#mentioning enjolras from 1-100 times? it's too

[depressedtheatrekiddo]

How many references of Les Mis am I allowed to put on my history presentation on France revolutions that go from 1830 to 1848

[ilovemybarricadebabies]

another fanfic ask game post! enjoy!

This time I’m doing these questions!

Inspiration and Reading Questions:

1. How long ago did you start reading fanfiction? Writing fanfiction?

Reading: I’m not sure. Maybe 2011/2012

Writing: 2013

2. How do you spend your time when it comes to fanfiction? Are you primarily fic reader, writer, or a perfect 50/50 split of both?

It’s definitely both, but I wouldn’t call it a perfect 50/50 split. It varies. Sometimes I read more, but write less or vice versa.

3. Are there any fics that inspired you to write what you do.

Not really. I usually just write fics for whatever I want to.

4. Link your three favorite fics right now.

Current favorite WIPs.

All That’s Left by @doriangrayscale

flowers for your grave by @grantairesbottle

Lover of the Light by @areyoumiserableyet

Favorite (four) all-time fics

Ask me no question (and I’ll tell you no lies) by Signe_chan

If you offer salvation, I will run (into your arms) by mornmeril

this is fact not fiction by Rianne

Oh, It’s What You Do To Me by captainskellington

5. What are your fanfic pet peeves? Do they have a huge effect on whether or not you decide to read something.

I have a love-hate relationship with slow burn fics. Like I love them because give me the pining, give me the obliviousness, give me the amazing, sweeping first kiss, give me the angst, just give me all the delicious development that comes with finding common ground and falling in love. That being said, however, and I realize that I’m in the minority here, the hate part comes in when the story is really long, let’s 50+ chapters, and the story gets to chapter 50, but the romance still hasn’t started coming into play and I’m starting to just get sick of it because nothing has progressed to romance. Like there gets to be a time where too much is too much and usually, when that happens, it’s time for me to say adios! to the story.

6. How do you find new fic to read? Where do you primarily read fanfiction.

I primarily read fics on Ao3. I loathe FFN.net with every fiber of my being.

I usually just leave the Enjolras/Grantaire category open on and refresh it like three to four times a day for new stories to read.

7. Do you prefer to read short fics or long fics?

It depends on the ship, but I mostly like long fics.

8. How often do you reblog/comment on fics that you like?

I’m absolutely horrid at commenting (I’m working on getting better), but if it’s a story that I really like (ex. the three WIPs mentioned in question 4), I will comment every time there is a new chapter.

9. Tag 3 fic writers you think are underrated/unknown in the fandom/fanfiction community.

I have no idea. In my opinion, I think all writers are underrated and unknown.

10. What’s your favorite fandom, pairing, or character to read fic for?

Enjolras and Grantaire (Enjoltaire) from Les Mis.

Fanfiction Writing Asks:

11. How do you come up with your fic titles?

Through music or quotes. Sometimes one just comes to me, but mostly through music or quotes.

12. Tell the author your favorite fics title of theirs (not the fics, stricktly the title). Author: what’s your favorite title you’ve come up with and why?

I love all the titles of my fics, I can’t possibly pick a favorite.

13. Do you outline your fics? How much of a headache would someone get if they just look at an outline of yours without reading the fic?

I make some sort of outline, but I don’t think they’d really get much of a headache since it’s pretty much just a basic plot, maybe sometimes a little more than that.

14. Do you have personal word minimum that you hold yourself too? Why or why not?

Absolutely not! I write until I think I’ve found a good quitting spot. That can be 500 words or 20k words. It all depends on how I’m feeling and where my motivation is at.

15. Tell the author your favorite fics of theirs. What’s your (the author’s) favorite fic you’ve written?

Forever Was In His Eyes is my favorite with Begin Again as a close second.

Honorable mention because it pushed me out of my comfort zone: Beating of Our One Heart.

16. Do you research your fics? If so, how deep of a rabbit hole have you down by accident while researching?

I only research if the fic absolutely calls for it.

17. How obsessively do you sit and stare at your fic after you’ve just posted and wait for feedback?

On a scale of 1-100, 100. I’m not motivated by feedback like some writers are, but I do love to know if someone is enjoying my fic or not.

18. Do you have WIP that you keep telling yourself that you’ll eventually get back to, but deep down you know that’s probably lie?

Nope. Any WIPs that are unfinished, will probably stay unfinished.

19. Do you edit your fics after you write them, or do you prefer to just post and run (because it’s someone else’s problem now)?

I edit, and then, I’m constantly editing after it’s posted. If I re-read one of my fics and spot a spelling mistake, I can’t just let it sit there, I HAVE to fix it. I am also currently in the middle of long and giant editing project to make sure all my stories are the best stories that they can.

20. What’s your favorite part about the fanfiction writing process?

Um...I, for some strange reason, love outlining. I love coming up with the sequence of events. How do the characters get from point A to point B. How does the story end.

21. What’s your least favorite part about the fanfiction writing process?

Editing and revising. Always.

22. Do you take fic requests? If so, for what characters and why?

Nope. I don’t get enough attention in my inbox to do that.

23. What’s your absolute favorite trope to write?

Forbidden love. I’ve always been such a sucker for this trope.

24. What’s a trope that you’d like to never hear about as long as you live, let alone write?

I’m sure that there are some tropes that I would never touch in a million years, but I can’t think of any write now.

25. Do you listen to music as your write? If possible, link your writing playlist.

I listen to music, but I don’t have a playlist. Most of time it’s just Taylor Swift.

26. What’s your biggest distraction when writing?

Um...if I’m watching a brand new TV show or one I haven’t watched in a long time, I’ll pay more attention to the screen then what I’m supposed to be writing. This goes for movies too.

27, Do you like to give your readers some warning of what might be coming or just slap them in the face with content at random?

