#i need motivation & encouragement take the wip

[skitskatdacat63]

I need to remind myself often it's okay to take as long as I need to work on projects/drawings

[wanderingcas]

@prosopopeya encouraged anyone to do this wip challenge who needs motivation to finish so here is my 'cas and dean grow up as childhood friends in the spn universe au' where dean and cas are reuniting after 10 long years apart

Dean walks toward the car. Opens the driver’s side, tumbles in. Reaches over the bench seat to unlock the passenger door. When Cas comes in to sit, Dean gets a whiff of his deodorant. Old Spice, from the smell of it.

Dean hangs onto the steering wheel for dear life and just tries to breathe through it. 

“Are we going to go?” Cas finally asks. 

Right. The engine. The thing that makes the car move. Grumbling a curse under his breath, Dean inserts the key.  

On the tape deck, Led Zeppelin picks up where they left off, the Immigrant Song’s chorus blaring as the Impala roars to life. Dean takes a left on the main road, in the direction of town. The loud music filling the Impala’s cabin soothes Dean enough for him to roll out his tight shoulders. 

The questions, whizzing a thousand miles a minute in Dean’s brain, makes him incapable of getting a word out. His brain just spins around like a dog chasing its tail, his eyes staring unseeing at the painted lines on the road getting eaten by the car as they move forward, wondering maybe this is the ninth circle of hell he’s stepped into and—

Cas turns down the radio. Dean feels his heart drop into his shoes. “I’m not expecting us to talk about it,” Cas says. 

Oh. Well that’s a fucking relief. 

Except it’s not a relief at all because Dean still feels like he’s having a heart attack.

“So you quit hunting,” Dean grits out. 

“I never started.” 

Dean huffs out a bitter laugh. “Last time I saw you, you were chompin’ at the bit to get out there.” 

Cas shifts in his seat, leather creaking. “Things change.” 

Ain’t that an understatement.

tagging literally anyone to do this. i'm serious!! tag me in all your wonderful works. i got my cheerleading costume on i am READY

[feeblescholarmyass]

I'll Tell You a Story Until You Fall Asleep

in which you ask them to read you a bedtime story.

word count: 2.2 k

pairings: caretaker!(Kaeya, Xiao, Zhongli, Cyno, Wanderer, Alhaitham) x child! Reader (separate)

tags: sick reader (Kaeya, Wanderer), comfort, caretaker/child dynamic, fluff, mentions of younger siblings (Cyno), Wanderer has trauma, Wanderer doesn't understand how people work, Alhaitham is bad with kids, gender neutral reader (you/your pronouns), second person pov

warnings: none

a/n: sorry for how short wanderer's is, I lost motivation really bad and gave up. also ignore the fact that this was completely unprompted, it's an old wip I finally got inspiration to finish

dividers by cafekitsune

KAEYA was notoriously unreliable when it came to things he didn't take interest in. Luckily for your primary caretaker, he took plenty of interest in you. When you had come down with a fever, they knew that they would need help convincing you to rest. No matter how big you were getting, you hadn't lost your large youthful reserves of energy. Only Barbatos himself could get you to settle down without a fuss.

Though he was no god, Kaeya was the only one who managed to come close. For some odd reason, he was the one you chose to admire. Hearing his voice could either rile you up or calm you down. His cold hands on your shoulder, either encouraging you or warning you, were the only communication you needed to make a decision.

So when he heard you were sick and asking for him, he happily dropped whatever he was doing to come visit. "Hey, kid. I heard you have a fever. How're you feeling?" He rapped his knuckles against the door to announce his presence.

You lifted your head from under your layers of blankets trapping you against your bed. "Kaeya..?" You sniffled, blinking tired eyes at him. "I thought you were busy with work."

You sounded so pitifully sick that it made his heart ache. "What? Me? Working? What put that in your head?" He scoffed, tossing his ponytail over his shoulder and smiling at you. "Don't tell the Acting Grandmaster I said that."

You giggled weakly, curling up under your comforter. He took the few steps necessary to reach your bedside and pulled up a chair. You reached over and grabbed his hand. It took both of your hands to grasp his. Your hands were still chubby and uncalloused. You pressed his palm to your forehead. He winced, noting how heat radiated from your skin.

"Kaeya..?"

"Yes? Do you need something from me, kid?"

"Can you tell me a story? I wanna listen to you talk." You nuzzled his hand. He looked at you with an amused grin pulling at his lips.

"Sure, kid. Let me think. Once upon a time…"

XIAO jolted up from where he was sitting when he heard you calling. He appeared in your room at Wangshu Inn, worried something bad had happened.

He caught sight of you, curled up on the couch, snuggled deep into a blanket with a sheepish look on your face. "Sorry. Were you busy?"

"No, I was not. What do you need?" He crossed his arms, setting down his weapon.

"I, um, well- I wanted to hear a story. I couldn't sleep, and I tried everything else already." You looked away, trying to hide your embarrassment.

He took a moment to regain his composure before moving closer. "I am not skilled at telling stories. Coming up with compelling fiction has never been a part of my required skill set. I apologize for disappointing you."

"You don't have to make up anything. You can just tell me a memory about the other Yakshas when they were alive. That would make a very good story. I'll braid your hair while you talk." You scooted over so he had room to sit next to you.

He couldn't help it, a small smile pulled at his lips as he sat next to you. The feeling of your small nimble fingers weaving locks of hair into a braid was always relaxing, and it would be nice to reminisce about the past. To have someone else remember the truth of those long gone was always a weight off his shoulders.

"Okay. What should I tell you first…"

ZHONGLI didn't get why so many children hung around funeral parlors these days. Childcare was not in his job description, but he couldn't deny a citizen of Liyue any aid he could give in his mortal form.

You weren't troublesome, and often helped around the parlor. Hu Tao sent you on some of the more paranormal excursions on behalf of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Hearing a child warn others about ghosts was much less troublesome than herself or a strange adult. Your "stories" were hardly ever taken seriously.

