#because!! this piece!! is currently my most well receives piece on tumblr???

[ilikerosesalot]

(CW for rapid color changes) TimeIasp of my isat anni piece!! Would've uploaded earlier but... forgor

[merakiui]

MERA!!!! I have no one else to ramble/rant about this to since I fear it's a pretty uncommon experience, but have you ever read a wonderful piece of work by someone who unfortunately ended up deactivating/leaving most socials? ;ª;

There's this one darker Tweels fic called "Aphotic" currently listed on ao3 (https://archiveofourown.org/works/27124492/chapters/66236443 link for good measure)- which if im not sure if you've ever read, but oh. My. God. It's such a great fic that really hits the spot for darker content of the tweels. The characterization of Jade and Floyd are absolutely my favorite in this fic as they're just *incredibly* mean to the reader but in a tasteful way. Bonus points also go to how the author wrote the mc(reader) as well, everyone in this fic is just equally fucked up and reading through this story is just one incredible rocky ride..there are only two surviving chapters and one of the two is Floyd focused, but I don't wanna spoil the main plot of the fic for anyone that may be interested in reading just please take the warning that when I say the tweels are mean, they are MEAN..

unfortunately the fic is not only unfinished but as I mentioned earlier, in a devastating turn of events the author of the series completely deactivated D: they were also on tumblr once I think they went by twstedworks? But there's no longer any way to see any of their works on this platform anymore which is just so unfortunate,, I get an intense feeling of past-felt-fomo knowing I wasn't able to see any of their other stuff while they were an active writer knowing that they seemed to be active in 2020(?) Which was a time I wasn't really reading any written works for twst... but regardless of whatever reason they chose to leave the platform I do hope they're doing well now.

I'm sad that I'll never be able to see the jade centric part of Aphotic, or be able to see any of their previous dribbles or works since they've all been completely wiped. I have followed good yan/dark twst writers and blogs in the past that have deactivated or moved on for whatever personal reason in the past but it does really suck in this case not being able to at least, in the slightest , have been able to experience other stuff this author may have wrote which im sure was delightful orz...

Reminder to readers and consumers of fanfic on here to always show support and motivation to your favorite writers!! You never know when you'll never get the chance to read anything from them ever again :( and thank you esp Mera for being one of my favorite twst blogs of all time on here!! Your interpretations of the tweels have always been my favorite from any blog and the way you choose to write these characters in general never disappoints ✨️

If this does get answered, being as this is my first ever formal ask, may I be 🪆 anon? Or 🍮🥄 if that's taken ^_^

Hi hiii, 🍮🥄 anon!!! (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

I know that experience... >_< it's happened to some of the stories/authors I followed. It's always so sad when writers deactivate/leave the platform or fandom/etc, but everyone has their reasons. I can only be grateful I was able to behold such enjoyable works!!! :D "Aphotic" sounds like such an interesting story!! I love mean tweels. <3 I'll have to check it out!

I think I've read some writings from twsted-works before they deactivated! It was so long ago (before I even had a tumblr account), but I remember adoring the way they wrote Octavinelle. I hope they're doing well wherever they are!!

And you're so right!!! It's always important to show support and love to artists, creators, writers, etc! Most, if not all, writers love to receive feedback on their work. Even something like a keyboard smash or a dozen heart emojis is very flattering to us because it shows us that you've enjoyed the work. Whether you show that enjoyment by commenting, liking, reblogging, or sending an ask on here, it's always lovely to spread appreciation for the hard work and time that goes into crafting wonderful stories!!! ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

Thank you so much for your sweet words!! I'm just happy to be able to write and share stories!! It's a huge honor you would consider me one of your favorite twst blogs. I'm beyond flattered!!!! ♥️✨

[choicesficwriterscreations]

September Creator of the Month: Tveitertotwrites

Please welcome this month’s Creator of the Month: @tveitertotwrites

Each month, CFWC highlights one of our talented fanfic writers or artists. The writer or artist is selected at random. More info can be found on the navigation page. Past COTMs can be found here.

Tumblr Blog Name: Tveitertotwrites

How do you want to be known on Tumblr? Megan

Quick Links:

Tumblr Blog

Masterlist

1- When did you start playing Choices? What was the first book you played? 

I started playing in 2019, and my first book was Rules of Engagement.

2- When and why did you join Choices fandom?

I joined the fandom in January 2022. I had taken a break from Choices for a while but went back in November/December 2021 and started trying to look for fanfiction for Open Heart as I wanted to see if there was more Open Heart content, so I turned to Tumblr and AO3 and decided to join.

3- How did you pick your blog name? 

It was the first thing I could think of. I’m not creative with naming things (if anyone remembers my original blog name, it was openheartfanfiction because I only wrote for OH and couldn’t think of anything else). So I was like, “I’m a fan of Aaron Tveit. His fans are called Tveiter Tots, so why not?”  I then added writing because most of the content I make is fanfiction.

4- Pull up the first post in your archive, and tell us about it! 

It was actually a little intro to my account, but I had deleted it a while back so now it’s this. It is not my favorite. I would definitely redo it now that I have had more experience with text fics. 

5- Do you write fanfiction, create fan art, or are you one of those really gifted people who do both? 

While I would love to make fan art, currently, I only write fanfiction.

6- How long have you been creating for Choices and for any other fandoms?

I have been writing/creating Choices content since 2022. But I have been writing for Star Wars and Adam Driver Characters since 2020 (even though I am on hiatus from it, and I don’t know if/when I will pick it back up). I also wrote some Marvel fanfiction with a friend in 2021. More recently, I have started writing stuff for Aaron Tveit and Cillian Murphy characters on my non-Choices blog.

7- What is your favorite Choices book, and what is your favorite Choices book to create for?

Right now, I would say either Red Carpet Diaries or America’s Most Eligible is my favorite. But I also like Open Heart, High School Story, and others. I want to create more for RCD and AME, but I think I like creating content for OH.

8- Share your first Choices fanfic or fan art that you posted with us. Do you still like it, or would you change it if you were creating it today?

Since I already mentioned the text fic, I chose the next fic I did. It was for my Open Heart MC’s (Claire Evans) Birthday. And I would 100 percent go back and rewrite it. I like the idea of what I wrote, but I don’t like its execution, and I need to go back and rewrite it.

9- What is your favorite piece of fiction or art that you created? 

Right now, I have these two favorites. While I like writing angst, I enjoy writing fluffy stuff like these two fics. Plus, it’s my MC and OC who are besties (Claire and Adelaide), so I had to choose one from both of them.

10- Do you have a fic/art that you didn’t expect to be well received, but it was? What about one you expected to do well but found it could use a little more love?

This was a fic that I wasn't expecting to get notes on. I was still very new to the fandom at the time and hadn’t really interacted with anyone at that point, so seeing people like it was a shock.

Something that I wish I could do better is the content I make for my RCD and AME MCs (Brooklyn Moore and Charlie Howard). I love that people like my OH content, but I don’t see many people liking content from those books (which is fine if you don’t like it).

