#whenever I get really motivated for an idea and write it on my phone it ends up being 1500+ words
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Note
What are your thoughts on guardians vol.3? (If you have watched it) I went into it, expecting it went to the garbage like the rest of the mcu, but I was pleasantly surprised by its creativity, trope subversion, and how it wrapped up the previously unresolved arks of its characters.
That's what I've heard!
The thing is, Guardians 3 could be the most transcendent work of cinema ever made, and I'd probably still feel little to no motivation to watch it at this point. It's not Guardians's fault - it's just suffering from the same problem that superhero comics have been struggling with for decades: no matter how good an individual arc or run is, absolutely nothing good lasts or matters in the long term, and the stories are shaped in such a way that "the long term" is the only thing anyone gets to build towards.
Whenever I complain about the MCU I get a handful of people loudly complaining about my complaining, with the general thesis that if I don't like it I shouldn't watch it or talk about it - if I'm not having fun, just stop engaging with it. And the thing is, I have. I am intellectually interested in why this massive franchise is fumbling the bag so hard, which is why I still check in on it sometimes, but I've long since stopped turning to the MCU for uncritical entertainment. And even the good movies or shows with a lot of interesting ideas - good character arcs, fun concepts, interesting planting for future payoff - don't draw me in anymore, because they're hooked into a massive moneymaking machine that will scrap and squander anything if they think it'll make them more in the quarter. It doesn't matter how good the writing is, because the writers are not allowed to tell a complete, finished story, and they have no control over what happens to their characters outside of their own script.
Captain America's arc was set up from literally minute one to answer one burning question at the core of his character: does a world without a war still need Captain America? After that incredibly basic tee-up at the end of First Avenger, half a dozen movies failed to come up with a reason to say "yes," and now Steve is retired for good after getting fumbled through four different storylines that couldn't even pretend that they needed him (the unused Chekhov's Phone from the end of Civil War still haunts me). The foundational arc of his entire character never happened because nobody bothered to keep track of it past a single movie.
Taika did something interesting with Thor in Ragnarok - take away Mjolnir, force him to recognize what it means to be the god of thunder, give him a very Odin-y missing eye - and the very next movie undid all of it. Just kidding, never mind, here's an eye and a new weapon and also his old weapon again, and in one more movie we're even gonna give him his hair back, probably as an apology for all the completely unironic fatphobia we're gonna slather him in for two and a half hours. I'm not even surprised Love And Thunder was such an overblown mess that barely took itself seriously - why would Taika bother trying to give Thor another arc when the powers that be will just roll it back in six months anyway?
I hear Rocket Raccoon has a fantastic arc in this movie. That's great, and demonstrates that he's being written by a writer that deeply cares about him. But he's part of the MCU, and the MCU doesn't let anything end, so if current patterns hold, Rocket is going to continue to serve as quippy plushie-bait for the next dozen movies and none of that depth is going to come through in the long term. Hell, since they're making Kang noises for the Next Big Threat and Kang's entire gimmick is rewriting timelines, literally none of this is guaranteed to matter. By next year, it might not have even happened anymore.
The MCU has successfully shaped itself into a paradigm where the bright spots of good writing are overridden and lost as soon as the writers room turns over, and that makes it really hard for me to muster up the enthusiasm to watch even a really good movie that's locked into the exact same grist mill as everything else. I'm glad people liked it, I hope it gets to stay good this time - I just have no desire to watch it.
1K notes
·
View notes
Note
Hello! I picked up “Manacled” for the first time after a friend from book club frantically downloaded it onto my phone. You’re fic has had a profound emotional impact on me, and I am in awe of how you are able to construct such emotionally compelling stories. “All You Want” was also absolutely amazing, and made me laugh and cry with all the feels.
I was wondering if you had any advice or info on how to construct such emotionally charged and compelling stories? Do you outline the emotional arcs of your character or play it by ear as you’re writing?
Also I’ve been going through your FAQs and learned you wrote most of “Manacled” on your phone. First of all, that is insane (in the best way possible) and super cool, but it also made me wonder how you make time for writing in general and how you fit it around your work schedule and other responsibilities? Has the field of your profession ever influenced your writing?
I absolutely love your work, and reading it has been a tremendous gift, thank you. 💕
Hmmm. Well for me a lot of my motivation in story writing is either thematic, like I have concept or large idea that I want the story to fulfill for me, or it's that I really love codependency but I really need to understand why it exists. I am very aro/ace in many respects, so for me, horniness/lust does not exist as a compelling reason for a romance, I need MOAR than that.
I love heart-stopping love, but I find myself often dissatisfied because the degree of obsession doesn't correlate with the character's backstory and internal motivations, so a lot of the time when I craft characters, a big question is "I want them to be [this intense], what kind of formative events would be necessary to make them that way?" And then I go construct a foundation that can get me there.
Tbh, my historic profession has been mostly logistical secretarial work because my mother did not believe in women's education. I did study the liberal arts at college but that wasn't until after she died, but I never went into any professional fields with it. I was a full-time stay at home mother when I started writing during nap-times, which was why I wrote on my phone because it was basically just whenever I had a couple minutes to spare, I'd add a few more lines.
95 notes
·
View notes
Text
Lin Ling x reader bc i love this silly guy
Tags: Fluff, gn!reader, friendship or something more? :o
Tw: implied suicide
You and Lin Ling have been talking regularly for a few months now. It's normal since you both work in the same sector, sometimes exchanging a few ideas here and there or reviewing each other's final products. An inseparable duo who are almost always full of enthusiasm.
It's not as if you didn't already know about your admiration for heroes, but something always made Lin curious. Whenever the topic turned to Nice (which wasn't unusual, since the boy was responsible for writing the scripts for his commercials), your extreme admiration for him was visible. This was something he genuinely didn't understand. Sure, everyone loves Nice, but there's not much special about him apart from that weird and annoying perfection.
Finally, after several minutes of talking about all sorts of things, Lin finally lets it slip.
— "Why... do you love Nice so much?" — The boy asks with some apprehension, looking at you curiously as he waits for an answer. After a short silence, the words slip out smoothly. — "I wouldn't say love is the right word." — You think for a moment. Surprisingly, no other words come to mind. — "To be honest, I really don't know how to describe this feeling. It's a kind of admiration, which yes, perhaps borders on love." — Fearfully, you look at Lin before continuing. With a slight lump in your throat, a soft smile forms on your face, before you look away.
— "A while ago, he saved me." — You said in a firmer tone. Practically forcing the words out of your mouth. — "He told me: ‘Even though your pain is intense, I know that something bright awaits you in the future. It may not be now, or tomorrow. But please believe, there is something at the end that will make it all worthwhile’. Those words are still in my heart today. And they motivated me to get this far." — Her smile was serene, but somehow melancholy. Lin tried to think of the situation in which Nice could have said that or how he had saved you, but gave up immediately. From the fear and sadness in her words, it was clear as daylight that this was a delicate matter, to say the least.
He continued to watch your expression for a few seconds before your voice broke the silence once again.
— "That's why I'm not giving up. I'm going to keep living to prove not only to him, but to myself, that saving me that day wasn't a waste. Don't you agree, Lin?" — He couldn't say what, but something in his eyes changed the moment he said it. Now it's a look brimming with determination, and more than ever you shine. Full of hope, you now shine brightly.
— "That's a great idea. Hearing that, I can see that Nice saving you wasn't a waste. Not at all." — Lin said optimistically, admiring your relentless determination. What he thought was just a "silly crush" on the hero turned out to be as deep as his feelings for Xiao Yueqing. As much as Nice irritated him in a way because he was so "perfect", maybe now he'll have some of his gratitude. Not least because he had saved the one he now considers his best friend.
— "Please keep living." — The phrase slipped almost unintentionally from his lips, and exposed his deepest thoughts. As embarrassing as it was, he had no regrets, and continued. — "I think... You saved me a bit too. It would be a shame not to have you around anymore." — Lin's heart beats faster with every word. But why? It's not like the two of you are something more, isn't it? This feeling is so strange, but it's also warm. Lin Ling couldn't help but feel even more embarrassed when feeling his cheeks burn slightly after he had finished speaking.
— "I promise I'll do my best." — You say, gently touching the Lin’s hand, who doesn't even dare to look you in the face at the moment. Yes, he certainly is adorable. Maybe one day he'll be able to admit what this "unknown" feeling he has around you really is.
The cell phone in your pocket vibrates. The alarm tells you that break is over, and now you're both going back to your grueling work routine. Maybe that's the price you have to pay for that little moment of tenderness with him.
— "I hope you don't give up either, Lin." — You reminded him softly, heading back to your desk. Nice wasn't the only one who saved your life, Lin Ling did it too. His kindness was the main reason you continued to believe in the words the hero had once spoken to you.
