#also populated with lots of talented fic writers

[musings-of-miss-j]

do you play hsr

yessir i do play Hopping Shoe Railway featuring characters such as Anthill, Wednesday and uuuhhh *squints at hand* Adventuretime

[baejax-the-great]

Archive-locking the fics that YOU WROTE and are thus 100% yours to decide what to do with 'hurting people' is so silly tbh. Skill issue on their part. Wish those people could be normal about the amazing fics that writers like you put out & be understanding or at the very least respectful of the choices that writers make about how and where they make their fics available. Especially in light of recent ai training theft and nonsense & all that.

I hope this doesn't sour the fic writing & sharing experience for you too much. I love your writing & think you're very talented & skilled!

There seem to be dual attitudes I'm coming up against recently (and obviously these are not held by everyone, I don't even know that they are held by a majority, but they are certainly held by a plurality).

The first is that authors should be grateful that readers deign to read what they put out there. I think this stems from the "content creation" mentality and the idea that everyone who posts things wants as massive as an audience as possible (for monetization purposes which... isn't a thing in fanfic). I think this mindset also leads to readers demanding that people write specific tropes/pairings/whatever, or threatening basically to take their business elsewhere. "Nobody will read unless you do [X]." 1. Not true and 2. Okay, you weren't my audience.

(I also think authors circulating those posts about how badly they want comments/kudos feeds this mentality of readers doing authors a favor by even clicking on the fic. "Wow, if people are so desperate for attention, then mine must be worth an awful lot!")

Fanfic ain't a business, and I write for myself. Readers choosing to read my work isn't a privilege or an honor they are bestowing upon me (nor are comments for that matter), just as me posting my writing where they can see it isn't a privilege or an honor for them. We are both engaging in hobbies and a love of some media, and sometimes we will overlap and connect and sometimes we won't. Readers aren't reading out of altruism for attention-starved authors, and authors aren't writing out of altruism for content-hungry readers.

And there are those who will read these paragraphs above and think to themselves "wow, what an ungrateful author," and that's exactly the attitude I'm talking about. Don't get me wrong, it's delightful and rewarding to receive comments on fics and chat with people about Blorbo and the Situations. But it should be delightful from both sides of the exchange, or why the hell are we doing this? If I'm meant to be grateful for every commenter who jumps into my inbox, then every commenter in my inbox better be grateful for me, and I can tell you right now there is a population who is not. There is a population who sees me as a service provider for their entertainment, and whatever form I take in their brain, it is not shaped like a full person.

This attitude also leads to people thinking that things like lorefm are no big deal. Don't I want to get my work in front of more eyeballs (or ears)? Don't I want to broaden my audience? And once I put my work out there for readers to see, should I be shocked (or express any negative emotions at all) when someone plagiarizes/scrapes it for AI/demands updates rudely/reads it on a monetized youtube channel/binds it and sells it for profit?

The other idea I've been coming up against is almost the opposite of this--that because some readers form attachments to fic, deleting that fic (or even archive-locking it!) is actively harming those readers. Sure, they can't be bothered to hit the download button or get an AO3 account, but that's no reason not to think of these strangers first before doing what I want with my creative output.

Yall, life is ephemeral. There are things we will see and enjoy and never find again for one reason or another, and it's not harm being done to us, it's just the nature of existence. Having an emotional reaction to something does not give you any sort of ownership over that thing. Artists are allowed to change their minds about whether they want that art in the wild, particularly given that it's free. Maybe it's because I utilize the library a lot, but reading a book and then losing access to that book is not a crime against you, it's just a normal thing that happens. If you read something and it means that much to you, there are ways to avoid losing it (download it).

Seeing this particular attitude extend out to "not making your fic available for as many people to read as possible is harming them" is beyond bizarre. If I woke up tomorrow and deleted everything I have ever written, there would still be thousands upon thousands upon thousands of beautiful, emotional, meaningful fics out there for people to read. They would lack for nothing. Would some people be upset? Probably. Would I be hurting them? No, not really.

Sometimes people have negative emotions because of our actions, but that doesn't mean we did anything to them. This is one of those times.

Lastly, this AI and everything else bullshit really has taken a toll on my enthusiasm for posting my work. It's one thing for companies to try to pillage every thought, every word, every stroke of a pen or paintbrush to enrich themselves while actively making the planet an unbearable and inhospitable place to live, it's another when fellow fans are telling you that "Whelp that's just life, what did you expect, give us your content anyway or you're a bad person and if you complain, then I'll be taking my business elsewhere, you sensitive, entitled creative, lol."

[thirteenemeraldcats]

Answer the questions and tag five fanfiction authors you know!

tagged by the terrifyingly talented @kvetchinglyneurotic and the impossibly incredible @sighonaraa

1. How many fandoms have you written in?

One! Uno! Eins! All of the ridiculously emotionally evocative writers in the Ted Lasso fandom completely broke my brain and launched me into the undiscovered country (fic writing).

2. How many years have you been writing fanfiction?

Since January, so about .3 years 🤗

3. Do you read or write more fanfiction?

Definitely read. I am perpetually mentally exhausted in my free time and usually can't concentrate enough to write. That being said I also haven't had much time to READ fic lately. So. Help???

4. What is one way you've improved as a writer?

Hmmmm. I'd say embracing the draft process? When I started writing fic (OH SO LONG AGO I KNOW) I was very 'this needs to be good' and now I'm appreciating the 'this needs to be FUNCTIONAL' mindset more.

5. What's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

Definitely not weird BUT I did accidentally fall down a research spiral for ONE WORD in 'i learned to walk while he was away'. For context: I am not Jewish, but I head-canon Roy as Jewish and there is ONE LINE that references this in that fic. I wanted to double check if there was any significance to the different spellings of Hanukkah, lest I accidentally step on a cultural landmine. Cut to a day later where I'd fallen deep, deep down an equally enjoyable and educational rabbit hole about Jewish holidays, (fostered my ongoing vendetta against the English language,) and found a Jewish bakery that's local to me because I wanted to try Challah very badly. (It was great.) (There is not a large Jewish population where I live [in case that wasn't obvious] I'm blaming my now-semi-remedied culture blindness on that. But Em, you took an elective on world religion in University? SHUT UP I KNOW.)

6. What's your favourite type of comment to receive on your work?

ANY COMMENT. I made an ao3 account last year because I wanted to not lurk quite so much, stop being a 'consumer' of fan-creations, and LEAVE SOME COMMENTS. And I'd seen authors talk about how great getting them was but holy guacamole nothing could have prepared me for the feeling of people liking something I wrote enough to leave a comment or a heart or an 'ah'.

7. What's the most fringe trope/topic you write about?

Errrrrrrr. I guess just gen-fic? Looking at the numbers of ship-fic in the archive, it certainly feels fringe-esque to write gen.

8. What is the hardest type of story for you to write?

I was going to say 'short' because things just keep happening when I try to write succinct outlines (somehow NONE OF THOSE 'THINGS' ARE PLOT), but after applying a bit more scrutiny to anything I've ever written; it's action. Fast-paced action. I don't know her.

9. What is the easiest type?

Assorted emotional whacks! When I was writing original fiction a solid decade ago as a teen-bean I favoured physical-whump, me now has found it a lot easier to write emotional-whump. Not sure why??? But here we are. (Either way someone's suffering.)

10. Where do you do your writing? What platform? When?

Okay this is actually a very involved story that I might tell later, but I just changed what platform I was using. SO! As of about a week ago I've been writing on google docs. Beyond that, it's a laptop/couch combo whenever I have the brain power (which is almost never 😭).

11. What is something you've been too nervous/intimidated to write, but would love to write one day?

OOOF. There are a few wips in the assorted-mountainous-pile of non-active development that are. Heavy. Heavier than the various fics/wips I've published/am actively poking at. I'd like to write them one day but I am also very 'hmm' when I look at them.

12. What made you choose your username?

So 'Em' is a real-life nickname, smash that together with my love of the colour green and tada! You get 'emerald'. 'Cats' is about... cats. I am obsessed with the little creatures, despite never owning one. (Initially I spelt it as 'kat'- no idea why??? I think I just like the letter 'k'???? Potassium?????????? B A N A N A???????????????) And 'thirteen' is my favourite number, just because I find the concept of a number being considered 'unlucky' hysterical and the idea that some airlines genuinely leave out a row thirteen because of superstition always makes me grin like an idiot. The order is purely because I like the image of a bunch of green cats running around together.

I have done a quick investigation and everyone I know has either already done this or already been tagged. (I have once again shown up two days late with iced-coffee to a tag-game. [At least I showed up, I forgot to do like three of these things despite loving them, I'M SORRY 😭])

If anyone sees this and they HAVEN'T been tagged, consider this your green-for-go flag and feel free to tag me as your tagger.

[amazing-spiderling]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. spread the self-love ❤

HECK. Ummmm okay okay... I'll do my best.

Surface Tension

I'm taking this opportunity to highlight a fic that I wrote for an anthology I put together with a team of *very* talented writers and artists, Metal Gear Solid: Lost Years. I had wanted to tell a story about Hal's isolation and vulnerability in his youth, the aspects of his past that made him an easy target for predatory behavior- and even though this story isn't particularly long, I think it's the one I spent the longest working on (in a words per day sense). Writing this story made me dead sure that Kojima was referencing the movie "The Graduate" when it came to the Emmerichs, and I tried to channel that sort of listlessness into this story. Because it was for a zine, I don't think it got many hits or comments, so I'm putting it here now.

The Man in the Mask

My own little "hit in the face by Apollo's red playground ball" of a fic- I actually wrote this Spideypool AU to deal with my frustrations regarding the handling of asylum seekers at the border- but the pandemic aspects of the story ended up hitting very close to home for everyone just a few years later. Fun! This is one of those stories I thought of as a "weird one that nobody read" but when I looked at my actual hit counter, I saw it had proven more popular than I realized, so that's good for me? It's a bit of a bottle episode that is more about Wade and Peter than Deadpool and Spider-Man and has a more sedate tone for most of it, but I'm partial to the way the story unfolds.

Pictures of You

Another Metal Gear story, this was for the Otasune Zine "Let the World Be". I got to team up with the incredible Harshai who did the illustrations for this story in the zine. It's a collection of moments during Dave and Hal's Philanthropy days, each one with an accompanying photograph. It's a pretty soft one, but one that comes to mind a lot, especially when I'm in the car and staring out the window at the landscape, thinking about these two on the open road. It also comes to mind every time I see a ridiculous food challenge posted on a restaurant wall. I need to see about getting permission to share the art in the posted fic, because I think it really adds something, especially the last image which was a polaroid of Sunny besting Hal's time eating the enourmous burger.

