#author assumes art theory works similarly to lit theory in that some is great and some is bs

[midshipmank]

i wanted LWJ with a motorcycle & somehow ended up with this librarian!LWJ & art student!WWX au

LWJ is a librarian at a public library 

WWX met LWJ when he returned some books 3 months late

LWJ looked at him all judgy like “these are 3 months late,” & WWX promptly became obsessed 

WWX is now a much more responsible library user, mostly because he’s there all the time

but listen he’s not great at focusing in the library, that’s why he doesn’t even use the one on campus. so now he’s his usual amount of restless + distracted by LWJ

trying to figure out how to make a move 

meanwhile LWJ is just like “do not throw crumpled pieces of paper through the air”

some of those crumpled pieces of paper are failed sketches of LWJ

one day WWX stays all the way to closing because LWJ PRETTY OKAY? also he has an art theory paper due pls don’t talk to him about it

so anyway he’s there when the library is closing & LWJ is like “leave”

so he goes :((( but he’s so late LWJ practically follows him out 

which 

is when WWX discovers that that pretty white & blue motorcycle that’s always parked out front?

that’s Lan Wangji’s 

he absolutely loses his mind

all of his friends know about his ridiculous librarian crush by now & they all make fun of him for it

but anyway, the poor boy has it bad

he’s like “A-Cheng, you don’t understand, he could step on me & i’d thank him. actually i think i need him to step on me.” 

JC is like “i did Not want to know that”

meanwhile WWX is bemoaning the fact that he ever became a responsible library user

“how am i supposed to interact with him. i can’t return books late anymore bc i’m always there! what would my excuse be? & he’s already explained how to use their database to me 3 times, i can’t keep looking this dumb” 

JYL is very gently like “maybe just ask him out?” 

“but he doesn’t like me! i committed library crimes! i have to get him to like me first!”

then WWX sees a flyer in the lobby asking for volunteers. there’s gonna be an event in the kids section! for some special reading day! who tf knows, WWX doesn’t care, the point is, he’s good with kids. that would probably be appealing to LWJ. right? right? WWX really doesn’t know. LWJ is so hard to read. on the one hand, he’s the most tight-laced & responsible person WWX has ever met. on the other, he has a very sexy motorcycle. WWX doesn’t know what to do with that

but okay he has a plan

he calls up WQ & goes “can i borrow A-Yuan”

he already babysits A-Yuan every week, so it’s not that weird right?

WQ is like “i stg WWX if you are going to use A-Yuan to attract hot guys like in that movie with the people who love dogs....”

& WWX is like “i would never use A-Yuan like a dog! WQ do you even know me!” 

he gets A-Yuan, barely

anyway, he gets to the library ready to read to a bunch of kids & gets side-eyed by a lot of parents, but he still has fun!!

LWJ is, unfortunately, not the librarian supervising the event, but he is reshelving when WWX is off reading duty & A-Yuan gets the zoomies

ie, zooms right into LWJ’s legs

LWJ is, surprisingly, good with kids. WWX may need to marry him. he somehow manages not to make a complete fool of himself after this revelation

in fact, after this interaction, WWX thinks he may actually have scored some points with LWJ. he’s elated

he’s building all these elaborate future schemes in his head when suddenly he gets a call from Auntie Yu

she wants to know why his grade in his art theory class has plummeted. 

oh right. that class. that class that’s taught by that professor who hates him & that he honestly can’t understand a word of & honestly he hates art theory, he’s good at art, why does he have to take theory too? 

Auntie Yu lets him know in no uncertain terms that if he doesn’t improve his grades by the end of the semester, she will stop supporting him—it’s bad enough that they let him go to art school after he flunked out of his business degree anyway 

so—fuck. fuck. 

WWX throws himself into the redo paper he manages to beg off LQR. he has 3 days & he’s gonna make them count 

the first day goes well, if by well you mean that he raids the art section of the library & works himself until closing & tries desperately not to look like he’s dying in front of LWJ

day 2 goes........similarly, except he falls asleep at his desk & doesn’t wake up until LWJ tells him the library is closing, which? wtf? LWJ usually wakes him up when he falls asleep in the library. WWX has been asleep for hours. 