— "I will try." — The boy muttered to himself, perhaps trying to convince himself that your intentions were the same as his when he said it too.
52 notes
·
View notes
Text
Late night call | Atsumu x Gn reader
Summary: Playing for MSBY is Atsumu's dream, but it means being apart from you. He travels away for a week and you both aren't doing well with the distance but you always make time for each other.
Warnings: NSFW, smut, fluff, gn reader, reader is mentioned to wear lingerie, used the word core for reader, time skip Atsumu, phone sex, english isn't my first language, smut is maybe not that great
A/n: My Haikyuu phase is back and I have written so much stuff for Haiykuu in the last few days. Also am currently trying my hand more on smut but I still have some struggles with it. So I wrote something more sweet at the beginning.
Comments, likes and reblogs are always appreciated and really motivate me to write more <3
Atsumu had been dreading this trip for weeks. Playing for the MSBY Black Jackals was a dream come true, but it came with its challenges, including time away from you. He kissed you goodbye at the door, holding you a little longer than usual, not wanting to let go.
"I'll miss ya." he murmured against your hair, his voice full of reluctance.
"I'll miss you too, 'Tsumu. It's only for a week." you reassured him, even though you felt the same way.
He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, just for a week." The days apart were harder than either of you anticipated. Despite the time difference, Atsumu made it a point to text you whenever he had a free moment. His messages were like always full of jokes, but you could tell he was struggling with the distance. You also missed him terribly, counting down the days until he would be back.
After practice, Atsumu was even more exhausted than usual but still, he couldn't wait to hear your voice. He sat down on his bed before dialing your number and waiting, a small smile forming on his lips when he heard you answer.
"Hey, 'Tsumu! How was practice?" "Hey, babe. It was good, just long. I miss ya." he admitted, leaning back against the headboard and closing his eyes, just taking in the sound of your voice.
"I miss you too. Want me to tell you about my day?" you offered, hoping to maybe take his mind off for a moment.
"Yeah, please. I wanna hear all about it." he said, his voice showing signs of fatigue.
You started talking about your day, recounting all the little things that had happened. You could hear him responding every now and then, but the responses started to get fewer and fewer. Eventually, you heard his breathing even out, a soft snore escaping his lips.
You paused, realizing he had fallen asleep. Warmth spread through your chest, appreciating just how much he cared. Despite being exhausted, he had still made the effort to call you and listen to you talk about your day. It was moments like these that reminded you just how much he loved you.
"Goodnight, 'Tsumu." you whispered, not wanting to wake him. You stayed on the line, listening to his steady breathing, feeling a little more like he was next to you even though he was miles away. You eventually fell asleep with the phone still next to your ear, lulled to sleep by the sound of his soft snores.
The next morning, you woke up to a text from Atsumu.
"Sorry, I fell asleep on ya, babe. But I loved hearing about your day. Can't wait to see ya soon. Love ya."
The next day, after particularly grueling practice, Atsumu was finally back in his hotel room, exhausted but missing you terribly. He took a quick shower, the hot water soothing his sore muscles. As he dried off, he got an idea, a way of apologizing for yesterday while also teasing you just a little. With a smirk, he positioned himself in front of the mirror, snapping a picture of his shirtless torso, droplets of water still clinging to his skin, his abs and chest glistening. He sent it to you with a teasing message.
"Wish ya were here to help me dry off ;)"
Your phone buzzed, and your eyes widened at the image. Heat pooled in your core as you took in the sight of him. You bit your lip, deciding to play along. You changed into a lacy piece of lingerie, snapping a picture of yourself lying on the bed, the fabric leaving little to the imagination.
"Maybe I'll save that for when you get back. For now, here's something to keep you company."
Atsumu's breath hitched when he saw your photo, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. He typed back quickly, his heart racing. "Damn, babe, ya know how to drive me crazy. I can't wait to get back and have ya all to myself."
You felt a bit of excitement at his response, you usually didn't dirty text much so this just made it more exciting. You decided to push a little further.
"Just imagine what I'll do to you when you get back. I might not even let you out of the bedroom."
Atsumu groaned softly, his mind filling with images of you together. He needed to calm himself down, but the fantasies were almost too much to bear. He replied, his fingers shaking slightly.
"You better be ready, 'cause I'm not gonna hold back."
The exchange left both of you hot and bothered and later that night, Atsumu found himself unable to sleep, his mind racing with thoughts of you. He picked up his phone and called you, he needed to hear your voice. It was late for him, but he didn't care. You answered almost immediately.
"Hey, 'Tsumu. Can't sleep?" you asked, your voice soft.
"Yeah, I need ya," he admitted, his voice already filled with desire. "Been thinkin' about ya all day."
Your breath hitched at his words, the heat from earlier coming back. "I've been thinking about you too. Those pictures…"
"Ya liked that, huh? I didn't even show you that much." he teased, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "Wish I could be there with ya, touchin' ya, makin' ya feel good."
"Tell me what you'd do if you were here." you urged, your voice trembling.
"I'd start by kissin' ya, slow and deep. My hands would be all over ya, touchin' every inch of that gorgeous body." he described, his words sending shivers down your spine.
"Keep going." you breathed, your hand slipping under your shirt, imagining it was his touch.
"I'd pull that sexy little thing ya were wearin' off ya, kissin' my way down your neck, your chest… I'd take my time, babe wanna make ya feel everythin'." he continued, his own hand moving down to palm himself through his boxers.
You let out a soft moan, his words driving you wild. "Atsumu… I need you so bad."
"Fuck, ya sound so good. Wish I could hear ya in person." he groaned, his hand slipping inside his boxers. "What are ya doin' right now, baby? Tell me."
You bit your lip, your free hand moving down to your core. "I'm touching myself, 'Tsumu. Thinking about you. About how good you make me feel."
He let out a shaky breath, his hand moving faster. "Fuck, that's hot. Keep goin', babe. Wanna hear ya come for me."
The sound of his voice, filled with need, spurred you on. You could hear his breathing getting heavier, matching your own. "I'm so close, 'Tsumu. Just need you…"
"Come for me, baby. Let me hear ya." he urged, his own release nearing.
With a few more strokes, you cried out his name, your body trembling with pleasure. Hearing you pushed Atsumu over the edge, a guttural moan escaping his lips as he found his release.
"Fuck, that was… amazin'." he panted, his voice filled with satisfaction.
You both lay there, catching your breath.
"I love you, 'Tsumu." you whispered, a smile tugging at your lips.
"I love ya too, more than anythin'." he replied, his voice soft.
Dividers by: @cafekitsune
#atsumu miya#x reader#gn reader#gender neutral#fluff#haikyuu x reader#smut#atsumu miya smut#atsumu miya x reader#atsumu fluff#miya atsumu#msby atsumu#msby black jackal#haikyuu msby#atsumu x reader#atsumu x you#atsumu smut#haikyuu atsumu#haikyu x reader#haikyuu#haikyu smut#haikyū!!#haikyu fluff#haikyuu smut#haikyuu x you#hq x reader#hq atsumu#hq fluff#fanfic#fanfiction
135 notes
·
View notes
Note
I know people usually ask about your art, but I've fell in love with your writing ngl, whenever I see bits of it on here and tiktok. It's as if I'm reading extracts from some famous author, it sounds so professional. I guess it would be a harder question to answer but do you have any tips on how to improve storytelling/writing?
you caught me at a good time because i’ve been working on the second draft of long bright dark like a madman.
first of all, thank you berry much. that’s pretty surprising honestly because i always thought my writing came off pretty rushed and awkward, but i think everybody is their own worst critic.
now i’m probably the worst person to ask because nothing i ever do is about improving, but i can try and talk a little bit about what helps me generally. something i discovered relatively recently was that making friends with other writers helps a lot. i’m very reclusive so i was a bit nervous about it, but it’s a lot of fun. it’s good to surround yourself with people who inspire you and motivate you. it’s like parallel play, almost. bounce ideas around, send snippets and blurbs, talk. i read the first two chapters of my friends novel last night and it was like i took a shot of meth, and now it’s four in the morning and i’m still writing.
i would also say don’t be afraid to let it marinate. step away, stop looking at it for a little, and go look at other things instead. read other things, watch stuff, listen to music, go places. strings of words that’ve come to me while doing other things have ended up being some of my best lines. if you look at what you’re doing for too long, it gets all funhouse-y. while you’re reading other things, try not to compare either. structure, prose, and stylization is unique from person to person just like any other kind of art. have fun and play around with what you see instead, incorporate elements you find interesting and see how it fits in for you. literally just play.
don’t be afraid to rewrite things completely. i think most people think of this as draft 1 vs draft 2 etc etc, but i think it can really apply anywhere in the process. if i find myself getting stuck on a particular paragraph, i open up something completely new and start the portion from scratch, keeping in mind the lines that i liked, and trying to reword things that bothered me. i tend to get distracted with so many things on a page at once, and end up not being able to tell what’s irritating me when i’m stuck. working through it from the beginning without jumping around, but still having that original there to refer back to, makes it much easier to sort through.
this is a fun one, but the music you listen to while you write might be fucking you up. just the other day a friend of mine mentioned how she tends to listen to music without lyrics while she writes, because lyrics end up distracting her. turns out i focus much better when i don’t have words in my ears. i’m not that disciplined so i don’t stick to it always, but it definitely helps me focus.
similarly, i think your environment in general can really help. i tend to draft things on my phone because ideas come to me very quick and scrambled, and it’s the best way to get them out. i’ve started to sit down with a drink at my computer and transfer it into a proper document to sort of descramble. even silly stuff like the colors and format of the page can help. make it look fun. i like sitting down at my desktop when im able because i think my pink fancy keyboard helps me feel more professional.
if you have questions about anything specific, i can always try and answer. here’s an unedited lbd passage.

