#still entertaining the fantasy that i can publish something

[thepoeticpurplepotato]

Does Anybody Else Feel Like This?

istg if you had told little 14 y/o baby-fanfic-author Staymie that she'd be on tumblr posting fanfic reviews while attending uni, she'd have stared at you like you'd grown 3 heads

[aerithmybbgmypookiemywife]

So I just read your fix about Creator!reader reading a fanfic ‘bout them and it gave me an idea. Like HEAR ME OUT HEAR ME OUT-…

Creator!reader reading a spicy/smut fanfic about them, but in reality, Creator!reader is asexual?? IT WOULD BE AMAZING

lmaoooo can imagine the creator reading smut with a straight face just out of curiosity, entertainment or amusement only to be someone who is asexual.

Imagine Creator! Reader sitting on a chair, reading what seemed to be a book. The book was titled 'That time I had a one night stand with the Creator.', the plot was... Interesting to say the least.

It was a fanfiction containing the reader meeting the Creator under a cherry tree or whatever cliche bullshit the author thought off that ended with whoever the reader was and you, the Creator, banging.

It was just a normal day... The sun was out... You were out having an outdoor lunch along with the Archons and some of the Acolytes. But... Instead of eating you decided to just read the fanfic smut. You were curious as to what it would contain, what people thought of you in that way.

The Archons and Acolytes were all talking while you had the book placed on your lap where no one could see it... But... Imagine Creator! Reader having a habit of reading some words outloud...

"And... The wetness... Thrust... Tongue deep into my ass..." you mumbled. Everyone paused, as if time froze. A majority of them knew those words... those lines... BECAUSE THEY READ THAT BOOK SECRETLY IN THEIR SPARE TIME!!

Venti froze, before choking on his wine. Zhongli cleared his throat. Raiden Ei just looked around, a little confused. Mauvuika shook her head, finding this situation a little ridiculous but funny. Neuvillette nearly spat out the Natlan water he was tasting.

Kinich was side eyeing everyone while Ajaw laughed in the background, Ajaw was about to comment something but Kinich was quick to shut him up. Lyney on the other hand just cleared his throat while his ears were red. Childe tried his hardest to hold in his laugh, only plastering a trembling smile on his face. Wanderer scoffed, as if he didn't read the book too. Yae Miko's eyes widened as she hid her face with a fan, trying her best to not laugh.

You looked up at everyone, raising an eyebrow. "Something wrong?" you asked. "You-Your Grace... That book..." Zhongli cleared his throat. "Oh? This? It's interesting... But it isn't exactly a good potrayal of me. I'm not that crazy about sex." you said so nonchalantly that everyone got a whiplash.

Safe to say that word spread fast, smuts were now BANNED as the public deemed they weren't an accurate potrayal of the Creator. Authors who try to publish smut about the creator as publicly shamed too, although the public had a secret desire or fantasy of being with the Creator intimately, they still respected the fact that it isn't something the Creator would want.

[rosietrace]

This is a personal rant about my thoughts on Greek mythology retellings, and just the way Fantasy books and the publishing industry is at this point 🧍‍♀️

I have nothing against Greek mythology retellings, or just anything Greek mythology related in fantasy in general!

However, I have certain gripes about the way Greek mythology is portrayed in media, specifically in the way its interpreted in Fantasy.

[ More under the cut! ]

I love Percy Jackson, and I think that Uncle Rick did a wonderful job at expanding the world and making Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythology entertaining and easily digestible for young audiences. Genuinely, he does a better job at writing children's books than R*wling could ever be capable of.

However, as much as I can love PJO as much as I do, I still find certain bits of the world building and character writing as... Very hit and miss.

To start, I don't like the way Ares was written in the series. I can understand that it would make sense for his personality to be that way, because he's the God of War and it helps with Clarisse's character development; but I find fault in it because Ares in the myths is nothing like PJO Ares. (He literally killed one of Poseidon's sons because he raped his daughter, Alcippe, and he's one of the only gods who doesn't hump anything that can breathe in air. At least Ares has the courtesy of asking for consent 💀)

The Gods being the reason behind WWII and Hitler being a child of Hades. All I must say.

The portrayal of the Aphrodite cabin

The fact that Athena can have children. Annabeth, pjo fandom at large, I love you are, but you gotta admit it must've felt weird when you first read the books and you find out Athena — the maiden Goddess of Wisdom — can have offspring. Regardless of the reasoning, I still find it weird 😭 (EDIT: I've now just remembered that it was a reference to how Athena herself was created 🤡 I'm a clown)

I get that the Hermes cabin is also the cabin for the unclaimed, but couldn't have Hestia's cabin worked too? She doesn't have offspring, sure, but it probably would've made more sense for the unclaimed to go to Hestia's cabin so that the Hermes cabin wouldn't be so crowded

This isn't really a world building issue, but I think I should bring it up: I'm not saying this against the Kane Chronicles fandom, but... Sadie and Anubis. Why. Like you can't convince me that no one WASN'T weirded out by that.

Less of a complaint and more of a question because I can't remember if the question was answered in HoO or not, but when Percy told the Gods to start claiming their unclaimed children and be more decent parents (as he should, go off king), did that request apply to the Romans at Camp Jupiter too? Because that's gotta have been confusing when the unclaimed kids at CP suddenly started getting claimed 😭😭

I could go on a whole ass tangent about PJO, but that would make this post longer than it needs to be 😭😭 and any of the points might not make much sense, since I haven't read the books in a LONG time

Off to the YA Fantasy segment... Hoo boy.

The oversaturation of Hades/Persephone retellings makes me SEETHE. Why is it always Hades and Persephone why can't it be something else 😭

I just don't like the “modern feminist” retellings of Greek myths in the YA Fantasy genre, in general. They tend to completely miss the point of the original myth, and it's the case with a lot of Hades and Persephone retellings where they try to paint Hades as the good guy taking Persephone away from her control freak mother, Demeter.

Because that wasn't what the myth was about. The myth isn't a love story, at least, not a romantic one. It was about Demeter's love for Persephone and how much she wanted her daughter back after Hades stole her away. Keep in mind, in the historical context of the myth, the daughters of women in ancient Greece never really get to see their mothers after their engagements are solidified.

If they wanted to make a “feminist” retelling of the myth, they'd have it centered around the love Demeter had for Persephone to almost doom the mortal realm to an eternal winter to get her back.

I love the myth of Hades and Persephone, truly, I do. I understand the appeal it has on people, the appeal it has one me. I can see why people adore the myth in the way they do because Hades is one of the better husbands in Greek mythology (a low bar, but my point still stands).

Personally, I blame Lore Olympus and especially the video of the myth by Overly Sarcastic Productions for the way the myth is portrayed in mass media. And I say this as a former LO fan and a fan of Overly Sarcastic Productions 😭

I'd also want to go into my many, MANY gripes about “Crown of Starlight” by Cait Corrain, but in all honesty? I don't think I can properly convey how much I DESPISE Cait and their book. So I'd highly recommend y'all to check out the videos about Cait Corrain by Reads With Rachel, WithCindy, and Xiran Jay Zhao on YouTube if you're interested in going into more detail about the controversies, especially for those who weren't made aware of it.

I feel like the publishing industry just... Isn't good anymore, after Booktok went viral. Reading has been “hot girlified”, and all Booktok seems to ask when they get recommended a book is: “Is it spicy??”

Reading is like fast fashion, now. It's all based around certain popular tropes that that's how books are promoted now. Not for the plot — or sometimes lack thereof — but for the tropes the book has.

The only thing I can thank Booktok for is that they helped me discover The Cruel Prince. And even then, it's marketed as romance on there, when it's a political fantasy with a romance subplot.

