#i'm sorry if this just seems like me rambling for like 5 paragraphs

[andyzreality]

genuinely i find types of videos like this incredibly infuriating because rather than have an interesting discussion about spirituality, they are used to demean and bully other people. regardless of whether or not you believe in shifting, you shouldn't be trying to "diagnosis" strangers on the internet (especially since 9 times out of 10, these people are not doctors or psychiatrists and don't know what they're talking about when it comes to what mental illness is and looks like). these videos are just an excuse for people to point and laugh at others free of most repercussion because shifting is generally viewed as "abnormal."

"look at all these delusional children! don't they realize how stupid they are for believing this? they must be experiencing psychosis! they must be schizophrenic!" and props to them for also simultaneously trivializing the effects of actual mental illness in a person's life. great job, guys! (/s)

now, a lot of reality shifting criticism is also rooted in misogyny, primarily targeting teenage girls, but it does make sense if you think about how and when many people first learned about the practice—2020/2021 shiftok. at the time (and still somewhat true today), the most popular creators were young women in their teens and early twenties. you can probably see where i'm going with this. there is a post by a user named hauntedhouseghost (who is not part of the shifting community btw) that explains this even better than i probably can.

anyway, there is still a lot about the brain and consciousness that we don't fully understand. for instance, out of body experiences, or OBEs—things like astral projection and near death experiences. there are theories, of course, but a lot has not been concretely and scientifically proven. the same can also be said about the existence of other realities (despite what people have been saying recently about Google's supercomputer Willow definitely proving it). however, that isn't to say that there is no proof that reality shifting is real, quite the contrary actually. but like any other spiritual practice, much of it is anecdotal, which is in part why so many people stress how personal of a journey shifting is. our experiences are often incredibly subjective.

to close, since i've already been rambling for too long, i just want to say that doubts are okay! it's okay to be skeptical and question things. it's healthy, and, in fact, it's a sign that you're thinking critically and not taking everything at face value. addressing your doubts constructively will allow you to grow in your shifting and spiritual journeys.

i hate anti shifters so much

a youtube video on shifting popped up in my recommended today and I did the mistake of watching it, the comments were full of people agreeing with the creator, talking about psychosis and maladaptive daydreaming and mental illness and whatnot. I'm genuinely upset now someone please tell me it's not true

[kaylinalexanderbooks]

Find the word

Thanks to @elsie-writes here and @dyrewrites here!

My words: fish, run, screech, down, drumming, far, pale, sever, command

Your words: punish, trust, tree, reckless

Tagging @little-peril-stories @buffythevampirelover @leahnardo-da-veggie @cowboybrunch @winterandwords

@badluck990 @willtheweaver @tabswrites @winterandwords + anyone else :)

TSP intro

TSP tag list (ask to be +/-): @thepeculiarbird @illarian-rambling @televisionjester @finchwrites

@nebula--nix @literarynecromancy

Keep reading for:

Jedi's dad sucks

Gwen's powers

Robbie asks to be thrown

Ash tries to place where she is based on accents

I'm not even kidding I looked through every single thing I've written, I've never used any variant of "drum" as a verb but I want to put something here so idk here's Gwen playing with her sticks

William's science babble

Robbie and Akash meet Ewan

This angsty passage from an older Draft of TSP was the only instance of sever I could find

Robbie helps Kelsey

Fish - from The Secret Portal Part One (Jedi POV)

“You mean besides the fact that he’s a—” “Yes, Taylor, besides that.” “No, it seems like I wasn't informed,” Dadaidh said. “Enlighten me.” Something about the way he said that made me extremely interested in the way the cooked meat of the fish looked after I had shoveled a good portion of its body into my mouth.

Run - from The Secret Portal Part One (Gwen POV)

I heard Dr. Asghar and Dr. Moon run after me, but I didn’t stop. I had a good head start and was faster. I reached the vase I’d seen and gave a mental apology for knocking it over. Dr. Asghar swore loudly as I skidded around the corner and ran down that hall until I realized I reached a dead end. I whipped around but saw Dr. Asghar and Dr. Moon at the start of the hallway. I froze. “Where’d she go?” Dr. Asghar asked, panting. “I don’t know,” Dr. Moon said. He looked around. “She had to have turned here. Her powers must have activated.” I stood there in confusion. Looked behind me, looked back at them. What powers? How could they not see me? I decided not to think too much about it and be thankful that they couldn’t while trying to make my heavy breathing quiet down.

Screech Scream - from The Secret Portal Part One (Rose POV)

I was shaking, panting—I didn’t, couldn’t, break my gaze from the beast until I heard Robbie scream, “Hit me!” “What?!” Noelle asked. “Telekinetically throw me against the wall!” “I’ve only lifted a hair-tie!” “Then physically throw me!” “What?!”

Down - from The Secret Portal Part One (Ash POV)

“Um, where exactly, uh, do I go?” “Just on the other side of those trees,” he said, pointing. Wow, I could not place his accent. Vaguely East Asian, maybe European? How observant, Ash, great way to narrow it down. It's not like there’s 5 billion people you narrowed the world to. It was different than the girl’s, though, so that definitely didn’t help.

Drumming Drumsticks - from The Secret Portal Part One (Maddie POV)

Rose sighed and stood up, neglecting to brush the grass of her pants. “Well, wherever Lexi and Ash are, I think it has something to do with that rock.” “The rock?” Noelle said, not buying it. Rose slid her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “I mean, yeah. It’s buzzing, like the wall.” “I don’t hear any buzzing,” Noelle muttered. “Me neither,” I agreed. “I… don’t either,” said Kelsey. “Sorry, Rose.” Gwen cringed, now tapping the drumstick on her palm.

Far - from The Secret Portal Part One

William put down his tablet and rubbed his eyes beneath his glasses. He’d been working so late that it was now early. It was so quiet he could hear the snakefly behind him violently flapping its wings. He sighed, then reread the last paragraph he’d written: Replicating the negative energy density found in a chronokinetic’s rifts is no easy task. The level needed to connect one time to another is far greater than a Level-7 teleporter, but nowhere near the level in the portal that connects our reality to Ceteri, nor even a dimensiokinetic. If chronokinetics were less seldom, perhaps this task would be accessible.

Pale - from The Secret Portal Part One (Robbie POV)

“Alright,” I said. “Remember the way?” Akash shrugged. “Not really.” I sighed. “Fantastic.” “Dude, you’re the one who walked it!” “I didn’t think I’d have to memorize the path!” I sighed. I leaned Ariel against a nearby tree, freeing my arms to cross over my body. “Okay, let me think.” “You two lost?” I turned to see a pale, dark-haired teenager leaning against a nearby tree. “Last time somebody asked that question, we were kidnapped.”

Sever - from The Secret Portal Part One (Draft Four)

How far will you go for a friend? That’s the real question, isn’t it? What will it take to sever a friendship? If they make a mistake, will you believe that they will come back? Maybe wait. Maybe do what’s right for everyone, but deep down, you will still die for them.

Command(ed) - from The Secret Portal Part One (Lexi POV)

I stood back, hugging myself as Robbie knelt in front of Kelsey. He pressed his fingers to her temples, and Kelsey shuddered—maybe in relief. A soft maroon glow emanated from Robbie’s fingertips. The darkness beneath Kelsey’s skin began to fade, and it traveled up Robbie’s arms, that same menacing glow radiating beneath his skin. After a moment, he released his grip from Kelsey, who let out a sharp gasp, the light gone. Robbie stood, closing his eyes. The darkness now inside him turned into a bright maroon. “Shut your eyes!” he commanded. I obeyed, and through my eyelids, I could still see a sharp white light blaring. I squeezed my eyes tighter, though water still seeped out the edges. The light faded.

