#isn't it great when you have a fic like 50% written and then you look something up and have to completely rewrite it

[cinemaocd]

OK so I did some digging and in the 16th century there were still Roman baths standing, The Therma Agrippina for example was sketched and was still about 50% in tact in Cromwell's time, but there was no water (the Visagoths destroyed the aqueducts that supplied the baths and they were never restored) and they were gradually raided for building materials and stood as ruins. So much of Rome was like this in Cromwell's time. It must have been a dangerous place at night! One can imagine all kinds of elicit activities going on in there and no one was taking a bath...

[squiddy-god]

jjk cuddles

Previously squid-god-supreme, fic re-uploading currently. This is old and was written pr- everything hitting the fan so it should be spoiler free. Magical universe with no angst or gege AU lol

Geto, gojo, nanami, noya but I make fun of him

Cw: fluff, tooth rotting to hide the pain, misogyny being mocked , probably ooc but I dgaf

Geto

Catch me simping-

Ok so like I feel like he's a great cuddle partner

He's big and warm 🥺 and has strong arms 

Perfect to hold you

Likes to be the big spoon and rest his head in the crook of your neck 

Will sometimes playfully pinch your sides

His cuddles are always very secure and snug

Likes it when you lay on his chest 

Not one for initiating cuddles but won't complain if you do

I just want to hug him,,, like aowbwiebeoee big arms go brrrrr 

I bet he's oddly soft

👉👈 please hold me 

Always looks so content when holding 

you, a relaxed smile on his face 

You didn't want to move, the position was too comfortable to consider getting up. Getos arms were wrapped around you, his long hair tickling your cheek as his head rested in the crook of your neck. It was peaceful, almost dead quiet as you laid there together. It was always nice to cuddle geto in the summer, his body running on the cooler side meaning that it wouldn't become stuffy or suffocating. Letting out a small but mischievous giggle you placed a kiss in his head, just a little peck, and another, and another, until he looked up at you with a smirk. "Oh? And what did I do to deserve all of those" geto asked kissing right below your lips. "Hmmmm I don't know, just felt like it" he humed, going back to his previous position, albeit holding you a bit tighter. 

Nanami 

Tired cuddles

Always holds you close before bed and thats 99% if your cuddles

Doesn't say he wants cuddles but it's pretty obvious he's tired and wants you in his arms 

This isn't a negotiation

Nanami's cuddles are very secure and comfortable, but also very loose

He just drapes his arm over you and boom, optimal cuddle position 

Is fine being the big or little spoon but prefers positions where your both holding each other

Likes lap cuddles, weather that's his head in your lap, your head in his, or you sitting in his lap

Peace and quiet, two things that nanami enjoyed. No Annoying Qtip sorcerer trying to mess with him, just you rested snug against his chest. His hand traced loose circles on your back while you listened to his steady breathing. It was times like this when he felt most content, moon high in the sky and day over, no space between the two of you but neither presence feeling suffocating, and it helped that he was warm. With your arms wrapped around his torso you gave a gentle squeeze just to let him know you were awake. He appreciated it, and all the little things you do. 

Gojo

I have ✨thoughts✨ about this 

First off he smells surprisingly nice, like he smells like sweets and a bakery 

It's a 50/50 chance on whether you get god tier cuddles or are left wheezing in pain on the floor

Because sometimes he will chose violence and start a tickle war, and how can you win 🤡

Little spoon gojo! He kinda koala hugs you and won't let go 

Asks for lots of cuddles but ends up pulling you into them whenever you walk by 

It's always a tangle of limbs with this lanky boy 

Ah yes, another movie night and another bad horror film; however the monster wasn't on the screen but rather the one tangled up with you on the couch. "Let me go- i'm gonna get more popcorn" pretending to ponder it for a moment, his cheek squished against your chest. "Nope! The only snack I need is you~" oh how you wished to wipe that smirk off his face. Trying to wriggle free from his grasp was impossible, "ah ah ah, I wouldn't try that if I were you~" he said in a Threateningly playful tone, his fingers tapping against your sides. You, not looking to catch those hands, relented, eyes going back to the cheap film. 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*.��゜゜・｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆-: ✧ :-゜・．

Noya

Who??? 

W h O??? Who would want this man within 50 feet of them? 

Smh 

Probably smells like to much axe body spray because he doesn't want "girly" scents

If you cuddle this man your asking for it lmao because it's horrible

Always crumbs in the bed (hint: he's the crumb in the bed)

I imagine him with like a really smooth voice but he won't stfu 

Seriously never stops talking

Switches cuddle positions every 5 seconds

Refuses to be little spoon 

"Go back to the kitchen"

[aerodaltonimperial]

Listen, Imma be real with y'all for a second.

In 2022, the Chrono Cross remaster came out for PS4. And that summer, I wrote a 50k epic about my two favorites from twenty years ago and dropped it on a long-dead fandom for an absolute rarepair. It was one of the most ridiculous, fruitless things I've ever written. I knew very few people would read it. I think I never got more than 50 hits on it. I did it anyway, because it was fun and I had a great time and I knew it was good. And then I got into wrestling, so I sort of never looked back at it, because I was writing other things.

I cannot tell you how many times I have opened up my AO3 account in the past... 6 months or so, and thought, so, people were only my friends while I was writing what they wanted, huh? I stopped writing this, and people just fled? I have opened up my old Hookhausen fics and sat with one finger hovering over the delete button so many times, because if that's all people cared about from me, I was gonna nuke it out of spite. I'm not necessarily proud of it, but it's felt awful this past half a year writing in such a bubble, and as my therapist can attest to, when I feel hurt, I lash out to hurt other people in turn. Vamp is the only reason I won't do it. But it's been so hard being plunged back into writing alone after so long of people caring what I was doing. It felt like writing that CC fic again, only this time, I knew that people had simply lost interest. In me as a person, really.

Fic is the only place I feel worth anything as a writer. Years of failure, and fandom is my only source of positive feelings about my own words and my own work. It's hard to lose that, especially in the wake of giving up a decade-long dream. It's HARD to lose the only thing keeping you going with a hobby, and I'll be the first to admit that I haven't been handling it well. I used fandom interaction on my fic to help fill all the pieces left exposed and smarting from failing at trad pub over and over and over. It's not a bad thing to do, really - a lot of writers suggest doing this, to help build motivation and confidence while trying to get published. But it only works when there are people there to read your fic, haha. Fandom, for me, has been contributing to my depression symptoms big time. At one point, my therapist suggested maybe I should step out of fandom and fic writing, because it was spiraling my mental health. And to have him tell me that, after our years together, really opened my eyes to how bad it had gotten for me in regards to my self-worth and self-confidence.

I got a comment on that CC fic this morning. It happens so rarely that it really caught me off-guard, but it was one of the nicest things ever, and I sat reading it thinking... okay. This is worth it, isn't it? That fic has been there for years, garnering so little attention it wouldn't have mattered if I had deleted it. I was reminded this morning that it does matter. That single comment on an obscure fandom that peaked twenty years ago and still never had many people in it, made me feel like spending my time in fandom is still something worth doing. I can't thank that reader enough for taking the time to leave it for me. If you ever think that your interaction with people's work doesn't matter, I hope this helps you feel differently. Maybe people aren't reading your fics right now, but maybe they'll find a fic you poured your heart and soul into a couple of years later.