I keep my fics under lock and key until they are finished. No one knows any details about them except me. The one exception to this rule was Beating of Our One Heart. I warned that that fic would feature a polyamorous relationship (something I have never written before) while I was working on the outline.

28. How do you deal with writing pressure (ie: pressure to update, negative comments, deadlines, etc)?

Well, the only pressure I usually feel is worry that people won’t like my story, but I think that’s normal for every writer.

29. Have you ever written for an exchange or event of some kind? Which one(s)?

I don’t write for events.

30. Post a snippet from your current WIP without context - no more than 300 words.

R (11:46 P.M.): I’m not sorry.

31. Of the characters your write for, which is your favorite? Has that choice been swayed at all by your followers/readers’ reactions to certain one?

I love writing Enjolras. I’m sure people who have read my fanfics find him to be OOC, but I don’t care. When I write him, he’s half me projecting and the other half is him being the righteous revolutionary that we know him as.

32. Copy and paste your top three favorite lines/jokes/sentences you’ve ever written. What fics do they come from?

I can’t pick three, I have too many favorites.

33. What do you like writing better: one shots or multi-chapter stuff?

It depends. I like writing both. I also really like writing one shots that are 30k+ and multi-chapter fics that are under 10k. It all just depends on my mood and what the fic calls for.

34. How much of yourself and your life experience do you put into your writing? What do you think your readers’ image of you is?

As stated above, I project onto Enjolras. How much, I’m not saying. I do put my likes and dislikes as the characters’. When I write children, I draw inspiration from my nephews. I use my high school class schedule as the characters’ schedule when I write high school AU’s. The jest of what I’m saying is that I have no idea what my readers’ image of me is.

35. How much has writing fic changed your life?

It’s become my escape when things get too difficult or stressful.

36. Are they any fics or fandoms you’re embarrassed to have written or been apart of?

I’m not embarrassed by it, and I never finished or posted it, but I started writing a Sound of Music fic. I don’t remember what it was about, though.

37. Give an update on your current WIP - if you have one, give a sneak peek to a title or idea that you have and would like to write.

My current WIP is almost done. I just have to finish writing more scene.

38. What does your writing process look like? How chaotic is it on a scale of 1 (very tame) to 10 (you can’t handle this kind of chaos)?

It’s very tame, so 1. I write my stories in order of events, if I don’t I get confused on what’s happen. I start by writing an outline, and then I write and I edit (multiple times) before I post.

39. What’s something about your writing that you pride yourself on?

That I write what I want to. No comments can really influence the story (unless it’s a consistency thing) because I write the whole thing out before it’s posted.

40. How did you come up with the idea for [x fic]?

You can see this answer right here!

41. What’s your most popular fic (with the most notes on Tumblr, most hits/kudos on Ao3)?

My most popular fic based on hits: Somethings Are Meant to Be.

My most popular fic based on kudos: The Enjolras Guide to Weddings and Love.

42. Asker: pick three of the author’s works. Author: rank them 1 (the best) - 3 (the worst) based on whatever criteria you want - this could be something totally random that isn’t quality related ( like simply ranking fics based on how many trains appear in them) have fun!

I’m skipping this question!

43. Talk about a positive experience with fanfiction or the fanfiction community that you will always remember.

Every comment that I get, especially if I get it when I’m having a bad day, is like a little ray of sunshine for me. Again I’m not motivated by comments or feedback, but I can’t deny that receiving it is like a cherry on top of a delicious hot fudge sundae.

44. Ran about something writing related.

How long it takes to write. I wish I could just connect some sort of machine to my brain, and it would just churn out the words for my fics and they could be done a lot sooner. And that fanfiction could come before homework and life, but alas it can’t.

45. Fic specific questions - if you have any weird questions about specific works, here’s your shot to ask them!

Skipping this one, but if you have a question about any of my fics, my ask box is currently closed, but my DM’s are always open.

[talesandfluff]

Who would you like to see cast in Wicked in London ?

Okay yes. Thank you sooooo much for this ask, I’m so passionate about Wicked London and I love thinking/talking about it!!! Note that my choices are heavily influenced by performers I have seen before because I have an idea of how they interact with a character, with a crowd, and I can see the potential for them to act out these characters I love so much. 

DREAM ELPHABA

I have a few different hopes for Elphie, who is after all the character I relate to the most and care the most about being portrayed right (meaning I’m very picky with my Elphies in a way that I’m not about say Glindas). My main one is Carley Stenson. (sample of her singing) Currently she’s playing Fantine in Les Misérables London.

If you’ve seen her live, you know I speak the truth when I say that this lady’s voice is SENSATIONAL. It fills up the whole theater and you’re bathing in it like a hot pool. She brings a character to life, it’s a masterpiece to see her perform. I have absolutely no doubt that she could be a perfect leading lady of her own show and for me, her acting in Fantine’s Arrest really proves that she’s not too soft/cute for the tougher aspects of Elphaba. I trust her completely, of all the cast wishes I have, this one is the strongest. 

Other wishes I have would be: Elena Skye (currently playing Eponine, bit of a scrappy gal who has THE STRONGEST belt, she’d nail it and it’s her dream role) and Rosalie Craig (played Bobbie in Company, insanely talented and strong).

DREAM GLINDA

MY BABY GIRL COULD BE PLAYED BY SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE there’s so many to pick from. My #1 is probably never going to happen, considering she hasn’t been on the West End for years but it’s Lisa O’Hare. (sample of her singing) She played Sibella in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.

I think that she has literally all attributes of an extremely good Glinda, the comedic aspect of it for sure, but such a strong soprano too and she is EXCELLENT at the angst as well. Plus she’s British so please come home miss O’Hare and climb in that bubble.

