#i joined a writing challenge!!!

[cynical-kitten]

Oh! I did the thing!

I WROTE A CHAPTER AFTER ALMOST A MONTH OF NOTHING. Check it out if you wanna :) here's a snippet, and the link if you want to read more <3

As a human, New Year's Eve was a night I eagerly circled on calendars the day I bought them, marked with bright ink, some doodles, and a few exclamation points for good measure. The thrill of doing so was edged on by the buzz induced by the New Year's event that had occurred a day or two before, as well as the excitement of planning for the one ahead. As a product of New Orleans, I lived for parties, especially the extravaganzas in honor of a new year. Although nothing could shine as bright as our beloved Mardi Gras, New Year's Eve came very, very close.

Parties in the Crescent City were unique and worth the tourism it rightly deserved. The celebrations were considered to be street parties, and welcomed partygoers from around the world. Restaurants and jazz clubs held their doors wide open, musicians played on every corner of the French Quarter, and vendors were set up as far as the eye could see. Lights were strung from every nook and cranny, creating a blanket of stars beneath the celestial beauties dotting the night sky.

Despite the prohibition, which was alive and well for a decent portion of my adult life, alcohol found a way to flow freely under the noses of the law, fueling the debauchery that loitered within my beloved city. Champagne bubbles tickled my nose as I tossed back glass after glass, and whiskey warmed my insides as it settled in my stomach, igniting a fire against the chill of winter.

But oh, the dancing! The dancing was the highlight of it all and absolutely nothing could compare. Drunk off of the music and the liquid courage burning in my veins, I would twirl among the crowds, uncaring and free. I was alive, laughing and spinning as if all of New Orleans was my dancefloor. As a single woman, I'd flit from person to person, not a care in the world of whose arms had been encircled around me. Boundaries simply didn't exist on nights like these. Everyone was there to have a good time, and if you could cut a rug, you were fair game no matter who you belonged to.

Truth be told, I could have made a dance partner out of a murderer, which, in hindsight, I guess technically I did. After marrying Alastor, who turned out to be the Crescent City Phantom that haunted the streets of New Orleans, I truly expected my free-spirited fun to end. Much to my surprise, it didn't— he only added his dark, eager enthusiasm into the mix. The social butterfly found as much passion for the New Year's parties as I did, never denying me the opportunity to dance the night away as we counted down to midnight. And boy, could he dance! Alastor could dance better than anyone I've ever know, but he never let me stray far. He was very selfish and kept me to himself, his hands possessive as he held me close, which was fine by me. He indulged my every whim and fancy, never complaining unless I got too touchy or became stumbling drunk.

New Year's Eve in Hell, like most holidays, was a vastly different experience than the ones I had up above. It was a twisted version of the affair, lacking the glimmers of hope and eager resolutions that I was accustomed to. The night had one of the most somber atmosphere, filled with a sort of primal dread and anxiety that sat like a gargoyle on your shoulders. It dripped from the pores of every Sinner, the air heavy with fear and anticipation for what the next day would bring.

[thevioletcaptain]

i genuinely don't care how good a piece of ai generated art or writing looks on the surface. i don't care if it emulates brush strokes and metaphor in a way indistinguishable from those created by a person.

it is not the product of thoughtful creation. it offers no insights into the creator's life or viewpoint. it has no connection to a moment in time or a place or an attitude. it has no perspective. it has no value.

it's empty, it's hollow, and it exists only to generate clicks (and by extension, ad revenue.)

it's just another revolting symptom of the disease that is late stage capitalism, and it fucking sucks.

[bikananjarrus]

if yord had lived he'd be leading the hunt for qimir and osha and we would've gotten the most delicious tension between him and qimir. qimir would start out frustrated that yord got away, intent on finishing what he started. and yord, once hunted, now hunter, once an exemplary jedi, and now solely focused on revenge disguised as righteous justice (which it is also a bit of that). and qimir starts to enjoy the game, the chase. and in this timeline, sol still dies, osha still goes with qimir, but yord was unconscious, recovering in a bacta tank, so all he knows when he wakes up is that qimir is out there and took osha, his friend, away. so then you also have the tension of that confrontation, the realization that osha has willingly turned, and that maybe yord can't blame her for that, because what has he been doing these past many months, years, maybe, but give in to the selfish desire to finish what he started too?

