#get to know your writers

[megamindsecretlair]

20 Questions for Writers

Thank you for the tag @nerdieforpedro this was just the kick in the pants I needed to get more organized. LOL

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

I started on Tumblr and I'm new to AO3 and have been too lazy to copy and paste all that LOL. I have 6 fics on AO3 and 65 on Tumblr, not counting individual series.

2. What is your total AO3 word count?

I'm........a little embarrassed to say lol. But it is 500,516. Oh chilleee, why though lmfaooooo. Listen, something unlocked in me with these fics and all these wonderful responses to my writing, okay?! I missed my teenage angsty fanfic years and I'm speedrunning through it for now okay?! Okay, I'll go hide now.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

I started with Marvel but I've somehow morphed into a blog for gorgeous, gorgeous Black men who don't get nearly enough love. A sprinkling of white men. And a dash of Pedro and hopefully, Oscar because Moon Knight is my whole heart and I need him biblically.

4. Top Five fics by kudos:

WHEW. Going through Tumblr for this was ROUGH. Ya'll lucky my brain had time today.

You Understand Me Now : This had the highest notes of all my fics. And I keep getting asks to do more similar to this. But what ya'll looking for in this one?????

Sprung : I am surprised!! Out of all my Tyrone fics, I did not expect this to be so high. It was my first request and my first shy girl fic. Special place in my heart frfr.

Mr. Black, Part 1 : Nothing is more fun than watching the notes trickle down the further along in the series it is lol. Further proof that I write these for ME. But anywhooooo, I think this collectively unlocked something in all of us lol.

What's Your Favorite Scary Movie? : Lissen, it was spooky month, it was a full moon, I was FERAL for Ghostfast smut okay??!! I am actually surprised this is so high up and it's not more Tyrone on this list LOL

Runaway Lover, Part 1 : I did not expect to turn this into a mini-series, but here we are LOL. I can't deny ya'll nothing! This definitely stretched some muscles for me and I enjoyed challenging myself. Probably one of the few fics I just let flow and stopped berating myself for how long it was.

5. Do you respond to comments?

Absolutely! I love engaging with people and every single comment fills me with so much joy. I make every effort to respond to comments!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

OOF, the most??? Probably.....Through the Fire with Franklin Saint. That one still hurts ME to this day LOL.

Through the Fire

7. What is the fic you wrote that has the happiest ending?

Jeez, all my endings are pretty happy?? I can't really single any one out for being the most happy. I like happy couples round here.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Nope (and I knocked on wood). Thankfully everyone has been really kind and sweet about my work. It overwhelms me every single time.

9. Do you write smut?

All day, every day. I am a whore disguised as a barely functioning member of society LOL. I am a whore trapped in a slut wrapped up in a floosy. I am the slutty version of a Matryoshka, or Russian nesting dolls lmfaoooo.

10. Craziest Crossover?

Hmmmm, I haven't done any crazy crossovers yet. I should remedy that. That sounds like hella fun.

11. Have you ever have a fic stolen?

Nope, thank the LORDT. (I knocked on wood) Not that I've seen and no one has told me that it's been stolen. I take comfort in knowing that I am but a tiny island in the sea that is Tumblr and ain't nobody trynna steal my silly little stories. This is not an invitation, don't be an ass and steal. I will give you advice, I will teach you to write, I will read over your writing, whatever. Stealing is some basic bitch shit.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope, not that I know of. It'd be interesting to see someone try to translate nigga or half the shit I say LOL.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic?

I have not but that sounds interesting! I have a teensy *coughalotlikealotalot* control issue, so it'd be interesting to see if my writing style meshes well with someone else.