& also he looks like a wreck, which is not cute

he flees from the library only to find that the bus is going..... going......... gone

fuck. he doesn’t have a car. 

he’s staring down the road after the bus, trying to figure out which friend with a car is available for him to call when he hears someone say “Wei Ying?” behind him

it’s Lan Zhan.

how mortifying. 

he tries to laugh off his situation, but LWJ gets this set expression on his face & says, “i will give you a ride home” 

& WWX is like kinda definitely freaking out because this was not how his first ride on LWJ’s sexy motorcycle was supposed to go. WWX had a plan. he was supposed to be flirtatious & ask LWJ about his bike & then LWJ would offer to give WWX a ride & they’d go all around the scenic parts of the city & when they stopped WWX would be all flustered & breathless & he’d wobble getting off the bike & maybe fall into LWJ & maybe—

okay so his plan was more like a daydream, but at the very least, he wasn’t supposed to look like he’d spent the last 48hrs out of the sun, drinking unhealthy amounts of shitty coffee, wearing a ratty hoodie & art-grimed jeans. like, they’re not even grimey in a cute way

but LWJ is insistent & WWX is weak, so somehow he ends up on the back of the bike wearing LWJ’s helmet with LWJ telling him to hold on tight

he’s half-convinced he’s fallen asleep on the bus stop bench & is dreaming the whole thing

but soon enough, it’s over & they’re stopped outside of WWX’s shitty student accommodations

he gets off & is trying to awkwardly thank LWJ when LWJ says, “you’ve seemed upset these past 2 days”

“ahaha, yeah, i’m just writing a paper”

“for an art theory class?”

WWX is like ????? but then he remembers that LWJ knows what books he checks out 

“yeah. it’s a redo actually. professor Lan hates me.” he forces a laugh. why did he say that. being hated by a professor is not cute, especially not to sexy librarian LWJ. 

“my uncle has high expectations,” LWJ says. 

WWX brain short circuits. 

“your uncle???” shit shit shit Lan Qiren is LWJ’s uncle! LWJ’s uncle hates him! he has no chance now! 

“mn.” 

WWX wants to die

LWJ looks considering, then says, “it is my day off tomorrow. if you would like, i can help you with the paper.”

WWX is already the least cute, most pathetic version of himself he’s ever been in his life. he says yes. 

so they meet up at the library the next day & WWX apologizes profusely for making LWJ come into work when it’s his day off. he promises LWJ endless free coffee from the coffeeshop he works at (even if he has to pay for it himself—he doesn’t tell LWJ that part). 

LWJ is way too nice to him & also manages to explain this school of art theory in a way that?? sort of?? makes sense?? though not in a way that makes WWX like it. but LWJ seems neutral about it, so at least he’s not trying to get WWX to agree with it. 

but anyway, WWX manages to pull a passable paper together & in the process LWJ reveals that he’s noticed WWX sketching in the library a lot more than WWX realized, and that he likes WWX’s art. 

WWX is lightheaded

he stares at LWJ for a while & LWJ looks at him & says, “Wei Ying. you should be typing.” 

WWX gets the paper done by 5pm somehow. somehow! he sends it off to LQR with a groan of relief. he’s so tired his bones are aching, but he looks over at LWJ, art theory & citation king, who of course always looks perfect & beautiful, & goes, “i could kiss you.” 

instead of “i don’t know how i’m ever going to thank you for this,” which is what he thought he was gonna say

LWJ’s eyes widen slightly & his ears go red. WWX wants to smack himself in the face. he wants to eat his words. he wants to crawl into a cramped dark place like a disgusting little mole & never see the sun again.

then LWJ says, “have dinner with me first.” 

WWX gapes at him. LWJ looks back, ears still red but eyes steady. 

“okay,” WWX squeaks. 

they go to dinner. WWX still feels like trash, but they end up having a rousing discussion about art & WWX learns all about when LWJ studied art history in undergrad & how he actually doesn’t like the kind of theory his uncle teaches (“but you’re too good to ever tell him that,” WWX teases. “....most of the time.” WWX laughs in delight.) 

LWJ reveals that he brought an extra helmet today, in case WWX needed a ride again. WWX is embarrassed & pleased & wants to marry LWJ again. feeling foolish, he leans into LWJ flirtatiously & suggests they go for a ride—just for the view. LWJ looks at him so long his knees turn to jelly. then LWJ says, “mn.” 

they make out on some scenic ridge somewhere

the end! 

other things about this au:

WWX does digital painting mostly, his ideal job is illustration/comics; he has a instagram/patreon he uses for art commissions (some of which are pornographic—LWJ catches him sketching in the library one day, early in this tableau. it does not go well.) 

his instagram/patreon is mostly anonymous. it’s not that he minds people knowing he draws explicit stuff sometimes, it’s that he doesn’t want Auntie Yu to find out 

he draws LWJ a lot

not explicitly

(at least not until he’s got a life model and LWJ’s consent)

he’s not at the library 24/7. he has a coffeeshop job, classes, studio time for non-digital art, A-Yuan, and friends. but he’s at the library a lot.

this is undergrad for WWX, but he’s non-trad. he flunked out of a soul-sucking business degree in his first go at undergrad & was on pretty shaky ground with the Jiang family for a while. then he sold some of his art & Auntie Yu said they would support him through art school if it was the only thing he was good at. kinda stung, but at least he doesn’t have to pay tuition.

he’s desperate to prove he can make it as an artist

when anyone asks LWJ about his bike, he says he got it because it allows him to weave around traffic. yes, there’s more to it than that, but no he won’t go into it. (this entire au formed because i found out WYB rides motorcycles professionally & went, “wow that’s hot.” we have no thoughts here.) 

