#me writing something completely different that isn’t on my wips what’s new

[jjunbug]

wrote 4k words yesterday on one fic and today i’m hoping to write just as much or even more!!! wish me luck

[physalian]

“You didn’t do your research!” (No, my character is just ignorant)

I read a book where one character was a vlogger/professional photographer. I’m no professional myself but I do have a couple nice Canons and the equipment and I know my way around them and Lightroom and video editing. This was a major aspect of this character, not just a side hobby mentioned every so often.

This writer, importantly, was not a photographer and as I was reading, I knew immediately that they didn’t do their research.

Now, had this character been written as a novice, I wouldn’t have thought anything of it. Had this been written as a hobby of theirs and not part of the main plot of the story, even, I would have let it slide. But the book said this character was an expert, and yet showed me a completely different story.

In this case:

Do your research

Or pick a field you are already knowledgeable in

Or put that trait in the background

—

But what if you have a character who really is a novice?

For example, Elias, my protagonist of Eternal Night, grew up incredibly sheltered. He does not know his way around a bow and arrow. I, however, very much do. I own a compound bow and have shot recurve bows. Dorian, my deuteragonist, has had a couple centuries to learn his way around archery, along with everyone else in the cast.

So when I write Elias shooting, or Elias POV talking about it, Elias can get away with doing and naming everything completely wrong because he has no idea what he’s talking about. Dorian can’t. Dorian is how I show my knowledge of the sport—that I did, in fact, do my research.

Do you need an example character? No, I just happen to have one.

The amount of times I have beta’d WIPs where authors are very much out of their depth could be solved in such a simple way: Make your character ignorant, and you solve your plot holes.

Now if I wrote Elias as an archery novice, and also suddenly an expert marksman, then yeah I’d still have a plot hole. But if he doesn’t hold the bow correctly and doesn’t name all the parts of his equipment correctly, or doesn’t properly take care of it… why would he know better?

These are kind of like unreliable narrators, only instead of telling the story with suspect accuracy, they are participating in the plot with suspect accuracy.

If you have to have a set piece with something you definitely aren’t an expert in and have researched all you can but it still doesn’t feel like enough, consider the following:

It does not need as much step-by-step detail as you think, especially if this isn’t a huge part of the narrative, especially if it’s niche. I have Elias learning how to shoot, but I don’t painstakingly describe his lessons, though I could. I tell you the ~vibes~ of how archery works, and I need not say more because none of this is the point of the scene—Elias learning a new thing and branching out is the point.

You can just say “Characters did this thing in the background and now we’re here when it has become important”. In sci-fi and fantasy, the more you give audiences to pick apart, the more they’re going to. You can describe how the artificial gravity on your spaceship works with your fantasy gadgets and fantasy physics, or you can just say “the ship has artificial gravity” and as this is sci-fi, readers will just accept it and move on.

But even in contemporary fiction. Say I’m writing about a high school yearbook class, of which I myself was our senior editor. I would ask myself: Is the book about the actual process of making a yearbook, or the characters who are making the book? I can spend pages upon pages describing the photography and editing and layout process of pages and spreads, or I can just have a character “editing a photo for color correction” while they’re having a more meaningful conversation.

If I wrote the former and this was a book that intimately dove into the yearbook process, then my readers would expect all those fine details. If I didn’t, then yearbook becomes the setting, not the story, and my readers expecting a high school drama might get bored by all the technical prose.

At the end of the day all those details are exposition, if the only purpose they serve is to exposit and not reflect back on the characters or story at large, then why are they here? I can make all the technical details interesting, so long as they matter to the character. If you don't know what you're talking about, then how can you know how they matter to the character?

There is a balance I think you have to strike. If you don't include *any* details about yearbook, then why is it set in a yearbook class?

—

But at the end of the day… if you’re not a photographer, and you decide to write your protagonist who’s passionate about photography, and the whole story is about the photography process so they can enter some competition, and you know absolutely nothing about the photography process…. Why are you setting yourself up for failure?

Instead, consider writing your photography-loving hero’s story about why they love photography (which you should do anyway). Take the focus off the mechanics and instead write about something many more people can understand, which is the emotional connection one has to their favorite hobby.

You might not know all the parts of a professional camera, but you do know what it’s like to spend hours at a time trying to make something perfect and the catharsis you feel when it works out, or the disappointment when it doesn’t.

That story I read above wasn’t laser-focused on vlogging, but the character had brought in all their expensive equipment to a dirty environment to film something and put their equipment in filthy places not the least bit concerned about any of it getting damaged or broken. The writer failed at the technical side, but more importantly, they failed at the emotional side. Halfway through the book and I had no idea how this character felt about their hobby.

Camera equipment is expensive. That shit is painstakingly maintained and cared for. You don’t just throw it around and accept that grease splatters will get in the way, you do the job trying your best to mitigate the potential damage and you worry the whole way that your camera baby took a beating.

Point being, even if the writer had missed the mark on the correct vocabulary, that wasn’t nearly as damning as failing to understand the big picture of why people do this hobby and the complications that come with it. They didn’t do their research.

—

If any of this resonates with you, consider checking out my book Eternal Night of the Northern Sky, out for preorder now, paperback on 8/25/24.

[blackberrysummerblog]

Hi all! I’m just out here being three weeks late with my 2024 Writing Round-Up, and thank you so much to @monbons, @forabeatofadrum, @confused-bi-queer, @rimeswithpurple, @nausikaaa, @prettygoododds, @ileadacharmedlife, @artsyunderstudy, @best--dress, @j-nipper-95, @roomwithanopenfire, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @imagineacoolusername, @mooncello, and @thewholelemon for tagging me! I hope I didn’t miss anyone, and thank you as well to everyone who’s been tagging me for Six Sentence Sunday and WIP Wednesday this month. Without getting too much into it, I am BURNT. OUT, and it’s making me retreat from even the things I enjoy the most, like writing and catching up on everyone’s beautiful fandom works.

But, I’m determined to make this round-up post, even if it takes me a couple of days to put together. There’s a lot here! Almost all of it was from COC, which I was hellbent on finishing this year, and did! Here’s the list, in chronological order, of all published writing for 2024:

The Field Trap, 1/2 (5272, M) This has been sitting unfinished for a bit, but I do anticipate it being completed. I discovered a real love for Watford-era fics toward the end of the past year, but it probably all began for me two years ago when I wrote Field Trip of Dreams, the prequel to Field Trap. At any rate, I haven’t forgotten the fic, and Field Trap may end up with an E rating in the second chapter.

Time Will Lie Down and Be Still (26,201, M) This is the fic I’m most proud of this year. It’s the result of my COBB collab with @rimeswithpurple, and it’s been such an inspiration to work with Arianna! I highly recommend the experience :D This fic has 3/5 chapters published so far, and I’m getting there with the 4th. I’ll share that Arianna finished the art for Chapter 4 the other day and it is STUNNING, so I need to get my part done! For anyone who doesn’t know, the fic is a retelling of the movie Practical Magic (I’ve never been able to get very far in the book, for whatever reason, so I wouldn’t count on the fic lining up with it). This one is close to my heart for many reasons, but I’ve especially enjoyed building Dev’s character and his relationship with Baz.

Absolutely everything else I published was for COC, and I’ll put it below a cut due to length. Thanks to everyone who read my work this year! As always, the output of this fandom is just incredible, and I’ve enjoyed being able to take it in as well as contribute a little myself. Happy New Year, everyone!

Something Old (1146, T) Simon finds something unexpected while clearing out space in the wardrobe.

Chosen (880, G) Agatha and Simon have just begun dating and Philippa attempts to engage her in a little friendly roommate squee. Agatha isn’t quite so sure.

