#also mods and beta readers would be !!! very helpful !!!!!!

[finishwhatyoustarted-event]

Finish What You Started 2024 - Event Rules

[ID copied from alt: Event Rules on a blue background. ⬒ No new projects ◨ Any medium and any fandom welcome ⬓ NSFW inclusive, warnings must be tagged ◧ Tag #FinishWhatYouStarted2024; boosting/retweeting starts September 13th ◼ Event ends October 31st, 2024]

The goal of this event is to get things done that you’ve already started. We all have unfinished projects whose incomplete status haunts us. Those are what we want to tackle!

The structure is loose, as this is a multimedia event. While primarily aimed at writers, this event is open to any kind of creative fanwork. Fics, translations, podfics, fanart, animations, cosplay - if you started it and never got it done, it qualifies. There is no sign-up required. I will not assign beta readers for writers, but I can boost requests for those who want them! And I can boost messages of those who would like to beta read.

The mod is a danmei fan mainly, but your work can be any fandom. Maybe something you started before your current fandom excitement took over, or one you keep putting off in favor of compelling new ideas.

Feel free to pass this event info along! The more the merrier!

Further rules and clarifications:

Alt text is very encouraged, especially for boost posts or artwork!

If your work is NSFW, I will only boost it if it has appropriate content warnings. Spoilering images is recommended but not required as long as it’s tagged. Do not letter-swap or abbreviate content warnings. These are so people can mute them as needed. Example: "gore" not "g0re"

Remember Tumblr can mute phrases, but each warning should be its own tag as well as in the body.

Please use genderbend or genderswap for characters depicted not as canon genders. Example: "#NSFW #genderbend #gore”

Please use Omegaverse or A/O/B for that content. The original letter order is a slur against Aboriginal peoples and will not be tolerated here, even with the slashes. It, like other racial or identity-based slurs, fall under hate speech and are thus not permitted.

This account will post weekly morale-boosting messages and helpful resources. Every Friday, starting September 13th, will be Finished It Friday. All the completed works posted that week will be boosted together in a big thread, so we can celebrate your accomplishment!

Halfway-point check-in is October 1st. Final event deadline is October 31st. The last Finished It Friday is November 1st.

FAQ:

Q: Are original works acceptable?

A: This is primarily a fanwork-focused event. If original work is the only WIP you have to work on, it's certainly fine to work on it during the time frame of the event. If it is posted publicly when finished, you may tag it for boosting.

Q: Are there any restrictions on topics?

A: No, so long as your event # post is properly & fully tagged for content (see rules about tagging above). "Dead Dove" topics are allowed. Some submissions will be 18+. For me, this is less about the content and more about finishing it. 

The usual restrictions based on laws and Community Guidelines of course apply, so you may need to tailor how you post to which event space your interacting with. Twitter, Tumblr, and Discord all have their own rules. There are also some topics that are in poor taste to make fanworks around. The event organizer and mods reserve the right to not boost your work if they decide it is rage-baiting or trolling. They are not responsible for negative reactions to your works. Please be respectful of those you share a digital space with. 

Keep in mind that when I link to your finished work during a Finished It Friday, it may reach a wider audience than you may be used to.

Q: Are there any restrictions on media that can be submitted?

A: Machine Generated or "AI" images and writing are not permitted. If you are found in violation of this rule, you will be removed from the event. All images, writing, or other works must be your own.

This is a positive, shared space. Do not belittle other creators' medium of choice. Please no fandom/character/ship/creator bashing, and don't berate artists or authors for not being done with something, even if they don't finish by the end of the event. Also, please don't passive-aggressively send this event to the author of an unfinished fic you want to see done faster. 😥 Be cool, respect each other, and keep any interpersonal disagreements to your own tumblrsphere.

All posts and boosts will be crossposted to the event Twitter (finishwatustart) and Discord. Expanded rules, explanations, and Dead Dove guidelines can also be found on the Discord. (invite link in pinned post) 

Fics can be posted to the AO3 collection (archiveofourown(dot)org /collections /FinishWhatYouStarted2024_Fall)

Work-in-progress posts should be tagged #FinishWhatYouStarted2024 . If you complete a wip within the event, tag it #IFinishedWhatIStarted2024 for boosting so we can all celebrate!

Find more information and community on the Discord, if you want! Joining the Discord is not required for the event. As always, if you have questions, don't hesitate to reach out!

[drarrydisabilityfest]

It's That Time of Year Again...

Drarry Disability Fest 2024

Welcome Back to the 2ND YEAR of Drarry Disability Fest (2024)!

For those who don't know, Drarry Disability Fest is a fest dedicated to the accurate representation of disabilities, d/Deafness, medical conditions, and mental illness; Drarry Disability Fest is the first of it's kind. In this fest there will be no romanticism of disability (though romance will definitely be present elsewhere), instead we want our artists and writers to focus on accurate depiction - whether it be of the sad, mad, or glad times of disability and mental illness.

Our goal is to add diversity to the Drarry fic and fanart community, and we firmly believe that while disability and mental illness can be very difficult to handle, they do not mean that we're destined to a life of inaction and solitude; we are an empowered community.

All the mods for this fest are disabled/mentally ill to some extent, and have experience with a variety of additional disabilities to ensure that we have maximum ability to give feedback and filter prompts to the best of our ability.

We would also like to say that everyone's experience with mental illness and disability is different, so if you end up reading a depiction of your illness or disability that differs from your own, please accept that we do our best to filter the media in this fest so that it is safe for disabled readers, and remember that every different experience with a condition is valid.

This fest will not be anonymous, and we're posting to the fest AO3 Collection in July as that is Disability Pride Month. This year we are starting everything slightly earlier so that all you beautiful creators have more time to create, so follow our tumblr and join our discord sever to be sure you don't miss anything.

Anyone may prompt to this fest, even if you don't plan to create anything, however we will be filtering your prompt submissions on the AirTable to ensure they are sensitive to the disability/mental illness you are wishing to see depicted.

You don't need to be disabled to write about disabilities, but please do your research, ask questions from disabled sensitivity readers, and if you're ever unsure our wonderful mods Ceylon, Rowan, and Kel are happy to help. We have a wordcount minimum of ~1000 or equivalent. This means if you're not doing a written piece then put in the effort equivalent in your digital fanart, podfic, or other media. We do not accept videos at this time.

Beta readers/viewers are required for each submission. You can self prompt when claiming, and you can claim multiple prompts as long as you submit each work before claiming a new prompt.

The Dates are as follows in MST/MDT:

February 29 (Leap Year): Prompting Begins

March 20: Prompting Closes (Self-Prompting still allowed)

April 1: Claiming Opens

June 15: Claiming Closes

June 16 : Submissions Deadline

July 1: Posting Begins

July 31: Posting Ends & Fest Wrap-up

Further in depth fest rules can be found at the pinned post on our tumblr, please give them a read as they have been updated!

Your mods: Rowan @basicallyahedgehog (tumblr), Ceylon @quackquackcey (tumblr), Kel @slytherinthelibrary (tumblr)

A PSA: We acknowledge that J.K. Rowling is the author of the series this fandom is based in, however all mods involved strongly disagree with and refute any and all racist, antisemitic, transphobic, homophobic, and other prejudiced ideas the author holds. This is a safe space for trans people and two of our mods are trans themselves. If you are transphobic or homophobic or otherwise prejudiced against any marginalized group; you are not welcome here.