44 notes
·
View notes
Text
This week’s writer spotlight feature is: @hairstevington! With 38 Stranger Things works, they've published 25 in the Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson tag and counting!!
@marvel-ous-m recommends the following works by @hairstevington:
Deaf Steve AU
call me when you get this
i wanna cut to the feeling
They’re such a fantastic author!!! I love their fics so so much. They bring such joy and realism into their writing, and have a fantastic sense of humor. Sending so much love to @hairstevington for being such an inspiration, cheerleader, and for breaking my heart just to put it back together again whenever I read their writing. <3 -- @marvel-ous-m
Below the cut, @hairstevington answered some questions about their writing process and some of their recommended work!
Why do you write Steddie?
I got into Steddie completely by accident. I hadn’t written fanfiction prior to Stranger Things Volume 2, and I basically fast-tracked the learning curve lol. I think it just took a couple posts on Tumblr for me to see the vision, and then the brainrot just did its thing for 2+ years and counting. I like their dynamic, their banter, how they’re both idiots. Chef’s kiss!
What’s your favorite trope to READ?
I’m such a sucker for slow-burn romance, enemies to lovers, and fake-dating.
What’s your favorite trope to WRITE?
I write what I like to read, mostly! But I tend to do a lot of “firsts.” First time falling in love, first kiss, etc.
What’s your favorite Steddie fic?
That I’ve written? Oh, gosh. “Freaky Friday (Steddie’s Version)” or “i can’t tune you out.” I think those two inspired me the most while writing, so I have a soft spot for them. OF COURSE I also love and adore the Deaf Steve AU. Hard to choose! If it’s one I’ve read?? Oh man, too many to list. There are so many amazing writers out there <3
Is there a trope you’re excited to explore in a future work but haven’t yet?
Not really a trope, but maybe podfic?? It’s an interesting avenue I haven’t explored yet!
What is your writing process like?
I take a lot of notes on my phone throughout the day about what I want to add to my stories when I get home. For the Deaf Steve series I’ve got a playlist I listen to a LOT and that keeps me in the universe. I also map out the general plot. My current season 4 rewrite has the most extensive outline I’ve ever done (character and group arc breakdowns, motivations, etc). But most of the time, I just sit at my computer and go!
Do you have any writing quirks?
I HAVE to write in chronological order. If I write a future scene, I’ll fall in love with it, and by the time I get there it won’t fit anymore. Tragic!
Do you prefer posting when you’ve finished writing or on a schedule?
I don’t have a schedule. I would love to have one, because I like routine and it gives people something concrete to follow, but at this point I can’t commit to a schedule since I’m so busy.
Which fic are you most proud of?
It has to be Deaf Steve, right??? Both parts of that have taken a LOT of brain power. Learning how to incorporate sign language into my writing was a huge challenge. It was interesting though to write Steve’s POV, because he often is left out of the conversation, which was frustrating for me to write and frustrating for him as a character.
How did you get the idea for songs that voices never share?
Oh!! That was ENTIRELY a fluke. I am in the Stranger Things Writers Guild, and every day we have a “daily drabble.” One day, the prompt was “quiet.” For whatever reason, I wrote about a hundred or so words of Steve having gone deaf, then being introduced to Eddie, who knows ASL. A lot of people requested more, so I fleshed it out and made it a full fic!
When writing songs that voices never share, what was something you didn’t expect?
I didn’t expect so many people to resonate with it!! The amount of comments I got about how important the representation was motivated me to keep going, even when the project went above and beyond its roots. It started as a drabble, then was planned as a 7 chapter fic, which turned into a multi-part series. Wild!
What inspired call me when you get this?
That was another one from the Stranger Things Writers Guild! I wanted a writing exercise, and someone suggested a story through voicemails, and I thought that was so cool I ran with it.
What was your favorite part to write from we can be heroes?
Oh, man!! I had never written suspense/horror before, so that was new territory for me. I wanted to capture the energy of season 1, and I tried to do that by diverting from canon and subverting expectations. I also loved being able to change all the things from canon I didn’t like lol. And, for the record - the part I’ve been MOST excited to write since the fic started hasn’t happened yet, so more good stuff to come!
How do/did you feel writing i wanna cut to the feeling?
Aww, this fic <3 I started writing it while I was sick with Covid the week of Christmas, 2022. It was my first long-form Steddie fic, and I had a blast, but it’s interesting now to look back and see how I’ve evolved as a writer. You can even see my writing skill develop over the course of the fic! Very cool. I also had so much audience engagement for that one. The Trish Takedown™ was extraordinary - I have NEVER had so many readers band together to hate a single character lol.
What was the most difficult part of writing i wanna cut to the feeling?
At the time, it was the most popular thing I’d ever written, and I felt a lot of pressure to get it right. I had a WHOLE inner conflict about whether I “needed” to include smut. I was so worried people would drop off if I didn’t include it, but ultimately decided to do what I was most comfortable with. I don’t think a single person complained, and now I don’t feel the pressure!
Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?
One that I have always adored is from i can’t tune you out. (That’s the one where Eddie and Steve are rivaling musicians who are fake-dating as a PR stunt to promote their new albums). Eddie listens to one of Steve’s new songs and goes on a whole rant about how all music nowadays is formulaic, soulless, and predictable with no fire in it. And he says, “but this? I felt it.” And Steve asks, “the fire?” and Eddie says, “No. You.” It’s a huge turning point in their relationship and things keep growing from there! Oh, also, the entirety of Chapter 13 of songs that voices never share!
Do you have any upcoming projects or fics you’d like to share/promote?
I am currently writing a fic that is a modern day AU where Eddie, Steve, El, Max, Chrissy, and Argyle are in group therapy, led by Bob (it’s called “the hardest part is who we are”). If you like the thought of the characters processing their trauma together and Eddie and Steve falling in love with each other in the meantime, go check it out! It’s full of feels and at times heavy but also soft at the same time?? I’ve loved writing it so far.
Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?
TO WHOEVER NOMINATED ME - thank you!!! I am genuinely so honored. These questions were awesome, this account is awesome, and so much of the joy and inspiration I feel while writing comes from the people reading who resonate with it. It makes me feel so connected to you all, and so seen. So, thank you’s all around, my friends!
Thank you to our author, @hairstevington, and our nominator, @marvel-ous-m! See more of @hairstevington works featured on our page throughout the day!
Writer’s Spotlight is every Wednesday! Want to nominate an author? You can nominate them here!
#steddie#steddie fic recs#steve harrington#eddie munson#steve x eddie#stranger things#writers spotlight#writer's spotlight#writer's wednesday#writers on tumblr#steddie writers#hairstevington
34 notes
·
View notes
Text
Tips for getting used to the trans person in your life's new name and pronouns: A guide by someone with SO MANY TRANS FRIENDS
This is a numbers game. If you've been close to someone for a while before they came out, you've probably used their deadname/old pronouns thousands of times. Know that your goal is to outnumber that.
Take a few minutes every day (you can do this while you're doing other things, you have time) to just talk about this person in the third person. You can do it in your head if you need to, but I've found it really helps to do it out loud. "LUCY is my friend and SHE is really cool. Last week I went to the thrift store with HER and we had a great time." You can do this while you're doing the dishes or something
Give yourself a zero tolerance policy for deadnaming/wrong pronouns when you're alone. It's so easy to be like "well, he'll never know" but it isn't helpful if you want to get good at this. If you mess up, even in your head, remember the numbers game. Say a correct version of the sentence at least three times to counteract the mistake.
Literally do word associations. Find a picture of this person on your phone and point at it while saying their name.
CORRECT OTHER PEOPLE omg this is someone you care about and it is so easy to say "Actually, THEY go by Wren now."
Write this person's name. Paper and pencil is better but typing is still good.