Not sure why I am posting this LOL. I expect people will unfollow me. Sometimes, I feel like I can't talk about these things without seeming like a bitch, but y'all already know I'm a bitch anyway. 🤣 We write fic because we love it, because we adore the source material, because we have passion for the characters. But we post because we want to share and connect with people. It just feels so much like that second part has somehow gotten lost recently. Anyway. Back to your regularly scheduled Tumblr lives. 💚

[nerdieforpedro]

Heyy Nerdie <3

So since I'm relatively new with writing, I wonder how other writers manage their docs, like what tool is good for writing stories with multiple chapters. And I know everybody will have a different answer and solution for their writing process but I was just wondering if you had any tips for a newbie like me (I'm writing in my notes but that doesn't works so great, also no word count etc.)

Thank you in advance!

I appreciate you ❤️

Ooh! I'm excited1 A writing question! I feel honored that you're asking me. Full disclosure: I'm not the most organized person, even with my fanfic. I am trying to improve though.

I have found for all my fics, no matter if they're one shots or chapter series, I write them in Google Drive. The only reason I don't use Word or my notes app is because I find it easier to edit on my phone when I'm out and about having ideas randomly. (Always happens in places that aren't great to write in which is why I try and stay ready. Only works 50% of the time because of driving. 😭) I also tend to keep each fic even with all their chapters or parts in one very long document instead of a separate document for each chapter. That's just so I will be less confused. I get confused easily. 😳

Many writers use Google Drive so if you're brave enough to ask, you can usually send them what you have to review and they can either just look or comment on different parts depending on permissions you give them. To give your fic a good once over, you can pop it into Word for grammar and spelling corrections. Google docs does do that as well, but sometimes it misses things that Word catches. It's weird.

For on the go notes about vibes or random ideas, I feel your notes app should be good for that and also outlines if you want to plan out chapters or your one shot before writing it out. That way if you have it on your phone in your notes app, you can type in Word or Google while looking back at your bullet points to keep the story flow going.

Also if you like music, I highly recommend a writing playlist. It can be just your favorite songs, set to the mood of what you're writing, instrumental, anything that will help you focus and get your story out. it also could help inspire things (there's numerous fanfics written from songs - hundreds).

Maybe yourself a comfy space, enjoy a nice beverage (I like tea, hot chocolate or coffee if it's in the morning and a snack while writing) and remember it's supposed to be fun.

Sure frustrating sometimes especially when it seems like you have no ideas or the idea isn't coming out quite like you wanted. Take a break, might be hours, days or months, however long you feel you may need for it not to see like a chore. Writing, drawing and crating in general should be fun - in can require focus and work, but should still be enjoyable.

Try out some prompts, challenges or toss some ideas out to friends or people if you feel your creativity is lacking to you just want some different perspectives. We're all different, have histories that make us who we are so there can be as many ways to write a fic as starts in the sky. No one has thought of all of them, many reuse tropes (myself included) because they're fun and provide a template to work from and all sorts of themes can be explored. If you like to edit graphics and/or create moodboards, that can be a good way to distract yourself from writing while also focusing on a different aspect of your fic - visuals. It could help spark something too.

I truly hope I answered your question and didn't ramble too hard. Like this is... 8/10 rambling. 😆

[schmem14]

20 questions for fic writers!

Thanks for the tag @maesterchill! Read their answers HERE.

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

My stats tell me that I've written 50, but 5 are multi-chapter collections, so... a lot. Yeah.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

733,820. If you asked me three years ago if I could ever write that much I would've laughed in your face. Isn't growth amazing?

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Harry Potter (though I do read some Good Omens, Carry on Simon and Bagginshield stuff)

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

UGH. I don't want to be honest here, since 2 of the five are Dramione fics I've now listed as ANON because of harassment reasons. I'll give you the NEXT five instead ;) 1. 93 Diagon Alley (Harry x George) They were roommates 2. HP Cocktober 2022 Collection (Multiple) Prompt fest 3. Solace (Harry x George) Unhealthy coping mechanisms (sex) 4. When Malfoy Met Granger... (Draco x Hermione) WHMS remake 5. Mistletoe, or Die F***ing (Harry x Fred x George) Self-explan.

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

Yes. I try to, because the BEST part of sharing is connecting with people who enjoy what I've done. Community, ya know?

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

Mastermind (Draco x Hermione, Draco x Harry, Draco x Ron, Ron x Harry) The worst UHEA I've ever inflicted on y'all is this Dronarry fest 2023 story. Dark stalker Draco goes off the rails in the end. It's a masterpiece, I'm so proud of it.

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

From Sunset to Star Rise (Harry x Ron) Cozy fall vibes, falling in love, little to no angst (Ron has a tiny bit of anxiety, that's all)

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Yes. Mainly the bigger ship ones (Dramione, looking at you) If you're wondering WHY I write rare pairs a lot, it's because rare pair fandom is a safe space with AWESOME people. We may be few in number, but WE GO HARD and LOVE HARDER.

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

ALL KINDS (though I'm not great a fluffy smut). Check out my HP Kinktober Collection 2023 posting daily RIGHT NOW. It's very kinky and dark.

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

The closest I've come to crossover is more like "inspired by a vibe." I wrote a Community (TV Series) inspired paintball fic here: All's Fair in Love & War & Paintball (multiple ships)

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

No, BUT I've had people post me on Goodreads. Read my thoughts on why this is bad fandom etiquette HERE

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I've had many requests, but no one has followed through yet.

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

No! But I'm interested in this concept, especially if the co-author is someone I vibe with.

14. What’s your all time favourite ship?

STAWP. It's too hard a question! Lately, I'm obsessed with Dronarry, and any combination of those three. I also think I'm more in love with stories than ships. If it's an amazing story I end it with "OMG this is the BEST EVER" and I say it about a lot of ships.

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

I'm writing a multichap Drarry fic where Draco is a wandmaker, and it's falling in love fluff. I'm terrified to write them because I feel like I'll get torn to shreds because the Drarry fandom is too amazing for the likes of little old me. I'll just read Drarry and call it good, and MAYBE I'll get the courage to finish someday.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Ideas. I'm chockful of ideas. Also, I read a ton, so I think the more you read, the better you write.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Fluff. I HATE writing fluff. Why is it so hard?

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

I don't typically do it because I'm monolingual and don't want to fuck it up. I don't mind when others do it

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter!

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

How to Care for Your Monster Book: A Guide by Rubeus Hagrid  (Hagrid x Monster Book of Monsters) Y'aaaaaallll... I have no regrets about this fic. It's the only fic I've ever written that is perfect, I'll never top it, it's just so funny and weird (like me).

Tagging: @the-francakes @mugsdontlie @swoontodeath @vukovich @mintawasalreadytaken @peachpety @nv-md @lumosatnight and anyone else who wants to

[sanerontheinside]

Multiples of five for the ask game, please?

ok I'm so sorry, I actually have to skip some of these or I'll never post, so there are some multiples of 5 here but not all.

5. have you ever made a playlist about something you were writing as an elaborate means to procrastinate when you could have been actually writing and if yes drop a link, son

I don't feel I know enough music to make a decent instagram post these days, let alone playlists 😅

10. at what point in the process do you come up with titles, and how easy or hard is that for you?

super depends on the fic. most of the time I think I look back for a phrase or word from the text itself that fits. once or twice there was a very specific reference to something I wanted (Odyssey reference once or twice; I didn't want to name a fic 'The Lighting of a Fire' even tho silver would have let me so instead we have Kindling which feels like it has the right vibes)

15. where do you share your writing?

ao3, babey! where else am I gonna go

20. what is your favorite trope to write?