Five Years Later

Yeah, it's a WIP. What are you gonna do about it? Back from hiatus, it's the second installment of a "mostly MCU compliant" Spideypool "met as childhood friends" AU that my friend @343enderspark and I have been working on for years. In this portion of the story, Wade is dealing with life in a world without Peter (oh, and half the population, I guess) and slowly starting his journey of training and eventually becoming the person he was meant to be. (And the Defenders show up because I literally could not resist.) I got to try my hand at writing a lot of different characters in this fic, so it's been fun to flex those muscles. We had a long break between the first and second chapter, but we're back on track and CH 3 is drafted and waiting on edits, so that should be out soon. :3

Home's Around the Corner (It's a Long Way There)

More WIPs? Yeah. More AU's? Double yeah, because this one is more or less an AU or an AU. XD This is a new project I'm working on with @blissful-thinker that's Earth-65 but a step to the left, where Matt wasn't adopted by the Hand, but ended up staying with the Chaste, and returns to New York City years later only to find out he doesn't really have a place in his old home anymore. (Or does he?) This one has been a lot of fun and allows me to write one of my favorite things- tired DA Nelson, and also too-big-for-her-britches Gwen, haha. It may be niche, but it's *my* niche.

[ghostcat3000]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Tagged by the super talented @theawkwardterrier

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

54

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

985,499 😅

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Currently SKAM. In the past I've written for: Call Me By Your Name, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, You're the Worst, Veronica Mars, and New Girl. I've also written a bunch of one-shots for Yuletide, mostly for films.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?*

Rest Easy (SKAM, Isak/Even, Nordic Noir AU, 18 chapters, Rated E, 168K, complete)

The Boyfriend Experience (SKAM, co-written with @irazor, Isak/Even, Gentle Sci-fi Love Story AU**, 21 chapters, Rated E, 177K, complete)

III. Rondo: Allegretto Moderato (Call Me By Your Name, Elio/Oliver, Post-Canon AU, 6 chapters, Rated M, 33K, complete)

A Lord's Sauce (SKAM, Isak/Even, Food Critics AU, 6 chapters, Rated T, 20K, complete)

1 Thing (SKAM, Isak/Even, Friends With Benefits AU, 6 chapters, Rated M, 31K, complete)

*I feel like this is crazily inaccurate. In terms of hits, The Boyfriend Experience is far and away the leader of the pack.

Lately, I've been getting so many guest kudos and I hate that I don't know if they're legit or bots run amok. I've gotten some fantastic comments from guests without AO3 accounts, so I'm reluctant to shut them out, but that might be what the future holds.

**This is a gross oversimplification of what kind of AU The Boyfriend Experience really is. All I can say is: trust us.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes. Sometimes I'm a little late in replying but I will reply. If someone took the time to read my story and tell me how they felt about it, then I want to respond to them. Say thank you.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I'm not a sad ending fic writer. Early on in my fic writing days, I worked on a non-chronological Veronica Mars fic series and a one-shot in that series, The Teeth by the Shoulder, had an angsty final chapter. That story was meant to connect with the one following, and what came next wasn't angsty at all. BUT, unfortunately, it didn't read that way and readers were like wtf, GC??? That was a structural experiment that didn't quite work. It happens. I still like the story though and how it sets up the one after. A noble failure.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Oh gosh, most of them are pretty happy, weirdly enough. Probably Rest Easy, because the happy ending was a departure from the Scandinavian Noir genre and I felt it was pretty earned.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I've gotten some weird things.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I do. What kind? I don't know. The kind with feelings, I suppose. I think sex writing is a great tool for revealing character. That's usually the best kind.

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

I wrote one tiny crossover for Veronica Mars and New Girl (who famously share an actor, a fact that in typical-me fashion, I did NOT take advantage of) called Legs Up To Her Waist (The French Have a Phrase for It Remix) for a remix challenge. I think it's a lot of fun, I got to delve a little into my Raymond Chandler fixation.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Probably lines here and there, fanon, but not whole stories. I think they're considered too weird by the general population.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! My Handmaid's Tale fic, We Must Refuse to Disappear has been translated into Russian.

I also have a SKAM story, A Lord's Sauce, that was translated into Italian as part of Fandom Trumps Hate. I hope to post that before the end of the year.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes, quite happily, The Boyfriend Experience with the wonderful @irazor.

14. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

I don't play favorites. I am enjoying writing Isak/Even now. Probably because they have such a good foundational story to work from for AU purposes.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

The last two chapters of my CMBYN series, Piano Sonata in G Major, "Pense-bête", are so removed from fic expectations (one half of the ship is barely present/there's another, albeit temporary, love interest in one chapter, other nuanced themes are explored in the other) and are so labor-intensive. Every time I look at what I have drafted, I feel exhausted. I am not currently in a place where I can work on it, but I would like to finish it someday. So I can't say for sure that I won't do it, just not anytime soon.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Some nice language, in-character dialogue. Interest in improving.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Simplifying. Proofreading grammar.

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

It's a LOT of work. However, I was very lucky when I was writing my CMBYN stories, which feature French and Italian dialogue. I got a tremendous amount of help from some lovely people.

That's partly the reason I haven't continued writing them. I don't like bugging people about translations. It's one thing to spend time writing stories, it's quite another to drag people into the vortex. Free labor is still labor.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

New Girl. Great readers, awesome betas. Really great place to start.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

I have a lot of love for my co-written fic with @irazor, The Boyfriend Experience and my Nordic Noir story, Rest Easy.

- O -

Tagging @irazor, @imminentinertia, @cheesybadgers, @htbthomas, @khaotunqs, @codswalloping

[moonchildreads]

rules: the first line of your last ten (posted) fics and see if there’s a pattern.

my most adorably talented @oneforthemunny tagged me in the writing patterns tag game but i do not have more than 10 fics so i'm tweaking the rules a bit and doing my last 10 chapters of my eddie munson fic small town

On Eddie’s 20th birthday it rained cats and dogs. (from chapter 16 - let's hear it for the boy)

Dorothy Burke couldn’t remember being this fucking angry in her entire goddamn life. (from chapter 17 - girls just want to have fun)

As soon as one Eddie Munson rang the doorbell on that overcast Saturday afternoon, Auntie Rachel and Aunt Mary Elizabeth immediately perked up. (from chapter 18 - i know there's something going on)

Finals week in Hawkins High was going pretty well or terribly wrong depending on who you asked. (from chapter 19 - we built this city)

Dottie was pacing like a nervous dog in a cage, feet hitting the soft rug in front of her closet with each step she took. (from chapter 20 - self control)

Wayne Munson had given up a lot for his nephew. (from chapter 21 - far from over)

On Thursday afternoon, Eddie Munson made the mistake of not telling Dottie Burke - his girlfriend that wasn’t actually his girlfriend because he hadn’t asked her out yet - why he couldn’t drive his friends to Donny’s family restaurant for dinner before prom. (from chapter 22 - let's dance)

The last Monday before graduation was Kyle Foster’s most anticipated day of the year; not because it meant that school attendance was officially an afterthought for most of the school’s population, but because it was the day the overpriced yearbooks he had been working on all these months were ready to be picked up, their pages waiting to be filled with doodles in colorful pens and silly stickers. (from chapter 23 - cum on feel the noize)

Wayne Munson had walked the halls of Hawkins High School several times throughout recent years courtesy of his nephew’s misbehaving, but never making it past Principal Higgins’ office was turning out to be a problem. (from chapter 24 - up where we belong)

“There! I see them, park here!” (from chapter 25 - part-time lover)

i really thought i'd have more dialogue as opening lines but maybe that was in earlier chapters! also the kyle foster mention was fun, random ass oc that i invented so eddie could have beef with someone that wasn't the jocks lmao

tagging @justahappycloud and @duquesademiel because these two are FANTASTIC writers who are much more prolific than me and are sure to have fun answers for this!

[anonymous-dentist]

hi you do t gotta answer this btw but I was just wanna what’s gonna happen to your books? like if you’ll delete them or you’ll stop updating? bc you’re one of the best and funniest writers in the fandom and id be devastated if you were gonna stop writing. you don’t have to if you don’t want to , don’t take this as me pressuring you sorry, I just wanted to know.

Here’s what I’m planning as of today, the 18th of October:

I really don’t think I’ll finish any of my wips that include c!Dream. That’s gross. CC!Dream is a piece of shit human being and that’s what I’ll say on that, I’m not even remotely caught up on any of the controversy and, frankly, I don’t need to be.

This is a goodbye to You’re Dead, most likely, among… pretty much every other dsmp fic I’ve ever written. Is it perhaps performative to stop writing dsmp fics because of something horrible the creator did? No, because fuck that guy. I’m extremely attached to my stories and my worlds, but not only do I want to stop supporting him even tangentially, but it would just make me feel gross to even look at his name.

This sucks! But I’ve been thinking about this really hard for the past weekend plus some days, and I’ve decided that, while there is a vast disconnect between character and content creator, it’s truly impossible to separate the two entirely.

Do I still love the characters? Yes! Not even gonna lie, talking about c!karlnapity and the Las Nevadas and Kinoko gangs helped me get through a lot this past year. So as of right now, as you may have noticed, I’m still talking about those characters. I just can’t morally allow myself to write about anything involving that universe at the moment. Until we hear from other content creators if they’re ditching that shitbag or not, I can’t bring myself to write about their characters, as much as that sucks. Plus it is the Dream SMP. Can’t exactly avoid the connotations there, can I?

Not to detract from the victim(s?), but this whole situation sucks for a lot of people. This is a huge community that has been impacted. A lot of talented artists and writers are gonna be gone.

The way I’m seeing it as of right now as I answer this ask in a Starbucks five teas into a book on late-stage Populism is that I’ll finish the two dsmp projects I am obligated to finish. You’ll see my work in those, but from there? I don’t know. We’ll just have to see how it shakes out, I guess.

I am keeping everything up, though! And I’m always willing to talk about my works (Soap has been hearing a Lot about you’re dead recently)! I just don’t think I’ll ever update them again.

That being said, this gives me a chance to work on writing for other fandoms I’ve been avoiding. I wanna write for Empires! I wanna write for Hermitcraft! I’m not done writing, I just can’t work on what… most of my followers know me for. Which sucks. But everything about this situation sucks.

