#i might also use this for specific plot ideas when i've got the muse

[mutatedangels-a]

ok it's still under construction / and i'm adding more muses / but my main ones are up at my new muse page here!!

[highlordofkrypton]

Writing - Drafting Process

Clearly, I am avoiding actually writing by talking about writing. I was thinking about the drafting process today, and maybe this can help someone! For me, this process applies specifically to long stories to which I already know the conclusion, not my oneshots or update-as-I-go fics.

Honestly, I only found out that I write this way after my first fanfic. It's something that I do naturally, but with all the fun writing discussions I got to participate in lately, it was a fun exercise to actually break down what I do. It might sound daunting, but I promise that it's not as formal as you think!

I'm absolute a ✨vibes✨ writer, the drafting process is mostly for consistency and making sure I get to the end!

There are many ways to write, so for those who might still be looking for their process or those looking for something new, hopefully this can inspire you.

DRAFT 0: OUTLINE

For larger stories, I always get a surge of inspiration. I usually create a DUMP document where I dump all my ideas. At the very top of the document, I create an outline with the major story segments and then whenever I think of a scene, I add into that outline.

For example, my outline for my ACOTAR Prequel was created in chronological order, but also by location.

I would also start by adding:

The scenes that come to mind and I have muse to write

The necessary scenes that are either fundamental to character development or plot development

The transitional scenes

So, in that order, I can get a pretty decent idea of what I need to get done.

I also always make character sheets when I write. Not in a formal way, but just a page where I dump anything that I wrote in the story so I remember word for word what I said. That or I'll color code highlight, but a character dump is easier.

It's absolute chaos, but I prefer ideas to be as raw as possible. I'm an emotional writer, so I want to be reminded of it the way it came to me.

DRAFT 1: SKELETON /JUST WRITE

The writing starts here for me. The goal is to just write. Don't think, don't question, just write and depending on what medium you're using, drop a comment with notes for your future self to come back to. Sometimes, I'll even add a line between sections that I don't want to write to say "COME BACK AND INSERT TRANSITIONAL SCENE", highlight it or mark it in red.

More often than not, I'll start by writing out the scenes that appear in my mind vividly. For example, in Wildflowers, the first scene I ever wrote was actually Chapter 4. I knew that I wanted to write out Hybern Castle and if you read the scene completely, it was barely edited because it came to me so strongly.

Then, once I've finished writing the "muse driven" scenes, I start writing by importance.

Do not worry about about fleshing out the story. That will come later.

If I'm struggling with finishing, then I usually tag in a beta reader who's job at this point is to answer one question and one question only: "Is this good?" I think a more accurate phrasing would be -- Am I on the right track for this story? I'll do another post for how I work with my beta.

DRAFT 2: FLESH OUT THE STORY

At this point, I only focus on the story and character development. Don't worry about the little details. For long stories, I might choose to print the story out because it helps refresh and reset my brain. It's also easier to read/annotate hundreds of pages this way.

Read through your story once.

Add notes to where you feel the story needs to flow better, either add transitional scenes, or something that need to add or hinder to your character.

Write out the scenes.

Bring in the beta and ask: "Story-wise, is there anything missing? Is there anything about the character that needs to be clarified?"

For example, a question that came up for Wildflowers is why would Tamlin be different from his abusive father and his siblings? He wasn't. Not at the beginning. He would have been raised to look down on humans, so in the second draft, I went back and thought of scenes that would help inform his choice to empathize with humans.

DRAFT 3: SELECTIVE READ / EDITING

Calling this draft 3 is tentative because you may choose to do multiple drafts of this section. Once I've gotten most of the story down, I will pick one element that I want to focus on editing. I will do a read through and annotate what needs to be fixed for each "element".

For example, I might want to check the consistency of the character physical descriptions, so I will read once focusing ONLY on pieces of writing that contain that. Then, maybe I wanna go back and make sure Rhysand's voice is sassy enough. Another read through focusing ONLY on his dialogue.

I find this method is really great because it allows you to work on that specific element rather than getting overwhelmed with everything to fix.

These are what I usually read through if you're looking for ideas:

Character descriptions

Lore elements

Dialogue

Smut

Show vs. Tell

Tense (past vs. present)

Relationship depth (especially for side characters)

One would think this is where I would add foreshadowing but I'm not that organized of a writer. Again, I just go with the ✨vibes✨ and it usually works out.

DRAFT 4: FINAL EDIT

I call this the final edit because I will probably write forever if you let me. In this draft, I focus on proofreading, grammar, sentence structure and clarity of the writing itself.

Yes, there are typos that usually escape and haunt you forever especially if you're a binder like me.

I also get my beta to help me with this as a second set of eyes, especially to give me feedback on stylistic choices.

I don't know if this helped anyone, but this was fun to write! I like doing guides and thinking about stuff, so yeah, this is usually my process. It takes about 2-3 months if I'm locked and loaded focus-wise.

Let me know if you have questions, I'm happy to help!

[augustjustice]

20 Questions for Writers!

I was tagged by @ataliagold; thank you so much!! 💛🖤

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

45 at present.

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

418,048 words

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Right now I write for Stranger Things, predominantly Steddie. From 2019 to summer of 2022, I was very deep in the Gotham fandom and wrote for that mostly (it's the thing that actually got me back into writing, and really into posting my work for the first time).