Especially in the early stage of getting used to a new name/pronouns, avoid this person's deadname whenever you can. If they're not out to their family so their deadname is on facebook? Maybe stay off facebook for a bit. You want to speedrun forgetting that this person has anything to do with their deadname (I promise it'll happen, I was writing a story and chose a random name for a side character and my friend who was my editor was like "hey that's my deadname," and I was 100% not sure which name she was talking about. It'll happen FASTER if you try not to hear/read their deadname whenever you can.)
If you HAVE to use someone's deadname for safety or to avoid outing someone, make up for it with extra practice later.
Don't procrastinate changing their information EVERYWHERE you have it. Don't let their deadname hang around on your phone.
This one's silly but it actually really helped me: watch a movie/show/read a book with a character that uses the deadname. Give that association somewhere else to go. "Well, obviously that real person isn't Mark, Mark is that guy from Severance" is shockingly effective.
If you ever do mess up in front of the person, remember: Apologize, correct yourself, MOVE ON AND DON'T MAKE IT ABOUT YOU. "Jeremy - wait, I'm so sorry, Amy, was just telling me about that!"
This one sounds mean, but it also really helped me. Remember that every time you mess up, even when the person isn't there, you are doing something kind of shitty. You should feel a little bad. Use that bad feeling to motivate you to do better.
You'll notice that none of these ideas have the trans person doing any work at all. They did everything they need to: they told you what's up. If you actually care about this person, take the time. It really doesn't take that long, maybe a couple hours during which you can also be doing other things, to build the habit of a new name and pronouns. If you care about this person, you will take that time.
#trans ally#transgender#lgbtq#lgbtq community#honestly cis people do better#I thought I was cis until like 6 months ago and I still got everybody's name right#besties you can do it#And if you can't you're not a bestie tbh
25 notes
·
View notes
Text
Love Lesson || Bucky Barnes (One-Shot)
Character : College!Bucky x College!Reader
Words Count: 2,265
Summary: Y/N's academic challenges lead to an unexpected romance, changing her life and future in surprising ways.
Theme: Fluff
Main Masterlist || support: Ko-fi
Thank you to anyone who gave a like, reblog, and left a comment. It motivated me to write more.
Y/N and her friends were gathered at their favorite campus cafe, sipping on their lattes and chatting about the usual topics. Y/N was known among her friends for her beauty, and it wasn't uncommon for her to receive love confessions from various admirers.
Today was no exception. A fellow student approached her with a bashful smile and a heartfelt confession of admiration.
The admirer said, "Y/N, you're so amazing. I've had feelings for you for a long time. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Y/N, known for her kind and polite nature, smiled and thanked the admirer for their confession before asking a rather unconventional question, "What's your grade score in this semester's exams?"
Taken aback by the unexpected question, the admirer stammered, "Well, I'm not really into academics, but I'm great at other things."
Y/N's smile remained, but her response was clear, "I appreciate your feelings, but I'm looking for someone who's serious about their studies. I've had my share of handsome bad boys, and now I want someone smart and dedicated."
Her friends, who had witnessed this scene many times before, chuckled at Y/N's criteria for a potential partner. Y/N had outgrown the allure of handsome troublemakers and was seeking a different kind of connection, one that revolved around intelligence and academic ambition.
They couldn't help but playfully tease Y/N about the idea of her being with Bucky the famous campus nerd.
Emily: "Hey, Y/N, have you seen Bucky Barnes? He's like the campus nerd. Imagine dating him!"
Y/N, not thrilled with the idea, shrugged off the suggestion, "Come on, Bucky's way too quiet for me. I prefer someone more outgoing."
Steve and Sam, friends of Bucky, overheard the teasing from Y/N's friends about the possibility of Y/N being with Bucky. They couldn't resist sharing the humorous comments with Bucky.
Steve, with a grin: "Hey, Bucky, you won't believe what we heard. Y/N's friends were joking about her dating you, the campus nerd."
Bucky, who had always been reserved, smiled at the jesting comments. He didn't take them too seriously but was curious about this Y/N whom he had only heard of in passing.
Bucky Barnes was well-known on campus, primarily for his remarkable intellect and dedication to his studies. He was often referred to as the "campus nerd" by his peers, particularly in his computer science class.
Despite his nerdy reputation, Bucky was a kind and genuine individual. Whenever his classmates ask for help, Bucky will help them.
**********
Y/N was in her dorm room, trying to enjoy a rare moment of relaxation when her phone rang. She saw her grandmother's name on the caller ID and answered with trepidation.
Y/N: "Hello, Grandma."
Mrs. Johnson, her voice dripping with frustration, responded, "Y/N, I just saw your latest report card, and I am absolutely furious! Your grades are abysmal, and I won't stand for this any longer!"
Y/N, attempting to lighten the mood, quipped, "Well, Grandma, at least I'm not the one making the family fortune disappear in the stock market, right?"
Mrs. Johnson, not one to back down, retorted, "Touché, my dear. But we're talking about your future here! If your grade getting worse I will cut your allowance!"
Y/N, now feeling the pressure, replied, "I understand, Grandma. I'll make studying my top priority from now on, and I promise not to invest in any more 'get-rich-quick' schemes."
The call from her angry grandmother served as a wake-up call for Y/N. Y/N's grandmother, the famous CEO, had always been a beacon of intelligence and success.
Johnson Corporation is a well-established and highly successful conglomerate that operates in various sectors, including technology, finance, and real estate. Under the leadership of Mrs. Johnson, the company has grown to become a major player in the global business landscape. Known for its innovative solutions and strategic investments, the corporation is renowned for its commitment to excellence and its dedication to pushing the boundaries of industry standards. It stands as a testament to the Johnson family's legacy of business acumen and leadership.
However, it seemed that this remarkable intelligence had skipped a generation or two. Y/N's father had chosen a carefree lifestyle of constant travel with her mother, making every day feel like a honeymoon. They prioritized adventure and leisure over academia.
On the other hand, Y/N, despite her family's legacy, found herself grappling with math and her academic performance. Her struggles with the subject only added to her frustration, as she tried to live up to her grandmother's expectations and overcome the academic challenges she faced.
Mrs. Johnson hopes that Y/N will embrace her family's legacy and take on the responsibility of continuing the hard work and success that she has built. She desires to see a positive change in Y/N to ensure the family's bloodline carries on the business legacy.
As Y/N pondered how to resolve her academic issues, she found herself in a conversation with her lecturer one day. Little did she know that this conversation would introduce her to someone who would change her life.
Lecturer: "Y/N, I've noticed you're struggling with your grades. I'd like to introduce you to someone who might be able to help. This is Bucky Barnes, one of our top students. He's known for his dedication to academics."
Y/N, taken aback by the introduction, looked at Bucky, who was standing there with his kind but studious expression. She couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity.
Bucky, shifting nervously, managed a small smile and said, "Hi there, I'm Bucky Barnes. I'm not as interesting as my physics textbooks, but I promise I'm helpful with those."
Y/N, charmed by Bucky's humility and humor, couldn't help but chuckle, "Well, Bucky, I'm Y/N, and I promise not to make you as bored as a physics lecture."
Their lighthearted exchange during their first meeting set the stage for their unique connection, blending Y/N's outgoing nature with Bucky's shy, endearing personality.
Y/N and Bucky had started their regular study sessions in the campus library, with books and laptops spread across the table. Y/N, dressed in her stylish, confident manner, was determined to improve her grades, while Bucky, the campus nerd, was there to assist her.
Y/N would occasionally struggle with the material, but Bucky's patient explanations and tutoring skills made it easier for her to grasp complex concepts.
Bucky's friends, Steve and Sam, sat with him in the campus courtyard, discussing his recent interactions with Y/N.
Steve: "So, Bucky, we heard you've been spending a lot of time with Y/N lately. What's going on there?"
Bucky: "Well, I'm tutoring her, you know, helping her with her grades."
Sam, with a teasing grin, chimed in, "Tutoring? Is that what they call it these days?"
Bucky: "No, really, it's just tutoring. She was struggling, and I offered to help."
Steve: "Come on, Bucky, we know you're a brainiac, but hanging out with Y/N? It's hard to believe."
Bucky, feeling a bit defensive, said, "She's actually really cool once you get to know her. We're just friends."
Sam, raising an eyebrow, added, "Friends, huh? Well, if you say so."
Bucky chuckled seeing his friend's reaction. Y/N actually were cool. But he has to admit her understanding of mathematics needs help.
Bucky encourages Y/N to work on an exercise without directly revealing that it's challenging, with the intention of helping her improve her grades and spend more time with her.
Bucky: "Y/N, I've come across an exercise that I think could be really beneficial for your studies. Working on this will help you make great progress."
Y/N, eager to improve her academic performance, took Bucky's suggestion seriously and worked diligently on the exercise.