Due to your regular trips to the parlor, you often visited with the man and talked over tea. Even though you were young, he enjoyed trading stories back and forth. Yours were normally more fantastical, aided by the imagination that comes natural to most children, while his were near-truths that he lightly sanitized for the sake of your innocence.

Normally, you would leave the parlor long before dusk, returning to your home for whatever your nightly routine was. However, today was different. The sun had already set, and you seemed intent on sticking around.

"Mr Zhongli, when do you go home to sleep? I bet you go to bed early, like Grandpa does. Where do you live, Mr Zhongli? Maybe I could visit you during your off days."

He sighed, placing a hand on your head and ruffling your hair. "You know, young one, it doesn't do your body any good to run from sleep. You should return home."

You looked up sheepishly at him, kicking your feet back and forth while avoiding his unspoken question. "I'm not running from anything, Sir."

"Tell me your troubles, child. How can I help you?"

You pursed your lips for a few seconds, clearly struggling with your words. "I don't wanna go home tonight. I was supposed to stay with my auntie, but her house smells weird and she doesn't cook good food. So I told her that I could stay at a friend's house…"

"I'm assuming you meant Hu Tao's." Zhongli sighed. The Director had left for home an hour ago, and you didn't know the way there. "I shall take you, don't worry."

"Um- actually, I wanted to stay with you. Miss Director said you tell the best bedtime stories. I wanna hear one."

He looked down at you, eyes widened in surprise. "I'm not sure that is-"

"Oh, pleeeaaassseee, Mr Zhongli! I promise I won't stay up too late or wake you up early! You could even tell me the story at the Director's place! I just really want you to tell me a story!"

Zhongli knew he wouldn't win this battle without any underhanded tactics, such as alerting your aunt of your whereabouts. It couldn't hurt to tell you just one story, right?

"Alright, let us go to the Director. I will tell you one story, but only one."

"Yay! You're the best, Mr Zhongli!"

CYNO wouldn't tell anyone, but he always looked forward to staying in Aaru Village before returning home from a mission. He planned his schedule just so that he would arrive before dinner and had enough time the next day to stay for breakfast with your family. You were the oldest of your siblings, and the only one who wouldn't groan at his god awful jokes. Instead, you would one-up him, and provide him with new material to try on Tighnari during his next TCG session.

He had been taking a stroll around the village before dinner when he heard familiar giggling somewhere behind him. He continued walking, pretending not to have noticed. It wasn't long before he felt you wrap your arms around his back and say, "Cyno!!"

"I wondered when you were finally going to show yourself." He turned and picked you up, examining you. Since his last visit, you had grown taller by approximately 3/4ths of an inch, lost some of the baby fat in your cheeks, and cut your hair. He had been gone for too long.

"Hehe, sorry. Candace was looking for you and said I had the best chance of finding you. Dinner is going to be ready soon."

"Well then we'd better hurry, otherwise we might miss Candace's cooking." He had tried to find a joke, but he was too distracted to think of a half decent one. He was finally back, and his favorite kid was already telling him all that he had missed.

He didn't miss an opportunity to make a joke all throughout dinner. He made a total of six jokes, two of which earned him glares from Candace, and five puns, one actually getting a laugh out of you. You had only made one joke, yet it received much more laughter from the other kids, as well as Candace's approval. He was losing.

After dinner, the two of you had retreated into your bedroom to compare TCG cards and tactics. You even engaged him in one game before being overwhelmed by tiredness.

"Hey, Cyno," you yawned, "can you tell me a story? I don't wanna go to bed just yet."

"What kind of story?" He asked, carefully putting away the cards.

"I dunno, maybe one from the forest. It's been a long time since I've heard one of those."

"Bored with the desert already? Don't tell me you're deserting me to move to the forest."

You stared at him blankly.

"Get it? Because desert, which means to abandon someone or something in a way considered disloyal, is spelled just like desert, which is the type of environment we are in? No?"

"Just tell me a bedtime story already."

"Fine, fine. but you never answered my question. Besides, I thought that one was funny."

WANDERER was panicking. You were sick, and he didn't know how to help. You couldn't do anything you usually could do, and he, as a puppet, had never been sick. The only real previous experience he had with sickness was the one that led to his old friend's death. Seeing you here, so small and helpless just like he had been, brought back horrible memories.

"Abhi, don't cry." You reached up and brushed some of his hair out of his face. "It's just a fever. I get 'em every year. Don't you get sick?"

" 'm not crying. And no, I never get sick. You're just a weak human child, who is more susceptible to such things than average." He tried to ignore the glare you gave him. "How do you get rid of it?"

"Well, rest is the best way. But I'm having trouble going to sleep. D'ya think you could tell me a bedtime story, Abhi?"

He seemed nervous, but decided he'd rather stay by your side anyways. Just in case. "Fine. What kind of story do you want?"

It had been a lie, originally. A simple white lie to get out of some gathering. The shock factor of his 'confession' gave him time to escape before any of them could protest. Truthfully, ALHAITHAM didn't have a child himself, nor would anyone in their right mind entrust him to take care of one.

But when Nilou volunteered to send you to join his lie, he couldn't turn you down. It was something about that look in your eye. And maybe the book in your hands. Most children in Sumeru didn't bother reading, not even with the Akasha gone. You were doing it for fun.

He decided he'd take you, at least to give him a solid excuse. Who knows, maybe he could do this more often if you didn't cause him any trouble.

"Mr Scribe, your bookshelf is very unorganized."

Okay, maybe this was a little more effort than he had expected. You couldn't blame him, he'd obviously never spent much time around children.

"Oh? Well, it doesn't bother me." He crossed his arms, sitting down on the couch.

You sat across from him, your big eyes taking in your surroundings. He noted your eyes lingering on the decor he'd bought to annoy Kaveh. Your wrinkled nose worried him. If you shared too much in common with the architect, he was in for a long night.

He made dinner, deciding that he could avoid you productively that way. You seemed to busy yourself by going through his books. You ate silently during dinner, and seemed to tire of sorting just after dusk.

Finally, you spoke up. "Mr Scribe?"

"My name is Alhaitham." He said firmly, turning the page of the book he was reading.

