#and i wish the writer has the motivation and time to complete it

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Apologies if this question has ever been asked before, but wtf could Malleus' loss of magic and broken horn mean for book 8 and beyond? Like, is he gonna jump in and attempt a self sacrifice against Grims overblot? Just kinda chill at the sides and help in other ways without risking his life? Or will it be focused on Briar Valley? I hate how his character is written, it feels so inconsistent and confusing 😭 what should point to him potentially sacrificing himself to atone in one area, is different in other areas. Like, other areas says he shouldn't sacrifice himself and doesn't need to, nor is that the intent (for obvious reasons.. Like genre convention)

His role in the story is weird.

I’ve discussed this a few times before. Please consult this post, which I believe is the most recent and covers the most area on the subject. There’s also this post, which talks more about the themes of book 7.

To summarize: I don’t think Malleus’s injured horn is supposed to be a death flag. It reads to me like a way to power cap him (to prevent him from immediately defeating OB Grim with a snap of his fingers). It also reads as a way to “force” socialization with peers (since his immense power was once a reason for him to self-isolate + control his emotions and made others peer him; without his insane powers, peers may be more comfortable approaching him). His character development JUST started. I think it would be really rushed to have someone who struggled for three years to understand humans suddenly empathize with them enough in the span of a few weeks post-OB/before the end of the school year + feels guilty enough to throw himself in harm’s way, completely disregarding his other obligations (like to his country + people as the ONLY heir).

I believe the reason why Malleus is written strangely is because the writers have conflicting motives, especially if you consider that he has always gotten special treatment as the “poster boy”. His book also involves the theme of inevitability, or the passage of time despite one’s own will or wish to compel it to a standstill. All the supposed themes of fairy tales and Malleus being lost to time feel like callbacks to the book’s theme to me and not like ominous foreshadowing.

I feel like even if we interpreted every possible thing as a death flag… so what if they are? Lilia had tons of death flags too (many of which I would argue are more blatantly in-your-face about it), and look what happened to him. They literally used the “it’s love magic” (Disney trademark/j) to revive him. What’s to say Twst wouldn’t pull that again??

And like 😭 Malleus isn’t depicted as a particularly self-sacrificing person?? If I had to assign that role to someone in Diasomnia, it would go to Silver, who frequently beats himself up for minor failings and literally jumps in the way of attacks for his father. This is a pretty notable flaw of Silver, not Malleus.

The future will probably feature a culmination of everyone coming together to fight Grim as a team. This would cap off the “you should teach everyone how to cooperate” thing posed to us in the prologue. I don’t see a reason why Malleus and Malleus alone would attempt to sacrifice himself??? Diasomnia would definitely be returning to help out, but I wouldn’t take that as a “Malleus will die” detail. There’s tons of ways he could assist—for example, Ortho asks early in book 6 is Yuu knows any fae who may be able to assist them in finding a way home, to which Yuu has a flashback about Malleus. I feel like that’s what he will probably need assisting with, not putting his life on the line.

I don’t see us focusing on Briar Valley in the next main story installment. It just would not make sense, nor is there a previously consistent pattern for it to occur. For starters, why would we (Yuu) leave for an entirely different country when it is not relevant to us at all? What happened to the rest of the school year? Why are we spending another book focused on Diasomnia and their country’s history and politics? (I understand that they didn’t get much screen time in their own book, but this can be remedied with just their return as “helper” characters and not necessarily by hopping on over to their country.) Is Yuu expected to help with something over there? (If so, that’s doesn’t make sense because their abilities and reputation don’t extend that far.) This should be saved for a hometown event or something of that sort.

While we’re on the subject, may I ask (not specifically to you, anon, but to anyone reading this post) for an explanation of this… line of thinking???? I’ve heard the “Malleus will sacrifice himself” thing several times at this point and I’m wondering where it came from or why people genuinely believe this. dhsvwjkwkw Maybe it’s just me, but it feels very… fear-monger-y 😅

[mysteriousrainsworld]

SCREAMING

THE ANSWER: Masterlist

Life is great until your best friend goes missing your senior year of university, leaving little more than an apology and goodbye. Months later, you’re determined to find out what happened to him and discover a situation much more complicated than you would have ever anticipated. as in Kim Hongjoong doesn’t like the word ‘cult.’ He prefers 'sect.' 

.・。.・゜✭ ⧖ ・.・ ⧖ ✫・゜・。.  

pairings: ateez x fem reader, song mingi x fem reader, choi san x fem reader, kim hongjoong x fem reader, others throughout (very slowburn lol) genre: cult au, thriller, mostly angsty situations warnings: for mature audiences, major character death, graphic depictions of violence, drugs & alcohol, heavy religious themes, abusive/toxic relationships, literally none of the ateez members are portrayed as good people, still a WIP -> pls read tags on AO3 for in depth warnings!!! current wc: 170,372 taglist

tumblr masterlist:

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[dduane]

Aspiring-pro-writer question on behalf of my Beloved: would publishing a novel online make it impossible to get it traditionally published later?

They think the book has merit (so do I) and would enjoy the, motivation boosts that come with people reading the "serialisation", but aren't willing to sacrifice a potential Actual Publisher Deal.

For a good while the "received wisdom" was that self-publishing would kill your book's chances with traditional publishers. Fortunately, this has since proven to be false. This article pulls together a number of the best-known stories in which the author self-pubbed a given work first and then had it picked up by traditional publishers later... sometimes for seriously large amounts of money.

If I wasn't yet published, in the market we're in today, and had a book I wanted to get out there, I honestly wouldn't wait. Traditional publishers are under incredible pressure—too many submissions chasing too few publishing slots, and too few editors in-house any more to do the work of getting a book into print—and it's increasingly difficult to get a tradpub house to publish you without an agent (and sometimes, even with one.) So I'd almost certainly choose to self-publish. ...But I'd take advice first on what the best way to market a first-time work, especially one in my chosen genre, might be. Simply having written something terrific, and publishing it, isn't enough. You've got to find a way to get the word out about it to people who can help the information about it spread.

Working out a marketing plan means a lot of homework and strategizing. And inevitably there's going to have to be some monetary investment in advertising and/or other kinds of publicity (newsletters, blog tours, etc etc). Everybody who approaches this situation winds up having to determine how much money is okay to spend on such a project, and how much is too much. No two answers to the question are going to be alike. But then again, no two authors are alike... and no two books.

And one note more. I take the point about wanting the motivational boost that can accompany serialization. But not all books are suitable to be serialized. Some books, if you've got them complete in your hand, have an impetus that will impel a reader to finish that book right then and afterwards hurry off to rave about it to everybody they know. But if you chop one of those books in pieces and make people repeatedly interrupt that impetus...? It might still work. Or it might hamstring the impetus effect and leave the reader wondering, about halfway through, why they'd bothered. ...The issue's a difficult one, and there's no way to tell whether a given work can stand up to being delivered to the reader in chunks until it's too late. So my advice would be to think carefully about the prospect before trying to implement it.

Anyway: wish the Beloved the best from me... and I hope their journey is as trouble-free as possible. :)

[sublightdrive]

Big post about Syril Karn, Tragedy, and Redemption. Star Wars Andor Season 2 episode 7/8/9 spoilers below:

Tragedies, I think, have a higher bar to clear than other stories in order to be good. All stories (one way or another) demand of the reader an emotional investment, and to accept the story being told as what happened, be it good or bad. But, a story with a happy ending makes it easier to suspend your disbelief. Sure some things didn't make complete sense, but it all worked out in the end, didn't it?

A tragedy without emotional connection falls flat on its face, but that's true of all stories. A tragedy that's poorly written is subject to a much worse fate: Breaking its own suspension of disbelief.

"And they die at the end? That's dumb. Why didn't she just put on the oxygen mask? Did the writers forget he's a doctor? Oh, how convenient there just happened to be a loose rock there."