Other wishes I have would be: Amara Okereke (currently playing Cosette in Les Misérables, insane soprano, aMAZING face but I think a little young for the part right now, maybe in a couple years), Charlotte O’Rourke (currently playing technically Ali but I think she’s a temporary replacement for Sophie in Mamma Mia London, VERY GOOD comedic timing she’d be amazing) and Maria Coyne (was Glinda standby up until recently, as she had been before, stunning interpretation of the character, I think she deserves to be principal).

Honorable mention, this kid: Sadie Victoria-Lim

Currently she plays Lavender in Matilda London but unfortunately, she’s like 11 so her ride in the bubble is gonna have to wait. She has the strongest Glinda energy I’ve ever seen in my life. 

DREAM FIYERO

(bring back Bradley Jaden) I have one dream and he is the most beautiful man the world has ever seen and it’s Joe Vetch (currently playing Feuilly and understudying Enjolras in Les Misérables London). (sample of his singing here as Enjolras)

This man is TALL, this man is PRETTY, he’s KIND and PLAYS THE SAX, he’s got all the attributes of an excellent Fiyero. I saw him as Enjolras and he hasn’t left my mind, he’s so talented. I want him in those white pants right now, give the man his principal role. 

DREAM NESSA 

lmao I don’t have one I really don’t care

DREAM BOQ

I think he might be a bit tall but Toby Miles honestly. Look at me casting the Les Mis folks in this but, he currently plays Marius and the boy is GREAT at conveying emotions, he has an insanely good voice, he’s just extremely talented all around. (sample of his singing)

idk of all the young men I can think of, he stands out.

Other great mention: Glen Facey (currently playing Michael in Matilda) could 100% nail it, he has some crazy riffs and is a great actor as well. 

DREAM WIZARD

My #1 wish would be for Chris Jarman (currently Dillamond in Wicked London but understudy Wizard) to take over as principal. (sample of his singing AS THE WIZARD cause he already plays it)

I’ve seen him as the Wizard before and he’s just excellent. He plays it with more comedy than some, VERY lively and friendly (which I think is directly from Chris’s super friendly nature off stage), AMAZING voice. He’d be absolutely perfect and god knows that’s saying something when the current London Wizard is the best the universe has ever seen. 

DREAM MORRIBLE

bringing back the Les Mis cast but Katie Kerr (currently in the Les Misérables ensemble and understudying Mme Thénardier). (sample of her singing)

idk I think she’d just nail it, super loud voice, great at being a bad lady, cast her now please. 

Thank you sooooo much for this ask! It’s something I think about all the time.

[readingraebow]

Les Misérables Section Ten

Part 5 - Books 1-3

1. Why does Enjolras encourage some men to leave the barricade? He's sure that they're all going to die and doesn't want men who have families sacrificing themselves because that's a worse kind of abandonment. Even though dying at the barricade would be a noble act, it would leave their families destitute since most women who were left without a provider turned to prostitution and most children who were left orphaned died. Plus, he says that the barricade can be manned by thirty men so why sacrifice forty? That's wasteful since those men could be useful elsewhere. So he encourages men who have families to leave.

2. Who provides a fifth uniform so a fifth man can escape death at the barricade? Five men are selected to leave the barricade but there are only four uniforms. So they ask Marius to choose which man stays and which four will leave. Marius is struggling with this since he'll basically be sentencing a man to death when another uniform appears on the heap. Jean Valjean joined them while they were trying to decide which man should stay, sensed the problem and stripped off his own uniform to allow all five men to be saved.

3. What does Jean Valjean request as compensation for his sacrifice for the Republic? So Javert has been tied up in the tavern all this time and the battle is ~heating up and everyone is going to defend the barricade. So Enjolras says that the last man out is to shoot Javert in the head. Well, Jean Valjean hears this and asks if he's still entitled to a reward for his help with the Republic. Enjolras says that he is and Jean Valjean asks if he can be the one to put a bullet in Javert's head. Enjolras asks if anyone objects to this, no one does and he agrees. But just as Jean Valjean is about to shoot Javert, gunfire breaks out and everyone goes to defend the barricade. So Jean Valjean unties Javert and tells him to come with him. He takes him to the back of the barricade, tells him where he's been living and under what name and then lets him go.

4. What are the Parisian sewers like when Bruneseau visits them in 1805? What are they like in 1832? When Bruneseau visits the sewers in 1805, they are, uh, not great. The are suuuuper unclean (made worse by the fact that they are sewers) and frequently back up and flood the streets of Paris. The entire sewer system had been built by several different monarchs so the entire system pretty much didn't make sense. With passages twisting and turning without reason, rising and falling, with scars on the floors and gashes in the walls, the structural nightmare was nothing compared to the actual sewer itself. Reeking cesspits, poisonous ooze on the walls, drops falling from the room, darkness: basically it was Babylon's digestive system and it needed a cleansing. Which is what it ended up getting. By 1832, the entire thing had been overhauled so it was clean, cold, straight and correct. But it also took cholera to correct this since the sewer system was part of the problem of public hygiene. Basically because the sewers were constructed wrong, the sewer system also contaminated their water system. So it wasn't until that was corrected that the sewers could be overhauled, sanitized and begin to run smoothly.

5. How does Jean Valjean determine which path to take? So the sewer system is uneven and the parts that slope downhill lead toward the river. When Jean Valjean first enters the sewer, he incorrectly gauges where he is. But he rightly realizes that the sewers are basically the same as the streets above. So he pretty much wanders blindly into the sewer, hoping to make it away from the battle area and into the part of Paris where people are still living their everyday lives. Eventually he realizes that he's going downhill and also realizes that in this way, he will eventually reach the river. When he reaches another opening, he also feels the outside of it to see if it's smaller. If it is, he passes it, rightly thinking it's a dead end and he's continuing in the main tunnel.