"Alright, Alhaitham. Your books are boring. Do you know any stories?"

He looked up from the book, his eyes catching on you. You had a book in your lap. It wasn't one he'd consider difficult, but it wasn't something he'd imagine a child would have the patience to read. "A… story?"

"You know, like a fairytale or a myth. A fable. A fiction. Or do you only read textbooks?"

He couldn't help the grin that pulled at his lips. "You've got quite the vocabulary there, don't you?" He closed the book, sitting up. "I suppose I might know one or two."

"I'd like you to tell me a story, please." You said, putting away the book you'd given up on.

"Alright, I suppose I could spare a few minutes. How about this, I'll tell you some stories from the desert. Have you ever heard about King Deshret?"

You scrambled onto the couch beside him and listened attentively as he told you one of the myths from before Deshret's death. He told stories of old gods and their followers. It may not have been a classical fairytale, but it was a story nonetheless. It wasn't long before you'd fallen asleep with your head resting against the cushions.

"You'll wake up sore if you sleep like that," he chided to your unconscious ears. He sighed and scooped you up, placing him on his lap instead.

You weren't a bad kid. Maybe he'd watch you again if he ever needed an excuse to leave work early or avoid being dragged to a party.

comments and reblogs are much appreciated!

[eregyrn-falls]

Organizing a Stan Twins-centric Multi-Artist Lyric Comic!

There's a song I've always wanted to see as an AMV or a lyric comic for the Stan Twins, and years pass, and I've never been able to tackle a project that big. So, I wanted to try to organize it as a multi-artist lyric comic!

The song is "Trouble", by Avicii. (See below.)

What is a multi-artist lyric comic? One where people sign up, and each artist is assigned a line from the song. Artists will then do 1 page for their line, and at the end, it's all put together. Here is an example from GF fandom in 2018. (Here is a video version that someone put together with the music.)

This song has 28 lines of lyrics, but it also has some instrumental breaks, and I've thought of a way to fill those that would allow more people to participate (particularly if someone was unsure if they could take on a full page).

Here's the song:

There's a lot of details to go into, so to keep this post from taking up too much dash real estate, I'm going to put more detail below a read-more.

Here is a link to a Google form you can fill out to indicate interest. (But we do urge you to read over the details below!)

The goal would be to complete this in time to make it public on August 31st or Sept. 1st, 2023 -- in line with the actual last days in-story of the show. Therefore, the due date for final art will likely be around August 15th or 20th.

I hope folks will find this intriguing! I think it could be a lot of fun!

@mercury-falls and I are the point-people for this, at the moment!

All right -- the way I've always seen it, the first verse of the song is very Stan-related, and the second verse is very Ford related.

Here is a Google Doc with the lyrics.

My idea for the instrumental breaks was to have people contribute smaller pieces of art that look a bit like Polaroid snapshots. If we can get the lyric comic combined with the music, think of the collection of Polaroids accumulating the way they do at the end of the show's opening credits.

There are two main ways artists can contribute to the project:

For lyrics, full landscape illustrations (which include color, lettering, and a background)

For instrumental breaks, polaroid-style illustrations (smaller, simpler pieces in square format). We will use these in a video edit of the comic and have them accumulate like the show’s intro during the breaks. (We will also figure out a good way to display them in the lyric-comic post itself.)

Your art should be canon-compliant, and can depict any time period of the Stans’ lives (past, present, and near-future)! Do with your art as you best see fit with your lyrics, but keep the focus on the Stans and their relationships with each other and other GF characters. Both original content and screenshot adaptations are welcome!

We also welcome collaborations between artists on full pages! We encourage every artist in the project to help and support each other if they are comfortable. On the interest form, you can tell us if you are interested in volunteering to help others with inking, coloring, or creating backgrounds! Or, you can tell us if you think you will need help.

On the form, you can indicate your preference towards the Stan or Ford verses. But once we have the team of artists doing lyrics chosen, we will randomize the list and then contact people in order, to ask about preferences for lyrics. If you aren't chosen for one of the full pages, we would still like to have you involved for the Polaroids! (And you can indicate willingness to be called on to do a page if others drop out.)

We will have check-in dates through the summer, with goals for people to report on the subject of their piece; to have a sketch or layout ready to show; and to show progress closer to the end.

We will be setting up a Discord server to help share information, and to allow people to post WIPs or just generally discuss things, and keep motivation going. If you really don't use Discord, though, and don't want to sign up for it, that's okay. We will put whatever instructions and details we have in a Google Doc, and will share that link for reference. And we can always communicate via email.

I (Eregyrn speaking!) have been involved in a LOT of fan projects over the years. One of the key things to ask of people who sign up for a project is: communication. That is, if you're having difficulties, just let us know! If you need to drop out, just let us know! Don't feel guilty that you signed up and then had to drop out. The thing that is hardest on organizers of projects like this is when people sign up, but disappear and don't answer DMs or emails. Believe me, I've been in that position where you feel guilty and don't want to admit that you have to drop out -- but it's always much easier on the organizers if you just let them know, instead of keeping them guessing! This is just something to keep in mind when you're signing up -- life happens! It's okay! But please try to let us know if something comes up and you have to bow out.

Here is the link to the Google Form, that you can fill out to indicate interest.

[zablife]

Zablife WIP Update

Hi lovelies, I have one Corrupt a Wish fic to write (for Ada and Tommy) then I'm moving on to other WIPs (see below). I'd love to hear what you'd like to read next or any general encouragement bc I'm lacking sufficient motivation atm 😫 Sending positive energy to my other writer moots who are also in need of some love ✨💗

→ Dark!Bonnie enraged by the decision to throw a fight

→Part 3 of Ada series Green Gloves

→Providing Tommy an heir

→Tommy's music festival romance

→Troy inspired Tommy fic

→Holiday movie themed Tommy fic (taking suggestions for the film!!)

