#shameless self promo engaged!!

[interstellarneighbourhood]

yeah so this is literally what my debut single is about lol <33

you can click here for other streaming services if you're interested :3

unfortunately if you are an old friend of mine i will always care about you no matter what even if we haven't seen each other in forever because i still remember what you were like 7 years ago and i still remember how it felt to be young with you and i still have a lot of love for you in the back of my mind

[royboyfanpage]

Are there any arrowfam fics that you think are required reading that I should check out? Or any that you really enjoy?

Thanks for the ask, anon!

I don't think any fics are "required reading" per se, there are a million and one ways to interpret characters and there's no one fic that fully sums up how people should be engaging with the Arrows in a fandom setting. However, I can definitely give you some recs! I'm very much a single chapter work reader so apologies for the lack of longer fics, but if anyone has any longer recommendations then feel free to add on in a reblog!

'Insert awful archery pun here' -Mia Dearden centric, archery focused

'The richter scale' -Mia Dearden centric, sickfic

'To forgive and grow' -Connor and Roy focused

'Dream a little dream' -Speedy!Roy

'Uncomfortable' -Roy's first night living with Ollie

'If you are or ever have been speedy you may be entitled to financial compensation.' -Mia, Roy, Ollie, and Lian, sickfic

'Siblings, like archery, have many drawbacks' -Arrowsiblings shooting apples

'The loneliest time' -Mia and Connor focused

'Why you never invite Eddie' -Eddie Fyers at Lian's birthday party

'A vow to the heavens and hells' -Connor and Mia focused, horror themes

'Wound and knife' -Jaderoy

And a few Grant Emerson + Arrows ones because I love him:

'Unexploded ordnances' -transfem Grant coming out

'Shoot an arrow and it goes high' -Grant and Roy

'You've always known you're not alone' -Arrow family dinner + Grant

And a bit of shameless self promo, my own fic 'something nameless'

Hope this list suffices!

[dontforgetoctober3rd]

Ok but The Gilded Age fanfiction writers are gonna have a time keeping me occupied until season three and if we end up not getting any more then BY GOD the fanfic writers are gonna give me all the stories I need! (shameless self promo: I have written a fic myself that you can read here lol)

this show CAN'T be over just yet! I love escaping to 1880s new york every week! I NEED THIS DAMN SHOW HBO PLEASE RENEW IT

Should we comment bomb their official insta? engage with the show's insta??? rewatch the show over and over??? TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO

[starrynightarchive]

THIS IS SO FUNNY SOMEONE POSTED THAT ON TWT AND THAT NOW HAS LIKE. 11K VIEWS

zosan enjoyers found me.... 232 notes in my zosan post in less than 12 hours wtf

[echo-bleu]

Rant time (feel free to ignore)

Fandom capitalism is hell and I hate my own relationship to it especially.

I barely ever use this space to blog, because I don't fucking know how to blog tbh, and because my unhealthy conflict avoidance makes me scared to say anything ever, but sometimes I wake up sick and in a mood the day after being excited about things and, well, ugh.

I feel like I'm forever stuck between trying to do the things (art mostly) that is going to be popular and fun to other people and wanting to do my own obscure stuff but being too scared/embarrassed/prideful to actually do it. I fail at the popular stuff because I don't want to be drawing memes or things that aren't going to be fun to me, but I still want, like, the praise or something.

Every so often I tell myself I'm going to get my shit together and actually try to earn some kind of money from my art, but I think that would actually kill my mental health. Because even in fandom where I'm doing it all for free, I end up hating it. Everything is about engagement and self promotion (seriously, how many of your discord servers have channels named "self promo"?). When did sharing art/fic become self-promoting? We can rant all we want about the likes/reblog ratio and all that, but it's not the root of the problem here.

And yes, I still want it. I still want the attention, I still want people to like my art, and I end up drawing things I barely enjoy in (failed) hopes of attracting it. The truth is, I'm really bad at interacting with people and making friends, so my main way of being in fandom is throwing stuff I make out to all of you and hope that something might come back to me, and when nothing does, it hurts.

I want to be shameless on this blog and actually discuss things with people and post my random thoughts and ramble about my writing/art, but then I just get scared of discourse and purity culture and all that shit and I'm just tired.

Yeah, not going anywhere with this, just tired.

(To be clear: this isn't about something in particular, just thoughts percolating in my head on a bad morning)

[carnivoyeurs]

shameless self promo time ive added a new tier :]

[shuckfacedcarrot]

Some shameless self promo for my new wattpad book!

It's basically if Narnia and ahs asylum had a love child 😌

Anyway, feel free to check it out!

When King Salemon informed his daughter, Princess Riniya, she was soon to be wed in light of a recent alliance, she assumed this would be the worst part of her young life. However, before the engagement can take place, tragedy strikes. A dark force attacks, determined to destroy the royal family once and for all.

In her desperate attempts to flee her realm, she runs straight into the claws of a new world. A world that no longer believes in fairytales and decides Riniya must be ridden of her delusions. Will she escape this new prison and be the savior her people need? Or is all hope lost?