[clonedchaos]

💛 𝔐𝔞𝔠𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔢 𝔐𝔢𝔪𝔬𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔰- 𝔇𝔞𝔶 1: 𝔑𝔬𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔩𝔤𝔦𝔞 🖤

Acknowledgements:

Well, here we are! Sorry I’m late to this event! Dang, it's been ages since I've written for Bendy content on any of my socials... So, I wanted to preface this fic by saying that Eclipse and A Small Bit of Kindness aren't going anywhere, I promise. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, feel free to skip to the next paragraph or first chapter below the cut) There has been a lot going on these past few months and I'll talk more about it once those stories update. I'm not done with Bendy content-- far from it actually! I just have a bit of a hard time focusing on one specific story for too long or I get burnt out. So, as an apology, I'm doing Ink Demonth from Tumblr to try and get the gears turning again. Nothing too long or too big, just short little snippets-- that is of course unless I get super invested on a prompt and get carried away. Given my track record, I'm definitely not promising this will be done in one month; I'd be lucky to get it done in two! 

And, as an added note, I'm dedicating Machine Memories to my best online friend @mister-magic. Thanks for sticking around so long, especially given how bad I am at updating things and have a habit of bouncing back and forth through fandoms. It really means a lot that you think I'm a good writer, even if most days I don't feel like I am. Taking the time to chat with me or let me ramble about my interests even if for a few moments has done a lot for me. So, thank you. (And go check out his work if you haven't, he's very talented!) :3

And I'm also dedicating it to those that know me from my other Batim fics and are still curious to know what comes next despite another unforeseen hiatus on new chapters. The support really does mean the world to me and keeps pushing me forward, and I wish so much that I could keep up with updating. I feel awful for not updating things for like 5-6 months...

Anyhow enough with the rambling, I hope you enjoy! I'm excited to see all the Ink Demonth has to offer! And go check out halfusek on Tumblr, they're hosting this event! <3

<- Previous Part Next Part ->

Summary:

Audrey takes a break from the hustle and bustle of work to unwind at her local park. Familiar sights and smells just might dredge up a few recollections of her past...

Rating: G/PG

A park bench in the sun was the perfect place for Audrey to stretch her legs. She had gotten out of bed bright and early and eager to start the day, unaware of what disaster awaited her the moment she stepped into Archgate.

“Audrey, did you send those panels to Richard? He’s been on my case all morning” this, “Audrey, would you be a dear and take this to the writer’s department?” that. Audrey didn’t quite understand why these multitude of tasks were being thrust upon her— unless it stemmed from her desire to help her coworkers. She had been in a jam on more than one occasion, whether that be due to art block or struggling with looking at a scene through a different perspective. The least she could do was return the favor to aid her department.

She hadn’t realized how exhausted she was until she quite literally collapsed into her chair. The magnitude of leftover panels she had to complete by the deadline formed a miniature mountain on her desk. Audrey sighed a weary exhale. Well, she’d better get to work.

To her utter surprise Nathan Arch popped his head in thirty minutes later, claiming he was checking up on how the new episode was coming along. All bright eyed with a warm smile, that’s how he always greeted his employees.

Audrey stiffened— she had barely gotten through a fourth of her work! Nathan scrutinized her menial pile, then glanced to her flushed cheeks and slumped shoulders. Was he going to be disappointed in her presumed lack of work ethic?

Mr. Arch just guffawed with a rosy cheeked smile. “My, Audrey. You seem like you could use a breather.”

And that’s how Audrey had ended up lounging on a park bench during work hours. The sunshine warmed her skin, coupled with a pleasant breeze that tickled her cheeks. She sneezed. The flowers were in full bloom this time of the season, which irritatingly meant pollen was out in full force.

A small group of kids ran past her, kicking a soccer ball between themselves. It was a whirlwind of chatter, rapid movements, and lots of excitement.  

Audrey’s gaze slowly observed the scenery before her, absorbing all its sights and sounds. A couple a few feet away stood with arms linked as they observed the rows of flowers lining the sidewalk. The man plucked a vibrant daisy and set it in his lover's blonde hair. A squirrel skittered up a tree, bushy tail twitching to and fro as it searched for nearby predators.

"Mommy! Mommy look! A birdie!"

Audrey hypnotically turned her head, her mind not quite meeting with reality. A few feet away a woman was holding hands with a young girl. The child was adamantly tugging her mother towards the creature in question. With a terrified squawk, the raven beat its jet black wings and lifted into the sky.

The child was left distraught with tears welling up at the corners of her eyes. Her mother frowned sympathetically, reached down, and raised the girl up to sit on her hip. “Oh, honey. You have to be gentle…” Her soft voice faded as she strolled out of earshot.

Audrey could hear faint giggling as reality seemed to fall away before her. A faint inkling of a memory began to worm its way into the limelight.

She was here many years ago. She‘d walked this same path… with her father. Audrey closed her eyes. The sight was so vivid and palpable, as if she could reach out and touch the past.

”What’s that, papa?” She had asked, enraptured by a small cluster of drooping blue petals. Her heart had been alight with wonder— it was the first time she had been to a park before! So many new smells, faces, activities, and sights just waiting for her in such a small corner of the city.

”Ah. That’s a bluebell. Beautiful, isn’t it?” Her father rumbled as he crouched down in front of the patch. He lifted one of the flowers with a finger. "Don't worry, it's healthy. This is just how they grow."

"Blue is my favorite color!" Audrey had bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. In the present, she wished things were as simple as they were back then-- when the only troubles she had were trying to pick a favorite color without "making the other colors jealous".

Now... Now things were different. Her father-- if she could even call him that anymore-- wasn't the man she thought she had known throughout her childhood. Audrey wrung her hands in her lap as she moved her gaze to stare at the concrete below. Her heart ached with longing for the simpler times. Her life was more than a mess, it was quite literally a disaster.

She missed their occasional walks in the park. She missed their daily breakfast collaboration-- Audrey had once accidentally got a pancake stuck on the ceiling one morning, prompting her father to let her stick to mixing the batter. When storms brewed outside and lightning sent her scrambling out of bed in a panic, she had always found solace with her father. Even though she knew she shouldn't... she missed him.

Audrey looked up at a small flock of birds winging south. A gentle breeze brushed her cheeks again. Despite the bittersweet recollections, Audrey wasn't despondent over the present. Though she had lost her father, she had gained a new family; one that was seeming to grow more and more every time she stepped into the Ink realm.

Henry was always a good level-headed friend she could vent her problems out to; reliable too. Allison was adept at making her way through the labyrinth of hallways and was always up for a good sparring match to sharpen Audrey's skills. Tom was a bit brash and gruff, but she knew the wolf meant well. Heidi and Porter were always a delight to see, and they loved pulling Audrey into various shenanigans and pranks they wanted to set up around the studio.

But the one person whom she felt she made the most progress with so far was the Ink Demon himself. He had taken to rooming with Audrey in her apartment whenever he grew tired of the Ink Realm. The demon wasn't exactly the easiest roommate, nor was he always friendly-- he kind of reminded Audrey of a stray cat learning to grow accustomed to the indoors. But he had certainly come a long way; he wasn't trying to kill her for starters.

They were both made by Joey Drew via the Ink Machine. So in a way, that meant they were kin. She had lost her father but gained a brother.

Hmm…

Perhaps the Ink Demon would appreciate a scene like this, whether he would admit to it or not. The memories she held of her father, as tainted as they might be now, it was part of her history. It helped make her into the young woman she was today; one that was adamant on looking towards a brighter future.

Maybe it was finally time to make some new memories...

[theoldaeroplane]

I inbox you the following: I must know what compels you about Link. I trust that he is Good and Excellent, but I simply yearn for an essay on what little niche trait makes you wanna fandom the fuck out of this little guy. 5-10 paragraphs of hyper fixated ramblings preferred, but not required.

ohhh starkid you've given me A GIFT. a GIFT.

So some background first, I think. I've always liked the Zelda games, in the way you play a mainstream game and are like "yeah that was good!" I played Ocarina of Time and Windwaker as a kid. I played Breath of the Wild when it first came out and had a fun time with it. Yeah. Good games! Fun mechanics. Characters seem a little flat, but they aren't why I'm here. What was the story again? Oh, right---yeah, they gave Zelda an actual personality that doesn't start and end with "princess" in the new one! She's a scientist! How neat.