[be-compromised]

Secret Santa 2024 Masterlist

Thank you to everyone who took part in this year’s holiday fic exchange, from writers to beta readers to all you lovely people who leave comments! With an especial shout out to our heroic pinch hitters, Cassie and Caiti <3

All gifts and authors have now been revealed, both on AO3 and on the masterlist (here and on DW). (If any tumblr usernames are incorrect or missing please just let me know any changed you'd like me to make.) You’re now free to post, share, and link to your gifts wherever you like! If you could in some way link back to the exchange or the community, to direct people to all of the other wonderful fics as well, that would be appreciated.

If you feel inspired to fill any other prompts, or create stocking fillers or non-participant fills, please feel free. These just won’t be included as part of the Secret Santa exchange or on the masterlists.

And just to note that this is the first time we’ve run the exchange (mostly) on AO3. Your feedback is very welcome!

From all your be_compromised mods, we hope you have a happy holiday season and wish you all the best for the new year! <3

Beautiful Disasters by Ultra for dreamerfound/fadedwings Teen and Up (help, understanding, baking); Clint Barton & Natasha Romanoff, Natasha Romanoff/James Barnes, minor Clint Barton/Laura Barton Summary: When Natasha needs help, she calls Clint for back up, but this isn't quite the mission he was expecting...

Beyond Binary by Chaed for @iriel3000 Mature (sex, post-apocalypse); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff Summary: To Clint, Natasha is everything... she is also the only thing left. (A closer look behind the scenes of What If…Ultron Won? S01E08)

Catastrophe by @firlalaith for @yourlocalalchemistress Teen and Up (nudity, shapeshifting); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff) Summary: Clint gets turned into a cat during a mission.

chaotic calls & familiar feelings by @cassiesinsanity for @paperairplanesopenwindows Teen and Up (mild sexual content); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova/Kate Bishop Summary: Clint and Natasha just want to enjoy their retirement. The Team has other ideas, especially when their new archer and spy continue to fight like cats & dogs.

Detour to a Christmas Kiss by @cassiesinsanity for @quidnunc-life Teen and Up (fluff); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff Summary: Somehow, Clint managed not to stare with his mouth hanging open when Natasha emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a fluffy white robe. Nor did he make a fool of himself when they met in the small sitting room an hour later. He even managed to be the perfect gentleman throughout dinner. No, the problem started when he asked her to dance between dinner and dessert.

I Bet On You by @iriel3000 for @poppypickle Teen and Up (fluff, protective Natasha, jealous Natasha, bad flirting, attempted seduction, mission fic); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff Summary: Clint and Natasha make a bet about who can seduce the other one first. Early SHIELD.

I think the pie distracted me by maddestofhatters for @heroofshield Teen and Up; Clint Barton & Natasha Romanoff Summary: “Nat, I’m serious, when you get back, you have to come here.”

“You don’t even remember the name of the place.” She deadpans.

“So what. I’m telling you, this apple pie is the best I’ve ever had.” To prove his point he shoves a large bite in his mouth. “And last time they kept bringing me slices. I honestly think I ate the whole thing.” He continues with a full mouth.

“Clint, please don’t chew in my ear.” Natasha chastises. “And you don’t think that’s a little weird. A random restaurant giving you a whole free pie?” He hears faint gunshots coming from the other line.

“Are you in the field right now? I thought the job was done?” Clint exclaims, completely ignoring Natasha’s question.

-Clint's convinced he's found the best restaurant ever, Natasha is not so sure

it's not christmas til somebody dies by @quidnunc-life for @cassiesinsanity Teen and Up (assassination attempts, but like in a flirty way); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff Summary: Natasha takes her target’s choice of bar as a personal affront. Of course, there aren’t many options to choose from, being as they’re in Washington, DC’s bizarrely small airport, and it’s three days before Christmas, so most of the actually good places to grab a drink are crammed full of harried parents and idiot Hill interns knocking their expensive square-edges suitcases into people. Also, to be fair, it’s not as though the corrupt senator she’s here to eliminate knows that this drink will be his last.

Lost in Shadows by @caiti-creative-corner for Chaed Teen and Up (drugs, spiked drinks); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff Summary: Clint planned to spend his evening sprawled on the couch, a game on the television, and maybe some pizza and beer to finish off the stereotypical guy’s night at home theme. That was his plan . . . that was not how his night ended up going.

Mission: Home for Christmas by @caiti-creative-corner for @inkvoices Teen and Up (Christmas fluff); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff/Kate Bishop, Barney Barton/Laura Barton Summary: Clint doesn't think he can make it home for the holidays, but his family and friends decided to do something about that. In other words, what happens when the strays he's collected over the years decide to save him this time around?

Our Flag Means Death & Guns by @heroofshield for @alphaflyer Gen (pirate AU); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff Summary: On the high seas, Clint Barton and Natasha Romanov are an odd pair. But so is the crew of the Revenge.

Retreat by @alphaflyer for endlesstwanted Teen and Up (romantic fluff); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff Summary: Avenging takes its toll. Everybody is tuckered out and cranky; all Clint and Natasha want is a hot tub. Thor has a better answer: A field trip to Asgard.

the comfort that comes by @cloud--atlas for @caiti-creative-corner Teen and Up (werewolf AU, naked cuddling, non-sexual intimacy, possessive behaviour, fluff); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff Summary: It hadn’t actually been Clint’s mission that had been the long one. He’d only been away for four days. An Avengers call out; Doctor Doom in Hungary with Doombots and giant wasps and perhaps also sharks with lasers? She’s not entirely sure. As soon as Bruce had told her that the team had it under control, she had, uncharacteristically, stopped paying attention. In her defence, she’d been undercover in Madam Masque’s ludicrous crime syndicate for almost eighteen months with only Sharon and Sam as her non-villainous contacts and she’d really, really needed to just… watch cat videos and not think about anything important for at least three days. She’d missed Christmas – twice! She deserved cat videos.

She’d also needed to see Clint something fierce because it had been eighteen months – but… Doctor Doom. Giant Wasps. Sharks with lasers. And that’s fine! Stopping Doctor Doom is important. She gets that, she does. But… she’d wanted cuddles, okay? She’d really, really wanted cuddles.

the pull of the tide by @yourlocalalchemistress for @firlalaith Teen and Up (choose not to warn); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff, Kate Bishop/America Chavez, Steve Rogers/James Barnes, Tony Stark/Pepper Potts Summary: as a graduate student, clint met natasha on an island research station on the great barrier reef. when he catches a familiar flash of red hair almost a decade later, he feels bewilderment, nostalgia, and...is that hope? clintasha coral researcher/dolphin whisperer AU. 

Tumblr Dashed by @paperairplanesopenwindows for @cloud--atlas Mature (epistolary, celebrity AU, mentions of RPF shipping); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff/James Barnes, Clint Barton/James Barnes Summary: An archive of tumblr posts after the cult classic television show Avengers (2001-2004) finally became available on Netflix.

Two Hours And A Half by endlesstwanted for Ultra Teen and Up (non-sexual intimacy); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff Summary: Two times Natasha walked away from Clint, and one time she stayed by his side.

We’ll Go Dancing With Your Shadows by @poppypickle for maddestofhatters Teen and Up (karaoke); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff Summary: “You should come out with us.”

Natasha is halfway out the door of the firing range when Barton says it. It sounds casual, like he’s tossing out an idea that just occurred to him. But there’s something in his tone – some vague undercurrent of purpose – that makes her feel certain this idea did not just occur to him. So she stops short and turns around slowly, one foot still inside the room and one foot out the door.

