#best of wishes to you Nonnie! dare bravely!!

[therealslimshakespeare]

What got you into writing/how long have you been writing?

What’s your writing inspiration?

Do you write in silence or need background sounds? Like music?

Do you struggle more with dialogue or detail?

Any tips for someone who wants to write fanfiction?

How do you differ all your OC’s so you don’t rewrite the same characters over and over?

Do you do research?

— from someone who would love to write their own stories lol but yours are great!

My darling. So many apologies for how tardy I’ve been in replying to this, I really wanted to give it due thought because I’m quite touched you’d even ask.

1: I’ve been writing since I was little, my mama was always reading me classics and my greatest ambition was to be some kind of author every bit as colorful as their characters, a la Oscar Wilde. 🥳

2. Writing inspiration? Oh that’s a hard one only in that I could cite a million things and chat your poor ear off, but to be boring and also frank -I just love stories. I think they’re so inspiring and healing and necessary for making sense of things, or else resigning to things that can’t be explained. I love to study love and how very human and fallible and also indestructible it is in its many forms. I love to dig through tragedy and find the refining purpose of it, I love to take characters through hells I’ve been through so that I can imagine their triumphs, too, and my own through them. If this can happen to -name your hero- then I’m no smaller for it happening to me, if -name your hero- can get through it and be loved and admired by a whole fandom? -I deserve the same commendation from myself at the very least. Stories are essential and fun and I never ever imagined I’d have a little group one day liking my own where we could all scream about these things together. I’m legit so humbled each time I log on here and find y’all ready and waiting and interactive. The community of it, that’s the biggest drive right now, tbh. What a sweet season.

3. I usually write in silence, or else at any chance where I have a moment, so that could be public transport or lunch breaks or in the loo during family holidays, ha. However I do find music to be an inspiring mood setter for writing later that day. Especially as i juggle many ongoing projects at once, the genre im listening to before may very well influence what gets worked on.

4. Detail!! Dialogue can be challenging but I hear it so clearly in my head most of the time that it’s not hard. Details can devastate me.

5. Ooof, I still feel like I’m a baby at it, this is only my second fandom to dare for. I’d say for sure write what you find inspiring instead of what appears to be wanted, i firmly believe that’s the only sure way to keep up any inspiration and the niche will draw its own crowd, one’s who will like it all the better for its specially crafted world. Also, for dialogue -replay and replay dialogue from the character before you write. Are they terse or do they ramble? Are they sarcastic or earnest? Do they have a word they repeat often? -I noticed the other day how Rosenthal uses “you know?” often in the show. Also, sometimes switch up sentence structure from character to character, it helps feel like hopping brains without a fully jarring POV change. All these are things I’m currently working at myself, but that’s the best I’ve got for advice.

6. Oh boy I’m still figuring this out myself. Three things come to mind as little helps I use- first off, read real biographies, it helps tremendously with crafting fully dimensional fictional people. Two -have a maturing arc for your OC during the story, separate from whatever adventure or romance that occurs, this will make it feel less like a inserted person into the broader story. Three, choose a personality type or something similar to both keep them separate from the next but also to ensure their virtues have corresponding vices.

7. I do research a lot. But I find that it’s a fine line for myself of when that drains all creativity or bravery. Im massively indebted to so many mutuals who generously share their own with me.

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hi, Loving the blog my darling ❤️ Currently starting uni at the grand age of 21 with absolutely no clue what I’m doing in life. My mental health has really been tough and I feel as though everything is going wrong 😩 I just can’t fathom how people find out who they are or what they enjoy - life just seems to be one big grumpy ball determined to knock you over 😓 any grand life advice you Wish you’d been given or things you think everyone should be aware of? ❤️❤️❤️

Hi Nonny! *HUGS* 

First off, I’m so sorry I put this off so long... I’ve had a headache for a few days and it’s hard for me to give good responses when I do.