I don't get to do it a lot but probably the reconciliation/getting back together. (the thing is actually. I just re-read Count of Monte Cristo, which is a book I seriously imprinted on as a kid. yeah the revenge plots are cool and insane but... how Mercedes and Edmond see each other 18 years after an extremely traumatic separation... yeah I will never actually recover from experiencing that as a concept, ngl)

25. what’s your revision or rewriting process like?

mostly I don't have one, but every now and then I will print/open something on my phone, and retype it on my laptop. as you do this, it smooths the text you already have written. also sometimes reading a thing aloud can help but that's something I do even more rarely

40. best piece of feedback you’ve ever gotten.

"your characters aren't cringe/fucked up enough" —also thanks @willowcrowned that's actually a great help

50. do you plan or do you write whatever comes to your mind?

little bit of column A, little bit of column B. It's 'these moments definitely happen but the stuff in the middle will sort itself when I get there. I hope'

55. do you have any abandoned WIP’s? What made you abandon them?

well first of all they're not abandoned. they're just resting. under the floorboards. haunting me. so jot that down. things that have made me put stuff aside, in no particular order: 1. Occupational Hazards - I pantsed my way tf through a whole lot of material in there and now it feels wrong; also I needed to come up with a smaller goal for them to fix in part 2, one that isn't 'rewrite the galaxy' the way sw does, sooo... 2. major reason I set something aside - 'oh god I need to think about things' 3. I need to research a thing and the research feels daunting (any and almost all medeival-ish historical fic. technically also the Navy fic. also kinda the Ambitious Fools fic, where I've done the research but it needed time to settle) 4. I wasn't getting to the fun parts fast enough and the fun parts were far enough away from the written parts that the empty spaces were becoming an issue. (this is frankenfic. I keep thinking I'll get back to it) 5. started rewriting and that suddenly became a Huge Project and I needed to breathe a second

70. are you very critical of your own writing? how much do you find yourself editing (either during the writing or after the fact)?

I think I don't edit a lot after the fact unless it's something I want to rewrite and come back to, like uhhhhhh. well. like frankenfic. a couple times I tried with the Sith Temple fic but didn't really get all that far with it (the comments I've gotten on that one are all over the place is2g)

75. do you know how your story ends before you start writing?

usually - yes. not always tho.

80. do you try to put themes, motifs, messages, morals, etc in your writing? if so, how do you go about it?

I actually feel like I don't do this on purpose! I don't think on those levels so much as I think on the shape the story should take overall

90. do you notice your own voice in your writing style?

ooooh no I super don't 😅 I know when it changes tho. like if I read something with a very specific voice or writing style that then sticks to me like a burr - don't like that. (don't get me wrong tho—if I could sustain a Douglas Adams voice for more than 1 page, I'd for sure go for a parody piece. not normally how that works tho)

95. do you describe a character’s appearance all right away or in pieces?

i'm not sure I do, almost ever? OC's are a better gauge for this hang on... I can remember a few times when I described the character all at once, at least in broad strokes. There's at least one character where I very much avoid this because their whole Thing is hiding their appearance. but lately I feel like I really don't describe them, so definitely not all at once if at all

[starvels]

SteveTony Reclist: Road-Trips

@stevetonygames 2023 team future. challenge: camouflage. a reclist in the style of the inspiring @carsonian ! (thanks for your fun reclisting haha)

---

A Long Road To Share [FANART] by SirSapling

Summary:

After 50 years in the ice and a couple exhausting years leading the Ultimates, Steve realises he isn't quite sure he knows anything about the new modern America he's supposed to represent. Luckily, Tony has an idea how to show him.

Notes:

such a sweet hopeful look at ults in the future! the landscape is warm and so is my heart. this comic encapsulates the road trip vibes in its scenery, colors and soft focus on steve and tony discussing believing in each other.

---

After the Devil is Gone by Ironlawyer

Summary:

When Steve leaves to travel the country on his bike, Tony comes with him. But Steve is not ready to face those particular demons yet.

Notes:

CW for noncon offscreen. a super sharp desolate view of steve's 616 roadtrip, this fic aches to its core! the things it doesn't have to say ring so loudly and painfully across the text.

--

Are we satellites? by starvels

Summary

In between sunrises on the road, Steve is speaking, eating, stepping into diners to save people like coming back to his childhood home. And Tony, Tony is watching him. Tony is relearning being awake. - A cross country roadtrip where Steve and Tony find the typical American town, a fuckton of trees and finally, finally, find the right questions to ask each other.

Notes: a self rec! this is an ode to winding american roads, the trauma and aches of being a superhero, the longing that comes with being in love with your best friend, and both steve and tony being the little spoon.

---

BACK IN BLACK!! Eyes on the road Tony… [FANART] by @shaggybeetle

Summary:

MCU roadtrip featuring sing alongs to blaring music, delicious snacks and a phone ready to topple off the dashboard

Notes:

what a style! what a scene! steve and tony jamming out is so fun and they both look so at peace and ready to dig into vacation. great atmospheric details like trees through the windows!

---

Flight of Icarus by Missy_dee811

Summary:

“Tony,” said Kamala, hurried. “I loaded up some music to give you a little boost,” she said. “Oh no,” he said, shaking his head. “Don’t worry,” she added. “It’s not mine.” He smiled. I knew I liked you. She wished him luck. He thanked her, though he didn’t believe in luck. He had one try, one try to get it right. She was counting on him, they all were. It felt good to be needed. It felt good to be useful. All these years, he had wanted nothing more. He couldn’t fail now. Not again. [Written for Lights On Park Ave - Round 13.]

Notes:

a marvel avenger's video game rec! a wistful retrospective of tony dealing with the loss of steve, flipping through memories like a photo album, topped with a reunion cherry!

---

the honeymoon suite by CapnShellhead

Summary:

Wade Wilson is getting married and he's assembling a team to get him to Vegas for his bachelor party. Requiring a team with a special set of skills, he asks Wolverine, Spider-Man, Special Agent Preston and Captain America to come along. Steve decides this would be a wonderful opportunity to fix a rift between him and an old friend.

Notes:

a thoroughly enjoyable 30k 616-verse fic based in an oft-overlooked moment in canon featuring delights such as: bed sharing! team fight scenes! wistful conversations! snark! accidentally thinking of your crush while jerking off!

---

On the Road We Find the Journey Home by navaan

Summary

In the Aftermath of Secret Empire, Steve goes on his Road Trip to find out who Captain America can be after Hyda!Cap put fear into the hearts' of the people who used to cheer for him. His thoughts trail back to Tony.

Notes:

follows 616 canon for steve's post-hydra road trip gives this fic the opportunity to have steve connect genuinely to things in a way that reminds us all why we love cap. the end pay-off is good and the writing is so very even keel and wonderfully paced.

---

somewhere along the oregon coast by Marvellous

Summary:

Tony stared at the door of the coffee shop they’d pulled up to, watching multiple people come and go. He crossed his arms and laughed to himself, “How much do you want to bet he’s having a very in depth conversation right now?” A deep but agreeable woof sounded from the backseat of the car.

Notes:

small and sweet like a little dessert! a tale of a pup and a love so warm it melts your heart to look at it. sometimes, it is that easy.

---

ride (with) me [FANART] by wingheads

Summary:

kobik brought steve back. tony woke up from a coma. a road trip seems like a good place to start some reacquaintance. square filled: e1 motorcycle lol i really wanted that stevetony roadtrip in 2018 bc it had been a long time ?? since steve and tony were together where steve isn't old (i love old man steve btw) or evil and tony isn't in a coma or an ai. etc. etc. inspired by steve's road trip.

Notes:

a vibrant scene of steve and tony on their way to reconcile some loving feelings, complete with a gorgeously detailed motorcycle. the vibes here are so picturesque and the pose is so sweet.