“Where’s out? And who’s us?”

Or, Clint helps Natasha adjust during her early SHIELD days.

Windows to the Soul by @inkvoices for @lostemotion Teen and Up (magical realism, Red Room); Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff/James Barnes Summary:They say that the eyes are windows to the soul. Most people, when they look into someone else’s eyes, can see at least what’s at the surface level.

Natasha learns that she might be turned into her worst fear - a soulless nightmare like the Winter Soldier - and chooses to run. Clint reads her soul on a rooftop in Berlin, sees the worst of her, and doesn't judge her for it.

[anonymous-rendezvous]

Ink & Affirmations

💙 Ike Eveland x GN!Reader

✦ — Written by Mod S 👿. Beta Read and Edited by Mod I ✨.

✧ — Contains: Established Relationship, fluff, & comfort

✦ — Word count: 2k | Ao3

After a rough day at work, coming home to your loving boyfriend is already a gift enough. But Ike still wants to find a way to lift your spirits from the hectic day you’ve had.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

It had been… a day. Finally, returning after a long exhausting day of work to your shared home with your boyfriend. And after glancing at the clock, you knew he would still be working in his office. A tired smile tugged at your lips. Even with the long hours of dealing with stubborn coworkers and demanding customers, it was nice to come home to the calming presence of your lover.

Stopping in the entry room, you tug off your work shoes, breathing out a fairly unenergetic ‘I’m home.’ Taking a deep breath before shrugging your coat off and hanging it on the rack nearby. As you move to place your keys on the counter, the sound of shuffling footsteps reaches your ears. You were turning your head in time to watch as your partner emerged from the hallway.

“Welcome back, sweetie.” Ike Eveland. The man’s words were as sweet as his voice is soft. His voice has a physical effect on you as the tension from your shoulders starts to dissipate. The novelist’s pace quickens upon noticing how exhausted you look. Once reaching your side, he places a gentle hand on your shoulder. “Oh jeez, you look like you’ve been through hell.”

Before you could stop yourself, you let out a dry laugh. Gesturing at your eyes and the apparent bags under them, you say, “What gave it away?” Ike huffed at you, hazel eyes narrowing at you. Quick to change the topic, you avoid his gaze. “I’ll be fine, Ike. How’s your novel coming along? I would love to read the new chapter.”

He eyes you for a second before updating you on any progress he made so far. He tells you about how he’s almost done with the current book. How he was proud of the sudden burst of inspiration that pushed him through a rough patch of a chapter he’d been stuck on. You smiled fondly as you listened to him speak; however, you could feel yourself slipping. Your body calling for much-needed rest.

“I’ll probably continue working on it a bit longer before bed, honestly, but I promise you I won’t be up too late. Honestly, I think you’ll need the cuddles I wanna give you right now.” He reached for one of your hands, clasping it gently while letting the other trace mindless patterns across the skin. A warmth grows in your chest at the gesture.

“Yes, please don’t strain yourself, babe. Both of us don’t need to be zombies.” Raising your free hand to rub your droopy eyes whilst squeezing the hand that was holding yours. “I think I’ll hit the hay early. I honestly feel like shit and if I stay up any longer, I know I’ll start overthinking today…” 

Ike’s eyes filled with worry. “Sweet-” 

“I’ll be fiiine, I promise. I don’t wanna inconvenience you, especially when you're so motivated.” You planted a soft kiss on his cheek. “Go work on your book. I’ll be in bed waiting when you're done.” You didn’t give him room to argue as you gave him a quick hug before trudging toward your shared room. You were more than ready to turn in and put this day behind you.

The concerned novelist wistfully looked down the hall after you. He very much wanted to call it a night so he could be with you and give you the love you need. Yet he also knew that if he did so, you’d feel guilty for ‘keeping him from his work’. Ike let out a heavy sigh and reluctantly headed back to his office. His book, however, was momentarily pushed to the back of his thoughts. Mind brewing with ideas on how to help you. His eyes lit up as it dawned on him. It’d have to be for tomorrow, but it excited him all the same. Smiling, and now filled with more determination, he got back to work.

The morning was going to be a special one.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

When the next day rolls in, you wake up feeling marginally better. Grateful for a good night's rest. Letting out a yawn as your body slowly wakes up, soaking in the peace, before fully opening your eyes. Turning over, you had expected to be greeted by your boyfriend's sleeping face. Except his spot was empty.

‘He woke up earlier than me? That’s a surprise… ’ Slowly you rose, sitting up from your sleeping position. Stretching, and letting out a groan as your bones cracked, looking around as you did so for any hints as to where Ike had gone. His glasses were gone from his nightstand, however, everything else seemed to be right where it had been left the night before. Unable to deduce where Ike had disappeared to, you pushed the blankets away from your body with a groan. “I guess I’ll just have to get up then…” Patting down your messy hair, you turn and heave yourself up from the comfy bed. “Better get ready for work… let’s hope it’s not hell today.” With no other choice than to start preparing for the day, you swiftly fall into your morning routine.

Ike, on the other hand, was in the kitchen preparing you a simple breakfast. He might not be a ‘master chef’ like his friend Vox, however, he could still prepare you a delicious plate of eggs and toast. Brewing you a mug of your favorite tea to accompany it. ‘Everything is in place.’ He thought, having a content smile on his face. ‘Now, for one last thing…’

It doesn’t take long for you to get ready, having repeated this routine for so long. Letting out a long yawn, you made your way to the kitchen. Thinking about just making some toast and then heading off early. I mean, the faster you do something, the faster it’s over. Right?

As you enter the kitchen and freeze in your tracks. First, your eyes lock onto the plate on the table before shifting to Ike, who was sitting on the other side. The novelist gives you a closed-mouth smile, his eyes closed as he enjoys his caviar toast. As soon as he swallows, he speaks, “Hey sweetie, I made you breakfast. No need to rush. Let’s enjoy our morning.”

Slowly placing your bags down on the counter, then take a seat across from him. You’re a bit confused, but who are you to turn down a nice breakfast? Spotting the mug, you happily pick it up, making a pleased noise as you take a long sip. Turning your attention back up to Ike and giving him an appreciative smile. “You brewed my favorite tea, and you made me breakfast. Thank you. But what’s going on? Did I miss something?”

Ike’s smile doesn’t falter, but grows as he explains himself. “You didn’t miss anything, hun. I just wanted to make you something nice cause you had a bad day yesterday. Plus, I have something else for you as well…” He laughs at the confused squint you give him, causing you to lean over to poke him.

“What are you planning?”

“It’s not anything teasing, I swear. Here–” He motions for you to give you his arm– “roll up your sleeve.”

You blink owlishly, the confusion just growing, but you do as he says. Pushing up your suit jacket sleeve and relinquish your arm to him. Ike gently grasps your wrist and gently turns your arm so the inner side is up-facing, his free hand rummaging in his pocket for something. After a moment, he pulls out a marker and you tilt your head. “Are you gonna write on me? I don’t need ink poisoning, dear”

“Shhh, don’t worry, it’s non-toxic darling.” He then turns a bit in his seat, opening the marker and writing who-knows-what on your arm. With his attention fully on his task, you take the moment to take him in. The morning sun illuminates his face and focused smile as the maker glides over your arm. A few moments pass before he pulls the marker away, releasing his grip on you as he does so. As he re-caps the marker, you twist your arm so you can see what he’d done. Instantaneously, you feel your heart swell from what’s written there.