6. Who does Jean Valjean meet at the sewer gate, and what offer does this person make to him? Just as Jean Valjean believes that he's stuck in the sewers and will die there without getting out, Thénardier appears on the other side of the gate. He sees Marius and thinks he's dead and says that if Jean Valjean will split whatever money he got off of Marius when he killed him, Thénardier will unlock the gate with his key and let him out. Well, Jean Valjean doesn't have his wallet and, of course, he didn't get any money off of Marius when he killed him and Marius doesn't have any money any way. So Jean Valjean manages to find a little bit of money in his pockets. Thankfully, this seems to satisfy Thénardier and he unlocks the gate and lets Jean Valjean out.

7. Who does Jean Valjean meet outside of the sewer? So it turns out Thénardier was being pursued by Javert. After Jean Valjean let Javert go, he returned to his normal duties and one of them was guarding the sewer gate. He saw Thénardier go that way and was waiting for him to show himself. Because Thénardier believed Jean Valjean murdered Marius, he actually let him out of the sewer because he thought a murderer would be of more interest to Javert. Well, Javert doesn't even recognize Jean Valjean until Jean Valjean tells him who he is. Jean Valjean decides to surrender himself but asks for one more thing before Javert does with him whatever he likes: he wants to take Marius home.

8. How does the night end for Jean Valjean and for Marius? When Jean Valjean and Javert take Marius home to his grandfather's house, everyone thinks he's dead. But Marius's family calls in a doctor who examines him and discovers that he has only minor wounds. While he is attending to Marius, Marius's grandfather appears. They hadn't woken him but the room they were in was next to his and old men are light sleepers. So he comes in and also believes Marius is dead. He is fretting about that and the fact that Marius died hating him when all he would've had to do was come home and the old man would've forgiven him. It's around this time that Marius wakes up and his grandfather faints, haha. Meanwhile, after dropping off Marius, Jean Valjean asks if he can have one more favor. He wants to go to his own home to say goodbye to Cosette and settle his affairs. Javert agrees and, when they arrive, pays the cab driver. Jean Valjean goes inside and happens to look back out the window and notices that Javert is gone.

  Section Ten Reading Journal

So I had a little trouble with this section. The battle at the barricade is such a climactic moment and it’s so charged that I wanted to just read it and get on with it. And Hugo puts a LOT of stuff in in the middle of the barricade. And I fully realize who I’m talking about (throwback to: the workings of a convent, the Parisian water system, a bird’s eye view of Paris) but it just felt really unnecessary? Like it was dragging out the battle a little too much when I was already struggling to get through it because so many of my favs died.

And between all of the stuff that felt like it didn’t need to be there, the battle felt almost too short? Like it was quick and done. If there’s anywhere in this 1200 page book that I could’ve used MORE details, it was there.

But there were still some fun things. It was a really great send off for most of Les Amis (but also they could’ve been mentioned more; especially since we had a pretty in depth introduction to each member. It would’ve been nice to have the same kind of send off). But my absolute favorite thing about this section was that Grantaire slept through THE WHOLE BATTLE. THE WHOLE THING. And I 100% cried when he woke up just to die with Enjolras so Enjolras didn’t have to die alone. I’M FINE. IT’S FINE. *hides giant pile of used tissues*

So I can’t wait to finish this book. I can’t believe there’s only one section left. It has definitely been a long time coming though and I’m excited to see how it all turns out!!

[utterly-d]

Another '10 Things' e/R AU

We all know ‘Let Me Count the Ways’ by zimriya and I love it a lot, but how about a 10 Things I Hate About You e/R AU where yes, Cosette and Enjolras are siblings and there’s the classic 10 things scenario

But Cosette pays Enjolras to get himself a date so she can ask out Marius

and she tells him he can use the extra cash to fund his social justice club

So first he asks Courf and Ferre  and they’re both really confused like ‘wtf Enj we are literally dating how have you not noticed’ also ‘we are your best friends and we know you only like us platonically where is this coming from’

Anyway then he asks Grantaire cuz he’s desperate to help Cosette and he’s fairly certain R will say yes and it doesn’t even cross his mind that that would be cruel cuz ‘wat is romance’

But he doesn’t say it’s fake and he’s doing it for Cosette. Nor does Enj tell anyone else he asked R until afterward

JBM, Courf and Ferre fucking PISSED and everyone is like ‘fuck it’s too late to tell him tho huh?’ and literally all of les Amis know except R and it hurts man

and they’re all like ‘you have to break up with him asap before it gets too much but you have to do it nice’ and Enj is all ‘ya i will i just have to figure out how’

So Enjolras starts dating R and it’s weird but also really nice? Because Grantaire is so kind? And cares so much about him? And Enjolras starts getting FEELINGS???

And he doesn’t know what to do so he provokes R who takes it way too fucking far and it’s their worst fight ever 

So Grantaire makes it up to him by making his favourite cake and a mix CD of songs all covered by him and omg this is the cutest thing Enj has ever seen and boi he is falling FAST

And Cosette stops paying him although she still helps the ABC and Enj is happy with R for a short while but super stressed cuz Grantaire CANNOT KNOW how this started

So then they go to prom and it’s adorable until Grantaire is getting a snack and Marius comes up all ‘I’m so happy to be here with Cosette. Boy I’m glad she paid Enj to get a date so that we could go out amirite hahaha’ And Grantaire is like ‘sorry what no he failed to mention that little detail’ and storms over to Enjolras like

‘did you ever even like me? or did you just know I’d say yes so it was convenient? were you even planning on telling me?’ and Enj can’t say anything cuz he knows all his answers would be the wrong ones and Enjolras is so upset and angry and frustrated with himself

Grantaire is so broken he’s a total fucking mess and what is Enj to do? He’s not good at romance. Not like Grantaire is. But he is good with words so

He writes 2 long fucking essays: 1 on how he made shit choices and should have done things differently, and 1 on how amazing Grantaire is and all the things he loves about Grantaire and he confronts Grantaire to give them to him

