#i think this chapter is the best I've written...

[loveafterdeath-if]

Update (more like me rambling than an actual update, tbh)

Hope y'all are doing alright! I saw my inbox filled with asks and kind words (y'all are the best, as always), and I'll start answering everything once I wrap up Chap 2, Part 2. I want to focus fully on writing so I can get you the whole chapter before March at least, haha.

I'm gonna start correcting what I've written so far to avoid ending up with 100k words to fix all at once. We're about 50% through Chap 2, Part 2 (38k words, but it'll probably hit 40k with corrections). There are branches that have messed with my brain because I wanted to include scenes for each RO, but I don't regret it. I love games with lots of replayability (is that how we say it?), so I want mine to offer that too.

Chap 2, Part 2 will have a ton of branches for each RO, plus the option if you're not pursuing anyone, so it might take a while to get that full chapter out. I honestly don't know how other authors keep track of so many branches! I've always respected them as a reader/player, but being the one writing makes me wanna hand my future kids over to those incredible authors…

On top of that, I'm dealing with another issue. I've been writing so much that I think I'm slowly slipping into that "They gaze at her and say," "They take the paper and it falls" vibe (is that even a thing? Idk). You know, the kind of writing with no real description. I find myself double-checking everything to make sure the descriptions are 'good,' and I think I'll just play some IFs when I got time, to help me regain my groove without turning phrases all weird (I hate reading books, that's why I'm gonna play IFs). This is making me slow down a bit.

I've been pushing myself to write at least 4-5k words each day for the past 3 (4?) months, and I think I shouldn’t have done that. I'm putting pressure on myself without even realizing it. It's only when I end up with 'only' 3k words that I start feeling upset and push through to hit minimum 4k. I'm feeling good for now and don't mind writing that much, but I really don't want to wake up one day and boom—burnout. A Ko-fi member and some folks in my inbox have kindly reminded me to take breaks and take my time, so I think I'll slow down a bit. Like, maybe aim for 3k words?

I've been writing for years, (started on Wattpad in French, and yeah, it was… something) so no worries about the game going on hiatus or anything. I love writing, especially interactive stuff—so basically IFs, haha. Just wanted to keep you in the loop!

Anyway, this ended up way longer than I intended. Stay safe, don't forget to eat your greens, stay hydrated, and all that! <3

[gotham-daydreams]

Are you alive? Is 2025 your date of death? We miss you mate

HI!!! OKAY SINCE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED AND I GENUINELY DON'T WANT ANYONE TO WORRY (especially with how the year is kicking off) I'll say it-

I AM ALIVE!!!

I know it's been a long while, and I apologize for that!! I didn't want to start off the year this way, and actually wanted to start it off with a one shot (and the one that was supposed to come out on Christmas, along with the remaining chapters of the red dawn and so on) but I'll be honest and say that I got distracted, caught up in one too many things, and fell out of DC for a hot minute before crawling back like a man starved.

I've missed you all so much, and for the past few days have been trying to get those things I mentioned together so that I can finally have something up again! Even if I've royally failed the challenge back in October, those last chapters will and are still uneditied and basically made on a time crunch. The oneshots are getting done as we speak, and Chapter 4 is in the works :]

If it sounds like a lot and absolutely insane, that's because it is!! I'll be honest and say that I'm more excited for other projects then what I'm currently working on, but am focusing more on getting things done because you all deserve that and especially for all of your patience and kindness! I know I've said it before, but the Not Series really isn't my best work, and I don't think it will be, but even then I still want to produce a Chapter that you'll enjoy - but if anyone sees a decline in quality (despite the first and 2nd chapter essentially being written in one sitting and posted on the same day), that's probably why!

I do have some updates regarding some of the fics I said I was planning on writing, with the biggest update being in regards to "Ghost" as I've essentially almost rewritten the entire plot at this point, but I'll get there when I get there.

Nevertheless, yes, I am still alive! Even if you probably won't hear too much from me until those couple of things get done, I'll try to multitask and such as much as I can! The way of how I post things may be a little odd, but it'll mostly be with when I get them done, and with all the time I have at the moment - well, I might actually be able to meet my own deadline this time around... even if that new years oneshot is already 13 days late, and I'm not going to talk about the rest of the stuff I have to work on.

