of November. But don't despair, it will return in January 2024! I decided that this series will take a month-ish hiatus at the end of each part so Part I will be nice and wrapped up before it goes on a break. Obligatory plug for M.O.W's masterpost and taglist so you don't miss a thing!

Work on AASOAF 3's super secret companion material has begun! For reasons I hope are clear, I can say nothing about this other than to look for it in Spring 2024 when AASOAF 3 releases. Just know that I'm super stoked to be teaming up with @illjustpretend again for this project and it's going to be an even bigger undertaking than Mariel & Axtapor's Scrapbook was for AASOAF 2.

Changes

Now you might be reading all of those things and be thinking, "Wow Nopal, that's super cool but isn't it a lot?" To that, I say, "Indeed, dear reader it is." But know that I do this to myself because writing is genuinely what I love to do and, let me toot my own horn here for a second, my stories deserve no less!

However, these things combined with work and a few other things going on in my personal life (all other good and exciting I assure you!) mean that I need more of that constructed but dreadfully measurable commodity: time. So you will likely see less of me around here but that doesn't mean I'm disappearing!

Believe it or not, this little corner of tumblr has become a huge part of my life. I love reading about y'all's stories, updates, and getting to cheer you on as you go do The Thing so I'll definitely be around 😊 Tag games and asks will most likely fall by the wayside though advanced apology for that 😅

Anyway, I think that's all for now! (I write as if this wasn't already long enough LOL) Wishing you all fair winds in your sails and many words on your pages 💙

AASOAF 3 Taglist: @outpost51 @thelivingdeceased @faelanvance @captain-kraken @illjustpretend @elshells @writeblr-of-my-own

M.O.W Taglist: @moonluringfrost @writeblr-of-my-own @illjustpretend @sparatus @outpost51

[writernopal]

🌵 Nopal's Taglists 🌵

I decided to create a little Google Form for y'all to opt-in (or out!) for either of my WIP's taglists.

WIP Intros are linked below in case you'd like a refresher of what I'm working on!

As A Stranger Or A Friend?: Children Of The Broken Star (AASOAF 3)

Man O' War

Find the Google Form here so you don't miss out on WIP updates!

AASOAF 3 Taglist: @outpost51 @thelivingdeceased @faelanvance @captain-kraken @illjustpretend @elshells

[writernopal]

🎶 hello long thread my old friend 🎶 🎶 I've come to talk with you again 🎶 🎶 Because a vision softly creeping 🎶 🎶 Left its seeds while I was sleeping 🎶 🎶 And the vision that was planted in my brain by @illjustpretend 🎶 🎶 Still remains 🎶 🎶 Within the sound of a 4 hour discord call 🎶

AASOAF 3 is already 64% the length of AASOAF 1, and I still have 3 major battle sequences to write LOL, and so many little scuffles in between

on the plus side, a lot of the exposition is mostly done so its safe to say we're in rising action territory now baby😎

[writernopal]

🌵Nopal's Vault🌵

Your eyes DO NOT deceive you! Your local pirate now has a website!

I'd been kicking around the idea of setting one up for some time and I finally decided to pull the trigger to get all things AASOAF (and future works!) in one, organized place. I'll be updating links around the old blog to reflect this change especially since M&A's Scrapbook will be moving over there pretty soon.

If you've got a spare minute, I'd love for you to check it out! Most of the stuff on there is what you've seen on this blog already but there might be one or two things you haven't yet seen 😉 totally not talking about the WIPs page

Anyway, enjoy! Or don't. Do whatever you want!

[writernopal]

{Man O' War Masterpost}

This post will be regularly updated with new chapters and any pertinent material to Man O' War. M.O.W Taglist: @moonluringfrost @writeblr-of-my-own @illjustpretend @sparatus @outpost51 @captain-kraken @the-mindless @zestymimblo @mysticstarlightduck @tabswrites @void-botanist

Join/leave the taglist using this Google Form.

{Wattpad Reading Link}

{AO3 Reading Link}

{Character Intros}

🩸 Quye’ck, Starved Son of Clan Lexlar 🩸

🐍 Eiph'ck, Silent Son of Clan Hartim 🐍

{Sounds of Man O' War} (Playlists!)