Then Tears of the Kingdom comes out. I've just gotten a Steam Deck for my birthday and wow, turns out you can emulate TOTK already?? I try it out immediately. It's janky, but I love messing with emulators, so I keep going. I certainly don't have the cash to buy TOTK properly.

And in TOTK, for me, it starts with Zelda. It starts with this young woman barely out of her teens being flung into a horrible, frightening situation, and being forced to make an absolutely terrifying choice. And it turns out if you start looking at her more closely, that choice only becomes more and more viscerally upsetting as you incorporate things about her from the previous game.

It got me invested, and I still adore Zelda. I could probably write just as long a deliberation about her. But we're talking about Link.

I read a little bit of BOTW fanfic back when it first came out. It was almost all Sidon/Link stuff, because I liked the ship for a number of reasons, and one evening after another night of mainlining TOTK I decide to go look and see if I can find some that I remembered being good. I did, and they were still mostly good! But there was one in particular, with one line in particular. "You're Always Almost There," by Polyhexian. (On mobile so no link, sorry!)

'One hundred years ago,’ Link signed, 'A Guardian shot me through the chest,’ he grimaced as if in pain from even mentioning it, 'I died with everyone else, and then someone else decided to bring me, and only me, back to life to fix everything, to save everyone. I have to stop the Calamity. I have to save Hyrule. I have to fix the world. I am not a real person. I am everyone’s unfinished business.’

I had read it before. When I read it this time I closed my browser, opened Typora, and started writing. It wasn't more than a random narrative sifting through half collected ideas, and I neither finished nor posted it, but it got me started. A few weeks later I started writing To Be Well, which among other things directly addresses the idea that Link does not think of himself as a "real person"---and that he isn't sure if he wants to.

As I've written him, I've found more and more about him and his setting that fascinates me. Part of this is certainly that Link is intentionally designed as a "placeholder" character (word of God is he was deliberately designed to be androgynous to make it easier for more people to project on him). At first I was really fascinated by his relationship with Zelda, and wanted to look at that through a queerplatonic lens. In doing that I found myself trying to work through some problems of my own, which it turns out is just how I write fanfiction I guess: projecting! Huzzah! I decided to lean into it, and wrote "You do not have to be good," which is a story that takes some liberties with the canon to explore the subject of toxic purity and the toll it takes. Also, the logistics of kissing someone with a beak.

What makes Link compelling to me is ... what do you do, when you aren't allowed to be a person? What do you do when you've been told all your life things are like this and this and this, and that you must behave thusly?  What if you learn it was never true? How do you go from "perfect" to "real"? What does it even mean, being a person? How do you start? Is it even worth it?

I feel like I'm only scratching the surface, haha. I also love Link for whatever the hell he's doing with gender, and I've been having an absolute blast writing him as predominantly communicating via sign language. I'm playing fast and loose with a lot of things that only get half-mentioned in canon, and having a good old time playing in the sandbox of Hyrule. They're huge games and there's a lot of space for me to set up shop!

[araneitela]

❀ What has made you completely lose your chill?

Prompt: The salty munday meme // @resolutepath

❀ What has made you completely lose your chill? (Skip to paragraph 2 if you want the salt) I don't know if it would count as it being called 'losing my chill', but I get pretty Tinkerbell footstomp-y over specific issues. And as of late the whole 'women empowerment' has driven me absolutely up the wall as if I bit into 5 Jueyun Chilis and then smoked some crack during the moment of 'no brain' that came as a result. I've raged about it in DMs, I've also rambled about it twice over now in posts, and I guess I'm about to do it again here in some capacity. I think it's lasted long enough, this silence from the other side that counters the loud voices. Any society functions best when it practices the art of conversation, debate and discussion between those who disagree, but that seems like it got buried (hopefully only temporarily) by Tumblr numerous years ago, and instead we're now caught in an environment where people yell at each other, and then also make claims that some have 'no right to talk back about [topic in question]'. And I can only take so much of that. For starters, I already don't believe that the concept of people having 'no right to discuss about things' is good or healthy, because half of the experience of learning about things that are unfamiliar to you, is actively getting involved and informed about it (oh hey, I wonder who's at door; oh hello, art of conversation). Any way, I digress, but the amount of times that I see 'you're not a woman, so you can't talk about this', alright great— I'm a woman, so my voice counts when it comes to the topic of women, right? Great. So hear me: the opinion of the (female) masses blows. Sure, this whole concept of 'you have a right to your opinion' is great and I agree, but that doesn't mean that I can't call it the stupidest and most frustrating opinion that I've ever heard (and yes, you have the right to think the same of mine). God.

Any way, to the topic: sexualization of women and how apparently, cishet men are the ones responsible for it. Yeah, okay, and I'm Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, honk honk my bright red nose! Have you seen yourselves on X and Tumblr and wherever else? Sure, one can argue that HYV gave Kafka rather large breasts, sure, and you can condemn them for it, knock yourselves out. And you do, okay, great, and then, ladies, guess what I find scrolling through fanarts on any site? Kafka, drawn with the same large breasts IF. NOT. BIGGER. So okay, yeah, you can tell me these may be men, alright, so then what's your counter to me when I see in the bios of these artists, that they're women or female-identifying? Hmm? Go ahead, I'll wait, I'll be patient. Honestly, I need you to take your accusatory little fingers and point them at yourselves, because a huge part of this problem? Lies with you. Do you need me to say it again? It lies with you. But hey, at least you're consistent, for you don't sexualize just women, you also sexualize the hell out of men.

It's the same in RP in so many cases. There's so many complaints about 'my female muse gets no attention' combined with 'I can't believe I'm only approached for ships', I'm sorry, hold up— what are those shipping memes I see reblogged? The NSFW-tinted ones? What are these suggestive memes in my inbox? And again, it's not just female muses. Because that's the part of the problem that I think people aren't looking at: the exact same is done with male muses, except for some reason, women have a hard-on for M/M ships in writing, and graphical art, as much as we say that men have a thing for F/F porn. But it's okay, we'll condemn one and forgive the other, because one of those objectifies women. Yep, I got it. As a fellow woman, I'm here to say that you're doing good, girls, keep up the sisterhood, I'm proud of you.

... I lied, it makes me lose my damn chill.

[lazaruspiss]

hi there! i dig your blog! was wondering what some of your favorite explicit brudick fics might be or what your favorite kinks are for them! sorry if that’s a bizarre question lol

ooooooooo good question, funny enough i'm really bad about bookmarking fics, which makes me bad at recommending them by extension. (trying to get better about that)

adding a cut bc um. i love them. <-(talks too much)

I love brudick fics that go all the way to the dark end of things, give me archive warnings galore!! i love robin dick ones, esp combined with possessiveness and/or bruce having this idealized versions of things. bruce being Delusional is so fun to me, whether that being "it's fine, he's not a boy he's my partner" or "he loves me, don't mind the tears" etc etc, just whatever groomer justification imaginable. and i can go any which way with how dick feels. dick fighting every step of the way but still Belonging to bruce, or dick really thinking he wants this but he doesn't understand what he's asking for, either way he's in desperate need for therapy after.

hhh. kinks. there's probably some that show in my rambly paragraph but i wanna make a list too

1) whatever "this is 100% bdsm disguised as training" is called

2) virginityyyyyyyy...... toxic concept irl but very fun in porn

3) SECRETS. anything can be a kink if u believe. bruces secret boywife...

4) Possessiveness. also, bruce sure seems composed but if he goes a week without having dick around he goes insane. [bite bite] "he must be Mine forever" etc etc. the titans think bruce is just straight up beating him and dicks "i don't mind, it helps him feel better" attitude does NOT help things. bruce def has several trackers in dicks body. he doesn't use them for sending backup or helping him or anything, theyre just for stalking <3

5) the cyclical bruce treats him well, does smth absolutely abhorrent, they make up, bruce gradually lowers the bar for what "treating him well" means until dick treats anything above murder as a show of kindness. can u tell that i like (fictional) unhealthy relationships.

6) bruce absolutely wrecking dick and still expecting dick to take care of him after. bc bruce is a momma's boy fr, and dick is Absolutely his mom-wife. u know the het couple dynamic of the husband expecting the wife to always do shit for him? they're like that. mom/wife/baby, dick really does it all smh

ah. my list has turned into rambly paragraphs. my autistic swag besmirches me.