‘I love you, and I know you’ll do great today.’ It might have seemed small, but that simple phrase almost caused you to start crying on the spot.

Ike felt the slight tension leave his body as you took in his words, a radiant smile gracing your lips. Every day you worked so hard, and he sincerely appreciated all the effort you put into everything you do. In his eyes, you are such a strong person. It was something he’d respected about you even before the two of you had started dating. And to see you struggling both physically and mentally? It absolutely breaks his heart. So if he can help you build yourself back up, even just a little, he’ll feel highly accomplished. Not just as your boyfriend, but as your friend, too. His admiring of you was cut short when you rose suddenly. Confused, he called out to you, “Sweetie, is there somethi–oof!”

Cutting off his sentence, you embraced him in the tightest hug you could. It didn’t matter that you were standing, and he was sitting. The brunette, of course, hugged you back, one of his hands petting your back whilst the other rested on the back of your head. The pair of you embraced each other in silence, save for him moving you to a more comfortable position. With you perching yourself on one of his legs. Loosening your hold on him, wanting to look him in the eyes, you finally spoke up. “Thank you, Ike. That… really made my whole day. I promise that of I start feeling shitty at all today, I’ll look at my arm and know you’re waiting for me here.”

Ike reaches up to caress your face, love evident in his hazel eyes as he looks at you. “I’m very happy to hear that, darling.”

“I think I should get a little payback though…” Snatching the marker up off the table and mimicking what the novelist had done to you, making him chuckle. Ike humored you; allowing you to write on him in retaliation. And once you were all done, you pushed his arm towards himself, a proud look on your face.

Glancing down at his arm, adjusting his glasses as he read the words you put on him. “You make me happy every day, my smart cookie.”

You giggle as you watch him grow a bit flustered, and when he looks back at you, your mouth can’t help but curl into a goofy smile. His flushed expression quickly shifts to a content smile as he watches you. Returning his hand to your back, he rubs it soothingly. He leans forward, planting a peck on your lips. “Thank you, sweetie. Now you should eat. You’re gonna be late for work.”

Your momentary bliss is gone once you remember that you still have to go to work. Removing yourself from his space, you quickly sit back in your own chair, the marker you had picked up landing harshly on the table. Paying it no mind as you quickly settled into your breakfast. Ike just chuckles. Even when you're in a rush, he still finds you incredibly adorable.

After finishing your food, you chug down your tea, much to your dismay. Giving Ike another kiss before you leave for work. “I shouldn’t be home as late as yesterday. Good luck with your book, hun!” You speak as you walk briskly towards the door, fixing yourself one last time, before waving goodbye to him.

You were immensely grateful to have such a caring person as Ike to watch after you. On the way to work, you couldn’t help but think how lucky you were to have someone like him to love you. And Ike mirrored that thought. Smile still on his face as he cleaned up before making his way to his office. In your separation, you both look at your arms again and think…

‘Today’s gonna be a good day…’

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

Likes are nice and we do appreciate them. However, comments/feedback is what really motivates us to continue writing. Even just a keyboard smash or emojis are a joy to see!

We do not allow our stories to be translated or reposted/shared anywhere. The only places our stories should be found are on Ao3 or Tumblr. Nowhere else.

[patron-saints]

Hi! Sorry if this is too intrusive of me and don't feel the need to answer if you aren't comfortable/don't want to, but I was scrolling through the Royai tag and came across the big bang tumblr. I saw in one of their earlier posts that you were involved as a Beta reader on the project! That's so exciting! How did you find it? And what do you like most about being a beta reader as a whole?

I'm looking to maybe get involved in beta reading myself however I'm a little shy about it!! Do you have any tips for someone starting out and looking to get involved?

I hope you have a wonderful Friday and weekend!

hi!!! oh my gosh this is so sweet i haven’t even posted my big bang question prompts yet!! not too invasive at all i love talking about the bb and also about beta’ing. so truthfully, the reason i’ve been slow to post my questions is because both of the writers i was signed onto beta for were unable to finish / dropped out, and so most of the work i did won’t be in the final version. however, shortly after, i did sign up to help out as a mod for the event, so that’s mostly how i’ve been contributing in the last few months of the project!

i found the big bang because the original creator and many of the mods also work on the fma secret santa exchange, which i participated in last year!

i think the thing i like most about beta reading is that it feels a lot like what i imagine the later stages of sculpting feels like: you can see a beautiful creation just about to emerge, and you’re helping it come to life. and like, the collaboration aspect! i love working with other people, and i’m used to doing it from the writing side (i keep my beta @summerwoodsmoke very busy lol) so it’s always nice when they or someone else is willing to let me look at their work too!

i would say my biggest advice is to ask! if you have a friend you know is writing something, you can always just say something like “hey, if you ever need a beta reader (for that) let me know!” and yeah, they could say no this time, but they’ll know they have you as an option and will probably circle back to you on another project. if you don’t know anyone who’s a writer, joining events like this are a great way to get started!

mostly though, just meeting and talking to other writers is the best way to do it. best of luck to you, let me know how it goes!

and ! i hope you have a wonderful friday and weekend too!

[witch-hazels-musings]

hi! i saw that you wrote a novel (that might be getting published?) and i'm really curious to know what pushed you to start, how was the progress, and do you have an editor + are you self-publishing or are you with a publishing company! writing a novel is a dream of mine but it feel so far-fetched. it's inspiring to see that you've written one, and i would like to know how i might do the same too, if you don't mind sharing! -- @milkstore

hello fellow author <3 im so excited to hear about your dream! there are countless stories out there, but no one can write yours :)

as for what made me start - it was you all. the constant support, love and encouragement, and providing me inspiration and opportunities to practice with characters I love in a world that's fantastical.

my main character was inspired by a genshin OC that I had (Fai) and blossomed into who she is now!

my process was pretty simple really. I started with a general plot. identified what I wanted to happen in the story and the beats (points) i wanted to hit along the way, then I flushed out the two main characters and started writing their story.

after getting draft 0 i realized the plot (especially in the middle) wasn't working. in fact, it suuuucked. so I did some edits, a lot of cutting and rewriting and then I got a beta reader - they liked it, but I didn't - enter my work on draft 3. Now my story has substance, it has way more engagement and a lot better characters.

My next steps will be to read it out loud for another round of edits and - as I go - really ensure my character motivations are in there, the plot (where the whole story ends up) has build-up, and that I'm not going to set myself up for continuity errors. Once that is done I have two options

I can send it off to an editor I found and like, have them look it over and give me feedback - make changes - and then start querying for agents

I found a potential publisher that works with indie authors GreenLeaf Book Group. They might help me with editing, story, and other things if they like what i have - so i can skip some of the steps myself! - They seem very promising and actually may be a good place to start right out of the gate, but I've always been told to never give a publisher nothing (well, unless you're already working with them lol)

From here, the end goal is traditional publishing but i have a few barriers to that. 1. my book is too long, 2. it may not be as engaging as they may like, 2. it's a duology (publishers don't often pick up debut authors that pitch more than one book to them (i.e. they want a standalone before investing their time and money into the book)

Of course, I'll keep you all updated as I go -- you can also follow me on Instagram! I post updates there and information about my book :) --- you can find it via my Author Cardd

I won't gatekeep or tell you this process was easy. It wasn't - but it was rewarding, perfect, and brought me closer to my dream. To be able to look back and tell my younger self we wrote a book is everything to me - her stories deserve to live, as do yours <3

I'm rooting for you.