The best tragedies, the truly good ones, will leave you thinking "oh if only they'd gotten there sooner. If only she'd known, if only he saw the message. If only they'd happened to cross paths." They leave you wishing things could have gone differently, but knowing the ending we got was the only way it could have happened.

All this to say, Star Wars does not have a super hot reputation in regards to Tragedy. The prequel films, ostensibly, tell the tragedy of Anakin Skywalker, and I don't need to say much about how well that worked out. Suffice it to say, most of us responded to Anakin ranting about killing not just the men, but the women, and the children with "this guy's jacked up for reals" not "oh, if only things had gone a different way".

That, and as I read in a post earlier today, Star Wars has redemption in its very bones. This is the series that said Darth Vader, a guy who is easily in the top running for greatest movie villain of all time, is worthy of redemption. Star Wars is just littered with redemption arcs: Darth Revan, Kyp Durron, Agent Kallus, Ulic Qel-Droma. Ahmed Best. Half of the Rebel Alliance were former imperials. Your favorite Glup Shitto had a redemption arc at some point.

And from the start, Syril Karn has been a prime candidate to earn a redemption.

Syril is a character who is powerfully driven by his own conscience and sense of justice. His hunt for Cassian isn't purely motivated by this (pride is also a huge part it), but when we first meet him in Season 1, his goals are understandable. Admirable, even: Two men were murdered. His boss, a consummate slacker, is covering it up for no reason besides a tidier quarterly report. The murderer is a dangerous man who needs to be stopped.

The two dead men were barely more than government sanctioned thugs, of course. And his boss's apathy was calculated: uneventful reports keep Imperial scrutiny off of Corporate Sector worlds. But that made little difference to Syril in the limited scope of his own moral code. Unlike so many other Imperial characters we meet, he isn't morally bankrupt, or ambivalent towards right and wrong. Quite the opposite, in fact. Rather, his flaw is that his sense of morals is deeply misguided.

He treats being a mid-level corpo-cop with an intensity usually reserved for the Imperial Guard. He desperately seeks approval from those above him. He truly believes the Empire to be a force for good. He prioritizes the deaths of two drunkards shaking someone down for money as an all-hands-on-deck emergency.

Even his success in identifying Cassian is only of value to the Empire by sheer luck. At the time of the killing, Cass wasn't a rebel, wasn't on a mission, and barely knew of Luthen's existence.

Syril's explosive failure to capture Cassian at the end of the first arc of season 1 is of course, the culmination of this. That failure affects him materially, costing him his position and his dignity, but only reinforces his moral judgement: Cassian is dangerous, a threat that needs to be eliminated. His behavior for the remainder of Season 1 is directly driven by this belief.

The Syril we see in Season 2 is in a different situation entirely. His relationship with Dedra fulfills his need for affirmation, his job allows him to serve the Empire. But without the hunt for Cassian, his sense of moral justice isn't being addressed.

In sending him to Ghorman, Dedra and Partigaz wield Syril's conscience like a tool.

There's real exasperation in his voice when he tells his mother to stop watching Fox Imperial News. He attends the town hall meeting with rapt attention, even though he barely speaks the language. His sense of justice, even presented in bad faith, is enough to convince the Ghorman Front he could be a true ally.

And as petty an excuse as it is, he truly believes that his goal in infiltrating the Ghorman Front is to "identify outside agitators," not drive them to violence, or dismantle them.

His final confrontation with Cassian is a farce. Syril has no idea that he's just saved Dedra's life. He barely has a reason to be attacking Cassian at all; He's walked away from Dedra, from his position, and from the Empire itself.

When Cassian, dumbfounded, asks Syril who are you, he doesn't answer. The Syril we met at the beginning of the story might say something like "You ruined my life!" or "This is all your fault!" We can practically see the words forming on his lips. But this Syril is at his absolute lowest, and although it took a literal mass-killing happening around (and partially because of) him, he hesitates. Because he's finally questioning whether hunting Cassian down was the right thing to do.

But it took him FAR too long to realize it. He had two years working directly with resistance fighters to question if maybe- MAYBE what he was doing was wrong. Two years of hearing the rumors, two years of watching Imperial soldiers occupy the city. Two years of collecting tchotchkes and doing paperwork and living his daily life among Ghorman citizens.

And that right there is the tragedy of it all. If only Syril had questioned what he was really doing sooner. If only he'd followed his conscience, instead of his need for praise. If only seeing Cassian hadn't thrown him into a rage. If only his sense of justice had led him to his realization before people were being gunned down in the streets, he'd have a chance to be redeemed. And this is Star Wars! Anyone can make the choice to be redeemed, right?

But he didn't. And he wasn't. And so he died an ignoble death, at the hands of a man he personally betrayed, in the churn of a massacre perpetrated by his lover.

And it couldn't have gone any other way.

[jane-alma]

Writing advice for new writers

Some things that I wished I had been told when I started writing <3

1. Read, read, read:

Immerse yourself in the works of established authors across various genres. Reading not only exposes you to different writing styles and techniques but also helps you understand the fundamentals of storytelling. It broadens your vocabulary, sparks your imagination, and inspires your own writing.

2. Write regularly:

Make writing a habit. Set aside dedicated time each day or week to write, even if it's just for a short period. Consistency is key to improving your skills and developing your unique voice. Practice, experiment, and don't be afraid to make mistakes – it's all part of the learning process.

3. Embrace the editing process:

Writing is rewriting. Understand that your first draft is just the beginning. Editing and revising are crucial steps that transform your work into its best version. Be open to constructive feedback, whether from friends, writing groups, or professionals. Embrace the opportunity to refine your ideas, strengthen your prose, and polish your storytelling.

4. Find your writing environment:

Discover the environment in which you feel most comfortable and creative. Experiment with different settings, and create a space that inspires and motivates you to write. Surround yourself with objects, images, or music that enhance your creativity.

5. Explore different genres and styles:

Don't limit yourself to a single genre or writing style. Experiment with different forms of writing – from short stories to poetry, fiction to non-fiction. Trying new genres and styles challenges you as a writer, expands your skills. I also find this really helpful If I feel stuck in a project. Whenever I feel really stuck, I like to open a new document, or even get a pen and some paper and just write something completely different. It might just be a silly little poem, or maybe I’ll just write down what I’ve been doing that day. Just something to get out of my head, and then I can get back to my project with a clearer mind.

6. Write what you love:

Write about topics that genuinely interest and excite you. When you're passionate about your subject matter, your enthusiasm will shine through in your writing. Whether it's fantasy, romance, history, or science fiction, let your love for the topic fuel your creativity and captivate your readers.

7. Trust your voice:

Each writer has a unique voice, perspective, and story to tell. Embrace your individuality and trust your instincts. Don't compare yourself to others or try to imitate someone else's style. Your voice is what sets you apart and makes your writing authentic.

8. Enjoy the process:

Above all, enjoy the process of writing. Writing is a creative outlet, a form of self-expression, and a journey of self-discovery. Embrace the ups and downs, the challenges and triumphs, and savor the joy of bringing your ideas to life through words.

And most importantly of all: Remember, every writer starts somewhere, and like any other craft, it takes time, practice and dedication. Happy writing y’all! <3

[imaginariumwanderer]

I know it's a bit too early but as of now, what are your personally hopes/predictions for silent salt update?I am curious to see how many of them will come true.Jk ofc,I know you arent a fortune teller-

Sorry cheesecakemermaid I got nothing for ya. Similar to white lily I'd say silent salt is the most mysterious beast yet, we barely know what they actually look like much less their personality. My thoughts are the same as what everyone thought in that oh salt is definitely bad BAD news for lily. With them cleaving the moon that's associated with her in half and the fact that lilies irl can die from salt. It'll be... interesting. Crk have always been brutal I'll give it that (flashback to those sailors black pearl killed on-screen in her INTRODUCTION) n beast yeast has been up the ante ever since, I love white lily but oh I so hope she'll go thru it, for the character development.