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

After School Special (Stranger Things)

Everything is Different the Second Time Around (Gotham)

The Second Hand Unwinds (Gotham)

Sights On Someone Else (Gotham)

Only Fools Rush In (Gotham)

5. Do you respond to comments?

I always do, even if it's just a quick thank you in response to extra kudos. Comments mean the world to me, one of my favorite parts of fandom is getting to interact with the community that way.

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

Easily The Punchline, which is a Gotham spin on the comic The Killing Joke. If you tackle Batman and Joker's relationship, there's bound to be some angst, and the Gotham backstory really adds an even more bittersweet twist.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Most of my finished fics have happy endings 😂I'm a fluff girl primarily. Mer-May I Have This Kiss? which I co-wrote with @inkfowl has a very prototypical happily ever after ending, which I'm a sucker for. Honorable mention to my transfem Stevie fic Pretty in Pink, too, since that fic is basically fluff all the way through.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I've got some weird spam-y comments on occasion (in at least one instance, from a person who did that to many others throughout the fandom), but thankfully no real hate.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I do! Haven't published much of it, although I'm hoping to complete something for the upcoming Stevie Week. By far my smuttiest fic is (I'm the New Cancer) Never Looked Better, You Can't Stand It which is nearly 20k of Penguin/Riddler suit porn.

10. Do you write crossovers?

I've written some crossovers that exist within the same broader universe, so Gotham fics that draw on other Batman media, or my Smallville/Gotham crossover that also uses certain elements of broader DC comics canon. I'd like to write more, though! I've got an idea for school guidance counselor Steve meeting with teens in other supernatural dramas like Buffy, Supernatural, Teen Wolf, etc. No idea if I'll ever get around to it, but I think it would be fun.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I have! A few folks have asked to translate my Gotham fics. Always very flattered when people are interested in doing that.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

@inkfowl is my co-writing buddy in the Steddie fandom! We've done a lot of writing/roleplay together, including our long, ongoing Study Buddies series.

14. What's your all-time favorite ship?

My current favorite is, obviously, Steddie. Clex (Clark Kent/Lex Luthor, specifically in Smallville) was baby's first OTP and so will always hold a special place in my heart. And Sterek gets an honorable mention, too, as it had me in a chokehold in the fandom days of old and is one I remain extremely fond of.

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you will?

I hope that the muses grant me inspiration at some point so I can go back to Wouldn't Catch You Hung Up on Somebody that You Used to Know which is my Gotham/Smallville fic with Clex, Batjokes, and a sprinkle of Superbat. I'm not in the frame of mind for it right now, but that fic is basically my ideal DC crossover future fic. I'm also holding out hope that I might get back to my sort of Legally Blonde college Steddie AU Better Than That, but that remains to be seen. I'll admit, I wasn't entirely certain where that fic was headed, so I would have to try and plot it out before picking it back up.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I would say I'm good at descriptions, particularly capturing visuals and setting tone/atmosphere. People also often compliment my ability to write banter between characters, which is something I definitely enjoy.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I'm so not a plot gal; I'm much more interested in just writing slice of life glimpses of characters or deepening character interactions, so I think I'm definitely weaker there. Also, while people have told me I'm good at making characters sound authentically in-character, I can really get in my head about that, which is a struggle at times.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I'm woefully monolingual, so I would definitely be reluctant to do this unless I knew someone who spoke the language and was willing to help me out.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

If we're talking about the first ever fanfic I wrote in my notebooks as a preteen and never saw the light of day, then Disney Channel and other more obscure kids shows lol. The first fic I published to AO3 was for Teen Wolf.

20. Favorite fic you've written?

Following trend, I'm gonna do top 5.

Only Fools Rush In, even though it remains unfinished, is my Gotham magnum opus, and I would be remiss not to mention it. It picks up right after the series ends (pre-finale flash forward) and continues the story from there. This was really a chance for me to explore a lot of the things left unsaid in the show proper.

Got Your Mother in A Whirl (She's Not Sure If You're A Boy Or A Girl) is the first Stranger Things fic I ever started wayyyyy back after Season 2 aired and was abandoned before evening finishing the first chapter for years until I got into the fandom again after Season 4. I'm very touched by the way people have responded to it and feel proud of how I captured Steve's feelings while discovering their genderfluidity (and in something I started long before I fully realized I was somewhere on the nb spectrum myself!). Plus, I got to write Stevie and Dustin's sibling dynamic, which is always a favorite of mine.

Got You By My Side This is just a sweet post-S4 one shot, but I feel like I really captured exactly what I wanted to about Steve and Eddie's newly forming relationship with it.

this gun's for hire, even if we're just dancing in the dark An alternate universe first meeting between Oswald and Ed in Gotham, and I'm honestly still pleased with the atmosphere and vibes I was able to capture with this one. It's also brimming with a particular brand of belligerent sexual tension that I live for.

you wanna feel how it feels? (let's exchange the experience) My Steddie bodyswap fic! This is a recent one and still very much ongoing/in the early stages. But it's a fic I've wanted to write for ages now, so I'm very excited to have it underway.

I'm no pressure tagging @eriquin @tinytalkingtina @formosusiniquis @lingeringmirth @momotonescreaming

@chierei @inkfowl @arcanemoody @afoxnamedmulder and anyone else who sees this and wants to join!

[townofcadence]

14. What is the most annoying fact or trait or fanon that is attached to your muse and bothers you?

15. Does it bother you that sometimes your writing partners focus on certain partners and does not write with you until a certain hype is over?

@the-haunted-office

Munday Questions 14. What is the most annoying fact or trait or fanon that is attached to your muse and bothers you?