I Hate You, Never Leave Me (2339, M) Simon and Baz have found a new and better way to settle their differences, by getting each other off all over campus. Will it evolve into anything more, however? (I love this one, honestly. Might have to someday write a more extensive version)

Greek (1565, T) Simon has to keep a very close eye on Baz in Greek class, for reasons.

Let Me See You (1205, T) Simon is the one to find Baz draining a deer in the forest instead of Agatha. His reaction is not what either of them was expecting.

Truth or Dare (2608, T) Does what it says on the tin—the gang play a game of Truth or Dare, and the dares reveal a little more truth than anyone expected. (Definitely not a groundbreaking take on the prompt, but I never really tire of reading truth or dare fics, and hoped readers would feel the same :P)

Gently, Gently (668, M) Simon and Baz spend the morning in bed, skiving off class and not regretting it at all. (I came to realize that an embarrassing number of fics I write either start out with the boys waking up in bed or that is the entire premise of the fic. “Waking up” is a weird fetish to have, but OK me, I guess)

Looking for Knives, Looking for You (1181, T) Baz reflects on all the wounds he and Simon have given each other over the years. (Despite the vicious sounding title and depressing summary, this one was meant to be sort of cute and sweet)

Hold You Safe (1015, G) At the start of Eighth Year, Dev and Niall’s relationship is still very new as they get some bad news from home.

Dinner (Guess Who’s Coming) (3525, T) It’s half term, and Baz’s parents want to take him to dinner. They invite him to bring a friend, but unfortunately for Malcolm, he pisses Baz off first, and Baz decides his guest will be Simon—the Mage’s heir, his family’s mortal enemy, and Baz’s undying secret crush. (As with nearly all my COC offerings this year, this fic was knocked out during my lunch break the day of, and it shows. It really could have stood to be longer and more developed, so maybe I’ll revisit it one day, since I did like the premise)

Stay with Me (878, T) It’s Eighth Year and Simon gets home late and injured from a mission. Baz arrives at a resolution. (I was a little baffled to get a comment about the Mage already being dead, since this fic takes place during the school year and makes mention of a very much alive Mage in multiple places. It was more of a statement than a criticism though, I think.)

A Charmed Life (1449, E) Baz and Simon have an utterly normal morning getting frisky in bed. (Again. Huh.)

A Horse Named Jane (736, T) Simon has that song stuck in his head again. The one Baz can’t stand. They work out a (sort of) compromise.

Sour and Sweet (3060, G) It’s Baz’s birthday and Agatha has just given Simon his walking papers. Oh no :P However, the breakup does little to lift Baz’s spirits. (This one has two chapters and filled two prompts, sour and sweet, natch. Chapter two’s summary is: Simon decides he needs to make something sweet for Baz’s birthday, even though he’s two days late and doesn’t know how to bake. Well, he’s got magic at his disposal, so things are sure to turn out just fine. :P)

Punk (828, T) Baz is making Simon join him for lunch with Fiona again, but Simon figures he’ll debut a new look & attitude. Will they actually make it to the restaurant? (I really enjoyed writing this one. Simon being frustrated with Fiona’s behavior and still being silly with Baz about it was just a happy place for me)

Surprise (733, M) Simon and Baz are engaging in one of their classic Mummers’ House tiffs. What will happen? :P (I did write a little surprise into this one, but it was very much in keeping with some of my favorite themes)

Cast in Fire (791, G) Simon comes to Watford and learns about how his roommate will be chosen.

Fluff and Nonsense (1627, T) The prompt is ‘fluff’ and did I once again take the opportunity to write a light-on-plot secret relationship fic about Watford-era Simon and Baz being cozy and silly in bed? Yeah, I might have. Simon is going home with Baz over the Christmas break. Not a lot going on here, they’re just really comfy and in love.

Pieces of Me (1557, M) Baz has been having nightmares. Simon comforts him and encourages him to open up.

The World Was Open (956, T) Agatha and Niamh attend Simon and Baz’s wedding, and Agatha overhears another guest making a snide remark.

Find Me (2374, M) Eighth year at Watford was unremarkable, and Simon and Baz last saw each other when they graduated. Seven months later, Dev and Niall drag a pining and protesting Baz out to a club for a night of drinking and dancing, but there’s a familiar face behind the bar. Simon Snow is serving drinks, and worse, he’s flirting with a Baz lookalike. What will happen :P (This was yet another fic that could have been developed a little more, but I was still happy with the result overall)

Warm Spell (1795, M) Goatherd Simon has been almost-encountering a beautiful stranger for several weeks now, but one hot summer day, they finally meet.

Lost and Found (575, G) The boys go shopping together and Baz temporarily loses Simon, but it’s all pretty plot-free :P

Truce (1101, M) Simon pesters Baz while he’s trying to study, and needs to learn a lesson. Will they be able to call a truce? (This one was where the trouble began—I changed my settings to allow comments from unregistered users, because I like to fuck around and find out, I suppose. And find out I did! Luckily, the rude comment I received took aim at some writing element that didn’t even make sense for this particular fic, and I quickly realized it was a bot. Not long after, I started getting comments on other fics as well, all very nonspecific to the fandom, characters, and genre. I’m so sorry because I know it upset a few readers who were very kind to clap back and reassure me, and I changed my settings back so that it wouldn’t happen again.)

Savour (1189, T) Simon has been away on one of his missions for the Mage, and Baz has been awaiting his return by leaving out plates of food in their room every night. (Bot’s review: “the worst fic in the fandom”. It’s not even the worst fic in my own oeuvre, so joke’s on you, guy XD)

We Were Always Together (2239, T) During cotillion class, Simon is forced to dance with Baz. The horror! (I flipping loved writing this. Full on had a blast and Would Write Again)

Let It Snow (925, M) It’s almost time for Christmas break at Watford, and it may not turn out as the boys planned. However, thanks to a spell gone wrong (or very right) it may yet work out for the best :P

Always (551, G) It’s Christmas Eve and Baz has just finished putting the kids to bed. Simon is putting the finishing touches on the Christmas tree.

Something New (990, T) Simon and Baz have a little tiff near the end of eighth year, but it’s not fated to last long. I’ve written a lot of secret!relationship Watford era fics for COC this year, some that could go together and some that were in separate universes. It’s been so much fun to write about the boys sneaking around, but this is…something new. :P (In which I was very pleased with myself for how I wrapped things up in accordance with the prompt. I really, really enjoyed COC this year :D)

Thanks for reading! I’m sure most everyone has already made their own round-up posts, but consider these no-pressure tags and hellos: @valeffelees @stardustasincocaine @bookish-bogwitch @facewithoutheart @c0nsumemy5oul @jasonfunderberkerthefrogexists @tender-ministrations @basiltonbutliketheherb @ghostpepperworld @larkral @letraspal @cows4247 @fiend-for-culture @palimpsessed @hushed-chorus @shrekgogurt @raenestee @cutestkilla @drowninginships @youarenevertooold @iamamythologicalcreature @beastmonstertitan @ic3-que3n @supercutedinosaurs @stitchy-queerista @alexalexinii @asocialpessimist @shutup-andletme-go @prettygoododds @ivelovedhimthroughworse @j-nipper-95 @wellbelesbian @bookishbroadwayandblind @orange-peony @papierhaikuphoto @martsonmars

[emsgwenstan]

Knowing what goes unsaid

(Larissa Weems x fem reader). Angst

Words: 2k? Idk

Warnings: alcohol.

Notes: I haven’t been writing much, I know this isn’t great but I need to post something. Hardly edited so apologies In advance.