[sleepyowlwrites]

hello, since you oferred advice to the other anon can I get some words of wisdom too? you don't have to, I understand it can be a lot to ask. or maybe just a ear to listen? idk I'mhaving mixed emotions right now because somet things made me realize that even though I like writing, it's only gonna be ever for myself. which isn't a bad thing but I wanted to one day publish something but I find out now that writing is really hard and I don't have the discipline or even much interest it studying how to do it "right" like all the technicalities and stuff. so really I just like the finished product and how it "looks" in my brain more. I do like trying to figure out how to make a story make sense and all the behind the scenes stuff, but I'm rarely able to get to that stage due to being tired and unable to focus/ discipine myself to work.

I was wondering if there was something I could do about it? I mean I guess I need to accept that now when I write it's just gonna be as a hobby and for myself. though, similar to the other anon, I would like to share my writing, I mean I think we all want to share something we make at some point. but I probably have to give up wanting to make any kind of career or even part time thing from writing. I'm just not built for it I guess.

it's hard to accept. I tried developing templates for myself to follow to make it easier but I failed. I've tried many tips and suggestions and advice to write better but I just can't seem to grasp the craft. even reading doesn't help me.

I've thought about writing poetry instead, like you. but even though I like reading it I don't really like writing it much. I prefer to have characterts and drama, typical story stuff. but I struggle when it comes to putting everything together and actually crafting/building the story rather than just tell it.

sorry this got too long, I'm not really sure what I was trying to say, just need to go on a rant. I'm sorry if this was rude of me. thanks for reading if you do and I always like your responses so that's why I reached out, but let me know if I shouldn't do it like this

Had to wait until I got home from work.

So it looks like you understand your situation pretty well, actually, which is great to see.

Writing doesn't have to be a full time thing for you to go the published route. We have several published authors on here who have other jobs! You don't need to devote your whole career to it. It's fine for it to be a hobby and for it to be a hobby that you'd like to pursue a final result in.

If writing is something you enjoy, keep doing it, and if you'd like to progress, you can do it. (You can probably do it. Not everything is achievable for everyone. I will never be able to do advanced math, no matter how hard I try. My brain can't process it. But from what you're saying, your braincan process writing.)

You already know stuff you like or dislike, right? You know the story, just not how to tell it? Here are a few things that have worked for me and my discombobulated brain.

1. Bullet point lists. Just listing off major plot beats in bullet points. It's not an outline, it's not a plan, it's just a list of stuff that happens.

2. Rubber ducking. I pick somebody from something I've watched recently - for a whole there it was Keanu Reeves - and I explain my story to them multiple times so I understand myself how it works. Or not.

3. Draw a map. Not just a land map, but a map of where the characters go and notes on where they're from and what they're doing in each place.

4. Ask games. I make up so much stuff for ask games and some of it even stays canon!

5. Don't try to fit yourself into one mold of one type of writer. Just write whatever. Write one wip or 17. Write short fiction. Write fanfiction. Write one paragraph stories. Write comics with stick figures or rambling prose that goes nowhere.

5. When you read, rewrite it in your head. Edit those books! Pull out a trope you notice and stick it in a story. (A trope is anything as general as "enemies to lovers" and as specific as "traumatized tall girl with a big sword.")

6. Actually rewrite scenes, from any media you like. Choose a new pov. Focus on a particular sense, like touch, or write it in future tense, or change the setting.

7. Write descriptive prose that's not a story. Write something that's only dialogue. Write journal entries. Switch it up.

And sweetheart, if you are unable to focus or enjoy this hobby that is usually a good time for you, I think think the hobby is the issue. There's something else going on in your brain and taking up the space and you don't have room to create.

For instance, I work retail, full-time, and it’s the holiday season, and I'm fatigued and stressed and not currently writing anything. But I was also not writing when it wasn't the holiday season. And I was too fatigued to create then, too. And it's probably because my depression is acting up.

This might not be the case for you. I can't know. But everybody learns differently, and if you're willing to try new ways of learning, you might find the one that works for you! I hope so. I hope that you sit down with your brain and parse through it, taking the time to figure out the style that suits you best.

But mostly I hope you understand that regardless of how your brain functions or doesn't, that you are amazing and trying, because you like this thing, and you don't want to give up on it. So good job. As long as it is a thing that you like, I hope you keep trying. Somewhere there is a method that speaks to you, some way that helps you find the dawn after the dark. I believe you can find it.

Keep going, love.

[qah-naarin]

Vibe check Miraak for the character bingo

okay so miraak. i have things to say about him and its a bit A Lot. first of all miraak's fit is cool. like i like it, evokes ancient enemy warped to something Not Quite Human, and i think that's sick as shit. i will say that you can't see canon!miraak's face so therefore he looks cool, because out of sight out of mind.

controversial: everyone but me is wrong about them. okay its NOT everyone but it's majority. i refuse to think that miraak would acclimate to the world so well much less know how to tap that ass. no. that is IMPOSSIBLE and i will not hear arguments for it. i dont care if the kama sutras in apocrypha, it is IMPOSSIBLE. i also want to state that a lot of people write miraak (in miraak!lives fics) as dark and eternally broody and their only light of sunshine or whatever is the dragonborn... NO. stop that. he's enamored with the beauty of the world. overwhelmed with how real nirn is. you have to show that. if you're not going to write him as appreciative and in love with the beauty the world offers to him despite how he had turned his back on it a long time ago, you are wrong. im so sorry bestie but ur wrong.

i feel like canon!miraak had way too much wasted potential. like im not saying he HAD to live by the end of it, but the entire dlc could've been a great elaboration on what it means to be the dragonborn in the face of greater beings like the daedric gods. a lot of people also forget to realize that miraak's entire character speaks volumes about what it means to be trapped and want freedom, and at the same time, be malicious in his actions if not intentions. i'm glad bethesda at least Tried to make him sympathetic (and he is! he's my favorite villain because he's so complex in my HEAD lol) but i feel like they could've tried harder. miraak is established to be dramatic and a show-off, i think he deserved a little more depth than the "me evil i will kill you to be free" and maybe that IS all that's left of him inside, because it's been eaten away by apocrypha, but then why isn't that more obvious? he's clearly in control of his own thoughts and not a crazy, rambling guy like the ones who found the black books—so even if he is hollow save for the unquenchable thirst for ldb's soul, it is Highly Unlikely.

anyway if he was real i would be scared of him. i'm like 5 flat. i hc him to be 6'7" thats literally gigantic to me. at the same time though i would marry him bc i think he would be a great househusband. he's practically a blorbo to me bc like... most of his personality and backstory i wrote LMAO. its Mine and i am just pouring so much love and effort into this silly giant man... you know how it is. he is deeper that he seems (see paragraph above) and i also like to throw my issues on him. hello attachment issues? i am throwing them at his face like a baseball.

AND on the same note as everyone is wrong about him but me, i just think miraak isnt blond idc. he's not blond, i don't to hear it.

didn't get enough screen time sums him up. i wish we saw him more to further expound on his character, because he is Not someone whose absence speaks volumes, because his absence isn't of his own volition.

yes i am mentally ill abt him. can u tell? i bet you would have never guessed

anyway he's exactly like me LMAO. prickly, rbf, a little broody, but deeply in love with the world and what it has to offer him. and he has layers, like an onion, and like me <3

[writingadvice365]

I have two massive writing projects due next week and I've procrastinated on both. The first, which is about mental illness, is because I'm intimidated by my own research. I scare the crap out of myself every time I look through that massive document and realise how much thought I really need to put into it. The second is just a short story about a car crash, but I've hit a complete standstill. Not because I don't know where I'm going with it, but because I just... can't do it. My writing is stilted and unnatural, doesn't flow, and it feels like I've written paragraphs when in reality I've barely written a sentence. This is mostly me rambling (sorry) but I've been staying up until 3 am every night for almost a week now and have gotten nothing done. At all. To be honest I don't even know what I'm looking for here, but any advice at all would be appreciated. I'm dying. Thanks (;´༎ຶٹ༎ຶ`)

Ooof that is rough! There is nothing worse than being daunted by a intensive task that you need to complete but you just can't seem to start. Let's see if we can shake things up to get you writing!