Some said salt might be based on Authurian knights legend n I'd like it if we see the game expand more on that. I'm always fascinated by how mflour and bspice's motivation and personal philosophies are connected to their respective inspiration (Buddhism and Hinduism or more specifically, Shaivism) even a minor character like peach blossom cookie and the four dumpling kings, I can go on about the myths that may have inspired them. Which is sadly, something I found lacking in esugar, don't get me wrong the references are all over the place like the apple of discord in the title screen, pavlova cookie clearly being a cupid reference, their general clothing and architecture, the final boss of ep 9 having a *venus* fly trap. But I wish we see more of it weaved into esugar's motivations, hm maybe I'm missing something, we still have the other half of the story to go after all!

Silent salt is at the bottom of my beast list rn just based purely on the fact that we don't know much about them (n that I suck at drawing armors) but considering they're the foil of one of crk's greatest written character I'm keeping my hope up. Let the writers cook since there's literally nothing they can reveal would make me feel disappointed in silent salt. If salt turned out to be a beautiful lady warrior? Aw yeah. If salt turned to be a non-binary eldritch knight? Aw yeah. It's unlikely but if salt turned out to have a connection elder faerie, maybe as his alternate self a la white lily and dark enchantress making them a perfect foil to our hero of freedom? I will kneel before peak fiction I will stagger before peak fiction I will cry and proclaim crk to be one of the best piece of literature ever written-

Ok all jokes aside the dev can do anything with silent salt's story BUT rush it, both of white lily's eps (ep1-2 and ep 11-12) are the beginning and the end of the beast yeast saga so there's a lot of stuff to cram in as is. I don't want a repeat of ep 1-2 that's, while serviceable is like a battle royale for who get to have the most screen time. They were supposed to be white lily's big debut but we ended up spending the majority of ep 1 listening to pure vanilla trying to work through his emotional constipation while barely getting any insight on white lily's inner thoughts despite us following through her journey. And then, THEN smilk boy steals the show completely once ep 2 rolls out, the ending to that ep was spectacular n I love the little scenes white lily had with elder faerie/pure vanilla. Not to mention the sweet cutscene art+ominous final words that lily said, but... I came out of ep1-2 feeling like I gained more perspective on pure vanilla instead of the cookie that's supposed to be the star of the show. I got a lot to complain about beast yeast's introduction arc as u can see;;; Hope the writers doesn't muck up the finale, white lily deserve her own spot light *without* her being tied to another character, except maybe silent salt.

One thing I'll say for sure is to not expect the story to be concluded cleanly nor definitively. The writers like to employ a story telling technique I'd like to call drip-feeding. So much stuff is left open in the air in this game. My guess is the ending of beast yeast will be the same. The heroes defeat the villains bla bla bla the beast will not be redeemed but there will be heavy hints that they can be *wink wink* *nudge nudge* Ok there's one thing I dearly hoped will happen after the saga ends, is that the beast will be utilized well by devsis in a way that won't dismiss their threat as villains. The chances of them appearing again next year is low seeing as we'll be moving on to a new arc. The game won't have the balls to kill them off, they're the fandom's darlings after all, I'd give my respect to the writers if they managed to come up with sth that'll decommission the beasts while keeping alive while keeping them threatening AND not doing sth lame like sealing them in another tree again. We've yet to know what the beast binding ritual is, it has been 5 months. And as much as I love the guy.... Pls devsis stop milking the shadow milk he's a dry husk at this point😭

I'll wait until the trailer came out in maybe October/November to give more thoughts on them.

[thelemmallama]

btw, it's not solely AI users who dislike the (old fashioned) process of creation. It's practically a meme that writers hate writing! And you often get people being like "if you don't enjoy writing, just don't do it", but that's completely missing the point. People have things that they want expressed; part of themselves which they wish was visible and understood; and the fact that they find the process of writing or drawing unenjoyable doesn't change that. But now that AI is a thing, it feels like a lot of those very same people are now doing a 180 and insisting that they love the process of writing and drawing; indeed, that enjoying the process is the whole point! (tbh it's probably not the very same people; it just feels like it because of the goomba fallacy)

I sincerely doubt a lot of people who claim to enjoy writing or drawing actually experiences pleasure from the process most of the time. Rather, I suspect they enjoy the satisfaction of being able to point to something and say "I made this". The pain, the struggle, the blood, sweat and tears, the years of dragging themselves to their desks each day to practice is not enjoyable, but it gives them meaning. This is why they accuse AI users of thinking that "typing in a prompt makes them an artist"; they're projecting their own motives onto us, so they can only conclude we're self-deceivers, satisfied with saying "I made this" when our process was but an empty mockery of the meaningful struggle they engaged in.

I kind of get that. If I'm being honest with myself, there is a part of me that wants to be the One To Make It. If someone independently comes up with the story I'm writing and executes the themes in a satisfying way that would be hard for me to surpass, a part of me would be a bit sad I won't get to be the first to make something like that. But a much bigger part of me would go "finally!", squee and become the #1 fan of the work that has finally said what I've always wanted to say my whole life.

I choose to embrace that second part of myself. I just want this vision I have to be realized, no matter how it comes to be. And I won't let my ego stand in the way.

[studentinpursuitofclouds]

Hiiii Mousey! (✿^‿^) How are you right now? Hope you're doing well there.

Anywho, I had this idea while on a car ride, listening to some band songs. I had to write it down right away before I forgot it. I don't know if anyone has ever sent this to you before, but What if the farmer used to be a popular and famous singer, but because of the stress from fame and the number of stalkers they encountered, they decided to resign/quit and move to the valley to start anew, hoping no one would recognize them. However, one day, the farmer accidentally blurts out their secret to their NPC spouse and this made the farmer very worried. Now, here's the thought: How would the SDV&SVE Bachelors/Bachelorettes react to finding out that their farmer spouse was once a famous, popular singer? 🎤🎸

Hey hey 👋 I'm fine, a bit busy due to work (December is always a pretty busy month for me) but so doing pretty well, thanks for asking ❤️

Ooooh, your idea as an alternative start for Farmer arriving in the Stardew Valley, love it! Thanks for the ask, and have a good day!

_____________________________

SDV/SVE bachelors/ettes with Farmer as a former famous singer

SDV/SVE bachelors:

Even with the changed clothing style and new hair colour, Sam recognised Farmer as a famous singer almost instantly before Farmer blabbed about their past career. You bet, because Sammy is not only a music lover, but also a big fan of this musical group! He will shower Farmer with questions and autograph requests, but the joyful guitarist immediately restrains himself, remembering that a reaction like his is one of the reasons why the singer left the band. Sam apologises to Farmer and gives them some space. He in no way wanted to make his own lover uncomfortable.

"Wow... That's so cool." Sebastian is also pleasantly surprised about the fact that Farmer who came to Stardew Valley is the same singer from his favourite alternative rock band who left due to many cases of stalking. However, emo's own reaction is very calm, with adoration and admiration in his eyes, but no obsession. He knows that his beloved Farmer is a human being just like him and respects their feelings. Seeing that Farmer didn't want to talk about their past, Sebastian swears to them that he won't tell anyone about it.

Elliott stared at Farmer in surprise, eagerly waiting for an answer. Now the writer realised why he'd always thought he'd seen/heard Farmer somewhere before! Truthfully, instead of continued delight, Elliott was silenced by the look of weariness and sadness on his partner's face. He heard about Farmer as singer, but was completely unaware of the reason for their departure from show business. He would make a hundred apologies, assuring them that if Farmer didn't want to tell them, he would respect their wishes. Of course, Elliott's curiosity will torture him a little, but for him, his spouse's happiness comes first.

"Okay." No, Farmer was certainly glad that their husband Shane didn't jump madly around them like their fans in Zuzu City, but they'd expected, well, a more reaction than that. "You want me to try to rip the hair out of your head like those 'fans'?" Fair enough. Shane himself isn't much of a music lover, but Jas loved listening to Farmer on TV, and she was the one upset to tell Shane that her favourite singer had been bullied many times and they'd left. He's glad Farmer was able to escape that madness and there's no way his attitude towards them is going to change.