I think right now I'm safe from that with OCs! I haven't had anyone put anything on them that bothers me. Maybe a while ago I would roll my eyes when someone I don't interact with anymore would write script style jokes as the characters and mischaracterized Artair a few times, but ultimately it didn't matter. it was all in good fun and it doesn't change how I write him ^^

15. Does it bother you that sometimes your writing partners focus on certain partners and does not write with you until a certain hype is over?

I don't think so! I mean, I think everyone gets a little insecure now and then, so I don't blame anyone if they do feel bad about that? I know I used to struggle with it myself. But I also don't mind nowadays because I totally get how sometimes a plot can grab you and really have you dial in. Ultimately I just try my best to be as balanced about replying to people as possible because I don't want anyone to feel left out, but that's a personal choice I make. I kinda just chill and make more threads if I run out of things, so i have stuff to do until the other people get back to me!

It used to bother me more I think, because I would get SO excited over an idea concept or a whole plot I'd come up with, and sometimes it was a shame not to see it through. But I think at this point I've just changed my expectations to come in--- expecting nothing and prepared for the worst almost? Probably because one of the spaces I was in for a while, the muns I REALLY wanted to interact with never really seemed to want to write more than a reply or two with me before dipping entirely. so I started expecting the threads to drop rather than wasting energy being upset when it happened. And it accidentally helped a lot because i got pleasantly surprised instead!

But yeah, sometimes it happens--- and it's not usually malicious! It's easy not to think about things or others not directly in your own bubble and how your actions might affect them, I think. But ultimately, RP is meant to be fun and relaxing, so sometimes for someone, that can be be just focusing on the threads they like, and that's their way of having fun with it. As as neurodivergent person, I can also get how tunnel-visioned a person can get about one thing too. For me, it's writing in general, but for someone else, it could be a specific thread or partner's muse. Sometimes it's threads with certain people, especially if something big or development heavy for a character is happening. Sometimes it's an au, or-- anything else, and that's okay! I try not to let that happen or to let myself fall into that behavior, because I know it can be hurtful to those it effects, but recognizing it as something not meant against me personally helps be more understanding and patient, for me!

But yeah, instead of feeling bad about it, I just put my energy into the replies I have and the ones that are coming back to me, and make new ones as needed! ^^

[primordialruin]

munday writing detail meme!

Name: Kotys

Age range: under 18 | between 18 and 25 | 25 and older

Pronouns: She/Her

Random fact about me: I have sectoral heterochromia. My irises are half blue and half green.

When it comes to planning threads: I like to wing it completely | I like to plan the start of the thread | I like to plan several key points in the thread | I like to plan every reply | It depends (elaborate)

Pre-established relationships between muses: I enjoy them | I like them occasionally but mostly prefer to play the relationship out | I don't do pre-established relationships

When it comes to replies, I like to: Keep mine short (1-2 paragraphs) | Keep mine to medium length | Keep my replies long (10+ paragraphs) | It depends (elaborate) The mood dictates the length of the reply, and it also depends on the driving point of my reply. It's important to me that I can express my muse in an appropriate way that gives your muse & the overall thread the necessary hooks for us to grab and continue the story.

I generally try to reply in: 1 day | 3 days | A week | Within a month | More than a month

I like getting asks for memes I reblogged a long time ago: Yes | No | Depends

I like getting random IC asks from my mutuals: Yes | No | Depends

I like getting tagged in unplanned starters from my mutuals: Yes | No | Depends

I like getting getting OOC asks from my mutuals to plan our threads: Yes | No | Depends

I like getting getting OOC asks from my mutuals just to chat about things not related to RP: Yes | No | Depends (K here - I'm not good at keeping conversations cuz I get tired fast in social situations. You can talk to me about regular degular stuff if you wanna but it's not what I seek here. I'm here to focus on rp first and foremost 🫶 hence ooc friendships might be hard to create with me but I prommy I love all the friends who have patiently grown a friendship with me over months of friendly slowburn lmao)

I enjoy writing: Drama! I love having an external conflict that drives our muses in a certain direction where they can grow their relationship. :) I'm not great at banter for the sake of banter. I need a story.

I don't enjoy writing: Fast banter. I don't have the time to spend on quick back and forths. I wish I did tho. It looks super fun! Also smut. I'm so awkward with it, I just can't do it without being beet red in the face. I can try, but it's got to be part of a bigger story so I don't feel like there's a spotlight on the act.

My favourite tropes are: Rivals to friends/lovers and friends/lovers to rivals. Found family. Secret identities. Funny slice of life situations.

Opinion on shipping (for a specific character or in general): It's good 👍 I'm a huge sucker for slowburn. I don't like jumping into ships because I love building up to them. Sometimes baking the cake is more fun than eating it if you catch my drift.

I get inspired to write by doing this: Listen to music that feels appropriate to the storyline's current mood, hallucinate the scene with my mind's eye, write down the main idea I want to convey in my reply, note a couple of bullet points then take a break and come back when I'm able to revise my ideas and actually write the reply. This is mostly for big threads with big plot points, or threads I've lost the initial creative inertia for. I don't always take breaks to revise, but this is mostly the gist of my process.

One of my favourite threads/drabbles/etc: On my SpyxFam blog, my Yor and I wrote an AMAZING thread in which our fake spouses found each other after my muse had to fake his death. I think it was the best thread I've ever written with someone. My incredible RP partner helped me push against my writing limits & I feel like I am a much better writer thanks to them. I think our thread went for 6 months lol it was such a good experience!!! I've also written Lilith a couple years ago with an incredible Lucifer that I hold fondly to my heart. It was just as good!