[chickkickins]

I slammed smash because I’m deeply biased.

[onigirii]

sleep . all my mutuals, do this ( this being : follow my daki ).

[sxbjectxvii-a]

Desmond miles: Soldier of the world

Assassin: /əˈsasn/ noun

a murderer of an important person in a surprise attack for political or religious reasons.

He is the one that saved the W O R L D & brought us to the E N D. A man with no ambition, no plans for the future, but what he did have was HERITAGE

Slightly canon divergent + Independent Desmond Miles RP Blog + OC & AU friendly + 21 + + LIKE / REBLOG If you’re interested in rping with someone as nerdy as their muse.

|| SXBJECTXVII  || ABOUT ||

Rules summary: Don’t be a little shit. Be nice. Seriously. That’s it. That’s pretty much the whole thing.

Penned and very adored by Des.

[jtl-fics]

Thank you for tagging meeeee!!!!!!!!!

ANSWERS BELOW THE CUT

1. What is your favourite character in the Foxes?

It's Neil

2. And favorite in the series aside from this one?

I know this may shock people but it is Andrew.

3. Drop your beloved head-canons about both!

I think Andrew and Neil could 100% become 'that couple' like could become like Dan and Matt but like in a feral way. Like Neil has permission to just go after people who bother Andrew and Andrew got Neil relatively unobtrusive anklet that TRACKS his location because it makes both of them feel better.

4. Fic(s) you are always happy to recommend or fic tropes you will always read.

The Destination Was Always Forever - By TheseSmallDelights I credit this fic and it's author with me getting into the FANDOM. Like I was reading / enjoying AFTG but I wasn't engaging in the Fandom at all until I started talking to them. As for tropes IT IS TIME SHENANIGANS.

5. Which of the books is your Favourite

The King's Men. I just....I love the TENSION. Like Neil always knew he had a timer on his life but now there's........ A TIMER. There's something about him learning to like be a real living human person with human connections and feelings but only when he thinks he has limited time.

6. Opinions on AFTG Audiobook release?

Never listened so I have no opinion.

7. If you write/draw/create AFTG stuff, what is your favourite work of yours?

Ok look I love Fluent Freshman and I really love how much fun has with Smith and the friend's I have gained from writing that but the fic I am currently most proud of is: It's Just You and Me, Just Us, and Y(our) Friend Kevin It has one of my favorite jokes I have literally ever written in it and I made myself cry writing it. Yes this is shameless self-promo but like it's the thing I'm most proud of.

8. Favourite event/plot point in the books.

Andrew and Neil After Baltimore. CALL ME A SIMPLE IDIOT BUT LIKE THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN ANDREW BEING SO OBVIOUSLY RUINED BY NEIL. HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO CARE. IT WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE A PROBLEM IF THE DEAL WAS IN EFFECT. YET THERE ARE MARKS ON KEVIN'S NECK, HE'S DRAGGING WYMACK LIKE A SACK, AND HE'S READY TO KILL ANYONE WHO GETS TOO CLOSE TO NEIL. I just. I love it. I love it SO much.

9. Least favourite part of canon (can include Extra content)

Kevin gets married to Thea. (Squicks me)

10. If you could have sent Nora an ask and get an answer, what would you ask about?

When the fuck is Jean Moreau's birthday also what birthday is on Neil's driver's license. ANSWER ME.

11. If you could make an idea of your choice canon to AFTG, what would it be?

Andrew, once he gets used to Neil being in his bed / sleeping in the same bed as Neil is 100% a clinger in his sleep. Like Andrew is like a Neil seeking missile when he is asleep. If he falls asleep somewhere and Neil is nearby the man will roll like a chef boyardee can to his man.

12. Feel free to share some random hot takes if you like.

I'm good currently <3

I'm taggin @thesesmalldelights, @emry-stars-art, @snazzy-jas-z-is-a-fan-of, @angry-kid-with-no-money, and @ittyybittybaker

AFTG Fandom ask game !

by Cavan bc I need to interrogate my friends feel free to reply in replies or reblog! feel free to reply even if I haven't tagged you probably unsure if I can call you a friend but I'll be happy to read your replies!

What is your favourite character in the Foxes?

And favourite in the series aside form this one?

Drop your beloved head-canons about both!

Fic(s) you are always happy to recommend or fic tropes you will always read.

Which of the books is your favourite

Opinions on AFTG audiobook release?

If you write/draw/create aftg stuff, what is your favourite work of yours?

Favourite event/plot point in the books

Least favourite part of canon (can include Extra content)

If you could sent Nora an ask and get answer, what would you ask about?

If you could make an idea of your choice canon to aftg, what would it be?

Feel free to share some random hot takes if you like @noomyart @jtl-fics @dogintheboiler @thefoxesraven @poze-laceen @leedee013 @dianblch @yes-i-exist-shutup also shout out to ppl who have different names on all their socials so in consequence I think you are 3 different people!

