#and of course this makes me want to write a destiel fic about it

[wanderingcas]

my fascination has extended from lighthouses to fire tower lookouts. people are up there all day, isolated, and a lot of times they have hobbies while they whiddle away the day. just saw a post about someone who's stationed at a fire tower in Montana who also makes violins. that's?? so cool??

it would take a very specific type of person to voluntarily want to do that job and live in isolation. and it'd be really interesting to explore what would lead someone to want to do it.

[geddyqueer]

20 questions for fic writers

thanks @screamlet for the tag! if navel gazing has no fans consider me dead etc

1. How many works do you have an AO3? 34

2. What's your total AO3 word count? almost 320,000!

3. What fandoms do you write for? right now i'm in the 911 hole. there's still a few stranger things and [redacted] rpf works in progress floating around up there, though.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? my stranger things juggernauts: dying of love, nasty weather, big wheel, got you in my sights, and mystify me.

5. Do you respond to comments? i try to!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? you could call the end of malachite bittersweet.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? all of the rest of them, really. i like a nice hopeful ending, even if it's ambiguous.

8. Do you get hate on fics? if i do, i haven't seen it!

9. Do you write smut? over half of my works are explicit, if that tells you anything.

10. Do you write crossovers? no. I like a good au/fusion, though.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? nope!

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? i have been podficced!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? annie is in the passenger seat for all of my stranger things/911/supernatural fics!

14. What's your all time favorite ship? i put my head in my hands. geddy/alex. if i'm not allowed to use an RPF ship then it's destiel or bucktommy or steddie

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? i was really worried about finishing malachite for a hot second there but i managed to pull it off! and that's why i don't post WIPs!!!

16. What are your writing strengths? i am told i have a way with drawing readers in with banter and goofs and then clubbing them over the head with feelings!

17. What are your writing weaknesses? blank room syndrome babyyy

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? i try to only do this if i know the language

19. First fandom you wrote for? redwall. not even fix-it fics, lol, i was writing make-it-worse fics in fifth grade.

20. Favorite fics you've written? nasty weather, forever and ever! also, big wheel, which i've been thinking about a lot lately; this was a real exercise in pacing. i was playing around with trying to be narratively clever and i think it paid off! even though malachite took everything out of me i am still really proud of the worldbuilding i did and the way i managed to keep the plot braided together through the end. and of course my crash-tommy's-helicopter fic: i came out swinging with this!

i'm firing this one off to @stevehairingtit and @teddywesworl and @carbonbased000 and @starryeyedjanai and @jeffgoldblumsmulletinthe90s and @alchemistc and you, if you want.

[happilyfeatherafter]

Happilyfeatherafter’s ficrec Fridays

Back back back again, and I don't know guys, I think we should all just totally stab Caesar! Welcome back to a new fortnight of fics that I’ve read and loved recently.

If you want to find more you can see my previous rec lists here!

15 March 2024

Are You Writing From the Heart? by  @luckshiptoshore is now complete!! Congrats Luck! Full disclosure, Luck is one of my very best friends, but that just means I know not only how much of a talented fic writer she is, but also how much of her heart and soul she poured into writing this love letter to queer storytelling, season 4 Destiel as a romcom, meta text (and subtext), and finding out who you really are when society and your upbringing is fighting against you. Castiel is a ghostwriter for L.S. Shore's Supernatural novels about Neal and his brother. Caught in a storytelling rut, Cas finds himself adding the fallen angel character of Bel...what could possible go wrong? Meanwhile at his local writing coffee shop spot, he meets the handsome stranger Dean who is an up and coming standup comedian and Supernatural fanboy. They because firm friends, but that's definitely it because Cas is straight....right?! Following these two dummies as they FAIL TO USE THEIR WORDS is a total joy, as Luck's humorous and emotional writing paired with her eye for detail is so very on point, and I'm so excited more people will finally get to read this story in full.

Baker Six by komodobits because !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot tell you how goddamn excited I was to get this email notification and finally be back in 91w world, and to witness these early stages of Dean and Cas' relationship through Dean's eyes at last. This barely needs a rec because it's THEE 91w Dean, but komodobits hasn't missed a beat in getting back inside their heads and I was once again swept away by this iconic love story against the odds. Head the trigger warnings as always, this is truly on the front lines as a medic in a war zone. Baker Six was written for the very good cause of the fandom Palestine fundraiser, in support of the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. Please donate if you can!

Truth & despair by @shallowseeker was a recent discovery and such a fascinating read! It's set in a post-15x18 verse, but importantly it features a fun Sam narrative perspective that delights in his lens by...being a bit of an unsympathetic oblivious dummy (affectionate). I really appreciate a crunchy Sam characterisation and oooboy does this pay off. Dean is steeped in his grief for Cas, and Sam is oh so concerned. He reaches out to Mia Vallens to understand his own grieving, and that leads to him making a discovery...Dean's memories of Cas' death aren't what he claims happened. With the unwelcome reappearance of Chuck (he lost...didn't he?) and LITERAL sinkholes appearing in the fabric of the universe, can they figure out what's happening to save Cas and save the world? This wip plays with physics, theology and narrative fuckery in such intriguing ways. I can't wait to see how it wraps up in the next two chapters.

The Leap by @friendofcarlotta started reading this one when Tina reshared it on Leap Day...because of course. I'd actually read it before but it more than lived up to the reread. 'Castiel Krushnic is a police officer in Soviet-occupied East Berlin. He is also gay, in a city where that’s a dangerous thing to be. One night, he meets Dean Winchester, a mechanic from the American sector. Their mutual attraction is instant, and a convenient hookup quickly turns into a passionate love affair that defies all rules and expectations.' Meticulously researched, emotional, heartrending and thought provoking. I highly recommend taking the leap on this fic!

See you in two weeks and OMG it's @deancaspinefest time!!!! I'm so excited *clears calendar*

Tag list under the cut - let me know if you'd like to be added to be notified of future recs!

@dean-you-assbutt-cas-loves-you

[spnfanficpond]

January 2024 Angel Fish Awards

(Angel Fish design by @slytherkins!!)

Every month all of you fantastic writers work your asses off to post some truly incredible stories. Our Angel Fish Awards are the way for all of us, as a community of writers and readers, to lift each other up and give praise to those who have captured our attention and deserve a few kind words. (Click here to learn more about how to nominate a fic for an award!)

Nominated by @heavenssexiestangel

The Unconventional Meet-Cute by @schizonephilim

I wanted to read something different from my usual go-to, and I had this story in my To Be Read 'pile' for a while, so I read chapter 1! I can't wait to read chapter 2. It's really well-written and the sexy times are awesome.

~*~*~

Nominated by @spn-fanfic-reblog-writes

Full of Grace by ilovehowyouletmefall (AO3)

I love this fic. I have read this thing so many times. I love the intimacy and how they develop organically. How Cas just takes why Dean gives and it’s how it should be in my head. It’s sweet and fluffy. I wish Dean would stop calling Cas “pal” as if he’s fucking Mickey Mouse and Pluto but it’s amazing. I return to it a lot. It’s a comforting story that deals with mental health and I’m glad it’s set in heaven.

Cuddle Deprivation by @destielshipper4cas

This is sooo good. It’s an incubus that feeds off affection and emotions through touch. It is so good. So fluff, Castiel and Dean confused about the different cultures, which I think is a great element because it's a common problem with relationships from people of different countries or even skin color at times. Must read.