She knows. She knows how I feel. She can see it in the way I look at her, the way I gaze at her. She knows that my body magnetises to hers, she knows that the reason I’m always taking off my coat around her isn’t because I’m simply ‘hot’, it’s because of the blush, the constant undeniable blush that kisses my cheeks, gives me away every time I’m in her presence.

She can see it in the way I admire her, constantly, always complimenting her style, her hair, her make up, her nails, her jewellery, her clothes, her perfume, her shoes, all the things I can on the outside, but I wish she could see all the things I see on the inside, her personality, her mind, her sweetness, her stubbornness, her love, her kindness, her wit, her drive and protectiveness, but how do I say say that and not sound like a total freak?

She can be standing on a podium and have everyone whipped, completely in awe of her, wrapped around her little finger…well, she definitely has the effect on me. She can do anything, or perhaps nothing at all and I will still find her the most interesting and important person in a room, sitting in the weathervane just minding her own business, walking in the sunshine every afternoon at 4:30pm on the dot, even if it’s raining or gloomy out she still manages to be outdoors even if it’s only for a short while. I adore her, all of her, every little thing, but I’m not as daft to believe she feels the same.

The first time I realised, the very first moment I came to the conclusion that I didn’t just care for her as a friend, was when I found her at the lake one night, completely wasted, completely exhausted and completely out of it. I didn’t even utter a word, nor did I question the reason of her state, I simply took her cheeks in my palms and stared into her drunken, dazed, piercing, blue eyes, even then as a mess she was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I took her hand in mine, feeling the softness of her touch, feeling her warmth radiating into my own skin. I guided her back to her office, cleaning up a broken glass and disposing of the empty bottles of wine. She stood still as if she would break if she moved, even just a little, tears were threatening to spill from swollen eyes down cold flushed cheeks.

As I returned to her, I grasped the thick cream coat draped over her shoulders and pulled it off, lightly tossing it onto the back of a nearby chair. Stood deadly quiet in front of her, the air of the room was filled with rather loud emotions, her breathing was shallow yet sharp, controlled but unsober. She was tired, she was sad and she was lonely, I reached for her earrings and I unclasped them relieving her of the tension, as well as her necklace, bracelet and watch, cupping the back of her hand I raised it to the space between us and put the jewellery in her palm, a silent plea for her to turn in and go to bed.

As I took the step towards the door, she reached out and stoped me, my wrist was held in a tight grip, that in itself was a plea on her behalf. I saw in her face what she wanted, the expression I will never forget. ‘Please don’t leave’. Is what she conveyed, letting a tear roll down her porcelain skin, stepping back I raised my hand to her face wipped it away, I told her with my own eyes ‘I can’t, I can’t because I won’t leave’. She let go and watched as I walked away.

I wanted to stay, I wanted to show her I’m here, I’ve always been here, but alas my heart couldn’t handle the overwhelming feeling that I can’t have her. Days, weeks, months passed without a single word of that night, but we knew, each and every moment we saw each other from that day it was different, a new understanding, a new appreciation, a safe atmosphere, a distant longing. I know she knows. She can see it in the way I try to avoid her, she can see it in the way I’m softly spoken when addressing her in an almost timid manner.

Next was the rave’in, it was the first time I had ever been so affected by someone’s beauty, as a chaperone I didn’t think I would find much personal enjoyment out of the night, yet when she walked through the doors adorning a slim red dress and elbow length gloves I could have sworn that my heart skipped a beat, I could feel my chest aching, I could feel my soul reaching for her. She looked at me once that whole night, her superficial smile faded and cheeks tinged with a pink hue, I almost missed it due to the low lighting of the hall and once again no words were uttered out loud, but I could tell what she was feeling, I felt it too.

More weeks passed and time slowed, each day dragging on longer taunting me with the fact that my days mean nothing, my mornings, my afternoons, my nights, my lonely, quiet nights. Time knew to, it knew that I yearned for her, it knew that I knew she was also lonely and longing, not necessarily for me, but for someone…anyone. It seems that the lord of dreaming knew too, my restless nights only consisted of her, turns out the waking world is just reality, not dreams, because if they were I’d be awaking to the smell of hot tea and the sweet aroma of her silver spun hair, I’d roll over in silk sheets to find a beautifully bound book held in slender hands with red fingernails carefully spreading the pages open and a woman who was carved from marble blissfully unaware of my drowsy smile.

She is beautiful, she is blithe, she is grace and she is the epitome of all things breathtaking, I don’t just mean the exterior, the facade of professionalism, the mask, I see her, I see her as she is, as she always has been. Today is when she let it slip, her meticulously curated front fell, only a little, but enough for me to see something was wrong, she was breaking. Sitting in the conference room with the entirety of nevermores staff, her shoulders were tense, her brows lightly furrowed and eyes almost unrecognisable without the usual glint of optimism, every time she needed to speak she would swallow hard as if trying to rid a lump in her throat before stuttering out somewhat cohesive responses.

She didn’t want to be there. In fact the second the meeting adjourned she picked up her phone, paperwork and cold coffee cup and made her way back to her office without a glance back at the room. I saw her body sway haphazardly as she reached her large wooden doors, I started to second guess following her, I didn’t know what I was doing, I didn’t know why I felt the need to trail so awkwardly behind her, but something in me needed to make sure she was ok.

When I arrived at her once again closed doors, I raised my fist in the air ready to knock and took a deep breath, what exactly I was readying myself for at the time, I had no idea. Drawing back about to strike the wood with my knuckles a rather frantic student came bolting down the corridor. “Miss y/l/n! Please! There’s a pack of wear wolfs fighting in the quad and you’re the first teacher I found.” A very puffed Enid Sinclair breathed out.

I turned on the spot, immediately she lead the way, I could see over the railing the four boys who were tackling each other in the mud, seems that a down pour took place when in the meeting. Running down the stairs in a hurry, I told her to stay under shelter and not risk getting involved, a look of warning was given to all surrounding students as they watched the commotion. A deep breath. “Hey!” I shouted, only one of the boys looked to see who it was. Then and there I took it upon myself to do what I just said not to, get involved.

I marched into the rain and b-lined to the commotion. “Stop it, for god sake!” At this point I was just blatantly annoyed, putting myself in the line of fire I reached out and pulled two of the boy’s shirt collars and ripped them apart standing between the two. “Pull yourselves together! Your parents don’t pay your tuition for you to pull this crap!” I yelled. I stepped past the two and stood in front of the next boys who were still, pathetically might I add, punching on. I didn’t say a word, but quickly did they stop.

A stern expression was sent their way and the looks I received in return were nothing short of apologetic and anxious glances, they all know what’s to come, however I can’t be bothered to make a mess of the rest of the day. “Shower, Dinner and dorm. Do you all understand?” I asked the boys, nods and ‘yes Miss’s, erupted quietly and quickly before they scurried off to their appointed tasks. “Back to the dining hall, now.” I said to all the other lurking kids.

It’s really starting to pour down, the morning sunshine completely gone and replaced with cold showers and gloomy skies. Seeing I’m already soaked to the bone i thought I may as-well take a moment to enjoy it, except when I raised my head, I saw her, hands clamped to the railing, a somewhat frightened look on her face and the realisation that she’d been seen. I stared at her, I could see in her eyes that she was torn, even from this far away.

She whipped around and sauntered away. I know she knows. I didn’t waste time, I trudged back through the mud and made it to the stairs, after taking a few steps I removed my shoes and carried them the rest of the way, every hurried step along the freezing stones, was another step closer to her. The second I made it to her office I dropped my shoes and opened the door without knocking.

She was there. Her back turned towards me staring out the large window behind her desk, her head bowed slightly and hands hugging onto her torso. I stood rooted in place dripping wet and heavily breathing. “Larissa.” I said quietly, her head raised and arms dropped to her side, she peered over her shoulder to glance at me, her body following, turning to fully gaze at me.