[graceshouldwrite]

Managing a Writing Account with School 

instagram: @ grace_should_write

Hey writers! How are you doing?

Here are some ways you can manage your writing Instagram account while juggling school, work, or other obligations you might have. 

I hope you find these helpful! 

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1. Make a list of post ideas

Whether in Notion, Google Docs, some Notes app, or any other software that lets you edit text (heck, even a sticky notes pad or paper works), keep track of all your post ideas. 

This means that you’ll almost always have a surplus of IDEAS, so not coming up with a post idea doesn’t have to be a reason why you don’t post. 

Here’s an example of my post ideas list, which happens to be on Notion and doubles as a posting schedule: 

As you can see, the first row is what the post is. 

The second row is what type of post it is, which I have as either tips, memes, prompts, WIP posts, or issues (such as current events or important community phenomena). 

Finally, my post status bar is on the very right, where I track what posts I’ve done so far. 

I don’t have a “WHEN TO POST” tab personally (I find that I often decide what to post a day before I actually post, so I don’t really like these extra restrictions). However, if you’re a more rigid person, this could work for you! 

All in all, don’t make coming up with a post idea one inhibiting factor that prevents you from posting. There are many more hurdles to cross, unfortunately! 

2. Schedule time each day JUST to interact 

As weird as that sounds, mutual interaction is essential need if you want to grow. Unless you’re not looking to grow your writergram (which is completely valid, too), here are some things that will always increase your engagement, and thus, reach: 

leaving / replying to comments 

liking + sharing other people’s posts 

replying to DMs, stories, or just DMing people in general 

story games (i.e. polls, Q&As, etc) 

These are only a few examples, and as you may see, they won’t exactly happen on their own. In order to have a good amount of engagement in a day, you’ll have to interact quite a lot. 

This is why I like to have up to 20 minutes or even half an hour just to interact. For me, this time often gets filled up with study breaks, jogging breaks, or just any other time when I’m not really looking to do anything else.

By setting aside time to engage, you’ll be able to focus on your other obligations while still growing. 

Chances are, other people will be kind towards you and show your posts attention when you engage with theirs. Don’t feel intimidated by other accounts, and show them some love! Mutual interaction is one of the most surefire ways to grow :)

3. Work on a little bit of the post each day 

Just like writing a novel, or any other big project, doing EVERYTHING in a short amount of time may not be possible. ESPECIALLY when you already have a lot of other things on your plate. 

If you don’t have large chunks of time to set aside for making posts each day, do a little bit instead. 

As your busy-out-of-her-mind high school junior, I still find time to make at least weekly posts just by using this method. My typical method looks something like this:

Decide what the post will be and make the cover slide. Roadmap what the main points will be (this can be points for a tips post, or just logically sections for other types of posts) 

Work on the first half of the slides 

Work on the last half of the slides

Write the caption, proofread everything

As you can see, in four days or fewer, you can have a post ready. And because Instagram only allows for 10 slides per post, I know that I’ll never have more than 9 content slides to work on. 

So once you break it up, it becomes a manageable amount of work. 

4. Promote your account to your friends

You’re at school, and you’re surrounded by people who probably have instagram. So why not do some shameless self-promo?

Whether it’s subtly slipping in the plug while DMing, or mentioning it to one of your friends who likes to write, being surrounded by people gives you more opportunities to grow! (Of course, promoing in a non annoying way in appropriate occasions) 

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

I hope you writergrammers found this helpful in any way, because these tips have really helped me manage my account with all of my obligations. 

Feel free to drop some questions, whether here, or through IG dms.

happy writing!

- grace <3

[bowl-of-wyrms]

World Brainstorming Challenge: Come up with an original world with lore and characters that hasn’t been seen before in the Spiral!

Basically I’m bored and I love the concept of spiral lore and all of the worlds + animals that live within it, and I wanted to see what you guys could come up with when planning a new world! Here’s some guidelines:

1. Pick a theme for your world; it can be set in a historical time period (like Krokotopia) or just have a fun theme (like Darkmoor). The only hard rule is to pick a theme that hasn’t been done before by KI

2. What animals populate your world and what is the lore behind the characters? Is it a monarchy, a divided nation, an evil corporation? You choose! Again, the only rule is to choose animals that haven’t been done before, unless you can pull something off with the existing spiral lore (for example, the Kroks aren’t actually from Krokotopia). If you want to know what animals have been used, you can use my masterlist! (shameless self promo lmao)

3. What is the overall lore of your world? Totally okay if you combine this with the character lore, but basically, just tell me about your world! How does it interact with other worlds? Would you rather it be created in Wizard101 or Pirate101? What is the story that the pirate/wizard will play through? Add anything you want, and just have fun with it!!!

Here’s my example: Quebeak

The Pingouins from Polaris set out into the spiral and “discovered” a new world inhabited by indigenous tribes of beavers, moose, and lynxs! The Pingouins settled some colonies and actually became friends with the native populations, engaging in trade with each other. But of course, the Marleybonians wish to set up their own colonies in this “newfound” world, so the wizard/pirate has to become a mediator between the Marlybonians and Pingouins in order to keep the peace in Quebeak.