[an-ruraiocht]

sometimes it's like. i don't really wanna have an opinion about this in public because i don't feel that strongly. but a lot of people are having ill informed opinions about it and i don't feel i can offer correct information without also an opinion. so i just have to suffer

[simplyghosting]

I’ll be honest, for as many years at I’ve seen October art/writing challenges (and art challenges the rest of the weeks/months of the year), I’ve only attempted a few and never finished any.

That being said, I think what I’m going to do for my umpteenth attempt this new October is to just.. do. Just do something every day. Any challenge, any prompt, any event, even if it’s mixed and mismatched. Doesn’t matter if it’s finished, though I will try for it. A few well-typed sentences, a sketched drawing, an unfinished study, I’ll still label them a success. I want my goal for this month to be to make improvements in my art and passions and to make an effort. Not bogged down by perfectionism or despair or lack of motivation or whatever else may stop me. I want to make the challenge of this month for me to live my life thoughtfully and love and respect what I bring into it again.

[non-un-topo]

This was supposed to be 3 thousand words........

[careful-fear]

i've always wanted like, a book club, or a writing club. but chill and small. people are scary

[rowanisawriter]

📝

i am deathly afraid of prompts and writing challenges/exchanges because of how chaotic my process is, it’s hard for me to follow anything but the Holy Spirit that takes over my body when i write. i’ve written two exchange fics in the past two years that took a lot out of me but i ended up proud of what i wrote so at least im working on it? lol

send me a 📝 for a random writing post lol

[healerqueen]

A Letter

I decided to join in the Chesterton Challenge, answering the prompt "Letter." It gave me the motivation to write a letter I'd been meaning to write for years, from one of my original characters to another, at a certain point in their book series. It was fun to explore their daily life between books and to see how they'd express (or hide) what they felt about each other at that point in the story.

[gentil-minou]

sharing my wangxian phlebotomist!wwx/blood donor!lwj au from twitter here (a summary here if you wanna see)

--

The hardest part of the adoption process was supposed to be endless paperwork and screenings and the anxiety of not being good enough to meet high standards of the court.

It wasn't supposed to be A-Yuan's first doctors appointment.

His pitiful screams fill the small doctor's office. He's clinging to Lan Wangji's shoulders like there a lifeline, hiding and all LWJ wants to do is bundle up his son and carry him back to safety.

But these are mandatory vaccines he needs in order to attend pre-k. So he cant.

Nurse: Shots are never fun at this age, huh He would beg to differ; they're never fun at any age But see lwj isnt afraid of the shots themselves. Hes terrified of the sight of blood. His BFF loves horror movies & he watches them with her bravely by staring at the corner of the tv

When lwj gets his blood drawn, he looks closes his eyes and imagines being in a cold pond somewhere. But he's never been afraid of just the shot before.

He's helpless in the face of his son's distress. The nurse sighs, saying theyll have to try again another day.

A-Yuan sniffles into his baba's shirt, exhausted from the crying fit. His eyes are still watery and he looks around the room with such fear in his eyes, before withdrawing back into the safety of his baba's chest.

Lan Wangji has no idea what to do, only cradles him closer

Thankfully, LWJ has someone who can help. His best friend, Jiang Yanli is a child therapist and has been helping him prepare his home for A-Yuan.

If anyone knows what to do, it's Yanli-jie

JYL: Zhanzhan, have you tried showing him its not scary?

LWJ has not, bc he's terrified

JYL is the only one allowed to call him Zhanzhan. In Uni she was the one who mentored him his first week of school. Someone slipped him alcohol and he got deliriously drunk.

