#probably going to keep working on my fanfics but as for engaging and interacting with the fandom idk

[tinyfantasminha]

I don't want to keep clogging my blog with vent posts but uh... I guess this is a more general concern/observation

But it's getting real hard to stay motivated in fandom spaces when there's little compensation, and annoying occurrences are more frequent than good ones.

Mainly there's been less engagement/people showing interest in creators and their art (such as sending asks, making comments and reblogging with tags) and MORE parasocial interactions. This goes for both artists and writers.

Over this year I've noticed a vast disinterest within my public in general. Asks about ocs, my art, or just nice simple comments of ''I love your art'' has been getting more and more scarce. My follower number is bigger than 2-3 years ago sure and I get more likes on my posts but they are feeling more like just numbers and statistics than actual people who supposedly like my stuff.

And while people being parasocial with creators has always been a thing, I feel like it's gotten way worse... in general? People sending personal pictures out of the blue in hopes of being validated, unwanted psychological advice or assumptions about the creator without any established connection first ( <- these happened to me in the same week.) ventdump, just insensitive/lacking of common sense comments in general, unreasonable demands (mostly with writers)... I wondered at first if it was just me, but a handful of mutuals/acquaintances who are artists and writers seems to be going through it as well.

It's annoying. It's tough. It's getting exhausting. Creators pour so much of themselves into their work—countless hours, effort, and passion, all to share something meaningful or entertaining with others (and for FREE) The LEAST anyone can do is show respect, even if opinions differ. When a writer posts a fanfic, don't just say ''omg post next chapter!'', when an artist posts a drawing of their favorite character, don't just say ''omg draw (character) next!'' as if they're faceless content machines that are expected to churn out more '''content''' for you without acknowledgment, encouragement, or appreciation.

''I want to support creators but I don't know what to say and I feel intimidated by their talent so I just lurk silently :((('' I swear to you, no creator (at least not the majority) is making up an intimidating persona to discourage you from interacting with them. They WANT your comments. A single ''I love your art/writing/videos'' or even something as silly as ''I want to eat your art'' is enough to keep a creator sighing dreamily for WEEKS. It doesn't have to be deep! It's heartfelt and that's what it matters!! (Just remember to keep it relevant and thoughtful... It takes just a bit of common sense NOT to comment things like ''this looks like (another character)'' or ''this but with (another unrelated ship/character/show)''. No one wants to hear comparisons or unrelated ideas when they’ve poured their soul into something.)

In fact, the ''I like your art but I think you're intimidating'' feels more hurtful than flattering. It makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong, acting wrong. 💀

If you love that fanfic that changed your brain psyche forever and want to gush about it, go tell the writer. If you loved so much a piece of art that you saved it a million times in your phone and can't stop thinking about it, go tell the artist. Push away the ''they probably won't care about my comment/it won't make a difference'' thoughts. DO IT NOW. You won't know when they might go inactive forever or deactivate. You can't know if that is the last piece they will ever post. Make sure you show appreciation to creators NOW, while they are still here. While they're still not being replaced by AI.

[some-stars]

i was about to reblog this post with some thoughts, and then reblogs got turned off so i will just put them here instead:

it's not that i disagree with any of the sentiment in this post--while i personally have been very lucky to get plenty of nice comments, it's definitely eerily quiet and sometimes weirdly hostile out there for most people, much more than it used to be. but i just don't think posts like this are effective, and honestly i don't think that "number of comments from strangers" is what's really missing. what people are missing is the community that fandom/fanfic used to have, and the way you get that is by making it. you gotta make fandom friends who are excited for your thoughts and your stories, and you gotta get excited about their stuff, and you gotta spend hours on discord and/or in the group chat bouncing ideas off each other and just, get invested in each other as fans and as writers. (and hopefully also as people you'll still be friends with a decade from now!)

like i'm never ever going to turn down a nice comment on ao3, it's always wonderful! when someone quotes the parts they liked best it absolutely makes my day! but what i need, what actually fuels me, is the attention and interest from the 2-5 people i actually write all my fics for, because they loved the idea and i know they can't wait to read it and will scream at me at length once they do. relationships are always going to motivate and reward you better than fans, and fortunately relationships are the one of those two things that you have some control over!

so how do you build those relationships? start by commenting on fics you love on ao3, and especially leave longer, detailed comments. follow the author and reblog their fics on tumblr and add some thoughts about why you loved them. if the author engages with you when you do either of those things, keep doing it. maybe they'll follow you back, and once you've had a few mutuals-type interactions on the dashboard try sending them a DM asking if they want to chat about [fandom/character/pairing]; maybe briefly mention an idea/WIP you have that you're looking to bounce around with someone. i know if you have social anxiety this all sounds like horrible cruel lies but i SWEAR, this approach has never once failed me.

and i know that this advice probably sounds like disingenuous bullshit coming from someone who usually gets a lot of comments. all i can say is that i've been writing fanfic for 25 years and until 2020, i hardly ever pulled the kind of numbers i do now, and i genuinely did not care because i always had at least a couple friends to talk to about my ideas and listen to their ideas and get excited together. build relationships that feed you with other fans/writers, it's so much more rewarding and reliable than hoping strangers will be nice to you.

(and i'm not saying they shouldn't be nice to you! people SHOULD comment more! OP is completely correct! but you can't hand over control of your emotions about a hobby you love to random strangers on the internet and just hope they'll do the right thing. that is not a recipe for happiness.)

(also all of the above is in regard to people not leaving comments. the issue of people leaving asshole comments criticizing your work or demanding more without even bothering to say something nice first is related but separate, and the way to deal with those people is to either publicly shame them or bitch about them in the group chat and delete their comments, depending on your energy levels.)

[pascaloverx]

SHAMELESS

Summary: You are moving into the Leister mansion after tragically losing your father in a plane crash. He worked for William Leister, who immediately offered to take you in. The problem? His son, Nick Leister, who is far from pleased about having a stranger living under his roof.

Author's Note: My slight fixation on Matthew Broome led me to create this fanfic, but I can’t guarantee it will be good. So, dear reader, if you enjoy it, please interact and comment. The fanfic will likely contain strong language, violence, and adult content. Minors should not engage with it.

three five

FOUR

Embarrassment is all you can feel the next morning. Fortunately, you’ve already decided to pretend nothing happened and just move on with your life.

You get up and head to take a shower, but quickly notice the bathroom you’re supposed to use has a locked door. Curious, you peek into Nick’s room and realize he probably didn’t sleep at home. Obviously—he’s likely with his girlfriend or whatever she is to him now.

You take the opportunity to use his bathroom instead. It’s incredibly luxurious, with a massive vanity and an oversized shower. You undress and step into the spacious glass box, letting the hot water wash over you while soft music plays in the background.

The shower goes smoothly, relaxing even. But when it ends, you realize you didn’t bring a change of clothes. Wrapped in a towel, you prepare to make a quick dash back to your room. But as soon as you step out of the bathroom, you crash straight into Nick—shirtless. You both lose balance and fall to the floor.

"This isn’t exactly how I imagined starting my day, but I’m not complaining," Nick says, his voice low as you become painfully aware of your bare, wet body pressed against his. Crap. The towel slipped off during the fall.

Your naked skin is against his, warm and slick from the shower, his light sweat mixing with the droplets of water still clinging to you.

"Nick, I’m going to need you to close your eyes. My towel fell," you say, trying not to move too much—any more friction and this situation will spiral fast.

"I think we’re better off just staying like this," he murmurs, his gaze locked on you, darkened with desire. You stare at him, barely believing his audacity.

"Nick Leister, how can you be so shameless—taking advantage of this moment when you're clearly involved with someone else? I know I gave you the wrong impression when we kissed yesterday, but..." Your voice rises slightly as emotions overflow, words tumbling out faster than you can rein them in. But you're cut off—by Nick gently pressing his lips to yours.