But R is like ‘wtf if you’re going to apologize don’t do it like a fucking coward’ mostly cuz he can’t bear to sit there and read the essays of his own accord but he takes them anyway

so Enjolras gives a speech in philosophy (his only class with R) and subtly works in everything Grantaire has taught him, and slips in fab things about R and shit things humans do involving his own mistakes 

and Grantaire literally can’t help himself so he goes ‘fuck it’ and marches up to the front of the classroom and lays one on Enj in front of everyone

and Enjolras is like ‘i still want you to read the essay i wrote about you’ a few days later and R just laughs cuz he read it about 100 times

and there are loads of apologies and Enjolras does this whole super cheesy ‘I believe in a lot but I didn’t believe I could be in love before this whole thing. But now I believe in us. I believe in you’ and Grantaire is like ‘wow you’re such a dork I love you so much’

the end

[velcroboyfriends]

2016 Year in Fic

I really enjoyed doing this write-up last year, and damn, a lot has changed! So I thought I’d do this again and take stock of my writing this past year.

I was ridiculously prolific last year, but due to a variety of factors I really didn’t keep up that volume this year. As someone who doesn’t often feel the spark to write, what kept me going this year were fic exchanges and prompt memes. I feel fortunate to have communities like AO3 and DW to keep me writing even when I’m drained and anxious and feel incapable of it. 

So here are the results:

Fic List

1. Miles High - 1853 words. It’s quite telling about my early-2016 experience that I didn’t write a single word of fic between January and April. Disaster had struck in my work life, but I made the decision to sign up for Smut Swap 2016 anyway, and I was glad for it. This was my first Poe/Finn/Rey fic; we’ll see if I have another in me when Episode VIII rolls around. I just really wanted to write the three of them fucking in a spaceship, okay?

2. Slash: Romance Without Boundaries - 2516 words. I have only the AO3 volunteer community to thank/blame for this pile of trash. They play a game called Slash, in which competitors are challenged to write cracky pairings in weird situations. This led to me writing such pairings as Batman/Grantaire, James Bond/Remus Lupin and Will Graham & Tigger, as well as a very bizarre song parody about Aaron Burr’s encounters with a Drumpf-shaped sex doll. idk you guys. I’m sorry.

3. Bluebeard’s Wives - 1661 painstaking words. I wrote this for Not Prime Time 2016, and I’m really glad the exchange forced me to, because otherwise I would never have written the work I’m most proud of. I wanted to write something dark and twisted and beautiful, and to capture Hannibal’s inner monologue with all its vivid imagery, and somehow I halfway managed it. This was the first fic that ever earned me a place in a fandom spotlight post, and I’m very proud of that. It was my first Hannibal work and will probably be my last, but I enjoyed it.

4. On Not Being Alone - 4103 words. It took me til August this year to write something born purely of the desire to write, not a deadline. I’d been binge-watching Critical Role all summer, and after I reached the scene that precedes this fic in canon, I found myself in a whirlwind of writing. I wrote this near-obsessively over the course of 24-ish hours, and it was incredibly exciting to want to write again. It’s just a PWP, but it was so refreshing.

5. In the Middle of Summer - 2344 words. This was the only Richlee fic I wrote all year, and I’m sad to say it’ll probably be my last. There’s a chance I might pick up interest in participating in the fandom again - and I still get stupid hearteyes over the both of them - but the spark has just waned. I wrote this for a challenge for Richard’s birthday, and without that event I probably wouldn’t have written it. However, I did have fun with one last hurrah.

6. Between the Two of Us - 4584 words. Aand this is where I embraced my trash-goblin self and started writing Critical Role RPF. Even while I was gorging on CR all spring and summer, it never occurred to me that people would write RPF about the cast until I stumbled upon the awesome Five Minute Break. At first I was like ‘ew no’ but then I read it and was hooked. My giant crush on Liam melded with my new-found fascination with sub!Matt and a new fandom obsession was born. This was also my first seriously kinky fic!

7. Girls’ Night - 3218 words. This was partially written because of the criticalkink kink meme, but also because I felt bad leaving Marisha out of the fun in my Liam/Matt fic. It was my first time writing any sort of femslash, and I loved it.

8. I’ll Pencil You In - 3107 words. I entirely wrote this because of criticalkink and the little Liam/anyone reverse-prompt I set up in there. Normally I would never have thought to write Liam/Sam, but I ended up enjoying it a lot, primarily because of how the power dynamic shifted their characters. It was also my first time writing kink negotiation, which was really fun.

9. Break Time - 996 words. Again, this was written for criticalkink. The prompt got into my head and wouldn’t go away. I tend to struggle with writing kissing, so this was a fun little challenge to write a fic that simply consisted of the build-up and the kiss.

10. Like the Bright Morning Stars - 3855 words. This was written for Yuletide. I was scared of this fic for the longest time, because smut is (obviously) my favored terrain and my recipient specifically said they did not want any sexual content. So for once I had to focus on plot and emotions and world-building, and that is HARD, Y’ALL. It’s very easy to churn out some sex; not so much to craft love. But it really paid off, because I loved this and it seems like a lot of other people did as well!

11. Into My Arms - 1843 words. Another prompt-fill from criticalkink. I had a lot of fun writing something simple and sweet and in a position/circumstance I had never written before. I also enjoy a good text convo in fic, so that was fun as an opener.

Total Word Count: (so far) 30,080 words. 

Overall Thoughts: Word-count-wise, I wrote less than half of what I wrote last year, but just as many individual works, which is pretty good. And it’s far, far better than 0, which had been my usual word-count for the past five years before last year. If last year was an exercise in writing for fun, this year was an exercise in pushing myself to write even when I was tired or sad or anxious, and I learned that I’m capable of a lot more than I thought.

Personal Best Story: 100% Bluebeard’s Wives. The vignette style, the imagery, the spare narration, the nuance - I’m proud of every word. If I ever write something better than this, that will be an enormous victory.