Yanli-jie was the one who found him and took him home. This is what they told the cohort but actually…

JYL: seeing his Baba get a shot and be okay might motivate him to be more brave

LWJ certainly doesn't feel brave. He's thinking of the blood flowing from his veins and then LEAVING them to go who knows where. It sounds barbaric

He has the distinct memory of learning what a period is in middle school and promptly passing out

He is not a fan of anything related to blood

But LWJ has learned that Yanli-jie knows what she's doing, so, despite the way he can swear he feels his blood pumping with fear, he agrees...but there's a problem.

LWJ: I am up to date on all my shots. How can I show him it is safe?

JYL: Hmm....I have an idea. My brother is a phlebotomist! He can help.

LWJ is confused. Last he heard, the younger Jiang is a prosecutor who makes a living viciously yelling in a courtroom.

JYL: Not him, Zhanzhan. My adoptive brother, A-Xian. I bet he would be happy to help you. He works at the blood bank at Yiling Clinic! The perfect exposure!

For who?, LWJ wonders. A blood bank sounds like a house of horrors to him. And a person who chooses to stick a needle in people and remove the very force that gives them life? He cannot imagine getting along with this person at all.

--

Yiling Clinic is a community clinic in a part of town Lan Wangji has never been to, especially since the Gusu Group has their own private hospital.

But this is where Yanli-jie's phlebotomist little brother works.

A-Yuan clings to the back of his legs as they approach the receptionist, a young man with amazing cat eye makeup named Mo Xuanyu

These two definitely do not fit the bill for their usual patients, with their designer clothing, so he asks with some skepticism: Um, can I help you?

LWJ has spent the last two hours siking himself up for the blood part, he isn't prepared at all for social interactions. He flounders like a fish.

LWJ: …I am…We are here for…

A shout comes from behind them: Ah! A-Yu, is that A-jie's friend? Zhanzhan?

LWJ flinches until he sees a man sprinting towards them. The 1st thing he notices is this man is wearing lilac scrubs with little white rabbits on them.

The 2nd thing he notices is this man has the most enchanting smile he's ever seen. Already, LWJ feels more relaxed.

The man winks at him: You like the scrubs? A-jie said A-Yuan liked bunnies, I figured this would help keep him calm.

LWJ does not blurt I like bunnies too. But only just.

Beside the man is a pediatric nurse named Wen Ning, no relation, who says he's here to help with A-Yuan

Yanli-jie's little brother, the phlebotomist, introduces himself: Ah! Sorry, Lan Zhan. Jiejie always calls you that so it just stuck. I'm Wei Wuxian. You can call me Wei Ying if you wanna make it even.

Strangely, LWJ feels no need to correct him: Lan Zhan is fine, Wei Ying.

WWX smiles so brightly, LWJ feels dizzy with it.

WWX: Now where's the little bunny himself?

A-Yuan has been clinging behind LWJ's pant leg, tilting around just enough to peek with one eye at this strange gege.

WWX: Maybe not a rabbit then, a radish who likes to hide away!

A-Yuan becomes offended: I don't like radishes!

WWX laughs: Me neither! But Qing-jie says they help us grow big and strong, so they can't be all that bad huh?

WWX is crouched in front of A-Yuan, draping both arms across his knees and resting his chin in one hand. He waits.

LWJ admires his patience. The longer WWX waits, crouched and rocking back and forth in front of A-Yuan, smile gently and welcoming, the more A-Yuan's natural curiosity gets the better of him.

Eventually, his son comes out from behind his leg to touch a black bunny on his sleeve

A-Yuan: I like this one. We only have a white bunny at home.

WWX: I like the black bunny too! What's your bunny's name?

A-Yuan: Banana, bc she tries to eat Baba's banana every morning, and you are what you eat.

He recites this with all the solemnity a 4 yo could possess

WWX's laughter echoes through the lobby: Well! You're very right, A-Yuan. Maybe you aren't a radish after all then. Tell me, what do little boys eat?

A-Yuan: I'm not little! I'm 4 and a half!

WWX: Right, right, I sincerely apologize for my mistake. What do big boys eat then?

A-Yuan purses his lips and taps his chin, pondering his question carefully: Hmm… jelly beans?

WWX looks like he wants to laugh more, but instead says: I see, I see. Thank you for your wisdom A-Yuan.