"It breaks my heart to think you’d believe I’d kiss you or make a move while being committed to someone else," he says softly. "Luckily for you, I’m someone who forgives easily, so I won’t hold it against you. Though… another kiss would definitely help." His face is still so close, and you’re still on top of him, heart pounding.

"Why would I kiss you? Stop being such a flirt," you say, scolding him for even suggesting another kiss.

"I'm going to get up and wrap myself in the towel. Be a good boy and close your eyes," you instruct, staring him down. His face is just inches from yours—if you leaned in just a little, your lips would align with his without effort.

"I’ll be a good boy, I promise," Nick says, and then obediently closes his eyes in front of you.

You brace yourself and carefully get up, hoping he keeps his word. Wrapping the towel around your body again, you take a deep breath and steady yourself. Then you lightly touch his arm.

"Lift your hand—I’ll help you up," you murmur. He lifts his hand toward you, and as he opens his eyes slowly, you help him stand. In the process, your back bumps into the bathroom door, which is now closed behind you.

Once again, your bodies are dangerously close. "You’re beautiful," he murmurs, his gaze trailing from your face down your form.

"You're only saying this because you saw me naked?" you ask, your voice softening with the mix of embarrassment and shyness that floods through you.

"Why fight something we both want?" Nick murmurs, his lips nearly grazing yours, teasing and deliberate.

“Your father brought me here to take me in, to treat me like family. Giving myself to you feels wrong when the media is already calling us adopted siblings,” you reply, voice low, even as his arm slides firmly around your waist, drawing you in closer.

“I already have a sister, Y/N,” he breathes, and then brushes a soft kiss against your lips—a mere taste, a temptation that leaves your mouth tingling.

Just as you lean in to deepen the kiss, needing more, he pulls back slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. “Are you going to take a risk with me?”

Something in you snaps—desire overruling doubt—and you reach up, threading your fingers through his hair and pulling him down to you. Your lips collide with his in a kiss that's hungry and heated, mouths moving with urgency and longing. His hands grip your waist, pressing your body fully against his as your kiss turns deeper, more intense.

His tongue brushes yours, a slow, deliberate stroke that sends a shiver down your spine. You respond in kind, your mouths locked in a rhythm of passion and tension, his hand sliding up your back, your fingers tugging gently at his hair. The door behind you creaks under the pressure of your bodies, but neither of you cares—you're too lost in each other, in the kiss that tastes like all the things you shouldn’t want but crave all the same.

You begin unbuttoning his shirt as his hands tighten around your waist, drawing you even closer. Without breaking the kiss, the two of you move toward Nick’s bed, his body guiding yours until your back meets the mattress. He hovers over you, lips never straying far from yours.

You part your legs to let him come closer, and he slowly starts to unwrap the towel from your body, trailing soft kisses along your shoulder. His lips find yours again just as your fingers begin fumbling with the button of his jeans—but before either of you can go further, a knock sounds at the door.

“Son, have you seen Y/N?” Mr. Leister’s voice calls from the hallway, making your whole body tense in panic.

Nick kisses you gently, as if trying to calm you, and then calls back, barely suppressing a laugh, “I think she said she was getting some air. Maybe out for a run or something.”

“All right. Nick, if you see her, be nice. I know you said she gets on your nerves and you weren’t thrilled about having her here, but I want her to feel welcome,” his father replies.

You stare at Nick, stunned. He freezes for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the way his words have come back to haunt him.

“I’m leaving now, but I want both you and Y/N at the masquerade ball tonight. Don’t be late,” his father adds, then walks away.

You push Nick off you immediately, pulling the towel back around your body as you sit up, your face flushed with a mix of anger and shame.

“You could’ve just told me I was irritating you,” you say coldly, getting up and heading toward the door.

“Y/N, that’s not what I meant. Please, just listen—” Nick pleads, reaching out to stop you from leaving, his hand on the door.

“Let me explain,” he murmurs from behind, his breath brushing against the skin of your neck, sending a shiver down your spine.

“Nick, I don’t want to hear it right now. Please, just let me go,” you answer softly, your voice calm but resolute. You don’t turn to face him—and after a pause, he steps back, letting you pass.

Without another word, you walk out, heart pounding, and head back to your room, the weight of everything sinking in with every step.

[bomberqueen17]

home/writing

back in buffalo for the week. i am always so discombobulated when i first arrive. i did get a bunch of shit done yesterday but all of it was odd little discrete tasks, or i only worked on them for a little bit and didn't finish them. i have things to do today as well, and i'm trying to be coherent about it.

one of the things i did manage to do was publish another chapter of the solarpunk sequel to the beta doc. i'm like.... halfway through the sequel i think, and it's going slowly because i'm not sure how i'm going to get the plot climax to come together. and i'm paying the piper, as i foresaw: fanfiction has a level of engagement that original fic doesn't, and I really tried to cushion myself against that by trying to collect people who'd come along with me, but of the 20 or so people i gave access to the doc, only half have engaged with it at all, and of those, only about half made it all the way though the first one and into the sequel, and I know people are still plugging away and I did expect there to be some tapering-off-- it's so many words! it is and real life is so busy, etc-- but I had foolishly expected a few more people to actually follow through, since I'd made it so very very opt-in to start with. So I do treasure every comment but there just aren't very many, and I know the first novel needs some structural changes but I don't know how to identify or make them, and I know I need to slog through and finish the thing before I can decide how to revise the start of it. And as I had sort of expected, I'm really having trouble being alone with myself in it, and it doesn't help that the pace is so slow because I don't have very much time to work on it now-- when I do have time, I have to spend so much effort convincing myself that people will care and it is worth doing etc etc. Lack of momentum is a real bitch.

No shade to those who haven't been able to actually interact, but, I am struggling. Last week was really bad, for hormonal reasons I suspect, but having come out the other side of that, I am grimly aware that it wasn't just that, it is a real problem I'm dealing with. So, if you did request access to that doc and have been thinking about getting around to it, I'm still in need, maybe more than ever. And if you did request access and never saw the email where I granted it, do let me know. And if you didn't request access because you thought so many other people already had, or something like that, well. I never closed the form.

I keep trying to convince myself it's not a bad story. I did just get to the exciting bit, I think. It's got first draft problems but I swear there's good bits. But sometimes I feel like I'm just deluding myself that anybody's going to want to read this. Yeah I've published millions of words on AO3 and reasonable numbers of people seem to love them, but those were other people's characters; my own just aren't that compelling, is the unavoidable feeling it gives me. So I'm having a really hard time with that, but I knew I would.

In my weary despair last week I tabbed back over to my fanfic docs but you know, that's a sort of false comfort-- it's been so long since I updated most of those stories that I don't think I'd get a lot of engagement if I did finish the half-done chapters and get them up. I might try; I know there are a few rereaders, and some people subscribed who'd probably come back and look. But I'm really determined to finish this story with the solarpunk stuff and the mammoths and talking dolphins and so on, even if almost nobody wants to read it, because I never was going to be able to sell it anyway and sometimes you just really need to tell a story.

It's just lonely, and I'm tired.

Anyway. I just spent two hours trying and failing to make myself write more and am giving up to go do more unconnected home tasks because idk what else to do.

[olderthannetfic]

I'm feeling weird about an interaction I had the other day, and I'm wondering if I could get... I dunno, advice, I guess? From the usual commenters here.

So, context is that three-ish years ago, I got hate-brigaded in the fandom where I did most of my writing, in a way that came out of nowhere, and also in such a way that I felt like I deserved it. I ended up deleting everything I'd made for that fandom off the internet just to make it stop, including nearly six years of an art blog. I got a reality check later from friends whose credibility I trusted a lot more than random strangers on the internet, and eventually reposted most of the fic (backdated to the original dates of posting), and do actually still post fic in that fandom (also backdated to avoid notice). I also post a couple of fics on that account that are not backdated where I write with OCs from the original fandom fic in other fandoms.