A writing partner (or partners!) I've enjoyed writing with: My incredible Yor on my SXF blogs and a couple of writers I've sadly lost contact with. I hope they're fine.

A mutual I want to write with but haven't yet: Oh man, all of you!

Tagged by: none, found this on the for you page

Tagging: you!

[opportunistic-chicanery]

BASICS:

✰ NAME: Spinda ✰ PRONOUNS: she/her ✰ SEXUALITY: asexual ✰ TAKEN OR SINGLE: single

THREE FACTS.

✰ I once bounced on a couch with chopstick in my mouth and bad stuff happened. ✰ Before I turned 18, I only wore jeans once. ✰ Everytime I have a true-blue-blobo, I'll get at least one piece of merch for them. So far I've got figurines of Zenigata from Lupin iii and Sepulchure from the AdventureQuest franchise, a t-shirt of Richard from the Looking for Group comic (wish I had the money back then for a figure or smt) and a Hacker plushie. Still waiting for get my hands on something really good for Stolas.

EXPERIENCE.

✰ HOW LONG (MONTHS / YEARS?): since 2019 but on and off. Probably around 3-4 years total. ✰ PLATFORMS YOU’VE USED: tumblr and discord ✰ BEST EXPERIENCE: here! on this blog < 3

MUSE PREFERENCES.

✰ FEMALE OR MALE: all my blogs so far have been males ✰ FLUFF, ANGST OR SMUT: Angst! I never do smut and I like fluff, but I prefer if I can also do longer threads with character development with my writing partners. ✰ PLOTS OR MEMES: either or! sometimes I will have a specific idea in mind from the start and sometimes it's easier to find out along the way. I'm never against plotting though. ✰ LONG OR SHORT REPLIES: I love long replies to pieces, but it might be a bit tricky for me to start out with because I won't be as familiar with how my partner writes their character. Also Hacker works really well doing short and funny stuff so I don't mind do that sometimes. It just gets tiring after a while if that's the only thing I'm doing. ✰ BEST TIME TO WRITE: I'm EST. At the moment I'm not working (HR is taking its sweet time processing me) so I'll probably be down to write here as long as I'm not writing a fic or drawing. ✰ ARE YOU LIKE YOUR MUSE(S): I think I am really like Hacker. Not so much in the small details like his hobbies and stuff, but more when it comes to his central character struggles and fears. It's easier to write good when you're writing something you know.

tagged by: @deversolium

tagging: you!

[papcrrings-arch]

Valentine's Day Starter Call

just back from hiatus so late to the party but below the cut is a starter call for all my muses. i think i've plotted for most people but if i've listed a date incorrectly, just pop me a message because i'm still lowkey ill and my brain is half-functioning. for the sake of efficiency, just reply with starter pairings (must be specific with who) instead of liking and waiting for me to message for plots. there is no cap for total starters or starters per mun but please give some of the unloved muses some love if you can &lt;3

anna of cleves - blind date with veronica lodge

general vibe : anna is a boss babe and will flirt with whoever she finds attractive (will back off if they aren't interested though of course). she loves to dance and is great fun at parties.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, people watching, flirting

starters : veronica lodge

anthony bridgerton - attending with kate sharma

general vibe : anthony believes that parties are the one thing he'll understand in this modern world but he will probably be slightly confused by it nonetheless. he'll really enjoy the museum though.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, networking, people watching, exploring the museum, networking, enjoying good food

starters : kate sharma, simon basset, eloise bridgerton

cato hadley - attending with clove kentwell

general vibe : cato is there to cause controlled chaos. he'll drink and dance and rub elbows with washington's elite but mostly, he just wants to cause trouble for people and have a bit of fun.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, networking, people watching (spying), exploring the museum, chaos

starters : clove kentwell, rue green

diego hargreeves - attending with lila pitts

general vibe : diego is mostly there just to hang out with lila but will engage in conversation if need be. he's a hargreeves so some chaos might also accidentally happen.

plotting ideas : drinking, general chatting, people watching, snacking in the corner, chaos

starters : grace hargreeves

effie trinket - attending with haymitch abernathy

general vibe : effie enjoys helping to organise events like this but is at the gala to have fun. she is trying to figure out why haymitch is so interested in her (and i have plans to possibly make her aware) but she'll also spend her time networking and finding new clients.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, networking, people watching

starters : coriolanus snow

fabian prewett - blind date with shi mei

general vibe : fabian is still adjusting to this modern world but enjoys a good party so will have good vibes and be fun to hang out with.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, people watching, exploring the museum, chaos, enjoying good food, flirting

starters : bill weasley, molly weasley

felicity mckinnon - attending with stitch pelekai

general vibe : fliss is concerned about a repeat of last year because of the dark magic she tried to use when in the rage-fueled state. she will, however, try and have the best time. probably slightly on high-alert but hiding it well.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, people watching, exploring the museum, chaos, enjoying good food

starters : stitch pelekai, cleo mckinnon, ethan mckinnon

finnick odair - attending with annie cresta

general vibe : finnick loves a good party but is probably a bit wary after hearing what happened last valentine's day. still, he'll have a good time with his wife.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, enjoying good food

starters : annie cresta

guinevere pendragon - attending solo

general vibe : gwen loves love so will thoroughly enjoy valentine's day and seeing all the lovely people in love while also feeling a bit sad that she hasn't got that love right now.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, enjoying good food