Also I’m working on two original novel concepts I’ve been toying with since 2018 AND I’m actually gonna turn I thiiiiink You’re Dead or my unnamed vigilante au (the one I was gonna post on Friday and never did) into an original piece of fiction, so! That’s cool!

Sorry if this isn’t the answer you wanted, and this is all I’m gonna say on the whole situation. It’s a tough time for a lot of people, and I’m staying well out of the whole situation for personal reasons.

Signed, A.D.

[phthalology]

Suppose I never really talked at length about why “do less” is my fic goal this year.

A lot of times I hear writers say either they wish they could do more, or happily go along producing a lot. I see people saying they’ve returned to old fandoms or returned to fic or got over their fear of posting, while I don’t often leave anything or stop talking without an upheaval. I cannot be praised for my measured approach if I have never resisted any temptation. I always found it a bit strange that I couldn’t intentionally stop: I’ve changed other things about my life in an effort to see what was more satisfying or what wasn’t really enriching my life, so why not this? But should I change this for the sake of change? Am I just self-sabotaging?

So I thought about that. There are times in which fic and fandom feel like an addiction, or work. I write for a living, and work has been a roller coaster: writing for fun can be very stifling.

From that I came to see a difference between fic writing that is truly social and fic writing that is FOMO — I love reading my friends’ fic, giving and receiving gifts, easy or challenging in a fun way, in the zone, just talking about OCs. Ever since I was a teen there was never really a better way to hang on to friendship than that. I don’t plan to lose that, or want to make it sound like that’s not enough or feels like work.

The FOMO, though — those are the feelings like “maybe if I write this a stranger will write something similar I want to read,” or “if I don’t write something every two weeks people will forget about me” or “someone else writing what I want to read is proof that what I want to read is real and honest” or “I’m writing this because I want to read it and no one else will” — that last thought isn’t inherently bad, but can become so when it’s tied up with lonely worries about whether or not what I want is “okay” or attainable or Good Enough. Talent stemming from desperation. It feels fragile, brittle. I’m getting better at identifying those thoughts. To reject questions, reject aspirations and maybes and hopes, to … well, to do or do not

At first the prospect of writing even this felt like an expectation, a duty, that I was unfairly putting on myself. Right now, it's preventing me from fussing worse.

The only way to stop leaning on those worries is to stop participating when my participation stems from anxiety. I can’t get far enough to see the forest otherwise.

And it doesn’t always! But it often does. Amelia helped me talk out how the feeling of loneliness in fandom is the same as the “raising the bar�� feeling in your career goals. You’ll never be satisfied if you don’t accept that you already have a good thing. The search for a “real” experience isn’t helpful.

At worst it can isolate you from the experiences and friends you already have. And I don’t want any of my fandom friends to take this as me saying “my experience with you has been bad” — my experience with you has been great, and I look forward to more of it. And I need to internalize what I already rationally know: that if I don’t produce fic every two weeks, like I’ve been doing for most of my adult life, y’all won’t walk away from me.

The ultimate goal is better self-awareness — greater appreciation of the things I do find fun, more living in the moment, less looking to strangers in fandom for affirmation instead of fostering my real personal relationships.

An addendum about shipping

There’s definitely some of the Tumblr infection of “what you write is what you want your real life to be like.” I don’t want my life to involve mistrust and weird unspoken debts and betrayal. I often suspect it will, though. Suspect that those things are the best I can hope for. So they’re in the fiction too. I’m not interested in ideal circumstances, in that way. But there’s also a benefit in clawing out conflict that isn’t rooted in those fears, in writing about characters breaking out of fear. STM was about that, but in a way, nearly every single thing I’ve ever written has been about that, and it hasn’t cured me yet. It should not be expected to. It’s fanfic, not medicine or therapy or radical love!

But I do wonder sometimes whether the type of fic I write means the way I want to be loved does not exist in the real world. The solution to this is to accept it and to move on, the way one must accept any emotion in order to gain peace from it. The solution to this is also to stop the wild assertion that the fanfic community in any way reflects the demographics of the general population of the people I could date in the real world. It’s 1% of 1% of ad infinitum, not representative. To think otherwise is to be Far Too Online.

I need to stop thinking there can be a right answer to the question “do I do love wrong” as if it’s a math problem, especially since I date very rarely!

[redsector-a]

AO3 Ask Game

I was tagged by @themarshalstale which, thank you so much! I feel like I always get missed on these (I know why, it’s been 84 years since I published anything but still). 1. How many works do you have on ao3?

46 it seems. Which...look I’m slow man so that’s not surprising. lol Also crippling depression does not make for much production, at least for me.

2. What’s your current AO3 wordcount?

309662 according to the stats.

3. How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

So do I could only AO3 or in like life? lol I suppose it should only be on AO3 since this is an AO3 ask game. Hrm. Basically AO3 can be summed up as: Marvel (in several iterations - all Avengers related) Torchwood Highlander But isn’t it more fun to consider my entire fandom life, which, I’m sorry, I’m old so...yeah. Not all of this is was published and beyond that a lot is not available anymore...which is likely for the best. Highlander Star Wars Babylon 5 Ronin Warriors/Samurai Troopers Marvel (again, several iterations also of note Avengers and X-Men both count) Torchwood Star Trek LOTR Stargate (SG-1, SGA) Mortal Kombat I dabbled with the idea of Potter fic but never got past the ideas stage.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1: You rearrange me till I’m sane Clint finds himself spiraling into a deep depression after the Battle of New York...until the Winter Soldier ends up saving him and inadvertently giving him a new purpose – to save the man that the Soldier had once been – Bucky Barnes. Not one to be outdone, the Soldier decides that his new mission is to ensure that Clint remains alive himself. Protecting a blonde man with a self-destructive streak is somehow very familiar to him. Through the back and forth of who is saving whom they cross the country and learn more about themselves and each other – and perhaps find a reason for living. 2: Five Dates Bucky Didn’t Realize He Was on And the One He Planned Himself To say that Bucky was surprised when Clint kissed him was an understatement. But it was nothing compared to the shock he felt when he learned they'd been dating for months without him realizing it.Clint gets whisked away for a mission before they have time to talk and Bucky is left to figure things out on his own - hindsight being 20/20 he can't help but wonder how he missed things the first go around.

3: Puck Luck Bucky Barnes is used to the ups and downs of an NHL season. He's used to the unpredictability of the game, knows that bounces don't always go your way, but that doesn't make a broken hand in the final third of the season any easier to deal with. Especially not when he ends up with an impromptu roommate/personal assistant in the form of one Clint Barton - his agent, Natalia Romanova's (rather attractive) friend he hadn't known existed before his injury.

It's just for six to eight weeks - what could possibly happen in that span of time?

4: Loose Lips Launch Ships

Based on the following prompt: “We go to school together and I think you’re cute and apparently you’re also the pizza delivery guy and my little sibling opened the door screaming hey sibling! you know that kid you’re in love with? you really weren’t kidding when you said his jawline could cut steel holy shit-” Bucky is the pizza delivery guy. Clint's younger (foster) brother has a big mouth.

5: Indelible Bucky Barnes has a pretty decent life – a good job, good friends, a cat that adores him - but something is missing. He’s always found body art to be beautiful and inspiring, and on a whim (and with the hope that maybe he can find what he’s missing) he decides to take the plunge and get a tattoo. That's how he meets Clint Barton. Clint's talented and compassionate and there is an instant spark between the two of them. It's not long before Bucky finds himself wondering and wanting more from the relationship despite the ghosts of the past that crop back up. Because Clint makes him feel normal in a way he truly hasn't for years...

(this was pre-Alpine so I was totally chuffed when canon confirmed Bucky’s status as a crazy cat lady (affectionate).

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not.

I really really really want to do it but I often times don’t end up doing it. There are a few reasons. First, I am akwward AF and bad at interaction adn I feel like just saying thank you would be...not enough? Second - I often times tend to like...turtle (aka retreat into myself) when life gets Too Hard/Busy which happens a lot to me (sigh) and then I miss the vague window in my mind in which it would be okay to respond and then it’s even more weird. I do love and cherish all of them. Like there was one months ago that made me go “hmm...I didn’t think I was going to do a sequel to that fic (You rearrange me till I’m sane), timestamp glimpses sure but a sequel hadn’t come to mind” but then the comment made me think! So...who knows? lol Anyway, I literally have been rereading some in an effort to try and get myself going again. Know that if you have commented, I love you.

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

At the moment? Probably: Look at you look at me Bucky's in love with Clint - problem is he's really not supposed to be. For Winterhawk Week 2019 - Forbidden Love (I really don’t want to give away the spin in the fic but...if you’re familiar with the Secret Avengers Vol 2 run circa 2013ish (aka when SHIELD initially ‘took control of the team’) that’s a bit of a hint as to the spin). Were it done, Torch Song would be up there. ;) Torch Song Clint is sent back in time, via an alien device, to 1938. While he tries to figure out how to get back home, he takes up singing and entertaining to make ends meet and does his best to not disrupt the timeline.Then he meets a 21 year old Bucky Barnes. --- A torch song is a sentimental love song, typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, either where one party is oblivious to the existence of the other, where one party has moved on, or where a romantic affair has affected the relationship.

7. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve ever written?

Does *wanting* to write crossovers count? lol I want, so badly, to do more crossovers and fusions (which...are kinda deeper versions of crossovers in a way). The only one I do have posted is a crossover between Highlander and Torchwood -

The Immortal Mr. Jones A series of vignettes (some long, some short) in the life of the newly immortal Ianto Jones. My most ambitions project that I have been working on since late 2011/early 2012 is a fusion of the Avengers with Stephen King’s the Stand. I will get that done at some point *shakes fist*  The Stand, for those who don’t know it, is an epic 1000+ page novel about a flu epidemic (I know) that wipes out over 99% of the population and then two figures representing Good and Evil pull the survivors in two directions for a showdown. So basically it’s a non-powered modern AU set in that universe. It’s a passion and comfort project. lol

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Yes. Well, minor bitching back when I was in a prior fandom because I tagged a pairing in a fic but it was pre-slash and not labeled as pre-slash. I got hate on...I think it was Torch Song? And I’ve gotten hate on tumblr re me and my fic in general as well. Fandom! *jazz hands* Oh! And I’ve also been hit by those reviewers within Winterhawk (among general Clint pairings actually) who like rate you on either number scales or the “meh” scale. Which isn’t hate exactly but...it’s passive aggressive bullshit because I can’t believe none of them realize at this point that the authors can see their bookmarks - you know?