Alex nearly dropped his ice cream cone in surprise. "I always do the training to your songs! They give me so much motivation!" Farmer explained to their enthusiastic husband that although their songs were motivational and upbeat, Farmer themself wrote everything under constant stress due to pressure from managers and fear due to obsessive fans. Alex had no idea how bad it was and hugged Farmer tightly, covering them with kisses. The athlete himself will keep Farmer's anonymity (though he will sometimes squeak with delight inside, because wow, his spouse is so cool!).

Harvey had noticed Farmer's very familiar first and last name long ago when he entered their patient data into medical database, but had taken it simply as a coincidence. Even as spouses he didn't know the truth when he didn't mention this funny coincidence, to which Farmer had casually said they were than singer, not the namesake. The doctor's reaction was calm, and he assured Farmer that he understood why they hadn't told him the truth, and promised that their secret would not be revealed.

"I know, dear..." Farmer thought Victor would be shocked, as they knew their hubby is fan of their songs, but in the end it was Farmer who stood there with a surprised look. The spaghetti lover with his hunches found out information on the internet that helped him connect the dots, but he didn't want to confront his spouse on the subject, fearing that Farmer would mistake Victor for the same awful people who called themselves "true fans." Both spouses would have a long talk, sharing the truth. Victor made his own promise that he wouldn't tell anyone about Farmer's past career.

"Do you remember that when we first met, I told you I'd seen a part of your past?" And after those words, Farmer realised that Magnus had known about their singing career from the beginning. Why didn't he ask? It was none of his business to pry into their past, and if his lover wanted to tell they would. The wizard can't even imagine just living in an urban setting, so with a bunch of people following you around and interfering with your life. He also feels sorry that they associate Farmer's singing with bad emotions, because they have such a beautiful voice and are obviously happy when they are singing a song in the forest.

It seems Lance had heard of Farmer as a singer a few years ago when he arrived in Zuzu City as an ambassador from his clan. Many people were jumping in excitement about Farmer's new song, but the gallant adventurer genuinely understands why they left. Sometimes people can go overboard in their obsession with their idols. Of course, he will keep their secret, and if any of the fans show up on the doorstep of their farmhouse, Lance has promised his spouse to protect them and teleport the unwanted guests (first just away, and then - into a pile of manure if they get pushy).

SDV/SVE bachelorettes:

"You mean... Wait, really?" Honestly, Maru hadn't expected this turn of events. The young inventor had heard Farmer's songs spinning on the radio, even though she wasn't a strong fan of their music genre ("Sorry hon"). After Farmer decided there was nothing to hide and shared about their career and the reason for their retirement, Maru was horrified. So the scar on Farmer's arm was put there... by fans?! That's terrible. Maru consoled her spouse as best she could and promised to keep their secret.

Farmer realised what they'd said out loud and lightning-fast covered their already excited Abigail's mouth with their hand, who had said more than once that she was a big fan of this particular singer (Farmer, as it turned out). Before the purple-haired girl could do anything about it, her spouse dragged her away from one spot and explained why they were leaving. "Oh shit... Those people are just bastards." And she herself had almost blabbed to the whole town know about... "You okay, love?" Farmer is much better since they have found happiness and family in Stardew Valley.

Penny is completely shocked to discover that her spouse is the one and only nationally famous singer. Farmer and their new look was completely unrecognisable. But not even just a new image, but they're much happier. The young teacher has heard many stories that under the pressure of managers and the crazy crowd Farmer was seen more like zombie. She was sorry to hear that her spouse had been through all that, and glad that they had found happiness and peace here, with her.

Haley already had some suspicions, as Farmer was not only the namesake of her favourite singer, but also looked similar, but did not voice her guesses aloud. When her lover had accidentally blabbed about this, and had already decided to reveal their secret on such an occasion, Haley just thanked them for their trust in her. Previously, she would not have understood how it is possible to give up the glamorous life of a beloved pop star, but she realised that life with dependence on caffeine, under the fear of crazy fans and people who are only interested in money from concerts, is not a life but a living hell.

Emily's eyes shone with joy at what she heard. Her wonderful spouse was that talented singer, whose songs the blue-haired girl loved to dance to on Valley's festivals and at other times when she felt full of energy. However, immediately she became sad, as she knew why the singer left the stage, so many toxic people and negative aura around them were... Emily in no way wants Farmer to think she's like one of those fans either, and promised to keep their secret.

Well, Leah guessed, since besides the similarity in appearance and the fact that the last name and surname of her spouse and singer are the same, Farmer came almost as soon as they left their singing career. Aloud she did not voice it, as she considered it unnecessary to "pry" from her spouse the truth and understood where such paranoia in keeping the secret. Hundreds or even thousands of people, like her ex, or even worse, who follow you... Brrr! She comforted Farmer and assured them that she would take their secret to the grave. And if someone does find out, she has plenty of sculpting tools to fend off her spouse from the "fans"...

So Lewis telling Olivia about Farmer being a former clerk at Joja was just a cover so people wouldn't recognise them? Makes sense, or else her and Farmer's home would be overflowing with crazy fans carousing for their idol. Although Olivia herself isn't much of a fan of their music style, her spouse's voice is truly beautiful when she listened them. City life, especially for a famous person, can get very exhausting, so Olivia truly understands their secrecy and reluctance to discuss the past. And yes, she will keep that secret, promise 💖

"Wait, is it true? You really are-" Scarlett jumped up on the spot, not believing her ears. Her dearest Farmer is the famous lead singer from her favourite music band! She loves listening to their albums while she's busy sewing a new costume for the comicon and- wait. The same singer who quit their career because of crazy 'fans'. "Oh, man.... I'm sorry, I didn't mean-" Even though Farmer assures her it's okay, Scarlet feels a little shitty because they were standing in the middle of a public square in the city, and if anyone heard her joyful shriek.

Of course, Claire raised her eyebrows in surprise as Farmer told her that they had worked as an accountant at Joja before, and here was a whole five year career as a singer, and such a talented and popular one at that. It was only when the cashier wanted to question why her spouse had hidden it that she recalled the "incident" with fans that almost cost Farmer their life. "I'm sorry about that..." Still, Claire is glad Farmer was able to get away from it all and found happiness in farming.

Sophia's eyes widened slightly in surprise and the dots connected in her head. Her lover came to Stardew Valley at the same time as the famous and much-loved singer (whose song played in her favourite anime!) retired. The girl is sorry to hear that Farmer had to endure so many horrible incidents in their career as a singer, as breaking into their home or fans trying to kidnap them despite the security.... She dreaded to imagine what it had been like for them. Sophia, instead of jumping for joy that it's one of her favourite singers, silently hugs Farmer.

[eijirousbestie]

since ur one of the realistic bakugou writers (just like what that anonie said) what do u think about: 1.him being jealous over his s/o. we always see those possessive or jelly bakugou writings, but i think it's kinda over exaggeration sometimes. 2.with affectionate s/o? like, i know things may be very awkward at the start of their relationship but what if his s/o suddenly has the urge to pepper kisses all over his face & hug him so tight? srry if it's stupid😭

Jealousy + Affection

Jealousy

——————————————-

He’d unsuspectingly pull them into his room when they aren’t looking, closing the door behind the two and standing tall with a displeased frown on his face. Jealousy is one of the feelings Katsuki rarely ever feels. And when he does, he absolutely hates it. It doesn’t make sense to him. He has everything he could ever need. An incredible power, insane strength, intellect like no other and a tongue as sharp as a knife. What the hell would he ever be jealous about? Or at least that’s what he would’ve thought before he got close enough to someone to call his own.

“We needa talk,” he’d grumble, brows knit together. “That ‘new friend’ of yours is pissing me off. I swear they only ever need you when I finally have you to myself.”