***********
Y/N and Bucky were sitting in the campus library, their study materials spread out in front of them. The atmosphere was relaxed as they exchanged notes and discussed their coursework. Suddenly, Y/N dropped the bombshell:
Y/N: "Oh, by the way, Bucky, my grandmother wants to meet you."
Bucky's eyes widened in shock, almost dropping his pen.
Bucky: "Wait, what? Your grandmother? You mean, like, your incredibly successful and impressive grandmother wants to meet me?"
Y/N couldn't help but giggle at Bucky's flustered reaction.
Y/N: "Yep, that's exactly it. She's quite impressed with how you've been helping me improve my grades, and she's curious to meet you."
Bucky, still slightly overwhelmed, stammered, "I...I don't know what to say. I mean, that's...that's quite a surprise."
Y/N reassured him with a warm smile, "You don't have to worry, Bucky. Just be yourself.
Bucky felt nervous but excited since he had always regarded Y/N's grandmother as an accomplished and inspiring figure. The prospect of meeting his idol made him understandably nervous.
On the night of the dinner, Bucky arrived at Mrs. Johnson's elegant residence with Y/N, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. He knew this was a significant moment and hoped to make a good impression on the successful businesswoman who had also become Y/N's role model.
During a family dinner, Y/N's grandmother, Mrs. Johnson, couldn't help but notice the bond between Y/N and Bucky.
Mrs. Johnson: "You know, Y/N, Bucky here is quite the intelligent young man. It would be nice to have a smart son-in-law, don't you think?"
Y/N turned beet red with embarrassment, stuttering, "Grandma, it's not like that!"
Bucky, who had taken the comment seriously, smiled and said, "Well, Mrs. Johnson, I'll do my best to live up to your expectations."
******
As Y/N and Bucky's friendship blossomed, an unexpected turn of events shook their world. Y/N received news that her grandmother, the successful CEO of Johnson Corporation, had suddenly fallen seriously ill. Mrs. Johnson, aware of her condition, appointed Y/N as the temporary director of the company. This decision was based not only on family ties but also on Y/N's substantial ownership of the company's shares.
Y/N was faced with the daunting responsibility of managing the family business during her grandmother's illness.
Y/N had been thrust into the role of temporary director of her family's company, and the pressure was beginning to weigh on her. She felt overwhelmed and scared by the responsibilities that came with the position.
Y/N, her voice trembling with anxiety, turned to Bucky:
Y/N: "Bucky, I'm really scared. I don't know if I can handle all of this. My grandmother has put so much trust in me, and I don't want to let her down."
Bucky, ever the supportive friend, reached out and gently placed his hand on Y/N's.
Bucky: "Y/N, I know this is a lot to take on, but you're stronger than you realize. You've got an incredible work ethic and a smart mind. You can do this. And I'll be right here beside you, helping you every step of the way."
Y/N looked into Bucky's eyes, finding solace in his words and his unwavering support. His reassurance gave her the confidence to face the challenges ahead.
As Y/N and Bucky navigated the challenges of managing the family business and excelling in their studies, they found themselves drawn closer together. Their shared experiences, their support for each other, and the time they spent working side by side had forged a deep and unbreakable connection.
One evening, as they wrapped up another long day of work, they found themselves sitting in the office, a comfortable silence enveloping them. Y/N was the first to break it, her voice soft and full of emotion.
Y/N: "Bucky, I don't know what I would have done without you. You've been my anchor, my support through all of this. I've come to realize that you mean the world to me."
Bucky, his heart racing, couldn't hold back his feelings any longer. His eyes filled with affection, replied, "Y/N, from the moment we met, my life has been filled with light and joy because of you. You're everything I've ever dreamed of, and I'm deeply in love with you."
Y/N's heart swelled with emotion, and she leaned in to press a soft, romantic kiss to Bucky's lips. Their affectionate gesture gradually deepened, the passion of their newfound love igniting as they kissed passionately and shared their hearts in this intimate moment, cementing their bond even further.
Epilogue:
In a surprising turn of events, it was revealed that Y/N's grandmother, Mrs. Johnson, had not been sick as initially thought. Instead, she had embarked on a long-planned vacation, taking a well-deserved break from her busy life as the CEO of Johnson Corporation.
Mrs. Johnson's phone chimed with an incoming text, and she couldn't help but smile when she read the message:
"Y/N and Bucky have confessed their love for each other."
Mrs. Johnson, with a sly grin, simply muttered to herself: "Well, isn't that a delightful turn of events! My matchmaking skills are impeccable, even from a beach."
-End-
Forever Taglist:
@magnificentsaladllama, @esotericgalaxy, @xcaptain-winterx, @buckysteveloki-me, @cherrybubblebullet, @bagoffeelings, @darkofimagination, @starsofcloud @shamrockqueen, @shinytreefire, @thezombieprostitute
#bucky barnes fanfiction#bucky barnes au#bucky barnes imagine#bucky barns x reader#bucky barnes fandom#bucky barnes x reader#bucky barnes x y/n#bucky barnes x you#bucky barnes x female reader#bucky barnes fluff#bucky barnes#sebastian stan characters#sebastian stan x reader#the winter soldier
213 notes
·
View notes
Note
For the character ask: Your choice between Baizhu, Qiqi, and Changsheng! I'm genuinely curious about your thoughts on all of them ^^
Ooo boy I hope you know what you're in for asking me this. First things first: daughter.
Qiqi
First Impression: She needs a stool. Like whoever out her in charge, here clearly needs to think about how short this chick is and give her some accommodation. Like damn.
Impression now: I love her. People dumb her down a lot, but this is the same kid who knows Baizhu has ulterior motives behind why he took her in and cares for him. Yet still, she stays. It really shows that she's a good judge of character no matter how much people like to pretend that just because she's forgetful, it means she's dumb.
Favorite moment: While cocogoat is iconic, I'll forever love that girl just popped out of the amber she was incased in and went, you know what? Time for a walk, let's go. No need to question what that was about. I live to be that unbothered.
Idea for a story: Her and my oc Michi going through Qiqi's notebook together. I like to think Michi drew some portraits of people for Qiqi to make it easier to remember faces
Favorite relationship: Her and Baizhu ofc. That's her dad! Her baba!
Unpopular opinion: Just because you lose 50/50 to a character doesn't mean you should hate them. So kindly shut the fuck up and leave the kid alone. Geez.
Heacanon: She paints Baizhu's nails black, and while she used to really suck as it, she's gotten a lot better about it now/ She's the one who ties Baizhu's hair back for him on his had days which is why his hair looks a little mess in the front.
Changsheng
First Impression: Yeah, sure, this happens. I wasn't really phased by the talking snake after a Traveler had just defeated a dragon in Mond, so I didn't understand why Paumon freaked out over a talking snake. Like, girl? Chill.
Impression now: That's Baizhu's mom. She and Baizhu's late master are the ones who truly raised Baizhu, so it only makes sense for them to love each other so much. And her sass is always fun to write cause I can't always let my sharp tongue be put on full display through any other character besides the reader, and that's just a damn shame.
Idea for a story: She's a perpetual third wheel in any Baizhu story.
Favorite relationship: Her ancient yuri situationship with Fujin and Lingyuan.
Favorite moment: Her falling asleep whenever it snows. It's just so precious. And I know Baizhu gets her all wrapped up in a blanket and put under a heated lamp to wake her up when they get back to the pharmacy.
Unpopular opinion: She is herblord guys. Like...cmon. There's no debate about this.
Headcanon: She's the reason Baizhu found out people were gossiping about his search for immortality in the first place.
And lastly: Baizhu
First Impression: I was in love with him first sight, and I have no shame in admitting that. His fruity little ass came on screen, and I had to put my phone down so I could calm the fuck down for five seconds enough to focus on anything besides the crop top he was wearing. In the end, I had to rewatch that scene on YouTube because all I processed was what he said.
Impression now: Wife. It's really a shame people don't love him him because he truly is one of the most interesting human characters we have in genshin. Not to mention, his story quest is one of the best. While I want Venti's second one more, I definitely wouldn't say no to Baizhu getting his either. All in all: I truly do love him.
Favorite moment: In his character demo when we actually get to see Baizhu being properly angry. He hates the topic of death, truly, so having his own life threatened so easily was sure to get those treasure hunters on his bad side even if they didn't try and do anything to the medicine he was making. And ooo boy, was it hot watching him mercilessly finger those men to the ground. Wish that was me.
Ideas for a story: I wanted to write a flower shop x tattoo artist reader in modern day for him I was gonna call Love Me Not
Favorite relationship: Baizhu x Michi, by in canon, I love how he and Hutao interact. It's so funny to me that this 19 year old is beefing with a 34 year old man. Like girl, calm down.
