#ohhh i like the unfinished aspect of it

[bettsfic]

hi betts!

i’ve been a fan of yours for years now (training wheels is one of my favorite stories— not just fics. stories— ever, and i really admire your style. as a writer myself, i want to ask how you’re able to keep your motivation up to complete your projects? i feel like i start out so motivated when i fall in love with an idea, but once that fevered haze fades, it’s almost impossible for me to get the motivation i need to write. i have a few wips that i feel so guilty about not finishing/not wanting to finish/wanting to finish but being unable to get the inspiration to. so, in short, how do you maintain the motivation to finish your wips?

thank you so much! i'm glad to hear it; training wheels is still very dear to me.

first, if you want a step by step guide to finishing your wips, i wrote a tutorial earlier this year in my newsletter.

also as i've said elsewhere, i believe it's more important to follow your inspiration and interest where it takes you even if it means not finishing things. one of the reasons i love fanfic is because it's the only genre i can think of where you get to read unfinished works and be present during the writing of them.

but you asked about *my* motivation to finish things, and i'll say it's taken me a long time to build the endurance necessary not only to complete big projects but also complete them to my satisfaction. in my experience, the better you are at finishing things, the worse you become at starting them, and so whereas i used to have a million wips and ideas happening at once, now i can see the ridiculous endeavor ahead of me and pick my battles more knowledgeably.

also, i don't finish everything, especially not right away. sometimes i sit years on a story before i eventually come back to it. but i've found that it's inevitable that when i put something down that i care about, i'll come back around to it when i'm ready. it's not something i have to force. my attention and interest bounces around all over the place but the things i love, i love forever. so i'll always come back around to them.

most importantly--and this is really very important--i lie to myself.

here are the two main lies i tell myself:

"this is the best thing i've ever written," and

"i'm almost done."

being a little delusional is a huge benefit as a writer. if you're too honest with yourself nothing can get done. but i've always had a natural talent for convincing myself of things that aren't true and although that's gotten me in a lot of trouble in all other aspects of my life, in writing it keeps me just far enough away from reality that i can finish things.

the process is something like this:

vague story idea!

will probably be very small, the shortest story i have ever written in fact

begin writing

feels good, feels organic

no no that's not right, bad vibes

start over

ohhh i see what i'm trying to do

outline the tiniest, easiest outline i have ever made. five bullet points. this happens, and then this and this, and the story ends. EASY

will finish by tomorrow, probably

write write write

will finish by tomorrow, probably

write write write

definitely tomorrow, almost done

check word count. 25k. uh oh

doesn't matter, almost done. have *checks* four out of five bullet points to go

write write write

five point bullet outline no longer effective

re-outline. five points turns into five pages. uh oh

check word count. 60k. big yikes

but! almost done! will finish tomorrow, probably

write write write

get stuck? how? but the outline...

the outline is ineffective. re-outline.

check word count. 100k. :(

almost done :)

a plot knot arises. spend six hours staring at a wall to undo the plot knot

plot knot is more insidious than expected. open new document. start over

*now* i'm almost done

rewrite, restructure, reorganize

check word count. 20k. :(

write write write

check word count. 200k. :((

weeks-long fugue state during which i am god

awaken to filthy apartment. i have not eaten a vegetable in many days. i have not seen the sun.

eat a broccoli

go outside

am i living? am i truly living? is this all life is? am i loved? am i worth loving?

return to safety of fictional world to avoid existential despair

write write write

will finish by tomorrow, probably

so it's really less about motivation to finish and more about motivation to chase down an increasingly elusive feeling of joy through immersion into worlds of my own making and control. it's way easier to run away from something than toward it.

[alanshee-keeper-of-realms]

What is your opinion of Walt Disney?

Okay I will warn you this will be a bit long

Walt Disney is an inspiration flat out no matter what you say he is an inspiration to me, I come from humble rural backgrounds just 3 hours away from me lays Chicago where the Disney Family built a house and was starting a life before Elias Disney Walt's father moved them to Mississippi

There's a reason Kansas City claims to be Home of the Mouse because that's where Walt did a lot of blue collar work, from working in ad companies to working in the newspapers while he taught himself how to draw and eventually yes how to animate

You know how he first made his projectors at home with one of those really old-fashioned cameras. I am talking 1920s camera a sheet and some technical know-how,

Laugh-o-gram Studios had just gone up and that's what caused them to move to California, they weren't known, they did not have a penny to their name, they were just some Mississippi Chicago boys with a wish and a dream,

And from a shed in the backyard of Walt and Roy's Aunt and Uncle, the Disney Company would be founded and to go from that shed to the absolute massive company we see now