‘Please’.

‘Please’.

I didn’t take my eyes off hers. Not even when she took a step and a step back, second guessing herself. Not even when she finally decided to let go and stride directly towards me, not until she reached to my face with her warm hands and kissed me. I know she knows. She knows… that I know.

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

———

@sabraaabra

[shadowqueenjude]

2024 Fic Writer End of Year Roundup

Thank you @crazy-ache for tagging me!

1. How many words did you publish on AO3 in 2024?

232,213

2. How many fics did you complete this year?

26

3. How many in progress or ongoing fics did you start this year?

Three. I have my Nesta gets a gun fic ( I SWEAR i’ll finish it lol), my regency snowbaird fic called How to Restore a Duke’s Fortune, and my elucien fic A Court of Sight and Tulips

4. What was your favorite thing you wrote?

It’s probably my Eris Vanserra one-shots here. I managed to make Eris insanely cunty and hot😩

5. What piece was your most experimental or different from your usual style?

I mean honestly, anything smutty that I wrote (which isn’t much). I’m ace spectrum so I generally don’t read much smut and writing it is a pain, but I’m getting the hang of it now!

6. Did any fics surprise you - either while writing or their reception?

Honestly surprised that all my Azris/Eris Vanserra content was so popular (thank you @talibunny30 for commenting on my fic❤️) so I guess this means I’m writing more azris in 2025!

7. Do you have a fic you wrote and loved that went under the radar? (This is your sign to reblog/repost it!)

I wasn’t expecting a whole lot of engagement because it’s a little niche, but I am OBSESSED with my story The Illyrian Princess. It’s about Emerie fighting for the Illyrian women and it also features one of my favorite rarepairs Emerie/Nuan!

8. Who is an artist that inspired you?

@thrumbolt @copypastus @works-of-heart @majuandrad @lucychanart @sad-scarred-sassy @dimalry I love y’all’s art you’re SO fucking talented and you make me scream with every piece you make!

9. Who is an author that inspired you?

@positivelyruined @crazy-ache @olenvasynyt @sad-scarred-sassy y’all make me SCREAM with every word you write💕💕💕

10. Who is a new author you discovered?

Pretty much everyone is new to me because I’m very new to fandom LOL

11. Did you do any collaborations? How did it start?

YES. I wrote When the Steam Settles with my wife @sonics-atelier , which is Rhysand x Cassian plus a little bit of Azriel! It started because we were kind of joking around about how homosexual some of the things the bat boys said to each other were, and we were making jokes of things that would happen between them and then we got the idea to actually write a scene with them!

12. What accomplishments are you proudest of?

I used to quickly post my fics without editing them because I was afraid I’d chicken out and cringe at what I wrote, but I’m finally rereading and editing my fics now (which basically started bc i wanted my secret santa gift to be perfect)!

13. What did you learn about writing or creating this year?

That kudos and comments are not reflective of quality. I know people say that a billion times, but it’s true and something i still need to internalize. I’ll write the most jaw dropping fic and have 2 kudos and a comment and then I’ll write some shit while high at 2 AM and get 70 kudos overnight. I can assure you that at least one person enjoyed your fic and you should write it for yourself and that one person who loves your stuff :)

14. Any advice you’d like to share with new or aspiring writers?

Try not to overwhelm your writing with nonstop dialogue or nonstop description. If you find yourself doing one of those things, change something up. If you have too much dialogue, describe facial expressions or a shifting in posture. If you have too much description, add a small conversation.

15. What are your creative goals for 2025?

To finish my WIPs, LOL

Tagging @kateprincessofbluewhales @positivelyruined @sonics-atelier whoever wants to do this!

[giantchasm]

I have a joke for everyone. A spider, a wasp, and a… thing wander into a bar. They walk up to the bartender and-

Okay, no. Seriously, what is that!? It’s giving me the heebie jeebies!

Wait, what’s that? Your saying the crime against god in the center there is the protagonist of my current WIP fic?

…Whoops.

Goofs and gaffs aside, recently I’ve been writing a fic where Sectonia gets brought back and she’s kind of Messed Up. I’ve even posted about it a little! It’s been a fun time and I’m looking forward to sharing more.

However, as someone who stalks the Sectonia tag, I couldn’t help but notice there were two other people working on AUs that featured Sectonia being brought back in some way, shape or form. Girl’s a popular bug!

I think, typically, when I realize a project I’m working on is in any way similar to something other people are working on I tend to get a little anxious. I get scared people will think I’m “copying” them even when I conceptualized my idea on its own. Probably the OCD talking. You know how it is.

But you know what? That’s a bad attitude to have! It shouldn’t be scary to me that there are three different people working on AUs that involve a resurrected Sectonia right now. It should be cool! All of us, individually, loved her enough to want to give her a happier ending. Isn’t that sweet?

And not only that, but it’s really fun and interesting seeing how all of us have tackled the concept differently.

Joronia from @paintpanic’s Resurrection AU has returned as her original self, both in psyche and form. Not only is she a spider again, but she seemingly sees herself as, well… still herself— still Joronia, even despite the guilt she clearly feels over her actions as Sectonia.

In contrast, Sectonia from @chowmoon2’s Mortal Souls AU is still ‘Sectonia’ to the point where it’s effectively a form of ego death for Joronia. She’s no longer a complete monster, but she resembles the girl she once was so little she may as well be a new person. Seemingly, she doesn’t even see them as one in the same.

Then ‘Nia’ from my Perennial Bloom AU… well, she’s still trying to get that figured out: who or what exactly she is. Uncorrupted but still deeply traumatized and angry, she doesn’t want to be ‘Sectonia,’ but also feels like she no longer deserves to be ‘Joronia.’ And if she’s neither of those… then, well, who exactly is she now? And what does Taranza— who she’s so concerned with the opinion of, want her to be? There’s a lot of inner torment there, and it reflects in her physical form.

It’s awesome. How all three of us wanted to see her brought back, but did it in such different ways… and not only in our characterizations of the ex-tyrannical-queen! Additionally, we’ve all gone for different methods of revival and developed her relationships with various characters in such a wide variety of ways. Outside of Taranza (the universal constant), it seems these girls have entirely different social circles!

It’s fun. I think if they were to meet, they’d have a lot to talk about… and so I drew it! Both because I thought it would be interesting and because I wanted to give a shout-out to two other awesome creators making content involving our favorite (not-so) dead girl.

I hope both of you like it! I’ve never interacted with either of you before, so I felt just a little bit awkward drawing your gals, but I couldn’t resist. Sectonia fans have got to stick together. There’s approximately only five of us total, after all.

Undead spider(?) group therapy tea party time!

[stars-and-darkness]

WIP WEDNESDAY!!! but it's thursday

week #22

more of the amnesia au, bc ya girl isn't allowed to write anything else, or else her bff is gonna skin her alive (love ya alicia <3)

She’s deep, deep in her thoughts when there’s a knock on the door, and when she calls for the arrival to enter, it’s her mother.

“Mom, hi,” Caroline says, and quickly clicks out of the photos of the massacre from yesterday on her desktop. Maybe Mum doesn’t need to see all that.

“Sweetie.” Mum comes to sit in the armchair in front of her desk.

“So!” Caroline claps her hands. It’s painfully awkward. “What brings you to my office?” Sitting in a chair that’s usually occupied by people pleading for something, or trying to convince her that what they want is also what she wants.

It’s very, very weird to see her mum sitting where Becker Wexer had sat a few days ago.

Mum gives her a smile that’s a bit strange, almost as if all the same thoughts that are going through Caroline’s head are also going though hers, but that’s impossible, of course.