[polysprachig]

a few things I've learnt from posting fanfiction 2-3x/wk on a routine schedule for the past 3 months

apart from the 4 times I missed

having hard fanfiction deadlines can be fun and motivate you to write; however, sometimes you need to be prepared to split the chapter into two. doesn't even have to be a massive cliffhanger or anything, just continue where you left off in the next chapter like that's what you meant to do (rather than force yourself to crank out another 2,000 words so you can connect the two scenes you initially intended to feature in your chapter). basically no one will give a shit, and even if they do, they'll just think it's part of your typical writing style

sitting down to write versus sitting down to write 100 words about this character doing this thing you've brainstormed every night before bed for the last week are completely different states of mind—giving myself a specific task like 'let's make this character do this today' is such a better pre-writing goal to focus on than simply telling myself to keep writing where I left off, even if I don't necessarily meet my anticipated word count goal in the end

editing by listening to the chapter you're currently working on using a text-to-speech feature (with or without looking at the actual text) and handwriting what strikes you as being off/in need of correction so that you can manually edit your story later is both enjoyable and encourages you to look away from the screen—plus, I like being able to time how long it takes to actually listen to the whole chapter, that way I can get a better sense of the brainstorming to writing to reading time ratio that reflects how I write what I write and how long it takes me (that way I can have more reasonable expectations about my writing process, speed, etc.)

I wouldn't be able to post at this rate if I hadn't started brainstorming and writing in 2022, lurking, reading, writing and reading some more fanfiction, and generally waiting to post until I had a huge chunk of my stories outlined or pre-written, not that anyone actually has to do this; oh, there's entirely new WIPs I've started in the meanwhile, but by staggering writing and posting I've discovered that I can still meet my deadlines even if I haven't had much time to write that week, because there's always something for me to return to, continue or edit and post

sometimes you just need to write drabble unrelated to any of your current stories: deadline, achieved, muse that would risk leading you into another lengthy WIP temporarily sated—not to mention, your blorbo deserves it!!!

posting fanfiction on a routine schedule vs posting anything else on a routine schedule has made me realise just how different the experience of sharing things online is when you have some sense of expectation, anticipation, shared engagement in your fandom. I've started writing more comments on other people's stories (rather than just lurking and sending kudos—I mean, these people are putting my blorbo in situations for me to read for free) because of how excited I know I am to get them myself, whereas posting on other sites where there's more of a scroll/like/superficial engage culture makes me feel like when I post I'm slapping a poster onto a telephone pole and leaving it there for someone to see (possibly weird, I know, but that's what it feels like, and I blame algorithms, visibility metrics and all that awful jazz. anyways...)

if you can't or think you won't be able to meet a self-imposed fanfiction deadline, give your readers a heads up; that way you won't feel like you're not meeting your goals or letting anyone down, you're just being more reasonable as to whether or not the deadlines you've set actually work for your at the present time; sometimes, you need to space things out, other times you're polishing up chapter after chapter without any obstacles in your way

if you have more ambitious professional or life goals but get stressed out by deadlines (despite knowing that you need them in the end), maybe starting by setting fanfiction deadlines can help you to get into enough of a routine that you can substitute fanfiction writing with your other project tasks when you need to—whatever happens with your other goals and projects and regardless of how 'popular' your stories are in your fandom, you've come to learn a lot about your creative process and what works/doesn't work for you

So, yeah. That's the main takeaway. Write away, everyone. 😊

If you're working on writing/posting fanfiction on a routine as well, I'd love to hear what you've learnt from the experience!

[emeraldhazeart]

Twenty Questions for Fic Writers

Thank you so much for the tag @hikamaus 💚 This looks really fun.

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

At this moment, I have 32 works on Ao3 (most of them oneshots)

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

At the time of posting this, it's 146,576, but I'm very close to posting the next chapter of Solace

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Mostly Undertale right now, but I also occasionally write for Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons and Sonic the Hedgehog

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1. Leaving a Mark

2. Robin's Nest

3. Solace

4. In Your Corner

5. Riding Therapy

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I love responding to comments! Even if it's just an emoji, I try to say thank you in reply, so they know I appreciate them taking the time to leave a comment.

I know there are some comments that I haven't gotten round to responding to, and those haunt me. Please know that it's either because I don't have the spoons at this moment, or because it's been so long that I'm shy about replying. But I genuinely do appreciate each and every comment I receive. 💚

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

Probably No Man's Land (which also happened to be my first Undertale fic)

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

I've got to say Photograph for that one. It still brings tears to my eyes rereading it, but they're happy tears.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

No one has said anything directly to me, but I did stumble upon a comment someone left elsewhere saying that one of my fics wasn't their thing because they "[didn't] like how the story is being told".

That really hurt at the time, especially as there was no other context as to why they felt that way. But my friends gave me encouragement and support.

Please be aware that anything you say online can eventually find it's way to the author, so please be kind.

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

I don't, sorry.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Not really. I've written crossovers featuring characters from separate games in the same franchise before, but nothing that spans entirely different franchises

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I would be delighted if anyone enjoyed my work enough to want to translate it

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

No, but I would love to 💚

14. What’s your all time favourite ship?

Do Canon Character x Reader stories count? No?

Hmm... I can't think of any that would be my OTP. I generally prefer familial/platonic relationships, tbh

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

None of my WIPs are abandoned. But probably most of the original stories I've started and then never finished over the years. It's just much harder for me to maintain motivation when I don't have anyone reading my work and cheering me on.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I've always loved painting a scene or an emotion with words.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Oof, so many 😅 one thing I struggle with is wanting to post what I've written straight away. Sometimes that can work, like freshly baked bread. But most of the time it's like a plain cake: it needs time to cool, and then be assembled/decorated/finished in order to get the best experience from it.

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

I'd only do it if I was totally confident that I'd gotten it right. A common or short phrase would be my limit otherwise. If I really wanted to write dialogue in another language, I'd ask someone fluent in the language to help me with the translation and proof read my work.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

I think it was actually Legend of Zelda. I was about 12, and my brother, his friend and I made ourselves LoZ Ocarina of Time OCs. We started writing a fic of them, but never got very far.

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

Probably Photograph. I'm a sucker for a moving reunion scene, and that fic genuinely brought tears to my eyes as I was writing it.