That only happened due in part because of Walt and yes Roy I will always give Roy just as much credit as his brother because he's much like Oswald quite forgotten in this story

Walt was a man ahead of his time, the original Dreamer no matter who laughed jeered ect he kept pushing the boundaries of what people thought Animation could do,

That is not to say he was perfect ohhh no he was definitely human, he had problems sharing he was known for being unbelievably stubborn on certain things, extremely old fashioned in views (He was Lost Gen After all being born in 1901)

1941 he traumatized himself horribly by ostracizing his crew who wanted to form a union, it lead to Walt getting into an actual brawl out front of the Disney Studios with one of his inner circle as they called it, leading to that one leaving with several others it broke his trust badly, and even worse

It took his passion for Animation away from him

A majority of projects in the 40s, 50s and '60s up until his death weren't really headed by him, sure he was involved in certain aspects but a majority of the times it was somebody else in the Studio that was the main overseer of those movies.

It really is sad because Jungle Book which was released in 1967 gave him his passion for animation back he was actually enjoying himself and had a few projects in mind, just as the cancer unfortunately struck and took him not even 2 months later on Dec 15th 1966,

When people say Walt Disney had so much unfinished business, they aren't lying. He was an imperfect human who believed in Family, Wishes,Dreams and seeing the Wonder in everything,that everything had a possibility to be great,

Did you know Characters in the parks aren't supposed to let go in a hug until the child does because Walt said

When a child hugs you, you don't let go first. Let them let go when they're ready because you never know how much they may need that hug in their life.

He was not perfect. However, he was a prime example of not giving up despite adversity, caring for Families instead of the Profits, Lord knows he danced the edge with bankruptcy multiple times fun fact The Three Caballeros helped save the company in the 40s after Fantasias fantastic flop, the government paid Disney to produce that package film and thats what kept them from going completely under, also thank Disney for your Surround Sound because Fantasia is the first 1. There is a reason some do say Disney is the prime example of the American Dream realized.

Because that's all Walt Roy and Ub had when they walked into Hollywood in the 1920s and founded a company that would become known around the World eventually with a Mouse who's name would come to be known by almost every child.

[cdreambur]

ohhh your wip sounds intriguing. I also have, like, so many unfinished wips from past fandoms, so I understand the whole potential but abandoned aspects. if you ever do write more I’d be interested to hear abt it :)

(also: you can absolutely still call me star <3)

(also also: can I ask abt another one of your wips??)

that's so sweet, thank you :) i'd love to get back to and talk about it with you if it ever happens!!!!

and of course you can ask, there are few things i enjoy more than talking about my fics and the ideas behind them!! :D

[searchingforbucky]

FIC REC (Part 13) :)

Okay! So, this one has been requested at least 13 times lol, I hear you guys, and its finally here! I now present the Single Dad!/Single Mom! AU. I hope you guys love these fics as much as I do! 

Astrophile by @all1e23

Surprise surprise, there was absolutely no way this wasn’t going to be on the list. There is not a single fic that I have been invested more than this one. Like don’t get me wrong, I have favorites, but I am literally invested in this family. This a story about the sweetest (also firefighter? yes) Bucky (December) and his baby girl Orion and a newcomer “Beck”, cue the road to the purest relationship I’ve ever seen, with love that lasts a lifetime, and a universe that is so expertly crafted.. I read this fic at least once a month, and wait on baited breath for the “Astrophile files”. If you haven’t read this, I personally guarantee that you will love it. I know I cant imagine anyone who wouldn’t. My heart was in a constant state of mush during the whole thing.

Ready of Not by @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan

One of my favorite types of stories are the ones where its like a modern AU with Bucky coming back from war, and this is the story that started that love for me. Bucky is out of war, missing an arm, but gaining the cutest therapy dog. Who loves dogs? The readers baby girl. This was just so phenomenally cute, and also like, raw in a way. You see the traumatic effects the war had on bucky so its really realistic, but its also beautifully melded with the sweet moments between Bucky and Gracie, and the reader and Bucky. It may be lame f me to call it “deep” but I really do feel that way, it was a fantastic read. Also, check out her story Bittersweet Symphony, which is another fantastic and honestly kinda sad, albeit unfinished story. 

Sweetest love @propertyofpoeandbucky

Do you want to know Keira? Jesus, this is it. This is a story about a single mom reader, starting a relationship with Bucky, deciding to introduce him to her daughter, and from that we just see the purest real Laois and ship for me. It is so absolutely adorable to see how lovely Bucky is with this baby girl. The title is absolutely encompassing of the fact that it really is just such a sweet pure love between these two people. This family deserves all of the love it can’t get, because my heart absolutely just melted for them. Also check out her stories Bed and bath & From left field which are also so cute. 