14. All time favorite ship?

OOOOOF, this is hard. I just don't vibe with a lot of ships. Because these writers always break them up anyway. I like SydCarmy and Kanthony at the moment.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I pretty much finish (shut up lol) all my fics. There's a lot that I want to write but nerves or time does not permit. I'd die to write some Frank Castle, Dean Winchester, Matthew Lillard, Benedict Bridgerton....basically the folks on my white men roster. But they get enough attention.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Strengths?????! You want me to praise myself?? Nerdie, how could you LOL. But ummm......I think I do well with dialogue and chemistry. I feel like each reader is uniquely situated for each fic. I can write a lot, like too much at times.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I SUCK at descriptions. Lordt, that's my weakest point. Always has been lol. I be like sheeit, idk, they in a room getting busy, what more do you want from me??? LOL

18. Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

I like it and I respect it from other writers. Lends an extra layer of authenticity. But I do personally dislike when the translations are at the bottom of the fic. I'm not scrolling back and forth and by the time I get to the end, I done forgot what the hell it was supposed to be lol.

19. First Fandom you wrote in?

Marvel. Started with Loki. My love, my precious love. He started it all for me.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

No, I shan't shut up about Once Upon a December LOL. It's my favorite dammit. It's a sweet, gothic, romance from Prince Bucky. Like he can be my prince any fuckin' day.

This was fun and definitely learned some things about myself lol.

No pressure tags: @umber-cinders @harmshake @multiversefanfics @just4shyt3z @j0kers-light @slippinninque

[thatsnotmygunflash]

13. what’s a common writing tip that you almost always follow? 17. What do you do when writing becomes difficult? (maybe a lack of inspiration or writers block) 40. If someone were to make fanart of your work, what fic or scene would you hope to see? 44. What mistakes do you keep making no matter how many times your beta corrects you? (asked with love, friend!) 😊 54. What’s your favorite part about the fanfiction writing process? 56. What’s something about your writing that you pride yourself on?

13. What's a common writing tip that you almost always follow?

Short sentences are more powerful than long sentences, as are shorter paragraphs. I have a hard time reading huge chunks of information being dumped in the middle of a conversation and then having to go back up and re-read the last part of the conversation because I got so wrapped up in their thoughts. I play things out like I’m watching tv and when I watch tv I’m very guilty of listening more than watching. Words have always been an assault for me, I hear too much in people’s voices and see too much in their eyes, so it’s best to pick one or the other. My writing has unintentionally been affected by that mentality.

17. What do you do when writing becomes difficult? (maybe a lack of inspiration or writers block)

When I have inspiration (and the right playlist) I never let it go to waste, I’m in deep for hours at a time. When I get to the point where I’ve changed a sentence more than three times, I can usually tell I need a break. I like to walk away or work on something else for a bit and come back with fresh eyes. If that doesn't work and I’m still just staring at the screen I'll go watch TV, play video games, or read something that is similar to what I'm working on. If I’m still not feeling it I’ll take a break for a week or so and come back refreshed.

40. If someone were to make fanart of your work, what fic or scene would you hope to see?

I was just thinking about this! I have ideas for Citizen Cold’s new gear and I'm dying for someone who can actually draw to help me bring it to life! I'd also go insane for a drawing of Barry from their first video chat with the 'Team Cold' shirt and the sun bathing him in light. The polaroids as well of course! Oh, it'd be so amazing to see! But wait, look at me, not even thinking about Len at his desk twirling the phone cord! There’s so many good snapshots I can think of in my head, you don’t know how desperate I am to see them in real life.

44. What mistakes do you keep making no matter how many times your beta corrects you? (asked with love, friend!) 😊

Oh God, okay first I want you to know I’m so so so so sorry. It took a lot of courage on my part to even contact you because I know. I know. I’m a mess. You know first hand I need a refresher course in punctuation. I don't know what's wrong with me, the rules just never seem to stick in my head. Every time I think I’ve got it right I’m proven wrong. It’s like high school math all over again. On an average day (not writing) I usually read anywhere from 6 to 10 hours. I should understand better how to properly place a comma or a period. I don’t want to talk about my spelling or vocabulary, so you’re just gonna get another apology. I’m really sorry.