starters : morgana pendragon, cullen rutherford

henry turner - attending with carina barbossa

general vibe : henry enjoys a good museum so he'll probably mostly be exploring but he'll engage in the party as well. he'll be good company for sure.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, enjoying good food, people watching

starters : carina barbossa

isaac lahey - attending with lissa dragomir

general vibe : isaac is fine at parties but not always the best company because he can be a bit of a grump and can't get drunk. still, he'll try and enjoy himself, especially with his date.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, snaking in the corner, people watching

starters : peter hale

joseph hernandez - attending with clarisse renaldi

general vibe : joseph is usually cool as a cucumber but is more than a little nervous about going to the gala with clarisse. unaware joe isn't as casual about dancing with a queen.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, enjoying good food

starters : clarisse renaldi

kala dandekar-rasal - attending solo

general vibe : despite technically being single in this world, kala would not sign up for a blind date because of rajan and wolfgang, whom she misses terribly. still, she will try to have a good time at the party.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, snacking in the corner, people watching

starters : filippa kosta

kate denali - attending with garrett

general vibe : because she's off the clock, kate is taking this event as a good excuse to get dressed up and celebrate her mate finally being in the city.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, people watching, flirting (but like playfully because she's off the market)

starters : rosalie hale

lucerys velaryon - attending with bianca di angelo

general vibe : lucerys is just vibing in this modern world, trying to enjoy being alive and living his best life.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, people watching, snacking in the corner/enjoying good food

starters : bianca di angelo, harwin strong

marcel gerard - attending solo

general vibe : marcel is often a host when he has events at his bar so just being a guest is a nice change and he's just vibing.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, people watching, flirting, chaos, feeding on people possibly

starters : rebekah mikaelson, sha hualing, klaus mikaelson

mark sloan - attending with lexie

general vibe : mark is just happy to have the night off and spend it with his wife, that's all.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, enjoying good food

starters : lexie grey, amelia shepherd, meredith grey

maximum ride - attending solo

general vibe : now that she's aware, max is just missing fang and the rest of the flock and is probably a bit of a grump in need of cheering up and letting loose.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, people watching, snacking/lurking in the corner

starters :

neville longbottom - attending with luna

general vibe : neville is all cleaned up in a suit but still as awkward as ever. probably in need of people to make him feel at ease.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, snacking in the corner, exploring the museum

starters : harry potter, luna lovegood

river song - attending with twelve

general vibe : honestly? just hoping for less violence than last year.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, networking, exploring the museum, enjoying good food, flirting (but like playfully because she's off the market)

starters :

salazar slytherin - attending with helga hufflepuff

general vibe : hoping for a peaceful valentine's day where he doesn't die and nobody he loves dies

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, networking, exploring the museum, enjoying good food

starters : helga hufflepuff, rowena ravenclaw

sansa stark - attending with theon greyjoy

general vibe : feeling a little nervous about attending with theon but planning to havde a good time nonetheless

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, people watching, enjoying good food

starters : theon greyjoy

simon lewis - attending with isabelle lightwood

general vibe : just gonna be his usual self and a have a good time with his fiancee.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, people watching

starters : max lightwood

stefan salvatore - attending with caroline forbes

general vibe : again, just happy to be alive and hoping this doesn't turn out like any of the dances he went to in mystic falls.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, people watching, enjoying good food

starters : caroline forbes, bonnie bennett, josie saltzman, enzo st. john

teddy lupin - attending with victoire weasley

general vibe : because she's off the clock, kate is taking this event as a good excuse to get dressed up and celebrate her mate finally being in the city.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, people watching, flirting (but like playfully because she's off the market)

starters : scorpius malfoy, lily luna potter, roxanne weasley

xenophilius lovegood - attending with pandora lovegood

general vibe : xeno is determined to get pandora to remember him again in the safest way possible. so he's trying to be super romantic with her while also having a good time.

plotting ideas : drinking, dancing, general chatting, exploring the museum, people watching, enjoying good food

starters : pandora lovegood, chu wanning

[clown-demon]

TEN Q’S:

1. When are you usually online? 

Depends on the day and how much stuff I have at work. Typically I'm on in the morning from 4am-7am. Then I go to work and usually return around 12pm-1pm. But on holidays I'm usually gone for eight hours or more.

2. What verses are you involved in outside of this page? 

I don't really have other verses? I just throw my muses into another world. I excuse it as Nikolai portaling to another world through his ability. Just cuz he can travel far distances with magic-- I figured I could say it's ~magic~

3. What is your biggest RP pet peeve? 

Just people trying to control who I can and can't interact with. It REALLY bothers me. I had to deal with an ex room mate controlling me and who I can hang with. They refused me to invite my best friend over IN MY OWN HOUSE. And I just HATE when people are like 'oh don't interact with so and so they're bad.' When literally said person has never been mean or anything to me ONCE.

4. Are you drawn to specific types of muses? 

Villlains, psychos, murderers. :) I have a type...

5. Are there recurring themes in your writing that people might not notice? 

Uuuh, not really? Idk man, I can't think of one off the top of my head.

6. What are your favorite RP trends? 

I really enjoy dash com and stuff. I also like when muses are mentioned in other threads!

7. What is your process for starting a new story with someone?  

Idk man, I just throw a muse at someone and we just do fuck ever. I usually just wing things and we create a story that way. I'm only really comfortable with plotting with people I KNOW. Cuz I doubt my ideas a lot.. I think they're dumb...