That said, I’m not a professional, so please use your own judgement after some of your own research

First of all, don’t feel bad about starting college “late”... there’s NO SUCH THING as too old to learn. I also started at 21, and there were people in my classes on their “second career” (in Ontario, the gov’t used to offer grants for people who were laid off and wanted to pursue higher learning in a second career; not sure if they still do that). I was also in the same boat you were: I had no idea where my life was going to lead, I just knew that if I wanted to work in a professional field, I needed college, and I literally chose my career path by browsing the course offerings at the college I wanted to go to.

In hindsight, MAKING THE EFFORT TO GO TO SCHOOL was a huge first step in a new direction I was terrified to make, and so I totally understand WHY you’re scared, and coupled with mental health issues I can’t begin to imagine the levels of stress you’re feeling. So, I think when you first start (or just before you begin) look into your college’s counselling services; it’s part of your tuition and they’re there to help you get through your schooling. Every college and uni have their own websites, and if you’re willing to dig deep enough (actually, just go to their “site map”, it’s supposed to link every single page their website has), you can find faculty emails and information about counselling services offered and / or any restrictions they have. I highly recommend you start there, try to get an appointment early since many people will be doing it as well. Write out some concerns you have, and bring them with you when you go to see your counsellor. Also, make sure you find out if it’s a life counsellor vs a career counsellor... actually, I just had a thought, all unis and colleges (in Canada at least) have an on-site health centre which actually may be the best place to start for your mental health resource quest. THEY may be able to direct you in the right direction for that aspect. BUT since you’re not sure what you want to do with your career, I do still suggest seeing a counsellor who can help you understand what you can do with your chosen degree / diploma. Doing that may help ease your stress about that. 

Next, let’s tackle the “find out what they enjoy” aspect of your ask: I TOTALLY feel you on the grumpiness, I really do. Even today, nearly 2 decades after my own college life, I’m constantly grumpy and stressed. And I’m not going to tell you to “just think positive!” because that’s ridiculous, and it’s more complicated than just that, and poo-poo to anyone who tries to tell you otherwise. For me, I think it was just trying to do things I never would have, and being brave and talking to people in my classes. My best friends inevitably are the ones I made in college, because we have a lot in common and we did a lot of new things together. I suggest maybe reaching out and doing the same! Colleges and unis ALWAYS have some sort of groups going on, like LGBT, Anime, movies, hiking, etc. TRY THEM ALL. Have fun! Be daring! Most of those types of groups plan outings and activities either for free or at low-cost, and who knows, you may find out you enjoy something you never thought you would! If you spend all your free time just studying or doing school work, you’re gonna burn out before the first semester is over, trust me on this one. 

First year is PURPOSELY the hardest year, just as a word of warning, because they need to weed out those who aren’t serious about doing the program – they don’t want to waste your time and money just as much as you don’t, believe it or not. I’m not going to sugar coat that for you at all... I almost failed first year, but finding a good balance between school and personal activities as well as discussing concerns I had with my professors, I was able to pick my grades up and make it through to second year... and it actually got a LOT easier in second and third year, because the professors were marking us on quality as opposed to technique. Sure, I pulled my share of all nighters, but mostly because I am the WORLD’S WORST PROCRASTINATOR. 

So my tip: if you’re a procrastinator, get that shit out of your system, because spending all night painting colour-matching squares on illustration board is legit the un-funnest way to spend a Sunday night when I had all week to do it. Some people work better under pressure (I actually do, strangely enough) but if you don’t have the mental ability to handle the stress, I really, REALLY recommend you DON’T PROCRASTINATE. Keep a day planner to help you sort your work vs personal time, and you should be just fine. 

Hmm, what else? 

Don’t forgo food, for the love of god. Groceries are cheaper than eating out, so learn to cook simple things: Pasta is literally boiled water and noodles, and canned sauce. That’s literally under 10$ for a few days’ worth of food. It’s delicious and keeps you full and alert to get on with your days. 

As I said above, schools have a health centre with FULL medical services, at least in Canada. Take full advantage of their services since you’re paying for it. Get check ups, talk to nurses about your mental health, and get recommendations to local therapists if you feel you need more than what the on-campus ones can offer; recommendations with doctor’s notes gets you reduced rates for therapy, if I recall correctly (please correct me if I’m wrong, lovelies).