54. What’s your favorite part about the fanfiction writing process?

Getting to share my work with others. 😊 It’s always in the back of my head to find a different hobby besides writing, something more fulfilling, but I think it’s really just the lack of interaction and feedback that fuels those thoughts. I’ve always loved writing. It always makes me happy to see people have commented or just read my work. I’ve posted in other fandoms and have a few fics that have done fairly well, but none of them are very active fandoms nowadays. It’s really nice to know that I’m not the only one who loves writing and reading either. I can connect to people here who share an interest I’m eager to talk about since I don’t really tell anyone about my writing in my personal life.

56. What’s something about your writing that you pride yourself on?

I like to think I'm pretty good at constructing new worlds and creating something you can really get lost in, but I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to writing. I’ll create whole new worlds with timelines that span hundreds of years and complex characters that you’d just fall in love with then when it’s time to write the story I’ll just…lose interest suddenly and start something else. Posting IWEBTFATFY was a goal I had set for myself in hopes of breaking that recent streak. I’m very happy to have written 78,000 words and not been too scared to post it in fear it wasn’t going to be good enough. I’ve become very invested in this universe and have a lot of hopes for it. With the right motivation and determination I think I could create something incredible.

[romansleftshoulderpad]

As a writer, I love going back through the comments I've gotten on AO3. I promise that the minute you take of your time has been appreciated for hours/months/years

[urfriendlywriter]

How to get to know your characters better?

(feel free to add your own thoughts to this list, hope it helps!) req by @miricalebabyy44 <3

what will your character be like if they were in your shoes?

is your oc the mom friend or the dad or the childish one in their friendgroup ?

do those "poet, king, soldier" quiz for your oc. im being fr

do the "36 questions to fall in love" quiz as your oc.

ik your ocs trauma have an impact on their character, but how would they be like, if they hadn't gone through that experience?

does your oc have similar tastes as you do? (music, art, fashion, coffee/tea etctetc)

will they "i only live once so I'll do it for the plot." or will they "i only live once ffs, i don't wanna die." ?

what is your ocs opinion of love? how is/was their love life on a scale of 1-10?

will your oc let go of someone precious to them when they know they're putting them at danger?

around whom does your oc lets their guard down?

are they romantically constipated or a hopeless romantic?

what type of music does ur oc like?

write a lot about your oc if you're struggling to get to know them. find a drabble prompt, and write what they'd do.

do they trust others easily or do they get trusted by others easily?

what is something your oc will never talk to anyone about? (their answer can be deep, like some emo trauma or like smthng like back when they shit their pants or smthng yk)

do they give off golden retriever energy, or a black cat energy? (or both?)

what will THEIR opinion be on YOUR current life? will they be ur friend? will they trust you?

will your oc survive in a fantasy setting, a war setting, a dystopian setting, a futuristic setting, a medieval setting? will ur oc survive after getting stranded on an island, or a forest?

does your oc like their parents, do they like how their life is, do they feel like they're born in the right gen?

if they are ever to get one wish definitely granted, what would they wish for?

how did they react to their first kiss? (if they have had it by now lmao)

what's an ideal day for your oc?

lastly, who does your oc go to when they've fucked up?

[anneapocalypse]

So, just curious how many writers and creators will have to be forcibly outed by relentless harassment before we acknowledge that "This queer characters was written by a cishet person and that's why they're bad" is not good criticism.

[littlefankingdom]

Simple observation I made from reading these comics. DC, stop making their dad an asshole and make him hug them more.

Also, the hugs in these comics:

Tim's hug is not in Red Robin but it's during the run and when Bruce comes back in time.

Cass' hug is weird because they're suicidal freaks who think fighting is therapy. They fought while being drugged, and blew up a brigde. It makes sense for them only.

Jason's first hug (Outlaws) is after he tries to apologize for his crimes and Bruce refuses to let him to do it, because his boy is innocent for him 🥺 (and then, they fucked it up with Ethiopia because they cannot let them have nice things 🙄). The second one (Red Hood & Arsenal) is started by Jason, who is just very happy to see that Bruce is alive, even if he has lost his memory.

[krysmcscience]

The Lamb is malicious in a funny way and the Goat is funny in a malicious way. No, I will not elaborate.