11- If you could write only angst, fluff, or smut for the rest of your writing life, which would it be and why? 

Fluff. While writing Angst and Smut can be fun, writing fluff is a nice escape from real life.

12 - Do you ever recognize yourself in any of your MCs or in your writing?

Yes, I have put some things from myself into my MCs and OCs, like some personality traits, some physical traits, and some hobbies/things they enjoy. So, I do see myself sometimes, but not always.

13 - What element of writing/art do you struggle with most?

Either coming up with titles or writing bits in between the big parts. Usually, one of the last things I do is come up with a title because I can never think of one. Also, writing the “less important” parts in between the parts I want to write is what gets me sometimes and is why I have unfinished fics that I have abandoned.

14 - Do you have any neglected work you really want to finish?

I have some fics that I had done some previews for (last year or the year before) that I would like to finish at some point. Right now, I am trying to finish a Dancing with the Stars AU for Adelaide and Tobias, so that is my writing priority.

15 - If someone you know in real life (who isn’t involved in fandoms) asked to see your work, would you let them? If yes, what would you show them first? 

Maybe it depends on who it is. While I don’t think anyone would be too judgemental, I would still be very nervous to show them in fear of them hating it or something like that. I wouldn't show them the smut or some of my earlier fics but the fluff I would.

16 - Are there any writers (published authors and/or fanfic writers) who influenced your writing or art? Are there any artists that influence you?

Not really. I have liked a lot of people’s work, but I don’t think that it really influences my writing at all though.

17- Which one of your stories would you most like to see as a movie/series? 

I think my fic “Coming to You” would be fun to see as a movie. Seeing how Ethan and Claire’s relationship grows on screen when they’re in two different worlds would interest me.

19- Do you write original fiction or create non-fandom art? 

I have thought about trying to write an original fiction book, but right now I don’t. I do currently write some original screenplays as I am in college for screenwriting.

20-  What other hobbies do you have?

I like to paint and listen to music. I like to take drives in the morning to get coffee and relax or at night with my dogs. I like to watch movies and musicals (like Moulin Rouge and Six). 

21: BONUS - tell us anything you’d like (if you want to)

Thank you to anyone who has read any of my fics or enjoyed the content I create. It means a lot, and I hope to continue writing content that both you and I can enjoy.

[quinloki]

quin-uhhh:

would you?!

Fic authors self rec! When you receive this, reply with favorite five fics you've written (include links, and if you want- a few thoughts about each one), then pass on to at least five other writers if you're up for it. Spread the self-love ✨

If you don't, I'll just... I'll just... well I won't do a thing but please?!

many fist pumps,

▲ I'm a symbol now

\o/ Tri, my sweet friend, you are - if anything - a symbol of good cheer =D ♥

Let's see, five favorite fics I've written. That's much easier than trying to pick just one ^_^

Birds of a Feather Marco/Reader ( tumblr / Ao3 / Wattpad ) - This is my most recently completed fic, at least at the time of this post, but I love it so much. My passion for Marco feels like it came out of nowhere and has made itself reigning champion in my thoughts. But a story I expected to be relatively short, ended up almost twice as long as I expected, and it was so easy. It was fun to write, and I think it goes down smooth, despite being nearly 90k words people consistently devour it in a single sitting.

Quicksand Sir Crocodile/Reader ( tumblr / Ao3 / Wattpad ) - Not sure if you're a fan of the sandy crocodile-themed warlord? Tread carefully, reading this title is statistically likely to convert you. Quicksand has an alternative ending because the story was originally intended to be a very dark Yandere - to the point that Doflamingo would've been the "good" guy. That's not how things went, and I'm quite glad for it. Quicksand going its own direction is what helped seal the deal in creating the Tales of the Grandline Metropolis, which is currently 3.8 completed stories. (it'll be at least 8 before it's done).

A Light Touch Eustass Kid/Reader ( Ao3 / Wattpad ) - My first Eustass Kid/Reader story. Set in the same AU as Quicksand, it was started from a pun, of all things. I figured Kid would be fancy tech stuff like neural-linked prosthetics, and the idea that would make a prosthetic for the reader after they lost a hand was something I wanted to write. Creating something like that would take a light touch, and if it glowed, that would be a different kind of light touch and getting close to Kid requires a light-- you get the point. Like I said, it's all based off a pun, but I'm really proud of the story, it's one of my favorite re-reads.

Some Direction Zoro/Reader (tumblr / Ao3 / Wattpad ) - A Modern AU where the government mandates who you marry. I have to give thanks to @lyndsyh24 for not only inspiring me to write this one (start to finish in a single month, I was obsessed!) but also for allowing my to play in the AU she'd built up. From Matchbook to the laws themselves, it's all thanks to Lyn. Zoro started out as one of my favorite characters in the series - I still have love for him, and I'm always happy to write him, but he's taken a bit of a back seat to my top three. Still Some Direction is a story I'm really proud of - even if I worry there'll be a mob after me for who the antagonist is 😅

Family Ties Doflamingo/Reader ( Ao3 / Wattpad ) - I was torn on this last choice - even with five slots it's hard to decide between stories I suppose ^^; Also, oops, apparently I only put the first ten chapters on tumblr... I need to fix that >.> Ahem, anyway, Family Ties is the first fic I wrote after over ten years of not writing at all. It's my first reader insert, my first true multi-chapter too. When I wrote it, it was the longest fic I'd written by nearly 50k words. I wrote it because I wanted a more morally ambiguous reader compared to what I'd been reading. It's not a dark fic though, it's pretty tooth-achingly sweet, honestly, but it's currently the only fic I have where the reader is a murderer in a very undisputed and direct manner.

Honorable mention I almost posted as piece 5 - The Dragon's Clause - my Sabo/Reader Noble/Fantasy/Magic AU, and also the only title I mention that's incomplete. But it's a an ode to my favorite genre, and a great many of my favorite tropes.

[end-otw-racism]

End OTW Racism Link Round-up: Week 2!

Our first (hopefully of many) two-week #EndOTWRacism action is over! Check out our post on next steps and how to stay involved if you haven’t already. 

Just like our first week link round-up, here’s a collection of some of the longer-form discussion/analysis that people shared in week two (we're going with posts on tumblr, dreamwidth, and other sites, as well as twitter threads that are longer than three tweets). These are posts that we think would be helpful to consider as fandom engages in the necessary conversations about these issues.

Note: There has been a plethora of information that’s come out about OTW in the past week, particularly from former and current volunteers, which calls into question the way the organization functions and details the harm they have done to their own volunteers. Much of it does not directly reference our campaign or racism, so we won’t be sharing all of that conversation here, but you can find a round-up of that conversation at the dreamwidth account synonymous.