Cuddlibus by @destielshipper4cas

It’s an incubus that feeds off affection and emotions through touch. It is so good. So fluff, Castiel and Dean confused about the different cultures, which I think is a great element because it's a common problem with relationships from people of different countries or even skin color at times.

Heartstring Promenade by @winchester-reload

This is the ending to the series I wanted.

Destiel's 1st Time by @chaoticmotherofall

Holy shit. Wow, primal. Rawr. Must read smut. I think it’s the scene most of the fandom would want to see if they could. Sorry, not sorry.

Dean's Delights by Redamber79 (AO3)

Destiel. Baker Dean. Can smell each other through blockers. Insecure Cas. Love it! He just wants to eat Dean up and kind of does! True mates are delicious, don’t ya think?

The Company by CasCase (AO3)

You’re gonna get intimidated by the language of ballet vocab but don’t worry, it isn’t important. It’s such an amazing love story and so well written. Wow. There is even artwork of the seriously important emotional scenes that just make it so much better. Omg! I wish this was a fucking movie because it’d be gorgeous!

Room for Two (The Mattress AU) by @almassi

Schmoopy fluffiness. I love it! I also love that Cas actually gets everything but doesn’t show it. Lol. He got the references.

truly there's nobody for you but me by Abi_in_the_Cosmos (AO3)

Omfg, hotness. Cas so teasing Dean. The shorts are used. The shorts in the BTS on the show of Jensen wearing denim short shorts, which of course Dean says they exist for an in-story reason. I don’t care. It’s great.

this heart and flesh shall fail by ValandraWrites (AO3)

Monsterfucker story, technically. Great story. Dean is not technically underaged despite what it says. Twist ending. Beautiful story with a sexy but sad twist.

The Biological Ways by @sitruunavohveli

Three words: Accidental office romance Destiel! A/b/o! Love it. Love that it’s Charlie too. Yay! I also am a huge fan of this author’s works. I’ve had the pleasure of working with them and they’re just amazing to work with. Please check them out.

Weighted by amireal, tiamatv (AO3)

I absolutely love this fic because I actually sleep with a weighted blanket and when my kids are sick, they love their own. I even have one in the car. It’s light but enough to feel it. This is just so fluffy and romantic all thanks to our favorite redhead introducing weighted blankets which helps so much. It’s been shown to even help babies but blankets aren’t great for them. Anyway, they’re so cute and that scene where Dean opens his eyes all slow and gentle with “hey”, just broke me. My husband and I do that periodically and it just means more snuggles and sleep. lol. Poor Castiel thinking he couldn’t have Dean which I understand since Dean has said so much he is straight or implied it rather often. Ugh. This was done so well. Thank you both!

~*~*~

Nominated by @deeranger

When There's Only You by AnOddSock (AO3)

It's such a visceral and extremely well-written story, dark and full of intense angst but at the same time it highlights that profound tenderness and affection between Sam and Dean. The whole "there is no me if there is no you". I was on the edge of my seat all the way through, my heart breaking for the brothers in such a delightful way. This fic is a great rollercoaster ride, like a dark porn with a substantial amount of well-thought-out plot. Heed the tags though... Your feels might not come out intact.

~*~*~

Nominated by @spnexploration

She Thought She Was Normal (series) by @aylacavebear

This is @Aylacavebear's first fic she's putting out into the wild and it's going to be a long multi-chapter journey. What a way to start! This first chapter takes us to poor Maria as a child, who has just lost her mother to a yellow-eyed demon, and Bobby sets her and her Dad up with Sam and Dean. Can't wait to see the whole journey!

Cuddle Deprivation by @destielshipper4cas

This was adorable!! The whole concept of cuddlibus was so cute and I loved when both Dean and Cas were trying to get more out of the relationship but thinking the other didn't want it. And including Sam's cuddlibus daughter was also adorable

Power Grows out of the Barrel of a Gun by Alaisabel (AO3)

I absolutely loved this AU. There are so many twists and turns and I had such a fun time working out what was going on. Dean is so anti-authority and he ends up in a relationship with Cas, a cop.

~*~*~

Nominated by @mrswhozeewhatsis

Fluffy Faerie Tales (series) by @ladylilithprime

This universe and the characters in it are so fascinating! Sam and Dean are half-fae, and Jimmy and Cas have a backstory that is wildly different than anything else I've ever read! (No spoilers!) Sam/Cas/Jimmy is a threesome I've never read before, I don't think, and I'm loving it. So far, all of these stories are filled with plenty of fluff, and the perfect way to end my day. Sweet dreams of faeries and friends are always welcome!

Cuddle Deprivation and Cuddlibus by @destielshipper4cas

I am now OBSESSED with the idea of cuddlibi!!! Like those who have nominated this story above, I find this idea adorable and sweet. And Cas is just SO SWEET! And there's so much delicious pining in both of these stories!! I now want to read ALL the cuddlibus stories!!

THANK YOU ALL, KEEP UP THE AMAZING WORK, AND AS ALWAYS, HAPPY WRITING!

- From your Admins and Manta Rays, @manawhaat, @mrswhozeewhatsis, @mariekoukie6661, @thoughtslikeaminefield, @spencereliotwinchester, and @heavenssexiestangel!

[doctorprofessorsong]

Destiel Fic Recs

Who needs to stuff your face with turkey when you can stuff your brain with fanfic? Fresh out of the oven, please enjoy these fic recs.

Raise the Black by valleydean (emmbrancsxx0) @valleydean (Explicit, 246k)

There are passion projects and then there is Raise the Black which takes it to a whole new level. It's not surprising that the author of The Shawnee Trail and A Ghost Story knows how to write historical fiction, but there are so many gorgeous bits of pirate life in this fic from the superstitions to the metaphors tied to the sea. 

The story is a Pirate AU. A chance encounter has left Cas, an officer from the Royal Navy, with a lasting obsession with Dean Winchester, the notorious pirate Captain of the Impala. When presented with the opportunity to defect and save his son from the abusive practices of the Royal Navy, Cas finds himself a part of Dean’s crew. 

I cannot overstate how good this one is. The underlying pirate mythology and superstition, the horny sparring, the epic battle scenes and of course the incredibly unhinged Dean and Cas that drive this story. The story had me anxious, like literally unable to focus on work because I had to know what happened.

It's @valleydean so she gives us a happy ending, but she makes us pay dearly for it in angst (so sexy of her really). 

And it isn't just the Destiel. The casting is phenomenal. I would die for pirate Meg. The use of the younger generation (Jack, Emma, Claire, Kaia) is amazing. Sam, Benny and Charlie as pirates. Truly we get so many great characters in this one y'all.

Without giving too much away, I'll just day that this one falls into the sweeping epic category and the results are staggering.

o weary traveler by dothraki_shieldmaiden @dothwrites (Explicit, 107k)

OK. So you know when you are in like Chapter 1 of a fic and already know it's going to be one of your favorites? That was this fic for me.

A mash-up of the Odyssey and Beauty and the Beast, this fic grabbed me and refused to let go. When Dean and his crew are shipwrecked on an island, they inadvertently anger its inhabitant, Castiel. Cas, an exiled angel, decides to take revenge, culminating in a Beauty and the Beast style pact for Dean to accept punishment on behalf of his wayward crew. 