Remember, you know more than you think you do! You have written plenty of papers before and you will do it again with this one! Without looking at all your research, write a bullet point list of all the important things you need to talk about. Take about 5 minutes to do this and preferably write it out by hand on an scrap piece of paper with a colored pen. Then elaborate on each point, adding whatever details are important.

Type up what you have written and continue elaborating as you do so, referencing your research as needed. Ideally, paragraphs will start forming as you continue to add information and the paper will start taking shape. Tackle it in small bits and if you find yourself stuck, work on a different section.

~

For the short story, try freewriting about it for 15 minutes, either as yourself or from the perspective of one of the characters. A good way to start is to write "I KNOW..." or "I REMEMBER..." and then continue the thought with whatever comes to mind. Try to keep your pencil moving or fingers typing for the entire 15 minutes and don't correct anything you write. Just keep moving forward. The idea is to outrun the thoughts holding you back. If you trail off, refocus by writing "I KNOW..." or "I REMEMBER..." again and continue.

Another thing to try is to write the short story like it is a traditional fairy tale. Literally start with "Once upon a time, there was..." and continue on. I found this method frees me of the expectations I put on myself because in fairy tales things just happen and the reader accepts it because it's a fairy tale, and that means you don't have to stress out about making everything work absolutely flawlessly. Plus, in fairy tales, the focus is usually not on physical descriptions but on what happens, which keeps you from getting hung up on the small stuff.

~

Also, please get your sleep!! While it might seem like taking away time from working, getting enough sleep will actually help you work better. Try to go to bed at 1 am instead of 3 am. Two hours more of sleep will do wonders for your ability to focus.

Make sure you are eating wholesome food and staying hydrated!!

Take short breaks when you are working!! Use a timer. Every 25-30 minutes, get up and stretch for 5-10 minutes, drink some water/tea, listen to a favorite song, give yourself a pat on the back and tell yourself 'well done', then set the timer again and continue working.

I really hope something here helps but please let me know if you need more ideas or help! Sending you lots of good vibes and positive thoughts!

You know more than you think you know and you write better than you think you do so you for sure can complete both of your assignments!! I believe in you! \^o^/

[make-me-imagine]

congrats on 5.5k!! you're insanely talented and I'm so happy you're getting the recognition you deserve 🥺🥺 could i join in the ship requests too?

I'm a rather small sized (like, 154cm & ~40kg kind of small) Asian female from a South East Asia country and i prefer men, especially men who are taller and Age Gaps™ 🥴 I'm not sure how much you know about/believe in astrology but I'm a Libra sun, Taurus rising and Capricorn moon so you can do what you want with that 😂

I'm an INTP/INFP (I've gotten both an equal number of times from sites OTHER than 16 personality, tho I personally vibe with INTP just a teeny smidge more) if you do MBTI ✌🏼 I LOVE to read, especially fanfiction lmao, and i also write! I really love listening to music + watching shows/movies too! My favourite shows are all mystery/crime based LOL and I am working towards becoming a criminal psychologist/forensic pathologist/forensic scientist in future! (heavily inspired by Criminal Minds, Sherlock, Detective Conan and the like so 😂) I have a really vivid and good imagination please i can spend DAYS just daydreaming and imagining scenarios that I never finish writing about & generally this is how all my work is never finished loll

I'm the eldest sibling at home, and my parents haven't always been around so I've been rather used to stepping up and taking care of myself (+ my sibling, like helping them with homework and all). Some people say I'm a natural born leader? idk bc I often step up to be the leader in group work & I'll often be the one to initiate things & all. I'm a rather big procrastinator though LOLL so you'll often catch me rushing my assignments & final projects & rushing my revision for exams + finals like, 2 days before the actual exam 💀 which often leads to me becoming more stressed out & breaking down more often than i actually should so 🥲 I'm trying to quit this bad habit though

I love cuddles and hugs please I will KILL for cuddles and hugs from my back by a tall character pls it just feels so safe and comforting to be spooned too 🥺🥺 sometimes when I'm too absorbed in work or something (which happens too often for it to be healthy) I might just forget to eat/sleep entirely AND also my sleep routine isn't the best. like i will literally fall asleep at 9pm, wake up in the middle of the night on my own at like, 1am, then usually I'll be rushing homework at this time, then maybe sleep again for a short while from 4ish? till when i have to get up for school/work at 5:30/6am 💀 there's been days where i literally looked so sick from the lack of sleep where my tutor once stopped the class to ask me if I was okay and if i was going to faint LMAO 😔 i feel like I'm a night owl??? but then also i have no problem getting up super early in the morning so?? but i really feel most at home and really enjoy the 3am nights 😌

i am also the class clown lol but it's bc i just make sarcastic comments and all and my friends think they're funny???? but also i enjoy making people laugh bc sometimes i find it interesting to try and see what kind of things make my friends laugh so it's lowkey an experiment? or like something i want to achieve? at this point. I'm fluent in English and Chinese/Mandarin and I'm learning Italian so I roughly know some basics, and I really enjoyed History, which I took last year but dropped this year. (I'm taking English Literature with Biology + Chemistry this year and they're all great, except I'm literally dying from the workload aaahhh 💀)

I'm kinda clumsy and Not Good™ at most sports, maybe passably okay for badminton but I'm really not that athletic and really not very keen on exercising either 😔 I'm quite creative and good with public speaking/creative writing/impromptu performance/speech though I'd say! I'm also in my school's drama club 😎 though I'm more of a backstage lights & sounds kind of person. I'm right handed (with a really neat handwriting, as I've been told many, many, many times) and I wear thin frame spectacles which I sometimes will fall asleep in & I'm so clumsy/careless that I'm actually really afraid I'd break them (it's happened before 😭)

I'm a really good planner? like i can do up a great and detailed schedule/plan for revision and all but i will NOT stick to what i plan 😭😭 i love to snack!!!! on chips + gummies especially, and my diet is quite unhealthy lmao i literally don't eat vegetables At All™ & i don't really eat meat that much too?? lmaoo please i can go for days without having a single proper meal & just survive on snacking on potato chips + soft drinks 💀 i am a very picky eater though so really me not finding food i like/am able to stomach is also really kind of my fault 🤡

while i really vibe with and love the dark academia aesthetic, i also do video/MOBA games, like i play games like Mobile Legends & all. I'm someone who knows most, if not all the lastest trends (like tiktok, memes etc) but i won't actively participate in them? i just kind of like to know things, like Knowledge is Power you know (I'm a Slytherin, in case you're wondering, though I've gotten Ravenclaw so often it's a close tie sometimes)

okay i feel like that's enough details about me? feels like I've told you nothing that's useful oh well LOL... I'd really love a ship for Criminal Minds and Marvel? if that's possible please? in case you missed it, i prefer men! (I'm a questioning bi, with a strong preference for men) for the hc prompt "what you do on your first date" or maybe "how you met + first impressions"?

thank you so much for being so kind and willing to do this ship requests thing!! I'm sure you're spending TONS of time and effort on this and aahhh i feel bad for typing so long paragraphs now (as you may have noticed i have a tendency to ramble on if not stopped because i am just really Socially Awkward ™ sometimes 💀 and have really bad (social) anxiety too) and i really think you're super amazing for doing this??? I'm so sorry if this took up too much of your time aaahhhhh thank you so so so much 🥺😭😭 really the biggest of congratulations to you for your 5.5k??? you really do deserve every single follower & i am SO insanely happy for you 🤩❤️

- 🌙🏒 anon

Don’t worry, you definitely provided enough information lmao. 

And thank you for your kind words, I appreciate it. 

I hope you like the ships I made for you

They are under the cut: 

Criminal Minds: 

I ship you with Hotch. 