Quebeak is of course a play-on-words of Quebec and beak since the penguins are birds, and my overall imagined world is loosely based on the French and British colonization of Canada.

I can’t wait to see what worlds and stories you guys come up with! Reblog this post or tag me in the posts that you make so I can see them + share :)

[gallavichthings]

It’s finally time to interview the hottest new sensation in the fandom, the self-proclaimed fluff queen, Grayola aka @gallavichy​, author of fics you have definitely heard of, like her wips Cooperative Gameplay and Everything About You, sequence to the super acclaimed Like Real People Do, and her one-shot Inside This Room For Two.

GT: tell us a bit about yourself.

G:I was always someone who agonized over the “about me” section of their social media profile, so this is hard. 😆 I’m Gray. I’m a Pisces. I was born and lived just outside Atlanta until I was 17. I’m the middle child in a very large family, which I feel explains a lot about me. When I was 12, I hand-wrote Lizzie McGuire fanfiction for an English assignment, my teacher wrote me kind comments, and I genuinely think that changed my life. I love writing. I’ve been in and out of online fandoms since I was a young teenager, but Shameless is really the only one in which I’ve ever actually engaged and talked with people, my past experiences being simply writing things and staying on the outskirts. I love music. I’m a literature instructor. I tend to be long-winded because I can never figure out how to end things. 

GT: As a teacher, that's very nice to hear, that we can actually make a difference in people's lives.

How did you discover fanfiction? Or did you just happen to write it without ever reading it before?

G: Yeah, definitely! I was always a creative kid, always a daydreamer, always coming up with little stories, and an adult I admired praising my silly fanfiction about three characters being best friends and taking down a bully gave me a sense of validation I think I really needed--especially coming from a family in which no one cared or understood my desire to write stuff like that. Teachers are the best.

That’s really how I started writing fanfiction. It’s ALWAYS been the way I engaged in fandom, even when I didn’t post anything. I was always a kid who’d write stories about characters in movies or TV shows I liked. It wasn’t until I was around 13-14 that I learned fanfiction was a legit thing that people wrote and posted online. That was the age when I got really into fan forums and stuff like that--mostly Harry Potter--and I remember there being threads in which a person would type and post fic, bit by bit, in the replies. I never posted anything, but I read and wrote a little. I used to have a password protected document on the family computer where I’d write all my stories. Everything was super tame, no romance plots, I didn’t even swear in my writing, but fic has always been a super private thing for me, and I kept it a secret.

GT: When did you start posting your stories?

G: Back in LJ days when I was a teenager, I posted a couple things on my own personal journal but didn't promo them or post to any communities, so I think I only had maybe 2-3 readers. But then when I was in college, I posted a couple things for the QAF fandom. I still didn't get many readers, and I gave it up pretty quickly, as it was at the tail-end of my interest in the show and just before I moved on to other things, but it gave me enough confidence to keep going. It felt like a baby step.

GT: When did you start watching Shameless?

G:I'm very much a newcomer to the show. I didn't start watching it until December '19/January '20, so I'm one of those fans who came over from Netflix.

GT: What made you enjoy Gallavich?

G: Because I was able to watch all the way through season 9 on Netflix, then got a Showtime subscription through Hulu so I could catch up with season 10, I think shipping Ian/Mickey was a natural thing for me, as I was able to view the complete arc of their growth and development as characters and partners. Plus, they are the epitome of the exact dynamic I love--enemies to friends to lovers--and I genuinely fell in love with them as characters, rooted for them, felt heartbreak with them, and wanted so badly for them to be happy.

GT: Do you prefer writing Ian or Mickey?

G: I like writing Mickey through Ian’s eyes. I like writing Ian falling in love with him, caring for him. I like writing Ian experiencing Mickey's love for him. ♥️

GT: That's adorable. What's the best thing about writing them?

G:The thing about Ian/Mickey is that their dynamic can be applied to so many different scenarios that I feel like you can literally do anything with them. Additionally, their personal backstories and struggles are compelling from a writer’s standpoint. I always want to explore them because in many very general ways I relate to them, and I want to bring the characters love and healing as much as I can in a way that I think is sort of therapeutic for me. Mickey has so many feelings that he keeps inside because he doesn’t feel like he’s allowed to feel them. Ian, I think, has so many self-worth issues stemming from his experiences. I want to bring these characters hope, growth, and happiness because they deserve it.

GT: What do you struggle with when writing them?