Cas in this fic is very much an ancient being lacking the human perspective and Dean is just some guy who hunts monsters. It's my favorite dynamic. The way they dance around each other and eventually come together is beautiful to watch.

Throw in some delightful worldbuilding and poetic prose and you have a powerhouse of an epic tale.

The Common Hours by quiettewandering @wanderingcas (Mature, WIP 29k so far)

I very rarely recommend WIPs, so you know when I do it's because I think there's something special about the fic. I honestly think this one and the process of getting a bit more information each week is worth diving into, even if you are normally a "wait until it's done" kind of reader (and if not, this one is worth at least marking to be read with stars and highlights and little hearts).

The fic is a twisty mystery that has me throwing out theories every chapter. Cas is an amnesiac trying to recover from trauma he doesn't understand or remember. Luckily, he met Charlie who has been helping him rebuild his life. But Cas is haunted by half memories and a forgotten life, especially the memory of a man with green eyes who inhabits his dreams.

I don't want to say too much because half of the joy of this fic is pulling at threads and watching to see how it unravels. I'll just leave it at this: the story is captivating and fresh and these versions of the characters instantly grabbed me and wouldn't let go.

Vibrato by Tiamatv  (Explicit, 69k)

Tiamatv really does write some bangers. I couldn't put this one down. They are both disasters in this fic, but in a way that makes you to hug them and smoosh their faces. Dean meets a cute boy, has a full blown bi panic, realizes he was an ass, and strikes up a friendship that morphs into a friendship with benefits that morphs into basically a long term relationship but they're both idiots. It's idiots to lovers (but still idiots) at its finest.

Oh and also Cas is a super old genetic vampire. Whoops. One of the most delightful things about this fic is how well tiamatv captures the ancient and terrible being and also just some accountant dynamic that makes Cas so deeply loveable.

Despite some heavy stuff, this one is fluffy cotton candy most of the time and it's really about their irresistible dynamic. It is immensely readable.

The Sweetest Con by aimforsplendor @aimforsplendor (Mature, 19k)

If you are looking for some fairly low angst fun, this DeanCasBang (Taylor's Version) entry is an absolute delight. Dean and Sam are Robin Hood type con men using tech to steal from the rich and give to those who need it. They've finally found the head of a crime network, a billionaire resembling a particularly prominent and news worthy one recently which makes it fairly cathartic actually. But the mission is threatened when Dean gets sidetracked by a particular blue-eyed hottie.

This one is plain fun with a healthy dose of humor and really likeable characters. This one is truly just readable. Fun and fairly light and with enough interesting turns you keep you on your toes. 

Anything You Can Do by FagurFiskur (Explicit, 21k)

From the Dean Winchester is an absolute disaster genre, this is a surprisingly sweet, crack-taken-seriously smutty romp. 

Dean overhears his soon to be ex-girlfriend Daphne talking to a friend about how their mutual rebound relationship isn't working, especially because her gay ex-fiance, Castiel, was better in bed. Dean can't possibly let that stand. 

So he does the only logical thing and tracks Cas down. And hooks up with him. So he can win at the sex. Even though he's totally straight. 

Tag list

@varlysca @naturallyathief @greatbigbugger @fandoms-and-things @cascodedtech @you-cant-spell-subtext-without @deanwasalwaysbi @fellshish @valleydean @raspberry-tooth @the15yearhatecrime

[spn-fanfic-reblog-writes]

Hiii Your WIP list is impressive o.o I would love to hear more about:

An Angel's Unexpected Companion, Sam Wesson x Gabriel, Falling in love with Angel, Tell Me No Lies, Two Men and the Virgin, annnnd The Virus

>.>" I feel like that's a lot for one ask but I am curious

🤣

Plot bunnies don’t escape me. My brain just comes up with ideas and I write them down thinking I’ll get back to it…eventually.

I have a ton of prompts and plot docs too. I even have a prompt list.

I guess it is a lot.

I’m impressed. You even asked about my two novels I’m working on. I’ll do it in order of your list.

An Angel’s Unexpected Companion.

This ideas was inspired by a few different fics. I know one was Hunters Throne by LadyKnightSkye. I love their work! Anyway, it’s about a woman who is a Nephilim (or was it an Elioud?) and prophesied to ending the war between Heaven, Purgstory, and Hell. The way this happens is she becomes an “Angel’s Companion” which is a human that is bonded to an angel (voluntarily) to increase their power and abilities. In this case, they are a second companion to an angel which is so rare. It’s a Cas/Dean with Dean as the first human companion. The woman actually being a Nephilim means they provide more power and a stronger bond. The whole thing is slowly brought to the attention of the archangels and Chuck himself (good dad) that eventually he does recognize her and knows that this is his grandchild. He already knew for he is God.

That’s as far as I got with the story. I don’t know if I’ll ever finish it. It’s a lot of background to keep up with.

Sam Wesson x Gabriel

This is a request for me to retell 4x17 It’s a Terrible Life from Sam Wesson’s perspective with an interfering Gabriel. This does eventually lead to Sabriel.

Falling in love with Angel

This is an urban fantasy romance novel I am working on where a devout psychic woman runs into a fallen angel who has lost faith in God and his mission. Through her he learns that there are many paths to God and they fall in love in the process. It wasn’t supposed to be a religious story but it sort of became that way with my thinking.

I want to get this one published.

Tell Me No Lies

It’s an AU-Canon Divergence fic where the OFC, Ember, is hit with a spell that prevents her from telling a lie. She’s a hunter who reveals she a witch and eventually leads to complications of the heart. This story leads to a triad relationship.

The reason there are two versions is because I tried a different way. The Nightingale Witch version is she’s a special witch where she sings her magic through song—any song because singing evokes and enhances magic from her soul. She’s still get hits with the truth telling spell but the story goes different when it comes to complications of the heart. This story is more of a polycule relationship.

I still haven’t decided which way I wanna go.

Two Men and a Virgin

This a Destiel x Virgin!F!Reader fic. The Reader is a hopeless romantic and wants to save herself for love. She’s just never fallen in love; however, she has moved in next to Cas and Dean, married husband that have become best friends. She, of course, has fallen in love with them and has tried to get over it without success. The Reader has made assumptions that they’re a gay married couple when in fact they’re a pansexual couple and find this out (after five years of knowing them) one drunken night where they all kind of end up making out that leads to sex. It’s indulgent.

There are few real poly fics in the Supernatural fandom and I love Destiel, so yeah.

The Virus

This is an urban fantasy/scifi novel I am trying to write. It’s the omegaverse or a/b/o trope from the very beginning in how it came to be and follows it through humanity witnessing changes into packs and relationship dynamics and the change of laws.

Omegaverse (a/b/o) is my favorite trope.

[catgrassplantdad]

fic writer interview

i was tagged by the luminous @energievie & @suzy-queued to fill this bad boy out! i remember doing this last year too, how fun! 🩷

1. How many works do you have on AO3?  I've got 20 on there now!

2. What’s your total AO3 word count? 143,320

3. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? kinda raw, float, cinematic, and i'm your warm receiver, watching. the four after kinda raw are all pretty close together in terms of kudos, but kinda raw has a lot more kudos than the one after it and i don't understand why. i have written better fics lmfao! y'all are just nasty. and honestly i appreciate that.

4. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? i try to always respond, but sometimes it gets away from me! i just really appreciate people taking the time to leave a comment, and i want to show that appreciation.

5. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending? i don't think any of mine have been angsty!

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending? they're all happy, but it might be you outshined the best there was just because of the nature of the story. soft dads, seen from mickey's perspective as he grows into fatherhood over the course of a year, but also so, so plotless. soft!

7. Do you write crossovers? no and i doubt i ever will. one of my very favorite conversations though is when my husband and i insert characters from other media we like into star trek tng or ds9. it's so dumb and so funny. lmao what if i wrote it

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic? yeah! once, on one of my favorite fics, ligature. they told me i should sterilize myself because i'm glorifying abuse by writing bdsm, it's a good read

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? i almost exclusively write smut! nasty and loving. i don't know how to describe it but whenever i think i've written something disgusting i inevitably get comments about how sweet it is. which, yeah, it's not like they're mutually exclusive ways to fuck. so yeah, sweet and dirty husbands

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen? i don't think so! i mean i hope not

11. Have you ever had a fic translated? nope!

12. Have you ever co-written a fic before? i haven't, but i've collaborated on a couple of projects with my dear friend @heymrspatel! i wrote and she made art for cinematic and honeycomb. cinematic was more julissa making art for parts i'd already written, but honeycomb especially was a collaborative process with the way that a bunch of what i wrote was based on things that julissa was visualizing for her art, so parts of it did feel like co-writing. it was the most fun i've had working on anything!

13. What’s your all-time favorite ship? don't make me choose between the angel who fell in love with a faithless man, and the closeted thug who fell in love with the kid who had it bad for him and ultimately had the most satisfying ending. destiel and gallavich are both such incredibly compelling ships!! aahhh!!

14. What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will? if there's something i'm not going to finish, it's generally because it became something i didn't want to work on anymore.

15. What are your writing strengths? describing physical sensation and emotional impact, dialogue

16. What are your writing weaknesses? exposition

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic? i like evie's idea of just indicating that they've switched to another language without actually writing the language out

18. What was the first fandom you wrote for? gallavich

19. What’s a fandom/ship you haven’t written for yet but want to? i really want to write destiel smut. i think the nonhuman element could be fun to play with. i've read a lot of grace sex and that shit is soooooo. hot. i want to try my hand at it.

20. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written? this changes so often! one i come back to a lot is chapter two of 2022's kinktober collection, the prompts were wax & "yeah, that's it baby, just like that" and i wrote some wax play and i suppose cockwarming although it's not tagged as such. i also really fucking love lush, it's inspired by one of julissa's pieces and it's drunk lovemaking and breathplay. i also need to shout out a newer one, beauty in simplicity from this year's kinktober collection. mickey getting his ass eaten on the kitchen table. there's three fics! i don't care!

tagging @howlinchickhowl @whatwouldmickeydo @whatthebodygraspsnot @gallawitchxx @ohkate @sam-loves-seb @sisitrip @crossmydna @thisdivorce @mmmichyyy @arrowflier if you guys feel like playing 🖤

[fellshish]

Weird question, maybe?

What do you think you would recommend when you feel depression (and you're under treatment and all that), to love drawing art and writing again? I mean, there are some videos that inspire you or stuff like that? I have read your fic and recs and would love to be back into writing and all that 💕

Thank you for trusting me with such a vulnerable question. I applaud your choice to be in therapy, and i’m going to assume you’ve asked your therapist for helpful steps in this, too? If not, that could be a good idea since they know your personal circumstances.

I’m not a therapist. Please keep that in mind. But i too have struggled with long absences from creating, so i can give you some insights in how i came back from that.

An important thing is practicing kindness to myself. Of course, that’s far from easy. But if i don’t create? I forgive myself. If i was going to write and i didn’t? Well it’s a hobby, not a job, and i should only do it if it’s (mostly) fun. No matter how many days i haven’t written — it’s ok. That’s what i repeat to myself: it’s ok, and you will write when you want to.

Your mind might be too clouded with depression right now to create. That’s ok — it needs all the energy for healing from that. You’re doing that, and that’s already amazing.

Here’s what i also give myself permission for: to do things badly. To suck ass. To write horribly. As long as i’m having fun, who cares. If i wish to share my writing in the future i can always edit it. Whip it into shape. But at first, in the process? I am writing for me, and it’s allowed to be terrible. Again, i am not being paid, this is my creative outlet, i am doing this for fun.

You ask what inspires me. I’ve thought about it and, well, a lot does. I mostly get ideas (or solutions for ideas that are stuck) when i am doing other things, like doing dishes, or going on walks, or cleaning, or showering. That’s when suddenly something locks into place in my brain that’s been turning around without me even knowing.

And what inspires me to create (again), is other art. Reading books or graphic novels. Reading a funny or heartbreaking fic. Admiring fanart. But also going to a museum, a local drag show, a concert, … watching other artists extract joy from doing what they do. I get inspired by films, often too about artists, like dead poets society. Or i’ve started writing poetry again after reading a destiel au about a poet trying to find inspiration again after a long absence and struggling with self confidence. Fandom specific: rewatching the thing you want to create for, helps.

Reading about writing and listening to podcasts about writing, especially where writers talk about their insecurities, has also been helpful. Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott i found interesting. How to fail often has writer guests and is specifically about how failings and imposter syndrome have been part of even the most successful people’s careers. The writer files and The writers panel are interesting podcasts on writing as well.

I think my advice to you would be, take small steps. Forgive yourself every time along the way. Make a list of things that you love reading about and think of a way to put that in a blender for a story that will excite you. Allow yourself to write a bad first draft. To draw something imperfect. Fuck all the rules.

And start with short periods of creating. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Art is you, so you, it’s your self expression and though it might change over the years, it’s always yours. You can’t lose it. It’s still in there.

I hope this helped. Best of luck.

[marnz]

Destiel anon again! Aha! hopefully you’ll be living your destiel autumn soon then 😄

For fics tbh I dont have any specific criteria, just that it needs to make ur brain a little crazyyy like american oracle or the new rec ziz gave with the author you like! Anything posted after the confession is the best since you know the author cooked.

For other recs Id actually love to hear your stucky recs if you have any! Im rereading NEC bc it made my brain crazy, but any other ones are appreciated!!

Also tbh for any fandom, if you have like really good recs, I always like reading in different fandoms if the writing is really really good!

Thank you so much!

it's been literal years since i've posted fic recs anon, this is great. as always my caveat is that i like to have some fun with it. for stucky, it's been about one hundred thousand years since i've read stucky but i do have very fond memories. let's get to it

Destiel

to be restored by serenityfalls E - 47k - graphic depictions of violence The Empty sends Cas back different

commentary: every time I think of this fic I start rotating like i'm in the exorcist.

he showed me what was love E - 11k - no warnings season 9 fic from when Cas was homeless

commentary: incredible prose! incredible characterization. so tender and aching 😭

on labor E - 24.6k - chose not to use warnings Cas is back from the Empty, and Dean knows how to be grateful.

commentary: thee repression......thank you.

Stucky

i of course recommend not easily conquered and all other old stalwarts but here are my favs. hopefully at least 1 is new to you

ain't no grave (can keep my body down) E - 107k - chose not to use warnings commentary: you know...just trust me.