---

You Go Up Instead of Down [FANART] by MissionCritical

Summary:

This is set in the universe of the 1966 Marvel Superheroes cartoons (Earth-600026). Only two years ago, Iron Man and the original Avengers discovered Steve, frozen and floating in the Arctic Ocean, and rescued him. It's been rough for Steve, adjusting to this new world, but he has a lot of support -- from two people in particular. Tony Stark is brilliant, handsome, and a generous benefactor to the team. He's even given Steve a place to live in his own actual mansion! Steve doesn't really understand why, but it's clear Mr. Stark is good man, devoted to helping the Avengers. And then there's Iron Man, who has quickly become Steve's best friend, Iron Man is brave, and determined, and just a terrific teammate. He's given Steve the thrilling experience of flying into battle by riding on his back! And in that gleaming suit of armor, Iron Man always has Steve's back. Steve is Iron Man's biggest fan.

Note:

a delightful lil glimpse into a fun, small universe, this edit is such a delight to experience! we all need a little more flying steve in our lives, don't we?

---

go forth: stevetony beans, greens, potatoes, you name it! and give these treats the resounding kudos/comment/retweet/reblog chomps they deserve!

[heart2beom]

hiii! i hope ur doing okay <3

i was wondering what writers you would recommend that have a similar style (romance and comedy) to you since i'm new on tumblr :'P

omg wait this is sort of sweet 😭 i dont really know what my 'style' exactly is, BUT i have been waiting for this exact moment!!!! (ranting about my favorite writers my favorite beings in the world and fangirling bcs that is clearly in my nature)

OKAY OKAY LETS DO THIS!!!

i recommend

-> @jjunis

first writer i got into when stumbling upon moablr!! LITERALLY THE CUTEST SMAUs (i know i dont really make those but i swearrrrr give her soobin one a shot its so ROMCOM-ESQUE) AND all her oneshots are fluffy and cute and and

my favorite piece from them is their beomgyu smau (bcs im a struggling bamtori that eats up anything beomgyu) my beloved GHOSTING. its on hold but its soooooo fucking good, like slow burn at its core and i LOVE it. its not romantic yet but i swear its sooo worth it, the topics it tackles and the character development and the effectiveness of the flashbacks and how real each character feels ...this is the IT smau!!!!

-> @tqmies

i held off on reading for soooo long even when i found each and every summary of her fics sooooooo interesting but then one day i had free time and decided i should finally tackle my reading list and !!!!

i soooo recommend each and every fic, like its all SO good??? FOR WHAT??? so easy to read but her vocab isn't limited, and i just love that balance so much. everything is good. i recommend EVERYTHING.

but if i had to choose ONE, just ONE thing to recommend, it would be love again because i am a whore for best friends to lovers and this was the most perfect beomgyu b2l ever.

-> @minastras

um if mina isn't one of the best writers on moablr then who is????? i'd recommend for starters her yeonjun fic mr. vice president literally captured the essence of academic rivals to lovers arc so well (ill fangirl over this more on my official rec list bcs i have a lot to say but trust!!! minas the writer you're looking for)

also has a cute ongoing taehyun smau, read that too!!!

-> @tyunlatte

the most adorablest, cutest, tooth rotting fluff i squeal over their fics. im still going through their masterlist but FUCKKKKKKK everything ive read so far is SOOOOO good. also totally someone worth following, my dash is blessed every day they're the cutest!!

i'd personally recommend her entire drabble event, but my favorite has to be stay stay stay because im a pureblood swiftie and i love soobin my heart hurts

also ALSO recommend cool hot sweet love. i'm the biggest sucker for love triangles (i mean hello, two cute boys fawning over you??? sign me up ????) and the fact that we get both endings????? hail the great alex!!!

-> @hueningshaped

i can't even pinpoint one fic i'd recommend, literally just go through their entire masterlist it's all so fucking well written (hello if u see this i literally freaked out when you followed me back ur literally my idol, i am your #1 fan rereading everything youve written forever)

-> @ijhyo

absolutely insane writer, blessed this site!!!! i'd recommend their slasher series (can't find the link but im sure youll find it). i know that isnt necessarily romcomy but it was so good (i guessed the insane bitch correctly and therefore i will forever love the series for making me feel smart!!!!!)

OMG ALSO THEIR BEOMGYU FIC!! how to get the girl! once again, i am a whore for b2l.

-> @beomgyuslilracha

i havent read an entire series yet but from what ive read so far..ugh pls beg them to be a scriptwriter i need her fics on my screen, on NETFLIX, ON HULU, DISNEY+ whatever!!! plz pull a 50 shades of grey

-> @gyu-xiao

they only have three things for txt but each one of them is so good, i squealed over each fic. my favorite hyuka fic comes from them!! had me biting my knuckles trying not to scream like damn 😭

okay these are the writers i could first think of 😭 i swear i feel like i forgot three or four but oh well, enjoy your tumblr cruise 🙏

[dyslexicandakeyboard]

I'm not at all anti omegaeverse or an anti of that matter but oooh some of the writers and readers of omegaverse annoy me.

Like some of y'all be clogging up the untraditional tag on ao3 just because your fics is "dismantling gender roles" when the fic is a alpha/omega ship, omega at the bottom of the hierarchy, betas have no role or are non-existent, alphas are top dogs, incredible dystopian world that a YA author would love to have written with a lack of proper world building. In other words, traditional omegaverse.

The way omegaverse is presented as inherently queer or is inherently a way to communicate and dissect gender roles. I'm not saying there aren't interesting ones that do take this premise and try (Keyword: try) to write a compelling social commentary but it's porn. Omegaverse first and for most is a porn genre. Just because art or fic was birthed from a place of sexuality does not make it any less important or dirty or wrong. Omegaverse can be queer and break gender roles but it isn't inherently those things.

The way so many people want people to conform to their headcanons of a AU with no rules. Getting ideas and seeing common tropes from different bloggers and writers is great but don't be looking for a how to guide ( A mistake I made).

On the note of traditional verses untraditional, can we actually get more actual untraditional omegaverse. Like actually flip the AU on it's head. Reverse the hierarchy, make oppression non-existent or make it fluctuate, what do different cultures other than a vaguely US setting think of the secondary characteristics and treat them, beta on omega ships, alpha on alpha ships, omega on omega ships, trans dynamics, gen omegaverse and the list goes on.

Lastly, this one gets on my nerves, the "One Nice Alpha" and the "Damaged Broken Omega". I hate these tropes because are you telling me that not 1 out of like 50 alphas in the world aren't a rapist? Just this one magical one that conveniently just so rich, forgiving, strong, handsome, willing to kill for their omega but is still a dick for some reason but the narrative wants us to like him? Has every omega been beating with in a inch of their lives, just avoided being trafficked and sold to breeding camps, been raped, is on life threatening suppressants and scent blockers, wanting to pass as an alpha/beta? Again, this is not dismantling anything or though provoking. It's Divergent level writing. (I love just pure angst and hurt/comfort. If this was presented as that. Pure Angst, I would probably love it. But it's not.)

[elthadriel]

Hellooo for the ask meme, can i go with option 001 fordo17 or option 002 with maul?

Fordo17 - 001 | send me a ship and I will tell you:

when I started shipping it if I did: Oh this is 100% your fault. You know what you did. The slightly longer version is my friends were writing compelling stuff and I was helpless to resist.

my thoughts: I just think they're neat.

What makes me happy about them: I think Fordo is very good at forcing Seventeen to take himself less seriously and Seventeen is great entertainment.