{Chapters}

Sacrament (Prologue/WIP Intro)

Part I: When We Were Young

Favorite (Chapter 1)

Mountain (Chapter 2)

Always (Chapter 3)

Rend (Chapter 4)

Maladjusted (Chapter 5)

Fading (Chapter 6)

Halcyon (Chapter 7)

Part II: When We Came and Went

Ebb (Chapter 8)

Apex (Chapter 9)

Claimed (Chapter 10)

{Miscellaneous Writing}

Breakfast at Lexlar's (Snippet of discovery writing piece focused on Lexlar)

Underlings (Snippet from AASOAF 1 featuring Hartim and Lexlar)

Parasite (Snippet of Ch. 8)

[writernopal]

{As A Stranger Or A Friend?: Children Of The Broken Star Masterpost}

This post will be regularly updated with any pertinent material to AASOAF 3.

AASOAF 3 Taglist: @outpost51 @thelivingdeceased @faelanvance @captain-kraken @illjustpretend @elshells @writeblr-of-my-own @the-mindless @zestymimblo @tabswrites @void-botanist

Join/leave the taglist using this Google Form.

{Character Intros}

⏳ Mariel Elodie Frère of Naren ⏳

🦎 Axtapor Rehteus Oxlo of Ihama 🦎

🔮 Fay Anara 🔮

🌌 Wilkes Evos Sikthax-Seymour of Tlanxla 🌌

⚔️ Magdalene Achart ⚔️*

🧵 Sartor of Eves Moore 🧵*

Starred (*) characters courtesy of and created by @illjustpretend

{WIP Intro}

{Covenant} (Prologue)

{Moonrise} (Release announcement)

{Dreamwalkers of Port St. Croix} (Companion material teaser)

When one door closes...

Another opens...

{Arise} (Personal post about series)

{Miscellaneous Writing}

Monologue 1 (+ AASOAF 1 Prologue)

Monologue 2 (+ AASOAF 2 Prologue)

Monologue 3 (+ AASOAF 3 Prologue)

Tierra Madre (A story of the cosmos)

Chanterelles (Character study w/ Mariel, Axtapor, Magdalene, & Sartor)

You and Me (Fay & Wilkes Piece)

She Doesn't Know How To Rest (Fay & Wilkes Piece)

Name Meanings (For Mariel, Axtapor, Fay, Wilkes)

Captain Frère, The Vanishing Pirate (AASOAF AU piece + art)

[writernopal]

Current WIP Monday

It's not Monday (thankfully), but let's pretend it is for the sake of this tag lol. Tagged by @violets-in-her-arms-writes, see her post here!

Rules: Post something you wrote for your current wip, from the last week. if you haven’t updated it in some time, here’s your chance!!

From AASOAF 3 (Mariel's POV)

He chuckled as our hands dropped from one another’s, and he offered me the packages. “Would ye?” “Yes, but why?” I asked, taking them in my arms. “Will tell ye as so soon. Hold fast.” He said as he brushed past me, a frown quickly forming on his features.  “W-Where—?” My eyes widened as I saw him walk back inside the alchemist shop, “Wait!” A few screaming patrons burst through the doors just seconds later as loud crashes and shouting could be heard inside. Among those shouting voices was Axtapor’s though I couldn’t understand what he was saying because he was speaking in his native tongue. More frightened people fled the shop, and once the ruckus quieted, out came Axtapor with bloodied knuckles and a sack of spoils in hand.  “Ye needed whistlethorn, did ye no?” He asked, shaking a bottle of the substance in one hand as he approached. “W-Why did you do that?! We could have just purchased it—” “Why? Been a pirate, well and true. And I ‘sked ye say if’n someone been cruel to ye.” He said with a frown.  “Y-You heard?” I asked as he stuffed the bottle into the sack he’d had over his shoulder. “Nay. But I know ye, wee cream puff.” He tied off the sack with a bitter look on his face, “For ye to be sorrowed as so like means it been foul what he said to ye. And it will like happen ‘gain. So speak true, wee thin’, what did he say?”  I chewed my lip. “That I— That I stink of...of lizard…” “Ye canno let ‘em speak ‘bout ye as so. We— We nay be wrong. We nay be.” He replied through his teeth, sorrow reaching his eyes. I nodded and threw myself into him. “Then I hope to stink of lizard forever.” He laughed as he put an arm around me. “Hope ye mean I.” “Who else?!” I complained through tiny, but grateful tears. “Oh aye, nary ‘nother who could sweep ye off yer feet as I!” He declared triumphantly before giving way to one of his beautiful laughs.

Tagging (gently): @sam-glade @writingmaidenwarrior @thewardenofwinter @lynnedwardswrites @crowandmoonwriting @moonluringfrost @captain-kraken @outpost51

[writernopal]

I'm working on the final edit of AASOAF 1 (yes, you read that right) it's getting an updated edit and re-print as part of the release of AASOAF 2 and I'm getting so emotional???