‼️ Woah! A secret bonus section! ‼️

I, personally, don't read — nor do I like — Sarah J Maas. (Especially considering the problematic aspects of her storytelling, character portrayals, and is (apparently, correct me if I'm wrong) a Zionist)

However, that isn't to say that I don't like some of the characters she makes. A lot of them have potential, actually! From what I've seen, I think Nesta, Gwyn, Azriel, Eris, Tamlin and Lucien from ACOTAR are the only characters I actually like, based on what I've heard — and seen — on anything in the SJM critical tag on this hellsite.

And while we're at it, let's discuss the elephant in the room with ACOTAR, right? Rhysand.

By all that is good and holy, I hate Rhysand so much and I think I'd hate him even more if I actually READ the books. I don't get why Booktok is so invested in him when Maas retconned Tamlin's character to make him look better as Feyre's love interest.

Also, from what I recall, didn't Rhysand sexually assault Feyre? And he didn't bother to apologize for it, and justified it with his sad tragic backstory??

I can't with y'all, istg 😭 the fact that “Feysand” is apparently a Hades and Persephone retelling too makes me even more mad about it because it isn't even a GOOD retelling. It just takes away what ACOTAR originally was— a Beauty and the Beast retelling, with Feyre and Tamlin as the leads.

Didn't Maas dedicate ACOTAR to her husband because “He would go under the mountain” for her??? BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY WASN'T RHYSAND WHO SAVED FEYRE FROM UTM, I'LL TELL YOU THAT

I think, out of all the series Maas has made thus far, Throne of Glass is the only one I ACTUALLY kind of like, based on what I've heard. Crescent City seems to be too complicated to understand, and even though I've never read it myself, I miss what ACOTAR could've been. (My hope lies with Nesta, Elucien and Gwynriel, at this point)

[fellshish]

genuinely, how do you write for yourself fully?

while i write for myself and post what i want etc. i always get suck on feeling kinda sad afterwards cause i barely get any interactions on tumblr, which i suppose isn’t that bad, but the 50/60 hits on ao3 and only like 5 kudos make me sad. i truly don’t think my writing is awful, like it’s a work in progress especially since english isn’t my native language, but i just always find myself a bit discouraged.

i feel you, anon. it’s rough out there. and it feels so random. like sure i have worked hard on developing my writing the past few years and on kind of building an audience, but i recognise there was also a whole lot of luck involved and i still remember what it was like to receive very little kudos and feeling sad and discouraged. (i will say the feelings of self doubt etc might never fully leave, but that’s a different matter altogether).

i’ll say this: ‘write for yourself’ as a slogan is an empty one if you fully think about it. the only person who truly writes for themself is the one who never publishes (and even they might entertain some kafka fantasies of being discovered after death). the core of ‘write for yourself’ however holds some truth: if you get joy from the act of writing more than the act of receiving positive feedback, you are invincible. if you write what you want to read, and you can look back on your progress? that’s a reason to be proud of yourself, no matter how much engagement you got. you created something out of nothing, you put something out in the world that nobody had put out there before. amazing, right?

but this is fandom. it’s all about engaging, and i don’t mean that in an annoying content creatory way but as a way of human connection. a part of the joy of sharing your art, for free, is making that connection. getting that comment, that kind tumblr reblog. it’s not shameful to admit you like compliments. every fanfic author has a praise kink.

both are true: we write for ourselves and for others. we live in a society etc

now that that’s out of the way, here are my thoughts on getting more readers, more comments, more kudos, and more reblogs — which i think is the core issue of your ask.

to start quite generally: there’s been a decline in reblogging fanworks - including fics - on tumblr, and i think we bear a collective responsibility here to make this a reblogging website again.

and of course your ao3 statistics depend on how big your fandom (still) is. on how good you tag your works, too, because that’s how a lot of readers find fics. on how good a summary you write, on how popular certain tropes or pairings are that you’re into, if you use a sufficient amount of paragraphs for easier reading etc.

also, you say your native language isn’t english? neither is mine. i found it helpful to work with beta readers, some of whom have now become close friends. they improved my english and the content of my fics, and we boost each other’s works. win-win.

i’ll give you the advice i was given a few fandoms ago: engage, too. by leaving comments on other writers’ works, you can build friendships and might get them to click your ao3 name too. by joining discords and reading the fics of the writers there, or by reading a tumblrina’s fic and reblogging it with kind tags, or by signing up for a bang, by writing holiday themed fics if that inspires you, or a fic inspired by an artwork, … basically, by engaging in fandom and making friends and having fun, but also: leaving comments will sometimes mean getting comments in return, too.

to be clear i’m not saying ‘engage with other fans to get comments’. no. engage to experience the absolute joy of fandom, and more kudos / comments / reblogs etc might become a fun side effect.

[toonrandytalkstoons]

Cyber Group Studios is no more :(

It's official: Cyber Group Studios is being liquidated to pay back its creditors by court order, it has been reported today.

The French animation outfit suddenly found itself into financial trouble starting in October 2024 and declared itself insolvent. Between then and today (April 28), Cyber Group welcomed several buyout deals to save the company; the company's higher-ups favored a buyout from one company, but the Paris Commercial Court ordered Cyber Group into liquidation in what I'm sure is a serious blow.

Gigantosaurus, one of Cyber Group's biggest hit series

It has been known that some parts within the animation industry has been experiencing a downturn -- not too long ago, fellow French studio TeamTO (Jade Armor, Elena of Avalor, My Knight and Me) also struggled financially and has since bought out by Italy-based RIVA Studios.

While I have already known about Cyber Group's struggles and saw this coming, I'm still bummed by this. It had become of my favorite animation studios and they have contributed to animation a great deal, even though a lot of the series they have produced weren't household names.

Ernest & Rebecca, an adaption of the graphic novel series of the same name

The first Cyber Group series I watched is Sadie Sparks. A few of the people in my friend group are fans of the series. I started watching it in 2023 -- I haven't gone beyond the first 5-10 episodes since ;P -- and it was a good series! Although it lasted only a single season, it left a good impression on me and I started to become interested in Cyber Group!

Sadie Sparks, a series blending 2D and CGI animation

And then came 50/50 Heroes.

50/50 Heroes: Half-siblings, half-superheroes!

My goodness, this series! I loved it so much, and I have mentioned how sweet this series is for something that's superhero related! Not to mention doggone hilarious and with awesome animation! I haven't completed the series yet, but I have to watch the rest soon.

Taffy: While I haven't seen this series yet, it does kinda reminds me of Tom & Jerry!

Cyber Group made and/or distributed a bunch of shows that I want to see: among them are Taffy, Ernest & Rebecca, The Pirates Next Door, Zak Jinks, Droners, Press Start! and others I may have forgotten!

The Pirates Next Door, based on a series of picture books first published in the U.K.

In the last several months leading to its liquidation, Cyber Group debuted Press Start! for Peacock in the U.S. (you can also find full episodes on YouTube), and Alex Player in France and Italy (no news for an English language dub yet but since the company is no longer existing it now seems unlikely).

Press Start!, based on the children's book series

Alex Player

Cyber Group still had several original series in development until its demise, including Hoodie Buddy, Yum Yum, Erica and Trevor vs. Spooky Monsters, and The Tern; and adaptations of Final Fantasy IX, Masters of the Unicorns, and Monster in My Pocket. Production of new episodes of its hit series Gigantosaurus was already under way, a third season of Taffy was in development, and I've heard rumors of a second season of 50/50 Heroes being developed around the 'net, but nothing has come out it. It is currently unknown whether existing IP or series in development would be purchased by other companies. Cyber Group has also distributed several of their series to YouTube and some free streaming services -- it's also currently unknown what will the future be for those.