You got this

OH AND join writing groups! I am now the moderator of one - The Writers Factory. I give lots of advice there and feedback on peoples stories when I can. I also post some writing exercises and other stuff (its not a social discord though - the mods are very strict lol - its for working on your book/story/ect. -- so feel free to join us if this is something you want!)

[lcdrarry]

7 June | LCDrarry Fic

The Decision

Prompt: “Fleabag”, 2019, TV Series Author: Anonymous Word Count: 5,369 words Rating: Mature Warnings: transphobic slur but don't worry she gets revenge, miscarriage, general horrible person

Notes: Anything in bold italics is when Draco/Fleabag would be looking at the camera on film. This was such a delight to write! It was also challenging because I love the original material SO MUCH. But eventually Draco took on the proper voice. I wrote Draco as a transwoman in this fic specifically because Fleabag is so much about feminine rage, and it wasn’t working to translate that into a gay cis male relationship. I’m also queer and nonbinary myself, and any transphobic comments will be deleted. I love this Draco so much, and I hope you do too. This was intended to be a chaptered fic, and it still might be! I ended up having some very intense struggles in my personal life come up during the writing of this fic and it had to take a back seat. Thankfully the mods for the fest were really understanding and gave me soooooo many extensions. If I do end up making this a chaptered fic, this will be the "first in a series" so if you subscribe to the series, you'll get notified if I continue it. A quick word: I don't hate Ron, in spite of how I show him in this fic! He definitely becomes the "villain" of the fic. Also warning to any trans folks reading, Ron uses the T-slur at one point. Many thanks to my beta/sensitivity reader d. Enjoy!

Summary: Love is awful. Draco Malfoy is dreading helping Pansy Parkinson plan her wedding. That's something horrible people dread, and perhaps that makes her a horrible person. She's determined to behave, until old connections and an increasingly surreal and intolerable dinner party get the better of her.

Read it now on AO3.

Please help promote the fest by sharing your favourite submissions, so more people can enjoy all the amazing new Drarry works of LCDrarry. Thank you!

Creator reveals are on 15 June.

[amukmuk]

Hi amukmuk, I'm very excited for the Chiss Ascendancy zine and would be willing to help mod, but I haven't worked in a zine before - what's the expected time commitment and actual tasks of the mods? I do have a busy schedule and wouldn't want to be forced to back out on you if I can't meet that commitment!

Heyo!

Full disclosure, I also have a crazy busy schedule so I plan to have long timeframes just so nobody feels like they have to crank something out in a week.

I've also separated out tasks below. Hopefully we'll have enough mods to do something like this!!

1. Social Media

In charge of posting informational and promotional material(s) to the zine's social media accounts, responding to asks/messages as well as keeping all pages up to date.

Should have experience and knowledge in posting on Tumblr/Instagram/Twitter as well as the common practice of tagging and etiquettes in Star Wars fandom spaces.

2. Shipping

Will survey the costs and suitability of plans for physical items and receive samples and final products from the manufacturers, repack for our buyers and then ship the packages.

Must have current residence in the USA.

Experience in shipping domestic and international packages from the USA is a huge asset.

Must have a printer.

You will work closely with Finance Mod.

3. Finance

Will receive and keep money from preorders and overstock sales in a bank account until it is donated. 

Will purchase all products and pay all site and transaction fees out of the money received (you will not be spending your own money up front) and will track all income and expenses and keep digital receipts accessible.

Must have a debit card, a credit card, a PayPal business account (or a PayPal that you are willing to upgrade to a business account), a valid billing address and a social security number from the country of your residence.

You will work closely with shipping mod.

4. Layout

Will design the layout for the zine, how many pages, size of pieces, word count etc.

Will be communicating with the other mods and contributors to reconfirm the suitability of pieces, do readjustments where necessary etc.

Will also work with Graphics Mod where necessary.

5. Writing

Will moderate writer applications and the progress of written pieces for the zine.

Must be open to checking out contributors' progress and help them stay on schedule.

Might also become a default second copy editor.

Will also work with Copy Editor where necessary.

6. Copy Editing

Will help writers with their written pieces and become their beta readers once their work is ready -- especially for the writers who do not have beta readers.

Must have experience in writing and editing fiction -- must have a strong grasp of spelling, grammar, pacing techniques etc.

Will work with Writing Mod where necessary.

7. Art

Will moderate art pieces from applications and the progress of art pieces for the zine.

Must be open to checking out contributors' progress and help them stay on schedule.

Must be polite when giving out suggestions/criticism (only when sought by the artist) -- help the artist focus on their strengths etc.

8. Discord Server

Will be moderating and supervising the zine server, answering questions from contributors, enforcing rules and regulations, mediating conflict between server members, bring up questions or attention on certain issues to mods where necessary. 

Must remain rational, objective and professional while communicating with contributors or while mediating conflicts -- regardless of differences in views/opinions.

Experience in moderating servers is a huge asset.

[finishwhatyoustarted-event]

Finish What You Started 2024 - Event Rules

[ID copied from alt: Event Rules on a blue background. ⬒ No new projects ◨ Any medium and any fandom welcome ⬓ NSFW inclusive, warnings must be tagged ◧ Tag #FinishWhatYouStarted2024; boosting/retweeting starts March 15th ◼ Event ends April 30, 2024]

The goal of this event is to get things done that you’ve already started. We all have unfinished projects whose incomplete status haunts us. Those are what we want to tackle!

The structure is loose, as this is a multimedia event. While primarily aimed at writers, this event is open to any kind of creative fanwork. Fics, translations, podfics, fanart, animations, cosplay - if you started it and never got it done, it qualifies. There is no sign-up required. I will not assign beta readers for writers, but I can boost requests for those who want them! And I can boost messages of those who would like to beta read.

The mod is a danmei fan mainly, but your work can be any fandom. Maybe something you started before your current fandom excitement took over, or one you keep putting off in favor of compelling new ideas.

Feel free to pass this event info along! The more the merrier!

Further rules and clarifications:

Alt text is very encouraged, especially for boost posts or artwork!

If your work is NSFW, I will only boost it if it has appropriate content warnings. Spoilering images is recommended but not required as long as it’s tagged. Do not letter-swap or abbreviate content warnings. These are so people can mute them as needed. Example: "gore" not "g0re"

Remember Tumblr can mute phrases, but each warning should be its own tag as well as in the body.

Please use genderbend or genderswap for characters depicted not as canon genders. Example: "#NSFW #genderbend #gore”

Please use Omegaverse or A/O/B for that content. The original letter order is a slur against Aboriginal peoples and will not be tolerated here, even with the slashes. It, like other racial or identity-based slurs, fall under hate speech and are thus not permitted.

This account will post weekly morale-boosting messages and helpful resources. Every Friday, starting March 15th, will be Finished It Friday. All the completed works posted that week will be boosted together in a big thread, so we can celebrate your accomplishment!

Halfway-point check-in is April 1st. Final event deadline is April 30th. The last Finished It Friday is May 3rd.

FAQ:

Q: Are original works acceptable?

A: This is primarily a fanwork-focused event. If original work is the only WIP you have to work on, it's certainly fine to work on it during the time frame of the event. If it is posted publicly when finished, you may tag it for boosting.

Q: Are there any restrictions on topics?

A: No, so long as your event # post is properly & fully tagged for content (see rules about tagging above). "Dead Dove" topics are allowed. Some submissions will be 18+. For me, this is less about the content and more about finishing it. 