G: I’m a fluff queen. I love writing softness and kindness. So I think my biggest struggle is sometimes writing my fluffy stories and keeping them passably in character. As a writer who’s writing for a very specific purpose (for the enjoyment of it, to tell happy, sweet stories), I’m a-okay with softening canonical Ian/Mickey in a way that some people who are super loyal to canon interpretations would find a little OOC. But! I still want to maintain their essential characterizations, even if the context has been shifted, allowing them to develop into slightly softer versions of themselves. I loved Ian/Mickey dancing and singing together in the bathroom in 11x07, as well as a lot of Ian’s sweet little lines (“Do you wanna make dinner together?” “‘Cause you’re my husband…”) in the most recent episodes because that’s absolutely something my characters would do/say, and it was sort of validating in a way lol. I remain convinced that Ian/Mickey are absolute softies, despite what the series decides to show us.

GT: They are, I agree. But they're also a product of their upbringings, so if you change that, as one does in an AU, it's reasonable to say that a lot of their behaviors would be different as well.

You said you're a fluff queen. Is that what you enjoy writing the most, fluffy stories?

G: I like to write super-long slow burns in which both characters have massive crushes on the other but no one's admitting feelings until the last possible second, then endings that are hopefully just feel-good fluff. I write what makes me feel good. I do like writing angst, but mostly angst born of personal/emotional stuff. For example, in my fic "Cooperative Gameplay," Mickey's struggling with issues related to his dad, and he doesn't want Ian to know about it, so he builds up walls that frustrate Ian to no end because he doesn't understand what's going on with him and Mickey isn't sharing. And then all my fics sort of have a running theme of "he doesn't like me the way I like him" until that's straightened out. That kind of thing is a lot of fun to write.

GT: It's a lot of fun to read too! Where do you get the inspiration from when coming up with the plot?

G: Things in my life, and things I'm into, mostly. I actually had planned to write "Like Real People Do" as a quarantine-based fic in which Ian and Mickey were using an app meant to connect people during COVID quarantine. But then I decided I didn't actually want to deal with COVID in the fic, so I tried to come up with another way Ian and Mickey could meet, still through the app premise, and made Ian an escort working through an app, instead. I've always loved reading texting/epistolary fanfic, so LRPD was my way of indulging. And then with "Cooperative Gameplay," I'm a gamer--super casually--and I was thinking about s1 Mickey playing video games, and it seemed fun to work with, Mickey as a gamer/streamer. I'm also really interested in fandom dynamics, especially on social media, and I've found it fun to explore that through this fic.

GT: What's your writing process like?

G: I outline a fic to death before I write a single word of it. That way, the writing process is basically just taking my bullet points and putting them into a cohesive story. I tend to write in large chunks for hours at a time over the span of several days rather than little by little over a longer period, and when I'm done with a chapter, I like to sleep on it before I edit and then post it once I'm done.

GT: Do you do any research for your fics?

G: Yes, definitely--particularly location stuff. It helps a fic feel "real" to me when I'm able to place the characters in real locations (real hotels, real restaurants, attractions, etc.), so I tend to use Google Maps while I write. I like to use street view and walk down the streets/explore the areas where my characters will be. I also almost always have my characters get meals from real restaurants in the area, even if I don't always name the restaurant, so I research local restaurants and their menus. My most recent "Cooperative Gameplay" chapter primarily takes place in LA, so I found myself on hiking blogs finding the best trails to see the Hollywood sign, using street view to plan my characters' routes around the city, etc. It's a little exhausting sometimes, and I often find myself with 10+ tabs open while I'm writing, but it ultimately makes me feel closer to my characters and the stories I'm telling.

GT: I do the same thing with the menus, I totally get it. It might not seem important, but it does help make the story more real, both in our heads and in the imagination of those reading it.

Which other characters from the show do you enjoy? Do you include them in your fics?

G: I adore Lip and think he's had the most relatively consistently solid storylines for most of the show's run. When it comes to writing him, I do love a good brothers moment, so he always makes an appearance to hang out with Ian and talk about life and Mickey. I also like Mandy a lot, but mostly s1 Mandy. In my fics, I love giving Mickey an annoying little sister he secretly loves and protects and Ian a best friend with whom he can be a silly teen/young adult.

GT: What about OCs? How and when do you create them?

G: I do love giving Ian and Mickey OC friends. Typically, they come in the form of giving Ian someone his age with whom to hang out and talk and giving Mickey a figure in his life that can love, guide, and make him feel safe and cared for. In LRPD, he has an elderly landlady with whom he develops a grandchild-grandparent relationship and in CG, he has an older agent friend who acts as his big sister but also does her share of mothering him. I think these characters come purely out of my desire for them to have people to love them platonically, outside the bounds of romance. Especially considering where they are at the beginning of my fics, they desperately need support, kindness, and care.

GT: I do wish the show had given them more canon friendships. Let's backtrack a little: tell me about your usernames on Tumblr and on AO3. Why did you choose them?

G: I really wish I was someone who had a meaningful username they've stuck with since the beginning of their fandom life, but I really just don't. I have zero emotional attachments to my usernames and typically create a new one for every fandom because I've never been super active and certainly not "known" before--at least enough to maintain a username lol. "Grayola" is just gray + Crayola like the crayon. And then "gallavichy" is just gallavich with the "y" suffix because suffixes after names/ships/objects were popular on Tumblr at the time I registered. I honestly sort of dislike it because it weirdly doesn't feel like me and will probably change it at some point if I can be bothered lol

GT: Well, you're definitely renowned now! What kinds of comments have you been getting? Which are your favorites?