No pressure tags (I'm going to try to avoid tagging anyone that @/hikamaus already tagged 😅) : @sneakyfox55 @hannah-heartstrings @lizzie-tempest @robanilla @thebeckster and anyone else that would like to have a go 💚

[amee-racle-ofmyown]

Hey, again! Yes, I was the anon from earlier, I didn’t want to seem bothersome because I was already planning on sending you a message thanking you for the WIP <3 You’ve actually replied to a couple of my asks before, and I’m super grateful because you and Juls are my absolute favourite M(P)CU writers <3 Take all the time you need in terms of art and writings, but know we’re always looking forward to it, and you are ADORED :)

THANK YOU SO MUCH WAAA😭😭😭❤️ YOU'RE TOO SWEET💖💖💖

it's never ever a bother!! you don't know how happy these asks make me🥺🤧 I really appreciate your kind words, and I'm always happy to chat through asks in general! (literally I love an excuse to yap LMAO I want to talk about my fics and my intentions with them bc I think it helps me recognise and evaluate what I do and don't like and subsequently helps me improve.)

I'm so honoured you think of me as one of your favourite writers in the community, there's so many incredible authors in this fandom!

I will be continuing to take my time, but in the interim, asks and comments mean the world to me, the encouragement is really motivating! I write mainly for myself and my own self-indulgence lmao but the reception always makes it feel so worthwhile haha. I love getting to make people feel what I feel in creative ways if that makes sense!! I'm so so grateful to have readers waiting for me to post and enjoying the little tidbits I can put out in the meantime :]

[colorfullyminded]

PLSS TELL ME UR STILL DOING KISS THE COOKK!! its almost gunna b a year since ep 6 and i rlly need to know if the other 14 in the works. (take ur well deserved break u dont need to be making fics 24/7)

Oh wow, I wasn't sure if people still wanted that. To be honest, we actually have written up to chapter 8 (9 technically because there's an 8.5). All I really need to do is finish editing them before posting them. The reason I've been so hesitant is also my feelings towards the fic. I both love the fic and also feel incredibly self conscious with some of the decisions I chose in the fic (especially later chapters--some of which haven't been posted yet). I love writing smut, and I do think Wirt deserves to be written more unhinged than people allow him to be (he's a poet for godsake, if he can be so despondently dramatic laying on a couch-- you know his yearnings are just as fantastical, dramatic, and probably hella thirsty. And let's not mention Dipper's search history). I love writing these two because they're so multifaceted and I love trying different perspectives of their personality. Also writing with my friend Clubs has been amazing and I genuinely enjoyed his help with this fic! I want to continue this series when I'm more motivated to write. But again, for how much I love this fic, there are moments where I go back and read and blush and go "I'm sorry, I made Wirt say what? I made him do what?! IS THIS HOW HE WOULD ACT?! THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT? WHATTHE FUCK WAS I ON TO THINK THIS WAS OKAY?!" (I'm in charge of Wirt's dialogue/actions in this story, Clubs does Dipper, and occasionally, though very rarely, we may also add something to the other's characterization). There are times I worry I've made him ooc. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that. I was having fun, I'm enjoying my extra smutty era (where all I wanna write is to be a problem) and honestly if I wanted to explain my reasonings I probably could make an accurate presentation on why Kiss the Cook is not that out of character. But I also do pride myself on my fics and a lot of comments I've received are about how well and real the characters feel. I feel so good that I'm able to articulate and present them in a way that feels genuine and makes the readers feel like it's just another adventure-- but with the two. I like bringing that feeling into my writing. And Kiss the cook, some elements do feel very much like the characters (Clubs does amazing with an older Dipper), but I do start to doubt some of Wirt's actions or my writing in this particular fic as being too "Horny on Main". So it's kind of a love/hate relationship I currently have with this piece of work. But if people do still love this fic and want to continue this adventure, maybe I should go back and get these chapters prepped for posting? Despite my fears, everyone who has commented on KTC have been very supportive and encouraging and sweet. So this whole anxiety and self doubt is probably just in my head. I shouldn't be so hard on myself. I do have other smut WIPS that tackle different layers and so I can always finish those up if I need to take a break from the wildness of KTC. So to answer your question, yes, we do have more in store, and maybe it's time I show you what we've cooked up (no matter how embarrassed I make the reader...or myself)

[tastygoldentaters]

1, 4 & 11 for the fic writer asks!

thank you <3 <3 <3

1. the last sentence you wrote Imagining someone praising him, someone who wanted to give him relief and tenderness, it all seemed so impossible that it dragged him right out of the mood.

4. a story idea you haven’t written yet

I've always wanted to write a FFVII band AU. I have it all planned out: A big shot producer (Hojo) and a manager (Lazard) at ShinRa Records want to form the next big rock band with some young musicians they have groomed for this since they were young (Sephiroth, Angeal, and Genesis). Sephiroth (Hojo's secret son) is a skilled guitarist, has been trained for this his whole life, but the instrument he really loves is his huge custom black bass (Masamune).

When the band (SOLDIER) struggles to find a skilled bassist, Sephiroth insists this should be his role, since it's much easier to find good guitarists than bassist, a less popular instrument. They find a young guitarist from a backwater town (Zack) who isn't quite at the level they want, so he studies under the mentorship of the other guitarist (Angeal). They still need a drummer, but since drummers aren't usually in the spotlight, they don't really have anyone in mind, so they rotate aspiring young drummers like a background, unnamed position until they find one they really like (like Kunsel and, eventually, Cloud).

There are other details I have already worked out, like how Angeal's guitar (Buster) is going to be passed down to Zack due to DRAMA and ANGST, and then MORE DRAMA AND MORE ANGST will make Zack pass it down to Cloud, who has been secretly tutored by Zack on their free time... There's more, but I haven't had time to really start writing it, only planning and outlining... but I'd love to work on that.