Unpopular opinion: Baizhu does not need to be your doctor. I've seen so many fics of him where he's taking care of someone else. Where he's the one giving you that support, and while that's nice every once in a while, we can't forget that Baizhu is the one who needs TLC the most if he were to have a proper relationship. Like being with him won't be all sunshine and rainbows, and it kinda irks me that's how people portray most of the time.
Heacanon: Oh, I could go on and on 👁👁 but Baizhu definitely has the most expensive makeup products he could get his hands on because he's a little vain twerp. <-won't admit it tho
#an ask#baizhu#minty asks#ask game#if you cant tell hes my favorite in genshin#and i have lots of thoughts#/glassanswers
15 notes
·
View notes
Text
Wow, Gunn really did it. He tied everything together and it didn't feel rushed. And it was pretty good!
The Princess being determined to go for her afternoon swim because the fish person needs her moment now was hilariously forced.
Also, the Bride could be right or wrong about the mystery. They saw her with Clayface, yes, but the Bride has no idea whether Clayface was the Professor all along or not. She's just making a guess based on the phone call. They never got actual proof that the Princess was going to, or even could cause WWIII. And Gorilla Grodd was a really random part of the vision.
Nina's story has some problems. For one, why was she in the Creature Commandos? She has no rap sheet, Waller has no reason to suspect she can fight. All she can do is swim without scuba gear, and they have King Shark right there. She's actually kind of been a liability to their missions.
Second, it was weird when Nina just left to...be a fish? She's still a person with human intelligence who knows four languages and probably has hobbies...what, was the fish DNA compelling her to abandon any human life? Seemed like it was the bullying. So that was unclear. I guess it's just horror movie tropes.
She has no fighting experience, and she literally never hurt anyone. As far as I can tell she's just a handicapped woman who became a chimera. So when the Bride and Dr. Phosphorus told her "you're the biggest freak among us" my first reaction was "ouch". It's a tragedy that Waller pushed her into a combat situation, culminating in her new friends echoing her bullies in order to motivate her to behave more like a monster, like them.
That mobile iron lung wasn't that bad. Some kids are literally paralyzed and can't move at all.
Also it was really random to just have the police kill Nina's dad in front of her. I know it's a whole "police will shoot whenever they get a chance" thing, but I feel like they only chose to shoot because Gunn needed to add more drama to her backstory. The same reason the Princess had to go for a swim!
The character work is great, but the plot...the more I write, the more I realize how bad the plot is. I don't know, I liked the show a lot, but for how good the other stuff is - the themes, the characters, the politics, it's more distracting how uncooked the plot is.
15 notes
·
View notes
Note
Helloo Gaby I hope you are having a good day because today I just really wanted to rant about how much you and your art makes me happy . Because I don't feel like I can physically keep it inside my heart and I also got the need to write this all at 1 am, so please do excuse me if there are any mistakes I made with my sentences! (・_・;)
Whenever I see your art for some reason it fills me up with a overwhelming amount of joy, I feel like crying whenever I see your art because of how beautiful it looks, there is always something addicting about how it looks. I always love looking and staring at the details, and the effort you put in your work, I love how the constrat between the colors and the little highlights you add on the skin and on the hair, it honestly makes them look like jello and it makes me want to take your art from the screen and squish your art between my hands.
Whenever I search for Kindergarten (or more specifically Huxley siblings) fanart on Google, your art mostly is one of the first ones to pop out and whenever I see it, it's like experiencing it again for the first time and that makes me incredibly happy and whimsical for some reason I can't explain, seeing the art you make fills my heart with an unexplainable warmth and I can't express my the amount of happiness I feel other than running around my room and giggling, or just feeling like a cat got my tongue because I get so speechless whenever I see it, I'm just so happy I start to physically get up from wherever I'm lying down or sitting and start jumping around my room and then go back to my phone to relook at the art and then jump around my room again because that's how much your art means to me.
As an artist also, seeing your art makes me gain so much inspiration and motivation, I tend to be a really unmotivated artist and struggle to create stuff but when I see your works, I feel a lot more refreshed and ready to draw.
Your art is also one of the few main reasons I came back to drawing Kindergarten after a very long time, you (and all the other people) making content even though the fandom is quite dead is very heartwarming to me.
Your art is just so magical?? I have no idea what kind of stuff you are putting in it or what kind of process happens when you are drawing but, keep doing what you love. I love it so much, that's all I really wanted to say. Thank you for reading, I hope you have a spectacular day!! ^_^
Man I feel like an ass because anytime I get messages like this all I can say is thanks or I'm glad you like my art(even art that were made ages ago that I refuse to look at because I was just starting to draw digitally). Anyways thank you for your paragraphs of super kind words. Don't know how to explain how I even draw either, it just happens... Here is art for you cause you're nice ._.
71 notes
·
View notes
Note
I've loved what you've done with the ideas that I throw your way!
Your writing's always great!
You're one of my fav writers, and whenever you update with your answers to asks on what the characters would think for things? always brings joy to my day!
Not an idea but a thought to a question that came up,
I've realized now that you've brought up kitchen use...and carmen mixing up salt and sugar cause they can't taste....
How are they gonna feed MC? like, is she gonna be fed take out? From your last answer to the ask, Tanya definitely isn't gonna want to let her cook when MC's attention could be on her,
But let's say Carmen, who wants to work on humaning tries to make her a meal...
I've just had a realization that they've lived for quite some time, and it's been a long time since any of them were people who required food and used a kitchen in such a manner,
Like, I assume they'd have been taught to cook within their time periods before when they were still humans growing up,
But also, how well do they truly remember those recipes from, say (carmen was turned in the 1700s? and tanya kate and irina 1000s?) so like centuries to millenia old recipes that they partially remember from their time when they were still human if they even remember at all that is (don't get me started on if they can't find the necessary ingredient for some old dish that they assume MC will love)
Like they don't eat human food unless MC offered and is watching them 👀 and they think it'll score them some points or infuriate Tanya(getting off track whoops) and haven't cooked for way way WAY longer,
And they technically could follow a recipe, but at the same time, what are the odds that one of them go
"I feel like this needs more seasoning, the amount the recipe lists honestly sounds like it'll turn out bland in proportion to the volume of liquid in here already"
*proceeds to add in a cup of salt to the stew or whatever it is they're trying to cook*
"don't want it to be under seasoned"
*dumps in half a cup of saffron and cinnamon*
"I used to make this all the time when I was human....now how much of this spice did I need?"
Or how some people go "measure with your heart" and pours in a mega ton of whatever other ingredient
And they wouldn't be able to know that it's bad or overly seasoned since it's human food in the first place.
Unless they actually follow a recipe for something or make simple foods that actually turn out edible.
Like MC is gonna either have take out, home cooked overly seasoned to the point that it's questionable if edible meals, old old recipes, or idk maybe like instant meals. At least until they hopefully give in to letting MC cook
But also like imagining Tanya at first trying to cook for MC to get her to warm up to her and maybe thinking she can try to gain her affections by feeding her her cooking or whatever, but it just goes no.
-📚 sorry that it's kinda really wordy😣
Ahhh, thank you so much for your lovely words! 🙈🥰
I love answering them and feeding my own obsession as well as yours, hehe. It´s so motivating receiving yalls asks, you have no idea. Whenever a new one pops up and I get a notif on my phone, this is legit me:
GIMME THAT GOOD STUFF. 😩🤌
.
Ahh yes, yes, yes-
LISTEN-
Take out? And risk MC getting sick from all that stuff?? Nuhu, not on Carmen´s watch-
(Kate would be all for it probs. Anything that keeps the hooman fed and alive is good enough for her.
...Until the hooman does get sick for the very first time. Tanya would banish the word alone, lemme tell ya.)
I´ve been thinking about that as well, actually. Quite often.
Like yes, I defo think they got some recipes that they´ve frequently cooked up as humans, especially Carmen. Yall can´t tell me that woman wouldn´t serve MC some Spanish cuisine like a true chef-
...If only she knew how. 😭
She used to. But it´s been years since then. I do think they kinda remember the things that were most important to them as humans, but it´s probs fading more and more the longer they wander this earth. In the end, it´s nothing more than an echo - still there, but just out of reach.
BUT-
Good thing she´s got her vampy brain. It´s faster. More capable. Stores information better. All MC´s gotta do is make damn sure those jars are properly labeled (salt, sugar, etc.) and we´re good. 💪
It might take a bit (like, 2 days probs) but, before long, Carmen will have read any and every book about Spanish cuisine there is, and she WILL work her way through every single recipe, and she WILL cook them all up, if it´s the last thing she does.
And, who knows, perhaps it sparks something within her? Brings back some memories from her past life? So she can finally make that Spanish dish she herself enjoyed so much as a human? She knows it´s up there *points to head* somewhere.