9. Do you write smut?

Yes. Do I write it well? I have no idea. lol

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I am aware of. Well...there was, I think, one of those reposting sites that had a few fics on it but I don’t think it was being passed off as someone else’s? I can’t quite recall. It’s why I have a note on AO3 about reposting my work anyway.

11. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Not entirely, but sort of. Let me explain - I am part of a PBEM game; which for those unfamiliar since it’s a term that was most heavily in use 15-20 years ago, in which you basically do a round robin type writing thing but rather than everyone writing the same characters you write your own characters and you play off what other people have done. Another way of looking at it is  it’s basically DnD without dice and written down rather than done out loud. You also don’t have to all be around at the same time. It’s a lot of fun and yes I have been in it for 20 years even though there aren’t many of us left but they are some of my dearest friends and fabulous writers. Wins all around.  One of the other writers and I have actually toyed with the idea of doing a co-written fic actually, mostly because we work super well together and keep getting ideas for things but can’t really do them as rpgs since the pbem style isn’t used much anymore.

12. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Winterhawk probably. Though, let’s be real - Han & Leia are epic and amazing as are John & Delenn (from Babylon 5).

13. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Does wanting to expand The Black Stallion books as a wee child count? lol Not much of that was written save for world building ideas but there was a great oral tradition of telling stories to my friends. Otherwise...maybe a tie between Star Wars and Highlander. Star Wars was a love since I was super young but the writing bug didn’t hit me until around the same time Highlander was a thing as well.

14. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written? You rearrange me till I’m sane for sure. Though Torch Song, if it were finished, would be tied I imagine (I suck at picking favorites). Honorable mention to Puck Luck and Indelible. Tagging: I have seen this like a million times (okay 5) so I feel like everyone has been tagged already that I know. But...I guess... @vexbatch @crazycatt71 @heartonfirewrites and @disruptedvice sorry if anyone has been tagged before.

[dehydratedpool]

hello again!! it’s the beginning of a new month, meaning a new fic rec post!! here are some fics that i read this month that are just... exquisite and deserve all the love and attention <3 

there aren’t as many as last time unfortunately, since i was quite busy this past month, but i promise next month won’t fall short! ((fics that i’ve reread this month are indicated with a **))

Foolishly Laying Our Hearts On The Table [11k] by runaway_train @runaway-train-works 

“You think Harry wants that?”

“Dunno. Maybe. Wanna make him happy.” Harry takes advantage of the red light he’s pulled up to turn and look properly at Louis’ face. He’s not even looking in Harry’s direction though, focused instead on something out of his side window, head drooped, mindlessly playing with the string of his hoodie between his fingers, lost in his own world somewhere. For some reason, it makes Harry’s spine straighten.

“Because he’s your best mate?” Harry questions carefully.

“He’s my boyfriend.”

He couldn’t have heard him right. “What?”

Louis releases a deep breath, still not turning around. Harry wonders who he thinks he’s talking to right now. “He’s so pretty. Want to kiss him all day long. And buy him a big house and give him presents and marry him.”

Or; The one where Harry is in love with his best friend Louis but doesn't think he stands a chance until some wisdom teeth and a rather unusual confession might just change his mind.

--> this is a new comfort fic for me tbh. i got rec’d this after louis tweeted about getting his wisdom teeth removed, and i’m so SO glad i decided to give it a read. it’s so precious and lovely and personally, i found it to be a quick read. it’s the kind of fic that makes me both warm and fuzzy inside but also highly upset that i’m single and will surely be alone forever

Just Let Me [14k] by HelloAmHere 

The party was going well. So well, Niall had already sworn undying love to one multi-tiered chocolate cake, two friendly corgi-poodle mixes, Zayn’s hair, and the entire population of Los Angeles. So well, Zayn had only laughed and ruffled Niall’s hair and not even twitched towards a cigarette. So well, nearly everyone had spilled far past the boundaries of the night’s original plans, extracting bottles of vodka from the cabinets and losing a lot of clothes. Harry had proclaimed that he was finally going to throw a small and very grownup dinner party and of course here they were three hours later, fifty people half-naked in the pool. Soon to be full-naked, if Louis had to guess. Everybody in LA loved a heated pool. Everybody loved Harry.

--> ok LISTEN. as some of you know, i just recently got into reading a/b/o fics and this one is definitely at the top of my fave a/b/o fics out there. it’s an interesting take on the trope, almost a bit more realistic in my opinion, and to quote the author’s note, “’what if a/b/o but less biological determinism?’”. i believe i found this one through a masterpost of “touch-deprivation fics”, so if that’s your thing, give this one a chance!

my ugly mouth kept running [4k] by theankletattoo @hadestyles

Another seed, another try except they know what caused the first wilt. They will be careful, they will be kind and together they will nurture it to life.

sometimes second chances are more important than the first.

--> rori, the author, never fails to disappoint when it comes to all of her works. i’ve said it once and i’ll say it again, she’s so incredibly fucking talented it’s unreal. her imagery is so vivid and real it leaves simultaneously everything and nothing to the imagination. as usual, h and l’s dynamic in this is an addicting portion to this fic that has you anticipating how their dynamic will shift and grow up until the end. if you’ve yet to read any of rori’s work, i suggest you add that to your to-do list for the month, and get a head start to her collection with this one!

**As Wicked As Anything Could Be [21k] by whoknows @crazyupsetter

It starts when Louis decides that he wants to lose his cherry and announces that he thinks the best way to do that is by going to a gay club. Naturally, Harry can’t let him go alone, so he tags along and spends the night rating guys with Louis until someone finally catches Louis’s eye.

Harry shoves him out to dance with the guy, and he can already tell that it’s going to be a quick and dirty hook up, so he’s not surprised that Louis and the guy disappear into the bathroom ten minutes later.

It is a surprise when Louis comes out not even two minutes later, pale and clammy, grabs Harry by the hand and drags him right out the door.

Somehow Harry comes to the decision that it would be a good idea for him to be in the room with Louis while Louis gets laid.

It’s a stupid fucking decision.

--> i discovered this fic a while ago on a whim and i have zero regrets. this is absolutely on my top ten fave fics list (that has yet to exist but perhaps i’ll post it one day). whoknows is a well known author within the fandom, so i’m sure i don’t have to say much about their immense talent, but SERIOUSLY, their plot progression, even their use of dialogue is wonderful in every way. as a writer, i envy them lmao. this fic takes me on a rollercoaster every time i read it, it’s yet another comfort fic of mine and never fails to disappoint every time i pick it up again. please, do yourselves a favor this april and read this.

Keeping The Flame Alive [19k] by whoknows @crazyupsetter 

Recording with One Direction never felt like this. There’s a couple reasons for that, Harry thinks. One is that they did most of their recording on the road, rushed and in busses and hotel rooms, never in one place long enough to really get an argument going. The other, larger and more important one, is that back then he had the sweetest, meanest little omega around to distract him from all of that frustration.

The first time around, when he’d been recording his debut solo album, it hit him pretty hard. He likes to think he’s better adjusted to it now, but frustration is warring under his skin nonetheless. He doesn’t want to be told what to do most of the time, and he especially doesn’t want to be told what to do when it comes to his music.

What he does want right now is that sweet, mean little omega right in front of him with his mouth on Harry’s cock. Unfortunately, the best he’s got is his own hand and a shared toilet. So. That’s really not going to work.

--> yes, for the first time in dehydratedpoolfics history of fic recs even tho i’ve only been doing this for a month i am rec’ing the same author twice, but seriously, how could i not??? this fic took me on a literal journey like... wtf. i have no words. seriously, i have none, i’m just that blown away, go read it for yourself .

**a trail of honey through it all [27k] by bruisedhoney @yvesaintlourent 

The boy in front of him, well really, the man in front of him, was like something out of a confusing wet dream. Built, tall, tan and muscular, his skin glistened with sweat after a long day of working outdoors with his hands. He was wearing a cut up old American football shirt, the bottom hem was torn and the sleeves were cut off to the point where the t-shirt was really just a loose tank top. The shorts he had on had clearly been full length jeans at one point, and were now just crudely cut off above the knee. His white socks were pulled up too high on his calves, and the brown work boots he had on were old as fuck, the leather peeling along the edges of the soles. Curly brown hair stuck out from the edges of his backwards snapback, and there was a smudge of grease wiped along his brow bone. The smattering of hair along his jaw proved that he hadn’t shaved in a week or two, the hair growing in thicker across his upper lip and around his chin. His sinfully bowed mouth was pink and plump, and Louis was suddenly hyper-focused on the way that he chewed at the toothpick stuck between his lips. He looked like he needed a shower. Louis wanted to lick him.

Or, the TPH fic we’ve all been waiting for.

--> okay look. i may or may not have a slight obsession with this fic. i reread it constantly, mostly for the iconic line, “are we fuckin’ or fightin’?”, because how can i not scream over that?? ((also patiently waiting for the sequel)) this is a literary masterpiece, one that defines an entire generation of this fandom i stg. but in all seriousness, hayley, the author, does such a wonderful job of giving the reader a vivid look into “nowhere, georgia”, and as a southern gal myself, i absolutely adore the itty bitty pieces of southern culture embedded into this, the tiny quirks that make this fic authentic. i could probably go on forever on why this fic is so iconic, but perhaps you should read it for yourself instead *wink* *wink*

SO. that’s all for this month!! if you read any of these, first of all, be sure to read the tags and author’s note (if any) before starting, AND please don’t forget to leave a quick kudos or comment, it means more than you may ever know <3

[jockvillagersonly]

2, 3, and 6 for the ask game 🥰

JOY you SPOIL ME!!!!! I am gently cradled and loved in your capable hands!!

Asks from this ask list ❤️

—————

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

Ooooooo mmm!! Well I’m really excited to get back into doing some collabing, namely with @humanlighthouse and @s1utspeare and @epicwalrus. I feel like I always learn a lot about my writing strengths and weaknesses in those settings! And all three of them have really amazing talents as writers that compliment some areas of growth that I have, so I am excited to learn from them!

Right now I’m finishing up Basket of Bone chapter 4, and I’m honestly pretty excited to not have it hanging over my head. These motherfuckers keep CHATTING though, like sirs. Let’s pick up the pace. Chop chop.