Most schools also have gym memberships paid-for in your tuition; ours was a branch of the YMCA good at ANY YMCA in Canada, and we could use the on-campus gym any time of the day or night. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS. Physical activity helps promote the natural endorphins in your body which help you feel better mentally. It doesn’t have to be anything strenuous: when I first started, I just did one hour on the recliner bike every day. It made me feel better and encouraged me to try other things in the gym, like the treadmill and weights. I found out I actually like working out a few times a week. I do it for ME, not for anyone else. Don’t do it “to be thin” or whatever (that’s a WHOLE other heap of garbage I’m not getting into here). Do it because it makes your mind happy. The gym is an EXCELLENT place to sort out your thoughts and plan your week ahead. The benefit to the recliner bike is that you can have a book or something and jot notes down while getting the exercise in.

DON’T PROCRASTINATE, like I said above. 

Get a part-time job if you find yourself needing something to do with some time you have. Some schools have a student-job centre where you can work on-campus for the print centre or student union, or you can just get a 8 to 16 hours-a-week job like at a grocery store (which is what I did) which wasn’t stressful at all because it was cleaning and food prep; it will look good on your resume that you can multitask like that, having a job and school at the same time, and job skills are transferrable to school as well :) Most part-time jobs will accommodate your school schedule.

HAVE FUN. Seriously, college were the best years of my life, not because I was out drinking every weekend (I actually WASN’T), but because I gained a lot of valuable life experiences from my time away, and I made amazing friends and a lot of my favourite memories were the activities we did together. We did a lot of hiking trips together, and I loved those.

Not much else I can say, Nonny, really, other than it’s perfectly normal to be scared and worried about your future. That’s why taking some time out to sit down and make yourself a schedule will help you handle it. I believe in you and I really REALLY think you will have a great time in college. So exciting, moving onto the next chapter of your life!

Good luck, Nonny, and I love you!

[jerzwriter]

I’m seeing a lot of people talking about DTI so I’m here to talk about the series that changed my life: When the Bough Breaks.

That series wrecked me. WRECKED ME. In the best ways? I guess, but it was still painful ha.

You’ll see, I’ve been in a situation like that. Not quite the same, because it was with my boyfriend of 2 years. He has a kid who he didn’t meet until the kid was 4, and in our situation his ex was calling all the shots. One of them being that I wasn’t allowed to be around him, because reasons? She wanted my bf to spend time with the kid either alone or the 3 of them together, meaning she would go to his place and spend time there, and he would suddenly cancel dates because she suddenly wanted to stop by. I remember being a mess, a girl in love and happy to see her bf happy and in love with his kid, but a mess, nonetheless. He usually played by her rules, afraid she would take him away again and it disrupted of entire dynamic, dare I say, even our connection.

The thing that hurt me the most about WTBB was that, your Casey, your amazing, strong, intelligent Casey was everything I wish I was. Like I said I know it’s a completely different situation but seeing her letting herself feel what she was feeling and being able to express it made me realized you’re not less compassionate/understanding for having those feelings of uncertainty. Like you can be both happy and sad in the same situation for different reasons.  And watching Ethan being there for her, so open with his thoughts, worrying about her, made me crave that support. It made me feel like all the people involved mattered. And that included me.

I cried a lot reading the chapters, I cried writing this, idk why.

But I just wanted to say:

THANK YOU SO VERY DAMN MUCH.

OK, Nonny, you have me crying too! 🥺

OMG, seriously, there is nothing, nothing that could touch me more than hearing something that I wrote helped someone in some way. It makes the time, effort, and dealing with fandom crazy... all worth it 100 times over.

First, I'm so sorry you went through all that; it has to be such a difficult situation. The complex emotions are absolutely normal and expecting that YOU and your feelings should be taken into account and matter as well, there is 100% nothing wrong with that. I truly hope you're in a better place right now.

Thank you for being brave enough to share your story here with us, and you've inspired me to get writing the final chapter. I really hope it's not so anticlimatic now as I've let so much time pass.

But seriously, again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for sending this. It means so, so much to me! 💕💕💕 (HUGS)

[thatonemellark]

Prompt! Could you write more on the au of gleggie with 3 boys?

Here you go, nonny :) 

“Momma.”