Cyber Group Studios may be gone, but I'm hoping that other animation studios -- and especially animation studios in France -- continue to be in solid footing and do what they do best -- entertaining millions around the world and contributing to the great art that is animation.

Here's to Cyber Group and to everyone involved over the years for bringing us memories and great shows!

[veliseraptor]

July Reading Recap

A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge. I can see why people said this one had Adrian Tchaikovsky vibes because in terms of the worldbuilding and the alien species involved it absolutely did. I was not super enamored of the part of the plot that wasn't on the Tines' world (which was...an important part of the plot), but my investment in the politics of the Tines and the worldbuilding around them made up for it. I'm curious about the apparent sequel and whether it's worth reading - does anybody know?

Thousand Autumns: vol. 5 by Meng Xi Shi. I have finished Thousand Autumns and my verdict on it mostly hasn't changed from what it's been throughout: enjoyable but not really fully clicking for me. I liked it! But I didn't love it, and I don't know that it'll stick with me the way other books have, or compel me to do a reread.

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome by Emma Southon. Maybe I just don't have a sense of humor, but I felt like this book was trying too hard to be funny/clever and it landed wrong for me. It was interesting, certainly! And I learned some new things from it, and probably will go on to read the author's other book (about women in Ancient Rome), but this one tonally was not a winner, for me personally.

Ballad of Sword and Wine: vol. 1 by Tang Jiu Qing. Rereading this one (Qiang Jin Jiu, they're really going off in their own direction title translation-wise there) with the official published translation even though I am also binding it, because I can, I guess. And I still deeply appreciate how unhinged Shen Zechuan is, but in, like, mostly a way where it's not obvious to most people until they've known him for a little while. Also the sheer amount of politics, which I'm following better on this second readthrough. I think it'll be rewarding to reread.

The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan. One of two Jewish fantasy books I read this month, just by chance (I wasn't intending on a theme, they'd both been on my to-read list for a while). I liked it a lot! I thought it was going to be a stand alone and feel a little funny about it being a series (I'm always looking for more stand alones), but I am also looking forward to more of it.

The Devil & Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession by David Grann. I've really enjoyed the other David Grann books I've read/listened to (The Lost City of Z, Killers of the Flower Moon) but found myself fairly underwhelmed by most of the essays here. It's not that they weren't good (they were) or interesting (most of them were), it just didn't feel like they were that good or that interesting. Maybe I just like his full-length books better.

Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland. It was fine? Not as good as I'd hoped. I called the twist which was satisfying for me personally. I don't know if I'm going to be reading the sequel. Most of the POV characters I liked fairly well, which is the main thing this book had going for it, but one of them bored me to tears and that inflected my enjoyment of the book as a whole.

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez. This book earned its five stars by making me cry in the last 20%. Overall a beautiful book, though, relatively quiet; I wasn't sure about it early on but then it hit a turn that really got me. Makes me want to read his other book. The summary on the back really does not do the book justice but I don't actually know how I would explain it better, and I recognize that makes it a difficult recommendation.

When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb. This one was really good and a lot of fun. Very Jewish, too, which was enjoyable and not something I run into all that often in fantasy books. Just...very charming, entertaining, a joy to read.

I'm currently reading Godkiller by Hannah Kaner though I should be reading Edenville since I have it checked out from the library (I'll get to it!). I keep meaning to get back to reading more nonfiction (or realistic fiction) and then getting distracted. My plan for upcoming books, though, includes The Ratline, To Shape a Dragon's Breath, and (after years of having it sit on my shelf) Beauty Is a Wound. We'll see how on task I stay or if I end up wandering off to other stuff.

I'm currently looking for horror and mystery/thriller recommendations, though, so if anyone has any of those I will take them.

[theresattrpgforthat]

Hello,

I apologize in advance if you've already answered something like this but my cursory look didn't show anything. I am looking for a game system that has an emphasis on the feeling of a wild west movie while still retaining general fantasy elements from DND. The wild spaces are slowly becoming tamed, increasing technological/magical advancement are pushing disparate communities together, and of course cocky assholes with guns (or a magical equivalent).

Thanks in advance

Theme: Wild West Fantasy

Hello friend, you might want to check out my Fantasy Westerns rec post, to see if anything there fits what you’re looking for. I especially recommend checking out the rec for We Deal In Lead and Clink. For the rest of this post, I try to span a very broad range, so I don't expect everything to stick - but perhaps one or two do!

Inevitable, by Soul Muppet Publishing.

Knights and wizards have defended the Kingdom of Myth for centuries. These lands have known peace and prosperity, but soon the kingdom shall be destroyed. The Prophets have declared that your city shall burn and Myth will fall. All those who follow your King shall die. It is INEVITABLE.

But you shall defy fate. Myth will not end while you bear arms. You will fail, but as long as there are still stories, they will sing of you!

Inevitable is a Arthurian Western roleplaying game for 2-6 players and a GM, where your party of disastrously sad cowboy knights fail to stop the apocalypse. This 284 page book contains all the rules, character creation and the setting for your campaign, thoroughly and evocatively detailing The Barren, the lands surrounding the Kingdom of Myth.

This game might be way you’re looking for: it describes itself as a fantasy kingdom, with western aesthetics. There are wizards, prophets, and rune-carved revolvers. Your reputation in the kingdom is important; it determines how well you can face challenges, and roll pools of d6 on a table of staggered success. If you want a taste before you buy, there’s a Quickstart with some evocative set pieces, a quick overview of the rules, and a quick adventure to run through with a list of pre-generated characters.

Far West, by Adamant Entertainment.

Imagine a fantasy setting that shatters the tropes of Medieval Europe. Imagine a collision of Spaghetti Westerns and Chinese Wuxia by way of Steampunk. Imagine a world where gunslingers and kung fu masters face off against Steam Barons and the August Throne. Imagine fantastic machines powered by the furies comprising the fabric of the universe. Imagine an endless frontier where wandering heroes fight for righteous causes while secret societies engage in shadow wars. Imagine…

This game is a combination of Wild Western tropes and Wuxia fantasy. Your characters are wandering heroes, defending the small and helpless against the strong and powerful. I look at this game and I think of movies like The Magnificent Seven. Mechanically, it’s its own system, but it draws heavily from Fate, using positive and negative aspects to boost rolls and spark complications.This game relies on some tropes that require entire table buy-in: I’m not sure how many assumptions the game makes about the cultures it takes inspiration from.

Holler: An Appalachian Apocalypse (Savage Worlds), by Pinnacle Entertainment.

In Holler, the mysterious “Big Boys” own the mines, mills, and logging operations. They rule over every aspect of their workers’ lives—subjecting them to extraordinary dangers on the job and crushing oppression outside of it. The Big Boys have transformed the land of the Holler—rivers bubble with strange chemicals, strip-mined mountains crumble into valleys, and the air is choked with a toxic fog known as the Blight. The flora and fauna of the Holler grow more monstrous by the day. Demons of every description lurk in the forests. Mutant cryptids haunt villages with their strange cries and appetites. Vengeful haints leer from abandoned shacks and lonely cliffs. No one is coming to save the people of Holler.

The goal of the resistance is to build a coalition, to bring together diverse factions—humble workers, roustabouts, mountain men, dirt track racers, cultists, and even strange creatures of myth and legend to raze the works of the Big Boys and drive them from the Holler forever. Holler draws deeply on Appalachian history, mythic folklore, and culture to create a dark fantasy world of apocalypse and vengeance.