4 minute window series - 23 works - variety of warnings "Look, if they catch me," Bucky muttered, "they're either going to kill me or they're going to put me in a box with a little window and—Steve, I can't."

commentary: i love this series, it's so original, and I look forward to thanksgiving and the first few days of december every year, which is when the fic updates <3

timestamp series E - 5 works, 30k summary from the first work: april, 1939 Bucky knows what Steve wants when he comes in like that, hair wet, robe slipping off his shoulder. commentary: I looooove this series and I remember it so clearly...really good Bucky characterization and narrative voice.

good boy E - 13.4k - no archive warnings Bucky is still adjusting to life with the Avengers, and Steve is willing to do whatever it takes to make him feel comfortable. Increasingly, though, what seems to make him comfortable is strangely intimate.

commentary: when I first read this 10+ years ago I had not encountered petplay before but given, like, everything in CATWS all I could think was "wow" and "this makes perfect sense!" anyway, read it, let yourself be changed, enjoy.

stuff I have filed under my 'ultimate fic rec' tag

leave no soul behind star trek - 258k - graphic depictions of violence If you're Starfleet, you spend your whole life wishing you never see an EPAS uniform right up until the moment they become your only hope. Whether you're dying a slow, cold death in space, or a long painful one on some godforsaken planet, they're going to come for you. So count your last breaths, son, and hold on tight. They leave no soul behind. commentary: save this for a holiday or when you are sick and need something to curl up with and lose yourself in. an incredible canon au of star trek that will completely carry you away. have patience and you will be rewarded.

so wise we grow star trek - 81k - chose not to use archive warnings* "Commander Spock, we have located your son," the Vulcan lady on the screen says, which would be great, except Jim can tell by the look on Spock's face that he's never heard of this kid before in his life.

commentary: this is one of my favorite fics of all time, period. it's sooooooo good. i love the characterization, the banter, the pacing, it's just exquisitely crafted. please read it, but: please mindful that this fic deals with themes of CSA.

world ain't ready les miserables - 185k - no archive warnings apply* High school AU. Grantaire the disaffected stoner is pulled into a cause bigger than himself. Or: in which there are pretend boyfriends for great justice.

commentary: if you're like, that's a long fic/i don't know canon/i don't like high school aus -- who cares? would I steer you wrong? on this my ultimate fic rec list? no! read this, if it's the last thing you do. let yourself be overcome. warnings for bullying and child abuse

an ever-fixed mark pride & prejudice - 190k - major character death A deconstruction of the "soulmate identifying mark" trope, using "Pride and Prejudice." Trigger warnings in the tags.

commentary: i've got this friend @lady-sci who exclusively recs me very long life changing fic. life changing. she recommended me this (and leave no soul behind, mentioned earlier) and I sat down to read it and emerged so shaken and so changed and so amazed that I count it as one of the most pivotal reading experiences of my life. just incredible stuff.

you're in my blood like holy wine by magneticwave game of thrones - 72k - chose not to use archive warnings* Sansa finds it difficult to look at Jon’s face, with its weathered lines and cragginess. It is the face of the North and a face that northerners trust; the face of Sansa’s brothers and her father, who had been loved and respected by their tenants as their forefathers had been when they were kings. How can Sansa feel anything but resentment, looking into that face and knowing that all of her years of hard work will never earn her the respect that that profile engenders within seconds? But she does. It is a small, burning coal of something that must be smothered.

commentary: I urge you to read this even if you do not care about a) game of thrones b) regency romance novels c) the weird cousin situation. i also urge you to read everything, yes everything, by this author, who is one of my favorite fic authors of all time. impeccable vibes. anyway this fic KILLED ME and kept me going thru the early days of covid lockdown. please be aware this fic deals with past sexual assault

teen wolf

please. understand it is teen wolf autumn. just like it was for the past 2 autumns. here are the fruits of my labor.

what I did on my summer vacation by grimm sterek - 118k - chose not to use archive warnings There's something weird about Beacon Hills that Stiles can't quite put his finger on.

commentary: trust me <3

stand fast in your enchantments sterek - 76k - E - graphic depictions of violence "Stiles knew damn well what a pissed-off wolf sounded like, and every hair on the back of his neck was telling him that somewhere in this room was a very pissed-off werewolf." An AU in which Derek is feral, Stiles is magical, and they eat a lot of fast food.

commentary: this is my favorite teen wolf fic of all time.

the broken radio is playing suicide sterek - 73k - E - graphic depictions of violence Stiles only wishes they could actually be safe. They haven’t been for nine months now.

commentary: teen wolf with a decidedly spn flavor.

enjoy anon <3

[f1ggotry]

fic writer interview! tagged by @bumblewyn @formulaocean and @sacharowan (SORRY i kept forgetting to do this the first two times)

How many works do you have on ao3? 42!

What’s your total word count? 217,747 and that's uh. about to jump again in a couple days. not sure where this sudden burst of creativity came from but i'm not complaining lol

What are your top 5 fics by kudos? The Idiot's Guide To Roommates (NCT/Kpop); Man's Second Best Friend (With Benefits) (F1); Always Bring A Banana To A Party (NCT); From the Top, Make it Drop (NCT); and How Not To Get a Boyfriend (NCT). you can notice a distinct theme in my fandoms lol

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? i ... try my best! i'd say i reply to most of them but there are definitely some i miss skdfjhskjdf

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending? probably We Almost Nailed It (NCT) (i'm NOT recommending this one it's my first published work and i think it's. rough. but it is sad. tfw you have to kill your boyfriend for your job lol)

What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending? that might be Golden Light (my beautiful transfem george i love you so so much)

Do you write crossovers? ummm im not anti-crossover but i think most of my crossover ideas never make it out of the docs. so yes? but not in a way that matters very much lol

Have you ever received hate on a fic? yeah lol

Do you write smut? If so, what kind? yes i do and id say its. sad? i don't think i'm capable of writing smut without putting Emotions and Angst in it usually. but i like it like that so its not a bad thing at all lol

Have you ever had a fic stolen? not that im aware of!

Have you ever had a fic translated? nope

Have you ever co-written a fic before? yes!!! this is where i plug my and @bumblewyn's charlando fic shut your mouth (give me your head) which is REALLY good if i do say so myself. it was such a blast writing it too!

What’s your all-time favourite ship? ... destiel. look. i'm not immune to angel of the lord raising the righteous man from hell, asking him why he doesn't think he deserves to be saved, and both of them then proceeding to save each other over and over. idk it just [shrimp emotions]

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will? a naruto fic i got like 10k into and then suddenly stopped having the will to write. rest in peace sasunaru you will get your happy ending in some other universe but not that one

What are your writing strengths? i'd say characterisation for sure. i really enjoy getting to know a character and deciding what their voice will be in my head. i also think i'm not too bad at worldbuilding although i don't tend to spend a lot of time on it within fics

What are your writing weaknesses? endings ... i tremble at the thought of actually properly tying up a fic and settling everything down. also finding titles lol

What are your thoughts on dialogue in other languages in a fic? i don't do it and i don't like it (most of the time when it's in a language i know it just. doesn't work for me lol) (sometimes it can also be downright creepy due to cultural/linguistic differences) (PLEASE stop making max verstappen say schatje. thats gross)

What was the first fandom you wrote for? i used to hand-write self-insert little women fic when i was like eight. so probably that. i had thee biggest crush on jo lmao

What’s a fandom/ship you haven’t written for yet but want to? i haven't written geochalex. yet. but it's going to happen at some point. otherwise i'd say charles/lewis would be a really interesting ship too

What’s your favourite fic you’ve written? if i have to pick one above the rest ... yeah, probably make me taste alive. it's galex, in which alex is a vampire and george is entirely normal about it, of course.

thanks so much for tagging me! genuinely, i think all the authors i know on here have already been tagged, but if you haven't and you see this, please use it as an open tag if you want to do this.