Personal Favorite Story: I really like I’ll Pencil You In. It was the first CR RPF story where I really felt like I knew what I was doing, and I really like that even in a scene of bondage and domination, there’s palpable softness, intimacy and sweetness between two friends.

Most Underappreciated Story: I was expecting a lot more traffic on Miles High, because I was writing a really popular pairing in a very popular fandom - but I suppose that when there are a lot of works going up in a fandom at once, it can be even harder to get recognition than it is when you’re writing for a very small fandom. And I don’t think my heart was really in it, which probably showed in the writing.

Most Popular Story: By hits alone, it’s On Not Being Alone, which makes sense, as it’s a simple PWP about a popular pairing in a small-but-growing fandom. By kudos, it’s Like the Bright Morning Stars, which is nice, given that I really didn’t think it was that good until it got such a fervent response. It also wins for kudos-per-hit, with ~19% of viewers giving kudos.

Story with the Sexiest Moment: Girls’ Night, man. Every inch of that is ridiculously sexy to me. The face-sitting, the manhandling, the dualingus... yes. Last year in my response to this question I mentioned that I felt my sex writing was getting a bit stale, and in the latter half of this year I feel I rose to the challenge and really mixed things up.

Most “Holy Crap That’s Wrong Even for Me” Moment: Basically all of Bluebeard’s Wives. There’s gore, there’s murder, there’s twisted relationship dynamics... yeahh. I also felt very wrong writing CR RPF, and continue to feel a bit weird about it - but I love it too much to give it up.

Story That Shifted My Perceptions of a Character: I felt like I really got to know Hannibal through writing Bluebeard’s Wives. I began to understand his way of thinking. I also really changed my perceptions of Sam through I’ll Pencil You In, by exploring him in a completely unfamiliar situation and entering subspace for the first time.

Most Fun to Write: Writing those crackfics for the Slash games was really fun, but also nerve-wracking. It’s hard to say if anything I wrote was purely fun with no worry involved, but I probably enjoyed myself the most writing my two Liam/Sam works, because they’re so good for one another and Sam is just a ball of joy.

Hardest Story to Write: Bluebeard’s Wives was a slog through hell as far as the writing process went. When I was done I was happy, but up until that point I had no clue what I was doing and nothing felt good enough. I considered every single word to within an inch of its life. But it all paid off, I think.

Favorite OC: The only OC I wrote this year was the nameless girl from Bluebeard’s Wives. I liked her, though - she was defiant until the end. She didn’t buy into Hannibal’s shit.

Biggest Surprise: Every moment of my Slash game fics was a surprise. Buffy almost getting the Half-Blood Prince’s book, Batman rescuing Grantaire, Hannibal eating Voldy, “The World Was Wide Enough” being rewritten about a Drumpf sex doll, AVPM!Ron seducing Voldemort with Red Vines, Will Graham shooting Tigger, James Bond kissing Remus, Jack Sparrow rescuing Enjolras... it’s all fucking weird and surprising, and that’s the beauty of the game.

Most Unintentionally Personal Story: I really can’t say any of my works this year ended up very personal. Perhaps what’s personal is how many of my kinks and trash-goblin shipping tendencies I revealed.

Favorite Lines/Scenes:

The morning-after scene in Between the Two of Us feels very true to Matt and Liam’s dynamic, and very tender.

I loved writing kink negotiation in I’ll Pencil You In.

From my Slash fics: “There were many reasons why Buffy always avoided the Hogwarts library. One was that studying was, like, so 1996, and that any sixth-year worth her salt (liberally sprinkled in a circle to ward off whatever) did not bother with books. The other was that creepy librarian who kept telling her it was her destiny to save the world from vampires or whatever. That was super species-ist, for one thing - didn't Professor Giles know that anti-vampire bias was waaay 15th-century? Buffy had hoped the world had come further than that. It was sad enough when that werewolf professor had to quit without her adding to the whole problem. As if.”

From Bluebeard’s Wives: “He cooks a wonderful meal for the three of them. He offers to give up his portion. He washes their hair in the bath. He washes their feet. He sketches Abigail into a copy of Gentileschi's Judith Slaying Holofernes, Bedelia by her side, holding the figure of Holofernes - Hannibal himself, in this copy, although he has never been a self-portraitist - as Abigail slices at his neck. Blood sprays forth in a fountain. Will hangs it upon the wall unsmiling. He brings home a scrappy little spinone, the lovely thing's ears drooping with long fur. Will says the city is no place for a dog. And none of it is enough.“

All of Girls’ Night. Just all of it.

Lines/Scenes I’d Like to Change:

Basically all of Like the Bright Morning Stars. But it seemed to work for readers, so what do I know?

I’d like to let Finn shine more in Miles High; ditto for Laura in Girls’ Night.

The pacing in Break Time could have been a little more leisurely; same for Into My Arms.

Top Five Scenes I Wish Could Be Illustrated:

Vox Machina taking the stage in Like the Bright Morning Stars

Hannibal’s copy of Judith Slaying Holofernes in Bluebeard’s Wives

Basically all of Girls’ Night

James Bond kissing Remus and then being decked by Sirius

The kiss from Break Time

2017 Writing Ambitions:

I just want to keep writing, be it fic or RP or the possibility of non-fannish fiction. I’m not going to set an ideal wordcount, because I’ll end up disappointed, but I just want to write more than 0 words. And I want to write at least one thing I’m truly proud of.

Fic ideas for this year:

Sequel to Like the Bright Morning Stars - titled Like the Rolling Waters and in the works for SFBB 2017!

The last two reverse-prompts from criticalkink: Liam/Matt playful jokeyness and Liam/Laura/Travis threesome (!!!!)

MOAR POLYMACHINA

And whatever the hell I think of next!

[ilovemybarricadebabies]

Another Round of Fanfic Asks

Again I know that these are supposed to be asks, but I’m taking a break from editing my latest fic and this seemed fun to do. It’s these questions that I’m doing this time.

