#is 100k words

[mermaidsirennikita]

The dichotomy between what's popular according to booktok (from what I've see) from the most blandest books imaginable to the most taboo erotica you can think of is kinda wild.

I think that what gets me with taboo books recommended by BookTok is that they're usually very poorly written. And if the writing is poor, you're not really getting the full "shock" value.

Like, when you read Sierra Simone's Thornchapel series, the scenes read as really intense because Sierra is an excellent writer. In contrast, a book like Hooked (that one dark romance~ modern Captain Hook book, a concept I was very open to and wanted to like, for the record) is very badly written. There's taboo content and a horrible hero, but like... It just reads juvenile.

I'm about 65% through A Kiss at Midnight by Anne Stuart, a historical romance that is QUITE dark, but the writing is frankly fabulous. Because Stuart can write, the darkness (which is not like, the corny "oh he's so bad he's in a motorcycle gang" torture sequence stuff--it's TRULY intense and pretty accurate for the era) is balanced out by emotional progression and honestly? A very dry, at times dark humor. If a lesser writer handled this plotline, it would just seem like shock factor after shock factor layered on just to get people talking. Very 2edgy4me.

And I'm gonna be really real here. Some fanfic authors are made to transition to actual published books. I think Ali Hazelwood writes a really solid contemporary romance. I really enjoyed You, Again by Kate Goldbeck, and that's based on a fic I actually read. The Hurricane Wars works as a book. (And mind you, let's not take away from the work the editors and authors did to rework fics into actual books here.)

Some fic authors are meant to stay fic authors and to excel at that. I personally think that one of the reasons why we have so many blaaand romance novels right now is that a) some of them are written by less-equipped fic authors trying to write real books and b) some of the authors have read less actual books than they have fics.

There are some tensely plotted, exciting fics out there. But personally? I think the standout nature of those fics--fics like Manacled, which... I think.... is not.... for me. However, bland it is not lol--makes people think that is the NORM for fic, when it's not. The norm for fic, and what I think a lot of more casual fic consumers and people who read more fic than they do books (compared to a lot of romance readers who turn to fic to supplement their reading habits) is very plotless slice of life stuff.

And that's not meant to be derogatory. It works, especially when you're writing about characters a lot of people know and love and are PROGRAMMED to know and love. Even if it's AU and they're basically other people, if you're writing a modern, sedate romcom about Katniss and Peeta and she mentions going to archery classes and Peeta being a baker, people are like aawwwww and they enjoy the nicely written scenes that are just people being people.

That.... ultimately creates a bland story when you're writing a book about original characters nobody has a preexisting investment in.

[toss-a-coin-to-your-stan-account]

being a student during peak pandemic was so fucking surreal like. "it's not an excuse to fall behind" I cannot stress enough to you how much A Worldwide Plague Upending Life As We Know It is literally one of The Top Three Reasons to fall behind

[wiltkingart]

old sketches for a secret project

[sorryimananti-romantic]

The Leaders | Masterlist

"this is the underworld that no one escapes from"

ot8!ateez x f!reader

mafia au

genres and warnings: slowburn, angst, fluff, eventual smut (mdni!) poly!ateez, smoking, drinking, gambling, illegal businesses, politics, violence, heavy themes, mild gore, multiple pairings, more specific warnings in the chapters

estimated word count: approx 200k

synopsis: in eden 1970, you join the inner circle of the crescent company by sharing information that could crumble the very foundations of eden itself. amidst the dark world of manipulation, connections, dirty politics and illegal dealings, you navigate with eight seemingly-refined gentlemen who have your back as the war with the elites begins. 

timeline | maps | character book (to be released)

chapters:

one |

status: coming soon

taglist: apply here!

[blacktabbygames]

[wattemeer]

🥰

[fushitoru]

note how if i have an opinion about something, i'll tag it as discourse? very demure. very mindful. i don't go clogging up x reader tags just so i can gain more exposure and ragebait more people! very cutsey, very modest. i also block people who make content i don't like instead of sending anon hate! very classy. very considerate.

[erisenyo]

FANDOM TRUMPS HATE: ATLA OFFERINGS ARE FINALLY HERE!

The listings are posted, ATLA made the top 10 most represented fandoms this year (lets gooo!) and the browsing period is Officially Open, with bidding begining Monday!! (March 5-9)

And there are some truly amazing offerings for this years @fandomtrumpshate charity auction. Click their names below to check them out!!