[explainslowly]

is omegaverse about trans and intersex people?

Spending all this time reading and thinking about omegaverse fic, I really want to put more thought into what relationship omegaverse has to trans and intersex people.

Disclaimer: thoughts based on my reading of Destiel omegaverse fic. Technically not the birthplace of abo, but you couldn't pay me enough to make me read J2, so close enough.

I think a fairly commonly held opinion is that omegaverse is simply transphobic/anti-intersex. I don't exactly agree with that 100% these days, because I want to investigate and think through what the popularity and content of omegaverse says about attitutes towards intersex/trans people more deeply, but I also don't begrudge anyone that opinion. I mean, it was my reaction too, for years.

Read a few omegaverse fics, especially the straightforward porn ones, and it becomes pretty clear pretty fast that these stories are very horny about trans and intersex bodies and genders but like, without anyone even breathing or thinking those words. M/M A/O is often like: what if a man had a vagina. What if a woman was amab. What if a man could get pregnant. What if intersex variations were even more common than they already are (which is - more common than you might think) and were publicly recognized as existing separate genders (yeah they are mostly kinda sci-fi, but also even in our very much existing, very much mundane world there exist people with all kinds of bodies and expressions of reproductive organs). And then the stories are about such people being super desirable and hot.

It has it's charms, but of course it's not that simple.

Considering the history and consequences of chaserism and fetishistic pornographic depiction of marginalized people, the hostility that a lot of trans/intersex people feel about the omegaverse is pretty understandable. Like, being into forcefem/sissy porn (which, lbr, a loooot of omegaverse writers clearly are) does not automatically make you an ally nor does the popularity of this kink make world less hostile to transfem people. The painful tension between desires that are covert and violence that is overt is present within this space just as much as it is everywhere else.

First, the majority of fandom does not have interest in acknowledging the existence of trans/intersex people within their stories. That itself is a form of violence, I hope we can all agree. Like erasing our existence (often quite nastily!) is bad.

Second, the stories themselves often include intersex themes in some form. Protagonist having a nonstandard issue of reproductive organs (whether by being the only human omega etc, or just having a nonstandard set within the world) is something I have seen enough to call it a somewhat common trope. It is never called an intersex condition within the text, but it seems to me that it clearly is just that. It's kind of a mixed bag as you might imagine, because it seems usually written out of ignorance about the real world equivalents and often with fetishy or tragedy porn undertones, but it also can be based in interest and compassion.

Transition seems to only come up in the form of 'bitching (if you are not aware, it's the term for an alpha turning another alpha into an omega, usually by knotting them) which is the omegaverse flavor of forcefem/sissyfication which I feel has been analyzed to death, and I don't think I have anything interesting to add there.

Last few years, there has been an uptick in writing about trans people (less so with intersex ppl, afaik), mostly *by* trans people, but it's still a drop in the bucket in comparrison to the amounts of omegaverse writing. Trans/intersex people are haunting fanfic, our bodies arranged and presented to be consumed for erotic pleasure, while we are never given the courtesy of having our experiences named. It's a weird, disorienting experience, much like existing in a society which is living in fear of gender transgression and body non-normativity, while at the same time furiously dennying it's existince. It's sickening. It's madening. I don't like it!!

This post is already way too long so I might end it here. I still want to look more closely at the expression of desire but I might think on that a little more.

[ltleflrt]

3, 5, 6, 12, 18, 19, 21, 25, 27 aaand 30! (for the fanfic end of the year asks)

*cracks knuckles*

3. favorite line/scene you wrote this year

from Bathed in Starlight

Sharp pain pierces through his head as a memory rises up unexpectedly. His hand sweeps through warm, viscous, bright red blood. Fresh. The drained corpses slump on the floor around the full tub, one still gasping weakly. Silken warmth envelopes him as he settles his body into his bath.

Of course it's something creepy lol...my fans love me for my fluff, and I love me for my creepy shit 😆

5. most popular fic this year

Also Bathed in Starlight, with 85 kudos. That's a good one, people have good taste *nodnod*

6. least popular fic this year

Reaching Out with 21 kudos, which surprises me. I thought Fenhanders was more popular than that. A tiny little bummer, considering it's also the longest thing I've posted, so there's a lot of work in it. But oh well, it's for me and @slytherkins and we love it!

12. favorite character to write about this year

ANDERS! I love sitting in his head, and I wish I had more story ideas for him. But Caelnir and Kestrel are quickly catching up, they're tied for second place 😁

18. current number of wips

I have 4 right now:

The Sun, The Moon, and The Night (BG3 Tavstarion)

Peace (DA2 Fenhawke)

Reaching Out (DA2 Fenhanders)

Shameless (SPN Destiel)

19. any new fics to start next year

No plans for anything new, I just want to keep working on the things I've already started. The only exception would be if a Cullrian fic idea smacked me in the face, I'd drop everything for that :D

21. most memorable comment/review

There's a long, rambly comment on Something to Hold that has lots of capslocking and exclamation points that I come back and read now and then. I hope they're having a good day 🥰

25. a fic you read this year you would recommend everyone read

Honestly, there are so many, go look at my bookmarks! But here's one lol

Make Me to Rest in the Warmest Places by @littleraeofsunshineda

27. favorite fanfic author of the year

I've got 2 and it's because they're letting me see their WIPs and that makes their stories extra special to me. @slytherkins and @joasakura are both excellent writers, and I have so much fun enabling them :D

30. favorite fandom to read fic from this year

Dragon Age! Specifically Cullrian fics. I fell headlong into that tag in AO3 and didn't come up for air for months! Gods, that's a good pairing. I would love to read even more, but it's not as active as it used to be. As soon as I have an idea that grips me by the throat, I'm gonna add to it, I swear!

[lovecolibri]

As a Buddie shipper the way some of these other shippers keep moving the goalposts is giving me flashbacks of Destiel and Stucky. This has. O thing to do with which ship is more valid (all ships are valid!) but with the way some people will believe to the bitter end that if they just hold on and stay loyal and trust the process, they’ll get what they want. When time and time again that has proven not to be the case. Sometimes you gotta look at the actual product, at the history behind you and the (lack of a) future ahead of you and say “oh, they’re gonna fuck us. Again. How boring.” :/ Honestly fans should make a bigger fuss about getting fucked! A TV show is not a fanfiction lovingly crafted by volunteers who do it for pure love. It’s meant to make money. We’re the consumers who make them money. We don’t get a say in what we’re served, but we sure can refuse to eat it and kick up a stink about getting bland undercooked chicken! As long as people keep quietly accepting it and refusing to criticize where criticism is due, things are gonna stay the same and they’re going to keep fucking us over!