You get the age-gap here lol. He would be a bit hesitant due to the age gap at first, but he would get over it because he can not resist. He does not seem like the type of cuddles, and especially does not take part in PDA. But when you are alone he would love holding you and spooning, especially after a long day of work. Aaron would be attracted to your uniqueness as well as your intelligence and aesthetic, finding it to be very “you”. 

How you met + his first impressions: 

You met when you were transferred to the BAU as the new Forensic Pathologist.

Hotch thought you were very interesting when you first met and was definitely intrigued by you. 

He thought you fit in fairly well and would get along with the others (which you do). 

He appreciates a sarcastic sense of humor, so he would dig that as well.

Hotch could tell you had a form of anxiety and wold be patient around you when you first met so that you could open up to him at your own pace.

What you do on your first date:

He takes you to a hockey game. 

He is not the sportiest person but he has had an interest in hockey for a while, sometimes watching it on tv. 

When he learned that you liked it, he decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to invite you on a date as well as to see his first game. 

After the game, you walked around town for a bit, getting some late night food and talking or a long time. 

This allowed you to open up to him quite a bit and you grew more comfortable around him as well, which he is very happy about. 

Best Friend: 

Your best friend is JJ. She thinks you are really cool and unique and nice. She has the type of personality that is easy t get along with and open up too, so you bonded with her quicker than the others. I also feel like she is into hockey as well, so she appreciates your love for it as well. 

-

Marvel: 

I ship you with Sam. 

I think Sam is a good fit for you. He is into sports, and digs your aesthetic. He is easy to get along with and very funny. He thinks your line of work is very interesting and loves to listen to you talk about it. Sam also really enjoys crime shows ans thrillers so he is always excited to meet someone who enjoys them as well. 

How you met + his first impressions:

You met through Nat, who you had met through SHIELD years before. 

You happened to be at the compound with Nat when Sam was there and she introduced you. 

He immediately thought you were pretty and very interesting.

Sam could tell you were shy, but that did not stop him from flirting.

Though he also made some jokes and was easy going as to not scare you off. 

He made sure to ask Nat about you once you left and managed to convince her to give him your contact info. 

What you did on your first date: 

He took you to the movies first, to watch the most recent crime thriller that came out. 

After the movie you went to a nearby park and walked around, talking about the movie and other crime/horror related stuff. 

You got food at a food truck and sat by the fountain together. 

He was appalled when you told him that you didn’t eat that often (if came a part of your relationship later on that he would try to cook you meals that you’d like just so you WOULD EAT). 

You ended up spending hours together, and it felt like no time at all.

So you were definitely up for another date with him, which he of course asked you about.  

Best-Friend: 

Natasha. She was the first one you met, and slowly introduced you to the others. She thought you were really cool when you first met and was surprised at how well you go along. That is sometimes hard for her to do, so once you became friends she never took that for granted. She and Sam would gang up on you when you weren’t eating btw. 

xxaaron

[autumn-foxfire]

"(I just hope Hori realises he doesn’t have to throw away the old one, especially when he’s gone through so much trouble to show that people can change.)" YES THAT RIGHT THERE!!! and don't worry, a lot of people don't like the OFA/AFO plotline, but I've been really starting to question what it is now. Because everyone uses it to refer to the battle between good vs evil and I'm like? Okay, but what about the mechanics of the quirk, what about knowing more about the vestiges? (1/5)

The history between the two brothers, more worldbuilding on their era, the first ofa holders name? Am I just thinking wrong, does the fandom use that plotline only for Deku fighting Shigaraki and gaining more percentage? To me, OFA/AFO plotline also includes whatever schemes AFO is up to, everything surrounding him and his criminal empire, the doctor and his Nomu, the technology and quirk singularity, AFO thought it was a real problem because he had multiple quirks, and so does OFA? (2/5)

Is AFO technically a holder of the quirk since he held the stockpile quirk he gave to his brother. Did that stockpile quirk take something from his own power and pass it on too? I have questions on how the battles with the vestiges went down. You can't trust the guy? He's just sitting there in Tartarus, but plotting something. He's shown up in Shigaraki's dream, what's going on??? In Deku's too? (3/5)

And OFA! Katsuki was nice enough to tell us that it's like AFO's power, just how connected are these two quirks. Why did AFO want it, what does Ujiko mean when he says OFA didn't behave how AFO saw fit??? Now Endeavor the last guy anyone would want to know about OFA might be told about it, how would Shoto react if he found out. Aizawa? Some people think Endeavor's gonna take a bullet for Deku to protect OFA, after his 'secure a future for them' realization. (4/5)

What happens when people start noticing Deku has a lot of quirks that can't be passed off as his 'original.' What if he lands on the Commission's radar, for being like the Nomu or AFO. (If not him, then Eri.) If the dad for one theory is true then what. What happens when the quirk is complete, will it disappear will both OFA/AFO still be there by the end of the series? This plotline just seems to be going places. And All Might! If he dies will Deku meet him again within One for all? (5/5)

First off, I don’t mind people writing paragraphs in my ask box because they’re interesting! And you’ve brought up some good points!!

I guess the fact that people aren’t sure if AfO’s history is going to play a part in the AfO/OfA battle is an issue with the plotline itself.

I am curious about the legacy of AfO and the effect of his presence in society before the rise of All Might and what impact he had on the creation of the current era considering that All Might and the other users of OfA kept his presence a secret from everyone. (Which is a big issue in my opinion and I hope people do end up getting upset that such a major threat against the world was hidden from them for ‘their safety’.)

I think the fandom uses it to refer to the Deku vs Shigaraki fight because that’s all we’ve been seeing recently. The last time we’ve saw the vestiges was when Deku unlocked black whip right? And now we’ve only had snippets of OfA’s voice talking to Deku and maybe AfO talking to Shigaraki?

We barely know anything about AfO except his last name is Shigaraki, he’s a megalomaniac with a brother complex, his quirk is OP (and doesn’t make much sense but that’s an argument for another day), and for some reason he wanted a successor even before his fight with All Might left him injured. We don’t know why he does the things he does but I have a feeling we’re going to find out over the next couple of chapters (or at least get a glimpse into his plan) through the voice Shigaraki keeps hearing.

I’m curious about how linked AfO and OfA are too. Did AfO accidently transfer some of his own quirk’s power when he gave his brother the stockpiling quirk? Or was it even accidental? We just don’t know anything for sure (and maybe that’s the point)

I want the OfA reveal to happen soon personally because I think it’s very irresponsible of Deku and All Might to keep it hidden when all of the other heroes are already involved in the battle. Not only are there characters that could help Deku master his quirk (Mirio could teach him how to use the ‘weaker’ ones more effectively and Shouto could help him wield two different quirks at the same time for example), a lot of people have been injured or died over this secret and I think it’s time the truth came out. Especially if someone does end up losing their quirk to protect it.

(God if All Might does end up dying, Deku seeing him one last time with the vestiges would be heartbreaking T-T, imagine if it’s the last time he’s using the power too so it’s the only time he’ll be able to speak to his mentor and hero ever again)

Who knows what Horikoshi is planning in the end?

TECHNICALLY PART 6 IM SORRY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE ASK BOX LONG I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I WAS JUST RAMBLING YOU DON'T ACTUALLY NEED TO TRY AND RESPOND TO ANY OF IT. I'm just sling-shotting from one place to another, don't worry about it.

Trust me, I didn’t really mind as you can see ;)

[kane-and-griffin]

Sorry if this is annoying but I've seen you answer similar questions before so I was wondering if you could give me any advice for not letting the hate for The 100 get to me? I'm a big fan of the show (even though it has its flaws) but I see so many people really vehemently hating it and it makes me really stressed and upset sometimes. I'm a very non-combative person and I'd *never* get involved in arguments online, but it feels horrible to be in the minority like this... (cont.)

(part 2) I feel as if this fandom is small and hated on all sides by all the antis, and even a lot of people who have never watched the show but disapprove of it on principle. I often see negative posts with *thousands* of notes! It makes me feel like a bad person for watching it, especially since I’m bi myself and care a lot about representation in media. I know I should have my own opinions on things, but sometimes I feel like I can’t even admit to still watching and liking The 100! (cont.)