Tumblr

seepunkrun: I haven’t heard back from the OTW on this yet. In fact, I’m still waiting for a reply to the last letter I sent them on this subject. That’s why I’m glad to see increased transparency included in @end-otw-racism’s list of demands [link]

wondersmith-and-sons: if we're gonna be frank about otw's "anti-racism policies"/hiring of diversity consultants/attempt for social change, i'm gonna say that my good faith in them has run out a while ago and that i genuinely don't think they ever had the intention to follow through on tackling racial abuse, like, ever. [link]

elumish: In response to criticism about EndOTWRacism (part 2): one of the main questions that I see a lot about stuff like this is, how do we write policy to keep there it from backfiring or being used for purges? [link]

princeescaluswords: Activism Isn’t a Raincoat [link]

massharp1971: The right want free speech, but only for themselves [link]

Twitter

tea_deviation: this is even further off topic, but I was doing the math here and it boggles my fucking mind that ao3 is not driving towards being endowment funded? [link]

fiercynonym: i mentioned, as an aside in my thread about how OTW appears to have $2.5 MILLION that they are spending on absolutely nothing, that francesca coppa received a fan studies grant from OTW once, but i want to talk about that specific piece a little more [link]

generalfrings: For all the disingenuous raising of "concerns" at #EndOTWRacism over hypothetical volunteers that would hypothetically handle racists in AO3 (+ the dismissal of the real current harm on poc and black fans), I want to see some response for OTW actually traumatizing real volunteers [link]

_impertinence: #EndOTWRacism the way chinese fans have been sidelined and belittled by the org is so fucking disgusting [link]

hydrochaeris3: ok full disclosure this came about bc i was thinking about why i havent seen people be "pro worker" (or in the otw/ao3's case "pro volunteer") more in response to the endotwracism campaign. bc in most leftist circles ik that ppl would use workers rights arguments to push back on [link]

saathi1013: If it's anything I've learned from contemporary activism it's this: it's never "just" racism. [link]

cyrilapologist: worth considering that end otw racism is also a labor issue [link]

hydrochaeris3: stalking IS bad but i do think it's real funny that so many bnfs are coming out of the woodwork to say smthn about how upsetting it is that this white person got stalked instead of literally anything for #EndOTWRacism for the last two whole weeks [link]

aral_was_here: I'm going to keep the pfp and account name for a bit because I'm feeling pissed about how #EndOTWRacism has been dismissed by so many fans as virtue signaling or as a smokescreen for certain people they see as fandom boogeymen lying in wait to take our porn at a moment's notice. [link]

Dreamwidth

beatrice_otter: Signal boost: "Be more democratic, be more autocratic, OTW", by chestnut_pod (with background & highlights) [link]

wistfuljane: Mythical Dragons & Wild Unicorns: A Decade Later [link]

naye: The Glorious 25th of May - #EndOTWRacism [link]

naye: OTW needs a lot more transforming [link]

Other sites

enk-dash-one at fandom.ink: 1/3 Fellow white people, I encourage you to read this thread first: Then, I'd like to add, speaking exclusively to fellow white people who are worried about this: we are already racist. [link] 

Klaudiasays on TikTok: let's get #EndOTWRacism trending [link]

Stitch for Teen Vogue: As #EndOTWRacism Fights for AO3 Policy Changes, Fandom Racism Bubbles to the Surface [link]

We'd love for folks to keep discussing the issues raised during this action! We organizers are probably going to go quiet for a little while to gather ourselves and work on moving forward, but if you send us posts by submitting to our tumblr, tweeting at us, messaging us on dreamwidth, or emailing us at endotwracism [at] gmail [dot], we will consider linking or posting them. We do reserve the right to only share posts that are in line with the intent of the campaign and that we believe are adding to the conversation.

[wesleysniperking]

I have an Usopp problem 😵‍💫

***Break over

I’m seriously not sure if it’s because of the algorithm, or Oda’s 3 week break and fans are bored and suffering because of it, but it seems like Usopp has become more of (???) a person of interest in the fandom, very recently—for the wrong reasons. Maybe it’s because of my hyper-fixation on Usopp’s journey…I admit. Can’t even cross it out.

…So, maybe it is JUST me.

Maybe that’s why it seems like he’s a person of interest even more nowadays.

I am avoiding Reddit and Worstgen, but YouTube is testing my resolve. I use YouTube for other things besides One Piece analysis vids and whatnot.

Tamir’s Verse do post pro-Usopp videos, but even those bring forward slander in the comments that’s hard to look past, personally. There’s a video about how and WHY Usopp is the most disliked Strawhat! 🤯 I can’t watch Tamir’s Verse videos and shorts at all anymore.

And then there was a poll of “Who’s the Most Disliked Strawhat?” on my YouTube feed. Usopp had the second to the most votes. If “Other” hadn’t been an option/choice, he would have won. If the algorithm is gonna play mind games, can they give me the positive Usopp videos? Please?

This isn’t meant to be a rant at all.

But having to read that Usopp is “The Butt” of the Strawhats is kinda sh**ty. (This was in response to when I posted a comment in one of the vids. I said that Usopp was a nuanced and brave character).

But have no fear, I will forever argue against the harsh criticism. The harsh criticism and arguing won’t matter in a year. I know this. There’s the real world outside. I have to talk to someone about this…I know 😔.

The YouTube algorithm is playing mind games.

I won’t look at the comments I won’t look at the comments I won’t look at the commets I won’t look at the comm–

I won’t post a comment I won’t post a comment I won’t post a comment I won’t post a comment I won’t post a comm-

No more arguing no more arguing no more arguing no more arguing no more arguing no more arguing no more arg–

Let Oda cook let Oda cook let Oda cook let Oda cook let Oda cook let Oda cook let Oda cook let Oda cook let Oda coo–

Conclusively, I’m gonna go do some soul searching. I have an exam this week, and I’m experiencing writer’s block (currently writing a one-shot, writing Act 2 of an ongoing Usopp-centric fic)…and..

So, I’ll go and touch grass.

And I’m gonna give myself the hard challenge of not talking about Usopp for 1 week. You know what? Let’s give myself a bigger challenge. I won’t talk about Usopp for 2 weeks. But if that means not talking about Usopp, I’ll need to stop watching One Piece for 2 weeks, and writing fanfiction (even just updating the drafts) for 2 weeks... I’ll need to stay off YouTube, Reddit, and TUMBLR for 2 weeks... I’ll need to stay off Ao3 for 2 weeks…

I’ll have to clear my cache and delete all my tabs. I’ll have to avoid my email (I’ll unsubscribe from the YouTube messages I receive). I’ll reply to the last of my notifications…then…

2 weeks. 2 weeks. I’ll give it 2 weeks…

I can do this. Right? Right? I’m writing this to instill some discipline in me. I want to find a way to approach things differently, and not argue endlessly about nonsensical comments…I want to feel what it’s like to not participate.

Then I’ll come back to the fandom and be a little bit more positive and well rested. And I’ll contribute to all the nice things.