Behind the Scenes of Fic Writing: 30 Questions for Authors

1. What was the first fandom and/or pairing that you wrote fic for?

I first started writing fanfic for the 2012 CW reboot of Beauty and the Beast for Vincent and Catherine. But these fics have since been deleted. I didn’t write fanfic again until 2015.

2. Do you participate in any writing events or challenges throughout the year? If so, what do you like about them?

No, I don’t. I would like to one day, but right now, I’m content just writing whatever I want to write, whenever I want to.

3. Do you write fics from start to finish, or skip around?

Start to finish. I need to go in order of events or I get all confused.

4. Do you outline before you start writing? If so, how far do you stray from that outline?

I create some form of outline. For the most part, I don’t stray, but every once in awhile it will happen.

5. What is the perfect environment for you to write in?

I prefer to write in the comfort of my own home, but I can write from anywhere. The only thing is that if I’m writing in public, my back and the screen NEEDS to be facing a wall, so that people can’t read over my shoulder and the screen brightness is turned all the way down.

6. If you’re really concentrating, how many words can you write in a day?

I don’t have an exact number, but it’s a lot.

7. Which part of writing do you struggle with the most?

Connecting things from plot point A to plot point B, and so on. This is where writer’s block tends to come in the most.

8. Do you listen to music while you write? If so, share a song that’s been inspiring you lately.

I need background noise while I write whether that be the TV or music. I can’t have silence. But if I’m listening to music it’s either a playlist or a Taylor Swift album.

9. Do you prefer to write AU’s, canon divergence, or canon-compliant fic?

AU’s. I think I would fuck up writing anything canon, especially for Les Mis. I know for a fact that I would never get the voice/language right for writing 19th century France.

10. Do you enjoy writing dialogue, exposition, or plot the most?

Plot first (I spend a lot of time thinking about it), dialogue second, and exposition third. Exposition is the hardest for me.

11. If you could only write angst, fluff, or smut for the rest of your life, which would it be?

I love all three very much, but if I have to choose it would be fluff.

12. Is there a trope you haven’t written yet, but really want to?

A story about going away to war, with the love letters, and then the despair/grief when the person you love is MIA and waiting for them to hopefully come home.

13. Is there a trope you wouldn’t write if it was the last trope on earth?

I’m sure there are, but I can’t think of any right now.

14. If you were stuck on a desert island with only two character, which would you pick?

Enjolras and Grantaire, hands down.

15. A Hollywood producer tells you that they want to film just one of your fics. Which fic would you want it to be?

Enemy of Love

16. What is your most underrated fic?

I personally believe it’s Forever Was In His Eyes.

17. What fic are you most proud of?

My upcoming fic, Beating of Our One Heart, because I pushed myself out of my comfort zone.

18. What is a line/scene you’re really proud of? Give us the DVD commentary for that scene.

~~~SPOILER ALERT FOR ENEMY OF LOVE! DON’T READ THIS ANSWER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED!~~~

The scene where Thierry appears to Enjolras as a ghost.

Commentary: This was the scene that spawned the whole story. It was always going to be Thierry that forced Enjolras to admit that he has fallen in love with Grantaire. Forcing him to come to terms that Thierry wasn’t coming back. Without this scene, the story would have been incomplete. This is the scene that is probably the turning point in the story. The point in the story where Enjolras lets go of his dead lover, and sets out to earn Grantaire’s forgiveness, love, and make up for the pain he’s caused him.

19. Who is the easiest/hardest character to write about? Why?

It’s both easy and hard to write Enjolras because my version of him is me half projecting myself on him (the easiest part to write) and the other half is making sure to get his passion for his country, people, and his activism in the story (the hardest part to write).

20. This question was originally what’s your favorite minor character you’ve written, but I’m changing it to who’s your favorite original character that you’ve created?

I have three. Casey from Begin Again. Thierry from Enemy of Love. Cameron from Beating of Our One Heart who no one, but me has met yet.

21. What is the one fic that got away?

I’m not 100% sure what this question is asking, but no fic has really ever gotten away from me.

22. Have you cried while writing a fic?

YEP! I cried writing Forever Was In His Eyes, and I still cry whenever I re-read it.

23. If you had to remix one of your own fics, which would it be and how would you remix it?

Um...I’m not really sure, tbh.

For the next few questions, I’m going to do all of my fics. To avoid spoilers, I’m leaving Beating of Our One Heart off of these lists.

24. How did you come up with title for [x fic]?

Where He Went: The title came from the book, Where She Went by Gayle Foreman (which this fic is very loosly inspired by), so I just changed the pronoun, and voila, I had my title.

Forever Was In His Eyes: This title is a lyric from the song “Cry” by Mandy Moore, but the lyric is originally “forever was in your eyes”, so once again I just changed “your” to “his” and I had my title.

The Enjolras Guide to Weddings and Love: I just took the title of the musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and changed it fit my story.

So Let the Words Slip Out of Your Mouth: A lyric from the song, “The Words” by Christina Perri.

Right Seems Wrong, Wrong Seems Right: Taken from Marius’s line in “Red and Black”.

Somethings Are Meant to Be: E and R were pre-destined mates in this story, so they were “meant to be”.

Poison and Wine: I was listening to the song of the same name from The Civil Wars, and it just seemed perfect for this story.

Enemy of Love: The title came from a quote from episode 22 of season 3 of Once Upon a Time.

I’m Falling, but Who Will Catch Me?: I had the plot planned, so I just took the plot and turned it into a title.

Wildest Dreams: The whole plot is a dream, so...I think that’s self-explanatory.

Begin Again: E and R were being united after years apart, so they are beginning again. Very cliché, but I don’t care.

Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: It took forever to come up with a title for this story, but one day I was listening to the song of the same name by Carole King, and it just seemed right.

Never Let Me Go: Grantaire is first with Christian, and then with Enjolras. One of them is abusive; the other is not. Christian is relentless in letting Grantaire go; even though it would break his heart, Enjolras would let Grantaire go if he was asked to.

25. Which idea came to you first in [x fic]?