“I had a talk, yesterday,” she says at last. “With Klaus.”

“Oh.”

Well, that can’t have gone well. Rarely anything involving both her mother and her fiancé ever goes well.

“Look whatever he said, you surely must see as clearly as we all do that he’s currently not exactly operating at—”

“Caroline!” Mum interrupts. “It was fine, actually.”

“Oh,” Caroline says again, in a completely different tone of voice. “Really?”

She doesn’t think that’s ever happened before. Usually, when her mum and Klaus interact, they only have complaints.

“Mmmhmm.”

“Right. Well … that’s great.” Yep. This is completely new territory. “What did you guys talk about?”

For a moment, her mother’s eyes shutter closed, and then it’s like it never happened. “Let’s say we came to a truce.”

Now, Caroline’s eyebrows really fly up. “You and Klaus?”

“He didn’t tell you?”

She almost freezes. There were other things to speak of, last night.

The skin of her shoulder burns as if his eyes are still on it.

“I guess it didn’t come up. I mean, I’m glad.”

“It was for your sake. He suggested it. I couldn’t exactly refuse.”

Caroline nods. “Thank you. It means a lot.” Reduces the level of stress she’s under, if nothing else.

Her mum doesn’t leave, or say anything else. She just stays there, sitting, watching.

Caroline looks so much like her—it’s like looking into a distorted mirror image. Mum’s got her head angled a little, probably unconscious, and her eyes are depthless.

“Mom?”

Mum’s eyes fall on her hands. Her ring. The one with the black stone, not the blue. “Why do you stay here, Caroline?”

Caroline straightens. She doesn’t need to hear any more of this—she cuts the rest of the speech her mum had prepared with a wave of her hand. “Don’t.”

“I’m serious. Your engagement clearly isn’t—”

“Klaus will return to me,” she snaps back. “As soon as the Alcaide amulet is in our possession, and knowing us, that’s sooner rather than later that we’re looking at.”

“Caroline—”

“And even if he never does …” She shakes her head. “There is so much more I’m doing here, Mom. It’s not just about him. I have a family here, I have a place, a role, responsibilities and privileges, and …” She swallows. “My life is here, Mom. And what a life it is.

“Don’t ask that of me, Mom. You know I can’t give you that. You know I don’t want to.”

Her mother looks away. “I’m sorry.”

“I know you don’t … understand. This thing between Klaus and me. But I didn’t jump into life in New Orleans, into an engagement, head-first with no consideration. I guess it may have seemed that way to you, since I didn’t exactly, like, consult with you before I did these things, so maybe it seems like it all came out of nowhere … but it didn’t, Mom. This was a long time coming, all of it. This stupid amnesia curse is just another hurdle on the road, but I’ve broken through every hurdle that came before it.”

“I just want what’s best for you.”

Caroline shrugs. “I know that.” Her dad wanted what was best for her, and so did Tyler, and Matt, and scores of other people. “But Mom, you have to trust me to know what’s best for me myself.”

“Is this?” Mum waves her hand all over the office, as if she can sense the gore that was on her desktop just a moment ago. “Is this what’s best for you? You’ll never have peace here.”

“I’m a vampire, I’d never have peace in the usual sense anyway. But I’m with my family here. I’m doing something worth doing.”

“Ruling?” Mum asks.

Caroline gives her a look. “Don’t say it like it’s a bad thing. This city is a safe haven for the supernatural. Here, we can thrive. We are closer to living out in the open than anywhere else in the world, and when we don’t have to worry about hunters picking us all off, we have the time, the space, for our culture to flourish. There is so much of it, Mom. Millennia-worth.”

“And it’s your duty to safeguard that?”

“Why not?”

“I hope you know …” Mum attempts, then tries again: “I hope you know I just want you to be happy.”

“I know.”

“Okay. Okay.” Mum wipes her hands on the legs of her trousers. “I love you.”

Caroline nods. “And I you.”

And that is it.

[trulybetty]

2023 Tumblr Top 10 Posts

This was really interesting to go through as I really try to avoid anything related to stats - but also fun to revisit some posts/fics I’d forgotten about!

This year was such a transformative year in many different ways, that I’m still trying to process with 2024 quickly approaching. I’m looking forward to seeing what the New Year brings. But I hope it brings me more of the same I’ve experienced here - community building and some wonderful people that I get to call friends 💕

So if you’re interested, check out the following! If you do your own Top 10, please tag me in it! 🙌 you can do your own here!

1. 879 notes - Jun 26 2023 - Pre-Outbreak/Non-Outbreak Joel (photo set)

2. 413 notes - Sep 10 2023 - Sequins (Joel)

Still so thankful for @wildemaven posting that gif - because if she hadn’t Sequins!Joel would never have been created! It’s the gift that keeps on giving. This was also my first foray into anything non-TLOU themed for Joel and I’m still shocked it was received so well. 

3. 306 notes - Sep 26 2023 - Happy Birthday (Joel)

Written for Joel’s birthday - this was just straight up smut and birthday sex. But hey, it’s canon Joel likes it gentle, steady, nice and slow… so who was I to not give him nice and slow 🫠

4. 237 notes - Aug 16 2023 - Stood Up (Frankie)

To this day I don’t remember where this idea came from. I was really intimidated to write for Frankie, like I almost didn’t post this! But I’m so glad I did, it’s spurred several other one-shots involving Frankie x Mav and a current (neglected) WIP that I’m excited to get back to in the new year.

5. 227 notes - Aug 31 2023 - Marcus Pike coded Pedro, which inspired this (and number 7).

6. 225 notes - Jul 6 2023 - New (to me) Whiskey promo shoot (photo set)

7. 205 notes - Sep 2 2023 - Sick Day (Marcus)

When I first came back to fanfiction I was so confused by the reader insert format. The last time I wrote fanfic, it was canon characters or OC’s - which is what both Gold Rush and Chiffon (my first) are written in. So in order to try out the format I started with Marcus and what is now the Sweet Jane series. I have plans for those two, I have how they met mapped out in my head, that I hope to explore soon!

8. 175 notes - Aug 4 2023 - Strings (Joel)

This was another nerve wracking foray - reader insert Joel and because it was a challenge to write Joel with someone other than my OC. It started as a one-shot, that then was three parts, then four and finally finished at five. It’s also the only series I’ve managed to complete 😆. I’m so proud of this one, it has a special place in my heart - this is the ending Joel deserves, living on a little farmhouse being taken care of and a reluctant chicken dad.

9. 167 notes - Aug 14 2023 - A Sunday Night Ramble (text post)

This was a late night epiphany - where I realised that I was trying to force writing and make my two OG series’ fit into more palatable moulds for others consumption rather than writing the story I wanted. It’s also a good reminder that it’s okay to take a break from something that isn’t currently serving you. If you come back to it two day later, two weeks later or never - it’s okay. You’re not beholden to anyone. This is all supposed to be fun first and foremost, if you’re not having fun then it may be time to step back and re-evaluate.

10. 166 notes - Aug 24 2023 - Drip (Joel)

I still get sad when I think about this piece. Like real sad. I don’t know if I could write something like this again now - or ever. I was well and truly in my feels with this one. I made the decision to watch a walkthrough of all the cut scenes of TLOU2 and it broke me. I knew what was coming, but knowing and watching were two different things. I do like that I left this one open to interpretation - meaning I can revisit one day if I want, so who knows.