The lucky one by @avengerofyourheart

Alright, so Anika Has a fantastic gift for being able to take canon story lines, and interweave these AUS inside of them and oh man did it create a wonderful story. Like I genuinely could believe this is what happened. Bucky is on the run, and single mom reader needs some help on the farm. What can go wrong? This story was just so investing, I feel like I’m still invested in it like I wanna know everything that happened to them. It was such a good story, and that sounds so basic but I really mean it. They were twists and turns and I read it all in one go, and then I just had to go back and read it again because I felt like  I needed to take it in again because it was just so good. Also check out her other incredibly cute story Of snowstorms and men

Bookmark my heart by @moonbeambucky

OK, so I’m not gonna spoil anything, but those of you who know this or will read this will understand why am a little iffy about putting this on this specific list, but also it’s really good so I decided to put it on just because it’s a really good story lol. There are so many feelings that come with this, the reader works at a library and Bucky is there with a little girl and he catches the readers I, and I can’t blame her boy is fine as heck. There are some definite plot twists that come with this, but it is so cute, and Bucky is so baby, and their relationship is so adorable. I need me a bucky. 

Sweet as can be by @yallneedtrek

What’s one trope you guys know I love? Detective Bucky, and what can make it better other than Dad Bucky! Oh my God, this one was literally so cute. Bucky is just a single dad, who has a lot on his mind. He loves his daughter so much, but he doesn’t have the best memory. He needs help with his daughter’s birthday planning that’s coming up within the next day or two, and who better to help other than Baker reader. This couple is absolutely adorable, I think really just the dynamic between all of the characters, like just the love you can see between Bucky and his daughter, and just a kind of mutual pining between the reader and Bucky really just is recipe for a wonderful story. They really are sweet as can be lol

Because I met you by @captain-ariel-barnes

this one is a single!mom reader, and holy hell its cute. Okay so Bucky meets the readers daughter who has a prosthetic arm, amazing concept right? And its just about as cute as you would think it would be. Its such pure interactions between these three, and it really just made my heart absolutely melt. Like, and im not gonna spoil it but holy hell the ending really made me cry, everyone is just way too pure. 

The art teacher by @irndad

God this one is soso cute. 1) its written so well, like poetry the way he describes the reader, its so lovely, and 2) the whole forbidden lovers aspect of dad x teacher thing is so good haha, I love those kinda things. This is short, but so sweet, and the line “the two loves of his life” oof, my heart

Bewitched by @buckyofthemyscira

oh man, OK, so this one is another Halloween time related story, and it’s so cute. It’s a single dad Bucky story where he takes his baby girl out on Halloween, and absolute utter adorability ensues.  He’s dressed up as Indiana Jones, his baby is Winnie the Pooh, I was dressed up as a mess of heart mush and tears because oh my god it was so cute.  Bucky really is just the best father, he’s so sweet and caring and this family made me just want to give them all a group hug.  

Stranger danger by @highkey-holland

Okay so with this one its another sort of “Bucky finds the readers lost kid” story and ohhh man its cute. I always wondered like if the avengers would always get a lot of kids coming to them, and I think this answered my question, she didn’t talk to him until she knew who he was, but I feel like they just give off a safe vibe. The interactions between Bucky and the readers daughter is so pure, no one can convince me that Bucky wouldn’t be the best with kids, he’s so patient and sweet and :)) my heart 

Groceries by @ballyhoobarnes

Hell yeah, now this one is cute as heck. Bucky has a little boy, and oh man is he just the suavest little wing man. This little boy is just about the cutest thing, he’s just throwing out those date invites haha, and the shyness between the two is so cute. The reader is his sons teacher, so you have some of that trope (which I love) all in all its just really cute, shorter, but so sweet. 

Drabble by @bbbarneswrites

Okay I LOVE this one, something about Bucky just adopting an abandoned baby no questions asked makes my heart just want to explode. And seeing the way the avengers like all come together to help raise this girl, is like peak writing to me haha. And then we have mutual pining for his kinder teacher? Soft soft soft, I’m in love. Its just really so incredibly cute!

Lost and Found by @mybearyarmy

Oh man, okay, so this one is Single Dad!Bucky AND Single Mom!Bucky. Its a super cute story of the two of them coming together with their daughters after both losing their SOs (and their daughters at the zoo place haha) its really just a super, super fluffy story. I love the idea of their two girls being friends, and I love that their relationship after their past partners weren’t rushed. There are also some twists in there that I was surprised by haha, you never really can tell who is what in New York .