This sounds a little more grim and gritty, with cryptids, toxic fog and demons lurking in the forest. It uses the Savage Worlds system, so you’ll have to pick up the codebook to play with it, but the setting is very very fleshed out. This is a little less Wild West and a little more Appalachia, and the setting is a bit more on the horror side than most of the other games on this list, but there’s certainly a lot of wildness out there for you to fight!

TROUPE, by TheOriginalCockatrice.

A game about travel, discovery, and outsiderness, a combination of the best of Old-School and Story Games. Complete with 6 Jobs, including the Ghelf, the Hedge, and the Ogra, and includes a system for holistically coming up with a character from scratch.

The designer describes this game as an exploration of the road; the odd and unknown of the wild, what it means to belong, and what it means to be on the outside. You’re not heroes - you’re entertainers, jokers, healers and bards. There isn’t exactly magic, but there is myth and legend. This is a great game for folks who want plenty of challenges that exist outside of combat. Each character playbook comes with a balance of mechanical elements and descriptive options, and you’ll be rolling 2d6 plus your stat in order to determine success.

I’m not sure how much of a Western this is, but the designer actually hacked this game for BXLLET, a game about gunslingers in the apocalypse, in the zine Bxllet Clip, so it might be worth checking out!

Shotguns & Sorcery, by Full Moon Enterprises.

Welcome to Dragon City, a grim, gritty metropolis ruled over by the Dragon Emperor, with legions of zombies scratching at the city walls by night.

Whether in the streets of Goblintown or the prestigious halls of the Academy of Arcane Apprenticeship, people try to scrape by, make a living, and survive from one day to the next. You, however, are looking for something more than simple survival. And in this city, if you don’t make your own adventure, another adventure is sure to find you.

Shotguns & Sorcery is a fantasy noir game complete with Dragon City Intrigues, roving hoards of undead, and unexplored mountains rife with magical creatures. You’ll see magical staffs alongside light pistols, bows alongside submachine guns, and greatswords alongside canteens, playing cards and a camp stove. The game uses the Cypher System, with an additional character option alongside the three-part character sentence: your race. This includes the signature hafling, elf, dwarf etc.

Games I’ve Recommended in the Past

Knights of the Road, by bordercholly.

[melpomenelamusa]

Tag Game: Author Ask Tag

Thanks to @tildeathiwillwrite for tagging me! I´ll use my story "Chimeras" the tag.

1. What is the main lesson of your story? Why did you choose it?

Although this story originally started out as a very self-indulgent project of writing whump and making my characters suffer for fun, it ended up growing into something more. I think one of the most notable themes of this story has to do with discrimination and rejection. I think that in the end we have to remember that at our core we are all still human beings, that our differences allow us to have a much more enriching life, and that freedom is a right as long as it does not attack the freedom of others.

2. What did you use as inspiration for your worldbuilding?

Have you seen the series or read the Sweet Tooth comics? My original idea started off with something similar to that, but instead of such an apocalyptic perspective I wanted to give it a bit more of a fantasy feel. Otherwise, it's a pretty generic world, but I try to add a touch of fantasy when I can, hehe.

3. What is your MC trying to achieve, and what are you, the writer, trying to achieve with them? Do you want to inspire others, teach forgiveness or help the reader grow as a person?

I really didn't plan to teach anything with this story, just to entertain readers by reading it and to entertain myself by writing it and thinking about the characters (just thinking about my OCs is a complete hobby for me). Elafi just wants to be able to live a peaceful life, where he doesn't have to run away or hide because of who he is, and to help others do the same. Even when we can't change the world, maybe our actions can change small parts of our little personal world and others' for the better. If any reader resonates with that message in a positive way, I'm so happy for you!

4. How many chapters is your story going to have?

omg, I'm already thinking about a possible third season, so yeah, lots of chapters XD Extended universe is coming 👀

5. Is it fan fiction or original content? Where do you plan to post it?

Original work! It easier to engage in writing an original story than a fanfic to me. I´m currently posting here on Tumblr, but I´ve been considering post it on Wattpad when the story is more completed.

6. When did you start writing?

Specifically this story: Mid 2024. Originally they were going to be stand-alone chapters, but in the end the plot caught me.

7. Do you have any words of encouragement for fellow writers of writeblr? What other writers do you follow?

The advice I always give is: if you want to write, then write! Whether it's something just for yourself or something you want to share with other people, if you want to write, do it, don't just let it stay as ideas. For those who want to dedicate themselves to professional writing, like me, I also recommend reading a lot and analyzing the works you like, they can serve as guides. But above all, write because it makes you happy, don't feel obligated to publish or stress about not having as many interactions as you would like, sometimes things come in their time, but the magic is in the experience of slowly weaving your ideas together and turning them into an amazing story.

I follow a lot of incredible and talented writers here on Tumblr. Even though I follow a lot of writers whose work I haven't gotten around to reading yet, I know they'll be great and I can't wait to check them out!

Some of the writers I already read are: @morning-star-whump @tildeathiwillwrite @whumpisgoodwhumpislife @befuddled-calico-whump @whumperofworlds @oddsconvert @sorrowful-hyacinth @what-if-i-just-did @writinglittlepains @deluxewhump @lady-wallace @geode-crystal

If you see this and want to give it a try, considered yourself tagged!

[bloodmaarked]

book of night // holly black

first published: 2022 read: 24 march 2025 - 18 april 2025 pages: 306 format: hardback (+audiobook)

genres: fiction; adult (just about); fantasy (urban); mystery favourite character(s): i didn't really like anyone... maybe vince? least favourite character(s): charlie, lowkey first line(s): "any child can be chased by their shadow. all they need to do is run straight toward the sun on a lazy afternoon."

rating: 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑 thoughts: soooo... this can't be the same holly black that wrote the folk of the air trilogy, right? the author that kept me in a chokehold for three books straight couldn't turn around and produce something so dull and lifeless could she? well apparently she could, and she did. book of night was disappointing on most fronts, and i would have DNFed this very early on if i hadn't been reading this for a reading challenge. i even turned to the audiobook to help me get through this while doing other, more entertaining things, which is how i know for sure that this was a slog.

i read the first 22% of this in one sitting and was unmoved. it was fine, but slow and certainly not what i'd call engaging. it got to the point where i didn't pick it up again for 3 whole weeks; the thought of having to return to it was really off-putting, and when i did finally pick it up i felt like i wanted to do anything but. i read the next 60% by audiobook, which is incredibly rare for me to do, but it meant i could continue reading this book without having to give it my undivided attention - i could crochet, cook, or commute, without feeling bogged down by the slog of putting eyes to paper. the pacing did not pick improve throughout the length of the book, and even in audio form i felt like this story dragged badly, but it made it easier to consume. i don't like audiobooks, and i enjoy giving a book my full attention, so turning to one as a way to keep me reading is suuuuch a red flag!

aside from the pacing, the world building was lacking for me. i found it hard to get my head around what exactly the shadow system was how it worked, and who people were (i'm still only semi-sure of what a gloamist is). i ended up intuiting far more information than i'd have liked. there were a lot of moving parts, which can be fun, but there was too much i felt in the dark about which meant it leaned more on the side of confusion than intrigue.

the characters were so dull and lifeless. i didn't care about any of them, except maybe vince at a push because he actually had some interesting development in the last 75% or so. charlie was a really bland main character, and i kind of cringed at how she was written. she was supposed to be the resident bad girl i guess, but she fell flat and read like she was all bark and no bite. posey was blah. the myriad other characters were forgettable.

i did like the atmosphere; it was a nicely written dark, urban fantasy which could've been great if there was the plot and characterisation to boost it. a book can't rely on atmosphere alone, though.

i definitely won't be picking up the sequel, which releases later this year. book of night was a book i wish i could've abandoned. in all honesty, i'm not sure if holly black is an author i'll bother going back to again. i loved the folk of the air, but was disappointed by the stolen heir, and now this. it seems like it's time for me to move on.