(part 3) I know some fans enjoy the discourse, or like being in the minority and fighting back against the haters, but I’m not one of them - seeing people shitting all over something that brings me a lot of happiness just really upsets me. With other fandoms I can take a few people who just don’t like something I like (everyone is entitled to their opinion!) but The 100 has such a HUGE angry majority of antis who are so open and active in their disgust for the show and its fans…(cont.)

(part 4) Anyway sorry for this incredibly long and rambling ask; you don’t have to answer at all of course – I guess I just needed a sympathetic ear to vent to and your posts about this show always seem really thoughtful and kind. I really appreciate them and the podcast you do with your friend that always really makes me think about the show. And – guess what? – I’m too frightened to post about any of this openly on my own blog, of course.

I have good news and I have badnews. 

The good news is that the solutionto this is profoundly simple.  The bad news is that you will probably notlike it.

My advice is that, if your primaryexperience in this fandom is that of total and overwhelming negativity, you arefollowing the wrong people.

I affirm your feelings of frustration that negativity is upsetting and drains thejoy out of your experience.  But how muchpower you give to that negativity, and how much negativity you permit yourselfto consume, are choices over which you and you alone have agency, so we need totalk about that.

(more below the cut, this got long)

Let’s unpack a couple of the thingsyou mentioned in this post.  First ofall, yes, you’re correct that this show’s fandom is comparatively small next tothat of other shows with larger audiences; but I would push back on you alittle bit on the notion that the fandom is a majority of antis, as yousaid.  I don’t think that’s true.  I think it’s a minority who happen to beannoyingly loud.  But I do not think itis as many people as you think. 

A lot depends on your definition of “anti.” If, for example, the corner of fandom where you hang out tends to defineanyone who doesn’t ship your ship or anyone who voices frustration with how theshow has handled issues of representation as an “anti”, then there’s yourproblem right there.  That’s seeing negativitywhere no negativity needs to be.  If,however, you exist in a social media sphere where really and truly you areseeing an onslaught of actual legit show-attacking anti behavior, you need todo some heavy unfollowing or muting.  Yes, even if it’s your friends.  Even if it’s people in your own ship whoconsistently reblog or retweet negativity just to comment upon how shitty itis.  That’s still putting negativity in front of your eyeballs, and if thatdoesn’t make you feel good, you shouldn’t have to see it.

I’d encourage you to take a look athow you engage in fandom, who you follow, who you surround yourself with, andwhat their attitudes are.  Are peopletalking about the character arcs this season, your favorite fanfics, HogwartsHouse sorting, finale speculation, your faves’ beautiful faces, or who’s goingto be shirtless next week during the black rain episode?  Or is the fun stuff getting drowned out byeither posts from antis, or posts complaining about antis?  One of the things you said that interests meis “I often see negative posts with *thousands* of notes.”  Howdo you see them?  Where do you see them?  Takenote of those sources.  Do they pop up inyour feed from the same few people over and over, and if so, can you mute themand eliminate or reduce the problem? 

The important thing to remember hereis that you are allowed to like this show as much as you want, but other peoplewho don’t like the show are allowed to not like it, and neither one needs toaffect the other.  If someone makes apost about not liking the show, and they tag it properly and stay in theirlane, it’s important to remember that theyhaven’t actually done anything wrong.  Theysimply don’t like a thing that you like, and that’s perfectly fine.  So if any part of your social media behaviorinvolves seeking out that negativity – if you, or others you follow, go scrollthrough your ship’s anti-ship tag just to find stuff and reblog it so peoplecan go yell at the OP, the person who made that anti post and correctly taggedit isn’t the problem.  They’re just aperson expressing an opinion.  Same goesfor quote-tweeting someone who doesn’t @ you and just expresses an opinionabout your fave that you disagree with. If Step 1 is “Curate your feed”, Step 2 is “don’t borrow trouble.”

Of course, sometimes you follow therules and you stay in your lane and you’re just hanging out with your friendsminding your own business, and trouble shows up on your doorstep anyway, andthis is UNBELIEVABLY ANNOYING.  I feelyou on this deeply.  When Meta Stationannounced we were interviewing Jason on the podcast, we spent about a dayplaying whack-a-mole on Twitter and Tumblr, blocking and muting people who werescreaming obscenities at us for wanting to talk to him.  Erin had to take over because it was really gettingunder my skin.  So on the one hand, yes,that’s annoying as hell. On the other hand, here’s how I know that this fandomis not “majority antis” – we blocked/muted maybe 20 people, for a podcastepisode that has over 3,000 listens.  Andbecause a lot of the wank was coming from the same people, by the time weposted the actual interview, the backlash was almost nonexistent, probably becausethe dozen or so people who were going to scream in our faces had been mutedalready.  You’re right that there arepeople in the fandom who enjoy getting into it with antis who try to startshit, but it’s okay if that person isn’t you. You don’t have to be fighty on behalf of this show in order to earn theright to enjoy it.  You get to just enjoyit however you want.  You don’t have todefend your right to be here.  

I want to talk a little about yourimplicit statement that you feel unwelcome in this fandom in part becauseyou’re bi and you’ve been told either directly or indirectly that continuing towatch and support this show is in some way treasonous to the queer community,something I too have been told more than once. There is nothing I can say that makes this not shitty and I’m not evengoing to try, except to say that it isn’t true. I promise you, it isn’t true.  Icould give you the same arguments you’ve heard before about how the show stillhas multiple canon LGBTQ characters who defy stereotypes, including the firstbisexual heroine on this network, but honestly my real point here is thatnobody gets to tell queer people that they’re being queer incorrectly, evenother queer people.  No matter how loudthey yell it.  No matter how sure theyare that they’re right and you’re wrong. If you’re bi, and you see yourself in Clarke Griffin, and that means thisshow continues to be important to you on a personal level, NOBODY GETS TO TELLYOU THOSE FEELINGS ARE WRONG.  And I saythis to you as someone who absolutely feels like shit every time Iget called a traitor because I’m a lesbian whose primary f/f ship on this showis not the one f/f ship that counts as representation. I say this to you as someone who has had atleast three separate experiences just in the past few months where I’ve had tolock down my twitter and go on a mute/block spree because the assholes foundme.  I FEEL YOU.   But it used to get under my skin forlike a week and now it gets under my skin for like an afternoon and I feel likethat’s progress.  And the thing thatmakes a difference is having a supportive community of friends who will sit youdown and put their hands comfortingly on your shoulders and look deep into youreyes and say “that person is an asshole and also they are wrong” as many timesas you need to hear it.  I cannot make people who choose tobe assholes stop being assholes.  But I have RUTHLESSLY curated a socialmedia sphere for myself, on both twitter and tumblr, where my community ishappy and positive and supportive, and when that kind of stuff happens theyflock to my side with hugs and cat gifs, and I do the same for them. 

If the fandom is a city, our littlecorners of the fandom are our neighborhoods.  Who’s living next door toyou?  Who do you see walking their dog past your house everymorning?  Are you chipping in to help sweep the leaves off the street ordumping garbage everywhere?  Would your neighbors describe you as a goodneighbor?  We’re all responsible for being the fandom we wish to see inthe world, and if your experience with the entire fandom so far has been thatit’s dominated by negativity, it might be time to switch neighborhoods. 

My day-to-day experience of thisfandom sounds very different from yours.  I live in a peaceful quietneighborhood with just my friends - which includes people of many differentships, the only qualification is just that you have to be a positive and niceperson - and while we are aware that elsewhere, in other neighborhoods, thereare people throwing molotov cocktails at each other just for funzies,we are hanging out on the back porch drinking margaritas, flailing over fanfic,and talking about our pets and openingour doors to anyone who’s tired of living in a neighborhood that is PERMANENTLY ON FIRE.

Youdon’t owe anyone an explanation for your choice to enjoy a TV show youenjoy.  You can be fully aware of areas where the media you consume is problematic and watch it with a smart, observant, aware eye for those things, and also still enjoy it.  Enjoying a thing and seeing that thing clearly  It is easy to be negative on theinternet.  It is easy to absorbnegativity and respond in kind.  It isharder to block that negativity out, but it’s also the only way to keep other people from ruining your fun.