G: My readers are some of the kindest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of interacting with, and anything they leave is absolutely cherished. I have a particular fondness for genuine reaction comments, like emojis and exclamatory phrases. They make me laugh. I love the people who take the time to leave me in-depth, analytical comments that leave me in awe. I adore hearing from people who have been impacted emotionally in positive ways by my fic. Those are the ones that really sit with me. Especially comments I’ve received on LRPD. In it, Mickey’s a 26-year-old with zero relationship experience, and I’ve heard from some folks around that age and older in a similar boat who have told me that it made them feel less alone and gave them hope that they’d find love one day. Those are really special to me. At the end of the day, that’s why I write.

GT: That's very sweet. I've seen a lot of fanart for your fics as well!

G: Yes! They're amazing! I'm so blown away that anyone would take the time to do that for something I've written. And they're all exceptionally talented! The art gives me the warm fuzzies. It's seriously the coolest thing, and I get so happy every time I see it!

GT:  Let's talk about the reading side of you now. What are some of your favorite tropes when reading?

G: Enemies to friends to lovers in the absolute most painfully slow transition as possible. I love a slow burn so much. Sometimes I completely lose interest in a fic once the pairing officially gets together. It's all about the anticipation for me!

GT: What kinds of fics do you avoid?

G: Major character death because my heart can't take it. Abuse in any form. I'm also not really into fics that go to super dark places, which surprises me because when it comes to non-fandom lit I like to read, the darker the better. I think I just tend to go to fic to feel soft, warm things with the characters I love as a source of comfort.

GT: Safe to say you haven't read Teenagers Scare The Living Shit Out of Me then?

What are some of your favorite fics and/or writers in the fandom?

G: I haven’t, but not actually for that reason! I just haven’t been able to start it yet. It’s on my Marked for Later list on AO3. The premise for that one actually sounds super great, I’ve heard it’s amazing, and Mellow_Yellow is an incredible writer. I love “Boy in the Box.” I guess the “dark” places I refer to are more the central pairing having a violent, obsessive, and borderline abusive relationship. Maybe “dark relationship places” is how I should’ve phrased it. Nothing even comes to mind in this fandom, really, but I have vivid memories of reading fics like that in previous fandoms that were objectively great but made me feel a bit uneasy.

My favorite fic is “Love is a Ballfield” by and_i_take_it. I could go on and on about that Ian and Mickey. I love everything by pink_ink, who is just such an incredible writer. Anything by BeckyHarvey29 [@beckyharvey29 ​.] Loftec [@loftec ​]. horror_business. “Two of Your Earth Minutes” by @the-rat-wins ​. “UnReal” and “Camp Kiabi'' by clovesfanfic. DodgerBear’s stuff makes me so happy. And the fic I keep coming back to because of the precious s2 summer feels is “Seal My Fate” by allyasavedtheday. I could talk all day about that one, too.

GT: Those are some great recommendations right there. As for TSTLSOOM, I agree that the theme is not something I'd chose to read normally, I remember I couldn't read it during the night because I was literally scared I'd have a nightmare, but it's so brilliantly done that I had to read it. And Boy in The Box is also incredible.

Let's talk about Shameless. What is your favorite season and why?

G: Season 4! 4x11 and 4x12, especially, are god-tier in every way. The writing is incredible, it has episodes that hit emotionally in extraordinarily impactful ways, and it's such a strong season for Mickey's character. Then it has the ending that marks the beginning of the arc of Ian and Mickey dealing with Ian's bipolar diagnosis, and though it obviously doesn't end well at the end of season 5, I do love that arc and what it reveals about the characters' love for each other.

GT:  Mickey humping the police car was an iconic moment.

G: Yes! His lines there and "You've got a demon mind and a devil's womb and heart. And your coochie smells of brimstone and sulfur!!" are my favorite lines from the show to quote. lol

GT: Oh my god, I miss Sheila! She was one of my favorite characters. And that scene was also iconic. Do you have a favorite Gallavich scene?

G: My favorite scene is “Sorry I’m late.” It's so beautiful and tender. Every time I see it, I have to watch it over and over again. Many of the Ian/Mickey scenes dealing with Ian’s bipolar, really. They tug at my heartstrings. Also, more recently, the 11x11 “barbarian” bed scene. “You’re my husband.” Literal heart-eyes.

GT: What did you think of the last seasons? Did you like the way it ended?