Regardless, rest assured! I'm not dead yet, and progress is being made! ... And what better way to show that then being late once again! LOL

[messrsrarchives]

writer interview game

ty @shoopsthereitis and @brandileigh2003 for the tags !! me when i'm in my writing era <3 (under cut)

how many works do you have on a03?

4! two oneshots and two ongoing wips :)

what's your total ao3 word count?

i cannot check rn because ao3 is down x

your top 5 stories by kudos? -> only have four up thus far so ahem

one single thread of gold

All In On Black

maybe time running out is a gift

the death of my dog (the stretch of my skin)

do you respond to comments?

i am so bad at doing this but i try to reply whenever i upload the next chapter! (i am very behind but i read and love every single notification <3)

what's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

it's not posted yet but the ending for 'maybe time running out is a gift' is incredibly angsty and then there's a couple more MCD fics in the vault 🤭

what's the fic you've written with the happiest ending?

next question.

no actually ostog will have a happy ending 🙂↕️ eventually

do you write crossovers?

nope

have you ever received hate on a fic?

not *on* the fic but i've had some anon asks :/

do you write smut?

with @shoopsthereitis holding my hand the entire time whilst i cry and ask "is this word okay?" every five minutes

have you ever had a fic stolen?

naur

have you ever had a fic translated?

naur

have you ever co-written a fic before?

unless we count the aforementioned smut hand-holding then nope, not any that are up ! but me and a friend have some ideas floating around (i love co-writing)

what's your all-time favorite ship?

wolfstar wolfstar wolfstar

what's a wip that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

i have a longgggg jegulus centric fic that i've been toying around with for MONTHS that feels a lot like sisyphus and his boulder. not much hope on that one but lots of thinking ! that counts !

what are your writing strengths?

i'm a big metaphor lad. big fan of poetic rambles. and then the recurring themes are probably what i'm best at because that's what i'll base a story around

what are your writing weaknesses?

smut absolutely but also just,,, physical intimacy at all. and dialogue is always a big struggle (me 🤝🏻 miscommunication tropes)

what are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

so much fun !! mostly welsh in the vault because i grew up with it, but there's some french and hindi scattered into drafts too

what's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to?

i would love to write some scorbus at some point! i love those lil guys and i'm super excited to start on my snily one

what's your favorite fic you've ever written?

ostog has a soft spot in my lil heart. it's clunky and i've been feeling very :((( about it recently but i still love it. it's been a big learning curve (and still is) but that remus is so special to me

np tags (sorry if you've already done it!): @calamitoustide @courfee @inevitablestars @houndsinhades @littleoldrachel

[leonenjoyer69]

Hello!!! I suppose I'd like to start by saying apologies for any frustration my messy ass tumblr may have caused. I do most of my character development and infodumping on discord now, so my tumblr has gotten kinda neglected on account of me A- not knowing what I have and haven't shared on here, B- not having much motivation to collect thoughts and post on here, and C- not really expecting newer people to discover/care about him, which is kinda stupid ig lmao.

Otherwise!! I'll be sure to write out a big long yap about Elias's actual character and development, since I've been kinda intending to but just haven't had the motivation and keep forgetting. Again, apologies, since I know everything and yap about it sm elsewhere I don't really think about how confusing it may be. Uh, for basics/beginnings tho, I do have a fic for him, which I'm actually working on the next chapter for rn. Lanyon basically accidentally takes the HJ7 the night after blackfog and everything, and poof, Elias!