WWX did not have to try to make LWJ like him. LWJ liked him. & while WWX might not have gotten his ideal first bike ride, you better believe LWJ got his. he daydreams about scooping WWX onto his bike & riding off into the sunset

[tracystechspot-blog]

7 Simple Ways making a Great Tale Great

Whenever I think about words gatekeeper, a little movie clip from The Wizard of Oz starts up in my head, where the fearful royal residence guard rejects Dorothy and friends accessibility to the Wizard. "The Wizard claims, 'Go away!'".

If striving authors are Dorothy, agents and editors are that person. They appear larger compared to you. They provide strict talks.

Other than remember what takes place? Dorothy's sob tale thaws the mustachioed, bearskin-hatted guard's heart, and also he winds up allowing them in.

Thus the excellent secret is exposed: You do not have to do anything but inform a fabulous tale to earn them like you.

There are subtle differences in between fiction that's passable and also fiction that pops-- fiction that reveals that you know just what you're doing. Think about agents as well as editors your über-readers. If you win them over, a bigger audience won't be far behind.

Below are seven means successful authors make their stories snap with authority and also get the gatekeepers on their side. These strategies will certainly work on any type of kind of fiction: literary, love, secret, sci-fi, you name it. What's even more, you can execute them regardless of where you are in your composing process, from initial draft to last gloss.

1. Surpass the five senses.

A lot of writers know sufficient to put in sensations beyond sight and sound. It's constantly fantastic to review a character that keeps in mind of the warm metal-and-oil aroma that sticks around over the rails after a quick train has passed, or the weight of a brand-new tweed coat on his shoulders.

Representatives and also editors enjoy the 5 senses, however they want as well as anticipate much more. They desire physical service that grows not simply your setting, but your characterizations.

Below's the secret: The most effective authors use body language in their narratives. Odd thing is, I have never ever once heard an agent or editor discuss my (or any kind of author's) use of body movement, and I think that's due to the fact that it goes by so smoothly it's nearly unnoticed. Yet it definitely gives texture and also deepness to your work. When it's missing out on, fiction really feels level.

Begin by checking out body language. You'll locate that 2 things are at the origin of all of it: anxiety (or lack thereof) and also concealed desires. Dwell inside your characters and feeling exactly how they really feel in any type of offered scenario.

Consider this:.

Brian paused and lit a cigarette. He breathed out a stream of smoke at the window. That doesn't tell anything regarding the character or his state of mind. If Brian needs a cigarette, make use of the moment fully:.

Brian stopped briefly and lit a cigarette. He held it near to his body, as if he really did not wish to use up way too much area. He exhaled a stream of smoke at the window, staying clear of Anne-Marie's eyes.

We discover something concerning exactly what's going on with Brian right here, without having to rake with an interior talk from him or Anne-Marie.

2. Embrace affectations.

Individuals act rationally only component of the time; the rest of the time we take stupid threats and do other things we can not explain.

Agents and editors understand this in addition to anyone, yet because they do not want visitors to need to work too hard to put on hold disbelief, they actually harp on credibility. When they do, regularly their arguments involve a personality's inspiration. (I must include that you could pick apart any masterwork on that basis: "I really don't believe Ophelia would certainly eliminate herself in this scenario. I indicate, don't you think self-destruction is means outrageous? Far more plausible to have her develop an eating condition, wouldn't you concur?") The trouble is, if you bow to this and also have your personalities act entirely rationally in any way times, you'll compose dead-boring fiction.

Below's the trick: Human quirkiness follows patterns we could all relate to (or a minimum of comprehend).

One of the most significant is that love-- or sex, at least-- makes people unreasonable. We toss over the picture-perfect millionaire for the rough-around-the-edges dirt cyclist with financial debt; we lie to our faithful partner on the phone while bonking the secretary in a motel. Which goes to show that if you integrate a strong adequate inspiring factor-- even an illogical one-- you could conveniently develop a plausible factor for unpredictable actions on the part of your characters. As well as those personalities are much more intriguing to read about than those that constantly behave reasonably.