I never watched either of those shows but I know what those ships are of course and can see what you mean. "We don’t get a say in what we’re served, but we sure can refuse to eat it and kick up a stink about getting bland undercooked chicken!" Yep yep yep!

And look, people can engage however they want and for some people they're having fun and pushing canon down the line isn't a big deal for them, if they're happy and having a good time, then great! But that also means it's okay if you're NOT having a good time and it's okay to say that too! And while I can't speak for other shows, this one certainly has made the choice to consistently show Buck and Eddie as the exact missing piece the other needs, paralleled them to the other canon couples CONSTANTLY, and every time a LI made a wrong step we got shown Buck or Eddie being the one to step up and make the RIGHT step for the other so like, it's not as simple as some fans saying "oh two hot guys? They should kiss!" Which, while a perfectly valid take for anyone to have watching anything they want, isn't always something they would expect to come to fruition, just a fun thing to write fic and make art about! This? This had every foundation and narrative pull towards actual cannon to the point that nothing else really makes sense because no side character will ever be as good a fit as partner than they already are for each other and now have been for 5 years! Shipbait is the term I'm using and I'm sticking with it.

[biasto-bias]

Re: that "not reading wips feels anti-fanfiction to me" post -

I think it makes sense. I agree with the general idea - I think the point of transformative fandom is creating things together! Even writing fanfic in the first place is, in its own way, creating something together with the original writer.

But it made me think about why I don't, personally, read WIPs (in most circumstances). I've actually been thinking about it since I saw the post yesterday. Fair warning, this is a long introspective ramble about my fandom-related preferences, and may or may not interest you.

I know it's because reaching the end of a WIP bothers me and has a negative effect on my mood. (Of course, that's enough - I don't have to look into it more - but I get curious about my own psyche, so here we are!) I think that happens because commenting on strangers' WIPs - participating in the writing process that way - isn't enough of a collaborative thing for me.

I LOVE bouncing fanfic ideas back and forth in a Discord server or (previously, RIP) Twitter threads. I love making up stories with friends. "And then the blorbo suffers!" "Ooh, but what if their love interest suffers along with them?" "YES, and then they can comfort each other afterwards!"

I like that when I do that, the story isn't pinned down yet - it can go anywhere. And even if one of us writes a more traditional piece based on what we talked about, and posts it on AO3 or wherever - the other participant(s) in the conversation, or even some other random fandom member who woke up too late to participate or something (if the conversation wasn't in DMs), can write their own piece, with their own interpretation of the idea, and that's encouraged. Two cakes!

Now, I know that some people would absolutely love it if a stranger read their AO3-posted WIP and went "I couldn't bear that it was unfinished, so I wrote my own ending." I'm one of those people! But I also know that some people would take offense. And that doesn't feel the same, to me, as starting with a collaboration - it feels closer to writing fanfic of original fiction. (Which I obviously think is awesome, but it's a much more distant form of conversation.)

When I read a WIP, I know the author (usually/often) has an outline for the rest of the fic. They know exactly how they want the plot points to go, if not the details. There is an ending, most/a lot of the time - I just don't know what it is, because it's not written/posted yet. And that bothers me. I think it would actually bother me even more if there wasn't an ending yet, even in the author's head! I'm the sort of person who seeks out spoilers - I want to know how the story ends before I invest in it. I can't do that with a WIP.

But with fic-spitballing, often the ending is the first thing you come up with. Or the second. Or you have a vague idea, and then you decide on something else. In any case, you're not at risk of investing a bunch of energy into something that surprises you with a final ending you dislike. If you dislike the idea your conversation partner(s) have for the ending, you can just make your own.

And importantly, that ending is just as much a part of the quasi-fic as theirs is. You're not changing their story, you're just making a new branch of the idea. I think that's the thing, for me. If I read a WIP, I'll finish it in my head, and that ending will become the "real" ending to me - even if I read the creator's original ending later. And that bothers me.

When I come up with a fic idea that changes canon - maybe a Bad End, or a genderbend, or something silly - it comforts me that canon is still there, and I can't actually change or erase it. It'll always be the "real" story to me. The fic will always be the derivative.

I prefer writing love letters to canon, rather than hate mail - I used to be in the Destiel fandom (Supernatural is famous for screwing its Destiel viewers over); now, I'm in fandoms for canon M/M romance, and I'm much happier. I don't think either way of engaging with canon is objectively better, and I know some people prefer the hate-mail one and find more meaning in it, but I do know that the love-letter one is better for me.

So I avoid canons I know I'll be unsatisfied with. And I do the same with published fanfic. If I know I'll feel like "this story isn't enough, I want to fix it or finish it" - even if I'll also feel like "this is good, and it inspires me" - most of the time, I won't even start, because that feeling (and the way I deal with it, by making my own version, whether or not I write it down) frustrates me.

Fic-spitballing, on the other hand, feels more like just an idea. A beginning. It's not something to fix or finish - it's not supposed to be a real story yet. It's not supposed to be "enough" yet. It's the birth of a story, one you get to participate in. And that works better for me - creating stories from the start, instead of fixing or adding onto a story that already exists.

Anyway, WIPs are great. I hope the culture of posting WIPs and commenting on them as they're uploaded never dies down. I've posted some of my own WIPs before, and getting comments on each chapter was essential to my motivation for writing the next one! It's just not something I, personally, can healthily do for other people. I'll stick to the form of creating-things-together that works for me.

If you read all of that, and you have thoughts about your own preferences and participation in fandom, I'm super interested! Please feel free to reply or reblog with your own rambles. :D

[spnfanficpond]

New Member Spotlight - December 2023

The Pond is always growing and we want to make our new members feel welcome! Here’s a list of recent additions to our fishy family, along with a little info about them!

Guppies, Jellies, and Mutuals, oh, my!

@mayalaen -

Other SM names? - Mayalaen on AO3, Discord, Twitter, Bluesky, LiveJournal, Dreamwidth, etc.

OTP? - I'm a multishipper so no true OTP.

Other fandoms? - Mostly Stranger Things, OFMD, Stargate SGA/SG1, Star Trek, X-FIles, and Angel the Series/Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but I'm interested in a lot of fandoms.

Looking for in the Pond? - I like to encourage people to write and create and I like to make friends in fandom. I was referred to the Pond for that by some members.

Something to signal boost? - I run a monthly writing/art challenge on AO3 called SPNColdestHits that you guys have already been boosting (THANK YOU!!). It's multifandom now and accepts art and original fic, not just fanfic. This is the AO3 collection link and of course, we're @spncoldesthits here on Tumblr, but we're also on Discord, Twitter, Bluesky, and Pillowfort.

Pairings you read? - I'll read pretty much any pairing, poly or otherwise. I'm not interested in reader insert, but I've read some.

Genres you read? - I prefer darkfic and/or kink, but I read anything.

Favorite writer(s)? - Xanthe Walter, but they haven't been active in fandom for about 2 years now.

What do you like to write? - My favorite is darkfic, D/S AU, and kink, but I also love writing crack and all other genres.

Masterlist!

Most underappreciated fic? - It's newer but it has the least amount of hits from the list of non-crack/non-gift fics and is an SPN/Blacklist crossover. Caging the Mongoose.

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? - I really would like to write some SPN/HDM fusions. I keep toying with the idea, but have never posted any of them. I always work better when I have prompts or ideas from others to spur me on.