[epickiya722]

Haha right? It's so normalized while it's actually so inappropriate to go to a stranger and talk about their sexual preferences.

I hate how "x fans" is called "x fuckers" now. Yeah I like Sukuna. No I don't want to fuck him. But all there is in his tags.

I'd go as far as to say that people don't care about characters. They just want to put them into tropes box to imagine them as their vampire/alpha male/ceo lover.

And I find it ironic how the same will trash talk about fanboys while they do the exact same thing. '"let women be horny" they will say, because reducing a story to you being horny is ok.

I still want to publish my stories because some fandom gave me hope. But I don't hold my breath anymore.

It is very inappropriate. Like, damn, I can't just like the character? I can't be entertained by their antics?

There are just so many things that shouldn't be normalized across fandoms and going into someone's inbox to be like "*insert character* fucker" is one.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind people having their fantasies about their faves, let alone am I gonna police anybody on or care to. Waste of my time, I got fics to write! Posts to post! 😭

But sometimes I do think "does this person actually care about the character's story"?

Because some of those same people will have so many takes on their faves that don't even be that character. That is a whole OC you created!!

I actually wasn't aware of this until only recently that people accepted for Sukuna to become some absolute horndog when Yorozu was up all over him. Maybe I missed something, but Sukuna only ever expressed being interested in fighting and killing people and personally, he never really came across as some sexual deviant to me.

I feel like sometimes if you have this fanon version of your fave, that is not your favorite. In no way, should you feel the need to like this whole other version of your "fave" in order to like him. Then why have them as your favorite in the first place?

I like Sukuna because he entertains me. He's this evil ass menace who wants all the smoke and the biggest beef he has is with a 15 year old (who is my all time favorite of JJK). Sukuna also this mysterious air about him because we still don't know much about his backstory, let alone everything he can do. (I had this recent thought about a technique that I should probably get to writing.) I have theories about his character, like how he may really be as a person, true. But at the same time, I'm not gonna believe my theories about him are canon because "I know him better than Gege". Anything I say isn't canon unless said so explicitly. I didn't create Sukuna. I am just another fan just vibing along with the story.

And it really is insane to me that people will do that. People were saying "female fans of JJK are ruining the fandom, they're all so horny" as if all us are horny, let alone engage in the anime for said reasons.

The same people *cough cough* misogynists *cough* who say that be the same people who will have a wallpaper of someone like Nami as their header and she'll have boobs bigger than what she has in canon.

Oooh, y'all don't like folks be objectifying the JJK men, huh? Even though for years female characters have gotten the treatment in Shonen. You cannot be dragging Gojo fans when you want to be Makima's dog. Stop that now.

Also, its not just the men! Uh, Yuki Tsukumo exists! She has a lot of fans who find her attractive. There's Shoko, Utahime, Takako, Mei Mei...

I'm waiting for the day 143 gets animated because I just know people are gonna go 👀.

Like, either way, if you're a person who gets constantly horny over your faves, why are you upset with someone doing the same?

I saw this meme post about how people tend to overlook the story and its details and only focus on the attractive cast and fights. And some people were like "but people are only focusing on the fights and attractive cast".

No, they're not. You're missing the point.

For one, you can find the characters attractive and enjoy the fights. That is fine. But at the same time, don't miss the story. Pay attention to it because it's just as important, if not more.

Second, not everyone is focused on just the fights and cast. If that was the cast, why do we have theories and meta posts? Why do we have people writing fics that study the character they're writing about? If no one is focusing on the story and only like the fights and attractiveness of the characters, then those kind of posts from fans wouldn't exist.

[dreamersingingroses]

Help Getting BL Manhwa Paljae Licensed

As per an initiative started on Reddit, I would like to ask you for help in regards to the potential licensing of the BL manhwa Paljae, Child of Winter.

I'm not kidding when I say this manhwa is a treat for the eyes.

With its Korean-inspired mythology and eery fantasy elements, Paljae is a beatiful story about a blind, powerful dosa (akin to a cultivator) who saves the life of a mysterious creature close to death that seems to be weakened by high temperatures and empowered by Winter season.

This is a mesmerizing manhwa both in artstyle and content. The exploration of human emotions, the blossoming of deep-rooted love and lifelong lessons are just the tip of this phenomenal story about two messed up beings finding companionship in each other.

I could sing praises about this story for hours and still it wouldn't be enough to express just how good it is. If this tiny summary has picked your interest, or if you're already acquainted with the story, please spare me five (5) more minutes!

See, as many of you know, the publishing house Seven Seas Entertainment opens a reader's survey every month to get suggestions from people about what their new licenses should be. From personal experience, I know getting a publisher's attention is hard (very much so), which means that this survey is a great opportunity to hopefully make them consider licensing this title.

As readers, we have the power to suggest what we're interested in buying, and we have to take this chance.

So without further ado, I propose we take this monthly surveys to get them to at least consider Paljae as a potential license.

A user on Reddit posted how you can help us by participating in the monthly surveys with instructions to do so: https://www.reddit.com/r/Paljae_ChildofWinter/s/KamfbYGn18

If you don't want to exit Tumblr right now, keep reading for my own summary of the post.

Whether you're familiar with Seven Seas or just want to give us a hand, if you're interested in reading Paljae, are already in love with it or just want to support the author, please consider taking Seven Seas Entertainment's monthly survey.

How can I help?

1. Once you click on the link, you'll be redirected to the FREE survey.

2. You will need to give them an email. This is only so they can make sure one person doesn't fill in multiple surveys. Your email won't be shared with their associates, and you won't be sent any emails either. I've been participating with other less wholesome suggestions for months, and it's alright.

3. You will have to answer a brief multiple-choice questionnaire about the formats you prefer to read manhwas, comics and the like.

4. Frequently, there will be a compulsory question about their new releases, so you may be prompted to choose the ones that pick your interest. Their covers and names will be included in a multiple-choice format, so have fun looking at them :)

5. There will be a question about which WEBTOON/WEBCOMIC you'd like to see licensed. This is where you can type Paljae, Child of Winter.

6. Finally, if you want to participate in their monthly raffle and win a paperback they published during the year prior, just enter your email in the last section. This is voluntary and won't affect the consideration of your answers.

We Tumblerinas know that fandom makes impossible things come true, and wouldn't it be awesome if we could make this happen?

You can find the link for their monthly reader's survey in different places:

- At the end of their webpage, https://sevenseasentertainment.com/

It will look something like this:

- On Instagram, in their stories: https://www.instagram.com/sevenseasentertainment?igsh=MWpsZ2xuZ2xvdG8zaA==

It will look something like this:

- On Twitter/X/whatever (I know we don't talk 'bout X around here, but still), https://twitter.com/gomanga

The tweet will usually be posted the first week of every month.

- On the reddit post linked in this publication, https://www.reddit.com/r/Paljae_ChildofWinter/s/KamfbYGn18

[This user will update the link every month, so that you can access the newest version whenever you see this post.]

That being said, I am very thankful for your time and I hope you can spare a few minutes to make this a reality. Thank you very much!

[authoralexharvey]

INTERVIEW WITH A WRITEBLR — @vsnotresponding

Who You Are:

V || They/she

Born and raised in a town in Catalonia, Spain. I always had an interest for stories and storytelling, and art in general, as well as math. I wrote my first book at 17 as my project to graduate high school. I'm currently majoring in math, translating said book, and plotting another one.

What You Write:

What genres do you write in? What age ranges do you write for?

Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Tragedy. Young and New Adult

What genre would you write in for the rest of your life, if you could? What about that genre appeals to you?

fantasy, mainly because i love worldbuilding and i often focus on religions or magic systems

What genre/s will you not write unless you HAVE to? What about that genre turns you off?

i don't think i could ever write a purely romance book. my aroaceness makes it very hard for me to write romance in general.

Who is your target audience? Do you think anyone outside of that would get anything out of your works?

i'm not really sure. i write mostly for me. probably just soft fantasy readers? i think people that enjoy worldbuilding and lore might enjoy my stories too. i think anyone could get something out of my books. the setting is just an excuse to write about other things at the end of the day

What kind of themes do you tend to focus on? What kinds of tropes? What about them appeals to you?

grief and circular time appeal the most to me, also main characters struggling with mental health, feeling displaced and out of place. as for tropes, found family and people who dislike each other forced to work together. i don't know why grief comes up that much in my stories. i am obsessed with thinking about circular time, tho. and the mental health issues of my main characters is mostly projecting. as for the tropes, it's all about finding your people whom you feel like yourself with.

What themes or tropes can you not stand? What about them turn you off?

i can deal with pretty much any trope as long as it's entertaining. certain styles of writing is what ultimately turn me off when reading.

What are you currently working on? How long have you been working on it?

i'm currently translating and posting púlsar, i book i wrote when i was 17. i've been translating for three months, and posting for one. i'm also working on untitled project (that's the actual name for the wip), figuring out plot details and that kinda things. i've been doing that since 2019, when UP was born

Why do you write? What keeps you writing?

i write because i am my own target audience, and because i want to tell my ocs' stories. that's what keeps me going too. i can't just be rid of them, they live rent free in my brain

How long have you been writing? What do you think first drew you to it?

since forever, i guess. i remember writing stories as a kid. i was also an avid reader, and a lonely only child that was left alone to their own devices too often, so i found ways to entertain myself

Where do you get your inspiration from? Is that how you got your inspiration for your current project? If not, where did the inspiration come from?

from my daily life, i guess. púlsar doesn't have that many sources of inspiration that i'm aware of, but UP has lots of influences from my philosophy classes from back in high school. in general, music helps a lot with how i approach my writing.

What work of yours are you most proud of? Why?

some short stories i wrote in high school. they are all writing assignments, but i went so hard on them they are still one of the bests things i've ever written. also my answer to a question in my philosophy final, which i later turned into a short story. circular time, man, i told you

Have you published anything? Do you want to?

i haven't, but i'd like to. i just want to share my worlds and characters with other people

What part of the publishing process most appeals to you? What part least appeals to you?

the sharing, but i also think it's very stressful

What part of the writing process most appeals to you? What part is least appealing?

putting it all together. i love finding out how i've unintentionally set up scenes i hadn't even thought about, or how unimportant details turn vital when i add a new scene

Do you have a writing process? Do you have an ideal setup? Do you write in pure chaos? Talk about your process a bit.

oh boy. my writing process is a mess. it's mostly non linear, and i sit with my stories for a long long time before ever starting to write. i also pull from my drawings. sometimes i'll randomly draw one oc doing something completely arbitrary, and then see that it actually fits with the plot so why not add it. generally, i have a very rough direction of where i want to go, 2 or 3 key scenes i know for sure have to happen, then i put the characters in A Situation and let them take the reins from there. because i've sit with them for so long before actually writing, i'm confident enough in my knowledge of them so i never doubt where they are going, they just go. usually i plan ahead for two or three chapters, mostly a bullet point summary or an explanation of events for UP it's been way more complicated because of the nature of the story and its non linearity

Your Thoughts on Writeblr:

How long have you been a writeblr? What inspired you to join the community?

i joined four months ago. i just wanted to share my work with other like minded people, and i'm honestly glad i did. i've met so many wonderful people in such a short amount of time, and the community is wonderful

Shout out some of your favorite writeblrs. How did you find them and what made you want to follow them?

i recently started following @mjjune. i simply fell in love with their now betaing twtr and their general vibes @moondust-bard has also created a bunch of writblr initiatives like a tag game list, and other ongoing projects and i have to mention @my-cursed-prince. she asked me a lot of questions about circular time, and then i checked out her wips and adopted her ocs on the spot

What is your favorite part about writeblr?

tag/asks games, and in general the community. i like sharing, sure, but it's also nice to be able to talk about worlbuilding and lore and how annoying ocs sometimes are with people that get it

What do you think writeblr could improve on? How do you think we can go about doing so?

huh, i'm not sure. more interaction with actual written stuff would be great, but everyone's busy with their lives outside of here so we can't ask of everyone to read everything that comes across their dashboards every day. it'd be great to have an easy to access place to check old and new writing without having to go to an individual blog every time, but that's also a time consuming project to manage

How do you contribute to the writeblr community? Do you think you could be doing more?

if i see someone asking for asks i always send one. i also try to be encouraging of others as much as i can. i do think i could be doing much more. for starters, i'd like to engage more with written content from other writblrs more, but i can't due to time constraints

What kinds of posts do you most like to interact with?

anything that strikes my fancy. i enjoy posts about the writing process struggles people have, or little thoughts they have as they write or plot

What kind of posts do you most like to make?

i love rambling when someone asks me a question. and also posting púlsar

Finally, anywhere else online we may be able to find you?

i have a half abandoned instagram art account with the same handle (vsnotresponding), and my main tumblr blog @iwrotemyowndeliverancesblog (i talk about maths and complain about life)

[gotwcird]

hello tags, i return to promote some babies i wanna write with that need more ships <3 find more info about this blog and the muses under the cut. like if you’re interested please like this post OR im me here or on my main @/maxmcyfield OR lmk if you prefer to chat on discord. open to mutuals and non-mutuals alike. thank u friends!!

gotwcird info:

this is a 1x1/indie sideblog penned by zahra (27, they/them, main is maxmcyfield) - i like writing a lot of celebrity-focused characters, but i enjoy most real life plots and don’t mind exploring fantasy, horror, and supernatural elements! i currently am only interested in writing on tumblr.

i prefer writing stuff that has a good amount of plotting behind it and with partners that i can chat with a little! however, i'm more than happy to kick things off with starting a thread first. i enjoy the headcanon-ing part as much as the writing tbh. i also tend to reply quickly unless i have something going on - i’m on my computer a lot for work so! (also becoming long term writing partners is a given in this lmao)

while it may not be the main focus of my writing, i have a heavy interest in smut and enjoy writing it a lot so please be fine with that. basically: smut with a lot of depth behind it! my characters tend to be freaky so 😔😪

the muses:

i’d like a specific plot for jungmin! this is a mxf plot, and i’m more than happy to flesh out a plot as we chat, but what i have written here is just a suggestion to kick things off <3

i have other muses in this post that i'm basically throwing into the wind for any of you to throw ur muses @ me for them since i'm keen to write them in any capacity.

i’m not picky at all with what fc you use, to be clear. but there are some fc’s i’m not keen on, we can discuss it for sure! i would, however, prefer characters of colour, especially for jungmin.