The other day, someone who had been working their way through kudosing my stuff in the old fandom posted a complementary comment about it on the most recently updated of the two fanfics that isn't in that fandom, said they liked my OCs in the original fandom fic, and asked if I'd ever be interested in writing about that original fandom again. I explained that I was still writing fic in that fandom, it was just all backdated because most people really did not seem to like what I was writing.

And they responded saying that was too bad, and asking my opinion about a character they love, noting that it's pretty obvious from my fic that I don't like them and wondering why. And, like, this was probably just someone who was looking for fandom connection... but the character they were asking about is one of the most popular characters in the entire fandom. Most of the people still actively writing fic in this fandom are writing about this character, so if they wanted people to engage with about this character, they had basically everyone but me to engage with. And the person who set off the initial hate brigade against me that lead to me deleting basically my entire internet presence for months had this character as their URL.

So in my brain, I immediately go, "bait, this is bait," and delete this person's comments, delete my one response to them, and lock down comments on all the works on that account. And I know, I know that's paranoid overreaction. Based on their kudos pattern, this person was clearly working their way slowly through all the things on that account, which is not something someone who was only there to bait me would do. The only slightly off thing they did was comment on an unrelated most-recently-updated work instead of one of the works for the actual fandom. Probably they didn't realize that most people have comment emails turned on and didn't know I'd see a comment if they posted it on one of the older works, and they definitely didn't know what asking that particular question would do to me.

But I just... don't know how to exist in a fandom space any more without intense paranoia. I want to keep writing these things that bring me joy, and I do, but I miss being able to have my comments open without fear. I miss being able to post to a blog that wasn't locked down from Tumblr search. I wish I could interact with ANY fandom these days—not just that original one, but any fandom at all—and not feel like someone is going to turn on me out of nowhere. I can't overstate how out-of-nowhere that hate brigade was: my average fic got maybe 2 kudos. My art blog had fewer than 100 followers, and on average I got like 5 notes. I still to this day don't know why the person who set it off had such a hate-on for me, because it was clear from some of the anons I was getting that they'd built up a hell of a litany of ills to pile on my head, while all being vague enough that I never quite got a clear picture of what they were accusing me of.

I know part of the solution is to grow a thicker skin, and to block frequently. And I've been working on that, I guess I just... thought I was doing a bit better at growing a thicker skin and not being reactionary and the other day's incident made it really, really apparent I'm not, and I don't know what to do about it, because apparently the therapy is not doing enough! (Not that my therapist understands fandom...)

Any advice?

--

I mean... it's PTSD or something of the sort. Treat it as such.

[waterme-stories]

20 Questions with a Fanfic Author

Thanks for the tag, @punch-love! I'm so terrible at following up on these kinds of things (my inbox for ask games is worse than my WIP folder), but this caught me at a good time :)

1. How many works on AO3?

74. but five of those are art posts so I guess I'm currently sitting at 69 😎

2. Total AO3 Word Count?

375,414

3. Top 5 Fics by Kudos

Driven to Dickstraction

There is [No] Sex in the Champagne Room

Try A Little Tenderness

Cicatrices

Mr. Pool's Wild Ride

I continue to be delighted that Cicatrices made the cut, since it's so weird and melancholy compared to the other 4 (which are all fluffy and tropey). I'm also glad Champagne Room remains high on the list. I wrote it because I know a lot of sex workers IRL, so most sex work fics frustrated me in one way or another. It's nice to see it continue to circulate, and I hope it continues to influence the way other authors write the genre!

"Fun" fact: My #2 in hits (Neigh's Not A Safeword) is #14 in kudos. I don't usually stress about numbers, but it actually really bummed me out that my most-viewed fic was something people seemed reluctant to interact with. It's heavy kink (and has a strong content note), so if people are curating their experience and tapping out before it gets too much, I'm glad! But gosh, I was so happy when "Deadpool Recognizes Spider-Man's Dick" took the top spot from The Goddamn Horse Dildo Fic.

4. What fandoms do you write for?

For someone so flighty, I've been surprisingly consistent within the greater Spideypool polycule. I have only a handful of fics that don't include Wade or Peter in some way, and those are still Marvel.

5. Do you respond to comments?

I try to! Responding to comments is a way of engaging with the fandom community that I really enjoy. I also find that the more I respond to long, thoughtful comments, the more of them I get.

That said, responding to comments takes from the same bucket as writing does for me :( If I feel good enough to reply to comments, that probably means I have the energy to write fic, and I figure if y'all had to choose, you'd want more stories. I get to as many as I can, though :)

6. Angstiest Ending?

It was supposed to be Three Steps to Inferno, with the unhappy Noir ending being "turns out Benji is gay and it's still the 1930s" 🤣 But that ending actually felt somewhat hopeful!

I have a few with flat-out distressing endings because the bad guy wins (Hope Is A Thing With Feathers, Because You're Mine, Riptide), but I think for angst I'm going with Obfuscation. While I left the question of "will Peter and Wade work their shit out" open to interpretation, as the author I think Peter is a stupid dumb idiot who'll keep accidentally hurting Wade for as long as Wade lets him.

7. Fic with the Happiest Ending?

That's my secret, Cap. They're all happy endings. Even when the end is melancholy or bittersweet, I still want it to end on an upnote.

For purest joy, I think it's The Lost and the Lucky. I didn't actually have an epilogue planned--the last scene where Wade and Peter decide to adopt baby Ellie was the very first thing I wrote. But by the time I finished writing the rest, that felt too abrupt. The epilogue with Ellie learning her own history from various family members (who the readers had met and bonded with long before we meet Ellie) brought it full circle for me. I also really like the way I wrote that chapter in reverse chronological order, starting with Ellie as an adult and working down through her childhood. The last vignette has Peter and Wade putting their newborn baby to bed with no fucking clue how to do this, except that she needs to be warm and fed and (most importantly) that they need to tell her a story... I tear up every time I read it. I'm tearing up right now.

8. Do you get hate?

I've been incredibly lucky in that regard. Occasionally I get people who are squicked by the heavier kink and work through that discomfort in my comments section, but even that hasn't felt like an attack. I think part of it is being clear and confident about what I'm writing--I'm not an easy target compared to someone who seems unsure (which is total bullshit, and I'll put myself on the front lines to protect those people any chance I get). Mostly though, I think it's dumb luck.

I did once get a bookmark comment that just said "NO," which I thought was pretty funny (sometimes it's hard to tell the nuance of "you've ruined my life!!" comments, but I tend to assume they're positive just for my own health and happiness). I clicked through to their public bookmarks and they were all structured like GoodReads reviews, with gems like "Interesting plot and decent characterization, but the writer is clearly ESL and the way they use punctuation makes the fic unreadable." Wow. How many languages can you write fanfic in, shithead with 0 works? I can definitely be more protective of other people than of myself, and that got me worked the fuck up.

9. Do you write smut?

It's a surprise to everyone (including me) when I don't write smut.

10. Do you write crossovers?

I haven't, but I would if something struck me!

11. Ever had a fic stolen?

Once on Wattpad, in good company with a lot of other Spideypool oneshots. The compilation story was taken down before I could even file a report, lol. (Now that I think about it, I think it was The Goddamn Horse Dildo Fic??? That thing haunts me 🤣)

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No, but that would be incredible! I've had a few offers but they wanted to post the fic on other sites and not ao3, and I didn't feel comfortable with that.

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic?

Ka-Chow!