He’s realistic. He knows they’re not just gonna drop someone for him just because he doesn’t like them for unproved reasons, but that still doesn’t mean he won’t stop wishing they will. Until then, he’ll keep taking extra measures to make sure they can make up for lost time spent together. He’d spend extra time giving TLC he usually wouldn’t, feeling like he’d need to remind his partner where home really is.

In no way is he being overtly possessive or trying to tie his partner down. That’s just crazy as hell. He’s just worried about the third party’s intentions with his person, untrusting of what their motives may be or what their influence is on his partner. He knows they can handle their own but still it’s just a normal concern.

Then again, this is Katsuki we’re talking about so when he has his mind set on something it’s hard to change his mind about it, but he tried to be flexible for them. He tries. Jealousy is a bitch.

————————————————————

Affection

Having an affectionate partner isn’t always the easiest for Katsuki to deal with but that doesn’t mean he won’t try. Most likely this person would be one of the very few relationships he’s had throughout his life. Being career and goal focused for years on end left him with no time to think about all that lovey dovey bullshit other people his age would drown in. But everybody wants somebody, even if it’s just a friend.

And that’s how the two had started. Being friends with Katsuki is no easy feat. Having to put up with constant yelling, bickering and outrageously childish arguments, it wasn’t a cake walk. But it sure as hell was still fun just like any other friendship. The two had gotten along unsuspectingly well even though their personalities were near opposite. Him being reserved and self righteous; them being outwardly friendly and super connected to people.

In most cases Katsuki wouldn’t give someone like them the time of day, but of course they’re a rare case. His rare case. Katsuki could find solace in them knowing that whatever stupid shit he might spew could easily be returned with matched energy. The sense of mutual respect would then blossom them into a budding relationship, one where he could feel safe enough to fall with them completely.

At the beginning, yes it was a bit awkward. He wasn’t the skinship type at all and didn’t really understand why someone had to be glued to another person’s skin damn near 24/7. But after being slowly acclimated to hand holding, he starts to warm up to mutual touch. Having gotten used to being hugged up by them since the earlier stages in their friendship, of course he knows all their tells months into their new relationship.

Occasionally coming in for a hug, he’d accept, letting them do so as long as it wasn’t overly performative. There’s a happy balance in everything so he’d gotten to learn how to take it with stride after a while. Well, only if they hadn’t pestered him with too much physical contact in one day. One too many hugs? He’d put a palm to their face and lightly shove them away, not using any real strength to hurt them. Only enough to send the message that he’s all hugged out.

Of course, if he noticed he’d been neglecting their love language of touch, he’d concede, but in his own way. Loungin on the couch with them, he may glance down and notice their hands resting in their lap as they focus on the television. His gaze would drift up to the side of their face, watching their expression closely before taking their hand in his and putting it in his lap instead, lightly stroking the back of their hand with his thumb.

Katsuki can be a hardass sometimes. Most of the time. But he’s incredibly perceptive of people, especially those he holds close to his heart. So of course he’d do what he can to make them feel comfortable around him all while keeping himself comfortable and preserving his own boundaries.

————————————————————

[theultimatedisaster]

The recent AO3 AI scraping incident is killing my motivation to keep writing.

I have recently checked to see if my one (1) fic that I’ve posted on ao3 is indeed in the database. And it is.

I literally feel so shit rn. I felt like that ever since I’ve found out about the scraping.

I’m in college rn and my exams will start soon, so I should probably be preparing for them and not care too much about anything else, but I can’t.

There are only the first three chapters of my fic in that database - the latest one was uploaded a week ago or so and at that point, I’ve locked my fic. But I still feel so fucking nauseous that MY WORK is used to train a fucking GenAi model - a thing that I’ve been against for a long time. I’ve yet to write that asshole (which I won’t even bother to name) on huggingface a doi to remove my fic from the database (I still need to create an account on there).

When I saw that the fic is indeed in that database, I genuinely wanted to scream, cry, throw up, anything. I did not consent to this - I dare to say that the vast majority of ao3 authors didn’t.

I highly doubt that the scraper in question is reading this, but if they actually do, then I just want to tell them this:

Go fuck yourself. You are a fucking thief who stole other people’s work and is now using it for AI without the creators’s consent. You are nothing but a filthy parasite who is invading one of the very last places on the internet that hasn’t been corrupted with ads and aggressive capitalist tactics and is putting people there through misery. You are not a 'noble archivist' who is saving something that might become lost media in the future. Like I said, you are a parasite who is preying on actual creative people’s happiness and uses their work for something so pathetic, disgusting and shitty like training a GenAI model.

And to whoever defends this piece of shit or even tries to do the same things they did, go fuck yourself as well. Seriously.

Ever since I found out that someone did this to my work - my work that I’ve put my heart and soul into, I’ve felt hopeless. I’ve decided to take a break from writing so I could focus on my exams…but I still feel depressed because of it. Writing has been my passion ever since childhood, and now, that I’ve finally decided to post something of my own on the internet, it’s being stolen and used without my consent in such a disgusting way.

Like I already mentioned, I locked my fic. It will no longer be available to guest users because I want to have atleast some form of slight 'protection' against similar incidents in the future. But I also know that there have been those that had their fics appear in that database despite the fact that they were locked.

In which case I have to ask: WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE, AS FANFIC WRITERS (and artists in general) SUPPOSED TO DO TO PROTECT OUR WORKS AGAINST SHIT LIKE THIS???

As if I didn’t make it clear enough already, I never consented to my work being used to train AI and I never will. I hate generative AI with every fiber of my being and I sincerely wish that every such program would be completely destroyed and deleted from existence. If someone ever uses my work to train AI, than I want them to know that I fucking hate them and they should go fuck themselves.

AI """art""" is not art and it will never be. It is nothing but a gross, pathetic form of theft.

[idorukiss]

Heres a sorta drabble/headcanon of sorts of how I picture MC's relationship with Rafayel would devleop~ I'm not much of a writer but the brainrot is real and im working on making similar ones for the other boys too!

1,051 words || You can also read it on ao3

‧͙⁺˚･༓･˚⁺‧͙⁺˚･༓･˚⁺‧͙⁺˚･༓･˚⁺‧͙⁺˚･༓･˚⁺‧͙⁺˚･༓･˚⁺‧͙ Xavier ・ Zayne ・ Sylus

There have been many different things in Rafayel's life that inspired him when it comes to his art, But nothing took control of his heart so intensely as much as you have. Like a whirlpool you shook him to his core from that first meeting, and all he wants to do is capture you on his canvas for eternity.

It really was quite the blessing with how willing you were to become his bodyguard- not only can he keep you within arms reach but you can also protect him from all the shady people after his life. Like killing 2 birds with one stone, except you were so much stronger and beautiful than any stone he’s ever set eyes on before

He absolutely felt like a flirt to you at the start with all of the compliments and casual physical touch between you guys, He just loved to say how amazing you are while enclosing you in a deep bear hug. It was strange at first you'd admit, but it never felt like he was trying to make any passes at you or act like he was expecting anything in return. Perhaps that's just how he acts with people he trusts?

When Rafayel isnt painting, you two spend a lot of time outside finding inspiration all around. He usually has a sketchbook with him scribbling away anytime he sees something interesting- the landscapes, pretty flowers, or even a parfait you guys got to share. You’ve seen some of these sketches as he works on them, it always amazes you how much detail he can capture with so few lines.

He never let you fully flip through the sketchbook however, claiming all sorts of reasons why, like that the drawings were scared of the sunlight or you had to go through many trials to be worthy. It was obvious how much he cherished it and you respected his wishes, though it would be nice to reminisce on some of the good times you guys had together again. Though its not like your phone wasn't filled to the brim with photos already

Late one night, you stop by his place to make sure he didn't need any motivation to finish a painting for a deadline set the next morning. You have confidence he could make it in time, he always did, but you want to help him as best as you can otherwise. When you arrive you spot a stunning completed painting and a Rafayel sleeping on the sofa below it- both stunning as they're illuminated by the moonlight.