NPT’s: @wildemaven, @gnpwdrnwhiskey, @rhoorl, @morallyinept, @frenchiereading, @maggiemayhemnj, @magpiepills, @goodwithcheese, @secretelephanttattoo, @sin-djarin, @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin, @undercoverpena, @nerdieforpedro, @linzels-blog, @for-a-longlongtime, @avastrasposts​, @musings-of-a-rose, @mysterious-moonstruck-musings​ & anyone else who wants to play - consider this me tagging you in! Please tag me if you do it! I’d love to see! 🙌

[kazraza]

Omg I‘m so excited for you new fic, you can‘t even imagine <3 I love, love, love your writing and the universe you build so much and I can‘t wait to meet Link and Zelda again in this third installment :‘) Can you tell us a tiny bit about it? Does it take place during or after totk? Is it canon divergent? I‘m just happy, please don‘t take this as me pressuring you or anything, take as long as you need.

omg thank you so much!!! that means so much to me!!

YES i would love to talk about my fic lmaooo. it takes place during totk with some flashbacks to pre-totk/post-resonance. part one is going to follow zelda's journey in ancient hyrule and part 2 will be centered on link and the sages.

it is canon compliant--but i'm gonna be adding SO MUCH of my own flavor and worldbuilding to it. ngl i kinda went crazy with the lore 😂 might have to cut some of it on the second draft we'll see..... also i realize probably no one wants a blow-by-blow of the events that happen when you just play the game so i'm gonna try my hardest to make it something different and special!

anyway ty for the ask!! if you are still interested in reading more please accept a humble wip from ch 3..... under the cut hehe....

-------

Dusk has fallen by the time they reach Woodland Stable, blanketing the trees in dim blue light. Link helps her from her mount, his hands lingering at her waist as he steadies her, then leads their horses to the stables. Zelda tucks her long hair behind her ear and looks around. A deck overlooks a large pond, and across the still water she sees the bright blue glow of a shrine. 

Link returns to her side, following her gaze. “Want to go check it out?” he asks.

“Sure,” she says, even though she really has no interest in the shrine.

But as it turns out, neither does Link. 

He presses her against the composite metal wall, the grooved designs digging into her back. Link’s mouth is hot against her neck, and the trees muffle most of the sounds of her gasps, and the evening wildlife swallows the rest. 

Two long weeks, and she’s forgotten what it’s like to have Link’s hands on her. 

She threads her fingers through his hair, undoing his ponytail. The light from the shrine floods his features, reflecting in his eyes when he fixes her with a gaze that arrests her where she stands. 

“I missed you,” Link breathes, touching his forehead against hers. 

“We’ve been by each other’s sides this whole time,” she says, giggling. 

“I missed this.”

Zelda grins. “Me too.” 

He grabs her by her thighs and lifts her up, holding her against the shrine, and she wraps her legs around him. His lips are on hers and he tastes the way a stormcloud feels, like something dangerous, something wild. 

“Zelda,” he says, a whisper against her throat, and she responds with his name, again and again, her fingers twisting in his hair, nails raking across the nape of his beautiful neck. “Zelda,” he says again, and it’s more insistent this time, a word that demands attention, and he isn’t kissing her anymore.

“Yes?” she says, breathless, distracted. 

His eyes are dark and glassy, but they’re not looking at her. She can barely see his features in the dimness, but he seems to be looking behind her.

Hold on, that’s not right. She could clearly see his face just a moment ago, lit by the shrine’s blue glow.

He realizes what it is, what’s different and what’s wrong, at the same time she does. She unwinds her legs from around his waist and he lowers her gently to the ground. It’s dark, completely dark.

The shrine is no longer lit.

[buzzdixonwriter]

Writing Report December 13, 2024

I’ve been a smidge sporadic on this blog recently, missing a couple of Friday posts due to family obligations.

Nothing serious, all good, just…time consuming.

My first scheduled 2025 project isn’t going to start on January 1st as planned…

…because I already started working on it November 18th of this year.

It was one of those things when the project just said, “It’s time!” and I found myself facing no other option than to just start writing.

Work on it has been sporadic; I’m at 7,600+ words right now but I haven’t had a real chance to write two days in a row on this project due to aforementioned family obligations.

This one is an indirect offshoot of my previous WIP, a story set in the very earliest days of the film industry in Hollywood.

When working on that novel, I needed to do some research on prostitution in the Old West since one of the supporting characters in the story is a real cowboy of mixed ancestry. 

I was pretty sure his backstory was possible based on what little I knew at that time about prostitution in the Old West, but admitted the exact circumstances of his ancestry did sound a bit farfetched.

I figured no harm, no foul since no matter how unlikely the circumstances, they weren’t flat out impossible and besides, his ancestry wasn’t a main point in my story.

But when I stumbled across a copy of Michael Rutter’s Upstairs Girls:  Prostitution In The American West at our local Open Book outlet, I figured great, now I can double check my assumptions and make sure my character’s backstory isn’t completely impossible.

Well, in the book Rutter mentions a real madam who possessed a backstory of her own that was so oddball it got me to wondering how she ended up where she ended up.

So I started noodling around ideas for a completely fiction story of a character like the real madam and how she might have found herself involved in the trade back in the day.

Originally I thought of doing this as a stage play, with most of the action taking place in the main parlor and all the shenanigans going on out of sight upstairs.

Problem : While a great set-up, I had no real story, just some interesting characters.

Again, a supporting character came to my rescue.  If I set my story in a specific year, I could place in the sporting house a then brand new technology that virtually nobody would know about except a small ground of people such as saloon keepers and madams.

If the ladies of the house didn’t know about it, it could be used to hide a crime by providing a criminal with an apparent alibi.

Great!  Now I knew my plot would be a mystery.  Act One would be my main character arriving to take charge of the sporting house, Act Three would be her figuring out how the crime was committed using the then-new technology.

What goes on in Act Two?

Well, we know the answer to that one, don’t we, boys and girls?

More research!!!

So now I’m delving into a whole bunch of books and history websites, not just on prostitution in the Old West but also on mining boom towns (because the ladies who serviced cowboys at the end of a long cattle drive were a different breed of cat from the ladies who serviced miners because the former customers would blow through town in a few days but the latter were regulars and as a result the mining town ladies needed to be something more than just passive, anonymous partners).

Rutter came to my aid again with another volume on the history of prostitution in the Old West, Boudoirs To Brothels (and dude, I am eternally grateful to you for all the detailed research you did but gawd, with a name like that you were pretty much doomed to make this topic your life’s work, no?).

And boy howdy, did Rutter ever supply me with a wealth of ideas to make Act Two work.

It mean abandoning the idea as a stage play and turning it into a novel, but by that time it was chompin’ at the bit and there was no denying it so…

…I started typing.

My previous WIP -- the Hollywood novel -- completed, I really didn’t need to do any more research on it. 

But in Boudoirs To Brothels Rutter included the story of one sex worker in the Old West that not only showed me my cowboy character’s backstory was one hundred percent plausible, but what actually happened was even more outrageous than I imagined.

And while my current WIP will not include the real historical person, I was glad to see she enjoyed a real life happy ending.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Mrs. Polly Bemis.

  © Buzz Dixon

[unohanabbygirl]

Thanks for tagging me babes ☺️ @sapphireblueye

How many works do you have on A03?

7! Five multi-chaptered and two oneshots

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

481,884 (I honestly thought it was more)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

HOTD, specifically Lucemond with some background pairings.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1. Forget me not

2. Hiding in plain sight

3. Fill my bleeding heart

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

I do! However my timing is always so bad and it makes me feel shitty but I’m the sort of person who needs some time to think out what I wanna say + I get distracted very easily and forget to do so until weeks later. My responses are horribly late but my words are genuine.

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

Hm, I guess it would be by latest oneshot featuring corpse queen Luke with a very mentally unwell Aemond. Very sad.