What makes me sad about them: Look, I don't think this can end well. Seventeen is loyal to a fault and with O66 looming I don't think they have many good options.

things done in fanfic that annoys me: I have things for both of them independently that annoy me, but it's not like there's an overabundance of content for them. I don't like the alpha class clones being huge and jacked which comes up with Seventeen a fair amount.

things I look for in fanfic: It's existence primarily. Ideally being written by someone I know who has the same characterisation as me.

Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other: There's a Fordo/Rex fic that bounces around in my head still. I don't really ship these two all that much in general though. Fox/Seventeen? Though I think that ends in tragedy too 😂

My happily ever after for them: 😅 I don't know if I have one. I think they're a little trapped by their own convictions. Maybe Fordo can suplex Seventeen and drag him away from the Republic/Empire.

who is the big spoon/little spoon: Fordo is the instigator, but that spooning, flopping on top of, sitting staring like :) until Seventeen spoons him.

what is their favorite non-sexual activity: Fordo's favourite is poking Seventeen until he reacts and then sitting back and studying the results. Seventeen's is Fordo not doing that (but also Fordo doing that).

Maul - 002 | Give me a character & I will tell you:

How I feel about this character:

All the people I ship romantically with this character: Obi-Wan, Cody, Rex, and Fordo.

My non-romantic OTP for this character: Savage

My unpopular opinion about this character: I don't know if I'm in maul fandom spaces enough to know what is and isn't popular. I don't know if this counts, but I don't think that Savage and Maul were brothers the first time I watched the show. I thought they were using the term brother in a looser sense. As in, they considered themselves brothers, but not by blood. I only realised it was meant to literally related when I joined fandom. I still don't really like that, it always felt very convenient (and contributed to the impression that the GFFA is made up of like 50 people max), so I just kind of ignore it.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: I think he should come back to life and be killed again actually. You replace that nonsense "somehow Palpatine has returned" line with "somehow Maul has returned" and be like, that adds up actually (though I did really enjoy his death scene).

my OTP: Obi-Wan 😑

my cross over ship: I don't think I have one

a headcanon fact: If someone explained to him the existence of gay people it would fix like 20% of whatever is going on there. But seriously, I think he has huge trouble with emotional identification and just conflates a lot of strong emotions as rage or hatred because that's pretty much his baseline.

[angeloparker]

Random AO3 Points

I've noted the fandom is really still getting used to AO3 from what I can tell so I wanted to point out some things new users may not know and that I've picked up on from years on the site under various usernames and from interacting a lot with other writers/readers from other fandoms. For readers and writers.

For Readers

You can only give kudos to a fic once. So if you've given one on the first chapter of a story, you won't be able to do it again per chapter. Consider comments as a way to give feedback.

Collections are largely meant for events like challenges (big bangs, exchanges, etc), not for collecting your favorite stories. An unrevealed collection's purpose is usually to keep works concealed only until the challenge is over. If an author permits you to put a story in a collection and you mark it unrevealed for any variety of reasons, you wind up hiding that work from the rest of AO3 until the author either removes it or you reveal the collection again.

Instead of using collections use Bookmarks! It's a great way to find your favorite fics and you can make notes in them -- like memorable plot points, how you feel about it, or even a mention of where you left off reading. Please note, there are private bookmarks and public bookmarks. If you use a public bookmark, the author (and site) can see what you wrote about the story.

The archive is precisely that: an archive. Not a social media site. Why is this important? Because if you are looking for a fic or fic recs or to request a fic, you should not be doing it on AO3. Yes, in certain fandoms you'll come across "stories" that are someone looking to make requests, take requests, or looking for a story. The majority of AO3 users will report these and while it might take a while because their support team is made of volunteers, just don't do it.

Download your favorite stories. At any given moment an author could leave AO3 for any reason. You can download from AO3 in a multitude of formats, including PDF and various epubs to read on your devices. However, if an author deletes their work and you have it saved you cannot repost it and should only share it privately and even then do so in a way that is respectful of the creator's wishes if they had any.

For Writers

First of all: Engagement takes a while on the website, don't get discouraged.

Your kudos refresh in real time, your hits refresh every 30 minutes, so if you see your hits are 5 and your kudos are 6, it isn't a bug -- something isn't wrong. The system is catching up. Similarly, hits are measured within windows of time by visitor, so if some reads all 10 chapters of your completed fic, it will count as 1 hit and not 10.

Similarly to above, do not use a post to take requests. The archive is limited to fannish/transformative work. Use your Tumblr or Twitter to take requests or eventually it will get reported.

Placeholders similarly are not for AO3. An influx of Wattpad users have lead to people describing their story idea in a few sentences and posting it without any story written -- maybe to gain interest or maybe misunderstanding and thinking there is an algorithm they need to tap into for their fic to be found. Both are bad practice and will be reported and removed if there is nothing fannish/transformative in them.

There are mixed feelings when it comes to one-shot "books" -- or rather, one story where each chapter is a one-shot. In general, AO3 readers who have used the site for a long time will prefer them grouped by some kind of common theme -- such as the main pairing. When searching on the site, people like to look for certain things and filter them out -- so having a 50 chapter story of 50 individual one-shots with 50 different couples and individual tags is a nightmare and many users will skip past them since they can't discern what they're getting. Plus, you'll limit yourself in terms of hit count because of the aforementioned reason about hits refreshing.

A series is generally a better place to group things together, because people can still search out and filter out tags and things they do not want from your works page. I advise to only do a series if there is still a common theme. I have done them for things like requests and drabbles but only because I was uploading them all at once when I made my transition. In hindsight, I probably would have just made them separate one-shots but do like that anyone who made a request can go to those two series at once.

You cannot link to your Ko-fi, Patreon, or anything else that solicits for money for your work. You can, however, link to your social media site like Tumblr and if your Ko-fi/Patreon link is posted there, that's fine.

Utilize work skins for fun, visual and interactive elements. Tutorials do exist on AO3 and also Tumblr for the coding as AO3's CSS capabilities are limited.

Do not put in your author's notes, tags, or summary that if you don't get comments, you won't update.

Avoid being too self-deprecating with your summary and tags. I know tongue and cheek we're sometimes like "I suck at summaries" or "I don't know what to tag this" but it is better to make an effort and attract a reader than not give them enough to go on.

Tag appropriately. Especially for potentially triggering topics. For other things, ask yourself "is there enough of X in this story where if someone were looking for a story about it, they would be satisfied. If it's a consistent theme, tag it. If it's one character who appears for half a scene in a 20 chapter WIP, you can skip it.

Archive warnings: Use them. If you are writing about something that might be triggering to others but want to avoid warning for it to avoid spoiling your plot, you can choose the "Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings" and any reader should know that they could be getting into something. I personally like to just provide warnings because I would rather let people know and avoid them getting invested/turning them off. But the "choose not to warn" exists for a reason and you are within your rights to use it.

"Dead Dove: Do Not Eat" is not a catchall for any triggering topic. It's origins are from a television show and it was originally meant to essentially mean "does what it says on the tin, so don't be surprised with what you get." In other words, if you work includes non-con, graphic smut, various kinks, or elements that are an "acquired taste" you should not use the dead dove tag in lieu of those tags to describe a dark!fic. You should use it in combination with the appropriate tags as a way of saying "This really is what I say it is, so get involved at your own risk."

I'm sure I'll think of other things and come back and add to this eventually. If you, an AO3 user, disagrees with what I've said here, as I mentioned this is from my experience and a lot of time spent on subreddits and talking to other authors both in and out of the fandom. So feel free to make your own recommendations in your own post so newer users can get their own feel for how the archive functions for multiple people and craft their own experience while still being in line with the AO3 TOS.

[lucian379]

How did this happen?