I have a few shared drafts out there, but it's hard enough for me to finish a fic on my own, let alone with multiple people who have similar executive function issues 😔 Even with the Spideypool Cars AU, my co-author and I had one very exciting week of planning and co-writing, didn't touch it for years, and by the time I decided to come back to it, she'd moved on from that part of fandom. I'm really grateful that she gave her blessing for me to finish it on my own <3

In the past, I've had some tight-knit friend groups where we all helped with each other's fics from the ground up. Calling them "betas" encapsulates only a fraction of the support we gave each other. I don't think I have the emotional bandwidth for that right now, but I hope it's something I can build again someday--it feels incredible to work with people who are that much on your wavelength!

14. All time favorite ship?

I'm way too poly for this question 🤣 I like variety (both in and within pairings), and I love learning more about a character through the way they relate to others. Spideypool is my top in fics and bookmarks, but they're one of many loves.

15. WIPs you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Lollllllllll. So, so many. I was really excited to write a sequel to Three Steps To Inferno, but I never had a clear idea of the mystery, which is kind of a blocker when it comes to writing Noir. I also have an outline and some really killer scenes for a longfic about what Vanessa was up to when Wade ditched her during DP 1. While I'd like to come back to it, I may have scratched the itch (in a lot fewer words) with You Are Lonely, You Are Like Me.

I am going to get back to the Logan/Weapon XI and the Frank/Bambi fics as soon as I finish my current series, so you have that to look forward to :)

16. Writing strengths?

Humor, and the Wade-esque whiplash between jokes and smut and heavy feelings. Snappy and/or poignant opening and ending paragraphs. "I hate that you made me like this": about kink, but also about tropes, 1st and 2nd person POV, etc. I just think the world is neat, and I seem to have a skill for conveying that in engaging ways.

17. Writing Weaknesses?

If you've gotten this far, you're aware that I'm long-winded. I love my rambling paragraphs of prose, but I'm not as snappy as I used to be and I miss that sometimes.

Not to pull a "my biggest flaw is being detail oriented," but it really does bite me in the ass and keep me from finishing things. My editing process for even a short fic can take weeks of moving words around until they gel. I've been working on this post for almost 3 hours, because if I don't get the words right to convey exactly what I mean I will be fired out of a cannon into the sun. It's really hard for me to maintain focus and motivation for long projects, and the amount of time I spend on minutiae really compounds that. This kind of executive dysfunction is the reason I consider my ADHD to be a disability.

The nice thing is that, since I don't post fics until I'm 100% happy, I pretty much never read my old work and cringe. (with the exception of The Goddamn Horse Dildo Fic, but that's not about grammar 🤣)

I'm sure I have more direct writing weaknesses, but someone else will have to point those out. I try to lean into my strengths, and I budget my time and energy on improving those instead of stressing over things I'm not good at.

18. Thoughts on mixed language dialogue?

The few times I've done it, I spent hours agonizing over, like, two words of slang (see the above perfectionism). I doubt I'd do more than that unless I had a resource who was really strong in both the language and the culture. I don't hold other fanfic authors to my own high standards, but most of the time I think using brackets around English is the way to go.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Lord of the Rings Legolas crack-fic 🤣 It was over 20 years ago on FF.N, so it's lost to the mists of time (which is kind of sad, I'd be curious to read it). I was a very hyperactive teenager who thought being random was a personality. Now I'm an energetic adult with a strong sense of whimsy, which is obviously very different 😌

20. Favorite fic you’ve ever written?

The Goddamn Horse Dildo Fic

This is like asking me to choose a favorite child 😣 My go-to answer is Three Steps To Inferno, and I'm not sure that's actually true, but I'm really proud of it and it took a lot of love and work.

tagging: @farmhandler, @chronologicalimplosion, @bunsofhoney, @wagemama-ningyo, @some-stars, @lukeqatwalker and anyone else who made it this far because holy shit do I ramble

[whysoblue2]

Blue, I love you SO MUCH /p. Never EVER any fanfic made me feel so many things, and so BRIGHTLY. The way you write, describe, the way you make the plot is THE BEST I've ever seen, really!!!

Your work already helped get through some stuff going on and I'm so GRATEFUL FOR THAT. And for the fact that we're moots⁉️⁉️⁉️ I'm the happiest owl alive!! And I love how active you are with interacting with ppl following you, sometimes it's funny to look at the comments number on your fics because it shows how you answer almost everyone(if not literally everyone)!!! Keep up with your good work, stay safe and make more of your masterpieces!! (Please) (optional) (I will be happy)

I had to take my time and breathe before replying, because you know I went short-circuit there for a bit. My mind just started scrambling on itself because what you wrote is so unbelievably nice. It made my day/week/month, hell, probably year. What you say is so powerful. It makes a difference in my brain chemistry! When you tell me my stories make you feel things, and most of all when you say they help you go through stuff, to me is the best praise I could ever get! Hell the style, composition, grammar and shit. This is what I love most. I know my writing can be heavy, it's introspective, I touch many delicate subjects, and often deal with mental health, but it's real stuff I've seen and lived and I know that everyone is dealing with that shit too in a way or the other. Processing emotions is fundamental for our beloved character and for us! I do it as I write. So to me, when you say what I wrote helped... It's like I don't know, like when the skies open and some cherubs come down with trumpets and angelic choirs. Thank you for making me feel amazing about myself and my hobby, and I'm crying right now. And HELL MOOT! You've been one of the first to read my fics from the start, you think I didn't notice?I AM THE GRATEFUL ONE to be your moot! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH TOO!!!!💙💙💙💙 Also, I love engaging with comments. To me, time is the most precious currency we have, and someone out there (you included!) took their time to read my story AND to leave a comment! How fucking amazing is that? Ofc I reply! I will always reply!💙

Thank you so much for all the support and this message!

[assmaster-8000]

the recent ask reminded of the list of writing ideas i had for cécile; a dlc character. no voice actor yet, much less a canon appearance yet. it's been growing since october 2024. ive already started on several of these fics with an entire outline and all.

you know what's been keeping me steady till now, and till mid of 2025 when the extended demo is coming out? the fandom. fellow LiL fans. my mutuals and friends. there are those who share an earnest interest in the media, in the character - in the work and passion itself, irregardless of their fandom interest at all. they've indulged me, reciprocated me - shown me support and admiration.

you like a niche character? you want them so bad that your hair falls out? you can feel them whisper in your ear at night? you can either find other fans who would gladly tear them apart limb from limb with you— or you take a chance like i did. go out there, make your own content even if it's just incoherent rambling wherein you foam at the mouth the whole time. you want content? be the first person to establish that desire if anything, and in time, a steady flow of rapport and desired content will come. it starts with you, truly. it starts with your desire to create and connect. that's what fandom is about - that's what creation is, that's what art is.

there ARE people for you. trust me. i can probably list off every passionate fan dedicated to each character in Lost in Limbo off the top of my head because of all the interaction and bonding ive had. just go out there; make the cringe shit, say the cringe shit. make that self-indulgent fic. make up 100 million canons and fanons and artworks and fanfics. good, bad - skilled, unskilled. you will find love if you put it out there first.

engage with fandom. treat the creators and their work with integrity. it will be worth it and then more.

[hoshifighting]

Understanding My Writing: A Guide to My Creative Process

Hii!! I wanted to take a moment to share with you some insights into my writing process. Whether you've been following my blog for some time or are just discovering it now, I believe it's important to shed light on the methods behind the imagines, reactions, and one-shots that I craft.

Influences

My writing is heavily influenced by Brazilian literature, which I had the privilege to study and graduate in. You may notice a pattern of paragraphs structured into introduction, development, and conclusion, mirroring the traditional narrative structure often found in Brazilian books. And normally, you will see texts in italics to highlight a feeling, line of thought, or an important point in the text.

And sure you might find some grammatical errors, but please don't hate me! 🥺

Interpretations

One of the most fascinating aspects of storytelling, imo, is its subjectivity. Each reader brings their own experiences, emotions, and perspectives to the table, inviting you, to engage with the text on a personal way, to find meaning and resonance in your own way.