Similarly, any type of number of excellent plot transforms can result when you offer a character an obsession-- arbitrary or otherwise-- or an affectation that could function as a thread with the story.

For example, a person that is stressed could become single-mindedly so, causing dreadful mistakes in judgment. Control freaks turn arrogant and come to be susceptible to fatal decisions:.

" Aw, Captain, let's simply go back to port. We've lost half the team already.". " Shut the hell up! I can't allow that white whale win!".

It complies with that a stressed personality needs to either locate elegance (or be required to it), or decline development and stick with their crippled, acquainted life to the end. Regardless, it's engaging storytelling.

To embrace this side of humanity in your fiction, you need not graduate in psychology. Actually, a little capriciousness here can be valuable.

Make a decision which of your personalities is the weakest-- which one isn't really functioning well. Which one are you type of preventing handling?

Currently, brainstorm the "- istics" of that character. Let's say he is informal concerning dedications. OKAY: What happens if he unconditionally will disappoint up anywhere on schedule?

Automatically, this character comes to be more intriguing, and also instantly we really feel a little ignition of uh-oh: Just what's mosting likely to occur when unexpectedly a great deal is riding on him being somewhere in a timely manner-- say, for a last chance, or a beginning weapon? This kind of characterization does 2 things: It makes a character more powerful as a significant tool, as well as it makes him much more unforgettable.

A personality's weirdness could maintain your visitors thinking right along; it can keep them obliged, as they try to recognize and also rotate theories. Or they might not even observe-- but they will obtain a sensation that for some hard-to-pinpoint reason, this personality simply appears authentic.

3. Forget being quite.

Representatives and editors can't stand authors that place restrictions on their help the purpose of delicacy.

A couple of years ago I was teaching a workshop as well as trying to make clear the concept of composing freely (without any thought of whether you like the result).

An individual spoke out: "I as soon as had an art instructor state, 'If it really did not need to be pretty, just what would you attract?' ".

I almost reeled from the force of the genius of that inquiry. (Thank you, confidential writer and also unknown art teacher!) Every person in the space instantly made the translation: "If it really did not need to be rather, what would you write?".

Right here's the key: Not-pretty has 2 significances here: a) topics that are not appealing, like racism or incest, and b) the way you write.

Most people shy away from darkness, however as an author you must want to dwell there, see it genuinely, explore it before you represent it.

I type of hate to state this, however I suggest going back to your childhood years-- the primitive times before we truly recognized right from incorrect, and also prior to we were strong enough to safeguard ourselves from wickedness. Feel the worry that surged with your body when you saw the community bully coming. Feel the immoral drunkenness of damageding something out of spite.

When it comes to liberating your writing, do the very same point. When you were a youngster, you did everything with practically complete abandon. Call that spirit as you place pen to paper or fingers to key-board. Banish all restriction!

4. Cling your IQ.

When I worked for a huge bookseller, we ran surveys that showed our core clients to be well informed as well as relatively affluent. This was not shocking: Educated individuals have the tendency to such as publications, as well as their earnings has the tendency to enable them to buy books.

Still, striving writers in some cases dumb down their work because they hesitate of alienating the vast masses of prospective clients they picture they ought to be composing for. This is dreadful. You could not do it. And you don't need to-- the average Joes and also Janes are smarter than you might assume.

Right here's the trick: Don't underestimate your readers. If they prefer to check out the kind of publications you want to create, they're right up there with your core demographic. And also dumbing down your work can be doubly devastating, since if you do, representatives and editors will not be able to associate with it.

First, cost-free your vocabulary while likewise keeping it in check. If abhorrent is the ideal word, do not transform it to yucky. And when hillside is the appropriate word, don't transform it to acclivity just to show off.

Second, withstand the urge to overexplain, specifically when portraying action series as well as personalities' ideas.

Edwina quit revving the accelerator. The car rocked back right into the sand. She looked up at the thick spruce boughs that hung right into the road. She went out as well as claimed, "Assist me pull a few of these down.".

We do not need to be informed what went through Edwina's mind; we can guesswork simply great. Representatives as well as editors will acknowledge a straightforward, unstilted voice, as well as they will respond to it. As will your future readers.

5. Utilize your best material just when it has a purpose.

Agents and editors have a second sight when it involves kitchen-sink stories. You know what I'm discussing: books which contain a fictionalized variation of every cool, uncommon or incredible thing that ever happened to the writer.