Anyway, everyone give thanks to the Lamb for interrupting what was sure to be a very boring and patronizing PSA from their grouchy cat hubby. Truly, they are doing God's work. Granted, the Lamb canonically is God now, so, uh. Mostly they're just doing their own work.

Speaking of their grouchy cat hubby, yes this is absolutely still Narilamb, Narinder is 100% into his goofy-ass spouse always no matter what and we all know it, he just wasn't expecting his brand new adopted kid to share the same single goofy-ass brain cell as the Lamb. :)

[the-millennium-curse]

You're not wrong for feeling sad or disappointed or even betrayed when a fic you put time and work into gets very little attention. But I do want to remind you that one (1) kudos is a whole-ass human being who read through what you wrote, experienced it, thought about it, and realized they felt so strongly positive about it that they had to send that feeling to you. Try to let the feeling reach you. Feel that you changed someone's day, maybe even more.

Be proud of what you've done, even as you wish you did more.

[randomalistic]

Cool awesome reminder that you don’t need amazing technical skill to be a good artist/storyteller

[szynkaaa]

Zhu Bajie: do you exercise Travel Companion: I like to run away from my problems and feelings

The dialogue is based off a scene from Doctor Who. I don't think that my OC would be going with Zhu Bajie and the Destined One into the rock for the final battle (probably cause she is not able to enter) so she has to sit outside and wait anxiously for them to return.

She is happy to see them return but then also immediately notices how the Destined One's whole demeanour and aura changed. She knew that this point was going to happen where he inherits everything and becomes the new Monkey King, but I also think that she has a hard time wrapping her head around the concept of reincarnation and struggles with accepting it.

So yeah, I imagine the moment after new Sun Wukong comes out of the rock, it's an angsty moment. He just wants to see his best friend and tell her what happened, and now that he is finally "whole" again be able to propely have conversations with her and ask her about all the weird things she says and does, but instead she looks at him like she is very unsure of everything.

Sun Wukong doesn't really have the temper imo or at least here things get a bit heated and he snaps and well, she does what she is best at in situations like this: fucking book it :)))))

Obviously SWK wants to chase after her but Zhu Bajie helds him back and says "ayo kiddo give the lassie some time to process everything, she will come around" he doesn't want to but he knows that is what she needs atm.

Where is Travel Companion hiding meanwhile? In the Zodiac village, the Yin Tiger offered her a spare bedroom, and in exchange she helps around, with the crops, bringing materials back and forth and also has some good times drinking and sharing stories with the villager. Maybe also crying about her woes, and I think that the villager sharing their stories about SWK and explain more about his backstory and stuff helps the her to come around more.

also SWK knows she is there and comes by every day to get his harvest and the free medicing from your local meth dealer Xu Dog. She is hiding in Yin Tiger's lil blacksmith hut everytime he is visiting, but she knows that he knows that she knows that he is there.

And then one day when he is visting Yin Tiger, SWK sighs and goes all "hey bud can you pass this message to Travel Companion," and inserts some very sweet and sappy stuff, knowing that she is there and can hear him. Just as he is about to leave she decides to come out of her hiding spot and go "Hey... let's go talk somewhere more private".

SWK is not showing any emotions but you can tell by the flicker of his tail that he is relieved to see her. Bit worried about the dark eye circle and how not well-rested she looks like, but he will make sure to fix that soon.

[chirpsythismorning]

This is everything the Stranger Things writers have posted publicly about the WGA strike:

TIMELINE

May 3rd:

Stranger Things writer Caitlin Schneiderhan tweets picture from personal Twitter account of sign from the strike that reads 'Pay us or Steve Harrington is toast'

May 6th:

Official Stranger Writers Twitter account makes post on behalf of the Duffers Brothers. They have since pinned this tweet to their profile. "Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we're excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then -- over and out. #wgastrong

Bonus:

May 12th:

Stranger Things writer Kate Trefry posts picture from personal Tumblr account of sign that reads, 'Byler won’t write itself'

As far as I know, the two writers that posted on their personal socials are the only writers from ST that even have personal accounts that are public, whereas the rest of the writers do not.