The usual restrictions based on laws and Community Guidelines of course apply, so you may need to tailor how you post to which event space your interacting with. Twitter, Tumblr, and Discord all have their own rules. There are also some topics that are in poor taste to make fanworks around. The event organizer and mods reserve the right to not boost your work if they decide it is rage-baiting or trolling. They are not responsible for negative reactions to your works. Please be respectful of those you share a digital space with. 

Keep in mind that when I link to your finished work during a Finished It Friday, it may reach a wider audience than you may be used to.

Q: Are there any restrictions on media that can be submitted?

A: Machine Generated or "AI" images and writing are not permitted. If you are found in violation of this rule, you will be removed from the event. All images, writing, or other works must be your own.

This is a positive, shared space. Do not belittle other creators' medium of choice. Please no fandom/character/ship/creator bashing, and don't berate artists or authors for not being done with something, even if they don't finish by the end of the event. Also, please don't passive-aggressively send this event to the author of an unfinished fic you want to see done faster. 😥 Be cool, respect each other, and keep any interpersonal disagreements to your own tumblrsphere.

All posts and boosts will be crossposted to the event Twitter (finishwatustart) and Discord. Expanded rules, explanations, and Dead Dove guidelines can also be found on the Discord. (invite link in pinned post) 

Fics can be posted to the AO3 collection (archiveofourown(dot)org /collections /FinishWhatYouStarted2024_Spring)

Work-in-progress posts should be tagged #FinishWhatYouStarted2024If you complete a wip within the event, tag it #IFinishedWhatIStarted2024 for boosting so we can all celebrate!

Find more information and community on the Discord, if you want! Joining the Discord is not required for the event. As always, if you have questions, don't hesitate to reach out!

[dragonprincebigbangmods]

The Dragon Prince Big Bang Challenge FAQ

The Dragon Prince fandom's very own Big Bang Challenge! Spanning several months and open to all in The Dragon Prince fandom, this Big Bang was created to create new fan works for our fandom.

How does it work?

Authors sign up to complete 10,000 word fanfics within 3 months. This can include any pairing or be a non-ship general fic. Alternate universes, crossovers, and original characters are welcome as long as the canon characters play a dominant role in the fanfic.

Artists sign up to complete at least one piece of art for their assigned fanfic. Fanfics will be assigned by a blind selection of summaries. Fanart can be any kind of medium, from playlists to baking, voice over to digital art, we want it all.

Beta readers sign up to assist authors and artists with an extra eye to check for mistakes and bounce ideas.

A theme will be announced to help jog ideas, but authors and artists can be as loose with this theme's interpretation as they choose.

Is there a prize for completing these works by the deadline?

Big Bangs are not a competition, but rather an event that creates new works for the fandom to enjoy as a whole and to facilitate community bonding. If nothing else, you can be proud of the work you put in!

What if I don't finish my work by the deadline?

We understand that the Big Bang is a big undertaking, and some participants may not be able to complete the challenge. While it may not make it to the masterlist, you at least have a good start on a new piece to complete at a later time. Maybe even during next year's event!

Do I have to create something new?

The short answer is yes. The goal of the Big Bang is to create new, complete works to share with the fandom. Provided that your work has not been shared publicly, it qualifies for the Big Bang.

Where do I post my Big Bang work?

You can post wherever you like! ArchiveOfOurOwn, Fanfiction.net, tumblr, Instagram, you can even crosspost to various platforms if you'd like. Just make sure you send your links to the mods so that your work can be included in the masterlist.

What if no artist picks my fanfiction?

Not to worry, every fanfiction will receive at least one piece of art. In fact, if there are more authors than artists (or artists who would like to take on more than one fanfiction), there will be a second claim process.

May I collaborate with another author/artist?

Yes! Authors may choose to co-write their fanfiction and artists may choose to work together on their artwork. However you must sign up as a collaboration at the start. You may not choose to collaborate with another author/artist once sign ups have closed. Co-authors will also be required to submit 15k words and co-artists will be required to submit 2 pieces of art at the end of the deadline.

How does the artist claim process work?

At the first check-in, authors will be required to submit summaries to the mods. Artists will have access to this list of summaries and will submit their list of the top 5 summaries they would like to partner with. Stories will be assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis. Then author/artist partnerships will be announced and it's time to collaborate!

How do you keep the claims a blind selection?

Mostly it comes down to authors keeping their work a secret until their partnerships are announced. We want to make sure that the Big Bang does not end up a popularity contest, so keep your secrets until your partnerships, then feel free to share your work with your partner!

Can I sign up to write, do art, AND beta read?

You can sign up for all the things if you'd like! Just be sure to sign up in each individual form. Keep in mind that completing this challenge can be tough, and the more you add to your plate the tougher it will become. But if you think you can handle it all, go go go!

What timezone are the deadlines scheduled in?

Everything on the schedule is set in Eastern Standard Time. If you aren't great with timezones, remember that it's the same timezone New York City is in.

[sandmanbigbang]

Heya, I saw that you're planning to run this next year and just went through your rules and faq's. I've stumbled quite a bit over your content restrictions in regards to fics and art - especially considering the source material, but also in general, as a fandom fest aiming to be as big (ha) as a big bang, it feels harsh to exclude that much content / writers, especially as I (and probably others) would not participate in a fest with such rules even if it isn't content I'd want to create myself. I understand that not all mods would be comfortable with modding such content of course, but perhaps the solution would be rather to find people willing to help instead of rules that read very... censorship/anti leaning. I'm by no means meaning to start any drama, but I'd politely ask you to perhaps reconsider your stance in regards to your rules, especially considering the fest format?

Anon asked: hi! thank you for your work in putting this together! Are the content rules in the FAQ set in stone? wrt not allowing x reader fics, porn without plot, or for that matter anything else listed as long as it’s properly labeled?

i am sure as mods you’ve put a lot of thought into them - so i would understand if they’re finalized, but i would be curious to know what the impetus is for these restrictions.

I am new to fandom and big bangs (and they seem rad!) so I’m hoping for context beyond it being standard practice. thank you again!

Hi, thanks for sending these questions in!

We've decided to combine these two asks, since they're similar in nature, and the second asker was on anon.

We understand your concerns and would like to try and address them here.

1) x reader and oc fics, and porn without plot fics: This rule is set based on years of fan event moderation experience, across multiple fandoms. These fics are difficult to fill as far as artists and betas go. And we want everyone to feel like they're included, and it can be difficult to see other people's fics fill up when yours isn't.

With porn without plot fics, additionally, it can be difficult to meet word count, and it limits what artists can create for it.

It's not about our personal opinions on the content of the fic, but the fact that some tropes are hard to appeal to in such a large event, like a big bang.

2) Not allowing certain content: We are not blanket banning dark or NSFW content. We understand that merely depicting them does not reflect the morals of the depicter, and that it's a complicated and nuanced discussion. We are more saying that we are not allowing the outright glorification of those things. - Additionally, the rules are not a 1:1 comparison of the mods' opinions. These rules do not reflect the mods' personal opinions.

We would like to reiterate that these rules come from an ever-evolving document that has been used in multiple fan events across multiple fandoms, including fandoms within the DC multiverse. You are free to write smut, or include OCs, among other things, but we strongly recommend you populate your fic with additional material as, from what we've seen in past events, this will help you during claiming.

The rules are there to make the event more accessible to everyone. And accessibility doesn't just mean banning glorified depictions of common triggers (e.g., rape, abuse, and so on), as the existence of fics with that content could be extremely upsetting to survivors in an enclosed space such as a big bang event, but also ensuring writers, artists, and betas are not disappointed by what's available. For writers that means ensuring they are more likely to get a team. For artists and betas, this means they will more likely have something they may choose from.