By AclinuAzurosan

Summary:

My own take on Iruma being discovered for having a lack of wings. Snippets of before shit goes down. A somewhat crack-fic vibe (low-level) Alice is blissfully ignorant (of Iruma and his feelings) People worry (rightfully so) Iruma is too much of people pleaser Author put low effort........sorry but not really

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1:

'How did I end up in here? I need to get away from here! They’re gonna find out!........ Why is my shirt lifting? Wait...' 

"NO DON'T-" 

*Collective gasps from the teachers* 

------------------------------------------------------------------------‐-------------------

Iruma Suzuki, age 14, has found himself in trouble. A great challenge any high schooler must face. Yes, Iruma is facing the dreaded... FINAL EXAM . Now this wouldn't be such a huge problem for most students, expect for the fact that Iruma has never gone to school before Babirus. Meaning he has absolutely no studying skills at all. Why should he? It's not like he was doing everything he had to survive all the dangerous situations his parents put him through. Pssh yeah that's just crazy talk. 

..................... 

'Mom, Dad, why?' Iruma thought crying to himself as his soul leaves his body. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Asmodeus Alice, one of the top students in not only the Abnormal Class, but among the first years as well. How would he react to seeing just how bad Iruma is at school? Would he laugh? Would he be shocked into silence? Is he disappointed with Iruma?! 

Answer, blatantly ignore all signs and cry his heart out to Iruma since the image of him being the next demon king is seared into his mind. Az......

"I'm sure you can ace the tests!! I will help you in anything you don't understand Iruma-sama!" 

"Whaa- UH, thank you Az-kun?" 

Oh Alice, when will you realize, Iruma isn't any old demon off the block. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iruma Suzuki, age 14, deceased after one day of 'studying'. 

'I just don't understand anything said in the textbooks. What is this written in? Ancient Greek?' I head down to the dining room, maybe some food will help. 

"Do you want me to tell you what's on the test?" Grandpa says to me, honestly, I don't think that would help me. "Or if possible, we'll give Iruma-kun only the easy questions!" 

'Grandpa nooooo, please, I couldn't even get the easy questions right. Plus, I don't want to be caught cheating.' 

"There is no need to go so far for Iruma-sama. He will definitely score the test with F.L.Y.I.N.G C.O.L.O.U.R.S." Opera, I can't deny that when you say it with such confidence and expectation. 

*weeps heartbrokenly* 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A classroom, filled with heavy tension, everyone with a book in their hands, "Um..." Asmodeus Alice looks upon the strange scene unfolding before him. 

"Let's leave them alone Iruma-sama. Let's study together instead and see what you need help with!" 

"Ye-yes! Ok let's do this!" 

*one quizzing session later* 

'I'm gonna die.... none of these make any sense. How am I supposed to know what any of this is?' 

'I'm HUMAN! If only I could tell them that, but then I might get eaten.........waaaahhhhh.' 

Iruma Suzuki, yet again defeated by his greatest enemy, school work. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Study High; the pleasure of scoring points it causes the person to get a big head on their shoulders. Who do you think became an idiot after scoring full marks on a subject he would obviously know about? 

Is it, (A) Shax Leid, (B) Saboro Sabnock, (C) Keroli Crocell, or (D) None of the above? 

Place your bets down people! 50 grim for the winner! 

......................................... 

The answer? D OF COURSE BECAUSE IT WAS IRUMA SUZUKI THE WHOLE TIME! 

Again, smile and wave boys because Az-Az over blatantly ignores the strangeness of Iruma's lack of netherworld common knowledge. Which brings us to the point before disaster strikes. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

You know, there are moments in your life where you look back and go, "Yep, should not have done that lol." 

This was one of those moments. 

........................................ 

Clara, Az, and I are walking to Darry sensei's class on 'Demonic History.' Everything is going great! I've got full marks on 'Imaginary Creatures', I must have a talent for things like this! Az-kun said so and everyone else in class! 

Only Darry sensei isn't in class, it's.... Balam sensei? 

"Isn't that...." 

"Ahaha Iruma-sama, maybe we should come back another time."  

"Don't worry Az-kun, I'm sure Balam sensei is-" 

*slither slither up in the air* 

'AH! STOP! WAIT! NO! HUH?! WHO-' 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Hehe... I guess Balam is just a touchy guy? Whooooo, at least he didn't seem to notice. Haha.........I just wish he'd take these vines off my back' 

"Creatures like imaginary beings.....The research of imaginary beings.....vastly unexplored place...possible that new........DO YOU KNOW WHAT IMAGINARY BEINGS EAT!?" 

"UWAH! UH-" 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

'Balam sensei is just going over what humans are. Phew, I guess it's good that I'm human. Maybe learning from him won't be so bad.' 

'This Balam person is certainly one to look out for. Grabbing Iruma-sama like that! Oooh, at least you're keeping to yourself now.'�� 

'BABA SENSEI GIVE PATS! HEHEHE BABA SENSEI MUST WANT TO PLAY TOO!'  

"But the demon world is a very dangerous ecosystem, that's why demons have evolved to gain tails and wings." Balam sensei drones on walking towards his new students. 

"Even without horns, with wings at least you could es...ca...pe...HUH?!" 

'I really should be paying attention to what Balam sensei is saying but I already know all of this. Hmmmm, maybe I can pass with just getting- UH WHAT IS TOUCHING MY-' 

"AHHHH!"  "WHOA!?" 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'WH-WHERE ARE GOING?! OH NO BALAM SENSEI! WAIT, NO STOP! WHAT'S HAPPENING?!?!' 

Balam sensei is forcefully carrying me on his shoulder. He's running so fast, turning this way and that, I've lost all sense of direction. Ugh, I feel like I'm going to throw up. 

Suddenly we burst through these doors, startling everyone inside. It's...the faculty room? Why- No wait, first I need to get off of Balam sensei. 

"THIS IS BAD!! THIS KID HAS NO WINGS!!" 

'UAAAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!' 

"Balam sensei what are you saying? No wings?" 

"Yeah, they're probably just in his back." 

"THE ROOTS AREN'T THERE! FEEL FOR THEM." 

'How did I end up in here? I need to get away from here! They're gonna find out!........ Why is my shirt lifting? Wait...' 

"NO DON'T-" 

*Collective gasps from the teachers* 

-------------(Talk about back scars)-------------

Iruma Suzuki, age 14, attack: 0, defense: ∞. 

That is, only now. You see, Iruma wasn't simply born with the ability to dodge everything that came his way. He had to learn and teach himself how to dodge. To the point where it became second nature to him. 

Iruma Suzuki...... wasn't always lucky enough to escape a dangerous situation unscathed. He's suffered, and suffered hard from the consequences of his negligent parents. 

He's scarred. He's hurt. And these scars will never go away. 

And that is exactly what he had been trying so hard to hide from everyone, even his adopted grandpa. And now everyone will know. Iruma Suzuki isn't super strong, he didn't train to dodge out of achievement, Iruma had to dodge to survive . 

"Wha-what is this?" A female teacher says horrified. 

"His back... it's..." said a male teacher this time. 

"Iruma... How did this happen?" Balam sensei, you shouldn't have done this. 

I quickly pull my shirt back on and run as fast as my legs can carry me. I can't see, I can't breathe, I feel nothing... nothing but pain and panic. Everything is blurred around me. The lights are too bright. The sounds of everything, too loud. Hide. I need to hide. I need to run away. I need to protect myself. 

'Please, stop. Don't look. Don't look at me! DON'T AT LOOK ME! '

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is also available on Ao3 and Wattpad under the same name.