He looks up at LWJ, dark eyes dancing. LWJ's heart rabbits against his chest

WWX: If your baba is ready, we can head down to my cave if you'd like. I have a lot of cool machines I'd love to show you.

A-Yuan's eyes widen into saucers as he gasps: A cave? Wowww

They grin conspiratorially at each other, before turning bright eyes up at LWJ

LWJ feels warm and much more relaxed inside, so he nods: Mn. We may go.

A-Yuan cheers and holds WWX's hand as the head downstairs.

LWJ trails behind making small talk with WN, watching WWX and A-Yuan swing their hands and skip ahead, feeling something warm blossom in his chest.

The hallway to Wei Wuxian's lab isn't anything like Lan Wangji expects.

The rooms at Gusu are all perfectly pristine and sterile, painted white to promote serenity, rest, and healing.

For one thing, he'd raided a Halloween store at some point and hung up all sorts of decorations, mostly vampire themed. There's one that's says "I vant to suck your blood!" except suck is crossed out and replaced with "donate". Wwx and A-yuan giggle together at wwx's fake accent

It's definitely not up to Gusu General's strict standards. For one thing, there're beanbag chairs in the hall outside. Wwx says it's to feel more comfy while others wait, as he's the only phlebotomist on staff and it can take a while. A-Yuan personally tests each one.

His lab is…adequate if far too small. There's a desk that's overrun with stacks of papers and textbooks and a shelf that's filled with even more. The actual space where blood is drawn is, thankfully, sterile and clean. Though he's decorated with demons demanding blood for food

There's a temp controlled room where the blood is stored, with a red door and the words "Blood Pool" written in menacing barely legible font

Despite the…interesting decor, the room is homely and, surprisingly, welcoming. A-Yuan at least is having a very fun time getting a tour

Wwx patiently answers all of A-Yuan’s questions, even the endless why's, with utmost sincerity, even when his answers are purely nonsense.

Lwj can't stop the fond smile from lifting the corner of his lips. A-Yuan had never warmed up to a medical professional so fast.

He's pulled from his musings when A-Yuan grabs his sleeve: Baba! Blood-gege says this machine makes blood spin around!

Wwx burst out laughing: Blood-gege? I love it!

Lwj is enchanted, head repeating those last 3 words again and again as wwx fondly ruffles A-Yuan's fluffy hair

Wwx: alright, now that you're familiar with my beauty Chenqing (referring to his bloody spinny machine lwj does not want to think about), shall we get down to business?

He says this with his bright dark eyes glittering at LWJ. Right. The blood donating part.

Lwj gulps, nodding. A prisoner walking up to the gallows.

TBC

(If you're interested, I'm probably going to continue at least up to the end of the first part before i just make it into one long fic! You can follow it on my twitter!)

[minhyongi]

I want to write a frostiron one shot for Halloween but I don't know which idea to follow through on soooo you decide! :D

[mourn-and-watch]

unconditional devotion is fun and all but i love when you have to work on your relationships with characters in rpgs. it's so much fun when they openly question mc's decisions if they are not aligned with their morals. when they object and start an argument and must be convinced to do something. when they don't join mc in the final fight if you don't trust each other enough.

the payoff hits so much harder this way. if you're a dick to them they will not put you above their principles and stances because why would they? but if you helped them if you proved yourself to be trustworthy if you were good to them they will stand beside you even if they're conflicted and have to sacrifice something for that. and it's so cathartic when you know they could leave but at the end of the day they didn't! because them and your character are besties! friendship and love are hard to earn but you did it and now it helped you win!

[likegemstone]

I really want to challenge myself to make an effort to be social IRL and also to connect with other writers and artists specifically but gosh that is just. so unbelievably scary to me.