Offering fanfics, we have...

thesometimeswarrior (@runrundoyourstuff, and works here) offering a 5K word fic! (up to T)

urieskooki (works here) offering a 10-20K word fic! (up to E)

Emerald_Assterick (@emerald-asterisk, and works here) offering a 5K word fic (up to E)

achievingelysium (@queenangst, and works here) offering a 5K word fic (up to T)

bran4ever (@whatsitnot, and works here) is offering a 5K word fic (up to T) AND a 5-10K word ic (up to M)

dagmalafjall (works here) is offering a 5-10K (up to E)

Lillyanne4 (works here) is offering a 5K word fic (up to M)

blackat_t7t (works here) is offering a 5-10K word fic (up to E)

fancastical (works here) is offering 1K words per $5 bid (up to M)

QueenDollopHead (@queendollophead-ao3, works here and here) is offering a 5-10K word fic (up to E)

Erisenyo (@erisenyo, works here and here) offering a 10-20K word fic (up to E)

sulkybender (@sulkybender, works here) offering a 5K word fic (up to M)

MuffinLance (@muffinlance, works here) offering a 5K word fic (up to G)

Haicrescendo (@sword-and-stars, works here) offering a 5-10K word fic (up to E)

bisexuallsokka (@bisexuallsokka, works here) offering a 5-10K word fic (up to M)

Ariel (@edas-boytoy, works here) is offering a 5K word fic (up to E)

TheGayOnTheMoon (works here and here and here) is offering a 5-10K word fic (up to M)

robinwinged (works here and here) is offering a 5-10K word fic (up to M)

AzzaBynes (@azzabynes) offering fan poetry up to 5K words (rated up to M)

Allium-phyrzz (@allium-phyrzz, works here) offering a 5-10K word fic (up to M)

Alondradina (@alondradina, works here) offering a 5-10K word fic (up to T)

Bluestone_Dragon (@bluestone-dragon, works here) offering a 10-20K fic (up to M)

Luna_SelfIndulgentKitten (works here) offering 1K words for every $10 bid (up to E)

Museflight (works here) offering 1K for every $5 bid (up to M)

Nyxelestia (@nyxelestia, works here) offering a 5-10K word fic (up to E)

So many amazing creators and offerings, and just in time for a renaissance, right? :P Find the fanart listings here! And the fan labor ones here!

(And if you're not in the ATLA mood--there are SO many fandoms represented in the event, I bet your current hyperfixation is in there :))

[ilovethenumber9]

[laurrelise]

someone talk with me about an AU where delores is a real girl who somehow survived the initial apocalypse and spends it growing old with five and keeping him sane

someone talk with me about delores being five’s age when he discovers her body in the rubble and thinks she’s dead before he notices the small rise and fall of her chest before he pulls her out and desperately tries to help her breathe normally again and watches the life fill her eyes with tears in his own that he’s finally no longer alone

someone talk with me about delores being an only child to parents who she wasn’t close with leading her to become dependent on herself until she meets five and learns to trust other people before finding out about his huge family and doing everything in her power to help him not only because she cares about him and wants him to be happy but also because she wants to experience the family she’s never had

someone talk with me about how delores never had powers but survived for the 40+ years in the apocalyptic wasteland of the future due to her seriously genius mind (and five’s help) and lives to help five figure out how to save his family

someone talk with me about young five and delores searching for anything they can find to survive before they stumble upon a half-broken mannequin with a surprisingly intact polka-dotted blouse that five says would suit her so she puts it on out of boredom from looking for materials before five looks at her with the most genuine, in-love eyes she’s ever seen and she decides to keep it just for him

someone talk with me about five always making sure delores has a comfortable place to sleep, to rest, to eat, etc

someone talk with me about five explaining his childhood so nonchalantly one day once he realizes that he can trust delores to her surprise, and she asks why he suddenly had the strength to tell her and he looks her in the eyes and says “believe it or not, you’re stuck with me, and i’m stuck with you, and i want you to know who i am when we’re kicking this apocalypse in the ass”

someone talk with me about teenage five teaching teenage delores how to defend herself with the training he was given during his childhood but reassuring her that he’ll always be there to protect her if something were to happen (to which she reminds him that she appreciates it, but knows she can defend herself with the spite and sheer willpower she has to survive)

someone talk with me about five and delores having a makeshift wedding and five’s vows being along the lines of “even if the rest of the world was alive, i don’t think i could ever hope to find someone that makes me as truly happy as you do, and i will be eternally grateful that of anyone i could get stuck in this goddamn apocalypse with, it was always you, and it will always be you”

someone talk with me about the handler showing up from the commission to recruit five as a temporal assassin and delores as a case worker because they’re both dangerously smart and incredible at surviving in harsh conditions (also, the handler approached them separately to see where their loyalties lied and they both firmly explained they wouldn’t go anywhere without the other)