.@leatafandom -

Other SM names? - @leatawrites, Leata (AO3 and Discord)

OTP? - Sabriel

Other fandoms? - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Marvel, BBC Merlin, Star Trek, Doctor Who

Looking for in the Pond? - I could use some help with tags and challenging myself to write different things.

Pairings you read? - Ships, Gens, Poly fics

Genres you read? - Angst is my favorite but fluff and smut are always wonderful

Favorite writer(s)? - Yes, @idabbleincrazy on Tumblr or Gabriel_is_my_guardian_angel89 on Ao3

What do you like to write? - Angst, Horror, Smut, Bittersweet/Sad Things

Masterlist!

Most underappreciated fic? - My most underappreciated story is probably one of my original horror short stories. My most underappreciated fanfic is probably Becoming One,Two, and One Again.

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? -I really would like to write more horror however I feel like I struggle with expressing fear, scenery/detail descriptions, and word choice

@oganizediguana -

Other SM names? - Oganizediguana on Discord

OTP? - Destiel

Other fandoms? - I tiptoe through many fandoms, but SPN is my home. Good Omens

Looking for in the Pond? - I’d love to get encouragement for writing and the confidence to share my work. But I’d also love to just meet interesting people.

Pairings you read? - 99% destiel

Genres you read? - I read it all, but mutual pining slow burn is what makes me feel all the things. I love a good canon-compliant AU. I’m happy with anything that ends happily. Or at least hopefully.

Favorite writer(s)? - On AO3: NorthernSparrow, tenoko1, saltnhalo, there are so many amazing authors in this fandom!

What do you like to write? - Everything seems to turn into angst.

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? - I’d like the confidence to share what I have written.

@dragonslayer-5fanfiction -

Other SM names? - Ao3- Dragonslayer5

Other fandoms? - haikyuu, daria, lotr/the hobbit, tmnt

Looking for in the Pond? - I just want to make friends and read good fanfic. I like to beta read. Maybe write some fanfic, but I have writer's block rn.

Pairings you read? - Reader insert

Genres you read? - Fluff, crack. One bed, and arranged marriage forced proximity tropes.

What do you like to write? - Reader inserts. Fluff.

Masterlist! AO3 Works list

Most underappreciated fic? - Do You Think About Me? (not SPN)

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? -Honestly, writing two characters from the Fandom. I typically stick to reader insert, and I'm a little scared I won't get the characteristics right or the dynamic.

That's all for this month, folks! (If we're missing anyone, let us know and we'll add them to next month's list!) Make sure to say hi to the newbies and make them feel welcome! Thanks to all from @manawhaat, @mrswhozeewhatsis, @mariekoukie6661, @thoughtslikeaminefield, @katbratsupernaturalwhore and @heavenssexiestangel!

[what-if-i-just-did]

Writing Realistic Future Names

You writing something with aliens? Dystopian future? Doctor Who fic? 'Humans are the Weird ones' post? Need names?

Are you, like me, tired of dystopian names which are normal names written dumbly, or futuristic settings with normal names (looking at you Star Trek), or absolute nonsense? Well here's some cool ways to get futuristic names that make sense.

Celeb and Fandom Names

Names like Draco, Hermione, Sherlock, Mycroft, Enola, Benedict, Castiel, Destiel, Jensen, Danneel, Spock, Katniss, Primrose, Teyla, Elsa, Anakin, Loki, Constantine, Jinx, Rhianna, Catra, Adora, Zendaya, Halsey, Misha/Mischa, Korra, Katara, Toph, Cardi, Mabel, Ariel, Whoopi, Madonna, Oprah, Usain etc are gonna become increasingly popular, like they already are, even more so once enough time passes that people stop associating them with certain pieces of media or certain famous people.

Other Language Names

Historically, in different times different countries have a total global influence, and that will effect names. Right now, it's the USA. During the Rennasaince, it was France. We're pretty close to having Japan and other Asian cultures become the next big influence, what with all the anime everyone globally is watching/reading. Now, depending on how far in the future you're writing, add global influence from other countries. Dutch names like Marjolein and Ninthe and Brechtje, pronounced to the accent of the setting of your story. Try to go with cultures who have potential to be big: don't choose some small country somewhere that nobody has ever heard of. Go for Native American or Mexican or Russian or Japanese or Egyptian.

Surnames

Use surnames for first names! A lot of names that used to be surnames are now gender neutral first names, such as Avery. Use surnames! Johnson, Harris, Smith. All of it!

Strange Shortenings

Shorten traditional names in unntraditional ways! Richard always gets shortened to Richie or (for some unfathomable reason) Dick. What about Char? Chard? Those are kick-ass names. Chris for Christian? Cancelled. It's Tian now. Cathy for Catherine? Wrong. Let's make it Rhine. Amy from Amelia? Let's screw with that, turn it into Ammy. You get it.

Pretty Words

People tend to call their children by name of something pretty, and then those names exist untill after the words have lost their meaning. Right now, most of our names are Biblical Hebrew and Latin and Old English/German. We're at the point where slowly, child names are gonna mean things in today's language again. It's already happening a little; Dawn and Hope and Autumn... but give me children called Justice and Fauna and Prime and Amethyst and Earth. Ash and Queen and Happy and Light and Feline. Give me twins called Sapphire and Sapphic, like we call our twins Catherine and Caithlynn or Tim / Timothy and Tom / Thomas now.

Spelling

Spelling is going to shift with the years, and you want your names to reflect this. This one pretty much only works for at least a hundred years into the future. Here's some guidelines of what spelling might become:

t / th = d

s / k = c

ee = i

a = e (sometimes)

y = i (sometimes)

ks = x

o = oe

h = h (add more often)

Examples: Katherine = Caderine, Timothee = Dimoedhi, Blake = Bleke, Susanna = Cucennah etc. Of course, you can do it your own way, or only use some of these guidelines if you want. Feel free to play around with it. If you chose to go for this, keep in mind that there will still be some names in old spelling, just like we still have towns called Kooperdeck and stuff like that. This technique sounds dangerously close to the "say names while your mouth is full of oreos" technique that some dystopian writers use that I hate, but because it's based on logic and what the future might actually be like, as long as you use this in moderation, it'll sound really cool. Out of these examples, Caderine and Bleke are better to use than Dimoedhi and Cucennah, because "Timothee" and "Susanna" have been pretty much lost. If that's what you're looking for though, then that's your thing, I just personally like to be able to see realistic names and eventhough those names are based on logical prediction, they sound made-up.

Gender

You need to pay attention to the percieved gender of names. You can use names that are gendered or slightly gendered right now as gender neutral names. But if you're inventing new names, do pay attention to whatever percieved gender they have in your universe. You can use Chard and Jensen for girls, Caderine and Sapphire for guys. In fact, you should definetly use names like Loki and Earth and Rhine as non-binary names.

Disclaimer: I haven't studied history, and most things I reference here as 'historically, x has happened and is therefore likely to repeat in the future' are just things I've picked up on and heard about and logically deduced, and they could be wrong. However, I consider myself very smart and I really really like history, so you should consider this as a fairly accurate depection. Just know that if someone who actually studied or researched this topic says I'm wrong then I'm probably wrong.

So there you go! How to write realistic future names. Have fun!