[the-jam-to-the-unicorn]

Jam's November Writing Challenge

Goal:

Finishing 4 WIPs

Finishing 3 Showman chapters (bonus points for a forth chapter)

Overview:

WIP 1 "???": ❌️

WIP 2 "???": ❌️

WIP 3 "???": ❌️

WIP 4 "???": ❌️

Chapter 55: ❌️

Chapter 56: ❌️

Chapter 57: ❌️

Bonus Points:

Chapter 58: ❌️

Book fair fic: ❌️

Little surprise: ❌️

Word Count

0 / 50.000

[overdevelopedglasses]

Tojoctober Day 31 - Fly

(I follow the path I’ve chosen, searching in the endless night)

Alt title is from “Dreamcatcher” by Starset

Kiryu reflects.

(Spoilers. Just, spoilers.)

—---------------------------------------------

Is this the first time I’m choosing to stand as an obstacle?

I’ve been one before, out of obligation. I’ve been the insurmountable wall that koi have chosen to climb, and I’ve seen so many fall from a height unimaginable to myself. The role of legend was shoved upon me, and all I could do was accept and eventually embrace it. There was ever only one dragon, even when others rose to challenge it.

The path I’d chosen, one that’s flirted with death so many times, and has even made itself unrecognizable. Is this where it all leads to? Am I doomed to throw myself into the fire over and over until there’s nothing left? Am I destined to protect dreams but not dream for myself? 

Even being in prison for a quarter of my life barely deprived me of myself. First for selflessness, then for duty, I expected my agent life to be much of the same. A necessity to keep those I love safe. My family, as piecemeal as it is at times, can survive without me. They have before.

But I didn’t expect to feel so alone in my sacrifice.

I begin to sweat. Looking down, I adjust the cuffs of my sleeves, the all too familiar maroon peeking out from the sea of gray.

I never thought I’d don this suit again. The red and gray that I chose long ago to be my battle armor, taunted to wear for the rest of my life. While I proved him wrong, this suit is synonymous with my identity. When I threw my name into the fire years ago, naturally the suit went with it. To the world, Kazuma Kiryu is just a figure of legend.

Or so I thought.

I should’ve known that I can’t escape the ghosts of my past.

Throughout my time with the clan, I’ve seen past actions bite people in the ass. Sometimes they’re life lessons, sometimes it’s their demise. We always learn from the past, then use the present moment to define the next past. When we choose to cease hiding in the shadows, the figures of our past will be there to meet us.

I can still picture everyone's faces from the day the Fourth Chairman reemerged.

Watase, looking smug as ever, unwavering from the threats posed to him.

The legends of my past life, eyes shining with shock and hope.

The legends of the future, confused but allowing new adrenaline to soar through them.

The man whom I have no right to call my son, staring at me with the most warmth I’ve ever seen from him. His voice is the one that plays in my head, over and over. His words still sound like a dream.

And then… There's that one. 

Maybe it’s his eyes. Or the way he carries himself. Or that design that echoes his essence. Or where I almost saw him walk, mere hours ago. There are many facets to that man, and I’m not one to normally make quick assumptions.

However, their resemblance is uncanny. If I close my eyes, I can hear the echoes of his laugh, like a ghost sending shivers throughout my psyche. 

Maybe that’s why I’m here, edging so close to the disobedience of direct rules and orders.

I’m not going to let another man sink into the depths of that darkness. Not when I’m around to prevent it.

Opening my eyes, unaware that I had shut them to begin with, I hear the door open with a squeak, as pairs of footsteps follow. I look down at my watch, and take one last deep breath. I don’t need to turn around to know who’s there.

Alright.

It’s time I teach this young dragon how to fly.

[izzy-b-hands]

Finished a fic event and was basking in being done and taking a day or two off from thinking abt fic and NOW after the event is DONE my brain is like

'random prompts pls? prompts for a poor little brain? no, i don't want to think any up myself, i just want them here! why didn't i act like this during the majority of the prior fic event? bc then it would have been most useful, or course!'

... anyway does anyone know of any low key/chill (like Izzy Hands Bingo is) fall fic events/challenges/bingos lol?

(ofmd related or otherwise, I'm pushing myself to try and write more of my original fiction and poetry too this fall. Hoping for chill bc i do have an increased work schedule from now to the election plus im always sporadic in how i work on events/challenges/bingos as shown by the latest one aksndkfngn)