Note to self. I got this…if anyone is reading this. Thank you for your time ❤️

My break starts now!

Stay true!

– wesleysniperking

[barbiebraganca]

HSHQTASK059: FAREWELL !

when did you join ? what made you join ? what do you remember from the plotlines that were current at the time ? where were you in life when you joined and where are you now ?

right at the beginning of 2016, around feb or march. i had just finished high school and took an off year to prepare for uni admission exams. i needed something to take my mind off studying for it and my friend julia suggested i joined her on tumblr rping. i had no idea what that was but she helped me through it and we joined another group together. at the time i also developed a bit of a thing for royals and made my character in that group an undercover norwegian royal, on some princess diaries bullshit. but looking up things for that group i decided to search norwegian royalty on tumblr and found the blog for a character in vik. olav if i'm not mistaken. i started stalking the group and got really interested in it and mentioned it to julia who told me she'd been here before and would join with me if i chose to so we brought barbie and biel. then the group closed and i completely gave up rping until one random day many months later i logged into tumblr again god knows why and there was a message from martha, she told me the group came back to life and i decided to rejoin. and here i am, haven't left since.

which characters have you written over the years ?

ffs, let me see if i can remember all of them: ayo, bruce, barbie, toni, leon, sergi, silje, ilija, zoey (silje's draft), pedro, noémïe (poor thing lasted 3 seconds), ionie. i feel like there's more, i just can't remember.

what is your favourite plotline that you've been part of ?

the zulu & the southern africa conflicts. even all of us applying together that day was such a moment, i loved every bit of it. i had so so much fun writing ayo even if he was one of those characters it is impossible to write filler threads with, i still felt so much joy when i got a notif that someone replied to him, even if the entire reply was someone hating on him hard.

what about other people's plotlines ?

it's impossible to pick one when you've been here from the start and have seen countless amazing ones but the english plot was truly a wonder, even the murder mystery event was fucking incredible. anything involving russia and the romanovs as well was so well thought and made so much sense when you put the pieces together you just can't help but love every bit.

who is your favourite character from the ones you've played ? why ? what made you love them ? what made them so fun to write ?

favourite to write i'd say ayo, for the same reasons i mentioned on the plotline question but if i had to choose only one to keep playing forever it would either be silje or ilija. i feel like those are versatile ones that i could go in different directions with if i'd wanted to. the one i had the most fun writing though was pedro for sure.

if you could relive a plotline, which would it be ?

the invasion in greece and i think everyone who was here for that would say the same thing. that was our most iconic event and for a reason, everyone put 150% into it and it worked out so so so so well we didn't even imagine the outcome it would have, we just wanted to traumatise everyone a bit but received the best event in hshq in return.

is there a plotline that you'd edit now if you could ?

i don't think there is, especially because i don't think i remember even half of them but even then everything was fun and a joy to write about so i probably wouldn't change anything.

what's a plotline you wish you would have been able to finish before closing or just write more of ?

the ones that never happened. e mentioned some of the things we planned and didn't happen on the timeline post but i assure you that's not even the beginning. at times we'd plan an entire year of events in advance and come up with a full story, reasoning, plot drops for it but when the time to have them came we forgot all about it and change everything to something we'd put together in 20 mins instead of the plans we spent days working on. even the cruise ship they were supposed to be stuck in was an idea we had so much fun coming up with and it didn't get to see the light of day.

what is your favourite ooc memory ?

every honesty hour chaos was such a fun time to be on the dash, or whenever something big would happen ic and there would be 100 ooc posts reacting to it on the dash and the jokes were the peak of comedy. but i'll always have a soft spot for the soletsky silent thread bc icb we actually had 40+ notes on that, it was priceless. the word lunch is stuck with me forever. AND that one time i got kicked out on this exact date a couple years back.

where can others find you if they want to get in touch ?

i won't delete the tumblr app from my phone just yet so if you want to send me a mssg, i'll be checking it every now and again. same with discord, i'm there under barbielandwired and we're not deleting the hshq server so we can still have that in case anybody wants to pop into the chat and catch up. i'll give you my socials too if anybody wants that, we're all friends here. i've known u lot for 8 years.

what else would you like to say ?

here.

[eggyfictions]

Hi, my name is Boykie. I am the one attempting to write a boy love story as a series with episodes.

♣︎Why am I doing that? There isn't really a deeper reasoning behind it. I've always loved the idea of creating something. Either it be a drawing, a sculpture, a piece of music, or writing a book. I've always loved the fact that I am creating something new, something from my own mind. The unfortunate part being, I can't sing, and I know nothing about art, but atleast I can write. That's why I wrote.

♣︎ Why this story? With Beneath the Surface, there is a great personal influence. A lot of the story's direction and events are pulled from my personal experience as a once closeted gay boy, struggling to understand himself while everyone around you seems to have discovered who they are. Most of my high school days have been that, really. I was pulling away from everyone and everything because I was afraid that being open in front of everyone would've raised questions. Questions that I didn't have answers to yet. So rather keep to yourself. But I've also added elements of mystery in there, think Heartstopper meets Gravity Falls, for Non-straight black boys living in a South African township.

♣︎ What's the end goal? I don't know really. I normally hear from other well established writers say, you should have a direction of where your work is heading to. I don't, I am writing this, because I love to write. I don't have a string of episodes waiting to be published, I am building it as I go, and I love that process. The dream, maybe, would be seeing people read it, and maybe like it. I am not expecting it to be the best thing ever, no, but I want it to be fun, and well received. I just want to create something that someone will find fun.😁

♣︎ The illustrations: For those of you who know technology can easily tell that all the illustrations I've used for the episodes are AI generated. Yes, it's true. Since I cannot yet illustrate them or even afford to pay someone to draw the illustrations for me, I rely on ChatGPT to generate the closest possible image to what I envision my characters to look like. Sometimes ChatGPT doesn't do it right, for example the illustration on the last episode, looks notuing like that of the previous episodes, but what can I do really I work with what I have. Personally, I love illustration, and I love design, but currently I don't have the means or ability to do so. However, one thing about me, I love to learn, I'll sketch up something ugly and work on it until it becomes what I want. As long as I can get my hands on the relevant tools, I'll learn and do it myself (help is also welcomed, wink, wink, nudge, nudge😉😉.)

♣︎ What I'd appreciate from you? Honestly speaking, your likes, your comments, and your input will go a long way. I just want to see that someone out there took 10 minutes of their time to read an episode (Yall read way too fast, my episodes are too short for yall.) Maybe going forward, I'll stretch them a little more and cover more in a single episode. I don't know, we will see. But ultimately, I just want to see people reading it and liking it. So please do comment and tell me what you think.

I don't know if I said it all, but yeah, that's it. Your support will be greatly appreciated, and I hope we can have fun with it. Let's have fun with it. I've attached the link to the blog at the bottom for anyone who might want to check it out. Lol😅 Marketing 🤣🤣🤣.

Thank you.