We want to, and hope we have, reached an equilibirum between what will make everyone who decides to participate as comfortable as possible while also leaving enough room to let your creativity bloom.

However, we understand that some may not feel comfortable participating in an event with heavier restrictions, as ours is. Whether you decide to participate is absolutely your prerogative. We hope that you'll stick around to see what the participants create!

If you'd like to participate but are unsure if your idea meets our rules, we are happy to discuss it with you through DMs. Cai (bisexualoftheblade) is open to DM.

We hope this answers your questions and concerns. But please feel free to send another ask, if you have more questions or concerns.

-Mod Team

[clexzine]

We’re releasing a Clark/Lex-centric zine to celebrate Smallville’s 20th anniversary! Here’s our current schedule. Applications are now open!

We are looking for contributors who can write fics and/or make fanart. Writers will be expected to write an approximately 3,000 word story. Artists will be expected to make illustrations or manips. We are also offering a Big Bang style collaboration opportunity between writers and artists. We are also looking for moderators and beta readers!  Contributor (writer/artist) applications close on June 20th. Moderator (+beta reader) applications close on June 13th.

[originalhomestuckscenarios]

How would they beta boy trolls feel if the Reader segested where they Couples costumes?for Halloween

I won't be specific here since I have no ideas for matching costumes

Male beta trolls with S/O who wants matching costumes

Reader here is gender neutral

Tavros Nitram

You didn't even have to finish your sentence and he was down to do it.

He wanted your costumes to be very detailed.

He was super excited for it so you prepared your costumes MUCH in advance.

He definitely often pestered you and asked how are your preparations going.

And when it was time to wear it he was just over the moon about it!

Sollux Captor

He thought it was a bit silly, but fuck it why not. It could be fun but don't expect him to wear anything too wild.

He wants your costumes to be more casual than anything. You on the other hand can go all in for all he cares.

But he would joke about your matching. He'd often ask you ridiculous questions that could make you think he forgot what he was supposed to dress up as.

When it came down to it though, he put in needed amount of effort. So your matching was definitely a success.

Karkat Vantas

It's stupid- let's do it, that's the kind of approach he had.

If you wanted to look like fools, then you better just make it work!

He doesn't have any preferences on how should your costumes look. Whatever will be comfortable will be fine by him.

He doesn't ask you much questions since you already agreed on everything you needed.

Equius Zahhak

He was excited about it, but he was calm and collected as he agreed to it. At the same time though- he was very nervous.

He was sure that no matter what you go for he'd sweat a lot through it. So he didn't have too much preference... Just make sure he won't get overheated or anything.

But even though he didn't have the smallest clue on how you should dress... He still kinda wanted to take the lead. So to make up for being indecisive he really took the preparations seriously.

He'd ask you if you bought everything you needed or if you even started working on it.

Gamzee Makara

He thinks it's cute so there's no problem going with it!

Just know that with him almost everything will be last minute.

Preparation the costumes themselves, ideas, even putting them on before you head out.

He's fine with any types of costume as long as you like it. He doesn't really think much about it so he just wants to see you happy.

Eridan Ampora

He already assumed you were going to match so he was surprised by you asking if he wants to match rather than making propositions as to what should you do.

He was very indecisive and often threw in some ideas while also giving yours some thought.

He wanted it all to be fancy and proper. Definitely wouldn't go for something that would not stand out.

As to preparations while he can handle most on his own, he thought it might be nice bonding experience if you were to help him...

~Mod Auvana

[coffeedrgn87]

H/D Wireless 2022 Fic Claim: Wild Things

Read WILD THINGS on AO3.

Rated: E Word Count: 118K Summary: Forced to return to Malfoy Manor, Draco finds himself surrounded by an unfamiliar ancestral home, strange occurrences that spook his beloved horse, and one weirdly dressed Head Auror, who won't leave until Draco no longer wants him to leave. Features: A plethora of animals (magical and otherwise), one Head Auror Harry Potter with a truly weird wardrobe, dragons, a snake familiar, Artist Draco Malfoy, Dublin, Ireland, Malfoy Manor, and a bit of intrigue with some 90K of slow burn thrown in for good measure.

Well, it's reveals day, and that means it's time for me to claim my monster fic. What a rollercoaster ride it was. First, signing up, then actually putting the plot bunnies in my head onto virtual paper (all while trying very hard not to freak out as the word count continued to climb and climb...I swear it wasn't me, it was the gremlins in my head), and finally to keep quiet about it while posting commenced.

First of all, I'd like to thank the H/D Wireless 2022 Mods, who were absolutely wonderful about so many things...helping me find an alpha reader/beta, then accommodating my AO3 name change to help with my level of comfort, and finally granting me not one but two extensions. And that's just my own interactions with the mods, who are absolutely fabulous people and who deserve all the purple dragon love in the entire world!

Secondly, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the lovely @crazybutgood and @thebooktopus.

CBG, thanks a million for your patience, your willingness to let me freak out in your DMs and your keen eye for details. Your support throughout the writing process means everything, and I will never ever stop to praise you for all you do for fandom and the many writers (including me) you help. Your origami art brings me all the joy in the world and then some. All the love from me to you, forever and always.💜💜💜

Maddy, gosh, where to start? Who'd have thought that your enthusiastic offer to cheerlead would result in such a beautiful friendship? I certainly didn't, but I'm forever thankful that you were the one (along with CBG) to jump at my request. The number of times I went nuts over something or other in your DMs, yikes, you truly have the patience of a saint. You're also truly the kindest, nicest, sweetest, most enthusiastic 📘🐙I could ever hope to find. You reside in my purple little heart forever. 💜💜💜

[sugareey-makes-stuff]

I am stoked to wish @thebooktopus a very happy birthday with a nameplate and a rec list! Maddy deserves all the love in the world for being such an amazing person who lifts others up. It must have been late last year/early this year when I started seeing her pop in regularly via various Discord servers (and she also mods a few too!). When @anaxandria-writes recced a Maddy fic and invited her to the Wizarding Creators Den (where we were getting hyped about said fic being complete), I was super excited! Once Maddy and I got to know each other and realised we both loved Drarry AND so many rare pairs, the rest was history. Let’s be honest: Maddy is a true sport when it comes to cheerleading and supporting so many people. She’s sweet, passionate and easy-going as an alpha and a beta. Right off the bat, you can tell Maddy loves stories and ideas, and she wants to help fellow creators out. She’s engaged, and since she’s an avid reader of many things, that offers a wonder opportunity for new, beautiful friendships to form. If you want someone to scream about your work (WIP or finished), Maddy is your person! Her insights on everything are also optimistic and heartfelt. It’s all in the comments she leaves for people. She’s thoughtful in what she says, and you can feel the appreciation and enthusiasm she has for each work she reads/views. I'm sure folks who have gotten comments and tags from her know what I’m talking about. Her words truly mean a lot. Can we talk about Maddy’s gorgeous recs? YES, because there are sooo many good ones! These always brighten up my day when I see them on my dashboard. Her recs have been one way I’ve been able to find, read and add fics to my TBR list. I also think Maddy has a special superpower to read and absorb all the things, because the time and effort it takes to keep up and make monthly recs is impressive and labour-intensive. She’s currently killing it with Game of Drarry fic recs right now, and you can see ALL of her recs here. ALSO, her Mutuals March project. OMG. Maddy was a gem to go through so many creators’ works to shine a spotlight on each one of them. This must have been a beast of a project to take on, yet what a delight was it to see so many works I haven’t seen before! I thought it was a brilliant project when I first heard about, and little did I know that Maddy would surprise me by going through my works, showering them with comments AND giving me my own post. I have never had anyone do that for me before, and this just shows how kind Maddy is to make people feel like their work matters to fandom. Since then, Maddy has become one of my regular supporters, and I’m grateful and lucky to call her a friend. While I’ve been challenging myself to make and approach new projects in different ways (whether it be ships, mediums, formats, or even writing more one-shots and writing a bunch of microfics), Maddy’s encouragement has always been so uplifting. She has made me realise I am better than I give myself credit for, that my work is unique, and that I should run with that. So, that’s what I’m doing! If Maddy doesn’t have a full plate already, she made HP Next Gen Fest happen this year (which just finished posting) to spread the love for alll the next gen ships. Andddd of course, she’s a writer who has written some excellent Drarry fics and rare pair stories! Maddy has a way of embracing humour, flirting, fluff and sass all in on go, which makes character dynamics fun yet sexy! Quite of few of her fics have made me go down some rabbit holes and wanting more. Here are some of my fav Maddy fics: 🦑 >>> The Dragon Tamer & The Snake Slayer (Charlie/Neville, E, 17.7k)