“Momma!”

Maggie cracked one eye open, feeling a tiny finger pokingher cheek. She smiles when she sees 4-year-old Ricky standing at her bedside.The grey light of early dawn illuminates his tiny face, which has a wide grinspread across it.

Ricky grins when he sees her eyes open and begins to bouncein spot.

“Momma!”

“Hi baby!”

Ricky grins and begins to babble to her. Her baby boysuffers from a speech impediment, making his words hard to understand. Her poorbaby boy was nonverbal until he was 3 years old. Now, Denise works with himeveryday, helping him to learn to annunciate his words and form his speech.

She knows it frustrates him, the fact that no one in theirfamily can understand him except for a few words. He often throws temper tantrumsbecause of his frustration of not being able to be understood.

Ricky continues to babble to her as she reaches over andpulls him into bed. She sets him in between her and Glenn.

“Daddy!”

“Shhhh,” Maggie brushes his hair out of his eyes, “Daddy’ssleeping, baby boy.”

Ricky smiles at her and leans his head down onto her belly,which is round with the early stages of pregnancy. Her whole family ragged onher and Glenn for a week when they announced their 4th pregnancy tothem. Jokes were made about litters of pups and repopulating the world bythemselves, to which they just rolled their eyes.

She wasn’t shocked to learn from Dr. Carson that she wasgoing to have another boy.

Ricky places his tiny hand on her belly. She isn’t sure howmuch he understands, but he seems to grasp the concept that his baby brother isin momma’s belly.

“You love your baby brother, don’t you?” She asks whilestroking his hair. He nods and rubs his hand over her belly.

He begins to babble again.

“Say bro-ther.” She says.

Ricky looks at her and tries to repeat the word.

“Good job buddy!” Glenn’s hand reaches out and he strokeshis son’s cheek. Glenn looks over at her and smiles. She leans over and kisseshis lips, wishing him a good morning.

Ricky squeals with excitement, “Momma, daddy!”

“Guess we don’t get to sleep in today.” Glenn sighs as herubs a hand over his face. Maggie smiles at her husband.

“Go back to sleep, I’ll take him downstairs.” She throws onan old hoodie and sets Ricky on his feet.

“Come on baby boy.” He grabs her hand and she leads him outof the bedroom.

“Go downstairs. Momma will be right there.” She gentlynudges him towards the stairs. Once Ricky is safely at the bottom, she gentlycreeps into her son’s bedroom.

8-year-old Ben is asleep in his bed, dead to the world.Sprawled on his back, his tiny body somehow takes up all the space in the bed. Starfishing, as Glenn called it. Glennsays that she sleeps the same way. She presses a kiss to his forehead and thenmoves over to Hershel.

Her oldest child turns 10 years old today. He lay curled onhis side, his old, ragged stuffed elephant tucked safely in his arms. He deniesthat he sleeps with it, but every morning she peeks in to see him cuddling theold thing.

She brushes his hair back and kisses his head, “HappyBirthday, baby boy.”

She gently closes the door to their room and presses herhands to her belly. She can’t believe Hershel is already 10.

In Alexandria, a child may venture beyond the gates for thefirst time at 10 years old. Today, Hershel is being taken beyond the gates forthe very first time.

It makes her stomach turn. She knows he will be safe. Glenn,Rick, Daryl, Tara, Abraham and Michonne will be with him to protect him, butshe still can’t fathom the thought of her sweet baby boy being out there.

She’s pulled out of her thoughts by a loud crash fromdownstairs and a tiny voice echoing, “Oops, momma, oops!!”

Later that day, she stands by the gate. Ben and Ricky are attheir schooling lessons, while Hershel stands nervously in front of her. Hefiddles with the knife at his belt. Glenn, Rick, Daryl, Michonne, Tara andAbraham stand just outside the open gate, waiting for Hershel to join them.

“You listen to them while you are out there. Do everythingthey say!” Maggie tells her child.

“I know Ma, I will.”

She places a baseball cap on his head.