PS: I've never used Tumblr before, so I don't know if people will even read this whole thing 😅

[sabrinaluce]

Well, hello!!! 👋🏻

I had to reluctantly close the messages on tumblr. It's really absurd that now in almost all the apps you can't communicate with anyone via dms because when you look for serious and sincere messages about your work, you come across an ocean of ABSURD scammers. Instagram? full. Behance? let's not talk about it. And now I had to close the dms on here too. So, I'll leave here the answers to the "most popular" questions i received:

1️⃣. I'm not interested in selling my paintings for your NFTs. (are you serious? has anyone ever said "yes"? please)

2️⃣. I don't do commissions. I'll be completely honest but I don't think I'm good enough at putting what other people want on paper. I've tried and it's not for me. I don't think I'm even good at my own pieces in the first place tbh. In addition, I struggle with chronic anxiety and depression and I'm not a person who stays online much, so I don't think I can keep up with the commissions and requests. But I still thank from the bottom of my heart those who appreciate what I create, even if it's for just a second without even giving a "like". It's nice to know that someone found a personal message for them in my drawings!

3️⃣. I currently only sell prints of my pieces on iamfy and inPRNT. Yes, they are hard to find because I don't have followers on either site (I don't have a very popular style lol) but they are there, I swear😭

So here it is, the little information that people sometimes ask me. Sorry for the long post, I wish you a good day! ♥️

[no1frogfan]

Desire lines, part 1

Kuroo x afab reader

Series synopsis: Against his wishes, Kuroo must hire a personal assistant. You’re not exactly the right person for the job, but it’s a job, and you need the money. Inspired by Robert Macfarlane’s definition of desire lines in landscapes: “paths and tracks made over time by the wishes and feet of walkers, especially those paths that run contrary to design or planning.”

Chapter word count: ~1.4k

Chapter tags & warnings: some sexually suggestive language

Note: Since I’m throwing all my half-baked series ideas out there, here’s another one. I’ve literally already written 25k for this series but I’m completely dissatisfied with most of it. So fly free, dumb little thing, and bring me back some better ways of progressing this story. Side note: small celebration for this, my 20th piece of writing posted to tumblr! It’s especially fitting since this is the first series I attempted to write when I started this blog 5 months ago, and because Kei & Tetsu are my deepest, truest loves

Series masterlist part 2

1. Best-laid plans

“I don’t want to hear any more excuses, Kuroo. You will do it, and that’s final.” Nishida states forcefully, turning his attention back to the papers in front of him. A clear sign that the conversation is over.

“Yes sir, Nishida-san.” Kuroo bows stiffly as he backs out the door.

In the privacy of his own office, Kuroo collapses behind his desk with a string of quiet curses.

Being a director comes with a lot of perks. The promotional game he’d organized a few years ago had turned out to be a massive success, reinvigorating volleyball in Japan and bringing in scores of new fans. On the back of that and a few other creative and well-executed events, he finally landed that sought-after position 3 months ago — Director of the Sports Promotion Division at the Japan Volleyball Association.

At the age of 30, he’s the youngest director in the organization.

He’d earned it with the best pitch he’s ever made — a long-term partnership with FIVB, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball, to train and support coaches and referees throughout Japan. “This partnership will require intensive investment of our time and existing resources, but the payoff will be exponentially greater. Think about how much of an impact this could have on our organization locally, nationally, and globally. On the local level, we’ll be able to improve and expand the existing leagues by increasing the caliber of current coaches and training new coaches who can build new teams and bring more young talent into the sport. On the national level, a higher quality of gameplay means more exciting games, more news coverage, and a higher profile for the sport as a whole, allowing the JVA to further build upon on the momentum of growing fan interest across Japan. Finally, on the international level, the partnership with the premier international volleyball organization would increase the visibility of the JVA and of Japan as a volleyball powerhouse around the world.” By the end of his spiel, Nishida and the other executives were practically eating out of the palm of his hand.

As Director, Kuroo’s life is not bad at all. He gets to design more impactful projects. He gets his own corner office on the 38th floor with a stunning view overlooking the city. Plus, he received a substantial raise, though he barely has time to spend any of that money. The one thing he did splurge on was a larger apartment in Kagurazaka, an eccentric neighborhood he’d always wanted to live in. The new place is closer to his grandparents and to Kenma too, not that he’s been able to squeeze in more than one brief visit a month over the past year.

Yes, there are certainly a lot of upsides to being Director. But there are a lot of downsides too.

There’s so much more administration than he ever imagined. Most of his time each week is spent in tedious managerial meetings when he'd much rather be running around, boots on the ground, meeting players and making deals. The paperwork, the departmental politicking, the boring pleasantries, the late hours almost every night… It’s all worth it to make his dream a reality, but it’s taking a toll. Even Kenma of all people chided him about it.

The thing is, getting the promotion was only the first big hurdle he had to clear on the way to his goal of expanding volleyball and truly lowering the net. He’s been working toward this FIVB partnership for almost a year now, and he’ll be reaching his second big hurdle in one month when representatives from FIVB will be visiting the JVA for the first time to officially begin talks on the details of the project.

Or at least, he thought that was his second big hurdle, but now it seems like Nishida-san has thrown a new one in front of him: find an assistant, no ifs, ands, or buts.

Kuroo tried his best to fight it. He really doesn’t need a babysitter. As long as he gets his work done and goes to his meetings, if he wants to leave early on a whim, he can do it, and he if wants to take a long lunch, he can do that too… And if Satoko needs to “double check the numbers” on the accounting sheets, or Aya wants to “talk over potential new hires,” well, nobody is the wiser. (Sure, maybe the stress is getting to him more than he wants to admit, and sure, maybe he’s not dealing with it in the best way, but he’s got needs too and this works out for everyone involved.) So why would he willingly give up that freedom and flexibility to have someone constantly watching over his shoulder, micromanaging his schedule, and reporting his whereabouts to everyone?

But that’s obviously not what he told Nishida. He informed Nishida he simply doesn’t need an assistant. That he’s handling things very well on his own and is perfectly capable of continuing to do so. Plus, think of how much money it would save the company to not have to pay an additional salary!

Unfortunately, his unfailing charisma finally failed him.

See, Nishida was concerned about optics, especially for their meetings with FIVB. How would it look to the FIVB representatives if the Director of Sports Promotion at JVA had to make his own coffee? Take his own notes? Schedule his own flights? “We can’t have one of our directors hashing out a meeting schedule with one of their interns! It would look like we’re not a serious organization. It would look like we lack the capital and leverage to hold up our end of any cooperative agreements. Listen, Kuroo, this isn’t just about what you want. It’s about the impression our entire organization makes when we negotiate with other entities.”

Nishida laid down the law: Be a team player. Find a personal assistant within two weeks or Nishida would find one for him.

So, right now, Kuroo is unquestionably more focused on the downsides of his position.