Other things I’m excited for: Star Wars movie marathon in URSF, A’Ning in Out Here is Wondrous, and Xiaoge getting to be a little more dommy than I usually write him in the next Iron Threesome fic ;)

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3. What is that one scene that you’ve always wanted to write but can’t be arsed to write all of the set-up and context it would need? (consider this permission to write it and/or share it anyway)

Omfg ok my easily distracted ass? I feel like I have a whole document of just ... impressions I want to convey. Right now, though, I just watched a few episodes of Killer and Healer and ... let’s just say that the scene where Lucas has the doc at sword point while negotiating with the detective? It gave me Ideas. Ideas that I don’t know if I will ever write a whole shitload of context for. BUT THIS ASK SAID I CAN WRITE IT ANYWAY SO ... 👀 HERE GOES (blood / hostage situation cw):

Wu Xie generally, as a rule, disliked being on the business end of a weapon. He had a feeling this was a sentiment he shared with most, if not all, of the earth’s population.

The sword tip cut into his throat, a sharp sting right above his existing scar, and Wu Xie couldn’t help but to swallow, the bob of movement dragging the sharp blade deeper into the soft flesh of his neck. He grimaced in distaste; he disliked being on the business end of weapons, sure, but swords and knives were the worst. Just like now, the person wielding the pointy blade always felt the need to prove their seriousness by breaking the skin, as if whoever they were talking to would confuse the weapon for a butter knife otherwise.

Wu Xie felt a warm trickle slide its way down his throat, the drag of his own blood almost sensual as it pooled against his collar. Dammit, he’d worn his nice white suit today, too.

Xiaoge better fucking appreciate the risk Wu Xie was taking for him. And he better fucking show up soon, before Wu Xie had to set aside even more of this month’s budget for what was shaping up to be an exorbitant dry cleaning bill.

Also, you know who I think would have a REALLY good answer to this question? @humanlighthouse

—————

6. What character do you have the most fun writing?

Oh DEFINITELY my boy Li Cu. He’s just...so snarky, and silly, and dumb? And I love him so much? I generally find that he is the easiest for me to write, like I don’t have to think much about it, even when the subject is more intense (ie in the fic about his dad dying). Am I just living a wild teenage daydream vicariously through him? I’ll never tell.

On the flip side, characters I find very hard to write: Xiao Bai, Pangzi, and Zhang Daddy Rishan 😭

[hayjeon]

Practical Tips on getting your fics out there!

I’ve gotten an influx of these types of questions here recently, and the more i thought about what i was gonna add, it became really long :(  

disclaimer: a lot of the things i bring up are just from personal experience as a writer on this site, what my followers have told me they appreciate, and what i tend to look for when im looking for fics to read! If you don’t like these tips then pls move on :) 

although i’ll mention them, i’m also not going to be focusing on cliche tips like “write for yourself” or “grammar issues” cause those are pretty obvious!

1. accessibility of your blog 

when you’re trying to get your name out there, make sure that you’re creating an inviting experience for any potential followers! this includes:

a memorable url! be creative!

have some fun designing your blog’s aesthetic! (i love cute blogs because it reflects a bit of the writer’s personality), and (i prefer blogs with white backgrounds because it’s easier to look through/read, say, in contrast to a pitch black one where the words need to be white!) 

put your masterlist link in your bio (even better if you can link most recent fic! found this most helpful when i revisit authors that i like and can easily see if they’ve updated or not)

an organized and easy-to-navigate masterlist (personally, i prefer masterlists organized by band, instead of types of fics ie. i hate when i have to choose between drabbles, oneshots, and series masterlists; i really prefer to see them altogether!) --> see section 3 

organized tags (if you’re going to be posting a lot of non-fic-related content like pictures or videos, tag them properly so followers can sort through and find your fics easily!), or (if you’re going to be writing in different mediums like drabbles, or answering asks, make sure to use a unified #mine or #writing or #fics to centralize your content) 

2. get your name out there!

write write write! once you have some fics that show your talent, don’t be shy! 

join writing groups: when i first started out, I joined a bunch of groups that would reblog my fics in the midst of the content of much bigger writers; these blogs developed a following, and as a result of my content mixing in with bigger blogs’ content, so did my own tumblr! there’s been a stigma recently with these groups, but im sure you can find one thats supportive and not clique-y! 

send your fics to rec pages: what’s the harm? the only bad thing that can happen is that they ignore you! who cares! get out there! 

if you can do the above, i really encourage you to ask your fave writers for advice/to read your fic: again, the worst that can happen is that they say no or don’t respond or don’t have enough time, but it’ll be a good opportunity to get some feedback! i for one read (or try to read) every single rec that falls into my inbox. if i like it, i’ll #rec it, and if i don’t, unless the writer asks me for feedback, i move on!! 

utilize your tags!!: i’m not entirely sure if this is still the same or not, but from my memory, it’s the first 3-5 tags that matter the most? so utilize them well; push back the tags that aren’t really relevant (ie. #writing, #fics) and push more the main subject line of what you wrote (ie. jungkook fluff, bts smut, namjoon angst). these will populate your fics into the tags better!

headers!: when i’m scrolling through an infinite page of fics, the headers catch my eye the most; try being creative! you can find a lot of info out there on how to make ur headers super aesthetic, but i can share my tips too! --> see section 3

3. your masterlist 

here are some practical tips! 

organize by band, not type of fic/member/centralize your masterlist: i went onto a blog recently and clicked their bio mlist link to find a page full of 20~ish “JUNGKOOK MASTERLIST”/ “JAEHYUN MASTERLIST” and when i clicked on each one, they only had like 2 or 3 fics per member. i think it would’ve been better if she’d centralized all her fics! that keeps whoever is looking interested and more likely to click on another fic while browsing

add info about the fics!: when scrolling through a masterlist, it’s easy to get lost; try to add some snippets of info (ie. a short sentence you liked from the fic, a quick summary, a description of the au/scenario, or even a header!) this all gives some info about the fics you have tagged! 

headers: this isn’t a requirement, but i personally love a good header on fics i read and i love making them myself as i finish up a fic and get ready to upload it; here are free sources: unsplash for HQ stock pics, crop/edit/filter in VSCO, and then add aesthetic script with fontcandy) 

try to fill it up!: after i visit a blog after reading one good fic, i usually browse through their mlist to see if there are any more that i’d be interested in. if there’s a lot to look forward to, i’ll almost always follow; try to write as much as you can in the first few months to try and fill up your mlist and give blog viewers a reason to visit your blog again, follow, or even reblog your content!) 

4. try not to reproduce cliche fics: 

honestly tumblr’s writing community (and armys) has grown insanely these past few years and, unfortunately, even from my perspective, in the past 3-4 years, all the writers have sort of become blended together in my brain. but, i can say that the ones who consistently stand out are the ones who produce consistent content and think outside of the box! 

i tend to gravitate towards fics that have really interesting plotlines (ex. btssavedmylifeblr’s VOID is always a surprise to read because it’s sO unique! i usually don’t read ot7 fics but this one is legit my fave) 

I know it’s tempting to try and just write typical smut fics to try and gain some traction, but tumblr is already too overloaded by that kind of content; try to write something that’s special and unique! this will set u apart from the thousands of other writers here --> see next section

5. create unique fics: 

this is also personal to my writing style, but i get so bored writing just casual fics about the members, and it affects the fics i choose to read too; i prefer unique fics which you can achieve through: 

circumstance/au: create a fun au!; don’t just create an arranged marriage, create an arranged marriage in joseon dynasty, or between a werewolf and a hunter! (shameless self plug); don’t just give me friends to lovers, but give me spiderman!jungkook friends to lovers! (ie. cupofteaguk’s exchanges)

jobs: give them out-of-the-ordinary jobs; don’t just give me enemies to lovers, but give me rival!anchors who end up loving eachother! (ie. jimlingss The Newscasters)

fun dialogue: create good back-and-forth, (something i’m still working on!)! this will help your characters develop personality, and that way, readers will start to develop that themselves as well (ie. dad!yoongi from insemination wars by prolixitae is such a specific character that i love so much!, or obiwrites’ garden characters were so memorable!)

create memorable personalities: don’t give me a flat character, try to develop 4d personalities in all of your characters! (im still working on this too!) this way you can really make an impression on your followers! a great way to practice/recognize this is: “Ask my Character.” Can your followers ask a specific character a specific question, and would you be able to deliver an answer that is very specific to that character’s tone/voice/personality? If yes, then ur doing well! If not, try to think of ways that you can make tht specific character from a specific story, really unique and separate from your other characters.

6. some practical writing tips

be yourself, write for your own pleasure, blah blah blah; yeah you know already haha but here are a few more practical tips! 

grammar check: if you can, try and hone your grammar! makes for an easier read 

write like you: i personally LOVE this by obiwrites, but even the way she writes exudes her personality and is so specific; try not to be caught up in adding hundreds of synonyms and exquisite language; in fact, simpling it down and being more concise and honest with your writing is better than a superfluous sentence; this will also give ur characters so much more dimension and funk

use those commas/sentence variation: try to use more commas; this will feel like you’re the narrator to your own story; it also makes it more fluid to read in my opinion, over those short. clipped. sentences. (ie. “he came over, sitting down on the corner of your bed with an expression you’d never seen before” over “he walked over. he sat down, looking sad.”) 

half-half dialogue/narration: a fic with too much dialogue can get confusing, and a fic with too much narration can get dry; try to balance them out, and weave in and out of each! 

quality over quantity: don’t feel burdened to write a 30k word fic. in fact, i think some of the shorter fics (ie. any of versigny’s stuff) made a bigger impression on me over the longer fics because they were short, left me wanting more, and were just so high-quality in such small quantities. try out your hand at drabbles and one-shots, and don’t feel too burdened to try and develop a series right off the bat! 

abandon pigeon-holes: i’m guilty of this; i start series and then end up with no vision for the stories and they end up giving me writers block. its okay. just stop or discontinue them or leave them on a hiatus; it’s okay. your priority is yourself, and if abandoning certain works are part of that, then go ahead. it’ll help you progress more. 

and finally.......

i’ll add more as they come up! but if you liked this, then pls lmk! i’d love to give more tips and tricks; i think i started this blog 3-4 years ago when there weren’t as many writers here, but im glad you’re thinking of starting out/wanting to grow more! don’t feel intimidated! it’s not all about the notes/followers but creating a blog you’re proud of. 

so write what you’re proud of, or interested in, and keep going. i truly thoroughly had so much fun writing this post. if there are any writers who read through this and have some more advice, pls msg me! 

all the best to you! 