Summary:  Professor Neville Longbottom has an unfortunate crush on his newest colleague, Charlie Weasley. Charlie, who is pure magic personified, even in a wizarding world. Whose scars and laughter make Neville come undone. Charlie, who could never be interested in Neville... right?

Remember that Maddy fic rec I mentioned above? THIS IS IT. I did not know I needed this fic until I read it, and gods, I love Herbtamer more now. There’s a wonderful acknowledgement to demisexuality, an excellent use of consent, and the energy between Neville and Charlie’s friendship is so warm. Also, these two mesh so well together that they fit like pieces of a puzzle, as they should. 🐙 >>> Let Me Count the Ways (Drarry, E, 3.6k)

Summary: Intimacy comes in many forms. Draco wants to explore them all with Harry.

OKAY. This is such a beautiful and well-written fic for sooo many reasons. What an amazing take on asexuality, and I adore how Draco wants to make everything so good for Harry. They’re both so soft, and full of sooo mannnyy feelings. All of their actions and words are enough to prove that they absolutely love each other. Seeing all the ways their relationship changes over time will make you melt into a puddle. If you want some sexy fluff, go read this!| 🦑 >>> Are Those Drugs in Your System, or Are You Just Happy to See Me?  (Drarry, T, 1.3k)

Summary: While Harry is out on patrol on New Year's Eve, he stumbles (literally) into Draco. When their eyes meet, Harry is immediately concerned - why are Draco's pupils so wide? Is he high? Nope. Turns out he's just in love.

What a sweet and fun read! If you want some classic Drarry banter, you’ve got it in here. Also, Draco is absolutely precious, blunt and sassy, just the way we like him. Such a wonderful take on a NYE fic. 🐙 >>> Life After Quidditch (Flintwood, E, 11k)

Summary: After a career-ending injury, Oliver Wood is forced to take an early retirement. And what does early retirement look like for famous Quidditch players? The charity circuit. Galas, bake sales, auctions—you name it, Oliver’s agent had signed him up for it. Oliver didn’t know what to expect from this new life, but it certainly wasn’t Marcus Flint popping up at every turn. Or for him to be friendly and welcoming, unwilling to let Oliver stew in his self-loathing. Or for him to look so good in yoga pants. Or to fall for the git.

The way Maddy writes Flintwood is outstanding, and this fic does not disappoint. She has such a way of bringing in teasing, humour and all the UST together when it comes to Oliver and Marcus. Their banter is spot on, and I also love how these two have changed as people since school. Of course, Oliver tries to figure out how the world still exists when Marcus isn’t antagonising him (aka Marcus has other ways to push Oliver’s buttons that doesn’t involve fist fights). And the charity events? Hilarious. 10000% worth the read to see how these two get together, and for all the clever lines and flirting. You can find more of Maddy’s work on AO3. Make sure to leave kudos and comments to show appreciation for her fandom contributions. Maddy, you are truly special and one of a kind. Thank you again for spreading so much love and for making so many people feel seen and cared for. I hope you have a wonderful day!

[writingwithcolor]

General tips on writing Indian Muslim characters (as a Desi Writer)

pending-dream asked:

This may come off as weird because I am Desi myself, but I was wondering if you had any tips on writing Indian Muslim characters? Specifically Bengali Muslims. While I'm Indian myself, I've grown up around Hindus, and with an extremely islamphobic family. I'm planning on writing a pretty light hearted story where one of the main male characters, a teenager, is Muslim. 

Religion doesn't really play a huge role in the story, but since it IS set in Kolkata, a lot of the environment and events reflect the culture I grew up with, and it's largely influenced by me being a Hindu Bengali (for example, puja, visiting temples, attending Hindu weddings) so I feel like I wouldn't be able to accurately represent the experience of a Muslim growing up in India. 

Perspective from a fellow Hindu: For me, it’s Research Research Research, but in two parts! 

First is your basic research on the cultural differences between being Bengali as a Muslim v. Hindu. This is pretty straightforward. The second part is harder because it entails dismantling your own personal and familial biases. Having Muslim desi friends helps, but depending on where you are, that can be ...challenging (My family had a spell of the vapors when they found out one of my best friends in college was Muslim). More importantly, as I’m sure you know, friends don’t exist to educate us, so it’s important that you put in the work. For me, that meant doing more research on my own.

I still worry about intrinsic bias. It rears its head often, but for my own education, I did my best to read up on Islam from a variety of perspectives as well as regional history/ geopolitics for different sects. The other thing I researched was the history of South Asia in depth, from the perspective of more objective parties who would have no reason to sensationalize South Asian history. I’ve also found anti-caste movements and activists to be a helpful source of insight. A trick I often employ when writing is I slow my thinking down. I follow my instincts, but I also explore where those instincts come from. 

I’m not always a big proponent of beta-reading because I think it often creates a “too many cooks” situation, but hiring a Muslim desi as a beta-reader may be a very sensible solution down the line given your particular situation. On a broader level, overcoming Islamophobia is an important, personal, lifelong priority for me. I’ve tried to position myself to meet desis from all walks of life and have discussions on pan-South Asian issues with like-minded individuals. My goal is not to make friends simply to claim I have Muslim friends, but rather to learn more about the history and culture of this region that is my heritage. I encourage you to do the same. I think you’ll find it beneficial both for your writing and for your own personal growth. Any further insight, I defer to our Muslim mods. 

- Marika.

As a North African, I can only speak for the Muslim side of your character. Marika has given you the most important part of creating this character. Unlearning the biases that we have grew up with or that we were taught indirectly is a key factor in correctly representing a character from a certain group or community. Keep in mind that every household is different, so take your time to understand how both the cultural and religious side merge in the identity of your Bengali Muslim character.

When doing your research, you will find plenty of creators out there who identify as Bengali Muslims and that is good. Do not limit yourself and take from every perspective until you finally start to building your character. Also, aside from the cultural/religious background, your character is a teenager – they might only follow the basics of their religion, they should commit mistakes, they should fail, and more importantly, they are individuals with their own personality. Being a Muslim, even though it constitutes a huge part of who we are, does not restrict our way of being. 

- Asmaa