The conversation with Nishida plays over and over again in his head as he tries to figure a way out of this mess. Naturally, he dials his first port of call whenever he’s in trouble.

“Oi, I’ve got a problem.” Kuroo starts as soon as the ringing stops.

“What is it now, Kuro?” Kenma responds curtly, yells and bangs from whatever game he’s playing popping off in the background.

“It’s serious!”

“You say that every time.”

“Well it’s really serious this time.”

“Must be if you’re calling me.”

Kuroo’s voice softens. “Sorry I’ve been MIA. The prep for this FIVB meeting has been kicking my ass.”

“Good.”

“I really do need your help though.”

The game sounds stop. Kuroo knows it means fine, I’m listening.

He explains the situation with a sigh, equal parts frustrated and exhausted, “— and now I have to hire a personal assistant even though I don’t need or want one.”

The other end of the line remains silent as Kenma carefully considers the options.

Finally, landing on, “Why don’t you just hire someone?”

“Oi—” Kuroo yowls, “Were you listening? I said I don’t want an assistant!”

Kenma’s eye roll is almost audible. “I know that, but you still have to hire someone, right? Otherwise you’ll be stuck with whoever Nishida hires.”

“…Right…”

“Right. So take the initiative and hire someone. And then just have them do nothing.”

It’s Kuroo’s turn to be silent now.

“Hello?”

“I’m here.” Kuroo replies slowly, trying to decipher the plan. “What do you mean have them do nothing?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.” The sounds of his game start up again. “Whoever you hire will probably have to take notes at your meetings and do a bit of administrative work just to keep up appearances with Nishida and the others at the office, but then the rest of the time is theirs…as long as it looks like they’re working. It’s a win-win. You get to do keep doing what you’re doing and they get paid a full salary to do whatever they want.”

A sly cackle erupts from Kuroo, “As expected, another brilliant strategy from the Brain! But where am I going to find someone like that…”

[ambidextrousarcher]

Thanks for the tag @enigma-the-mysterious !

I have a fanfiction.net account that I have long stopped using, not least because I started disliking the site, as well as the character whose name I had used as my username on that site.

I had a Wattpad phase when I was 15. I haven’t opened that in years.

Definitely have an Ao3 account! AmbidextrousAecher

I do not like either reading or writing smut, maybe it’s part of my manifestation of aroace news.

I used to roleplay with someone who had been a friend of mine, online here on Tumblr.

I have beta read fics and fic related scenes for both former and current friends.

I have definitely published an unbeta’ed fic! Most of my early works in the Mahabharata fandom were unbetaed, as well as most of my fics for all other fandoms I have written in.

I have definitely written self-indulgent fics. A King’s Fortune is one I can think of immediately, though that one is angst central right now, as well as Let Not Sleeping Skunks Lie, which is the height of self-indulgence.

I usually write grammatically correct sentences, even in comments, something I have been teased for. No keysmashes, sorry.

Yes, I have left kudos on many fics twice, at least in the form of comments. @starlightasteria and her amazing fics are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

I do love me some good fluff sometimes!

No, I have not written for same sex ships. I don’t ship in general, with some very rare exceptions, all of which are somehow cishet ships.

Fan fiction is definitely a genre of its own!

Definitely multifandom. Mahabharata, ASOIAF, Jodhaa Akbar, Baahubali, Harry Potter, Hunger Games, have fics I have written fro them that are published, including two crossovers. I am writing a fic for the Thor (Marvel) movie, as well as have ideas for fics on the Ponniyin Selvan fandom, which I intend to execute. Oh! And I also have a fic for the TV serial Kuch Rang Pyaar Ke Aise Bhi, though most of that fandom would flame that fic, because it is very biased to the male lead, being in his PoV with a lot of canon divergences.

I enjoy research before writing! Have spent many happy hours in that.

If a mental outline counts, I keep an outline of sorts, yes.

Who doesn’t wait for feedback after publishing?

Haven’t received or commissioned art.

Have about 8-10 unpublished fics, mostly having Jaime Lannister in multiple universes.

I actually…like editing?

Oh, most of my ideas strike right before bed, in the middle of the night, or when I startle awake after a nightmare.

I don’t drink alcohol, tea or coffee, so those two are out.

Yes, I think I have a fic that deserves more attention. Darin is one of my favourite pieces that I have written, and hardly anyone reads it. (Understandable, it’s a Mahabharata crossover with the Hunger Games)

Yes, I hope to publish my novel series which is solely from Arjun’s PoV.

Sorry for not reblogging, I wasn’t able to, app glitch. Credit for the bingo to the original poster.

Tagging @harinishivaa @hum-suffer @selkiesstories @hindumyththoughts @favcolourrvibgior @chaanv

[angels-fics]

And A G E L F I C! ( thank u for the ask you’re amazing)

oh stawp it no you're amazing!!! mwah mwah

A - Ships that you currently like a lot. (They don’t have to be OTPs because not everyone has OTPs.) Friendships, pairings, threesomes, etc. are allowed.

the royjamie brainrot is strong in me. royjamiekeeley too bc i, like jamie, would do anything a beautiful woman told me to do, even if that beautiful woman's advice led to public bdsm dynamics in the workplace. whatever you say queen 👸🏼

C - A ship you have never liked and probably never will.

i'm ngl jack/keeley but that's mostly bc fanfic spoiled it for me??? also the other bad power dynamics in canon, michelle/jacob, rupert/rebecca, rupert/bex, rupert/ms. kakes (we get it you don't like rupert). i don't think i really have any ships that really ick me out that are supposed to be well-liked? i'm easily swayed bro

E - Have you added anything cracky/hilarious to your fandom? If so, what?

i don't add to fandoms. i lower the property value just by being here.

but honestly, i recently wrote and published an anonymous piece, which was received fairly well, i think. i'm not going to make it un-anonymous, but i was pretty surprised by the reception, and i'm happy about it.

F - What’s the longest you’ve ever been in a fandom?

i think, technically, the star wars fandom, because i watched it with my parents when i was a child, and about a year and a half ago had a flare-up. wrote the most words i've ever written for any fandom for star wars ✊✊✊

G - Have you ever had an OTP? If so, do you remember your first one? Who was in it?

i... don't know? like i first remember the term being used in, like, the marvel fandom (which i was never active in) and went down a rabbit hole. it was enlightening. but no, i don't think i've had an otp. there's certainly ships that i've liked, and sought out content for, but in the first fandom i was ever tangibly in, i didn't have an otp

I - Has Tumblr caused you to stop liking any fandoms, if so, which and why?

i don't think so. i've lost interest in some fandoms that my mutuals still like, so i normally scroll past that content now, and those would be six of crows, star wars, and stranger things. i'm pretty sure it's gonna happen to ted lasso, too, but i think i've got some time yet!