G: In general, I have a pretty high tolerance for bad endings due to past experiences. I had a mini-breakdown when I reached the end of QAF and Brian and Justin parted ways. The last episode of Sherlock s4 was bad enough that at first we all thought it was a fake cut after it leaked and we saw it early. So the ending of Shameless didn't truly bother me, though I genuinely hated how open everything was left because it feels super lazy. I like an open ending, but this was open to the point of making much of the season feel pointless. And overall, I just really wish the season had hit the ground running with the types of episodes that started popping up mid-season. Ian/Mickey's arc alone, they wasted so much time on them fighting that all the actual serious, emotional stuff that hit later in the season felt rushed and like it wasn't properly resolved. It kind of felt as if at the end of the season, they were just getting to where I wanted them to be all season long. And Lip's ending killed me, though I get it. I just really wanted something to look up for him, even though I feel like it definitely will in the future. Overall, I'm really happy with what it gave us Ian/Mickey wise in the end, the two of them having no doubt the best ending of the bunch. I just wish the season as a whole had leaned much more into drama rather than comedy, and I ultimately wish that the finale was more like 7x12, which I thought was excellent. I was absolutely banking on the characters coming out at the end, breaking the fourth wall, and telling us to leave, that it was over, and I'm slightly annoyed that they didn't do it because I feel like it would've been such a great touch lol. Out of all the seasons, s11 sort of feels like one of the only ones that I probably won't spend much time rewatching. But that's fine. That's what fanfic's for--to fill in all the gaps and to solve all the problems with canon.

"The ending of Shameless didn't truly bother me" I say and then proceed to list a series of complaints. lol

GT: Do you have any headcanons for their future?

G: I like to think Ian and Mickey are going to become super successful with their business (though it makes me anxious as hell that they're carrying around weapons while on parole). They'll stay at their West Side apartment for a few years, but I think they'll buy a house eventually, probably South Side, and then they'll obtain a kid they're able to give an incredible life. I hope they get financially comfortable enough that they're able to travel a bit when their parole's over. They deserve a nice, long beach vacation--maybe a belated honeymoon. I think they'll have a life that's more stereotypically "American Dream, married with 2.5 kids" than Mickey ever expected to have and one that Ian always hoped to have, but I think they'll also stick to their roots, not afraid to throw down when they have to, willing to do whatever it takes for their family. They're going to be together forever. I think they're the only couple who will last until the end. I think Lip and Tami are going to one day part ways but will be good, amicable co-parents. I think Debbie's going to struggle with relationships for most of her life. I think Carl's going to have a few [more] kids from some relationships, maybe a marriage and divorce in there somewhere, but then will eventually find someone to settle down with for the long haul. And I think Liam's going to be reasonable and responsible and will focus on other things until he's in his late-30s. Ian and Mickey, though? Beginning to end. Lasting. Sustainable.

GT: I love that. If you could change one Gallavich scene, which would you chose?

G: It’s tough for me to separate the horrible 5x12 break-up and subsequent lack of Mickey from the behind-the-scenes drama, but I just wish there had been a better way to deal with the Mickey situation rather than the complete implausibility of him being sentenced to prison for so many years for what he did to Sammi. And y'know, I also really hated them beating the crap out of each other in 11x03. I'm really glad that they seemed to have grown away from that behavior later in the season, but watching them engaged in such a violent act as a married couple was painful. I kind of just wish that scene didn't exist at all and that the two of them expressed their frustrations in a different way and were able to maturely work on their communication in the aftermath.

GT: I wholeheartedly agree, 5x12 was pure bullshit and made no sense at all. And yes, I don't understand why the writers insist on them physically fighting.

Finally, I know you have a couple of WIPs, but do you have any other projects in the works?

G: I'm currently writing, little by little, a one-shot of Ian and Mickey "obtaining" a baby. It takes place about 2 years post-canon and is a lot of fun, though I'm not sure where it's going quite yet. It's going to be a one-shot in an eventual series of one-shots, but I'm still working with the big picture. We'll see where it goes!

GT: Sounds great, I can't wait! 😍 That's all, thank you so, so much for taking the time to do this. Any final words? A message for your many fans?

G: Thank you for interviewing me! This was fun, and these are so cool! I love reading them! My "many fans" 😭😭 Stop! Haha. My readers are amazing and bring so much joy to my life. I'd just like to thank them for their support, for taking the time out of their days to read my silly little stories, and for being truly kind people who make me laugh and smile even when I don't feel like it sometimes. They are absolutely cherished and give me motivation to keep doing what I like to do, and for that, I'll be forever grateful. ❤️️

GT: They're far from "silly little stories" I am sure you bring a small to their faces as well when they read them. Thank you, you were a delight. ❤️

G: ❤️️❤️️❤️️ Thank YOU!

[lesbian-jack-barnabas]

Some shameless self promo for @odcd-podcasts-official- we’ve got a discord where we engage in some of the most unhinged conversations with you guys. it’s a time. and we also have a sci-fi podcast with peak astronomy vibes and sapphic romance if you’re into that

I love the Tumblr presence of fiction podcasts. It makes it feel like actual people are making these shows and not just an amorphous corporate entity cranking out content. We got one willing to drop small lore and world building hints and clarifications on their work (or just shitposting about their favorite toxic ship from the show) ( @starsfellradio ), we got another hyperfixated on old tools and tech right now ( @starfallpod ), and then we have… whatever the Intern at @ameliapodcast has going on over there.