Design wise tho!! I made him back in March of last year, so before a decent bit of recent Lanyon development, and while he has changed a decent bit, he's still mosttttly the same designwise. Making him white honestly wasn't really an idea I had? Hyde retains most all of Jekyll's structure outside of his hair and body size, so I wanted Elias to still look very close to Lanyon but different enough that it wouldn't be "obvious". His skin is cooler instead of lighter or darker, mainly bc changing the color too much did feel a bit odd, but mainly for design and like,, logical reasons, I suppose. It just felt odd that the potion would completely change the color of his skin to such a degree, personally. His eyes are green bc of the potion, bc I'm simple like that 💔 they're also a different shape, for reasons I can't quite remember, ngl. I also changed his nose shape?? a decent bit?? Mainly bc I used to draw Lanyon a bit differently than how he was in canon bc my memory was off, but I've been fixing that in recent artworks. I made his hair blond bc I felt like the potion would have more of a bleaching effect on hair than a "recessive genes" type thing, plus it was just something unnatural and eye catching and messy. Uhhhh, clothes was a bunch of trial and error honestly, but I knew I wanted a messier and less "gentlemanly" style, hence the open collar. Higher society and expectations suffocate him, so why not let Elias breathe freely?

Also the "white Elias" joke image I mentioned in the tags was simply an edit someone asked for while I was messing around with colors on a piece I had drawn a while ago, lmao. basically saying "lol what if you gave him the ginger Lanyon color pallet" and it certainly looked odd, but still merely a joke.

Additionally!!! I love your design, he's very cute and squishable :33 your reasonings are also quite interesting /pos (your style is also very yummy)

Uh, once again sorry about the confusion, and sorry if even this is messy af. I'm a bit sick rn, so my brain is kinda blanking on words and a lot of information,,,,

like I said, I'll try to get a big ramble post about the basics of him uploaded, but for now the best thing I can turn you towards is the fic I mentioned, at least until I can get all the info collected and written out. Otherwise, I'd be happy to perhaps share my discord in DMs so we could have proper conversation if you wished? I definitely wouldn't mind talking, and thank you for being interested in my silly AU btw jdjfkdkfk

If the headcanon that Edward Hyde is made of recessive genes is right then Elias would probably look like this lol

[light-kun]

Idk if you know or care, but I just found out true elision updated after all these years 😭

I can't believe it's finally updated after all this time!! I need to get down to reading it soon. Let me know if you have any thoughts!

[museumgiftshoperaser]

80s New York Art Scene AU for @steddiebang Now on AO3

Written by me with art by @melonalemonade & @dreaminginpencil Beta'd by @lihhelsing & Nevertheless

If Eddie had known that sharing his art studio with Robin would include her buddy Steve, he never would’ve offered it in the first place. There. He said it. If that makes him a bad friend, so be it. Because Steve is around all the time. Pastel and prissy. Sculpted from marble, yet dressed like a Macy’s mannequin. Always hovering. They got Robin’s potters wheel up the stairs last week, a three man effort he can still feel in his lower back, and now she’s fucking teaching him. Full on, arms wrapped around his waist, hands guiding hands. Someone grab him a bucket, ‘cause Eddie’s about to throw up. He’s not even good at it. Steve can barely get the hump of clay centered on the wheel and he refuses to get stains on his clothes. It’s fucking clay. It comes out in the wash. Steve’s shirtless approach to pottery is borderline offensive to the arts.

More information under the cut:

The posting date is less than two weeks away and I'm beyond excited to start sharing this fic with you guys! I've been working on it since January and it's the longest thing I've ever written. This story is absolutely drowning in 80s neo-expressionist art, graffiti and street art. Think Jean Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Everything about this fic is covered in paint <3

Posting Schedule: Nov. 7: Prologue + Chapter 1 - "Takes One to Know One" Nov. 10: Chapter 2 - "You've Done This Before" Nov. 14: Chapter 3 - "The Boy From California" Nov. 17: Chapter 4 - "A Regular Thing" Nov. 21: Chapter 5 - "You Don't Have to Tell Me" Content warnings for: Past abusive relationship, mentions of abuse during childhood, addiction, slighty toxic relationship, period typical homophobia and mentions of homophobic parents, mentioned death of a parent, explicit sex scenes with dom/sub undertones I've got a little snippet for you here:

“Ta-dah,” Robin says with a big smile and an even bigger hand gesture.  She stretches her arms like a big reveal, which only highlights how small the studio is. Both of her hands almost touch a wall. Eddie’s normally fucking proud of this space, but Steve’s presence is ruining it. It’s one of the reasons he hates rich people. The world always looks like shit through their eyes. A crease forms between Steve’s eyebrows, an expression Eddie has seen him make several times in the thirty minutes he’s known the guy. “This part is mine!” Robin says, sounding genuinely excited. She’s the only rich person Eddie respects. He cleared out the room directly to the right of the entrance for Robin. It’s slightly smaller than his own, but she agreed to it before she left to spend all of June and July with her mother in California. She said it had better light anyway, which Eddie doesn’t give a fuck about.  There’s something twitchy about Steve’s movements. He baby birds his way across the space, like he doesn’t realize he has wings yet. Anxious, which, what the fuck? What did Eddie do to deserve that? Steve’s nose scrunches like he smells something he disapproves of. “I really don’t like this part of the city,” he says and he looks out the window like that proves his point. “Do you have to work here?”  Eddie bites the inside of his cheek. He promised Robin he’d play nice, but surely these are extenuating circumstances.  “We don’t all have daddy payin’ our bills,” he says with a pout and a lilt that borders on sexual. Just to piss him off. Just to make everyone uncomfortable. Robin blinks a few times fast and shakes her head. Count that as a win.  “I don’t…” Steve stutters before collecting himself. “I just want Robin to have a nice place to work.”  ���And I’d like a pony and a private jet, but we can’t all get what we want,” he says and he really should stop there. But… “Isn’t that right, pretty boy?”  He doesn’t even have to wink this time. A blush stretches all the way to Steve’s ears. His eyes deepen from shock to anger like a bruise turning dark purple on day three. Yup. Worth it.  “Eddie, could you please just behave,” Robin groans. “We still have to get the rest of my stuff.” “I can help you with that tomorrow,” Steve says, still flushed, but pretending like he isn’t. It’s a sweet offer until he turns to look Eddie up and down and adds: “So we can get out of here now.”  “That would be great.” Robin looks up at Steve. “I could really use a drink, you?”  There’s those puppy eyes again. Steve’s whole face lights up and he nods quickly.  “You coming, Eddie?” She wiggles her fingers at him. “First round on me?” An offer to get drinks with his best friend and this random guy who makes him want to rip his own hair out? Fuck no. He has some sense of self preservation, thank you very much.  “I’m just gonna work on my painting for a bit.” Robin rolls her eyes at him before pushing Steve back toward the front door. “Go home on time, okay?” she yells over her shoulder. “The painting’s gonna be here in the morning.”  “Yeah, yeah…” He waits by the door until he can no longer hear their footsteps on the stairs. Once he’s confident they’re gone, he grabs the sheet turned blanket from the crate behind his easel. He never bothers with pajamas, just unbuckles his overalls and lets the pants sag around his hips as he sinks into the couch. It’s easier that way. If Robin comes back he can just tell her he was taking a nap. Sweatpants and a sleep shirt would be a dead ringer that sleeping here isn’t just a one off. He’s been doing it since he got evicted in April, but what Robin doesn’t know won’t hurt her.

[appalachianapologies]

Remittent Distress

Chapter Seven: Transient

Chapter Summary: Mac, Riley, and Bozer all touch down in Mission City, hoping to get their footing before seeking out the elder MacGyver and Walsh. At the same time, half of the Delta Team head toward James MacGyver's last known residence while Dalton is caught up in memories with the past that threaten to cloud his judgement of the present.

Fic Summary: After years of being on the run and keeping his head down, Mac finally receives the opportunity to end this screwed up game of hide-and-seek for good. With the help of two unlikely friends, some unconventional skill sets, and plenty of all-nighters, Mac attempts to track down his father before James gets to him first. It's been six months since an ordinary mission turned to hell, leaving its permanent marks on Jack Dalton—both physically and emotionally. But when information about a wild kid he came across four months ago gets dropped into his lap, he has to push it all down in order to find not just the kid, but the truth behind him as well.

[sk1fanfiction]

Chapter Nine: Red Rum, Red Hands

Oh, he’s spotted it,” said Blaise from behind her, his voice giddy with anticipation.

“Who?” asked Parvati.

There was no answer, because Harry and Cedric both seemed to dive in unison, robes snapping in the wind after what must be the Snitch near the ground, far too small to see.