[bts-ficrecs]

Can you rec some fics series with good smut

Hi, hello! I’m ssooo sorrryyyy it took me foreeverrrr to reply to this. i don’t even know if the person who sent this ask still follows me lolol 

I’m particular with my smuts and I know everyone has different tastes when it comes to that so hopefully these are to your liking!

As always I’ll first recommend stories I’ve read and then stories that I’ve yet to read. ^^ …also…just a warning. I have so many smutty series on my to read that I couldn’t just not rec them only because I hadn’t read it yet ssooo… 

enjoy this v e e e r r y y long list of smutty fic recs lol (many of these writers have other smutty series too so check out their masterlists!^^)

Note: some of these fics have very flawed characters and may present potentially triggering content. Please review the author’s warnings/notes before you start the series just in case there’s something you’d rather not read.

Link to my other smut fic compilation

⚜ Accelerate by @dreamscript

Jungkook x Reader

complete series | 3 parts

Summary: There’s a new racer in town; he’s incredibly rich, hot, and talented. And you can’t stop staring.

⚜ A Detrimental Passion by @btspornfavor

Seokjin x Reader

discontinued series | 4 parts

Summary: Waking up next to a beautiful blonde boy would be any girls dream… But for a grown, soon to be divorced woman, its all but… Until he reminds you why you should allow yourself back into the dream.

Note: while this series may be discontinued, I still want to share it with you all. I know a lot of people run from incomplete series but please give this (and all other series) a chance ^^

⚜ A Friendly Favour by @baeseoul

Taehyung x Reader

complete series | twoshot

Summary: Your virgin friend asks a big favor from you: have sex with him to prepare him for his future love-making session with his new girlfriend.

⚜ All Too Well by @cupofteaguk

Yoongi x Reader

complete series | 10 parts + epilogue

Summary: You and Yoongi shared a loving relationship with one another until you both agreed to end things and pursue your separate careers. But two years later, Yoongi is a member of the ever growing Bangtan Boys, and you are a new makeup artist for their upcoming tour.

⚜ Bad by @thelillzmonster

Jungkook x Reader

ongoing series | 9 parts so far

Summary: He was the cliché bad boy. He was the guy you couldn’t stand. He was the handsome, hot kid who made girls go weak in the knees. He was a brat. You had never liked him one bit, but you had also never gotten involved with anything concerning him. Until one day, when you were in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

⚜ Banter by @littlemisskookie

Jungkook x Reader

complete series | twoshot

Summary: Ironically, some of your best moments are with your archnemesis, the man who you literally fight every other day. But the two of you might be closer than you originally thought.

⚜ Bunbun by @jungkookienoona

Jungkook x Reader

complete series | twoshot + epilogue

Summary: You found an abandoned bunny hybrid on the streets and took it upon yourself to care for him.

⚜ Bunny Boy by @parkmuse

Jungkook x Reader

complete series | 5 parts

Summary: Catching feelings for your sisters friend wasn’t part of your plan.

⚜ By Your Side by @sodoyouknowbts

Seokjin x Reader

complete series | 10 part + 1 extra

Summary: Jin is somewhat arrogant, overly confident and a tease. All the things you find infuriating in a man and he also happens to be your roommate. It’s a wonder how you two can live together without killing each other��but it’s not like you’re anything more than friends. Right?

⚜ Camellia by @kinktae

Taehyung x Reader

complete series | twoshot

Summary: Y/N is a strong-willed herbalist who knows exactly what she wants; she also happens to make some really good tea. Taehyung is a kind but rebellious prince who doesn’t really know what he wants but he knows that the commoner girl who makes fantastic tea can’t be this damn cute.

⚜ Dogboys by @imaginethisbts

Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook

complete series | 4 parts

Summary: Jungkook has only ever thought of his breeding clients as just that - clients, and he’s always quite indifferent to them since he only ever knows them for a short period of time. But then you come along, and he starts experiencing feelings that aren’t being manipulated by your heat. Real feelings, that he has never harbored before with anyone else.

⚜ Don’t Care If It Hurts by @hollyhomburg

Jimin x Reader

complete series | 12 parts + 1 extra

Summary: After a rival gang makes an attempt on your life, Your older brother, the infamous leader of Seoul’s largest gang; Kim Namjoon, gets you a guard hybrid; Park Jimin, The reigning champion of Seoul’s underground hybrid fighting ring.

⚜ Drug Wars by @plumblackjeon

Jungkook x Reader

complete series | 5 parts

Summary: “She’s a babygirl Yoongi, and I think I’m in love with her.”

⚜ Forbidden by @btssmutgalore

Hoseok x Reader

complete series | 5 parts

Summary: Hoseok is your brother’s best friend.

⚜ Guarded Hearts by @gardentulips

Hoseok x Reader

complete series | 8 parts + epilogue + 2 extras

Summary: Your daughter’s dance teacher is always so kind both to you and your daughter.

⚜ I’m Sick by @kpopnlockit

Seokjin x Reader

complete series | 3 parts + epilogue

Summary: You work under the devilishly charming and handsome Dr. Kim.

⚜ I’m Not A Kid by @drquinzelharleen

Jungkook x Reader

complete series | 3 parts

Summary: Your boss’s son will not stop trying to get a date with you.

⚜ Inheritance by @jincherie

Yoongi x Reader

complete series | 7 parts

Summary: After your grandmother passed she left everything to you. Her house, her fortune, and apparently… her cat? The grumpy male hybrid you encounter at her house is anything but the tame housecat you’d expected to find. Fulfilling your grandmother’s last request to look after him becomes a lot harder when he seems to be avoiding you, and your dissatisfied relatives start stirring up trouble.

Note: ok, I debated whether or not I should add this since the smut is really only at the very end. but I just love this series way way too much and the build up of it all makes the smutty so worth it. trust me.

⚜ In Motion by @yoonia

Jungkook x Reader

ongoing series | 8 parts so far + 1 extra

Summary: The rule is simple; you can look but you can’t touch. You’ve been attending the event for a few times but it was only when a certain boy arrives on one occasion did you feel the fire of lust burning inside.

⚜ Just Friends by @kinktae

Jungkook x Reader

complete series | 3 parts

Summary: Jeon Jungkook was many things. He was an asshole, a tease, and kind of an inconsiderate roommate. But most of all, he’s your best friend, and has been since you were 10. When he suddenly confesses his attraction to you and proposes sleeping together, you are smart enough to turn him down. You knew Jungkook; you knew how he moved from one girl to the next. You, too, were many things, but just another notch in Jungkook’s belt was something you’d never be.

⚜ Like Real People Do by @failaise

Jungkook x Reader

complete series | 4 parts

Summary: The feelings for your friends with benefits are changing. Months pass, and you feel your gut telling you that you want more. You’re just not sure if he feels the same. 

Note: link to part 4 

⚜ Lust And Errors by @imaginethisbts

Jungkook x Reader

ongoing series | 5 parts so far

Summary: Step brother, fuck buddy… They were one and the same now. But what started out as some mindless fucking game, quickly turns into something much more difficult and complex.

⚜ Miss Dial by @versigny

Yoongi x Reader

ongoing series | 8 parts so far

Summary: [11:31] You: okay so i’m texting you now like I promised instead of drunktexting yoongi and telling him how badly i want his cock tonight. Arent you proud? [11:32] unknown number: this is yoongi, hi

⚜ Monster by @neonlights92

Taehyung x Reader

complete series | 5 parts + epilogue

Summary: You live in a world dominated by monsters. Monsters who make it their life’s work to control everything around them. When you’re forced to marry Kim Taehyung - the indecipherable son of the leader of Bangtan, Seoul’s most feared gang - you are at first afraid of him. But as you learn what it means to be Taehyung’s wife you find yourself inexplicably drawn to him.

Note: the writer has also written for the other members in the same AU if you’re interested to read more ^^

⚜ No Strings by @kpopfanfictrash

Jimin x Reader

complete series | 10 parts + 4 extras

Summary: It started off as such a simple question. How do you find out if you’re bad in bed? Of course when you asked, you didn’t imagine Jimin would actually want to answer.

⚜ Off Limits by @floralseokjin

Seokjin x Reader

complete series | 8 parts

Summary: You’ve been lusting after your brother’s best friend for a while now, ever since you met him at a house party, flirting it up a storm as you failed to realise who the other was. That was months ago now and things are still awkward, but you can’t ignore the sexual tension that simmers between the two of you…and it keeps getting worse…

⚜ Piece by Piece by @underthejoon

Hoseok x Reader x Seokjin

complete series | 15 parts + 2 extras

Summary: A collection of drabbles where your love life is muddied up by two men – the one you love and the one that loves you.

⚜ Please Be Naked by @floralseokjin

Yoongi x Reader

complete series | 8 parts + 8 extras

Summary: You find it’s easy to become addicted to a distraction…

⚜ Sin City by @btssmutgalore

Jimin x Reader

ongoing series | 15 parts so far

Summary: After a run of bad luck, you can go back home and admit defeat or step out of your comfort zone and look for a job at Sin City.

⚜ Something In The Way by @tayegi

Namjoon x Reader

ongoing series | 2 parts so far

Summary: When your student debts stack up too high, you decide to apply for a position to take care of Kim Namjoon’s heat for three days…

⚜ Stealing The Bite by @wildernessuntothemselves

Taehyung & Jungkook x Reader

complete series | 6 parts

Summary: In a world populated by the supernatural, witches were the most despised and mistrusted of creatures. Everyone desired to make use of their powers but no one was willing to be seen openly conferring with them. And so there came to pass a heinous practice: Small covens of witches were isolated and kept under wraps in every kingdom, to be utilized when needed, and kept under close watch to prevent them from rebelling. Growing up in a kingdom ruled by werewolves, abuse and scorn were a fact of life, but you were determined to put an end to it. You devised a devious plan to gain power, and it involved a certain prince.

⚜ Talk by @httpjeon

Yoongi x Reader

complete series | twoshot

Summary: You find out your best friend, Yoongi, is really good at phone sex.

⚜ The Equation Of Love by @kookingtae

Yoongi x Reader

ongoing series | 9 parts so far

Summary: When you met Yoongi in a club, you thought it was fate that brought the two of you together. But after you walked into your college math class for the very first time, you weren’t so sure anymore.