Taking it upon yourself to clean up his supplies a little, just enough to not be a walking hazard of course, you spot his precious travel sketchbook on the floor. Surely he wouldn't mind if you took a little peak in it, you'd love to see how he finished the last landscape you guys saw before he locked himself up to work. As you flip through the pages you see so many familiar sights from your time together so far, but scattered around them filling maybe even more pages was many drawings of a person. Of you. All surrounded by hearts and little notes about things you've said.

When did he have a chance to draw all of these? Is this how you look to him?? Questions race your mind as your face flushes at the image of him intensely scribbling in the sketchbook as you dance around the beach being dumb. You decide to grab a pencil and add your attempt of a sketch of him in the back, signing it with a little heart of your own. It’s nowhere near his skill level but something that captures how you feel, and maybe he would get a chuckle out of it once he spots it.

You don’t realize when the casual acts of affection he started out with turn slightly more romantic- going from linking arms together to holding your hand, and you swear you feel him press little kisses on the top of your head every time he wraps his arms around you. But you don't hate it, in fact it makes your heart flutter every time you realize it

Rafayel often messages you at the most random times to meet him somewhere, usually it was because he found a stunning view and wanted to share the experience with you. Sometimes he would even show up at your apartment to whisk you away, and every time it filled you with joy. These dates and every moment you get to spend with him fill your heart with so much warmth.

One particularly warm night you were woken up by a call inviting you to the beach near his studio. It was worth crawling out of the bed at an ungodly hour, not only for the view but for him. While you were admiring the waves, he couldn't keep his eyes off you as a cautious pinky is hooked around yours. Two faces flush as you look at him, it lasts for only a moment before its interrupted by your watch.

Your face falls as you read the notification “It looks like I got a last minute mission in the morning…I guess this means I have to head back already.” As you take a heavy step to start walking away he reaches out to stop you with a pleading look on his face “Wait, don’t go yet” “Rafayel…. I’m sorry, I really am. This night- everything was wonderful, it really was” “Can’t you just stay the night?” He wraps his arms around you, nuzzling his face into your neck “Please just stay the night, I don’t want you to leave.” Your heart flutters as you wrap your arms around him in return “Okay, I’ll stay for you my sweet painter”

He is the most clingy man you’ve ever met, constantly torn between wrapping himself around you while peppering every inch of skin with kisses and diving headfirst into hundreds of paintings with you as his muse. His studio would be covered in nothing but paintings of you if he didn't have to focus on his commissions.

He sculpted out a place in your heart that held him, and in turn you've devoted yourself to him- loving him with every fiber of your being

[nalyra-dreaming]

Hi nalyra!

Regarding your latest post about going into the tags, I've been having a similar experience to be honest, especially lately. Definitive factors are the lack of news and s01 and s02 leaving us for 4+ years with this "tale". So much so that I've been actually starting to take it as face value too. Because really what does one have to say otherwise? Hints? Hints are not canon yet so they can't count as proof -also we don't know how they are going to be used.

Promised revisits? Yeah we saw those in season 2 and they definitely did not help change the tale. Contradicting promises and half truths from cast? It's not enough to rely on. The responses are often more about how the actors interpret their characters motivations not what the writers actually write and how they see the characters.

I really don't wish to be negative but I think it's equally possible that season 3 will infact not turn everything onto its head and this is largely based on the creative decisions taken so far. So many relationship dynamics were changed to their core eg. Armand-Louis.Core events altered completely, murder scene, trial scene etc.

And may I just add here a comment about rolin and not everyone has to agree this is just my impression, but listen to the way he talks.

Nickistat is a "super emo relationship", lestat is always described with epithets like "messy" "volatile", the world "sexy" was used a lot. Emphasis is given on how this is the Monster Vampire Show where everyone is equal in monstrosity because that's how monsters monster.

I really don't mean to dump all over anyone's dreams here but when people speak they show you who they are and what their intentions are. How hannah reacted to the 1x5? That's who she is and what she believes and what she writes stems from this.

When they spoke of the 1x5 revisit they were speaking like they somehow altered the whole series and its trajectory when infact no? The scene interpretation and its fall out stays exactly the same. Has stayed the same for the audience!

In no interview did they mention about setting up how lestat functions as the hero in the VC universe, not because to use a quote "this guy is a mess" but of how horrible things keep happening to him (some based on his bad decisions but others not) and he keeps going some times with existential angst others with a joie de vivre.

They did not mention or give emphasis on how the core of iwtv was parental grief, and how it WAS supposed to be about claudia.

We cannot expect season 3 to magically alter all of That. The edited tale very likely will never change but instead "added upon" let's say with some revisits and clarifications.

As of right now 90% of the Fandom is confused and to that i say it's not because all the pieces are missing its because the pieces don't match.

The writers intentions vs the actual book arcs and characters don't match right now there is a dissonance.

I apologize for the offensively long post, of course anyone can feel free to disagree I love hearing how other iwtv fans are experiencing the series and fandom and their thoughts on the future season(s).

And massive thanks to you Nalyra for providing this space that is much needed!!

You're welcome.

I mean... I do think the revisits helped to change the tale? And massively so, because the "sales man" comment alone made it clear that there had been whole memories implanted.

Should have made it clear, I need to say though I guess, because that for example is what I meant.

People... don't take the mental step back to evaluate the tale they were told. They "waited" for the big revisits to change everything they had been shown.

And what the show did instead - was change key scenes... and it expected everyone to be able to follow.

To re-evaluate why Lestat in 1x05 did not have blood on his face outside or in the sky... but was shown in the revisit to have had blood all over - for example. Because it's an implanted memory!!! The hair styles also indicate that, I have talked about that at length before.

What really happened out there is up to interpretation right now, and I do think it has to do with the arc they try to do that Sam hinted at.

But this way of revealing things... and expecting people to have the mental capacity to reevaluate the whole show after the fact... THAT is what did not work.

At least for some.

Because I have seen enough fan reactions to know that it did NOT in fact stay the same for the whole audience.

I do not expect s3 to give us many more explicit revisits. I do expect a revisit to "murder night" because the words in Claudia's diary do not match and the revisit was hinted at before.

But Lestat did not go and contradict everything Louis said in his book - some, yes, but not everything?? - so why would s3 do that.

No the show is not the books, and yet it is.

It is an adaptation.

I do not like all of the choices... but what I do get is what they intended with the revisits and how these few key scenes do, in fact, actually do change the whole tale.

Go on, nonny, do a rewatch.

Look at Lestat's hair in Louis' memory, and notice the hair in what turned out to be a wrong memory... notice what Louis could not have known, but told of, and then... re-evaluate.

Because that is what this show wanted us to do with the revisits :)

Because it's all in there already... and THAT - as much as it frustrates me, given parts of the fandom not understanding it 😅 - is quite ingenious.

[humanpurposes]

There isn't any point to this, I'm just ranting.

Lately, posting fanfiction feels like screaming into the void.

This isn't to say I'm not grateful for those who do interact with my posts. Since I've started posting fanfiction I've gone through phases of having a lot of motivation, having little motivation. Phases of comparing how many notes I get compared to someone else, then reminding myself why I started writing fics in the first place, because I can do exactly what I want with something I write. And I so appreciate all the comments, likes, kudos and reblogs I get on my fics.

There can be a whole load of different reasons why engagement in fandom lately has been not great. Season 2 being a mess, toxicity and petty drama within the fandom, dwindling attention spans, general disinterest in HotD and ASOIAF. I get it. I haven't felt particularity inspired by the latest season, I'm not very 'Tumblr sociable' and tend to stick to a few mutuals, I also haven't been interested in reading as much fanfiction for a few months.