I remember starting this book (both the original telling and the canon one) when I was going "through it" to put it mildly. It was my escape and a way for me to make sense of what I was going through, and I can feel that as I read.

I mentioned it once that when I read my old stuff is like opening a time capsule, and this is no different, but I still don't think I was prepared for what I would find upon revisiting it. Still, it makes me glad that those feelings and thoughts live somewhere so I can look back to see how far I've come and to give me hope about how much farther I can go. (maybe even places I can't imagine yet!)

Anyway, I don't mean to get so retrospective on main but this little thought needed somewhere to live too. ♥️

[writernopal]

on lizard names…

Names are significant to lizardfolk, both to boast birthrights and rank and also, to pay homage to their lineages and ancestors. Their names evolved from a two-part convention to the more complex four-part system used today. However, there are many remote clans, such as the ones located in the region of Balera, that still use the ancient naming conventions. The modern four-part system is explained below.

The first or given name is chosen by the individual’s parents when they hatch. For nobility, this is also the name preceded by the title of ‘Lord’ or ‘Lady’ once they have completed their ikismal (rite of passage) ceremony. When used sans honorifics, it is the most intimate form of address, usually reserved for nuclear family, certain relatives, lovers, or spouses to demonstrate closeness. However, this is only permissible in private settings; public settings demand formality, even from those closest to that individual, else being referred to by first name only is considered disrespectful and usually meant as an insult.

The middle name is assigned based on gender. In the case of a male, it is assigned as the first name of their paternal grandfather. In the case of a female, it is assigned as the first name of their maternal grandmother. This practice primarily honors maternal lines, which are often erased and absorbed, as lizard society is highly patriarchal. However, because of this patriarchal aspect, men are not assigned or permitted to carry any part of a woman's name. It is considered shameful and demeaning to do so and is often punishable by disownment or ex-communication.

The last or clan name is the name of the clan the individual was born into. Clans are categorized as either minor or major within their respective Houses. Major clans command respect from minor clans all across The Holtep Empire, ones whose influence often extends outside of The Empire itself and often have long, well-documented lineages. Minor clans tend to be less powerful and often ally themselves with major clans of their Houses in an attempt to grow their influence. This makes clan names a cornerstone of pride for lizards, especially if an individual belongs to a major clan. A woman's birth clan name is replaced by her husband’s upon marrying, while men retain theirs throughout their life unless they are exiled or otherwise disowned. Disowned, divorced, orphaned individuals, or individuals of illegitimate birth are assigned the name, Pvaak, meaning 'outcast', and are considered beneath other citizens of The Empire.

Location names vary based on marital status and physical location, meaning they are variable throughout a lizard’s life. If a lizard is married, the first location is the city or place where they have settled with their spouse to start a family, while the second is the name of the place where they were born. If an individual has not left home after marriage (i.e., married within the same town/territory) and both location names are the same, they are condensed to a single name followed by the suffix -vey (includes the hyphen). In the case of unmarried individuals, this is simply the name of the place where they were born. Whenever a lizard with two location names moves, the first name is updated to reflect their new home.

See below for some examples of a few names from the AASOAF series!

Four-Part Convention (Modern)

Axtapor: Lord Axtapor (first/given name) Rehteus (paternal grandfather’s first name) Oxlo (clan name) of Ihama (birth city)

Lord Sraekex (Axtapor's father): Lord Sraekex (first/given name) Kaufas (paternal grandfather's first name) Oxlo (clan name) of Ihama-vey (birth and marriage city, condensed)

Lady Fisla (Axtapor’s grandmother): Lady Fisla (first/given name) Vorma (maternal grandmother’s first name) Oxlo (clan name) of Ihama (marriage city) and Rhanta (birth city)

Two-Part Convention (Ancient)

Kirik: Kirik (first/given name) of Balera (birth city/region)

[writernopal]

going to be doing a bit of a blog overhaul soon in prep for the release of AASOAF 2 (mostly organizing my tags, updating pinned post, etc) but I'm a little overwhelmed at the prospect, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[writernopal]

reblobbing this with an update, i grabbed lunch with this friend today and she told me that while she was reading AASOAF 2 a few people asked her where they could buy the book because they wanted to read it too 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

a dear friend of mine is in Greece for a well deserved vacation and she took her copy of AASOAF 2 WITH HER TO READ BEACH SIDE 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[writernopal]

Update! The edit is finished and it emotionally rocked me! 🥲😮‍💨

It was absolutely worth it though and cements AASOAF 1 as a very, very special book in my heart💖

nopal: AASOAF 1's edit will be quick

narrator: she was wrong