Like, can you imagine MC tasting it for the very first time and thinking it´s the best thing ever?? Can you imagine the LOOK on Carmen´s face?? If she was still human, you can bet your ass there would be tears-
.
Carmen: *sets the plate with her fav Spanish dish in front of MC, a somewhat anxious look on her face*
MC: *eyes it suspiciously, but then remembers Carmen´s nice, so she tries to look like she looks forward to having a taste*
MC: *looks up at Carmen*
Carmen: 👀
MC: 😬
MC, internally: 💀
MC: *looks back down at her dish and accepts her fate cause what is she to do?*
MC: *takes the fork and goes for a very hesitant first bite*
Carmen: 👀
MC: *chews*
Carmen: 👀
MC: *chews some more*
Carmen: 👀
MC: "..."
Carmen: 👀
MC: "..."
Carmen, thinking it sucks ass: 😰
Carmen: "What is missing this time? Or is it too spicy? It is, is it not? I swear I did everything as I remembered it, down to the very last ingredient-"
MC, finally deciding to put that poor woman out of her misery: "It tastes...good."
Carmen: "..."
MC, not even trying to hide her surprise: "...Really good, actually."
Carmen: 👀
MC: 👀
MC: *wastes no more time and dives right in for more, finally some good fucking food-*
Carmen, only now realizing what just happened: 😯😀😍
Also Carmen, two seconds later: 🥹
Tanya, in the distance: *betrayal, jealousy, indignation*
Also Tanya: *already scheming to steal that damn notepad Carmen´s no doubt used to write down the recipe for later use*
Kate, right next to Tanya: *already scheming to steal another indirect kiss...or perhaps try for an actual one, seeing how the lil spitfire seems to be in rather good spirits right now, hmm...*
Irina: *please hold the line*
MC: *still happily munching*
Carmen: 🥰
.
LIKE, YKNOW???
Carmen is too precious for this world. 😭
But ye, that´s pretty much what would happen. Carmen´s gonna make sure the hooman is well-fed so ppl won´t even think about getting her that greasy take out. She might have left her human days behind her centuries ago, but even she recognizes a potential heart attack when she sees one.
.
But I LOVE all your ideas, as per usual. The one with failing to purchase an ingredient because it might no longer exist in this mordern world?? At least not under the name they used to know it by?? PLEASE. 😭
.
But also, the one where they just pour stuff in like no tmr in hopes it´s gonna be the right amount and MC will remain standing?? PLEASE. 💀
But also also, I actually don´t think they´d do that. (Anymore.) At least not until they got the hang of it all. And, if they did decide to season it, then they´d start with something they´ve already made. Yknow, just try out a lil something. Nothing too over the top. Just a smidge. See how MC reacts first. See if she drops dead-
RIGHT, so-
I think they´d go strictly by recipe until they figured it all out. Lest they give MC an actual heart attack...
.
Right so, Carmen cooking is all fine and dandy-
...Until it isn't. Because once the initial joy over getting something edible has faded somewhat, MC realizes that she's bored. Terribly so. (Because, if it was up to Tanya, she'd be sitting somewhere looking pretty all day, nothing more, nothing less. Laying around works too, ofc. Works even better.) And also, she's never been one to let others do the work for her. She's very much capable of fending for herself, tyvm.
So, you can bet your ass she WILL help Carmen cook, if it's the last thing she does.
And Carmen? There's no way she's gonna deny her. She just doesn't have it in her. In fact, she'll be most pleased to spend some quality time with her daughter-in-law charge.
...Unlike her leader.
Nuhu. Impossible. Out of the question. Under no circumstances will she allow her troublemaker-
The Troublemaker: 🥺
Tanya: 😤
The Troublemaker: 🥺
Tanya: 😠
The Troublemaker: 🥺
Tanya: 😒
The Troublemaker: 🥺
Tanya: 😑
The Troublemaker: 🥺
Tanya: 😐
The Troublemaker: 🥺
Tanya: 🙁
The Troublemaker: 🥺
Tanya: 😕
The Troublemaker: 🥺
Tanya: ☹️
The Troublemaker: 🥺
Tanya: 😖
The Troublemaker: 🥺
Tanya, hesitantly opens one eye: 👁
The Troublemaker: 😔
Tanya: 😮💨
The Troublemaker: 😔
Tanya, sighing: "...Alright. BUT, I shall oversee proceedings at any time very closely-"
The Troublemaker: 🤩
Tanya: "..."
The Troublemaker: 🥰
Tanya: 🥴
Carmen, having watched it all unfold: 😏 🤭
.
Who is manipulating whom exactly? PLEASE. 😭
.
Okay but also Tanya trying to cook something up for MC so she can preen under her attention and praise, just like Carmen did?? And, in order to accomplish that, she might just go through with her plan of stealing that damn notepad?? Girl is desperate, lemme tell ya. 😭
But also, even if she did manage to steal that notepad, she gotta actually cook it too. Somehow, I don't see our proud coven leader being very good at following instructions (because she can do it ten times better). Especially not when it comes to MC, lol. They´re more alike than MC realizes, I reckon.
ANYWAY-
Tanya´s probs gonna take one look at that recipe and go like "Hmm, okay yeah sounds legit but no" and yknow, just put her own spin on it because there´s no way she´s just gonna copy someone. Especially when it comes to doing anything for MC. (She must stand out.)
(We´re not gonna talk about the fact that she still kinda copies someone by using that recipe in the first place. No, we´re not.)
She´s Tanya Denali, head of the Denali coven, and she will NOT rely on others when it comes to providing for MC. Not on her watch. She´s gonna use Carmen´s recipe and morph it into something that screams "Tanya Denali". (Only Tanya knows what that means, I´m afraid.)
OR, in other words:
It goes just as horribly as we all probs imagine:
Tanya: *sets the plate full of...something in front of MC, looking all proud and smug*
MC: *not even trying to hide her suspicion (and slight disgust) this time*
Tanya, entirely confident: 😌
MC, dares to look up from her plate of horror: 👀
Tanya: 😌
MC, realizing she has no choice if she wants to eat today: 💀
Tanya: 😌
MC: *lifts the fork to her mouth...very slowly indeed*
Tanya: 😌
MC: *closes her mouth around the fork*
Tanya: 😌
MC: *starts chewing*
Tanya, unable to hide her curiosity any longer at the chewing sound: 👀
MC: *some more chewing*
Tanya: 👀
MC: "..."
Tanya: 👀
MC: "..."
Tanya: 👀
MC: *looks up at Tanya with nothing short of agony written all over her face*
Tanya, quickly schooling her face into one of smugness again: 😌
MC, struggling to speak through her mouthful which she has yet to swallow: "It´s..."
Tanya, most attentive now as she´s looking MC dead in the eyes: 👀 "Delicious?"
MC: "..."
Also Tanya: 👀 "Exquisite?"
MC: "..."
Also Tanya: 👀 "Just as expected?"
MC: *finally swallows down her mouthful with great difficulty so she can answer*
Tanya: 👀
MC, who has expected it to be quite horrible indeed: "...I guess you could say that."
Tanya, who has never once doubted her abilities: 😌
Also Tanya, internally: 🤩😍🥰🥴
MC, on the outside: 🥲
MC, on the inside: *already plotting her grand escape from the kitchen*
.
Mistakes were made. Misunderstandings were born.
I MEAN-
Girl was trying, aight?? 😭
.
.
.
Tysm for another one of your lengthy asks! Whenever I answer one of these I feel like we're doing our own lil spin-off à la "Keeping Up With..." 😅🤭
Have a great day and cya at the next one! ❤️
#tumblr asks#twilight#the twilight saga#the denalis#denali coven#the denali sisters#tanya denali#kate denali#irina denali#momma denali#carmen denali
16 notes
·
View notes
Text
False Start (High School Football AU)
The rhythms of the drumline echo off the distant buildings, overlapping with the growl of the crowd into a distant thunder. Shirayuki waves her paper ticket at the booth, but the student stationed there doesn’t even look up from her phone. Apparently if one were to desire to sneak into a Wistal High home football game, near the end of the first quarter is the time to do it. Shirayuki spends the last few steps to the stadium outlining an editorial about responsibility and vigilance, then discards the idea as she scurries through the opening in the stands into the glare of the field lights.
Football is not her sport, really. She could write reams about tennis, but this school doesn’t even have a tennis team. She gets volleyball, but covering volleyball is all Suzu asked for this year. She has a suspicion the draw may be primarily that of tall women in tight shorts, but he’s actually enthused and she couldn’t take that from him. Ryuu claimed swimming, because it’s indoors, and Yuzuri used to play soccer, and that leaves the editor with the assignment nobody else is willing to take. If that alone weren’t enough, Yuzuri took one look at her and the quarterback and decided it was meant to be and nobody would come between Shirayuki and football games.