11. a WIP you’d like to finish someday

My aeriseph Enemies With Benefits fic! Aeriseph is still a small ship, and I haven't seen many fics with this premise yet, and I already have some stuff I haven't posted, but I lack the encouragement to keep working on it, in fact the reason I stopped working on fic (besides real life kicking my ass over and over again) is that I don't have enough motivation to make time for it, as I don't have the free time I once did and now any hobby needs to be fought for, it takes a lot of mental energy that isn't really rewarding when I feel I'm writing for no one.

ask me a question about writing fic!

[oh-no-another-idea]

Writer positivity tag

Tagged by @cherrybombfangirlwrites SO long ago you wouldn't believe. Thank you, lovely!

1. What motivates you to write?

Half pure enjoyment, half the beast inside me demands it. The beast keeps ya going when the enjoyments are few. ;)

2. A line/short snippet of your writing that you are proud/happy of. If not maybe share a line of someone else's work you love (just please credit them)

I love this bit here from my wip Cemetery Sisters:

The idea stayed, lingering like the condensation on Madeleine's ice water glass. An illusive definition of family dripped down and over her fingers, a question of grief and love left a ring behind on the table. “Is it going to give you purpose in a healthy way?” Miguel asked, like he was some kind of therapist and not a boy with a circ saw. “Are you asking me if I’m going to get obsessed with results that exist only in my head?” Madeleine retorted, pulling the lemon wedge from her glass and slurping it. Her teeth tingled.

3. Which OC makes you smile every time you think/talk about them and what are they like?

Most all of them do! But I definitely love thinking about my boy Tim Alabaster from a wip of only vibes at this time. He's a magician framed for murder, and I adore him :)

4. What process of writing do you enjoy the most?

When you know just enough about the characters and the arc of the story that you can see it taking shape and the words are flowingggg

5. What part of writing do you think you are the best at? (Yes stroke your own ego it's okay)

I'm good at dialogue, I think, at having different voices and humorous jokes.

6. What is something in the writeblr community is most enjoyable?

I love how supportive everyone is, how you can get so many wonderful glimpses of others' work through tag games, how there's really a story for everyone out there.

7. A writing tool/device you use that helps you with writing? (It could be speech to text, a writing program etc)

I enjoy trying to put down 300 words per day. More often than not, I end up writing way more than that, but it's a nice attainable goal.

8. A piece of worldbuilding that you like in your own story? (It could be the magic system, a particular place in the story, a law etc)

In Stars and Ships there's a city on a planet that's built on tidal flats--all the structures are on stilts and at low tide canoes are tied up and hang up above the sand. I still like thinking about all the implications of the setting...

9. What piece of advice would you say to encourage others to write if they are having a rough patch?

Don't be hard on yourself, and take a rest. Sometimes, just not holding yourself up to other standards and sleeping is all that's needed, and sometimes pursuing other creative outlets really helps me! Read, draw, go on a walk, talk with friends. The writing is still inside you, it'll be there.

10. Tag some people whose works you love/have been your biggest supporters

Everyone I meet on here is kind and wonderful! Thank you to everyone who boosts me up from all over the globe. Your kindness really inspires me. And also beloveds @sleepy-night-child @drippingmoon @sleepyowlwrites @reneesbooks @chauceryfairytales

@charlesjosephwrites @eccaiia @ashen-crest <333 Hugging you guys!!

Everyone^^^ consider yourselves tagged if you'd like, and also OPEN TAG for everyone else that sees this!!

[ninadove]

20 questions for fic writers 📝✨

Thank you for tagging me, @bittersweetresilience! I love talking about myself. I’m my own favourite subject.

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

As of now, 13! I’m keeping a couple in store as they were written for specific events.

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

62,992 let’s GO

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Miraculous Ladybug and Professor Layton! I should really get working on the latter again…

4. What are your Top 5 fics by kudos?

@paracosmicat look at our babies. They’re doing so well 💜💚

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I do!!! I love exchanging with readers, especially since our little fandom niche is so comfy and warm. If you’ve ever left me a kind comment or a bunch of happy emojis, please know you made my day! 💖

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

WELL THEY ALL GET HAPPY ENDINGS

Clive isn’t doing too hot in The Lucky Ones right now, but it’s a WIP so he’ll get there. Eventually.

As for my finished fics, probably Everything I did (I did for you) pre-epilogue? I consider it to be a happy resolution, but Adrien is crying pretty hard.

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

WELL THEY ALL GET HAPPY ENDINGS — Oh wait. I already mentioned that, didn’t I.

The fluffiest one (so far) is probably Avant-première!

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Nope! People have been wonderful overall. 💖

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

Oh oh, my friends. I wouldn’t even know where to start. I am a little ace dove who gets a critical case of boredom whenever movies feel the need to feature a smutty scene.

Nothing wrong with the genre itself, of course — it’s just not my cup of tea!

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

@dragongutsixofficial have discussed many crossovers over the years! Maybe one day I will commit one to paper. 🌍

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Nope! Hopefully this doesn’t change.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope, but that would be a good exercise! Writing in my first language (🇫🇷) actually puts a bigger pressure on my shoulders.

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

ABSOLUTELY AND HERE ARE THE GOODS:

Shadow Strike with @paracosmicat

Unmasked with @paracosmicat

ephialtes / reverie with the Anarchist Gang Server (🎶 all of you, all of youuu 🎶)

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

🎶 In canon they have never met 🎶

Special mention to Feligami, because. Duh.

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

LISTEN I WILL FINISH IT I JUST NEED TO FOLLOW THE BRAINWORMS WHERE THEY TAKE ME

But right now it’s probably The Lucky Ones, my role swap AU for Professor Layton. I’ve been working on it since 2019 and I know where I’m going with it — it’s just taking a while to actually get there, y’know?

16. What are your writing strengths?

Well I’m very good at making myself cry. Which hopefully means the feelings are getting across to my lovely readers too.

I do have extensive experience on writing redeemed villains struggling to build back bridges with the people they love. 12 years of obsessing over a fictional terrorist will do that to you.