What does make me take a pause though, is that, while yes they did post these pictures from their personal accounts, which is about as official as it gets, they also cryptically did not include themselves in said pictures...

This just got me thinking about how Stranger Things is quite literally Netflix and vise versa. They are practically one in the same, where one without the other just doesn't make sense.

While this conflict of interest might run deep for many writers out there fearing to speak out against their employer, for us, the consumers, the fans, we as a collective have so much more power than we realize.

In contrast to the writers, streamers can't just fire their consumer base sometime down the line, out of spite for speaking out. Without consumers, neither Stranger Things nor Netflix would be what it is today.

We have the affordance of being able to speak up the loudest of anyone. And so why wouldn't we take advantage of that?

There are so many people out there protesting: writers, actors, others in the industry and even outside of it who are also taking a stand, many who need support so that they can continue to fight in the upcoming days, weeks, months, without being deterred by corporations that are making them feel greedy for demanding a contract that at most, asks that they be paid fairly.

And so I want to encourage anyone that is reading this, but fellow fans of Stranger Things especially, who have so much power in this strike when it comes to getting Netflix's attention, to consider taking the time to do whatever you can individually + with the masses as a community in order to best support the strike.

Follow the Strike! If you're active on various social media already, please be sure to follow the official accounts advocating for the strike via Instagram (@writersguildwest/@wgaeast), via Twitter (@WGAWest/@WGAEast). Engage with posts from folks that are out there daily, many with whom you can find by following tags like #WGAStrong, #WGAStrike and #WritersStrike. Although most fans are not able to join in picketing themselves, we can at least recognize all of those out there's individual efforts and do our best to show that we're paying attention and listening!

Spread the word! Show support any way you can by sharing posts and articles about the strike, or even fun memes to inform others in a more engaging way. This is the official site for the WGA strike if you want to learn more about what’s going on before diving in! And make sure to stay up-to-date here as things continue to unfold!

Donate! The Entertainment Community Fund is endorsed by the WGA for anyone that wants to support those affected by the strike financially. And this thread on Twitter is an incredible resourse, as it provides an ‘easy, one-click, stress-free, accessible-to-all-budgets’ ways you can support folks on the front lines.

Also! Consider donating through this link for the Entertainment Community Fund, where the money donated still goes directly to that fund, this is just an organizing page for Stranger Things fans specifically! By allowing fans to see how much of an impact we make as a collective, in real time, this could encourage even more ST fans to want to contribute. In a best case scenario, if this GoFundMe were to reach impressive proportions of donations from fans, that could lead to news outlets reporting on it, which could allow an opportunity for even more eyes on the strike, while also even more importantly being able to provide financial support to those that need it.

Trend! On social media, use #StrangerFansforWGA to trend or even just to reach other fans also looking to come together to support the strike!

While I know this post probably wont reach anywhere outside of Tumblr, I want to make a point to encourage those of you that are on other platforms to inform fans in those spaces about the strike and what they can do to help!

We might not all agree on everything, but I think we can agree on at least one thing... @Netflix & all major streamers and networks out there, who are still refusing to make a fair deal: PAY YOUR WRITERS!

In the mean time, if you're interested in working on different ideas for initiates we can carry out as a fandom, please reach out to me! I might only one person and I might not have all the answers and solutions, but I do know that with more of us working together, our odds of making an impact are much greater!

Over and out!

[megamindsecretlair]

If you could live out one of the stories you’ve written, which one would you want it to be? Note: it has to be with the same characters. You can’t pick and choose stories and characters.

Ohhh 👀 great ask! I really had to think on this one.

Most of my fics are self-indulgent. Like most, if not all, are just self inserts 🤣🤣🤣 I be trynna go on missions with my babies! So each one has a different aspect of myself anyway.

But if I were to live out one of them, sky's the limit, probably my Loki series. Only because it has a bit of magic, a bit of intrigue, and the love is always there but rocky. I'd kill to live in a world full of magic 😭 why I landed on a non-magical universe is beyond fn meeeeee 🤣🤣🤣

Be My Little Darling

Some of the scenes have genuinely healed me. Like talk about writing therapy! Sometimes it's good to get those emotions out.