SPECIFIC PLOTS

jungmin bang, 34 (byeon wooseok fc) [TAKEN]

he/him. media & culture university professor, researcher, and poet. gentle and awkward, but means well. spent most of his life being brilliant in the sciences, but the arts is where his love lies. mostly teaches specialized courses in his university, focuses on postgrad taught studetns. accidentally dad-ified since a young age because he lowkey helped raise his sister who's ten years younger (who still lives with him - my other muse, minseul). has a family that's well known in their own sectors of the entertainment industry (dad is a broadway/west end actor, mom is a makeup/sfx artist). he's also autistic as hell! but also not typically presenting re: he's uber empathetic, etc but that's because he's had to learn all his life to repress his traits oops. quiet in a way that if you don't pay attention, he can blur into the background. has two pretty succesful poetry books published under a penname. dominant in bed with a litany of kinks, but ultimately makes intimacy and romance his number one priority. plot: i want his fiancé! they met at a friend's wedding a couple years back, became friends first, but probably had feelings for each other since the beginning. i imagine she's almost the opposite of him, kind of out there and confident, ready to go to bat for him. also definitely very easily melded with his family, becoming a defacto older sister to his younger siblings. they probably yearned for a good year or so (with some drunken kisses here and there) before they got together. would love ayo edebiri for her but i'm easy <3

QUICKFIRE MUSES WHO I WANT TO WRITE MORE

adny hart: 27, he/him. primarily an actor. former member of 1time (short lived boy band) but joined xfactor kind of accidentally in the first place. biggest dork you will ever meet, ultimately a london theatre boy at heart. is active in d&d circles and is a cast member i some ttrpg shows. main inspo is brennan lee mulligan. he's been into geeky shit all his life and constantly struggles under the weight of trying to up himself. as chill as he is absolutely bonkers. a switchy dominant who likes to be told what to do.

bibi zhang: 24, she/her. member of global girl group XENA. born and raised in arkansas to first gen immigrants. confident, loud, and takes no shits. has had to be independent her whole life due to her parents being busy with work to support her and her younger sister. her aunt supported her a lot growing up in her extensive rhythmic gymnastics and dance career. considered to be the main dancer of her group. dominant-leaning switch who prefers women.

armaan shah: 23, he/him. psychology undergrad and up-and-coming artist. born and bred london boi. goofy, thoughtful, and too kind for his own good. chill and booksmart, but oblivious in every other way possible. drank his respect woman juice and emotionally in touch. tragically straight. currently focused on finishing up his degree and getting his webcomic off the ground. soft dom with a tendency to be a little mean.

[mdhwrites]

Do you have any tips on how to avoid the planet of hats trope?

Overly Sarcastic go!

I've set it to specifically when Red begins talking about tips on how to worldbuild because she's not wrong: Worldbuilding is how you avoid this most completely. Why am I not saying that?

Well... Because Worldbuilding is 100% my biggest weakness as a writer and I will admit to that. The reasons come down to two reasons, one that has to do with my style and one that has to do with my illness. I'll put in bold text though after this section though "My Method" for my specific advice for potentially how to do it if you're like me. Red points out that her way is her way and I am more than willing to admit my way is my way.

The first is just that I rarely write things down or plan in depth on my stories, especially before I write them. I can expand on a concept rapidly and you bet your ass I have plenty of elements of Rich Witch's world I could tell you NOW but I didn't when I began and I rarely do as new cultures and characters are introduced. Worldbuilding demands much more of that concreteness of plans and setting than I usually work with which is probably why it's best that I stick either to generic fantasy or modern fantasy for much of my storytelling because it means I don't have to worldbuild as much. I DO have a method of worldbuilding but we'll get to it and it's certainly uneven and awkward and more prone to hattiness for many reasons Red brought up here.

The second is that, well... I want to tell my stories, not have design documents. I already struggle to write my stories. I have a 40k work from June that now sits fallow, probably dead, and it's nowhere near done. My brain is fickle and angry and doesn't care how much I've invested into something so I'd rather have SOMETHING to show for my effort and, you know, actually get my ideas out there. I don't count a worldbuilding document to be that because that's the easy part. It's telling a story in that world that's hard. This is why anyone who tells me "I'm a writer too," but only because they're considering a story and have a 20k word doc planning the thing INFURIATES ME at this point because I have heard so many people respond to me saying I'm a writer, with published works, with that. Like Red says: Worldbuilding is fun... Partially because you don't have to make it entertaining to show it and essentially prove it in battle. Not until you tell a story in it.

So what is my method for worldbuilding? Well, it essentially just follows my normal method of story creation but is the one drawn out the most when it has to be done. I start with concept, then I decide on character archtypes that would fit that concept, and then I bend everything around that archtypical decision while keeping the concept true even if it shifts tone.

So that sounds like I just use hats, right? Well, here's the thing: The character bedazzles the hat before they put it on. Instead of having the hat because I want this culture, I have this culture because it happens to be useful for them. As such, it actually influences the character less than the character influences the culture. They still will have their own interests, opinions, way of speaking, stuff like that because they're their own interesting individual before anything else, which fits for me being a character focused and character first writer. The few times I have let the point of a story, or what I'm trying to do with a setting, force a character into one direction have always led to some of my worst writing. I have written a boring ass main harem protagonist because he was just meant to be a statement for the whole series than an actual character and it showed. It is my worst book because of it, period.

And because the point is character first, culture second, but not entirely devoid of culture, when others of the culture come in they're allowed to be their own people even if they one or two signifiers for themselves. Who they are is at least as much determined by their personal backstory and personality than it is by where they're from. This admittedly does not work great for side/bit characters who get to just say hi and bye but like... Even outside of a world of hats, those characters are going to be mostly a gimmick, archtype or their job because they're a bit part that's just helping facilitate things.

It also means that when a character tells a story, it's not, "MY PROUD RACE DID THIS!" it's instead, "Oh yeah, I had a buddy Jack once, complete dumbass, who taught me this because he kept wanting snacks and so figured out how to hotwire vending machines so he could have food wherever he went." The story is personal and attributed to them rather than trying to claim it as indicative of an entire people which keeps it from feeling like this person is just the skin of their people.

The true hats in my stories then actually from families. Is a character poor but well meaning? They'll probably have a hard working parent who does their best. Are they pressured and rich? They have parents who apply that pressure and are probably not around much which leads to them doing everything they can to prove themselves. Crises Girlfriends is the one I'm thinking most of here because the rich girl in it is constantly trying to square having suicidal depression and coming from a family that tells her she is supposed to be the best and that only success proves your worth and that's kind of not making the depression better as you imagine. Even then, the family essentially only exists to help better inform and round out why this character is who she is but she still has her own personal ways of doing things, including things that she hides from those strict parents.

But as a final note, like Red said... Planet of Hats can also be fun and useful. If you're at a planet for a single chapter or episode, just making them over the top and with a ton of personality is a great way to help them be a memorable little lesson or concept, even if they don't feel like a real people. That is essentially one of the biggest things one must remember with any trope. Yes, Planet of Hats can be bad and is rightfully called out. However, there are also places where it is fine, fun or useful. So, you know, figure out what you need specifically and what works for your way of telling stories.

See you next tale.

======+++++======

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead. If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

A Twitter you can follow too

And a Kofi if you like what I do and want to help out with the fact that disability doesn’t pay much.

[canmom]

Feel free to ignore considering it’s a very messy topic. Why do you think SFF communities (especially book communities) attracts so many bad faith actors?

my apologies anon, I took a minute to answer this one.