“Now, the technique Potter’s using’s called a Spiral Dive—” Blaise began.

“Shhh,” said Parvati, almost dangling over the railing. “They’re so close!”

The two Seekers were neck and neck, hands outstretched, pressing themselves flatter against their brooms—

Then they both pulled up. Hard. The Snitch must have slipped away.

“Well, wasn’t that hair-raising?” called Lee, and the stadium cheered in approval. “It’s still anyone’s game, sixty to eighty, Gryffindor to Hufflepuff — but Johnson’s currently doing her best to make that score even.”

The tension in Harry’s shoulders as he rose was clear even from far away. The Gryffindor stands yelled encouragement, but he seemed indifferent, unhearing as he watched the swarming chaos of red and yellow below. Cedric looked similarly contemplative.

And then, it happened.

Cedric dove.

“Diggory spotted the Snitch!” called Lee. “With Potter in pursuit — no, where’s Potter, why’s he just sitting there? Earth to Potter!”

“Why isn’t he following?” asked Parvati, the wind from Cedric plummeting blowing her hair back from her face.

She was right; Harry was just sitting there, casual as you please.

What if something’s wrong?

“Wronski Feint,” Blaise supplied. “At least, that’s what Diggory’s attempting. But Harry knows there’s nothing down there.”

Indeed, Harry’s face was tilted towards the sky, scanning the clouds with a tense, quiet determination.

Is that really what he’s doing?

Gryffindor plays Hufflepuff, but, believe it or not, Harry and Cedric's last match-up is far from the most exciting event this Saturday. Read from the beginning at FFN|AO3!

[ratgirlexe]

Literally none of you are ready for some of the stuff I now have written for Myosotis. We are going to go to such beautiful places, and I am so excited to take you there.

[optiwashere]

I completely forgot about the best part of a new year, at least from a "neurotic about genuinely pointless shit" perspective. It's this little sweetness on AO3.

This is also where I'm a massive hypocrite and admit that I look at things that don't matter. I'm here as a lesson. Don't do what I do, fellow writers.

These pages on AO3 are the Great Evil. Save yourself and ignore them. I highly recommend making a site skin to block yourself from seeing any statistics!

I hate seeing this screen. Expectation and comparison lurk here:

I love seeing this screen and its relative emptiness. It's comforting:

I hope to stop looking at either in 2024.

[marigoldbaker]

“Jenny, what do you know about this town?”

An Englishman who needed to stay in Sunnydale. Who moved here around the same time you did, just before what should have been the Harvest but wasn’t. Who doesn’t like his job, but married you so that he could keep it, and thanked you for the marriage like lives depended on it.

He does have a secret, Jenny realized. Her stomach turned over.

“Jenny?”

“What if I don’t want to know anything about it?” said Jenny.

agonized for nearly an hour over posting this chapter :) i like my little soft fun silly fic but it is also a celia fic which apparently means: heart-wrenching angst.

i'm hoping to write the next chapter tomorrow, if i can, but rest assured there will not be a long wait! worth noting that we are very much in the home stretch.

[whom-to-kill-whom-to-let-live]

Ah lads, I might have gone off the rails in my desperation for Legato fanfics and ended up writing my own.

[heliodorwrites]

act iii of seven days in sunny june is almost done. it's a batch of eight chapters over 10k. absolute monster update lol

i'm like vibrating with excitement about this part. the plot! the suspense! the romance! i'm cooking here!!! i want to talk about it so bad but it's not done yet

i'll probably have it edited and ready either by the weekend or after the weekend depending on how busy i am what with halloween and all

[jaywhere]

okay! almost done! 1/2 of a scene left!

[bajablast666]

Just editing and doing some revisions and then chapter 3 of my durge fic will be done!

[blacktabbygames]

even if you've already finished slay the princess, i would highly encourage you to return for the new stuff in the pristine cut. the damsel's third chapter, is, imo, far and away the best thing i've ever written. not even close genuinely intimidated by the standard it sets for me moving forward

i think the only thing i've worked on that's on the same level w/ it is the bit with stella in episode 4 of scarlet hollow. iykyk