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

The ending isn’t published yet since the story won’t be completed for a while but Hiding in plain sight should be my happiest ending according to my plans. Crazy, I know.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I wouldn’t say I receive outright hate. Maybe a few backhanded responses every once in a while but it’s rare.

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

YES! Very emotional, 9/10 there will be tears shed while they fuck nasty.

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

Sadly no. I don’t think I’m the type of person who could pull off clashing two different universes and their characters together. It’s a difficult thing to write in my opinion and the handful of crossovers I’ve downloaded so i’ll never lose them are god-tier. Takes a lot of talent me thinks.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge 🧐

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes. Its translated in spanish

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

Nope. My process is a very long drawn out one that I don’t want to stress anyone out with while trying to work alongside me. Sometimes it’ll take me weeks or even months to get a chapter out. Im looking at you FMBH.

However I wouldn’t be co-writing something small if the plot interests me. Maybe four chapters or so? Idk

14. What's your all-time favourite ship

IchiRuki (bleach) and Braime. Samdean is a big one too.

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

Interesting enough I started a WIP when Lucemond was still new so around December-ish. It’s a dragon shifter AU but I don’t know where to take it so she’ll probably never see the light of day. Lol

16. What are your writing strengths?

Conveying emotions I think. Probably because i’ve been down the depression and crappy self image rabbit hole enough to express it in my works. Internal monologue is also one I’m good at.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Pacing! Omg my pacing is ass. Everything is either too slow or too fast which leads to so much re-editing to get it all flowing in an appropriate time.

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

I don’t do it because google translate isnt very accurate most of the time and language is so important. If I do feel writing dialogue in another language is that important i’ll ask someone who speaks it to help.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Well…does the shitty fic I wrote about Edward/Bella/Jacob in seventh grade count? Because if not then Lucemond it is lol

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

Forget me not. She’s an icon, what can I say.

Tagging; @handsome-wise-strong @armonial

[onigiri-dorkk]

Thanks all so far for enjoying the oneshot 🥹 I’ve been sad that I haven’t been able to publish things regularly lately so it felt fulfilling again to finally share something again!!

I had a lot of fun with 104th’s Top Cadet — I tested something where I intentionally backed off of descriptions/scenery, doing less than I typically end up doing, and instead spent more time building dialogue which was really enjoyable for me. In hindsight I always felt like dialogue scenes in, for example, Microcosmos could have been built even more so I’ve been challenging myself lately in all my WIPs to get used to giving dialogue and conversations a little more time and care (without going overboard).

I find when I read long fanfics, I tend to breeze through when there’s too much detail/description/etc and my eyes aim for dialogue to push through story, so that’s probably another reason. Especially in action-centered scenes, or scenes that are supposed to lead to something else!

It was even fun to study things like canon dialogue between Levi and Erwin, or Erwin to soldiers to get things right. For Mikasa, I tend to write her a bit more lively and expressive and sweet (bc that’s how I envision she grows to be tbh) but sticking to her stoic and fierce personality was good — especially for this timeframe when she doesn’t know Levi yet and doesn’t trust him.

A lot of why I ship them is built around S3 and onwards, post-war especially, because of the mutual quiet respect and admiration they have for each other, and I’ve gotten used to reading and writing that type of dynamic. So it’s fun and almost exciting to go back to the beginning where Levi is absolutely annoyed with her, and Mikasa sees him the same 🤣 It’s so different than what they became! But I love it because it emphasizes how much they HAVE grown. I think I wrote this recently but Mikasa’s relationship with Levi is her most transformed relationship amongst anyone else in the series.

With Eren, it’s kinda just… the same. Their moments we see in Marley S4 are exactly the same as S1 episode 1/when they’re children in Shiganshina. There’s no built trust. There’s no build of romance, even. After the “I’ll wrap that scarf around you as many times as you want, now and forever” moment, their dynamic still didn’t change. (I started writing more about this but deleted it bc this isn’t supposed to be an analysis post LMAO)

Anyway, all that to say 🤣 I tried to venture off and do something new outside of fluff or smut I usually write for one-shots! Hope you enjoyed the action, completely staying in Levi POV, dialogue, staying more in character, etc. i have so many more WIPs I hoped to publish before Japan but it’ll likely have to wait 😩 Will def be doing some brainstorming on the planes to make it easier to start writing again when I get back hehee

[librathefangirl]

For the ask game!

11. Post something from a current wip or concept

12. The funniest comment someone has left on a fic of yours?

Thanks for the ask 💜

11. Post something from a current wip or concept

Okay I'm gonna share two wips here just because I can. I haven't been able to write a lot these past weeks, due to school, stress and an accompanying lack of motivation. But! Here's something I've worked on.

Firstly, the long-awaited chapter 2 of A Debt to Pay:

“But we will find him.” Elizabeth squeezed his hand again. When he looked at her, the tears still shone in her eyes, but determination had set in her face. She held her head high, her gaze steely. She looked the epitome of the princess she was raised to be, but also every bit the goddess who’d stood against the gods. Gowther didn’t have to look to know that whatever doubt she held was looked away tightly in her mind. He envied her confidence; the refusal to believe this might end in tragedy. The future was too uncertain, the factors too negative. Galvina’s behavior alone foretold a different outcome. She was explosive in her actions, driven by revenge almost to the point of madness. At the same time, she was determined too. She knew what she wanted and was not going to let anything come in her way. Gowther wasn’t sure they would find Meliodas in time.

Secondly, The Boy and the Rain (a fic I started on, completely forgot about, and am now breathing new life into):

Ban leaned against the safety of the doorway, watching his captain without any intention of actually joining him in the downpour. Meliodas tilted his head slightly. A small acknowledgement of his presence, but otherwise didn’t move. “It’s incredible, isn’t it?” Meliodas suddenly asked, voice slightly breathless. His eyes practically shined as he opened them to gaze up at the falling droplets. “What?” Ban frowned. Was the captain actually drunk? “The rain,” Meliodas clarified. “It’s… water.” “Yeah,” Meliodas sounded almost in awe. His smile grew. “Yet no matter how many years I spend here, it still feels like a miracle every time.”

12. The funniest comment someone has left on a fic of yours?

I feel like the comments I get both on ao3 and on here can be divided in a handful of categories: sweet and encouraging, people loving Meliodas getting hurt as much as me, people rooting for whoever saves/comforts Meliodas, "I wish I could hug him", people screaming at me about the angst, and a combination of one or more of these.

But looking through my ao3 comments I found 2 particularly funny ones. Part of this one from Help Me Brother, for I Am Falling:

The elevator caught me slightly off guard 🙈 I didn’t read the tags and was like… elevator?! (...)

I can just imagine the mental whiplash of thinking you're reading a story set in nnt time and then there's a fucking elevator there 😂

And this one from We All Bleed for a Reason:

love those Bad Angles <3

So simple but saying so much XD And who doesn't love those Bad Angles 😈

Anyway. Here's the list for the ask game, if anyone else wanna send me something :)

[acorrespondence]

4 and 13 for the fic asks!

4. How many WIPs do you have right now?

Two have chapters already posted as I actively work on one and have plans to finish the other. There are two more that I will periodically update the docs for when I have ideas but they’ll probably never see the light of day, they’re mostly just for me when I feel nostalgic for those characters/canons. Another one I’m on the fence about but it would need a lot of attention that I can’t pay to it because my focus is on the posted WIPs in question.