The Creative Journey

Every piece of writing, whether it's a brief imagine, a sprawling fanfic, or a one-shot, It begins with a spark of inspiration—a fleeting thought, a powerful emotion, an idea from my inbox, a request, a "what if?"

Ah, but Lyla, why are you trained in Brazilian literature, and write in English?

You see, I initially started writing in Portuguese, my native language, on platforms like Wattpad. However, some years ago, I started to study English more deeply. Writing in English became a natural progression for me as I sought to interact with the language more frequently.

While my roots are deeply embedded in Brazilian literature, writing in English has opened doors to a world of possibilities, enabling me to share my stories with you, guys! 🥺

And what do you read to keep you trained?

I've got a MIX of old-school classics that I keep coming back to. Like Don Quixote (Omg, Seventeen reference? 😳)

And then there's Dom Casmurro and Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas by Machado de Assis—classics from my school days that I've probably read a GAZILLION times, but they never get old.

I'm also a big fan of Clarice Lispector's books!

How to make a request?

Well, it's pretty simple. I check my inbox almost every day, even when it's bursting at the seams. My goal is to tackle those messages at least once a week, and I do my best to reply to as many as I can.

But, I have those days when I'm just not feeling it... 🤧 (prob when I'm too tired from work) So if you don't hear back from me right away, don't worry, I'm probably just waiting for that burst of inspiration to hit me.

So go ahead, send me your thoughts, questions, or just say hi! I love hearing from you all, and when the vibes are right, you can bet I'll be posting and sharing with you.

[seriousbrat]

it’s so interesting to see how the interpretation of teen (boy) behavior in books has changed since they were written. it’s mostly for the better, but i think it does cause some people to refuse to engage in good faith with the source material, or on its own terms. i’ve loved hp since i was a kid, but i had never interacted at all with the fan side of things until maybe a year ago, and it was very odd (on the whole — which is why i’ve mostly just stuck to a handful of blogs with great fics and meta, like yours) to see how a lot of the text is taken now, compared to how my friends and i understood it at the time. i think its totally fair — and good, on a cultural level — to point out that the boy who pulls your pigtails isn’t being cute, and your male friend being in love with you doesn’t mean you owe him anything. but it’s also like … kind of intentionally closing the eyes to how these parts of the story are meant to come across? and i am not coming in here as some kind of “boys will be boys” person, but teenagers are messy in their relationships and their friendships, and more relevantly, it’s very clear what types of dynamics are being presented by the text. and it can be fun to pick apart what kinds of narratives are meant to be taken as romantic in different stories written in different times/places and why, but to look at the story on a story level you’ve got to also work with what it gives you.

Yes I think you make a very good point! I agree and personally I think both Snape and James would be written slightly differently if they were written today. Also, imo there's an element of wishful thinking coupled with naivety (and this has always existed tbf) when people who haven't ever been cis teenage boys try to write cis teenage boys haha. Like the 'closing of eyes' isn't always intentional. I know I keep going on about the Inbetweeners but I literally think watching that as a teen myself gave me an insight that I can never take back about what teenage boys are like haha.

Like this isn't to say that teenage boys are all exactly alike, or that there's some inherent, natural difference between boys and girls in terms of mentality or personality, but there is a social difference, generally speaking, a constructed one that happens because boys and girls are raised and socialised in a patriarchy. It's obviously not universal at all, and that's not even accounting for trans kids and the complexities they face, because even among cis boys and girls or men and women there's endless variety, and gender absolutely does not determine personality, interests, etc. Unfortunately it does influence them, though, that's our reality.

In terms of fiction, especially fanfic, obv one is free to do as they please. But there is such a thing as narrative voice, which can be an important thing to consider. Again when it comes to fanfiction it Does Not Matter that much, it's for fun, but in published fiction (or if you care about quality ig) it just is something you should consider. This is where the 'Men Writing Women' thing comes in, where you read something so obviously written by a man who doesn't understand how women (generally) think or speak or act at all. And in our patriarchal society such usually ends up being offensive and has often been overlooked and accepted when it shouldn't be. I don't think it's helpful to pretend men can't write women either, since plenty of male authors write female characters beautifully and the rest shouldn't be let off the hook. If you can't write women, skill issue and you shouldn't be published.

Anyway it's vastly more forgivable and understandable, and it pains me to say it but I think you can sometimes tell when it's a woman writing a man or a boy too. I will say on the whole I think women are better at writing men than the reverse haha, probably because we've been socialised to empathise with men whereas boys are not taught (by society) to empathise with women. Maybe women even empathise a little too much tbh. Maybe that's the problem, like we subconsciously over-project our ideals onto male characters, making them too nice, too woke, too cuddly, too sweet, because that's what we want to see, and leaving out the nastier elements that are so common. Again, that's not necessarily a problem!! Only if you're trying to create a realistic, effective portrayal of a certain (average) type of teenage boy-- which you don't have to do. I'd raise my eyebrows at an unrealistic portrayal much more in published fiction than fanfiction personally.

And ofc you can always choose to write a character who diverges from the accepted norm, but to do so effectively has to be a deliberate choice and done thoughtfully. For a boy like James, who is very average, the norm, he's decent enough but no Woke Feminist King haha. He's not meant to be.

Anyway, I think that's why the Marauders et al (including Death Eaters lol) are nowadays often portrayed like sweet little babies who all cuddle and take care of each other and respect women LOL. Like whatever, it's escapism haha, it's understandable. But sometimes I do think a lot of these people have never really interacted with many gay men or know what their culture is like. lmao. straight men maybe, but in a limited way. if you've ever had the misfortune to be with a group of cishet men who are talking freely with each other you'll know what I mean. again this is GENERAL. and socially constructed, not inherent. but very common nevertheless.

[hederasgarden]

Hey Ivy 💕 I’m looking for some advice. I want to get back into writing, I haven’t written anything in literal years. I don’t even know where to start. I know logically the thing to do is just….start writing, simple as that. Use the muse, find the prompt, just start. But every time I try I get so incredibly cringed out but my own work and cannot continue. This isn’t even to post it anywhere or share it with anyone, it’s just for fun and a hobby, I know it doesn’t even have to be good, but then I think if its not good and I’m literally not going to post it anywhere then why bother do it. Any advice would be most welcome 💕💕💕

It can be really hard to get back into writing after being away from it for a while, especially when you’ve built up expectations for yourself. I think the first question to ask yourself is why you loved writing in the first place. Was it a fun, relaxing way to unwind? Did you enjoy crafting plots, exploring emotions, or developing connections between characters? Or maybe you loved engaging with fandoms, interacting with readers, and sharing your work with others? If you can pinpoint that original why it might help. 

For me, one of the biggest driving forces is how writing makes me feel. It can help me relax and disengage from stressors in my life but there’s also something thrilling about building a plot, diving deep into a character’s emotions, and getting that cathartic payoff when everything clicks into place. However, there are plenty of times when writing makes me feel the opposite and I’ve felt like deleting everything and quitting. I’ll probably feel that way again at some point. Tomorrow maybe. It’s all part of the process. 

I also would like to potentially publish some original material someday so I approach writing fanfic as a way to hone my craft. But not everyone wants to do that and that’s okay. Writing can just be silly and fun. 

Anyway, here are two pieces of advice I’ve found helpful:

Have zero expectations for your first draft.

I often cringe at my first drafts—they always feel so flat, and I miss a lot of the imagery and depth I want to convey. But honestly, that’s okay. The first draft isn’t about being good. It’s about getting something down on the page so you have material to work with. One trick I’ve found helpful is setting a timer for 10-15 minutes, and allowing myself to write stream of consciousness without editing. You’d be amazed at how much you can get done that way. Once I have a chunk of writing, I’ll go back and tidy it up, fixing grammar and adding more description and emotions. I rinse and repeat until I’m satisfied. It’s like adding layers and depth to a drawing.