I as soon as read a novel manuscript at the persistence of a pal that recognized the writer. In it, a male walking quits to talk to a guy on horseback who is using a real-time serpent around his midsection like a belt. The occurrence was vivid however had no bearing on the story, as well as I thought that the only reason it existed was that the writer had when met a man on horseback who put on a serpent around his waist like a belt. A laid-back query confirmed me right.

An isolated cool-yet-irrelevant scene recommends the writer's immaturity as an artist, and will certainly be kept in mind by representatives as well as editors.

Here's the secret: Place your ideal product in, yet leave the kitchen sink in the cooking area. When attracted to throw in something awesome that the story does not truly require, proceed and compose it, however throughout modifications take it out as well as wait.

Alternatively, adapt your story to the awesome thing. The author with the snake-belt guy could have brought that character right into the tale much more, either by making him a one-shot oracle who provides or keeps an essential piece of info, or by making a genuine personality out of him, with a name and also a criminal offense or a heartache. The serpent can after that have served multiple purposes: to reveal the personality's determination to be various despite social convention, for instance. Or possibly he simply does not comprehend why he cannot obtain a partner.

6. Make them laugh.

Did you smile or chuckle at that last line regarding the snake-belt guy lacking a girlfriend? What agents and editors like above all is wit. Note that wit is not specifically humor: We may laugh checking out a scene where a vain person obtains a pie in the face, yet that's wit as well as takes no intelligence to regard. Wit is more of a brain thing. Here's the key: We laugh when we're offered a point of view we had actually never ever have imagined. We laugh when we can see absurdity that others can't. We laugh when we're surprised, when we're caught off-guard by exaggeration. Every one of these could work as subtle tactics for adding wit to your fiction.

If you're really feeling stuck, one easy and also effective method to capitalize on wit is to comb your personalities (instead of your plot) for opportunities. For example, you might choose to give a personality an unseen area. Visualize that snake-belt individual turns up for an initial date and also the woman gradually gets her bag as well as leaves the cafe without so much as a word. The underlying wit is that up until that moment, it had never even occurred to him to consider leaving the snake in your home.

Additionally discover that his date's habits in this instance is underrated-- one more smart method to integrate wit without overdoing it. To take this scene even more, rather than having snake-belt man anger as well as storm out, or phone his friend as well as claim, "Gosh, I just do not comprehend why that date really did not exercise," you could have him simply sit there with a blank expression-- and then, when the server shows up, order coffee, patiently as well as acceptingly, alone.

Try to find opportunities to incorporate small, believable differences. A personality that is sharp concerning some things but not others could be amusing. Think about the nuclear researcher who cannot warm a mug of soup, the successful MBA who adds bank card debt, the diplomat who can't keep tranquility in his very own residence.

7. Make them cry.

Great deals of books make visitors laugh and whole lots make readers sob, yet when visitors laugh and also cry while reviewing the same book, they remember it.

What makes individuals weep? I'm not talking about cherished family pet dogs that die. Exactly what I imply is: What's the mechanism whereby visitors obtain overcome with emotion, whether it's about Old Yeller or a state-fair competition cake that falls prior to it's been judged?

Agents and also editors are seeking psychological suspense, with a walloping reward.

Right here's the secret: Your pathos need to not economical.

In this case, inexpensive is generally the lousy double of quick. Do away with quick, as well as you'll generally prevent cheap, reaching quality in the process.

Take your time as well as let emotion construct from a solitary seed. I might include that catastrophe at the end is fine, yet you do not require it.

Let's state you want to break a personality's heart. Let's say the character is a big, difficult bar bouncer. The best ways to make him vulnerable?

Well, youngsters and also romantics are the most susceptible among us, typically aren't they?

Possibly our bouncer has actually never ever given up his boyhood dream of being a boxer pilot. Possibly, as a 30-year-old, he decides to choose this desire. We follow him as he goes to night school, obtains his GED as well as enroll in the Air Force.

He informs no friend back home, no one he loves what his best goal is. That way, he reasons, if he fails he will not shed face with them.

You understand just what to do from here: Let his dream come more detailed; let him conquer troubles. Allow it unfold. After that, allow some large shot take a doing not like to him. When he learns he's being reassigned to the trip line (the wallop) for no great reason (dual wallop), he recognizes that though he has nobody to jeer at him, he additionally has no person to console him. This subtle element of emotion has sustained lots of a bestseller.

Representatives as well as editors are tuned to look for defects and also weaknesses in an author, but their hearts melt when faced with author stamina, capability and bravery.

Comply with these recommendations, as well as visitors of all sorts will certainly respond to the deeper side of realism that they recognize however can not constantly name.

Useful Link: Writer India