I think the most parsimonious answer is that they don't, especially, it's just that bad faith actors are basically everywhere. like, is it really true that there are more bad faith actors in SFF than in say, music? film? 'literary' fiction, or other genres like crime or erotica? i think if I was as immersed in any of those worlds as I am in SFF, I'd know about just as many stories of petty cruelty, exploitation, bizarre dramas...

still, some speculations about factors playing into it, that aren't necessarily specific to sci-fi.

the thing about SFF is that it's a subculture, and one that's pretty niche. not quite as niche as like, BASE jumping or something lol - most bookshops around here will have an SFF shelf, and obviously SFF films and games are almost as mainstream as entertainment gets - but for dedicated sci-fi fans it's seen as a sort of refuge of 'people like them' (generally some variety of autistic nerd archetype), and there is a lot of anxiety that comes with maintaining that.

this sort of attitude is commonly associated with the old guard of reactionary fandom - the infamous Puppies - but I think by now we've seen that the current overtly queer/progressive/whatever you wanna call it generation is just as capable of lashing out at perceived intruders. (for an obvious example, this kind of sentiment was a major factor in the Isabel Fall incident.)

besides that, what are people fighting for anyway? what are the 'stakes' of scifi/fantasy fandom? intuitively, they're tiny. but...

within any niche subculture, it is possible to achieve a certain degree of fame and influence. if you can play the rhetorical game, you can establish yourself as a microcelebrity/tastemaker, promote your friends and make a show of casting out the enemies, and set up the rules of the discourse... in your small bubble. until sooner or later the wind changes and you get knocked off the pedestal, anyway. so part of it is just people wanting to rule an insular little fiefdom.

but then there's also like... 'being an author'. SFF lit is not especially popular these days. you can't really make a living from short stories anymore (too few magazines that pay, too hard to get in, too little reward). however, if you get very, very lucky, make the right connections (probably at Clarion), you might just be able to get some novels published, and maaaybe they will find an audience and earn out their advances... and if everything goes perfectly, you might just manage to make a reasonable middle class sort of income.

and that's not nothing! especially if other forms of work are inaccessible. i have a friend whose circumstances were changed very dramatically when they got a big advance on their novel. but ultimately I don't think it's about that, nobody would sensibly try to become an author for the money, it's an obviously terrible gamble.

however, within the subculture, being a published author is a still big deal. it's a sense that you've 'made it', people will look up to you, or resent you if they don't feel you deserve it. there is a strong divide between 'authors' and 'fans' that structures interactions between the two. I don't get the impression that this is actually very fun for the authors, but it's easy to see that from outside and think "I wish I was worthy of that kind of respect too".

much the same applies in other fields - for example animation. maybe it pays shit and demand insane hours with zero job security... but for the fans, you come to have immense admiration for the 'real animators' and want to feel you could be their equal one day. and people are willing to sacrifice a lot for the sake of that idea of accomplishment, even if it's still very unlikely.

so with all that in mind... science fiction authors are usually science fiction fans. there's not really any other reason you'd write it lmao. so could speculate that for the ones who have 'made it', the situation is still precarious, or seems like it. there's little guarantee you'll get published again if a book doesn't sell. and you depend on a good reputation to stay in the game. so you have a bit of power (enough to go to your head) and fear of losing that power and sense of accomplishment... that's probably sufficient to motivate a whole lot of horrendous behaviour that would seem incomprehensible from outside.

none of this is really specific to science fiction/fantasy. but then I don't think SFF is really all that unique.

[curried-mermaid]

A Review: The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish Vol. 1

Author: Xue Shan Fei Hu Publishers: Seven Seas Entertainment Age Group: Teen Genre: Danmei, Boy Love, Historical Fantasy, Isekai, Drama, Friendship Type: Danmei, Light Novel

Content Warnings: Political Backstabbery, some violence Spoilers ahead

Plot

He’s the perfect catch…or he would be if he wasn’t the pet fish of the future tyrant emperor. 

Li Yu wakes up to find he’s been transmigrated into the body of a fish. The less-than-helpful (even scammy) Moe Pet System tells him he has to change the tyrant’s personality, changing the future. Only… he’s just a pet fish, how the hell is he supposed to do that? 

Li Yu quickly learns that if he doesn’t follow the quests he’ll turn into fish bones and ash. If he accomplishes these quests he’ll be human again. Now, if only he could find a way to catch the tyrant’s attention before this cat eats him! 

I found this plot a great read. The challenges that Li Yu is up against and how he handles them are unique and refreshing. There’s plenty of comedy in this along with seriousness. As shown by these examples taken from the book (some of my favorite lines):

“…someone had stolen both His Highness’s fish and his underwear? There was clearly something wrong with this thief” (187).  “Li Yu continued to act like a cute little squid in the face of Prince Jing’s fish-targeted eye lasers” (250-251). *for reference Li Yu ended up in an ink bowl after they found some ink on him.

This series does an excellent job balancing the comedy and serious story telling, along with some sparks flying (as we expect from a danmei). 

Character Development

Li Yu is an interesting character of a human turned fish. He’s very relatable in that he freaks out about things, worries about others, but always comes up with a plan to accomplish his goals. He tries to be meticulous but he always misses something, creating clues for Prince Jing to put together throughout the novel. Li Yu can be mature and also childish. His character makes for a fun read. 

Prince Jing is mute and technically the heir to the throne, but he doesn’t qualify since he’s mute. He’s cold, doesn’t care about others, is a violence then questions later type of person, but also very intelligent. As he interacts with his pet fish, we see him become softer over the course of the series. It’s very endearing. 

Wang Xi is Prince Jing’s eunuch caretaker. He’s cared for him since he was little and knows what all of his movements and emotions mean. He’s in essence, the translator for Prince Jing and the rest of the world. He’s very loyal to his master and willingly does his job. 

The secondary characters and antagonists are all interesting characters, even if some of them follow typical historical drama cliches. What makes it fascinating to interact with these characters is how they react to Li Yu, his relationship with Prince Jing, and how Li Yu chooses to deal with them. 

World-building

The world-building is subtle at first as we only get descriptions when Li Yu can see. This isn’t very much as he’s kept in a porcelain container until the emperor gifts Prince Jing with a large crystal fish tank. This world is based off a web novel that Li Yu was following before he was transmigrated. He knows what plot points he needs to be aware of and how it’ll affect Prince Jing. The original web novel has Prince Jing fall in love with a delicate concubine, Chu Yanyu. Only that doesn’t happen this round (mostly from Li Yu being in Prince Jing’s life). Li Yu learns from this experience that the major plot will change but sub-plots will still continue. This gives him the drive to help prevent death to secondary characters, especially ones he likes such as Prince Jing’s cousin, Ye Qinghuan, one of the only family members that Prince Jing lets visit him. 

Themes

Everyone needs a companion that can understand them and reach their heart. While this is a semi-serious danmei, I feel like this theme works really well. It’s only after changing the story so Prince Jing has a pet fish that he begins to change. He sees some of himself in this fish, a pet that cannot express itself but with a few gestures and looks, just as he does. 

Observations & Predictions

Li Yu will continue to warn and help Prince Jing navigate the different plots happening around him, while developing a stronger bond with him. We already have hints of sparks flying between the two (at least on Prince Jing’s side). It’ll be interesting to see what happens as Li Yu uses his abilities to transform into his temporary human form. Will he interact with him on purpose or continue to make it seem like accidents? 

I’d love to see their relationship blossom into something more than a bromance. We may get that, but Li Yu will have to go through an emotional arc to realize those feelings and come to terms with it. He may refuse them at first as he was supposed to be with Chu Yanyu according to the plot (even though that plot no longer exists). 

I see Prince Jing developing stronger feelings for him, and maybe even trying to put the moves on Li Yu in his human form. 

I found the writing for this really strong. The unique voice of Li Yu moves the story really well. Anyone who likes Danmei (boy love) should give this a read. 

Recommendations

Similar Plot:

Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System By: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Historical Danmei:

Ballad of Sword and Wine By: Tan Jiu Qing

The Husky and His White Cat By: Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou

Stars of Chaos By: Priest

Heaven’s Official Blessing By: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation By: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Danmei, but not published in English (have to find translations online)

The Emperor’s Favorite Imperial Concubine is an O By: Gu Zhijun

Transmigrated as the Villain’s Cat By: Su Zening

After Playing the Fool and Marrying the Blind Villain By: Nei Sei