“And don’t you dare wander off! Keep them in sight at alltimes! And stay within your father’s sight. And if you see a walker, don’t-”

“Christ Maggie, you’re smothering the kid. He’ll be fine.”She pulls Hershel into a hug and flips Abraham the bird behind her son’s back.Abe bursts out laughing.

She pulls away from the hug and frames Hershel’s face in herhands.

“I love you so much, little goose.” She presses a kiss tohis forehead. Hershel kisses her cheek.

“I love you too, Mama. I’ll find you something neat whileI’m out there.”

She can feel tears burning her eyes.

“Oh Ma, don’t cry!” He pulls her into a hug. She waves himoff.

“I’m not, I’m not. It’s the baby. Go. Get out of here. Besafe.” She presses one more kiss to his forehead.

Hershel stands at the open gate. She watches as he takes adeep breath and then steps outside the gate for the first time in his life.

“Come on, pancakes, lets get a move on. We are burningprecious daylight.”

She watches as they walk down the road. The gate toAlexandria begins to shut.

“Hey Uncle Abe, now that I’m 10 and I’m joining you guys onruns, can you tell me how in the world you came up with Pancakes for my nickname?”

She laughs as she watches Abe pull her son in a playfulheadlock.

“I’ll tell ya when you’re older son.”

Hours later, she’s standing in the kitchen, making an afterschool snack for Ricky and Ben.

“But it’s not fair!” Ben argues with her.

“It is fair,” She sets the apple slices in front of Rickyand Ben, “When you’re 10, Daddy will take you outside the gates too.”

He shoves an apple slice in his mouth and mumbles, “Judithgot to go out before she was 10.”

“Those were different times,” She snaps, “and she was just ababy then. We had nowhere to go, had no choice but to have her on the road. Nowif I hear one more word about this, you’re gonna have muck duty for the rest ofthe week.”

Ben shuts his mouth, the threat of cleaning up horse poopsilencing any argument he had.

After the boys eat their snack, she sits with them at thetable and helps them with their homework. Ben has a quiz on edible plantsFriday, so she takes the time to make flashcards with him. Ricky circlespictures of cartoon drawings that demonstrate properly holding a knife.

Carol comes over to help her make dinner for their family.She gives Ben and Ricky a kiss (and slyly slips them each a cookie) and thenshe rubs her hand across Maggie’s belly.

She sends the boys outside to help Judith set the table withFather Gabriel. As she carries a big bowl of salad out to the table, she seesher husband and son walking towards the house. Rick, Michonne, Daryl, Tara andAbe follow behind. Her heart speeds up when she sees them all covered in blood,but they each sport huge smiles. Judith runs to Hershel and gives her bestfriend a huge hug.

Hershel runs up to her, “Ma! You should’ve seen it!! A herdtrapped us! They were everywhere! We were surrounded!”

She gasps, her eyes flying to her husband. He grins at her,“It’s true. Hersh was amazing. He didn’t hesitate. He jumped right in.”

Daryl pipes in, “Lil’ hell raiser did great, a true pro.”

“Yeah, it’s like he’s been slaying walkers his whole life.”Michonne says as she ruffles his hair.

“Son, go take a shower before we eat. Quickly, we have toshower too.” Glenn claps his son on the shoulder. Hershel gives his mom a kissand then runs inside.

“How bad was it?” She immediately asks.

“It wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. Maybe a few dozen. Wewere scavenging at a feed store and they just came out of nowhere. But babe, hedidn’t hesitate.”

Tara comes steps forward, Ricky cuddled in her arms, “Mags,he saved my life today. One snuck up behind me, got the jump on me. It wasthree times his size but he just went for it. He saw I was in danger and hesaved me.”

“My baby boy did that?” She feels a wave of pride.

“You should be very proud, Maggie. He’s gonna beat thisworld.” Rick says to her.

She smiles. She looks at Hershel as he walks into the house,then to Ben, who stands with Judith, practicing his knife skills and then theRicky, who shows Uncle Daryl his homework and points out what plants are safeto eat.

The little one in her belly stirs, and she knows he will bejust as smart, brave and tough as his brothers.

Glenn presses a kiss to her forehead. They may have had toadapt to this world. But this crazy world is the only place her children know.She’s confident that they will beat this world. She just knows it.