~~~DON’T READ THE ANSWERS TO THIS QUESTION IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED~~~

Where He Went: the conversation on the Brooklyn Bridge, E and R were separated, and Grantaire was a musician

Forever War In His Eyes: the whole fic came at once since it’s based on A Walk to Remember.

The Enjolras Guide to Weddings and Love: I knew there was a wedding and a fake relationship, that was all.

So Let the Words Slip Out of Your Mouth: I knew Enjolras wasn’t able to say I love you, that was it.

Right Seems Right, Right Seems Wrong: I don’t really remember, but what I knew was that it contained a teacher-student relationship and a one night stand.

Somethings Are Meant to Be: E and R were mates and they were going to have a baby.

Poison and Wine: Enjolras wasn’t Grantaire’s soulmate, but they still found love in each other.

Enemy of Love: As mentioned above when Thierry came to Enjolras as a ghost.

I’m Falling, but Who Will Catch Me?: E and R going round and round in a dance of pining and feelings for many and many years.

Wildest Dreams: It was inspired by another fic, so I can’t take credit for the idea.

Begin Again: the moment Enjolras realized that the reason Grantaire left was because he was pregnant and the following conversation.

Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: Grantaire had amnesia and he and Enjolras were engaged to be married.

Never Let Me Go: Grantaire had an abusive boyfriend and needed to escape him

26. What part of [x fic] was the hardest to write?

Where He Went: keeping the elephant in the room as long as possible as E and R explored NYC.

Forever Was In His Eyes: This was easy for me to write

The Enjolras Guide to Weddings and Love: this too was easy for me to write

So Let the Words Slip Out of Your Mouth: Again easy to write.

Right Seems Wrong, Wrong Seems Right: Nothing was really hard to write, but I had to grapple with the fact that the type of relationship that is in this story was one that people, as well as myself, deem inappropriate.

Something Are Meant to Be: Not having Enjolras reveal that he loved Grantaire before he was ready.

Poison and Wine: This was pretty easy to write too

Enemy of Love: Enjolras fighting his feelings for Grantaire

I’m Falling, but Who Will Catch Me?: Making Enjolras’s reluctance to be with Grantaire because of fear, and not because he didn’t love him, believable.

Wildest Dreams: Again fairly easy

Begin Again: Again fairly easy.

Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: Keeping the dual/alternating timelines straight

Never Let Me Go: the moments when E and R tell each other of their respective abusive relationships

27. If you were ever to do a sequel to [x fic], what would happen?

*Most of these I’ve never thought about what a sequel would be, so...yeah.

Where He Went: A sequel is coming, so I can’t talk about it.

Forever Was In His Eyes: Grantaire being reunited with Enjolras in the afterlife.

The Enjolras Guide to Weddings and Love: E and R navigating the change in their relationship from friendship to romantic.

So Let the Words Slip Out of Your Mouth: They would still be together, but Enjolras still wouldn’t say “I love you” very often.

Right Seems Wrong, Wrong Seems Right: E and R navigating their relationship now that it’s not a secret anymore.

Something Are Meant to Be: Them raising their sons to the best of their ability.

Poison and Wine: Grantaire finally starting to believe that Enjolras loves him, even though they aren’t soulmates.

Enemy of Love: I have no idea.

I’m Falling, but Who Will Catch Me?: Again, no idea.

Wildest Dreams: Them in a relationship, working toward the life in Enjolras’s dream

Begin Again: A sequel one-shot collection is coming, so I can’t talk about it, either.

Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: No idea.

Never Let Me Go: The sequel for this would probably be what would happen if Enjolras’s abuser got out of jail early and him coming after Enjolras.

28. In [x-fic], what is a happy, post-fic headcanon you have about [pairing]?

*I’m leaving the ones that have definitive sequels coming off this list.

Forever Was In His Eyes: R and E getting to live together in the afterlife. Finishing up Enjolras’s bucket list with the things they couldn’t do before he died.

The Enjolras Guide to Weddings and Love: E and R going on their first date

So Let the Words Slip Out of Your Mouth: E and R having a lie-in the morning after Enjolras tells him he loves him.

Right Seems Wrong, Wrong Seems Right: This one is more takes place in the fic, but you don’t see it, E and R going to IKEA and picking out furniture for their apartment.

Somethings Are Meant to Be: Them introducing Jace to Sébastien (the new baby) that is mentioned in the epilogue of this story after Enjolras gives birth.

Poison and Wine: This one takes place in the fic before Enjolras comes home with it, Grantaire writing his name on every inch of Enjolras’s skin in Sharpie to make sure his name is somewhere on Enjolras

Enemy of Love: The morning after the fic ends, Grantaire spends it drawing Enjolras in the nude.

I’m Falling, but Who Will Catch Me?: The proposal where the promise ring becomes the engagement ring.

Wildest Dreams: Enjolras explaining to Grantaire what he saw in the dream

Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: Their honeymoon

Never Let Me Go: Grantaire finishes moving his stuff from his apartment to Enjolras, then them spending the night christening the apartment that is now officially theirs.

29. Send me a word. If it’s your WIPs, include the sentence and a short summary of the fic.

Since I have no word, I’m just going to choose a sentence from Beating of Our One Heart to use, but there will be NO summary.

Grantaire arrived at headquarters at 8:45 A.M. with coffee in hand, the next morning.

30. Tell us an idea for a longfic you want to write in the future.

This is a story that I already have a basic plotline for, but I want to do a Prince and the Pauper AU where Grantaire is mistaken to be a French socialite and gets swept up in the world, falling in love with Enjolras in the meantime.