[rocicrew]

for the questions for fic writers: 1, 42, 48, 49, 50

1. What fic of yours would you recommend to someone who had never read any of your work? (In other words, what do you think is the best introduction to your fics?)

hmm that's a tough question, i feel like i've written several prompts that are an easy read so that can be a quick introduction to how i view certain characters and their dynamic. and then it kind of depends what kind of pairing they're more interested in, although the majority of them are naomi centric.  i think ultimately, maybe either of the fics i've that's about naomi and filip (her life in her hands, her life's life in her hands & the way the old life haunts the new). bc they center the topics of loss and trauma and finding a way to live with it anyway and it is a theme i'm very interested in exploring with my writing.

42. Have you ever received a comment that particularly stood out to you for whatever reason?

amdnd it's one of yours actually, again we're going with her life in her hands, her life's life in her hands (i do have a soft spot for this fic despite) i was still v new to sharing my writing and it was a feat to write something that touched those themes and attempt to capture naomi's complexity in such emotions so you telling me i captured that tension really gave me a boost when i was still very unsure of my writing so thank you for that.

48. What’s the last fic you read? Do you recommend it?

i reread oh, body, be held now by whom you love today which does a lovely work of the push and pull naomi goes through between being guarded and allowing herself vulnerable, of shutting down instinctually and opening herself up again as a way to mend that gap during the preparation to go to ilus.  it had this line; "It’s about building something out of loss." which is fit right into my emotions after making that last gifset. the fic also does a great job of writing the intimacy between naomi and holden and i absolutely recommend it.

49. What are you currently working on? Share a few lines if you’re up for it!

the only wip i currently have, and it's been sitting on my docs for roughly a year has been a draolden drabble that i started after 6x06 and for some reason i have been stuck on even though it's something i'm both interested in and would like for that to be the next thing i finish and upload. maybe it's because it's been there for such a long time that i'm not sure whether to scrap it and start over or just polish some details and add some small things and post it already. oh i also have another from those kissing prompts but i haven't started it yet. and actually i think i have one nolden one but that's more fleeting vibes than proper fic.

i think i've posted an excerpt before but here's a diff one:

“Mhmm, all three of us know that I’m very hot. But, mi pensa, you’re a liar,” Naomi hummed and Drummer looked almost offended at that. But Naomi’s gaze softened as it lifted to meet hers. “You can tell me the truth,” she continued.

“I don’t know if this will work.”

Naomi tried to sit up, because that needed a conversation between them. Jim grumbled slightly at her movement and tried to pull her flush to him. That meant he hadn't fallen asleep but was edging towards consciousness. Part of her hoped he would wake up so she wouldn't have to have this conversation alone. It battled with the part of her that wanted him to catch up for all the sleep he lost. 

“Us? Or the negotiations?”

50. Answer any question of your choice, or talk about anything you want to talk about!

okay, so this isn't a question necessarily but something i'd like to do with my writing so im putting it here in hope i'll actually make it happen. which isn't something big, it's that i want to attempt one day to write a longer multi chapter which isn't something huge but it can be a fun challenge.

[jeysbvck]

Hiii ♥️

hahaha nooo the ask game is in your blog! I saw it a while back and then I couldn't find it so I had to hit the search button on your blog for #ask game and it popped up 😆

Anyway I had a great Easter thanks, just with the fam and a lot of food! 😅😂

Ugh ikr. It's hard when you get hooked onto a book. I have lost sleep in the past cause of it 😔😁

You lucky duck ALL three of them just for youu 😏 I don't think I'd be able to to handle it either 😌

I'm sure you'll figure it out! (jealous!jey) hope you have fun doing it 😊 can't wait!

Ta

🐨

aaahh i found it!! i had to search tumblr but luckily it came up pretty quick!!😭 im glad you had a great easter!😊

oh im soooo excited!! it's a great way to spend my birthday honestly😍😍 and i think ive figured out the beginning, so hopefully the rest will follow!!🤞 ONTO THE ASK GAME😊

🍓how did you get into writing fanfiction? - now that is the question, isn't it?😭 ive always loved writing stories, but i had a hard time creating original stories (or more so, just fleshing out the worlds & "focusing too much on things that don't matter" as a teacher put it) & then i fell into putting celebrities into stories that i wrote (i'd use their looks, but always give them a different name) & then i started reading stuff on fanfiction.net & wattpad & kinda realised i could just use characters!!

🎲 what stops you from writing more in your free time? - honestly all i have is free time, i do not have a life! but its usually more lack of motivation (most of the time i'll open my wips & just stare at the document!), and also i watch tv while im writing up a draft, so i get distracted😂

🧸 what's the fastest way to become your mutual? - don't be a minor, & post any one (or more) of my favourite things! literally, if someone's following me, i check out their blog & if they're 18+ & they've posted ONE gifset or even fic of something i like, i follow back!!

🏜️ what's your favourite type of comment to receive on your work? - i truly love all (nice) comments, they validate me & make me smile! but if i had to pick, i'd say when someone picks out a line or snippet of the fic that stuck with them, or just telling me that it's beautifully written (because i really really struggle with finding the right words when writing!)

🪲add 50 words to your current wip and share the paragraph here. (have 58 words instead).

Jey would be the first person to tell you that when this started, he hated Sami. 

Okay, maybe that was a little too much. He didn't hate Sami, but he didn't like him very much. He didn't like his stupid beard or his stupid curly red hair, and he certainly didn't like those stupid brown, puppy dog eyes.

writers truth or dare!!

[melrosing]

ok I HAVE to expand because I've known in my bones for years that this was, if not literally a fanfic with the serial number filed off, a book written with a very specific character in mind and i am SO SURE i've got it right...... like allow me to explain that believing it's an adapted fanfic isn't what makes me think A Little Life is bad I think it's bad for several reasons including:

the prose is dogshit

jude st francis is the only realised character, the others are empty husks with names, one or two nominal traits, and a distinctive career

it has absolutely nothing to say about anything but i find it especially egregious on race, about which there is no meaningful dialogue. two of the 'main characters' are Black men and apart from one feeble attempt about 50 pages in, Yanagihara seems at an utter loss as to what to do with them and so abandons them without further ado extremely early on to focus on Jude who we're told isn't white, but functionally is because we're told it's not clear what his heritage is and anyway he passes as white, so really he's just a beautiful 'other' who evades the tawdry label of 'white boy protagonist' whilst functionally being a white boy protagonist. whatever race Jude appears to be or does not appear to be, it induces no dialogue whatsoever, so what exactly does any of this diversity mean on the page if Yanagihara writes it off just as soon as she introduces it

it's also called a 'great gay novel' whilst not really being about any LGBTQ+ issues or even gay characters. Jude is only interested in Willem, and Willem is canonically 'straight with an exception' for Jude. Yanagihara has nothing to say about gay relationships or gay men. literally nothing. she doesn't even want to describe her protagonists as gay, only JB who she quickly writes off as an obnoxious waste of space

there is no sense of time or society in this book. people might say that's a choice and it certainly is one but the effect is that the only subject upon which the book has anything to say is Jude St. Francis. despite covering decades of time, we have no notion of when this story is taking place or even really where besides the fuzziest impression of expensive apartments in New York. this story has nothing to say about society because society does not even appear in the book