[thatsnotmygunflash]

Get to know your writer!! Questions: 2, 22, 64 ❤️❤️❤️

😊💙❤😊

2. Do you plan each chapter ahead or write as you go?

It depends on the idea I have, a lot of the time I'll slowly plan out everything with a detailed outline and expectations for the plot and other times I'll just let myself do what comes naturally and knock out a timeline in a day. For IWEBTFATFY I started with just a handful of small conversations I had cooked up and then turned into a more concrete plotline after figuring out what exactly I wanted to do with this universe I had created. I set up the chapters like call logs, making sure to use the “Homicide, Snart,” as much as I could. I love a good running theme. At first, I was just going to have the phone calls be like you were reading an actual call log, but I knew that wouldn’t work for some very important calls so I had to tweak that idea. Instead, I made sure there was a call recorded for every scene. For the sequels I have planned the chapters are mapped out, to a point, but my timelines are still fluctuating too much for me to nail everything down. They are coming along well though!

22. Are there certain types of writing you won’t do? (style, pov, genre, tropes, etc)

As a writer I have seen myself gravitating towards certain tropes, but I find myself avoiding writing stories with couples that are already romantically together to begin with. I usually find myself writing in the POV of the more morally gray character in the ship. You'll never see me do anything in first person though. I don't know if there's anything I wouldn't write. I'm pretty open to giving new things a try and I do tend to read darker fics, but as a writer, I think I thrive most in the flirting stages of the relationship. One thing I’ve noticed is I write very differently than most, but I’ve always gravitated towards conversations leading the story rather than inner thoughts.

64. Something you love to see in smut.

When I read smut I prefer shorts or chaptered fics that are dedicated solely to smut. I like to read about more extreme kinks that are difficult to put into my typical preferred reading material and still have the story progress in a way that can keep my full attention. When I write smut (something I don't actively do truthfully) I really have to be in the right mindset for it, which is difficult for me to get into. When I write I rely heavily on dialog to get information across, and with smut it's a lot of describing actions and repetition of words. There's only so many times I can write the word cock or dick and not roll my eyes. That said, when I do get in the mood it usually ends up turning out better than I expect it too, so hopefully I’ll get some inspiration for a few cutscenes in IWEBTFATFY.

[vlasdygoth]

think i'm gonna call it off

[specialgrades]

Imagine bein an incubus n you're trying to corrupt good ol Father Nanami but his guardian angel, Gojo is trying to stop you,,,, two for one deal you get to corrupt an angel AND a priest!!!!

ouguugh you are speaking my language....

gojo didn't get it. he gave nanamin every warning, steering him away whenever he could manage without outright showing himself, none of it worked! he'd still find his pretty little human in the clutches of a demon! his wings fluttering in frustration, hearing the breathy prayers in his head again, fed up-- ready to show himself and give that devil a piece of his mind. he appears, ready to give the whole "be not afraid" schpiel he always gives to humans he presents himself too. not at all prepared for your eyes. father nanami's hands clasped together in prayer with his own eyes squeezed shut, yours boring into his from between nanami's legs. hushed, hiccup-y prayers leaving his swollen lips as your-- rather inhumanly long, gojo notes-- tongue performed miracles on his cock. but your eyes, your eyes-- held gojo in place. he felt his body heat up under your gaze, almost completely ignoring the shaking priest in your hands (and mouth). your eyes were inhuman and captivating, gojo couldn't move under your gaze. nanami's breath picks up, hips bucking into your mouth before you pull away, tight grip on his base. "father, we have a visitor."

[gayofthefae]

We don't envision season 5 right when we talk because what is that actually gonna be like? This isn't a romcom. Mike finds out about the painting but Will is like throwing up blood and slugs in the corner.

edit: to clarify I wasn't saying "no time for romance" I was saying "it's horror show with raises stakes and angst. Mike will have to figure out how to bring up this truth bomb he discovered when more important things are clearly going on and there aren't the most conversational opportunities". I mean MORE juice, not less.