⚜ Transference by @dark-muse-iris

Hoseok x Reader

complete series | 9 parts + epilogue

Summary: During a routine visit to the local bakery, you stumble upon an intriguing business card and figure, what the hell.

⚜ View From 4-B by @gardentulips

Hoseok x Reader

complete series | 7 parts

Summary: You teasing Hoseok didn’t stop after the night you shared together. In fact, it only encouraged you to continue your game of performing sinful acts with your curtains wide open, displaying your body to him to have him aching in his jeans. Except now, he’s more than aware of the temptation and he knows just how much you enjoy him watching you.

⚜ White Lilies by @plumblackjeon

Jungkook x Reader x Taehyung

ongoing series | 2 parts so far

Summary: People were attracted to sorrow, especially when it looked as good as Jungkook.

⚜ Zodiac by @joonbird

Namjoon x Reader x BTS

ongoing series | 2 parts so far

Summary: Not human, not animal. Caught in between these shifting worlds, the Zodiac hybrids are cursed by the animals of the zodiac.

 

 

⊱ Angel in The Darkness by @icyhobi

Jungkook x Reader

complete series | 11 parts

⊱ Babydoll by @jungcock

Yoongi x Reader

complete series | twoshot

⊱ Behind The Lens by @gardentulips

Namjoon x Reader

complete series | 2 parts + 1 extra

⊱ Carpe Diem by fringesofsanity

Yoongi x Reader

complete series | 7 parts

⊱ Chained To You by @addicktjimin

Jimin x Reader

complete series | 3 parts

⊱ Dive by @guktwt

Jungkook x Reader

ongoing series | 2 parts so far + 7+ extras

⊱ Ego by @suga-kookiemonster

Jungkook x Reader

ongoing series | 6 parts so far

⊱ For Science by @boymeetsweevil

Jungkook x Reader

complete series | 7 parts

⊱ Handyman by @drquinzelharleen

Jimin x Reader

complete series | 5 parts

⊱ Heartbeat by @joonbird

Hoseok x Reader

ongoing series | 9 parts

⊱ Instant Gratification by @dovechim

Jungkook x Reader

complete series | 3 parts

⊱ Like Cats and Dogs by @the95liner

Jungkook x Jimin

ongoing series | 1 part so far

⊱ Love is a Dog from Hell by firecracker_chalk

Yoongi x Reader

ongoing series | 9 parts so far 

�� one good purr (deserves another) by @jinpire

Taehyung x Reader

complete series | 4 parts

⊱ Piercings by @personawife

Namjoon x Reader

complete series | twoshot

⊱ Passionfruit by @joonbird

Namjoon x Reader

complete series | 4 parts

⊱ Plums & Melons by @winetae

Jimin x Reader

complete series | twoshot

⊱ Serendipity by @rohobi

Jungkook x Reader

complete series | 9 parts + epilogue

⊱ Shutter & Shiver by @pac-mang

Jimin x Reader

complete series | twoshot

⊱ The Proposal by @chimmy-joos

Jimin x Reader

ongoing series | 5 parts so far

⊱ Two Rotten Apples by @chickenkooks

Jungkook x Reader

ongoing series | 4 parts so far

⊱ Until Next Time by @taeverie

Jimin x Reader

complete series | 3 parts

⊱ Watch Me Watch You by @the95liner

Jimin x Reader

complete series | 3 parts

⊱ Wishbone by @dovechim

Jimin x Reader

complete series | 3 parts

Note: links to two & three

⊱ Yes Mr. Park by @softjeon

Jimin x Reader

complete series | 8 parts

⊱ Yellow Calf by @cherrynochu

Jungkook x Reader

ongoing series | 3 parts so far

[letshaikyuu]

𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐖𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐀 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: “When the FBI busted down my door, the last thing I was expecting to see was a hot, young agent. But then, our two worlds collided and I couldn’t let him leave my side.”

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: A FBI!Kuroo Tetsurou x Writer!Akaashi Keiji short fic

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: mentions of blood, crime scenes and any other material needed for mystery novels

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: This story is just me being inspired from a prompt that I have seen on Tumblr and decided that this pairing suited it the best.

𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞  - 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈 - 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈𝐈 - 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈𝐈𝐈 - 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈𝐕

It is not surprising that at whatever Akaashi strived to do, he was always the best. When he was seven, he picked up drawing and happened to win a competition just a few months later. When he was fourteen, history was a subject he found intriguing and competed in for the rest of his school days. Pictures are plastered on his family's wall where he is holding up 'First place' trophies. So when he decided to pursue a Literature and Creative Writing degree, his family was more than welcome to support him with his dreams. He published a best-seller during his second year and his teacher assigned him as one of the assistants, offering him a spot as a professor when he finishes his Master's.

Akaashi was not interested in teaching. Even during university, he felt the stuffy air of the classroom and bustling voices of the other students to be very irritating and too much of a hassle for him. His parents paid extra to accommodate him in a single-bed dorm so he would have the most peace any university student would want. That dorm was the same place Akaashi wrote his second novel: 'The Lost Case of Neverland', a mystery novel he found very peculiar and interesting to write. That was when he decided to focus his talent on writing solely mystery novels.

There was no doubt that he was a very mysterious person himself. Even now, at 27 years of age and standing in an empty living room with boxes around him, Akaashi was still an enigma to many. He moved, rather out of the blue, to this little town called 'Brightwood'. Population 600, Brightwood was the perfect place for Akaashi to settle down and pursue further writing escapades. Finding a house that was affordable and isolated from the rest of the houses on the only street in town, he bid farewell to his parents and a handful of friends before moving.

Someone who had the needed amount of money to happily live in a big city has now moved to a run-down, closed-off town that hardly has anything going for it? It wasn't even located on the map. His parents were nervously awaiting for him to call and let them know that he had finally arrived at his new home, but what shocked them immensely was a text message from Keiji that was sent right before he entered the town:

'There is no signal in this town. You won't be able to reach me while I'm here.'

◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤

A few days have passed since the boxes have been neatly placed in the corner and minimal furniture found it's way into the house. The state of the house was not something to be proud of. House n.66 was the cheapest house in town. Once owned by an old couple that passed away from old age in said house, the state was awful. Floorboards that were creaking, the roof that was leaking and there was always a spider a day crawling its way out into the open. But, this was exactly what Akaashi was looking for.

'A mystery novel isn't a mystery novel until the writer puts himself in the character's shoes,' Akaashi would say to people who asked him how was he so good at writing mystery novels. All of his novels had this eerie feeling. It was not fit for a nightly read because they were terrifying, but they also never let you leave their content because of how engrossing they were. He couldn't count the number of times someone would ask him if he was possessed by a demon or if there's a ghost haunting his home. Akaashi would always say maybe.

His good looks were pleasuring for the eyes as well. A lot of women came up to Akaashi during book signing events and asked for an autograph on the weirdest of places. He was never able to hide his annoyance, but they always seemed to decipher that as something sexual and not the complete opposite. It usually took Akaashi getting dozens of numbers and sexual compliments to snap and ask that the book signing ends early. Even though his temper was unappealing to some, no one decided to leave his works because they were that amazing.

When the campaign for Akaashi's upcoming novel 'If I Were A Killer' started, people could hardly contain the excitement at the thought of another phenomenal novel in their hands. Rather unwillingly, Akaashi gave a short interview regarding the upcoming release and stated that if everything goes as planned, the novel should be published in a few months. He also added that he will be completely unavailable to the public eye for the time being so that he can finish his novel in peace. That interview was the last time Akaashi was seen in the public eye.

Now, with a cup of black tea in his hand and the fireplace quietly crackling in the background, Akaashi was ready to work on the final chapters of the novel. It was a novel that challenged him greatly as an author because it differed from his other work quite greatly. His editor was not too keen on this novel, it was too heavy to read and felt as if the storyline would be too difficult to understand:

'Akaashi-san, I don't think such a novel would be greatly appreciated in the public. It seems like it will be very hard to read-'

'I've already made my decision and the plot has already been developed. I do not plan on changing anything Furudate-san.'

'But Akaashi, isn't it extremely difficult to write someone who's a serial killer?'

He only smirked at the words of his editor and continued drinking his already cold tea. 'You don't know Furudate-san,' Akaashi glanced at his editor, something mysterious glinting in his eyes,' just how much that topic interests me.'

His editor didn't want to admit how the obvious coffee stain on his suit appeared. 'My hands were just shaking,' he said to the dry-cleaners, but the evil-like gaze he got from Akaashi was something he would never forget.

◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤

It was proven to be a very easy task for Akaashi. Before moving to Brightwood, he spent hours researching everything there was to know about serial killers and their ways of work. From what triggered them to how they dispose of bodies. Akaashi had everything written down in his documents. One of the main reasons he moved to Brightwood is that his novel was set right in this little town. You could say that he was invested in this novel, paying attention to every single detail and writing it with such ease. So, when he found out about such a small town, he figured it was the perfect setting for his novel. What doesn't interest people more than a serial killer wreaking havoc in a small town like Brightwood, where everyone seems to 'know' their neighbors that well?

'When shit happens, everyone is everyone's enemy. Nobody is safe from the obvious hate and mistrust. Who was once drinking coffee in your backyard is now suspected of murder? Who was once dropping newspapers on the street is now sentenced to life in prison? Can you trust the people living with you? How can we be so sure of what's going on in another person's mind? Life wouldn't be this interesting if we knew everything, would it?'

The night was very calm, the perfect fit for Akaashi to add something new to his ever-growing novel. The complete silence would be nerve-wracking for most, but it suited Akaashi perfectly. He enjoyed not hearing the bustling noise he couldn't get rid of in his dorm or continuous shuttering of cameras during promotion periods. He was alone with his thoughts. Perfect for writing mystery novels with serial killers. Once he finished writing the predicted part for today, Akaashi closed his laptop and went to drop off his dirty dishes in the sink. He was crossing the hallway with his empty mug in hand when he heard a commotion on the street. 'There must be some kind of party going on out there,' Akaashi shook his head at the thought, thinking back to the day he first moved to this town. The neighbors were quick to welcome him and offer any kind of needed help. They were also preparing a welcoming party for the newcomer, but once Akaashi found out about it, he immediately shut it down and said he wasn't the type for parties.

'Maybe that's why nobody has visited me these past few days.'