13. How much planning do you do before writing?

In one sense, none at all, but in another sense, a lot! As writing fanfic isn’t my job (though I confess if it was, I doubt much about this process would change except my commitment to forcing myself to sit down and work at it every day), I don’t actually want it to feel like work. To me, traditional outlining feels like work; but more than that, it feels like busy work, and it’s the quickest way to get me to lose interest in a project. So, instead of sitting down and creating an outline, I simply have the fic idea in my head and write down whatever little scene/description/scrap of dialogue comes to my mind whenever I think of it. Sometimes I’ll let it play out in my head for a bit until it solidifies itself into a longer scene, sometimes it’s two sentences of back and forth that I figure out how to incorporate later. This happens completely achronologically; sometimes I’ll write the ending before the beginning, and sometimes the ending will be the last thing I write, but usually the beginning and ending come randomly somewhere in the middle. For my currently updating WIP, I wrote several scenes past what I thought would be the ending, and still don’t have a solid idea what the true ending will be.

I actually struggle very much to place my own memories on a timeline in that I can never really remember how old I was when any specific thing happened. My memories are not sorted chronologically; rather, they’re connected by content, sometimes very loosely, in that a minute detail from one can correspond to a minute detail in another and a different minute detail links it to another minute detail in a third memory, and so on and so forth. This is both a boon to me and a setback, as if you were to ask me, “do you remember what it was like to be sixteen?” I’d have to tell you, unequivocally, “no.” I remember what it feels like to sit alone in the sound booth during the school play. I remember what it feels like to fail the driving test. I remember what it feels like to breathe from a scuba tank for the first time. I know I must have done these things at sixteen because the driving test and the scuba class weren’t available to anyone younger, and I was the sound tech for two years up until my graduation, meaning I must have been sixteen and seventeen. If you asked about what it felt like to be eight, or any age without the benefit of such life-altering milestones, I might conjure up memories from when I was six or nine and be unable to tell the difference.

This is obviously somewhat tangential to the question, except that it helps to contextualize my absolute comfort with achronology in my writing process. Skipping around this way feels very natural to me, where writing completely chronologically is something I have to force myself to do. And it’s a boon to me here, I think, more than a setback; if I’m interested enough in a fic concept, I’ll keep adding these achronological scenes and details until it turns into a passable outline: the critical mass needed for an idea to turn into a story. And unlike a traditional outline, most of those words in mostly that order will show up directly in the finished product. Finally, I go through (mostly) chronologically and add detail, clarify blocking, finish half-started conversations. I add the connective tissue that gets me from one scene to the next. Luckily I don’t have to rearrange too much, as I’ll add the new scenes to the doc in the rough place they’ll end up instead of placing them all in the order I thought of them—for me, this is where digital writing has a massive edge over paper.

I love this rounding out process, because it allows me to focus on the prose itself; I love language, so I enjoy this part very much. I also don’t find the connective pieces to be boring, because I love the puzzle of figuring out how to get the characters from A to B in a way that makes sense and enriches the story, and it allows me to find ways to set multiple things up rather than just the very next scene. I also think this style of drafting is what allows me to do something that several people have talked about when commenting on my fics, where something that comes up early on will have echoes throughout the work, or a recurring symbol or metaphor will keep popping up, or a thought a character had a long time ago will suddenly become relevant again.

So I guess the short answer is, I prepare to write by writing.

(Questions here)

[hxhhasmysoul]

Heads Down, 7 Up; Romance Snippet Tag; Last Line Game

So @cursedvibes tagged me a few times in these and I really wanted to take part but the thing was I wasn’t writing. I started a new job recently and I’ve been completely mentally and emotionally drained. I started writing last weekend after a month of just being completely creatively numb. But I have this to offer, and it kind of works for the tags, the first chunk is a bit longer than 7 sentences but it kind of makes sense as a whole. The second chunk is for the other two tags: the romance snippet and last line game.

Rules of the games:

Last line is self explanatory.

Romance Snippet: Share a few lines or a snippet that sums up the main relationship(s) in your WIP. 

Heads Down, 7 Up: Seven sentences from your last WIP

_________

This is from my vaguely Beauty and the Beast inspired AU, it borrows some mechanics from the fairytale but it’s not a retelling by any means. That’s why they talk about magic, mages, spells and so on. It’s not jujutsu, it’s a completely different made up magic system

_________

“Isn't it always like that, though?”

“Here we go again.” Yuuji let out an exasperated whine. 

“Hear me out.” Sukuna paused. It took a moment, punctuated with a sigh and a slight grimace before he continued. “Please, I'm trying to understand.”

“You truly are an Archmage, you actually know all the magic words.”

“Brat.” Sukuna made a face. “But you aren't as unlike me as you believe.”

“Excuse me!” Yuuji took full offence at that comment.

“You've just snarked at my lack of knowledge. And I'm actually turning to you for guidance. It's very hard for me, I've never relied on anyone to understand something, well not since I learned to channel energy and read.”

At the last second Yuuji swallowed a brash comeback. It sounded very self-aggrandizing but Sukuna had been at the pinnacle of magical skill for over a thousand years and knowing his character Yuuji had no problem believing that he was mostly self taught.

“That's a fair point.” The last thing Yuuji wanted was to turn into Sukuna, it had been his fear for months and apparently not unfounded. He needed to rectify it immediately. “Alright, go on.” 

.........

.........

“Did you really mean it when you said you don’t understand why you grabbed me mid air?” Yuuji asked finally. 

“Of course, it was pointless, the spell was too weak to work, I didn’t put any thought or power behind it. And I could’ve just teleported to the bottom of the stairs.” 

Internally Yuuji was facepalming, so this was what he was working with.

_________

I tag, only if you want to, and also how many of these you want to, one, two, all three. @ishouldgetatumbler, @yuujispinkhair, @voidcat-senket, @mysterypond @kirishimasmom, @twila-star, @canzie-gumm, @clood

[justmoreocs-writing]

rules: answer 11 questions, write your own 11, tag 11 people

1. How would you pitch your WIP to someone who knew nothing about it?

New voices within the Peaky Blinders world that show the impact of the War on different types of people.

2. Do you have a specific audience in mind for your wip?

Mostly fans of Peaky Blinders, however anyone really who is happy to read historical fiction about gangs and the influence they had over certain places.

3. Is it important to you that your WIP has a moral or a message?

Not really to be fair, especially with how morally grey most of these characters are.

4. What kinds of relationships do you like writing the most (romantic, platonic, familial, etc)?

I adore writing friends/family relationships, and I think I manage to get a fair few of them included in my current WIP.

5. What kind of research have you done for your WIP? What have you learned?

Not specifically for Fanfiction, but I have read a little around the time period of Peaky Blinders. Also, I’ve done a little research into London during that time because of the influence the city has on one of the characters, and the reactions she has to things.

6. If your WIP became very successful, would you want to make a movie adaptation? Why or why not?

Given that it’s based on a show, I think it could be interesting to see how it would work as a movie.

7. Did you have any alternate title ideas for your WIP? If so, what are they?

I think I’ve tried bouncing a couple of ideas for other books within the series, however the overall title for it hasn’t changed, I don’t think.

8. What has been the hardest part about writing your WIP so far?

With Fanfiction, I always find scripting the hardest part. Mainly because it takes so long to match things up with how they are on the screen before I even let myself properly think about how my characters would deal with things.

9. Do you prefer writing action or description?

I think description ever so slightly pips it for this, but some of that is because most of the places and characters have already been created and shown to me through the show/medium itself.

10. What do you want your readers to come away with after reading your story?

The feeling that they enjoyed it, and that it wasn’t a complete carbon copy of the show but had something new because of my additional characters and their storylines.

11. What’s your favourite part about your WIP? What makes you excited to write it?

I think my favourite part is the characters themselves. I adore the world they’re in, but that isn’t mine. The characters, however, are.

It makes me excited to write because these characters have been such a labour of love for me, that it’s nice to see how they deal with situations from the story itself, rather than just random moments that come to me as inspiration.