And if someone doesn't want to interact with me or my content, for whatever reason, that's their business and it's completely valid. I don't write to hit a certain number of notes or followers. I write because I enjoy it. I started posting because I thought there might be a few people out there on the internet who might like what I was doing. In a way I have found that, and I know I wouldn't have stuck with writing this long if I hadn't started posting. But I won't lie and say it isn't disheartening when you get nothing or very little back after putting a lot of time and thought into a chapter.

And on top of that, some comments are just... the worst. What goes through someone's head that they feel the need to read a fic they don't like, comment all the reasons why they didn't like it, AND insult a writer who has posted this FOR FREE. We're all doing this as a hobby. The fact that fanfiction is public is not an open invitation to criticise, all you're doing is discouraging people from sharing their works or writing altogether, which damages our community. Fanfiction is not content simply there for you to consume. It's a pure form of creativity (in my opinion), because it doesn't come from necessity or obligation. If you don't like what you're reading, stop reading it. Find something else, or go write a hateful review of an actual book on Goodreads because at least that author got paid.

Or even just people being so stubborn about their dislike of certain characters. I can't tell you how sick I am of people taking the existence of Alys Rivers so personally in fics. Or wishing death upon characters that are clearly central to the plot or main relationship in a fic (why are you reading an Aemond fic if you hate Aemond)??? This fandom can only operate in extremes, apparently. There's no room for nuance or emotional complexity and it's frustrating when someone projects that on a fic.

I don't really have a point to this. Read what you want. Read the tags first. Reblog posts to keep them alive. Ask writers about their fics and OCs. Be nice to people.

[disarmd]

I adore listening to you talk writing! Truly would love to just sit in a coffee shop and pick your brain for hours about it. Since I can't actually do that, I thought I'd do the next best thing and send along some questions that you can feel free to answer or not :) 1. Have you or do you write original fiction? I'm being a bit nosy with this one but I'm so curious because of the way you talk about writing, etc, etc ^_^

2. Per chance do you have any tips to avoid procrastination? I really like writing but I have such a hard time just getting *started*, I find I do everything but the writing! And then sometimes I have the opposite problem, I'll get started but I won't be able to finish. I'll put it off and put it off and next thing you know a month has gone by and I haven't written more than a few sentences. Wishing you all the best with your current writer's block! I hope you can work through it ASAP!

You are truly so so kind for sending me this ask, nonnie, thanks for chatting with me about writing. I’m absolutely pretending that we’re having a lovely latte in a coffee shop with a massive greenwall ☕️🌿

1. I’ve written original fiction in an amateur way, but I’ve never had a go at getting published or anything. I was majoring in writing in my first undergrad before I switched, and then in my twenties I did a lot of continuing ed writing classes, and had a writing circle where we met every two weeks and workshopped each others’ stuff, but the volume of fanfic I’ve written is much higher than original. I’ve obviously thought a lot about it so I’ll just share where I landed, but I’d be really curious to hear what you or anyone else thinks on this topic!

So for me, I’ve thought before that I should try to focus more on original stuff mostly because of the secrecy around fanfic. I can’t talk about writing with rl people, so I have this hobby that I spend so much time on that's completely secret. I do sometimes wish I was able to show people the stuff I write (or like… some people, occasionally, anyway). But if I think about what you “get” from fanfic vs original, it’s like. Fanfic: community. Tons of people to talk to about the thing you're interested in. A level of interaction with people who read your stories that you wouldn’t get for original unless you’re like the 0.01% of successful writers. even if you get like three comments, i think that's probably three more than the average short story author is going to get. And you get to write exactly what you want, in exactly the way you want to do it. Vs with original, you’d be able to talk about it in real life. theoretically there would be some monetary compensation - but there is no chance I could earn as much writing as I get from my actual job. And you lose that complete freedom to just write literally whatever you want because now it’s become a commodity. For my writing in particular, I know I’m not as good as great writers and what what I write is not widely appealing, so I don’t think that it would be possible for me to be published, but that’s my rationale for not even trying haha.

Anyway, I'm so curious to hear anyone’s thoughts on this - I’m assuming it’s something many of us have thought about before and I’d be really interested in where others have landed.

2. Re: tips to write more... there are so many different facets to this! if you mean you have trouble getting started writing, maybe just create a routine. write 15 minutes every day at 8 pm or whatever. If you mean you have trouble starting a story, i think there is a feeling that comes with the wanting to write a specific story that is very motivating compared to the feeling of just want to write, in a vague way. having a particular story you want to tell and knowing all the aspects of the story, not just a concept - like you know the characters/settling/conflict/plot arc/etc. the full story. makes it much easier to start writing that story.

to the second part, in terms of finishing: there has to be motivation to go through the work of writing, so it really helps to have someone that you’re excited to share it with. It’s very common for people to share drafts with friends to get that encouragement to keep pushing through to the end. I sent Liza the first 5k of In Abidance like a month ago, and then the next 5k after that, and it helped because a) it motivated me to finish drafting those continuous sections of the story so now I’m not thinking about The Full Story; the first 10k are done and in the different gdoc with Liza where they’re safe, and b) having a nice friend say encouraging things makes it feel a lot better compared to being completely alone in the gdoc. I reread the comments Liza left in the gdoc as a comfort when i'm spinning out about writing more. and then my motivation for writing the story at all is that i want to write it for odds, who's been the kindest, and made the experience of writing this series so completely satisfying. they left this incredible comment last night and it got me so excited that i wrote 800 words before bed.

so not writing to an imagined audience or trying to please hypothetical strangers, but writing is an act of communication and i don't think anyone would finish anything if there wasn't one person they planned on sharing it with. have a writing buddy that you share your writing with every week or month can be very motivating. if there's a story you know one person wants to read, then you can write it for them... and you feel so much more motivated to actually finish it, for them.

but to also consider things a bit more broadly, if you like writing but are having trouble doing it - is it because you've been working at a difficult job all day long and don't have creative energy left when you get back home? are you too burned out from following the terrifying and unrelenting current events and don't have capacity to write on top of staying regulated? or, on the more fun side, is it that the other stuff you're doing instead of writing is just genuinely more appealing and that's where you want to spend your time? because that's fine too, like we don't have to write if there are other things we prefer. or if we're burned out or otherwise don't have capacity.

I'll be a bit more vulnerable because this is a long post and probably not that many people are still reading, but I don't have writer's block - i've been writing an average of 2,350 words/week for the last two years straight (I checked the actual stats on ao3 haha. and that's only published fic, it would be higher if we included all the wips). i'm not blocked from writing, it's just i've been feeling quite sad, which for me looks like self hatred, so the unpleasantness of continuing on while the mean voice says very cruel things. the reason why i muse about writing so much is certainly because i find it interesting, but it's also that i'm always trying to figure out how to be better because i feel tormented by all the ways i suck.

with the way people talk about productivity on social media, I could tell you that my "hacks" are to try to write a bit before bed almost every day and have some longer writing sessions on fri-mon (weekends & work from home days haha), and to move around throughout the story to write what is most urgent and interesting to me, and to only start stories when I mostly know the ending, and to set deadlines for myself that i have to stick to, and to motivate myself by sharing with friends, and all of that is sort of true, but i can make myself do almost anything because i have a nonstop internal monologue telling me that if i don't, i'm worse than worthless.

the myth of productivity is that you can reach a point where you feel like you've done enough and you just have to keep pushing until you get there, but in fact that point never comes.

so i'll just end with that, because any time I talk about anything with an achievement orientation (writing more! writing better!), i want to acknowledge the full picture.

[nameless-ken]

Hey there, I just read your latest post and I felt the need to reach out. I'm one of your followers that just went back on tumblr last week. I had to take a break for over a year for the same reasons as yours, plus because of bullying (and other personal reasons). I feel you. Honestly, I do. I used to write many super long character analysis posts regarding Billy Hargrove on here and although I personally didn't care that much about the number of likes, I still felt extremely excluded because my own mutuals would never include me in their writings, games and mentions. Practically none of them (except a very few exceptions, maybe 2) ever thought about including me. Honestly, it felt extremely discouraging and add to that months of bullying from other blogs, and it completely ruined my experience on here for me.