I think people might be surprised how long it takes me to get to a finished product. 

Find a cheerleader.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't find a lot of motivation and inspiration from the feedback and interactions I get. However, we all know interaction on Tumblr can be tricky so I’ve learned not to solely depend on it. Instead, throughout my time in fandom, I’ve built friendships with other writers and readers and I can’t tell you how much it helps to have someone to talk to about your work. Whether it’s sending them snippets of your story, brainstorming plot ideas, or just getting them hyped about what you’re working on, having that support can make all the difference. Let them hype you up. Seriously. It's a game-changer. 

I know it’s hard when you’re feeling self-critical, but don’t be too hard on yourself. Writing is a process, and sometimes it’s messy and you hate it at first but you have to keep showing up. Even if you write 10 words one day, that’s progress. 

My inbox and DMs are always open to talk anon. I hope you can rediscover your joy of writing.

[saveahorserideaneddie]

Can I ask you to list a couple things you do like about the show? Or the actors? Or the characters? Or heck anything 911 related? Because it seems like you and your other anons don’t like anything to do with any aspect of it at all from the writers down to the smallest of storyline details 😅

which at that point is probably a good time to step back and stop engaging with it either temporarily or permanently since all it’s gonna do is continue to feed into the negativity your having over it since nothing seems to be bringing you joy about it.

can yall not read? like seriously can yall not read the words when i say “i am not goign to watch season 8 until something good happens”

i feel like a goddamn parrot on here when people like you keep coming into my inbox with this same fucking “maybe you should step back” thing like yeah that’s what i have been fucking saying????

im not going to stop interacting with my friends on here- that’s out of the question. i still love being involved in the fanfic community and i still love the first 5 seasons of the show, but im not going to lie and say that i have been pleased with the most recent installments. if you actually took the time to read my blog and what i talk about you would see that i adore eddie and his queer subtext. i adore buddie as a ship, probably to a crazy degree. i love henren, and bathena, and madney. josh russo is literally one if my favorite canonically queer characters on tv.

i adore this cast with the exception of the talentless nepo baby half the fandom wanna suck the dick of (god knows why other than he’s a fugly white man who kissed their favorite white boy) i love seeing them interact with each other outside of the show.

can i ask you what the writers have given us to actually enjoy the past two seasons? other than the madney wedding? nothing else has been decently written, or taken the story in a positive direction. yeah, we got bi buck but he’s in a relationship with a literal misogynistic racist man who has had repeatedly treated buck horribly with no acknowledgement whatsoever. so no, i don’t like the writers or tim minear at the moment because they have had every opportunity to usher in something positive for eddie, but no bc tim “this show is a drama” minear would rather give the happy plots to his white characters while running his poc characters through more unnecessary trauma and pain (with the exception of chimney, although his happy plotline only happened after he was near-fatally sick an entire episode and bobby whose plotline was centered around a black man’s trauma being dug up and thrown in his face)

the earlier season of this show were such a joy to watch live when it felt like there was actually care going into it from the showrunners and writing team, but lately it’s just them throwing darts at whatever wack-ass drama plot they can think of.

this cast works too fucking hard for the vapid shit they get given to act out each week.

which is why i (once again, in case you were about to gloss over this) I AM NOT WATCHING SEASON EIGHT UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE TO FIX THE MESS THEY MADE

perhaps writing it in bold, italicized caps will make it easier for you to get it through your head.

and as far as “my anons” if you actually had enough confidence in your message, then why are you hiding behind anon, hm?

i have said multiple times i love interracting with my friends and fandom content that doesn’t have to do with spec. i have said multiple times im holding off on season 8. i have never said i hate the cast or i hate every single plotline the show has ever had, but you know what i did hate? how s6 and s7 turned the show into a fucking ooc mess. it is within my rights as a fan to dislike a season of a show for valid reasons.

what’s not okay is you coming into my inbox repeatedly saying “take a break” when i’ve said multiple fucking times that i plan to rather than just blocking me if youre so offended by people agreeing with me that the show is at a make it or break it point.

please kindly take yourself out of my space if you’re not going to actually take the time to read the words i post and just immediately send me anonymous hate because you didn’t like my posts

[pascaloverx]

SHAMELESS

Summary: You are moving into the Leister mansion after tragically losing your father in a plane crash. He worked for William Leister, who immediately offered to take you in. The problem? His son, Nick Leister, who is far from pleased about having a stranger living under his roof.

Author's Note: My slight fixation on Matthew Broome led me to create this fanfic, but I can’t guarantee it will be good. So, dear reader, if you enjoy it, please interact and comment. The fanfic will likely contain strong language, violence, and adult content. Minors should not engage with it.

four

FIVE

You run your hand over the beautiful dress that had been left out for you. Truth be told, Mr. Leister had bought three different options for you to choose from. He even left a note saying that if you needed anything, whether another dress or something entirely different, you should use the card he had issued in your name. No need to worry about limits. Rich people really do know how to show off their wealth. Fortunately, the first dress you try on fits perfectly.

"Breathtaking," Nick says as he leans against the bathroom door. You had left it open, too distracted to notice or care that someone might be watching you.

You don’t respond. You continue getting ready as if he’s not standing there, watching you while you focus on your reflection, deciding whether to style your hair or leave it down.

"I’m an idiot, Y/N," Nick says quietly. He steps closer, his eyes fixed on you like you’re some kind of prey. The air grows heavy between you as you feel the weight of his presence.

There’s tension between you, impossible to ignore. Nick’s fingers brush against the back of your neck, and almost without asking, he helps you hold your hair up, his touch both gentle and intentional.

"I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but if I were you, I’d stop. It’s obvious that you and I together is a bad idea." You step away from him, even though his touch lingers in your mind longer than you’d like.

"If this is about what I said to my dad… it just slipped out. I didn’t mean for it to sound like you were..." Nick pauses, sounding sincere but uncertain.

"Like I was irritating you?" you cut in. "Honestly, I don’t care if you think I’m annoying or if I’m ruining the peaceful life of some rich boy who’s probably used to doing whatever he wants without consequence. What I care about is the fact that you were practically ready to sleep with me right after saying I get on your nerves. If I bother you so much, then why do you act like you can’t wait to get me into your bed?"

You turn to face him. Your voice is calm but firm. He looks caught off guard, clearly not expecting such honesty from you.

"If it weren't for my foolishness, do you think this could've worked?" Nick asks, staring at you like he's hypnotized by your gaze. You can't even tell if he's truly following the conversation.

"Does it matter?" you reply, trying to look away from him, pretending it doesn't affect you. That’s what you’re supposed to be if you want to coexist with him without this constant tension—indifferent to all this mess, indifferent to the pull that always seems to exist between the two of you.

"Matters to me," Nick murmurs as he stands behind you. Looking at him through the mirror, you meet his gaze, searching for something to say.

"I think your father took me in when he didn’t have to. I think you and I come from worlds too different to have anything beyond a lot of unresolved sexual tension. So, the answer is that we probably never would’ve worked," you say, not entirely honest with yourself. But by now, you’ve convinced yourself it’s better if the two of you keep your distance—and keeping your distance means letting go of what might have been.

Nick holds your gaze through the reflection for a few moments, as if lost in thought.

"I’ll get ready. I’ll be waiting downstairs in about thirty minutes. Don’t be late," he says, his tone noticeably cooler. He seems frustrated, but he quickly leaves the bathroom and heads toward his room.

Something about the way he sounded like he was giving you orders—or maybe the way you can no longer recognize your own confidence in the mirror—lingers with you. The dress now feels like a reminder. Just moments earlier, Nick had been standing right there, and you had wanted to ignore all the signs that the two of you are completely wrong for each other.

So, brushing off the time limit he gave you, you change. A different dress, a different fit, a different color. You try to convince yourself that switching outfits will be enough to change the way you feel. You take longer than the thirty minutes Nick allowed, of course—you changed your dress, your mask, and did your best to change your mood, too.