[incaseofjeon]

hellooo i just finished reading lucky strike and i really like your writing!!! it's the second thing of yours i've read :) for some reason i can relate a lot to JK?? in his decision to run away i mean HAHA really interesting style too especially at the beginning, when i was starting to get into the plot. i look forward to reading your other stuff! :) a few questions though (and i'm sorry if this has been asked) but 1. what was jimin's power?? 2. what are your fav books? yay! thanks!! -c

omgg THANK YOU SO MUCH ;A; im so so so happy that you read that fic and enjoyed it ahhhhdhsfjds ;__; though ohh i wonder what the first of my fics you read was 👀? hahfbds

and im glad you found his character relatable ;;;; when writing it his story was also the one sort of closest to me personally? so im really glad that other people found him relatable too ahhfjddsj so jUST. thank you!!! thank you so much, for reading and for taking the time to tell me this T–T im really happyy

as for your questions! here ill put them under a read-more bc i just know im gonna get rambly omfgdf

ok so, jimin’s power - I’M ACTUALLY SO GLAD YOU ASKED, because it’s a part of the story that almost no one’s asked about even though it’s kind of a big deal for jimin. which is….jimin doesn’t have a power lmaO. almost everyone in that au has superpowers; its the norm to have one, but fic!jimin just..doesn’t. it’s something he’s probably felt odd about growing up; in his growing years he probably tended to feel like he had to work extra hard to be sort of special or noticed and stuff T-T that’s also part of the reason he originally was drawn to jeongguk in school after the dictionary incident - by that age he’d kind of started to guess that he wasn’t going to develop a power, since it’s really rare for it to develop any later than teenage years, and jeongguk was the first person he’d known to not like his own power ;; so to jimin it was kind of eye-opening to realise that the power he’d always been upset about not having could possibly bring harm as well as good ahjsbdsjhd..so yeAH!! im so so glad you asked this omdfd i feel like..im finally doing fic!jimin justice in telling his unwritten story T–T

and MY FAVOURITE BOOKS. omfg there’s so so many im just going to list as many as i can think of off the top of my head:

1. The Raw Shark Texts (by Steven Hall)

this one is one of my all time favourites, and a HUGE huge huge inspiration in writing that’s left an impact on me for a really long time ;; IT’S SO UNDERRATED but it’s super gripping and interesting and experimentally fresh, and has really well-written themes of like love and loss and unfaithful memories and losing memories and a lot of cool internal/mental things like that! the ending is super cool to me, too ;;; the writing style is like nothing ive ever really seen anywhere else and is just super compelling in the way the author selects and arranges certain simple words in un-simple ways? and there are many parts of this book that are ambiguous in what exactly happened; that’s exactly why i love it? idk i jsut - i get super super excited about this book pleasE READ IT 

2. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake (by Aimee Bender)

actually, i have loved about every single thing by aimee bender that i’ve read, but this is the only novel of hers ive read so far so i’ll go with that hjsbdjhsf…her short story collections are super lovely too, some of my favourite short stories by her are Job’s Jobs, Appleless, Death Watch, Motherfucker, I Will Pick Out Your Ribs (from My Teeth), and Faces. Aimee Bender is really one of my favourite authors ever, she has a really distinctive style and flavour thats creative and poetic and charmingly matter-of-fact all at once, that makes the most mundane stuff seem magical and the most magical stuff seem mundane. like. idk. IM REALLY IN LOVE with her writing ;;;;; ahdsbfjhbfds please check her out if you can!!!

3. A Wrinkle in Time & its sequels (by Madeleine L’Engle)

this whole series is just..really lovely in its ideas and hopeful and really gave me a huge sense of wonder the first time i read it? and there are some scenes in it that were just so beautifully magical (even though it’s actually sci-fi) and moving that i’ve never forgotten them to this day ;___; even though i first read it when i was 11 lmaO. but really, this is so soso osos o lovely idk if youve ever read it but i hope you have/get to read it some day abfdf

4. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

jhasgfjhs kate dicamillo is another of my all time favourite writers, i grew up hunting library shelves for her name lmao her writing is just..really beautiful in its ideology and style? there’s something very pure and innocent and whimsical and so so poetic about the things she writes and the way she tells stories, i always tend to read her stuff in one sitting bc it’s just so hard to stop ;;; i love her work so so much 

5. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

i actually…can’t remember the exact story of this anymore BUT I DO remember that when i read it, i was completely blown away by the power of the writing style? bradbury’s writing is just…really distinctive in a heavier kind of way? like it’s poetic but kind of grips you around the heart idK im not sure how to explain it. i’m always stunned at the way he chooses his words and crafted his world in this book ajhsfbjd i love it sooo much ;;; i want to reread soon sdhfds

6. The Monstrumologist series (by Rick Yancey)

THIS ONE IS SO UNDERRATED i love it omg..it’s more gory and dark than most the things ive mentioned but the gore never feels like..needless? idk. i just love it so much and the kinds of ideas like the blurring of lines between man and monster, as well as the changing relationships of growing up - the book series just handles that so so well and with a really exciting gripping plot too ahdgsd i love it i love iiit. my fav book in the series is probably the lsle of Blood; there’s a line in there about a plate that haunTS ME ALWAYS 

7. Skellig and Kit’s Wilderness by David Almond

david almond is another writer i grew up reading ahhHH it’s honestly been too long for me to exactly remember what i loved about these 2 books - BUT I LOVE THEM

8. The Seas by Samantha Hunt

i actually am reading this book literally right now, so i havent reached the ending and im not sure if ill still love it as much as i currently do by that point, but so far i definitely am loving it SO much!! the writing and metaphors and characterisation are so damn beautiful and interesting and the writer has a lovely flow and really fresh way of arranging words and delivering ideas ;; it’s just really prettily and freshly and creatively written ;A; plus, i have this…Thing for the ocean so i love that a central part of this book is about the sea ahhH 

9. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami 

I WISH I HAD MORE HARUKI MURAKAMI THINGS TO TALK ABOUT but this is the only of his books ive found so far - and I LOVE IT TO DEATH. i actually read norwegian wood and the particular sadness of lemon cake in the time period when i wrote my latest fic (thought you knew) and they really ;;; damn, a double whammy of inspiration omfg. norwegian wood is just…really really interesting and deep and real without being too heavy-hearted in the way it talks about things like relationships, devotion, alienation and loss? idk, it’s just- i love it so so so much, especially the ending paragraph ahhhh

10. Cathedral and A Small, Good Thing (by Raymond Carver)

THESE ARE TECHNICALLY SHORT STORIES, not books. but i just love them so much i have to mention them ;;; i honestly love raymond carver and his way of writing a lot, he just..he says so much with so little? he’s a huge inspiration i look up to like crazy especially when it comes to crafting dialogue ahhh. i also really love his poem Hummingbird!

11. The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

idek where to start with this one..THE PLOT IS JUST. FUCKING BRILLIANT and it’s a really interesting take on the idea of devotion, especially devotion to..um..unhealthy kinds of levels? idk. it’s just….so well thought through and super cool i was Mind Blown™ when i read it kasjndskdf

12. Bunker 10 by J.A. Henderson

this is another one in team BLEW MY FUCKIGN MIND ahhh ;; i read it super super long ago but the plot is so so good? it’s the kind that’s a bit confusing at first, but then everything gets revealed and i’m completely shook and eye-opened and want to read it again with the new knowledge, you know what i mean? just- i cant remember what the writing style was like but the PLOT and setting was soo so so cool T—T

and that’s…all i can think of at the moment ajhbfjsdhf IM SORRY YOU PROBABLY DIDNT EXPECT ME TO BE SO EXTRA AS TO GIVE SUCH A LONG ASS REPLY but im just…..very very very passionate and invested in the books i love, ok. im so. akjsfbjhdsf

anyway yeah!! thank you so soso soso SO much for reading my writing and liking it and making the effort to let me know ;;;; im really so happy reading and replying to your message, it means so much to me T-T i hope you have a great great day ilY anon c!!!