While he was thinking back to his neighbors, the commotion outside was becoming clearer and louder. It started to feel like they were right outside his door, banging up a storm. To Akaashi, the constant noise reminded him of pencil tapping on the desks in his university classes, just much more boosted. He could feel his brain pulsating in his head, any kind of loud noise irritates him greatly and his annoyance starts to show. Trying to calm himself down as much as possible, he took a deep breath and continued his way to the kitchen. Not even a step further, his front door was suddenly on his floor. The entrance was completely bare. It should be showing the clear night sky, but all Akaashi saw were dozens of people dressed in black, equipped with heavy machinery. Unceremoniously, the empty mug was shuttered on the ground and Akaashi was down on his knees with unknown people surrounding him.

'FBI! DOWN ON THE GROUND NOW AND HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!'

The last thing Akaashi saw before his head and body were forcefully pinned to the ground was the shattered mug on the floor and a mop of messy black hair. He looked too hot in Akaashi's eyes and it wasn't fair that he got to wear that smug smirk on his face while Akaashi was here mopping the floor with his body. Akaashi isn't a puppet. He was always the puppeteer.

══════════════════

𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @mysticrainpain​ @kawaiibaka96​ @kashika​ @brokutoforever​ @shangyinn-ig​ @miyulovestowrite​ @heccingdead​ @kellyyween​ @death-waves-to-me​ @bareeganbaree​ @caxsthetic​ 

[jorzuela]

A small thank you.

Today I want to take the time to thank the authors who have inspired me in my furious writing bout of these past few weeks. I still follow your wips as a reward for writing and you have helped me immensely just by sharing your work. I'll list the fics and what i took (as in learned) from each.

Dancing on the blades (you set my heart on fire) by @filisaceaf: this fic is on hold for a little while but I love it. I love the character developments, how it never drags on, how everyone has their little story going on and also that it's the perfect combination of yoi and phan. It's based on the animé but it's also its own story. Perfectly balanced.

Slutvillle, population two by @dayevsphil: I love how effortless the story feels, both as an au and as something quite canon. I believe this could have been them, absolutely. The friends also add a lot to the story and my take away from this fic is the dialogue that never seems heavy on the reader or like exposition. I pay special attention to that.

Linger on by @alittledizzy and @waveydnp: this fic came to my house and stole my wig, I am naked and on the floor. This is angst, it is about though times in a person's life and it's so beautifully written. There are a lot of things I love about it, but what I learned from it is to build foundations for your story because they are super important for the emotional investment of the reader. I aim to become better at it. Special mention to how you guys wrote emotions, particularly grief.

One thousand midnights or more by @judearaya: I held off from reading the last 2 chapters of this fic for weeks because I didn't want it to end and because it gave me too many feels but when I finally did, it saved me. I knew my wip was missing something, there was something left to fix and I didn't know what, but I took a break and Jude came down from the heavens singing "conflict resolution but in an emotional way, not just practical." I already thanked you privately but I didn't want to leave you out of this post. I couldn't have made it without you.

To all of you who take the time to write and share your talent with the world thank you. And to the writers that I haven't encountered yet, thank you as well, you are helping someone, you are holding someone's hand in a shitty moment in their life, you are bringing love into this world and that's exactly what we need right now.

[cancerousjojian]

a park in brooklyn | steve rogers

summary: Steve is feeling really sentimental and in-love, and you’re feeling really tired. It’s kinda fluffy and kinda angsty.

pairing: steve rogers x reader

words: 1.6k

a/n: this is for @whirlybirbs’ writing challenge! ily hope, keep doin ur thing friend (also if you’re not following her what are you even doing with your life?? go check out her fics, such a talented writer!)

Steve gets into these… moods.

He doesn’t know if it’s because almost everyone he’s ever loved has been taken from him in some form or another, but he’s feeling like a lost dog without you. He’s waiting for you to come home—rather impatiently—just so he can see you, remember that you’re real and you’re here.

He’s trying to distract himself, thinking about his time in the war and when things were just... better. He remembers summers with Bucky at the county fair, going to see the same movies three, even five times. Yet somehow, he always circles back to you.

You’re at the park the first time you see him. You sat on the only bench that wasn’t nearly falling apart by the excessive usage of the Brooklyn population, and listened to the music playing in your earbuds. You didn’t really have a reason for being there, unlike the super soldier who jogged passed you every few minutes. You started counting his laps, noticing a different feature of his every time. Little did you know, he quickly takes notice of you, too. He wonders what your eyes look like behind your sunglasses and what song you were listening to and if he’s ever heard it before.

He runs by eighteen times before he sits down on the bench next to you, panting and fanning himself with the collar of his shirt. You want to talk to him, and he does too. It feels like an awkward partner project in middle school; neither of you really know what to say.

“Eighteen.” You finally speak, pulling the earbuds out of your ears and shoving them in your hoodie pocket.

The blonde gives you a confused look.

“Eighteen laps.” You say again, shifting in your position to face him. “New record?”

He lets out a heave of breath. “No, it’s actually not even close.”

It’s silent for a moment. “Why’d you stop?”

Steve drops the stoic facade, a shrug falling off his shoulders. “Wanted to talk to you. And from the way you were staring at me, you wanted to talk to me, too.” He’s grinning.

That would be the first time you heart grows for Steve Rogers, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last. You come over to his small Brooklyn apartment almost everyday, and he finds himself falling for you fast. You remind him of his old life in the best way possible. You’re the taste of his favorite meal at his favorite diner, and the feeling of a long slumber after a day of shenanigans with Buck. Steve finds a rare sort of comfort in your company, and he relishes in the feeling whenever he can.

And right now, as he sits at home, he can’t wait to feel you again.

He thinks it’s quite pathetic of him, but he starts to stare at the door, hoping that somehow that would make you come home earlier.

Hours go by and he finally hears the creaky stairs as you make your way through the threshold of the door, and your familiar voice greets him sweetly. He’s instantly warmed by it. You can tell he’s in one of those moods when he comes over to you and mutters a “Hello,” before planting a hungry kiss square on your lips. He doesn’t even wait for you to take your shoes off. Large hands find your hips and you have to brace yourself against the doorframe.

“What’ve you been up to?” You ask, trying to make conversation while Steve brushes a strand of hair out of your face and he can’t help but notice how your eyes seem to change color in the springtime.

He hears you, but he’s not sure he knows how to answer. “Missed you,” he says and a soft smile lights up his face. Your heart leaps with the small gesture.

You’ve learned to read Steve well in the passed few months of being with him. When he was quiet and silently affectionate, you knew something was on mind. Sometimes it was bad things, like the overwhelming guilt that sometimes followed him like a shadow everywhere he went. Other times they weren’t so bad. On these occasions, he was usually thinking of you and how you made him feel like there was peace and balance in the world. It’s dramatic, he thinks, but it’s true nonetheless. On these days he could just look at you and feel serenity with your every movement. But today, you couldn’t tell which it was. You’d be there beside him for either extreme.

“Go get changed, okay? I want to take you somewhere.”

You’re admittedly confused, but you comply anyway. You can’t help but feel curious as you stood alone in Steve’s room, slipping on some clothes you’d left over last week. Your eyelids feel increasingly heavy with every move of your muscles. You didn’t really want to go out, but nights where Steve was itching to leave the house was rare, so you would comply with the blonde for tonight.

The leggings and baggy shirt don’t do your figure any justice, but Steve thinks you look as beautiful as ever. He feels his stomach flip in endearment for you when you strike a pose in your outfit. He flashes you a smile and is soon enough opening the door of his truck for you.

You try to map out your route in your mind as you’re driving, the streets oddly deserted. From your peripheral, you can see him glance over at you every few miles. But you’re too tired to react, instead choosing to place a hand on his.

Not before long, you’re in a parking lot you’ve never seen before. Perhaps he was showing you a new landmark he hoped would become tradition in your relationship. However, when Steve leads you to a creaky wooden bench, and your eyes adjust to the dirty running track on top of the grass, the realization hits and you can’t stop the smiling from breaking out on your face.

Steve really was a hopeless, hopeless romantic.

“This is where we first met, isn’t it?” You say, and hope Steve can hear the smile in your voice.

A solemn nod as he sits on the bench. You follow suit, and the wood is surprisingly still sturdy from when you last visited the location.

After a few minutes of sitting in comfortable silence, he answers the unasked question coming to light in your head. “I’m sorry for dragging you out here,” he gestures towards you, and you suddenly feel the urge to break the distance between your bodies and swing your legs over his lap. Steve rests a hand on your knee. Everything is suddenly domestic, and if it weren’t for the chilled wood beneath you and pale moonlight illuminating his face, you’d feel like you’re simply watching a movie on your couch. “I know you’re tired and all. I guess I just needed some fresh air.” He pauses for a moment to collect his thoughts and take a breath.

You want to tell him you understand, and that he doesn’t have to explain himself. You were always in a unique situation with your relationship with Steve, and you weren't always aware of it. But moments like these were a gentle reminder that you were dating a bit of a disheartened 101 year old. To Steve’s relief, you never hesitated to soften any blow that may come his way.

There’s nothing you can say in that moment that Steve doesn’t already know. The swift brush of his hair with your fingers and squeeze of his shoulder tell him more than words ever could. He feels himself falling even faster than he already was, if that’s even possible.

It falls quiet again, and all you can hear is each other’s breathing. You’re staring up at the stars, the clouds parting to let you see enough to make out a constellation. Steve, meanwhile, is memorizing your features while you’re unaware of it. It’s a habit of his he’s developed over the years. He never knows when things can grow dire and dim, so it’s best to appreciate every confidential moment he can get with you.

You catch him and he doesn’t even bother concealing the fact that he’s straight-up staring at you. You find yourself chuckling—and blushing, as always. “You’re such a sap.” You nestle into his shoulder and feel like you might explode when he smiles again. His hand pets your head and you have to fight the sleep that comes over you.

Steve begins to notice your breathing slow and he nudges you with his shoulder. He can’t think of a better ending to his night than curling up in his bed with his lover by his side. You ease back into full consciousness, getting the nonverbal message and following him back to his truck.

On the way back to his apartment, you joke about him having to carry you in because you’re utterly exhausted. Steve is too, with infatuation of you and remembrance of when things were just a little easier. When you park, Steve opens your door as usual, and actually carries you into the apartment bridal-style. It doesn’t do you very much comfort when he nearly trips going up the stairs, and you both burst into a fit of laughter in the middle of the complex. Real smooth, Rogers.

Eventually, you’re both laying under the covers of his bed and he feels better than he’s felt in a long time. He’s so, so thankful for you. He finds himself hopeful, and falling asleep easier than he’s ever slept before.