As you walk down the stairs, you can feel his impatient stare even before he says a word, though his expression shifts with every step you take toward him.

"I said thirty minutes," he says once he seems to snap out of whatever thought had him distracted—likely admiring you.

"You can waste your time complaining or you can move on. Your choice," you murmur as you walk past him and head toward the door.

Nick’s car is parked in front of the Leister mansion, but the doors are still locked. You stop, noticing him standing by the driver’s side with the keys in hand.

“Think you’d go easier on me if I let you drive my car?” Nick asks with a sly smirk playing on his lips as he watches you.

You consider the offer, imagining yourself cruising through London in that gorgeous car with its powerful engine. The temptation is real.

“What exactly does ‘go easier’ mean?” you ask, giving him a soft look, wondering if this is all part of a bigger plan to distract you from the fact that you’re still slightly irritated.

“It means at least pretending we’re getting along. Doesn’t have to be forever. Just... around my dad,” Nick says, his gaze steady on you.

You stand on opposite sides of the car—him by the driver’s door, you by the passenger’s—separated by a few feet and a whole lot of unspoken tension.

“Keys, Leister!” you exclaim, raising your arm and waiting for him to toss them over. Nick’s grin only widens, clearly pleased with whatever little victory he thinks he’s won. He tosses the keys, and you catch them mid-air before walking around to the driver’s side. He moves to the passenger seat without protest.

“You do realize photographers are going to see that I’m the one driving you. Won’t that bruise your ego?” you ask as both of you fasten your seat belts.

Nick turns his head toward you, and your faces end up closer than expected, the space between you charged with tension as the click of the buckles echoes faintly in the car.

“For what reason would being driven to a masquerade ball hosted by my father, by a stunning woman, be something to be ashamed of—or even bruise my ego?” he asks, leaning in, his voice low and steady.

You try to avoid his gaze, but it’s useless. The two of you are too close now, and the air between you feels heavy.

“Y/N, don’t fool yourself. I might’ve been a fool for downplaying the effect you have on me, but I’m not a complete idiot,” Nick murmurs, leaning even closer until you hear his seatbelt strain at its limit.

“Well then, hold on tight, Your Highness. I’m taking you to your ball,” you reply, doing your best to stay unfazed by the way he’s looking at you but your grip on the wheel tightens just slightly.

The drive to the masquerade ball is quiet, as if neither of you dares to speak your thoughts. Still, your mind is filled with Nick, how he stirs something in you that you didn’t even know was there. A desire buried deep, now rising to the surface. And yet, he’s already made it clear he doesn’t feel the same.

To make things worse, you’re arriving at this damn ball together, giving the media every reason to assume there’s something going on between you. You can already picture the headlines—“The Newest Gold Digger Moves In”—plastered all over the internet.

Even though you live under the same roof only because his father practically brought you into the family, the way you two look together would be enough for anyone to suspect something more. As you're approaching the entrance where the masquerade ball is already underway, you abruptly bring the car to a stop. Nick watches you silently, his gaze heavy, as if bracing for the worst.

"I don't think I can do this..." you say, tapping your fingers anxiously against the steering wheel, feeling like the air around you is getting thinner by the second. The flashes from the cameras, the invasive questions, the crowd waiting both inside and outside. You don’t want to go in. That’s the truth. Cowardly or not.

"What's wrong?" Nick asks, undoing his seatbelt. As your chest tightens and your breathing slips out of your control, he reaches for your face, gently cupping it in his hands and turning you to look at him.

"I can't... It's obvious I don't belong in the circle of people around your family. Your father, you—you’re rich, influential, you know how to act. I'm not like that. I'm not the kind of girl who goes to a millionaire's masquerade ball on the arm of his charming son." You speak almost stumbling over your own words, your hands trembling and your heart pounding.

"Hey... don't think that," Nick says, gently taking your fingers in his and kissing them, as if trying to distract you from the anxiety taking over.

"What are you doing?" you murmur, looking at him as his lips brush over your fingers with delicate care.

"Bringing you back to reality," Nick replies, eyes on you, a soft smile curving his lips like he knows exactly what he’s doing—and that it’s working.

"That's all you've got? Kissing my fingers and telling me not to think like that?" you say, letting out a soft laugh, almost mocking him, though the pressure in your chest starts to ease at least a little.

"You're the person I want walking in with me tonight, Y/N," Nick says, pulling back slightly before tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

"It’s just us. No worrying about what they think, what photos might come out, or what people say. Alright?" His voice remains calm, but there’s a quiet certainty to it that makes you believe—just for a second—that maybe he's right.

You look at him and murmur, "You're making a mistake wanting me there with you." It sounds like a fact, but in truth, it’s just your insecurity speaking. Or maybe you're simply being realistic.

"I regret a lot of things. Walking in there with you won’t be one of them," Nick says with the same steady confidence. He either truly believes it or he's good at pretending. But something in the way he says it, in the way he touches your face, passes a flicker of reassurance through you, enough to quiet the storm in your mind.

"I'm going to trust you, Nick Leister. Just don't let me down," you warn him as you settle back into your seat and fasten your seatbelt again. He looks pleased with himself, clearly proud for having lifted your spirits.

A few moments later, you pull up in front of the masquerade venue. Both you and Nick put on your masks before stepping out of the car. The flashing lights nearly blind you the moment your foot touches the red carpet. It feels like a scene from a movie. Your stomach tightens slightly as the noise and commotion rise around you.

"Hold my hand and you'll be fine," Nick whispers in your ear, his fingers lacing tightly with yours. You glance at him and feeling the warmth of his hand in yours, you take a breath and prepare yourself for your first masquerade ball.

[rootedinrevisions]

So in your bio it says the fandoms you write for/follow are Glen Powell, TGM, MCU, and WWE...but you literally only ever post Glen Powell, Twisters (aka Glen Powell), and TGM (which is only ever hangman so also Glen Powell). And I've never seen you post anything in the MCU. And WWE stuff is like maybe once a month.

Don't say you write for multiple fandoms if you only write for Glen aka Mr. Overrated. I don't get why you'd want to waste your time on him anyway. He's a terrible actor who can only pull off the cocky douchebag type. And the only good movies he has are where he's shirtles so you're distracted by the bad acting.

Hi there! I'm going to be honest, when I first saw this ask I almost just deleted it and moved on because I feel like you're just having a bad day and projecting that onto me. But I actually want to address your message because I think it highlights something that many fanfic writers face: balancing inspiration, audience interactions, and personal interests.

First, when it comes to writing for multiple fandoms, it is a challenge to keep things balanced. I do try my best to write for all the fandoms I enjoy, but inspiration isn’t something you can force. Sometimes, I’m more drawn to one character or fandom than another, and my writing reflects that. Right now, I’ve been feeling particularly inspired by Glen Powell’s projects—but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped caring about the other fandoms. (I'm sure when Thunderbolts comes out next year I'll probably start writing more Bucky Barnes stuff, etc.)

Second, I do want to point out that even within Glen Powell-related fandoms like TGM I do write for other characters. I've written several things for Rooster both for Kinktober and just as standalone fics. I've also written one or two things for Bob as well.

Thirdly, it’s worth noting that my Glen Powell-related posts tend to get the most engagement. While I’m not solely motivated by likes or reblogs, it’s encouraging to see people enjoying my work. Naturally, I lean into what resonates with readers because it feels good to know others are as excited about something as I am. That said, I still love writing for my other fandoms when the inspiration strikes or when I get requests that spark an idea.