Life is Gourd by @redhairedfeistynerd

This one is super cute, it’s the start of a series I think, or at least a compilation of one shots. It’s about Bucky and his two baby girls coming together for some family time around Halloween, and meeting the reader, and it’s really cute. not gonna lie, I felt really bad for Becky because it must be so hard for him with two girls, and piper with a little bit of a butt haha. I’m really excited to see where this one goes. Hopefully the reader can help out with those handfuls. 

Best Ever by @suz-123

OK, so this is one of the two on here that aren’t single parent stories, but they were just too good not to include. Alright, let’s talk about something that absolutely melted my heart. that is, Bucky being so excited about his baby’s birthday. Oh my God, I about died I think one of the things I loved a lot about this one was the fact that it was just so in character for everybody mentioned, and the whole family feel it gave for the avengers and what not,was just so cute. I love the domesticity.  

Coming home by @hootyhoobuckaroo

OK so this is the second one that’s not really a single dad Bucky story. But I’m including it anyway because it’s really good, OK so this one is just like fantastic in terms of story writing, you really feel like you’re right there, right in the action, experiencing everything as they’re experiencing it themselves. It’s just really good, and the protective part of Bucky as a dad is absolutely wonderful to see.

Baby blues by @papi-chulo-bucky

Eleven months after a one night stand, Bucky is faced with raising his daughter and things are getting tough. That is, until he meets you, his extremely introverted neighbor. OHHH the neighbor AU, I love it, this one was so detailed and wonderful and just really well written and so cute. I highly recommend.

I hope you guys like these! :)

[queerofcups]

3, 7, 17/18, 23/24, 26? (that's a lot of question I'm sorry)

3. In your opinion, what’s your best fic?unashamed, wide open for joy

or light through an open door ;)

7. What’s the fic you most want to continue (unfinished or no)?ugh, i have got to finish a little of your love before the end of the year or else its going to haunt me (and mandy will start sending me signed-in anons, lol). But for the most part once a fic is done, for me, its done. I’ll go back and do little prompts and timestamps and what not, but I don’t usually feel moved to write a sequel or anything fully fleshed out like that.

23. What’s the nicest comment you’ve ever recieved?This is the part where I’m supposed to be diplomatic and be like ohhh every comment is the nices but tbh? The time snsk, monarch of smut, complimented to learn how to quit. 

Also? Every time my closest friends in this fandom are also my fave writers? So any time I get a positive comment from one of them, I straight up fangirl.

24. What’s the meanest review you’ve ever gotten? Do you think the reviewer intended it?I’ve never gotten a negative review exactly, which can be kind of frustrating but as we all know (except you new followers hiiii) i really don’t like it when people comment with “I need more!” or “write more please!”. I know the commenter means it in the way I mean it when I say “I want to live in this world” or something like that, like you liked it so much you hate that it ended, but often times it sounds to me like “why didn’t you write more, this isn’t good enough”. 

26. What aspect of your writing do you most enjoy to see praised?I struggle a lot with characterization (especially Phil’s) so anytime someone says I’ve nailed that, its a good day.

[book-o-scams]

What are your thoughts on Scam of Christ he Century, the Eds' last official videogame?

Hahaha sorry I know that must have been autocorrect but I can’t ignore that “Christ” sneaking into the question.

ANYWAY, I love Scam of the Century.  I think it’s weird that it doesn’t try much to replicate the wiggling, and even weirder that it includes every character except Nazz (there is one unidentified “guard” that talks to Eddy from off-screen though), and somewhere between those levels of weird that the game’s ultimatum and inclusion of Melonhead seem to suggest it was meant to tie in with the movie.  But all in all, it’s a fairly difficult game (lots of moving-track obstacle course levels) that I actually managed to beat without cheat codes.  There’s even some good dialogue in it IIRC… I can’t remember what but I used to play the game every day so I know there’s some line, probably from Eddy, that I loved. (I’m pretty sure Eddy saying “THIS SUCKS” was in the Jawbreakers game, but there has to be something golden from Scam of the Century)

My only real complaint is that Eddy’s special movie is a burp instead of, like, yelling or acrobatics or any of the things he actually does because he’s generally not a gross-out character.  I even like the post-credits cop-out where the Eds winning turns out to be because the game itself is a scam and they tricked the kids into participating without pay, causing the Eds to have to run away from the kids all over again.  

OHHH, that reminded me of my favorite aspect of the game, EEnE games were all pretty much side-scrollers where the kids could attack you but the puzzle would be to beat them without being able to hurt them.  Scam of the Century actually gives you levels where you can directly attack some of the kids!  After I beat the game, I went back a hundred more times with cheat codes and really milked those Eddy-kicking-Kevin’s-ass levels for all they’re worth. I think they even let Ed attack Sarah! (i just noticed i originally left that last sentence unfinished, why did no one say anything?)