It’s fun!

[berlinini]

Honestly this one foot in one foot out is maddening. We’re supposed to believe that someone who has the drive and ambition to put on what appeared to be a successful, well run festival just doesn’t want any positive press. I just feel like hacking off somebodies’ b****.

I feel you anon...

We've been saying everyday since AFHF was announced that the promo was... well, non-existent. A few, minor media outlets who copy/pasted the press release, a lack of engagement to build up the excitement, a dedicated Twitter account activated mere days (day?) before the event... Seems like nothing had changed.

Then the day of the festival came and we all forgot about this, with the simply extraordinary experience of Louis giving out an outstanding performance to an audience full of loving, dedicated fans. Baby, we were still high...hopeful, for sure.

Today we're still basking in the experience, but the f*ck ups of his career handlings are back...

(serious and depressing yet also somewhat hopeful discourse under the cut)

Not only was there minimal press coverage of the event, but we learn that (apparently), the festival simply did not provide press accreditation.

As you say, Louis would not put on a free, special event "curated entirely" by him and not wish for proper coverage of the Festival. It makes no sense. Not when we know he's been in this industry for years and how perfectionist he is. So there is a big question mark about what the fuck happened. As Shakespeare would say, something rotten lies in the Kingdom of Denmark (lol don't mind me).

Louis has talked about having a vision for 5 albums - and I know he's so grateful for his current fanbase - but I also know he knows that his career cannot be sustained on the fanbase as it is, made of a lot of 1D fans and larries. What happens when he's got enough of his own songs for a 1.5 hour performance and he ditches the 1D covers? What happens when his songs no longer appeal to fans who are already more inclined towards Harry's pop sound?

I feel crazy repeating this, but Louis needs to extend his fanbase and that is done by promoting his music to the general public and that just isn't being done.

I mean really, nothing is being done in term of promotion. Fandom literally had to make a fan project to get #inthemoodforAFHF (shameless self-plug, sue me); we got a rehearsal pic the day before along with lukewarm tweets from Louis.

Ok this is where I stop repeating myself and have New Thoughts (or maybe just another way of saying stuff that's been said before): Louis has been put in a box - that is obvious to anyone who looks at his career trajectory. With the BMG deal announcement and the 369 merch, we had some hope that he was getting out of it. What AFHF shows, for me, is that he's finding every way he can to expand the box, but he's still stuck inside ("can't get through the glass" :/). He created his own opportunity to perform, to support smaller bands, to thank his fans. His idea was allowed to take form and be realized, but the old patterns - lack of promo, let's even use the words blacklisting - are still in place. Maybe I'm reaching, but the AFHF Twitter account is telling - it was "well" run for the event and I'd bet 100$ he was able to have someone work on it that is not from LTHQ (because that team probably forgets the password to their socials every 2 days). I think where ever there are "exits" or "loopholes", he grabs them with both hands - the deal with BMG being one, in a way.

But it's clear that his public image, his press relations are still very much controlled. And this is where the blow hits, because for every great song that Louis writes, for every masterpiece he records, for every festival he organizes and for every worldwide tour he sells out, if there is no opportunity to connect beyond the existing fanbase and, from Louis' POV, to be recognized by his industry and his peers, then his career plan is threading on a ~ fine line ~ (SORRY), because, as I said, it's a gamble to think the actual fanbase can be sustained. (at the same time, louies are indestructible, so who knows...) There needs to be casual fans, there needs to be male fans, there needs to be fans who are here for his music and his music only - not for a ship, not for his previous band, for him.

Again, I refuse to believe that Louis has chosen anything when it comes to the current state of his promo/PR. He loves his fans and put the festival on mainly for us, but there is no way he worked so hard not get the recognition he deserves. And he must know he deserves it, because he shatters records with anything he does. He hasn't given up and he's still pushing the lid of the box to get it open, and he's such a stubborn little shit that I hope he never stops pushing, faith in the future yady yady yada, but fuck if it isn't frustrating for us, and so it must be x 1000 for him!!!

The next "test" will be LT2 - seeing what BMG can do for him, because if they have two braincells (unlike Mr. Stringer), they see the potential ($$$$) of Louis Tomlinson and will work for him. But again, there's so much they can do if LTHQ, Simon Jones and co. are still in the picture.

I know this is all frustrating. We all want Louis to get the recognition he deserves... the lack of press is a hard reminder that he does not get it. But if it's any consolation, the fact that everyone, from fans to his bandmates to the people he works with, is always supporting him and praising his work shows us that he's a beautiful person inside and out. And the joy that he emanated performing, and the quality of his new songs, and the unbelievable BTS footage we'll get on Saturday... I think AFHF has rekindled the fandom's fire, and now we wait and see, and hope for news about LT2 and for the tour to happen as planned. We can focus on Louis and make the best out of this. <3