Yanagihara also has no interest in meaningfully representing anything. she's not interested in the process of recovery: she herself claims that despite never going to therapy she fundamentally doesn't believe in it and thinks it's a con. she's not interested in abuse or its impact, despite the copious depictions of it in ALL. she writes apparently gay men with no interest in how that experience might look different from her own. and literally the only point she actually cares about making, by her OWN ADMISSION: is that when enough bad things happen to a person, they might as well kill themselves because therapy isn't going to save them. i think that is uh. obscene

and just like. if you want a story that actually has something to say about abuse and recovery I really can't recommend the Patrick Melrose books enough (sidenote my username isn't meant to be a tribute to them lmao but they are genuinely incredible). they're written by a survivor of horrific abuse with such visceral yet empathetic reflection, with a vivid dissection of the cycles of abuse and the most honest portrait of recovery i've ever read. and if you aren't too scarred from ur superwholock days to watch benedict cumberbatch in anything again, I really recommend the HBO adaptation, it's very sensitively and skilfully done and I can't believe more people haven't seen it

anyway you can tell a little life is a fanfic BECAUSE:

as I say that absence of society or any dialogue about any of the issues of race and sexuality that Yanagihara raises and then immediately discards. this is something you get away with in fic because fic isn't really about commentary on society, it's simply about pleasing yourself

Yanagihara is pleasing herself by writing whump fic. if you've not read A Little Life, you will honest to god not believe the number of things she puts her protagonist through. it'll seem insane when you're reading the wikipedia but i cannot express enough that that is only the TIP OF THE ICEBERG

Yanagihara forgets to tell us why we should care about Jude before she launches into whumping him. you can get away with this in fic because by definition your audience already cares. not so with ALL, but I think many readers mistake their own horrified reaction to the things that happen to Jude as compassion for Jude as a character

let's not even get into the other three of the 'main characters' like Willem has no personality to speak of besides being obsessed with Jude. JB is 'obnoxious'. and Malcolm.... well he's there!!! and this is giving fic too. it's giving 'all the characterisation being in Yanagihara's head so she forgets to actually put it on the page for the reader'

like truly honestly genuinely these guys aren't characters. even given how monstrously popular this book is, find me any article or tiktok or anything where a reader has anything to say about these characters as people. you won't because there is nothing to say. all they'll be talking about is how much it made them cry

LISTEN TO ME!!!!THIS BOOK EXISTS TO SATE THE DESIRE FOR WHUMP AND NOTHING ELSE!!!!! AND THAT IS OKAY FOR FIC!!!! BUT STOP CALLING IT A GREAT GAY NOVEL AND A MUSING ON ABUSE AND RECOVERY IT IS JUST!!! SIMPLY!!!! NOT!!!! THAT!!!!

ok so why do i think it's a marauders fic well this is the easy bit

four friends who essentially grew up together. and it's a wolfstar fic so we don't really need the james and peter counterparts we just need the remus and the sirius

Jude as Remus seems obvious in hindsight. he's this wilting selfless intellectual survivor of terrible events who as a result is chronically ill in a way that is horrifically described but with a strange voyeurism. im not saying jkr wrote him like that (jkr barely wrote him at all lmao) but that's very much what i can tell of many fanon versions of Lupin even having never been active in the fandom. and im not even criticising that like fanon is fanon but im saying that's clearly what has inspired Jude

but it's a dead giveaway if Willem, JB and Malcolm resemble Sirius, James and Peter respectively so instead they are nothing characters. nothing at all. we need Willem on the scene to fulfil the other half of wolfstar and be obsessed with Jude but his personality is stripped back so that the Sirius of it all can live in yanagihara's head and we readers get nothing. just some human window into Jude's horrible little life. hey that's the title

i've always found it strange that Yanagihara seemingly started this book with the intention of telling the story of all four main characters? but that that intention reeeeally quickly fizzles out?? i think that's bc as in many fics, a writer might set out wanting to write about a slightly larger cast but often end up zeroing in on their ship and the character they love most within it, bc that's what they really want to write and that's what their readers often want to read. no criticism of that, fic is fic, but i found it very odd to come across the foundation of this in a book and watch it fall away as the writer became distracted. anyway so i think obviously those four characters were based on the marauders. it doesn't matter how hard it may be to identify Willem/JB/Malcolm as having parallels with anything or anyone, Jude is the giveaway

i don't have to draw a conclusion that is my conclusion. damn i hate this book

I’ve just come to the abrupt realisation that A Little Life is just adapted marauders fanfic isn’t it. ISNT IT

[penny-anna]

Just thought I’d let you know that your onslaught of Back to the Future content inspired me to rewatch the movies this weekend, which was such a delight :)

Do you have any fic recs, by any chance?

ah glad to hear it!

*rubs hands together*ohoho let's see what i got here

Like Water Flowing Underground by Kleenexwoman

Marty struggles to fit in with his new reality, but is any other world a better fit?

i read this one back in 2015 and come back to it every so often. just beautifully done.

Becoming Marty by butchcassidy

Scenes and glimpses from Marty's childhood and how he came to be Marty.

obligatory trans marty rec!!

Time is a Wave and a Particle by Kleenexwoman

Another one of those "Marty has trouble dealing with living in an alternate universe" fics.

heavy content warning for mental illness & specifically psychosis on this one!!

beautifully written, absolutely gutwrenching, this one is gonna haunt me ):

Alternates by Wildgoosery

Marty's life isn't at all like how he left it.

i eat up post-canon 'marty deals w being in a new timeline' fics like candy nom nom nom

wish someone would tell me who to be (ready to try anything) by Adanska

(“Fashion cycle,” Doc had explained, looking more ‘50s than anything else. “The Eighties just came back around in a big way for kids your age, you shouldn’t stick out too much—people will just think you’re hipsters.” “What, like the pants?” “No, a nostalgia-obsessed movement—ah, nevermind.”)

lesbian marty & jennifer visiting Actual 2015 its great give this one a read!!

we can't live in the present forever by ideal_girl (trainwreckdress)

Marty wonders if Doc has the same problem; histories overlapping, memories colliding in the space of a single, shared moment. He hopes not.

a 'marty deals with having 2 contradictory sets of memories' story

Inevitable by nbfutureboy

It's a bizarre twist of fate. When they’d found out they’d been expecting twin boys, Jennifer had suggested, sensible and sweet, that they pick out two new names. No comparisons to the kids of the first 2015 - they could be their own people, without having to compete with a future memory. 

very sweet fic about trans marlene mcfly!!

The Man in the Box by makesureyouwashyourhands

People said the strangest things about the McFlys. They said that Marty McFly went to bed one night and woke up a different person. Or, the two Martys: how they differ, and how they're the same.

*throws another post-canon new timeline fic at you*

The Human Body Is Incredibly Faulty by ThePhenomenalStingray

Written for the ask, "For that headcannon prompt, Doc is a complete mother hen mess when Marty’s hurt".

cute!! <3<3<3<3

First Impressions by Kristen Sheley

To say that he had been surprised when the kid had showed up that evening at his doorstep was an understatement. He hadn’t ever imagined anything so fantastic, and his was a mind that had visualized a lot of unrealistic and fantastic things! But a seventeen-year-old time traveler from the future was never one of them. Equally surprising to him was that this kid was apparently a friend of his. What a sixty-five-year-old was doing hanging out with someone so young, Emmett could only wonder. Maybe Marty was a student of his, from the University.

an oldie but a goodie!! absolutely banging bit of missing scene work from the first film w doc & marty adjusting to each other in 1955

The Longest Odds by leaper182

Marty McFly just had two more years to go before he could start thinking about the future.

But then the odds shifted, and the only future he has to think about now is whether he'll make it home alive.

wip not updated since 2016. not a whole lot of this one as it looks like it didn't really get off the ground but the central concept (tribute marty + former victor mentor doc brown) is just gutwrenching and im going to be rotating it in my brain forever!! ETA: totally failed to clock the ship tag on this one oops!! its tagged doc/marty but i don't remember anything shippy happening in the chapters posted. read at your own risk ig.

that's all for now!! i got more stuff in my to-read so stay tuned hopefully!!!