8. How do you feel about duplicates? 

I USED to have issues with twins, cuz I was really worried I'd get replaced. OR they'd steal my stuff. But then I got better about it and now I love them-- PLEASE GIVE ME TWIN THREADS. LET OUR TWINS WRECK HAVOC. WILL THEY GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER OR HATE EACH OTHER? IT'S SO MUCH FUN!

9. How long have you been involved in roleplaying? 

Omg... uuuuuuuuh, I started on Neopets back in like.. Fuck.. Uh.. 2005? Then I moved to Youtube.. These two I did NOT know what I was doing, I was just fucking around. Then when I moved to Facebook back in like, 2007, and I KNEW what I was doing. After Facebook I moved to Tumblr in.. 2013 I think? It as the day Mario and Luigi Dream Team came out in the US.

10. Is there a muse or verse you wish you could write in, but haven’t?

Uuuhm, I really wanna write Ranpo and or Dazai, but I"ve been really lazy. I also don't feel like getting Ranpo icons and I've been trying to get icons for Kitten of Dazai.

[lunaxriax]

Who's your favourite muse and why?

Oof. That's certainly a question to make one think. But thank you for the intriguing question!

I mean, don't get me wrong. There's not a muse that is my least favorite one or one that I dislike. I adore all of them equally. Granted, some of them, ( Sky, Jinae, Silas, Yonghwa. Sky being the very first muse I've had, so yes, she might be adored the most by me. ) I've had for a very long time from my previous tumblrs, so, perhaps those might be a little higher on the list? Simply because I have had them for the longest time. As well as some of them might be a little more favored by others as well, so they do tend to get more attention than the rest. Which, in turn, creates more inspiration for them essentially. However, it isn't something that I have any issues with, of course. Some muses just click better with each other than others. It's all about finding the right people for them, finding a balance and let it flow from there on out.

There's also those that I haven't been able to use as much as I'd like to? ( Jaehwan, Yoona ) I haven't been able to get them out there and see their potential just yet. But again, that doesn't discourage me or makes me lose interest in them as a muse.

I've had 3 or 4 muses in the past, that I have deleted over a short period of time but that wasn't because I disliked them in any way, shape or form. I loved the idea behind their character and their story but honestly, they just weren't going anywhere and their potential wasn't growing, so that made it a tad more difficult to be creative and get inspiration for them to make them grow as a person. 1 of those muses was also created specifically for another mun, for a plot that we had in mind at the time. So, once that plot was over and done with, the muse didn't really serve any purpose anymore. However, I do still think of them with a sense of fondness once in a while.

With that being said, when I started RP, I always held myself to the rule that I would never have more than 4 muses. Jokes on me, huh. That rule only lasted about half a year before I got more than that. But. I never once regretted it and don't think I ever will. It's all about that diversity, you know? It gives you so much more to work with and create as you go along. Not that you cannot do that with just one muse. There's always endless possibilities, whether it be 1 muse or 10. I had as much fun with it all when I still had only one muse.

I hope this answers your question and settles your curiosity.

And thank you, once again, for letting me delve into the mysterious workings of the mind.

[ltleflrt]

Hi! So i've been reading your fics for years, and just recently started following you on tumblr. You're great! And I was wondering if you possibly had any advice for someone trying to get through writing a large fic? I've just recently gotten back into writing, and what I thought would be a quick write has mutated into several chapters and feels a bit daunting. Even if you could just point me in a direction would be appreciated!

Hello!  Welcome to my messy corner of this hellsite(affectionate)!  Please don’t mind the stacks of reblogs, I promise I’m working on organizing them ;D

Getting back into writing is exciting news!  Taking breaks is supposedly good for the muse, but it’s not as fun as writing that’s for sure lol

It’s hard to give general advice without knowing what you’re struggling with specifically, but I can give you a rundown of my process.  It’s as messy as my blog because it’s something that just happens to me.  I suffer from longficitis and I’m ALWAYS surprised when I manage to write something quick and short.  The first fic I ever wrote was supposed to be a 1200 word one shot, and 2 months later was 78k, so uhhhhh.... oops? XD

Anyway!  I don’t plan shit, and I always think my stories are going to be short.  I am the very definition of a Pantser.  I write a little scene, and then I think “huh, I could expand on that”, rinse repeat.  This means I often write myself into corners, or into mysterious fogs that hide the future plot from me.  So at this point I whine.  Whining is VERY IMPORTANT.  It vents the frustration while also making me lay out what I’ve done so far and what I want to do and the options to get from here to there.  That’s a conversation I’m able to have without the whining component, but honestly the venting that comes with whining is cathartic and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.  Shoutout to @jupiterjames and @bendingsignpost for putting up with me when I get like this lol

And that brings me to the most important part of writing longfics (or writing in general, really).  Finding people you can talk it out with.  Someone you can bounce ideas off of, who can also be like “oh but you know what else you can do?” (because it’s not like I don't’ have a million plot bunnies breeding in my brain already, I must adopt those my friends offer me as well).  Now I know I make that sound simple, but it’s not.  Finding someone whose muse gets along with yours can take a while.  In the meantime though, find yourself a writing group.  Right now the writing group I like to work with is in the Profound Bond server’s writer cafe channel.  There’s always folks in there who will help me find the right word, help me rephrase a sentence I’m stuck on, encourage me, and talk out fic ideas with.  Sometimes I end up DMing someone and we chat it out privately.  And they’re WONDERFUL cheerleaders.  Sometimes it’s fun to just go in there and see if anyone wants to do a writing sprint, and see how many words can happen in the next 15 minutes.  You can find more info about them @profoundnet. 