But I'm back now. And I learned something from this.

The characters you write for, especially Billy Hargrove, are parts of fandoms that are no longer as active as they used to. This doesn't mean that they're dead, but they're not as active as before. Especially the Nilly Hargrove fandom.

You know what that means ?

It means that it has nothing to do with you honey 🤍. It has NOTHING to do with your talent. Please believe when I say this. It took me SO LONG to find a small group of blogs on here that I can interact with productively (I will share their usernames on here for you so that you can join our little group), and they're not very well known either, but it's fine because we're echanging our ideas between us (publicly as well) and that genuinely is enough to give us the dopamine rush we need to keep us motivated to write.

I've talked to many other writers on here about this same topic, and it's always the same thing : they feel discouraged, excluded, and lonely on here because their work doesn't get the recognition it deserves, but then they realise that it's because they're writing for characters at a certain period where the fandom isn't very active, which makes interactions decrease AND accessing other like-minded blogs extremely difficult. Seriously, it took me more than a year to find blogs that I could interact with.

Honey, I feel you, and it genuinely breaks my heart to see that you feel the same way I've felt for so long on here. Just remember that you're writing for pretty niche fandoms and characters, especially Billy, who is suffering right now from a decrease in popularity due to the lack of new content from the show (A few months ago, when season 4 came out, Billy suddenly got more popularity and you could see the Billy fandom ressucitate for a while, but the lack of new ST content made it slowly decrease. I'm sure that when season 5 will come out, especially when Billy will be mentionned - because he will -, people will go back to tumblr and will interact more and more with fanworks.)

Please, don't stop writing about him. I wish I didn't go inactive on tumblr a year ago ; I could have encouraged and motivated you. I truly regret leaving for so long, but I had my own personaly reasons lol, but now that I'm back I will make sure to remind you that your works are valued and deeply appreciated. When I searched through the Billy tag today for the first time in a over a year, I found your fics and I instantly reread them all one by one because of how good they are. I'm not saying this to be nice by the way, I truly, genuinely mean from the bottom of my heart.

Alright, so here are the Billy blogs you can have a look at so that you can join us in our deep and silly conversations about Billy :

@shes-an-odd-bird

@cherryssodapop

@bugs-n-roses

@bear-ann

Seriously, you're very welcome to chat with us and engage with us, please do. It's literally an invitation at this point lol. I'd love it if you joined our little group, and everyone else would feel the same way 🤍.

-🌊🌓🏔️

I love you 💙

Thank you for reaching out to me. I totally understand the slowdown for certain characters. I haven't written for Billy in quite awhile but that's only because my Bucky obsession came back around and I switched focus.

I really appreciate your words and I'm so sorry to hear what you went through but still have such a kind and welcoming soul 🫶 it's nice to hear from someone who has felt the same way.

I absolutely would love to chat you with and anyone else about Billy, I kinda miss him now 🥹

[writingquestionsanswered]

Guide: Inspiration, Motivation, and Passion

Anonymous asked: I have time to write and TONS of ideas in my notes. I want them to eventually be final drafts... but in this moment I just don't care about them. Does that make sense? I wish I did, but I'm disconnected. Is normal? Do all writers/authors struggle to connect with and feel passion for their stories/characters, but they write anyway and it comes eventually? Or do they not write unless those feelings are in place already? Forget making readers care about my protagonist. How do I care about them? Could my chance to write already be over? Also Audhd btw :) Thank you for all your advice ❤️

(Ask edited for length)

Inspiration, motivation, and passion are all things that can wax and wane for writers, but they do have to be there in some combination at some point if you want to write. If you consistently lack any of them, there's definitely something going on that's worth addressing. So, let's look at each component individually to get a better idea of what they are and how they ultimately work together to help you write.

Inspiration is the collection of sparks that ignite story. In other words: ideas. All those ideas you have in your notes--you wrote them down because they excited you when they popped into your head. Something about those ideas intrigued you enough to write them down and want to explore them later. And the thing that makes you want to explore them later is almost always a question... some sort of "what if" that you need to answer for yourself.

Motivation is the "why" that makes you want to take those ideas and turn them into stories. It's the answers to the following questions: why I write, why I want to answer this question for myself, why I want to tell this story, why I want to explore these themes, why I think this character's story is worth telling, why I want to say the thing I'm trying to say with this story.

Passion is the fire that drives us through the process of turning the ideas into a finished story. It's love for the characters, world, and plot. It's love for all the things motivating you to tell this story. It's love for words and imagery and process. It's love for the act of writing and for being a writer.

Again, all of the above need to be present in some form and combination at some point in order for you to actually complete a story, but these things can all wax and wane during not just one story's writing process, but during different periods in your life. They can also exist on a spectrum that's different for each writer, each project, or different periods of time. BUT... if you never have any inspiration, motivation, or passion for writing... or if you have inspiration initially, but lose interest and have no motivation or passion, writing is going to be really difficult.

Lack of Inspiration - Inspiration is the lifeblood of writing. If you don't have ideas, you can't write. Ideas come from experiencing the world around us. As we live life, observe our fellow humans, learn about history and the universe, and speculate about the unknown, ideas start to occur to us. Whereas a non-writer might think, "That documentary about the future of space travel was neat," a writer might think, "I'm intrigued by the idea of generation ships. I wonder what would happen if a generation ship landed on the wrong planet?" That question is what gets you to the next level... the "why" that motivates you to take this further than a mere moment of curiosity. So, if you're lacking that, there's a very good chance it's because you're not absorbing enough from the world around you. Perhaps your experiences aren't varied enough, you're not observing your fellow humans, and aren't learning about history or the universe, or speculating about the unknown. In which case, my post: Guide: Filling Your Creative Well can help you get into that mode.

Lack of Motivation - Motivation in particular can come and go as you work on a story, but it has to be there at the beginning or you never get started. The answer to "why I want to write" is especially important, because one thing that happens sometimes is people try to get into writing for the wrong reasons. They don't get into it because they have ideas for stories they want to tell, and themes they want to explore, and things they want to say. They get into it because it sounds like fun, because "everyone's doing it," or because it's unique, noteworthy, and--they think--a path to notoriety and/or wealth. But without the need to tell stories, those things aren't enough to make those ideas come or transform them into something more than an idea. But something else that can ruin motivation, and often does for those who do want to tell stories: physical and mental well being. If you don't feel good physically or mentally... if you're busy, tired, distracted, depressed, low on energy, in a bad mood, dealing with chronic pain, under the weather, etc., those things can definitely zap your motivation, even if you really want to tell stories. See these posts for help on that: Writing with Chronic Illness, Writing and Depression.

Lack of Passion - Our fiery love for the characters, setting, story, themes, tropes, questions, etc... that's the thing that most commonly wanes (and sometimes disappears) for writers during the writing process. If it's not there at the beginning, though... if you never feel a fiery love for your characters and their stories... you haven't hit upon the right ideas yet, and you need to keep looking until you find something that really sings to you. But if that passion is there at the beginning and disappears, there can be a number of reasons for that. Physical and mental well being, definitely. Exhaustion, boredom, and any of the things we refer to as "writer's block." These posts can help with finding the problem and reigniting the passion: 5 Reasons You Lost Interest in Your WIP, Plus Fixes, Guide: How to Rekindle Your Motivation to Write, Getting Excited About Your Story Again, Getting Unstuck: Motivation Beyond Mood Boards & Playlists

I hope something here will work for you and help you move forward. But just remember: It’s Never Too Late to Become a Writer. If you're just not feeling it right now, that doesn't mean you won't in a month, in a year, in five years. There are famous, well-celebrated authors who didn't start writing until they were beyond their 50s or 60s. So, don't stress about it if it seems like writing just isn't for you right now. Maybe you'll come back around to it eventually, or maybe you'll decide that you're more of a story consumer than a story creator, which is okay, too. ♥

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I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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