Speaking of requests, a lot of my WWE content comes from prompts or suggestions people send me. I don’t watch as closely as I used to, so it’s harder for me to come up with original ideas—but I still enjoy writing for those characters when something clicks. Similarly, I’ve written for the MCU (two Bucky Barnes fics as part of Kinktober!), but since it’s been a while since I’ve watched the movies or shows, I’d want to revisit them to make sure I’m doing the characters justice. With so much MCU content, that’s a big time commitment while also being a wife, mom, working full time, etc. But it’s something I’d like to do in the future.

As for your opinion on Glen Powell as an actor: everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and it’s okay if you don’t like him or his work. Personally, I think Glen is a fantastic actor who brings a lot of charisma and range to his roles. He’s certainly played the cocky, confident type, but if you look at his broader filmography, you’ll see he’s taken on a variety of roles. His performance in Hit Man, for instance, showcases his range and ability to embody complex characters very well, in my opinion.

At the end of the day, this blog is a creative space where I share the things I’m passionate about. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read, interact, and support, but I also have to write what feels authentic to me. I understand that not everything I post will be for everyone—and that’s okay. If Glen Powell or the content I’ve been posting isn’t to your taste, I won’t take it personally if you decide to scroll past or unfollow. Fandom spaces are big, and I’m sure you can find content that aligns better with your preferences.

[1moreoffkeyanthem]

I want to quit a03 and just delete all my current fanfictions, i haven’t updated any of them in months. I’m tired lol. The main reason why is I haven’t been getting a lot of interactions on my recent stuff and Ik that’s not the point of writing fanfics but idk it’s a nice from motivation. I’m an attention whore, sue me.

What i’m asking i guess is how do u stay motivated??? I have a lot of ideas for things but no drive to make them a reality.

(You probably can tell who i am from this lol but its kinda embarrassing so i wanted to keep it anon)

Oh dude I absolutely get it, for real. While we ultimately write for ourselves, a lack of engagement is REALLY discouraging! I’ve said before that I went through a REAL mental struggle writing The Webs In The Rafters specifically, and that still stands. I had a lot of super nice commenters, and that helped a lot, but it was so, so, sucky to see no engagement other than the same six people. As grateful as I was for them, I really wanted more interaction. I’d see the comment count go up, but no new kudos, and I’d feel like I was failing.

I almost dropped that fic. The only reason I didn’t was my dearest boxwinebaddie regularly doing cartwheels in the comments and messaging me about the story. Encouragement from an author you admire helps SO MUCH and I want to be that person to someone someday!!! The community of ao3 can be toxic, for sure, but it’s so kickass to see the same handful of people in someone’s comms every time you read something from a certain writer!

And man, I am absolutely an attention whore. I thrive on attention. I may be an agoraphobic asshole with no friends other than my partner irl and I may literally panic so bad that I faint when I get spoken to, but we are HUMAN!!! Validation is fucking NICE!!! Being a person sucks absolute ass and confirmation that we’re doing something right helps a lot!

The only advice I have on staying motivated: I’m just fuckin insane. And I’ve said before that the ONLY reason I started writing was bc I had an extremely specific set of tags I wanted to see. I wanted to see more style injury recovery and at the time, a lot of the style fics out there were literally just boring high school aus or Stan being suicidal and I was like helll no let’s switch it up! So I assumed my mission of renovating that ship tag. I wanted sot style h/c with an ungodly amount of comfort? I was gonna have to write it. And that expanded to all aus. I developed the OrangeJuiceVerse specifically with the message of healing as the central theme. And it means so much to me. What I’m getting at is that your work really does have to have something there that’s important to you. If it’s just all random drama with no reconciliation, it’ll be really draining on you and fall flat in your mentality surrounding it.

Another thing is: if you don’t feel like updating, DONT! It’s fanfiction. It’s something you’re putting on the Internet for free. If you aren’t 100% happy with a chapter, there is no obligation to post it! Also, if you aren’t feeling up to working on a wip, mentally or physically, you don’t have to! Come back to it when you are!

On obligation, something I struggle with is my own self imposed habit of daily updates on multichapters. I usually go really wild when I start a new au, and I’ll write for it every day. But for instance, right now, it’s been a couple since I’ve posted a new chap on In The Truly Gruesome. And I have felt some guilt about that, bc I’ve sort of garnered this reputation as someone who updates frequently on multichaps, but I haven’t been feeling so great, so writing isn’t my top priority. A couple lines here and there are what I can manage, and that’s okay! Again, it’s fanfiction. Ultimately, it matters to us as the author, the story can mean the world to us, but we shouldn’t feel obligated to update, because above all we are PEOPLE with LIVES!!!

It’s also important to remember not to treat ao3 as social media. Yes it’s kickass to form a community of like minded authors who all support each others stuff, but it isn’t something that should be expected. And I CANNOT stress enough how important it is not to feel obligated to work on something just bc someone wants you too. I’m a hypocrite, yeah, considering I had no intention of continuing my TFBW oneshot “We Did It We Are A Good Team” until I had someone commenting on my unrelated works asking for a second chapter. I don’t regret writing ch 2, btw, like im really happy with it, but I did cave under pressure to some degree. And that’s not something we should do when writing. Write for YOURSELF and (unless you’re doing an ask book or something) NO ONE ELSE!!!

That’s what I got my dude. If you feel strongly about what you’re writing, by all means write it. If you don’t, don’t feel obligated. I hope this helped!

[theradicalscrivener]

Probably you are asked this a lot, but what would you recommend to someone who wants to write smut and publish it?

I ask both because I have no idea what I should do, where to post and things like that.

But also because... How do you stop feeling embarrassed from publishing smut? Not because there is something bad about it, but because... You know. Like, how do you get over it?

You don't have to answer, but I would like to hear your thoughts.

Depending on what you mean by publishing. I keep kicking around the idea of doing like kindle publishing rather than just uploading stuff for free to various sites, but I haven't really gotten too far in those plans. Doing something commercial is a bit outside of my purview.

As far as just posting it online, it helps to have a place in mind to get started. Which, unfortunately, it feels like it's harder and harder to find good places to post written smut nowadays. I still get a decent amount of interaction via tumblr, but the userbase here is a small percentage of what it used to be and other sites like FA have also seen a sharp downturn in user interaction.

But those points aren't super related to your question. The irony is that I started doing smut because I was nervous to do legit writing. I felt like the bar for writing nsfw was much lower than posting sfw. I'd seen so much bad nsfw that I was like, that would be a safe place to practice writing. Like, there was no expectation that it would be good. Since I didn't feel like I had to be good at it immediately, I was able to relax a bit and just enjoy writing for the sake of writing.

Of course, that was super naive. I know now that there are tons of great sfw fanfics and original works, and even something being "fanfic" doesn't have any real baring on its quality. I should have been just as comfortable starting out in sfw as I did in smut.

At the end of the day, that's the biggest trick. Just write because you want to. I realize it's hard to do. I get stressed out a lot about it too. Like, I'll write a bunch of stuff but then not post it because I don't think anyone wants to read it. I'll write big chunks of stuff and then when I post the first chapter, there's zero interest or feedback in it, so I just don't post the other chapters.

I know a lot of people say to not post for engagement, but engagement feels good and can inspire you to do more. The opposite side of that argument is that there are a fair amount of assholes out there. There's plenty of people who have nothing better to do than to find stuff to hate on, and most people who enjoy stuff don't feel like commenting or sharing it because they either don't feel like their comments would be appreciated or they are afraid to admitting liking the stuff they like.

Even knowing this, it can be hard to keep going, but I have rambled a lot and I'm not sure how good a job I did of answering the original question. I started writing smut because I didn't think I was good enough for "real" writing, and I got much better at writing as I went. Just accept that you won't be amazing starting out, but there are still people that will enjoy it, and the more you do it the better you get. Depending on what you are writing, there are plenty of sites that will appreciate it. I keep hearing I should start posting at DA since they allow smut writing, so maybe that's a good place to start out. If you do fan fic, then def do AO3. If you're worried about negativity, you can turn off guest comments.