L - Say something genuinely nice about a character who isn’t one of your faves. (Characters you’re neutral about are fair game, as are characters you merely dislike. Characters that you absolutely loathe with the fire of ten thousand suns are exempt, as there is no point in giving yourself an aneurysm over a character that you hate.)

oh boy, i've immediately decided to adopt every character as one of my faves. uhhhhh i guess i would have to go with... coach beard? i really enjoy how he's genuinely so weird, and not in a put-on, false way, just being who he is. i think his brief moments of lucidity, where he's very verbose in a way that is comprehensible to the other characters, hit so hard and are meaningful because they are few and far between. i like that he and ted are the two extremes of americanism, in my mind. i like that he uses the fact that other people don't know how to act around him to his advantage, and i try to apply that philosophy to some of my characters in original fiction as well as in my own life. i think it's a terrible shame that he sees jane as the only person who is unafraid to be as weird as him and feels obligated to stay with her because being understood is better than being unhurt and oh jesus christ i think beard is one of my faves now

[necromeowncy]

If I weren't so nervous, I'd write this on Twitter or AO3, but you don't know how many times I've read and re-read your works. Without the slightest idea of names and events because I've never played any FF game. That doesn't stop me from enjoying reading your fics and enjoying your character. If you ever wrote a novel, I'd likely read that too.

I don't know - I just felt like sharing this. If it's not too late, I'd love it if you'd answer this. Other than Aedric & his snacks. (Which is really, really sweet in itself.) 51: What’s a nonverbal way they say I love you?

Hello anon, please don't be nervous - because I promise you I am even more of a nervous wreck! :) That being said, this is perhaps the most wonderful message I've ever received; I had no idea my writing for this ship breached containment out of the wolgraha/ffxiv tag, let alone that people were reading them that had no idea who or what a G'raha Tia or elezen even was. I woke up this morning to this anon and I almost started sobbing because it made me so happy. Thank you, truly and deeply. I don't even have the words for what this means to me. But perhaps I'll find some; be prepared for a long post!

I am, surprisingly, currently writing an original fantasy novel, and it means the world to me that folks would actually be interested in reading it. I never know if I should mention anything here on my fandom Tumblr about it, as I understand the novelist world at large sometimes looks down on fanfiction authors. But this anon made me realize I probably shouldn't dice myself up into tiny, palatable pieces in order to find respect in the writing community. So I'll talk about it here:

I'm writing a queer fantasy novel that has the tentative title of This Gift Illuminated. It's still in its early stages, and I have been going back and forth on if I'm going to self-publish or just host the story on my own website for people to read for free. For the very first time publicly, I'll share the synopsis:

The world is losing its magic.  For centuries, the human Kingdom of Meyra had one rule: those born with mageblood, known as the Gifted, must submit to the royal palace to further their study in the arcane arts. These days, mageblood is rare. So when Farin shows signs of being touched by magic, he's sent away to study in the capitol along with any other Gifted, as rare as they may be. He'd welcome this opportunity with open arms, especially since it means corresponding letters with a mysterious magics expert named Elias. The nation that had long given up on magic now has a new hope.  In the elf kingdom of Rime, Elias remains the only person stubbornly dedicated to the study of the arcane. Having lost the last of their magic decades ago, the elves have built a thriving nation with the ingenuity of technological marvels. Elias's many letters to the aging human mages of Meyra have been met with silence and dismissal - until one day his letters are answered by a newly appointed Gifted. Perhaps this Farin is the key to unlocking why both of their peoples have been losing touch with the arcane - as well as save the human kingdom before they suffer the same magic-bereft fate.  This Gift Illuminated is a tale of love and learning in a changing world.

Two scholars in different nations fall in love after exchanging letters for years. They are nerds. There are elves and magic, as this seems to be my wheelhouse, so I'm going to stay aboard the "awkward elf nerd and excitable wizard" train as long as I can. I may post more about this on my personal Tumblr @thewizardtower ! I'm thinking of sharing some of the prose, but I'm unsure. Who knows, I might be brave and share the prologue!

And, at last - your wolgraha prompt! Thank you for this.

51. What’s a nonverbal way they say I love you?

Aedric and G'raha both share the love language of touch. Oftentimes, they'll both be reading side-by-side. Even if they're reading separate books entirely, they'll still manage to sit close enough that their knees will brush, or their shoulders will lean against one another, or their spare fingers will interlace - silent, save for the turning of the occasional page, or the flickering of a candle's flame. Sometimes, they'll sit in each others laps wordlessly. Or lazily comb fingers through the other's hair. Sometimes, too, G'raha's tail will wrap around Aedric, and that is perhaps Aedric's favorite. The comforting physical presence of being near each other does wonders on their healing hearts after their many trials and near-death experiences. Just knowing that the other is here within touching distance - alive, whole - is perhaps the greatest healing spell in all of Etheirys.

[nonsenseramble]

Author Ask Tag Game!

Thanks for the tag @mthollowell-writes Your plot and story seem phenomenal! I can't wait to see more!

Check out their response!

Since I have a few WIPs going on, I'm gonna focus on the one I most recently have worked on. The WIP in question is my Gods of Creation piece and you can learn more about it under the #wip: gods of creation tag on my blog!

What is the main lesson of your story (e.g. kindness, diversity, anti-war), and why did you choose it? The main lesson I think I want to achieve with this piece isn't one that's really meant for readers outside of myself. It's an exploration of checks and balances as well as what a creation deity will do when given near complete control of their creations. I want to explore what exactly it means to be an infinite being co-existing with finite creations.

What did you use as inspiration for your worldbuilding (like real-life cultures, animals, famous media, websites, etc.)? This story actually started off as a Final Fantasy XIV fanfiction about mine and my husband's characters. Though, it's slowly morphed into a huge, multifaceted fantasy piece that requires so much more thought and planning.

What is your MC trying to achieve, and what are you, the writer, trying to achieve with them? Do you want to inspire others, teach forgiveness, help readers grow as a person? Currently, I have 5 planned MCs for this piece. Each one is meant to represent different aspects of morality. I don't really plan for there to be a "good guy" or "bad guy". Morally, everything is a bit scuffed depending on who you'd ask.

How many chapters is your story going to have? Far too many. But right now I only have 3. I don't generally make outlines because that kind of structure usually will pigeon hole me. I like to just freely create as I go and use outside voices and beta readers to assist with the editing process. If I were to make an outline though, I'd imagine the story having upwards of maybe 15-20ish chapters? So about the size of a novella.

Is it fanfiction or original content? Where do you plan to post it? Original content! Though I can't deny that the themes have already been explored many times over in the past. I plan to post little wip updates on this blog (I meant to a while ago but I can't keep a thought in my head for more than 2.7 seconds)

When and why did you start writing? I've always used writing as a form of expression. I can remember writing down little story ideas and showing them to my friends at school. I received a lot a good feedback and would often jot down the first few paragraphs of a story I thought of to save for later. Unfortunately, life put a severe halt on my writing hobby, so I'm only just now getting back into it

Do you have any words of engagement for fellow writers of Writeblr? What other writers of Tumblr do you follow? A very common piece of advice is: "You can't edit a blank page." I hold that true to my heart, but even more than that, I believe that the stories you write should make nobody else happy but you. Write your silly little scenes, your clunky dialogue, your plot hole infested flash fiction. Just write it. Even if it's a single line writing prompt or a full chapter. Write it.