Technically speaking, though, I think I’ve gotten great at deleting bits of dialogue and description I don’t need to keep only the essentials! It makes my writing lighter, while also encouraging readers to explore the metaphors for themselves.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I am paiiinfully slow and lose motivation easily when writing longer fics (see: The Lucky Ones). Shadow Strike is the exception to the rule, and what a wonderful exception it is. 💜💚

One-shots are the format for me, but I’ve been enjoying two and three-parters a lot lately!

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

I don’t think I’ve had to do it before (except for the occasional nickname or curse word), but I’d probably be able to!

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Probably Professor Layton or Pokémon Black and White! I got into these when I was 13. Dragon Quest IX came a little bit earlier, but it took a while to finish, so my one big fic for it must have been around the same time.

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

How could you make me choose (Shadow Strike)

How dare you even suggest I might like some of my babies more than the others (Shadow Strike)

Preposterous. I could never pick just one —

SHADOW STRIKE

Hmm. Yes. It is Shadow Strike indeed. @paracosmicat and I have so much fun working together and we get to be as self-indulgent as our hearts desire. Truly our masterpiece. 💜💚

From a technical perspective, I think Everything I did (I did for you) is my best work so far! I’m very proud of the metaphors carefully woven into this one. Photosynthèse was a nice training!

Everything I write for Feligami fixes something in my brain chemistry, and La nuit, tous les chats sont gris just. Makes me so happy. For so many reasons.

Tagging @dragongutsixofficial, @paracosmicat and anyone who would like to participate! 💖📝

[yanderederee]

Anon Askbox Responses:

anon1:

losing motivation is the worst, but I just wanna say that it will come back eventually just try and not force it otherwise you'll feel like shit and that will make it worse. BUT IT WILL COME BACK and I'm excited to see your new works too since I love all your other ones :) but take your time and don't stress about others, focus on yourself and it's understandable to suddenly feel the need to get others to be proud of your work too but even if there's a small amount of people trust me those are the main people that LOVE your work. luv you <3

anon2:

Hi! I saw your poll and, I think you should write what you want to write. There are readers for a lot of different genres and scenarios. Personally, I like reading works that authors enjoyed writing, even if it's not what I usually read or even apart of the fandom, because I know that a human thought this up and put genuine effort into it. That alone makes any work worth reading. I myself am also in the situation of making my characters/scenarios too "edgy," but I think people should write something that they'll look back at and be glad they got out their brain. And tbh, I'll eat up whatever you cook because I enjoy your writing and I am starving for TKR content.

anon3:

i"d like to read everything ypu write, no matter confession or WIPs everything will be interesting, so you can post WIPs if you want (sorry tuat i wrote it here, i have some problems eith tumbler and i can etote under posts)

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✦

First and foremost, THANK YOU! I appreciate everyone’s encouragement and support … I worry about spamming, and this decided to dedicate a response in this manner!:) even if these may be the same anon, I’m all the more grateful for your dedication thus far…

Honestly, as silly as it may sound… this little bit of interaction and support had really picked up my confidence some, and helped me in writing an entire Confession prompt…!

I will be posting it soon..! However, true to my previous Poll Post, I would like to revisit the older installments of my Baji x Tutor!Reader series, so that they may be more uniform!

Please look forward to it! I may reblog them, if the changes made and significant enough!

Again, thank you all very much once again! I hope to keep this motivation going for even one more work to see the light of day!:)

special thank you to the following blogs for their consistent support!:

@finleyfox , @imunknown894 , @keisukibaji , @goddessofwaifus , @w0lfeyc4t (I try remembering blogs I see regularly check on my page, but I am not always very observant…)

[the-marron]

Hiiii!!! Question for youuu: 15, 17, 28, 29 for the ao3 wrapped thingy???? ❤️❤️

Hi!!! Thanks for the questions! ❤

15. What WIP are you taking into next year with you?

Huh, depends. My newest child (Ma Zhe/ Yang Xiuxian) is with my beta right now and since life is busy I cannot exactly say when it will be done, so maybe that one? If not then I don't have any wips I plan to publish any time soon, but December is not over yet and I keep on Miyazaki-ing all over the place: "this will be my last published fic... UNLESS!!!", so who know, maybe inspiration gets me again 😂

17. Your favorite character to write this year?

Ah, probably Lin Nansheng, no surprises here - I loved being able to not only deep-dive into who he was in the canon, but also into the potential of who he might become after it, given some incentive and a new perspective on the world. But, I must say, I also liked Cai Qingchuan - I know he is a bit of an unknown, because hardly anyone has seen his movie, but I found the disciplined, brave and self-sacrificing soldier interesting (and not only because he is a BY-face) enough to try to make an attempt at bringing him into a modern setting - how would his dedication and lack of self-preservation work in our times? Why would he be this way? And I like the results, I think, as I like Et Moi Dans Mon Coin in general.

As for fav character in general - Zhao Yunlan and Luo Fei, but they both feel a bit too smart for me at times, so I find myself struggling in some parts, muttering to myself, 'come on, man, have a believable idiot moment to make my job easier, goddammit' 😂

28. Favorite work you wrote this year?

Again, no surprises - Unscathed! Not only it's my longest fic on ao3, it is also a mix of everything Marrons love and adore - Shanghai, history, Luolin, growing to trust each other, growing with one another while making difficult choices. I am really happy with this one ❤

29. Favorite line/passage you wrote this year?

Oh boy, that's a hard one... 🤔 I have a lot in Unscathed, but maybe I should give other children some time to shine, so I will go with:

“We need you, soldier,” he informed the plant, but it didn’t sound encouraging at all. If anything, it made Yunlan think of Zhao Xinci and his ‘motivational’ speeches. As an azalea, Yunlan would rather wilt than do anything a person talking like that asked him to, so he tried a different approach.

“Here, it’s my best coffee, you deserve it,” he said, pouring a bit of the beverage on the ground underneath the bush. “You are already doing great,” he added, feeling rather stupid. 

Well, at least he tried. 

From Weilan The Art of War 🥰

Thank you for the ask again, it was fun to think of the answers! If anyone wants to play, the template is here

[romanceandshenanigans]

Writer Q&A Game

Thanks to @clairelsonao3 for tagging me!