someone talk with me about delores getting fed up with the handler repeatedly making moves on five despite him clearly being uncomfortable until it bubbles to a climax and she punches her square in the jaw, which results in an ER trip and zero regret (plus five falling even harder in love with the woman who endlessly sticks up for him)

someone talk with me about five and delores plotting an escape plan to get back to 2019 which all goes well, except five had once again messed up the math (or so he thought) and he and delores are placed back in their 13 year-old bodies, but she confesses that she doesn’t mind seeing the boy she fell in love with all those years ago once again

someone talk with me about delores learning to trust and love the hargreeves just as much as five, as they learn to love and trust her just as much

someone talk with me about five always keeping track of dates and specifically remembering the exact times of significant events for himself and delores, like the moment she looked at him for the first time, the moment he knew he was in love with her, and the moment they decided they were going to stop at nothing to keep each other alive and stop the world from ending

someone talk with me about five and delores, the 58 year-old couple that they are, snuggling up on elliot’s couch together because they can’t fall asleep without the other one there to remind them that they’re safe and out of harm’s way (mostly)

someone talk with me about how delores has never been the type to step down, and she continues to stand her ground and be brutally honest when shes upset or wants five to listen to her, and he admires her bluntness (and frankly, needs it) due to his impatience and expectations of honesty at all times

someone talk with me about delores knowing exactly when five needs his time alone and stepping away to help his siblings as much as she possibly can, usually by encouragement or (again) brutal honesty hidden behind a kind and genuine smile

someone talk with me about five reminding delores of his love for her whenever it’s too quiet or he thinks she’s gone too long without him showing it, in every way he can think of, like letting her know that he would’ve lost his mind in the apocalypse without her (which.. he kind of did?), finding little things that remind him of her and bringing them to her, and holding her hand whenever he sees frustration or discomfort bubbling behind her eyes

[housederiva]

I never understood 'no one hates [your thing here] like people who love [your thing here]' until Veilguard came out

[barghest-land]

giant in the cave thinking a lot about 1907, john and his loneliness. how he copes with it, and how he talks about it with strangers. he knows it well. i'd write a whole 10k text wall about his loneliness but it goes hand in hand with mine and i don't really want to dive into it. drawing little pictures is easier than talking about stuff

[andhumanslovedstories]

New Chapter ft. Bad Coping

[Emotionally devastate a disciple. +50 B-Points.]

[Welcome back to the plot! This System was wondering when the pacing would pick up again.]

“He’ll be fine.”

[Trait: Poison Tongue. You’re never unarmed. In conversations, you have an instinctive sense for the most hurtful thing you could say.]

“Shut up.” Shen Qingqiu was slumped over his desk, his head buried in his arms. He couldn’t stay like this for long. It was too comfortable a position. He couldn’t risk falling asleep. At the same time, wow, his arms sure made a nice pillow.

[Trait: Ambusher. Win the fight before it even starts. Gain a significant bonus on all actions against a currently non-hostile enemy.]

[crossthread]

No jokes here. The Navy’s best pilot and the Navy’s best admiral. Between them, eight air-to-air combat kills and five stars. These were men who commanded respect with or without your approval. This was the picture of ruthless competence.

Debriefing (& Other Stories) • part 2 of Easier Done Than Said by @compacflt

[blood-choke]

Blood Choke Chapter 3 is now available!

Spend your day with Hana, Valentina, or Clear, and deal with the potential fallout from your night at the club. And, of course, meet with the council...

You will have to replay from the beginning. The code has been updated as well as additions made to the character creator; certain scenes will not trigger correctly if you try to play from a save.

This added around 100,000 words to the demo. Some various changes have been made, including:

Fixed an error at the end of chapter 2 where Hana and the mc magically teleported into the backroom with Valentina and Clear.

Added some flavor text acknowledging Hana's scratched face in the parking lot.

Added the option for the player to select mc's race.

Enlarged the default text size.

Corrected a handful of typos.

Content Warning: Explicit sexual content - there is no option to skip or fade to black. Discussion of racism (all routes), discussion of sexual assault (all routes), discussion of gender & gender dysphoria (all routes), transphobia (Hana's route), blood & blood consumption, violence.

Feel free to send me any feedback or bug reports here, as always.

Play it here!

[johnslittlespoon]

Tough And Sweet (Like You And Me)

Ch. 8/? – 'I Don't Blink Cause I Don't Wanna Miss It'

[WC: 105K | Gale Cleven/John Egan, College AU, The Bikeriders AU, Age Gap, Emotional Slowburn, Hurt/Comfort, Porn With Plot, Set in 2005]

College student John Egan ends up in an old pub on the other side of his small town, where he has a chance encounter with biker and mechanic Gale Cleven. Unconventional circumstances be damned, John is a lovesick fool.

[AO3 LINK]