On to the (gentle low pressure) tags! I'm sorry if you've already been tagged. @repressed-and-depressed @stanrendipity @stesierra @mjparkerwriting + Open Tag!

And the very very aggressive tag to @elizababie

[buckawoos]

Where you been, Buckawoos??

Howdy, y’all! Long time, no see! I sincerely apologize for falling off the face of the art community. I genuinely miss seeing everyone’s art across my feed as well as sharing it around. 💛

I haven’t put pen to tablet in several months now (Poor Shiro-4 collects dust like nobody’s business). My job is very physically demanding and the last thing I seem to want to do lately is try to draw much of anything. I’m also faced with an art block and just a general lack of want to create at the moment, though I’m convinced this is due in part to my current living situation. I’m working very hard to claw my way out of it, so I won’t divulge in those details.

There are a few things I want to go over real quick while I have a moment to write out this update! But I’ll try to put together a little TL;DR at the bottom, too!

General Life Update

Commissions, Ko-Fi, & Art Break

Where To Find Me

General Life Update

As far as I go, I’m doing well! I love what I do at me job a lot. It’s physically demanding and very hands-on, but it keeps me very active. I’ve become a lot more energized and find myself in a much more positive state of mind.

Unfortunately, because I am trying to get myself out of my current living situation, I’m working a lot and trying to scoop up hours where and when I can. This has made my presence online very scant bordering nonexistent. I’m sorry for falling out of contact with you guys, and I do very much miss you!

If all goes according to plan, by this time next year, I should be actively looking in to and applying for different living situations. Until then, I’ll most likely be very quiet across socials. When I do have a day off, the last place I want to be is home. 😅

Commissions, Ko-Fi, & Art Break

Art Break: As I talked about above, I’ve hit a block with my art, from writing to drawing, and everything in between. My muse to create was already waning before I landed this job, but now it seems to have dwindled into nothing. I have a want to draw some days, but it is largely overpowered by my chaotic surroundings. I’m just going to take a break, so there will not be any art from me for a while.

Commissions: I’m not sure if I’ve stated this somewhere, but I will not be taking art commissions in the future, when I do return to drawing. I’ve had multiple inquiries and I’m very flattered! However, my job does not allot me the required amount of time to work on owed pieces, and I also do not want to have to deal with filing freelance taxes. I’m so very sorry, though I do appreciate the interest!

Ko-Fi: I probably should have done this a while back, but with everything, it has slipped my mind; I am closing my Ko-Fi account. I recently received orders on some .PSDs and PayPal has decided that it’s going to be weird about these sudden orders. Once I have these things sorted out, I will be closing my Ko-Fi account. I just ask that nobody else please order from there! The support is wonderful, I just don’t have time to deal with PayPal. 💛

Where To Find Me

As Twitter seems a bust, I have no interest in returning to the platform. It’s been literal months since I’ve checked in, and with the way things are going with it at the moment, I’ve decided I’m not going to bother. So, where can you find me now? For the time being, here on Tumblr! More specifically? @proud-lathyrus! This is my personal Tumblr that receives some activity here and there. It is mostly games (and mostly RDR1/2), but it’s the only social media platform I check before and after work anymore.

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! And thank you for taking the time to read. I’m sorry that it’s so much - I spent a lot of time trying to get the size of this post down. Let me know how you guys are doing, too! I’ve missed the heck outta y’all!! 🥰

I hope to get things settled down sooner rather than later, but I appreciate you guys for sticking around. 💛

TL;DR: Meeno’s job leaves them tired but they’re doing alright! They’re taking a break from art, will not be reopening commissions for the indefinite future, and will soon be shutting down their Ko-Fi. If you wanna follow Meeno for more than just art, head over to @proud-lathyrus! Why is this TL;DR in third person? Meeno doesn’t know. :D

[vanessaroades-author]

Happy April!! Camp NaNoWriMo, the first month it actually feels like spring in Canada, my birthday month, and the start of a lot of new big goals!

I had a strange first quarter. Big wins. Big changes. Big grief. Most notably is that I’m back in my hometown after running around (and taking way too many flights) for a year, leaving behind a lot of people I love and miss.

Life responsibilities are coming up quick (ahhh taxes!), but let’s go through my writing & publishing goals!

Words Written from January - March: 37 748

cover image: commission of rho and eirjatal from deep roots, by ireen chau

— q1 completed goals

BIG BOOK NEWS: - Got the cover for Deep Roots and revealed it in a mini-campaign! As always, it’s in my icon, on my project page, and is by shinirikaya (on most platforms). - My books are all up on Goodreads! - Deep Roots is open for eBook preorders! This is a surreal step. Hope to get more interest in it as I reveal the preorder goodies and get the paperback set up—lots of people have expressed wanting a paperback because of that beautiful cover. - Prints for the preorder goodies have been ordered. Now I impatiently wait…the cover to this post may or may not be a sneak peek… - Moved Queensmen to ScribbleHub and Tapas.io. Trying to remind myself over and over that this is a fun no-pressure project to write when I’m having a good, wordy day, but it’s hard to feel that way when I wonder if I should be strongly advertising it. hahhh :’)

SOCIAL MEDIA & PLATFORMS: - Set up and started using TikTok. I’ve lost some inspiration with it and, well, who knows what’ll happen with that bill, but for now it’s getting me that extra bit of attention. - Set up BookFunnel and moved Other People’s Heartache onto there for better distribution. This is also where I hope to distribute ARCs of Deep Roots. - Set up this Tumblr right here!

— q1 missed goals

The big one was that I really wanted to publish a short or novella and didn’t. This is symptomatic of an ongoing burnout problem I’ve had for a long time now, and I’m trying to work through it.

I missed entering a story in an anthology via a writing group—by literally one scene. I just couldn’t get it done and gave in.

Thankfully, the other anthology I wanted to submit to—with The Whumpy Printing Press!—extended their deadline by a month. This piece is far more inspiring to me than the other one and I hope to get the last couple scenes in the first draft done next week. Fingers crossed I can manage it.

— q2 goals

- The big one: RELEASE DEEP ROOTS!! - In smaller steps: Finish edits by the end of April, release ARCs in May, and get it out by late May. Paperbacks need to be set up a couple weeks ahead of time for preorders, and I am not looking forward to messing with IngramSpark… - Get all the preorder goodies ready (so, receive the prints, finish drawing the stickers & order them, and hopefully finish a couple backstory novellas) - Submit to the Whumpy Printing Press anthology - Make significant progress on my current novella WIP and hopefully get her out in June. She’s connected to Deep Roots so that would feel pretty great to have her out in the world! - Revamp my website!!