1. What motivates you to write?

I'm not exactly sure tbh. It almost feels like a compulsion. There are days where I simply do not feel good in my body if I haven't written anything. Then there are others where I can't bring myself to write because I'm too tired or too distracted from life. Honestly the second I get a clear head and enough time to myself, I'll start writing.

2. A line/short snippet of your writing that you are most proud/happy of. If not maybe share a line of someone else's work you love (just please credit them)

This isn't from my WIP, but from a fanfic I wrote a while ago. I want to try to find a way to incorporate it into something. Not sure where though.

“I know this seems like it’s coming out of nowhere,” he said, “but promise it’s not. I’ve had a long time to think about it.  A few years, actually. I guess, I just didn’t realize how deep I was in it until about five minutes ago.”

She kept silent, but the simple fact she hadn’t told him to get out gave him the confidence to keep going. . 

“I meant it when I said I’m crazy about you. I like that you take your sugar with a drop of coffee.  I like how you sing to yourself when you’re happy.  I like that you never seem to get cold.  I like that you never lose your head under fire, but still need me to get rid of spiders. I like that you can laugh at yourself.  I like that you can laugh at me. Hell, I like that you’re perfectly willing to slap my face if the situation calls for it.

I like so many things about you Liz, and that’s just the stuff I found out on accident.  I can only imagine the stuff I’d learn if I started loving you on purpose."

3. Which OC makes you smile every time you think/talk about them and what are they like?

I really do enjoy writing Finn. The boy just makes my smile.

Close second is another OC which I wrote for fanfic who I want to save and put someplace else, Lucy. She's my softest girl who has a lot of love to give. Might figure out a way to put her in this regency setting somewhere, but who knows.

4. What process of writing do you enjoy the most?

The first draft spree. The moment when you get an idea and you have write it down as quickly as possible. It's rough and definitely will need some editing, but that rush cannot be topped. It just feels satisfying to exorcise even the smallest of scenes out of my body.

5. What part of writing do you think you are the best at? (Yes stroke your own ego it's okay)

Dialogue, hands down. It's at least the part I've gotten the most compliments on.

6. What is something in the writeblr community is most enjoyable?

I've only just started to dip my toe in, but I really do love answering asks. I like seeing other writer's process and knowing I'm not alone. It's just fun!

7. A writing tool/device you use that helps you with writing? (It could be speech to text, a writing program etc)

I've been using Scrivener and it's really helped me keep everything organized. I have a very conspiracy board way of drafting, so having all my random snippets in one place really helps.

8. A piece of worldbuilding that you like in your own story? (It could be the magic system, a particular place in the story, a law etc)

Not sure world building is my strong suit for this current WIP. I suppose I'm enjoying expanding the world of the theatre, but I admittedly need to do more research.

9. What piece of advice would you say to encourage others to write if they are having a rough patch?

Write anyway. It doesn't have to be the scene that's giving you trouble. It doesn't even have to be for the piece you're trying to focus on, just don't get out of the habit of writing. Once you lose that momentum, it takes a long time to get it back.

10. Tag some people whose works you love/have been your biggest supporters

Gotta give a shout out to @clairelsonao3 for being so welcoming in my introduction to the writeblr community. And @janec23, for being one of the few specifically romance writers to reach out.

But I really can't begin to thank all the people who have followed me from my fanfic blog over to this one. It really means so much to know people are interested in reading anything I put out there.

@flapjacques, @jo-harrington, @can-of-pringles, @handahbear, @auroramagpie, @justanothersadperson93, @sad-cat-hours, @ghostface001, @theowlwhocameback, @mattmurdocksscars, @roruna, @everything-intertwined, @sweetjedi, @arcanerazil, @vibratingbonesbis, @delirious0pandemonium, @llovelykenobi, @geek-girl7, @mixedupanddown

Know that I love and appreciate you all.

I'm also going to leave this an OPEN tag to anyone who wants to do this, and especially invite everyone who I have tagged above. (and

[alagaesia-headcanons]

I'm back to share my progress on my writing!

I know I've been pretty quiet lately- my focus and mental health have had some ups and downs- but I've still been working away. I'm done with my recent stint of planning/ note taking/ story development and I'm very excited I can say I'm now in Go Mode.

I've accomplished what I was aiming for in my last update, namely writing a proper character arc for Thorn and deciding how to integrate it into the story, and filling in the aspects of Murtagh's character arc I felt were underdeveloped. It took a lot longer than I expected it too, which is the story of my life, but I also accomplished more than I initially set out to do. For one, fixing Murtagh's arc demanded a lot more attention than I thought it needed, and now both he and Thorn feel fully realized.

Along with that, hammering out their arcs and connecting them with Orrin's pushed me to consider the plot line much more intently. Creating the events and plot structure that moves the story forward is by far the hardest part of writing for me. I did have a plot when I started this story, but it was a bit flimsy. I thought I might struggle with it throughout the whole process, but while working on the characters, I was able to make a lot of decisions and adjustments regarding the plot because it motivated me to better establish the framework I was building on. I'm really proud of how much more substantial and refined it is now; it has new strength and I have a lot more confidence in it.

I'm also quite confident that this will be the last time I have to take a long break from the actual writing to plan ahead. I've solved a ton of my unknown variables. There's only one characterization element that I'm still pretty unsure of, and it's not nearly as pivotal as what I've been wrestling with. And of course there's plenty of nitty gritty plot details I haven't decided on yet, but I'm not really worried about any of them and I think most will fall into place while I'm writing. I honestly feel like I'm in go mode. There's a ton left to write, but I don't expect anything to hold me back from making progress on the actual writing from here on.

I have put down my notebook and I've started writing the next section, and it feels great. For as necessary and successful as that planning period was, it was starting to drive me a bit crazy lmao. I'll consider some ways to share stuff with you guys while it's still a wip. Thank you to everyone who's encouraged me 💕!

I also have some general ic thoughts I want to post about soon. Life has been distracting, but I miss rambling and sharing ideas with you guys! I'll be doing some more of that soon