Lets see, what else...?

Schedule writing times.  I write 1 hour a day, but not always all at once.  Sometimes it’s 15 minutes here, 30 minutes there, sometimes I manage to do it all in one sitting.  But I try to do it around the same time every day so I can get in the mindset for it.

Track your words.  It’s FUN and encouraging.  Don’t look at low wordcounts as a failure, ever.  Every number is a good number, because they all mean progress.

Keep notes of ideas about the story. It doesn’t have to be an outline, it can be messy and unorganized, just make sure it’s written down where you can find it.  Revisit the notes file whenever you’re in the mood to be creative, but not in the mood to make words happen.

Don’t be afraid to drop plot points if you feel like you can’t fit them in.  You might be able to use them somewhere else, either later in the story or in a whole different story.  Your favorite plot ideas will be better served in the right story that fits them, rather than forcing them to fit into a story that is wrong for them.

Try not to let the word count intimidate you.  Even after all the 100k+ fics I’ve written, I still look at my stories at the beginning and think “oh gods what have I gotten myself into?” and that could easily discourage me or anyone.  Just keep writing, you’ll get there eventually.

Some people like to write the exciting scenes first and then fill in the spaces.  Some people like to use the exciting scenes as their carrot on the stick to keep them chugging along.  I’m in the latter group.  Figure out which one works for you, and use it as a motivational tool.

Feel free to skip scenes you’re stuck on!  You can always come back to it later.  Heck, you might even figure out a way to skip it altogether and streamline the story.  Or by writing what comes after, you’ll figure out what kept you stuck on the skipped scene and now you’ve got your solution.  Longfics never need to be written in order.  (I mean, I usually write them that way, but I think I’m kind of an exception to that?  I dunno, we’re all different, and that’s neat!)

Anyway, I don’t know if any of this is new or exciting advice, but I hope it helps.  Good luck, friend!

[purpledragonrp]

I've never plotted before & am really nervous about doing it. This might sound a bit silly, but, what usually happens when you plot? "Also called storyline. the plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work," Maybe you would start with stating what your goal is/what you want from the story? I dunno. How would you react if I said "Hey, I like your character, I want to RP with you and I have an idea for a story." Then I would start describing the beginning? Is that too forward?

It doesn’t sound silly at all!  No worries, anon!  Plotting is hard.  It’s even harder in an RP when you’ve got two people with (typically) two different end goals or possibly no goals at all.

So - what happens when you plot?

That can depend A LOT on your partner, to be honest, and what y’all both want out of the story.  Which, in an RP, can be hard to determine at first.  But I will tell you this - once my partner and I have hashed out where we want things to go (even if it’s just ‘Here’s what should happen the first week they know each other…’) it makes the writing (for me, at least) flow so much more smoothly.

That’s why I try to give each of my muses a personal end-goal.  That way, I’ve always got something for them to strive for, which can help drive the RP when/if nothing else is.  One of my muses is looking for a way home, another wants answers about what she is, etc.  Sometimes you’ve got a goal for them even if your muse can’t/won’t acknowledge it.  For example, one of my muses was badly hurt by someone, and I know he needs to heal from that, but he’s not ready to admit it yet.  So, my goal for him is to get him to a point where he can admit it.

Giving your muse a small handful of personal goals (as if you were writing a story just about them) is a good place to start.  Ask yourself - if this were a story I was writing about them, how would I want that story to end?  And there’s your end goal.  ^_^

But with an RP, you can’t stop there.  Yes, your muse now had end goals, but a lot of RPs aren’t planned or designed to go from the VERY beginning all the way to the VERY end.  RPs are more like vignettes within your overall story, so it’s easier (and probably better) to set smaller goals specific to just that RP.  For example - your muse has just met their new neighbor across the hall.  The end goal of the RP (as it is with a lot of meet n’ greets) could be to simply find out more about them.  It doesn’t always have to be something revealing or earth-shattering. And once you and your partner have settled on at least a vague outline of where things are headed, then you should be good to go.  :)

Your next question - How would I react?

Me, personally?  I’d love it!  It seems to me not a lot of RPers have interest in actual plotting, which is why so many RPs die short and painful deaths.  And it seems like I’m constantly the one to come up with ideas, which can be very draining for me.  So, having someone approach me with an idea already in mind sounds wonderful!  However, I would advise you to be cautious of how you word things.  Make sure that it’s obvious to your partner that you’re willing to compromise on your ideas to better suit both muses.

So, going off of what you typed above, I would have your first message to them be something like, “Thanks for the follow!  I really like your character and I think I’ve got a good idea for a plot between yours and mine.  Would you mind if I shared it with you?”  And then wait for them to respond.  If they do, fantastic!  Start telling them what you had in mind!  But make sure to use words like, “I was thinking...”  “Would it be okay if...”  “Do you think your muse would...?”  And then end with something like, “So, what do you think?  Will that work for you and your muse?  If not, I’m open to making changes.”

Be prepared for your idea to have things that may not work for the other muse.

Example: I once had someone approach me for a plot where her character was hiding from demons and took refuge in my muse’s home.  She wanted the demons to surprise attack the place, but my muse was capable of sensing magical beings within a certain radius of his home, so her idea wasn’t doable and we had to rework things.

And that’s okay!  It’s always important for a plot to work for both partners.  otherwise, while one stays interested, the other could get bored.  An RP plot should keep both writers engaged whenever possible.  :)

So, long reply cut short - I don’t think it’s too forward to approach someone with a plot in mind.  A lot of RPers will be grateful for that.  Just be prepared to compromise on that plot, so that both of you end up with a story that’s mutually interesting.  

I know I rambled in this one a lot, Anon.  Plotting is something I love, and something that I can babble on about for ages.  ^_^;  I tried my best to stay on topic, but if you have any more questions or you feel like I didn’t really answer something fully, just let me know.  ^_^

[shelltershock]

hello. i wanted to message you because i'm not really happy with you. i've sent you in tons of asks, i've sent you private messages. you never respond to them. i see you online every single day and sometimes i see you reply to one thread more than others so why does mine get put off for like a week at a time? you say you love everyone but ur clearly biased. if you dont like me just say so.

     ~*..// Alright, first, I’m going to say this: Next time you have an issue like this, come to me off of anon. I can’t fix issues with people unless I know who you are and what’s wrong. I’m not a mind reader, if I’m doing something wrong or hurtful to you, you need to tell me. I’m sorry if that sounds rude, but as someone who struggles with severe anxiety that is flared when I think I make people upset, come to me so I can fix it. This message honestly gave me such bad anxiety I couldn’t touch my inbox since I got it. 

     Now, I’m going to break this message down as best I can.

     I’m sorry you aren’t happy with me. I really am. I do so much to try and make people happy, but I am only human. I make mistakes. I’m not able to make everyone happy and that is an issue I am slowly coming to terms with. I do what I can to keep my followers safe, happy, and keep my blog as a safe space for everyone. You can ask my friends, I am quick to re-tract issues such as accidental mis-gendering, trigger or content warnings, removing head canons that could potentially be viewed as harmful stereotypes, messaging people to double check if they’re okay with things. I try. I try so hard. If I don’t get feed back from you on what I’m doing wrong, I can’t fix it. 

     As for the asks, I’m sorry. I really am. But as I found out recently, my inbox apparently loves to eat asks. Like, legit. I don’t know why, I don’t know how it chooses it’s victims, but it does. But here is the thing as well: I don’t always answer asks. My main concern is getting caught up with the drafts I have currently, then I go in and answer asks; unless an ask is particularly appealing to me. Everyone has selective days. If I don’t answer your ask after a week, chances are I haven’t been on or tumblr ate it. 

     For the private messaging issue, I would like to reiterate this statement: I am not always on. I would also like to point out that everyone has selective days. There are days that I am just not into talking and if I am then it’s most likely people I’ve formed a bond with. People I feel comfortable around. People who I see as wanting to actually be friends and not just use me for muse interactions. Sometimes, I just want to talk to a specific person. It happens. It’s part of being an introvert. I’m sorry you feel like I’m ignoring you, but I will always respond to private messages so long as they don’t make me uncomfortable. It just might take some time. 

     Next, I want to talk about me being online every day, because that’s not a thing. I’m sorry you think it is, considering I’ve stated many, many times I leave my queue running during the day. My queue runs from 11 am EST to 11 pm EST and spits out 20 posts a day. I do not tag my things as queued, because if I did, 98% of my blog would show up in the ‘queued’ tag. Heck, I wasn’t on at all the past few days. And if I was, it was for a brief moment to see how things are, then I disappear again. I am not here to be at someone’s beck and call. I am here to have fun. I am here to get away from my reality, and drama like this makes me want to leave tumblr. It’s when people get so needy, they don’t realize, other bloggers don’t actually owe them anything. 

     Yes, there are day’s I actually reblog posts instead of putting them in the queue. Why? Because my muse is absolutely awake and alive for that thread and wants more. Because that thread has caught my attention for the day, or me and the mun plotted something and I’m excited to get to it. Sometimes, I just really only want to do one thread. For example, Bridgette is exceedingly active right now, so the chance of me actually posting her threads is much higher. Not guaranteed, but higher. 

     I queue all of my threads. Everyone’s thread has been queued at some point or another because queueing them keeps me from getting overwhelmed. It keeps things paced so I don’t go from having no replies due to suddenly oweing 50. Because if that happens, I shut down for a while. I’m not a reply machine. I’m on here to have fun and I do what I need to to keep myself happy and stable and not force anxiety attacks. I’m sorry you want more interactions with me. I’m sorry you don’t get replied to as much as you like. But I’m not here for you. I’m here for me. I’m here to make friends, to enjoy my muses, my ships. I’m here to meet people who actually care about the person behind the screen. 

     I do love every one of my followers. They’re the reason I have threads to begin with. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be selective. I stated very clearly that I am semi-selective. I’m sorry you think I owe you more, but I don’t. I’m not going to go out of my way to please someone who can’t bring their issue to me personally. I’m sorry you feel like I dislike you. Because the truth is, if we have a thread, or I’m following you, I don’t dislike you. 

     Anyways, that’s all I have to say. From now on, please try to be more mindful of the person behind the screen. You have no idea what they deal with on a day-to-day. You have no idea how hard it might be for them to reply to certain threads on certain days. And most importantly, you do not own the person you are role-playing with. Role-playing is meant to be fun. If you aren’t having fun with me, which, judging by this message - you’re not, then stop rping with me. I’ll be sad to see a follower go, but if not wondering if I like you or not will help you, then I understand. 

     I hope you have a good day, and I hope any of my followers who read this message and relate to it can take one thing from this: Role play for yourself. Not for others. Do what makes you happy. Stop bending over backwards to make others happy. You are you, you are amazing.

     Have a good day everyone.