It’s a really good thing that Ryuu does not take orders from Yuzuri. He waves at her from a few rows up, then dumps a notebook in her lap the moment she sits down. “Are we winning?” she asks, half a joke. She’s only missed twenty minutes. That’s, what, the coin flip and three plays?
Ryuu points to the scoreboard, where Wistal is scoreless to the visitor team’s nine points. That’s quite a start. She peers out onto the field, where Mitsuhide is the first player she can pick out at first. He’s tall and he stands up very straight, but something about the way he’s fidgeting tells her he’s concerned about something. She finds Zen next, with his quarterback’s sleeves. He looks more annoyed than concerned, with the way his hands are moving. The team spreads out into one of their incomprehensible arrangements - someday she really should get Zen to explain them again but her motivation is low - and she checks the far side for Obi’s usual spot, but he’s not there. It looks like one of the freshmen in his spot, maybe Kai. “Obi’s not on the field?”
“He took a hit in the last play,” Ryuu says. “I was watching the ball, so I didn’t see it, but they carried him off on a stretcher.”
Shirayuki stands up, craning to get a better look at the bench where the lack of helmets makes identifying the players much easier. She can find Kiki instantly, blonde ponytail swishing like a matador’s cape in front of the other team, but there’s no sign of Obi’s dark bristle. “Like right before I got here?”
Ryuu nods, and she shoves the notebook back at him. “Just a few more minutes,” she begs, and doesn’t wait for him to answer.
***
The last time Shirayuki was in the medical room, Zen had hit her with a football. She shouldn’t have been on the field during practice, no matter how much she really wanted to get a quote from Kiki, but throwing things at her was not the way to deal with the problem. She retaliated a little out of proportion and they got escorted to the clinic by a very disappointed Mitsuhide, where they both got their bloody noses iced and walked out friends.
So she definitely knows where to find an injured player. Even if she hadn’t, the sound of voices would have given her a pretty good clue; the voices and laughter that follow whenever Obi’s the center of attention are spilling out into the hallway.
Obi lights up the moment she walks through the door, looking far too cheerful for the amount of ice and bracing on his leg. “You missed my big play!”
“You couldn’t have waited another five minutes? I was only a little late!” Her stomach flips a bit at the thought. Actually watching him get hurt would be just about the only thing worse than not seeing it. She tries to swallow it down and act normal. “Is it your knee?”
Be’s half buried under a veritable mountain of ice. There’s really not much else it could be. “I wonder,” he says anyway. She could shake him when he gets like this, but he just grins at her. “Does this mean I’m the headline of the game today?”
“The headline-” Of course, she’s supposed to be here for journalistic purposes. Poor Ryuu is out there taking notes on the game for her, while she’s here indulging herself in fretting.
He does owe her for the poison ivy incident, even if he won’t admit it. “Ryuu can cover the game. I’m not leaving you here alone.”
There’s a thump from the back room, and Obi raises his voice. “Our illustrious medical team would be so sad to hear that they don’t count.”
“Shut it, loser,” comes a voice from the back, fondness undercutting the insult.
Shirayuki takes the opportunity she’s given, scooping his unattended hand and clasping it in her own.
***
Kiki’s the first member of the team to find them. “I saw Ryuu in the stands,” she says. “Make sure he knows I expect to see a full description of my foul in tomorrow’s article.”
Shirayuki whirls to face her, squeezing Obi’s hand tighter as he tries to slip away. “Oh no, did you get hurt too?”
There’s no knowing what dentist the Seirans frequent, but Kiki’s teeth are bright and straight as she throws her head back and laughs. “You should have seen the other guy. I finally got that unnecessary roughness call I’ve been courting all year.”
Obi holds up his free hand, and she slaps it smugly. “How about you? What’s been going on here?” Her eyes track from the soggy pile of sweating ice packs to Shirayuki’s hand still entwined with his, then raises her eyebrow when she meets Obi’s eyes.
“They’re waiting to see how it looks after the game,” Obi says. His hand goes stiff, finally managing to wriggle out of Shirayuki’s grip. “Nothing else.”
“Well, game’s over,” she says. “Zen’ll be here any minute; he missed you both.”
“Did we win?” It’s not like it’s going to make up for shirking her duty, but Shirayuki can at least get the basic facts. She refuses to feel more than a little guilty.
Kiki’s mouth curves faintly, like she’s got a secret. “We did, thank you very much. With our best receiver out of the game, we had to resort to field goals more than usual, but I made sure it worked out for us.” Shirayuki pulls her phone out of her pocket; she can still feel the warmth of Obi’s hand in hers, but if he’s not going to hold it any longer, she can take notes. “You’re looking at the owner of the new school record for field goals in a season.”
“And also the most penalty yards for a kicker,” Obi murmurs. Kiki doesn’t answer that, just radiates satisfaction even more intensely.
The door swings open, this time for Zen. There’s a grass stain down the left side of his uniform, but his hair still looks combed. “Kiki? The tv reporter is looking for you.” He takes in the rest of the room, eyes sliding right across Obi to stop at the sight of his girlfriend. “Shirayuki? You were here?”
“Taking pity on the poor invalid,” Obi says, a little too quickly. “A real angel of mercy.”
The smile on his face takes any sting from what could have been mocking, but still an odd tension follows. Zen watches Obi, sweat-stiff hair unsticking from his forehead as he frowns. Kiki looks thoughtful, but at Shirayuki instead.
“I should go apologize to Ryuu,” Shirayuki says, breaking the standoff. She doesn’t know what messages Zen and Obi and Kiki are all trying to communicate with each other through frowns, but if nobody’s going to include her in the discussion, she has some groveling to do. There should be enough teammates in the room now to keep Obi from doing anything ill-advised.
“I’ll go with you,” Zen chirps, bouncing to Shirayuki’s side with far too much energy for someone who’s just played an entire football game. He slips his arm through hers without pressing too close; it’s usually a comfortable position but something about it doesn’t sit right tonight. Before she knows it she’s halfway out the door, Kiki on her heels. She looks back over her shoulder, but Obi waves after them with a smile.
Only in the last second before the door swings shut does she see the smile drop, and her stomach drops with it.
#obiyukibingo25#sports team au#this au has been refusing to let me write it for years#obiyuki#june board
6 notes
·
View notes
Note
Hello! I know you prolly have been asked about this a lot of time but can you give me a small guide/tips about how can one start writing, pretty please. Like hear me out okie
I have this idea alright, I know the characters, the basic storyline, maybe a pinch of plot but I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START- it's like whenever I am daydreaming everything is flowing so smoothly but when I sit down to actually write it down, boom! what was my name again? How can I not remember anything? How can I even start the story, it's always so confusing :( because whenever I try it just doesn't seem enough, so what's your process of writing, like how to put down/draft the idea? Also Idk how to post on Tumblr as someone who want's to start, like who/what should I tag and stuff. Ig I am a lost cause ಥ‿ಥ
Also I am sorry if I came out rude 😭I am genuinely so interested in writing but I just don't know where to start.
This only took me too fucking long to answer 💀
My writing process is a little chaotic and weird because it's what works for me. I've had to work with and against my ADHD and chronic pain in order to come up with ways that make writing possible, so some of this stuff may not work for you
My process goes roughly like this: daydream/get hit with inspiration from somewhere/something; write it down in my notes app on my phone, usually until I have a complete fic; transfer it over to a Google Doc (either by copy-pasting or re-typing it all word for word (depending on how much editing I think it needs)); format (I change it to font size 12 and set it to add a space after paragraphs); post
Writing in my notes app removes the "blank canvas" wall that I get when I sit down to write in a doc. And because it's on my phone and I can be laying down to do it, it also removes a lot of the strain on my hands and back. The majority of my fics lately have been entirely written in my notes and then just put into a doc for formatting purposes before posting, because I feel more motivated to work on them this way. I'll go over posting in a minute
But first, my first tip based on what you've said: Do NOT wait until you're sitting down to write, to write. If you get an idea, if you can, write it down right away. Whether that be on paper, a napkin, your phone's notes app - write it down. If you have the time for it, write down as much as you can (ie. descriptions, full sentences, an entire scene). Don't worry about the context for what you write, just write the thing as-is and add context later
Another tip along with this: Writing is much, much harder than daydreaming. Daydreaming gives you a full sensory experience built in; you can see everything that's happening, you can be there in the moment. But when writing, you have to build everything you see with words that never quite capture it perfectly. Daydreaming definitely helps, though! Most of my fics wouldn't exist if I hadn't imagined being in them beforehand lol But it's never going to really flow smooth from daydream to writing because of the nature of them both
As for crafting the plot of a story and like having an outline for it, I'm also awful about it. What helps for me, though, is laying out what I want to happen chapter by chapter. For my ongoing Dragon Sylus fic, for example, I wrote out what I wanted to happen in bullets, explaining as much as I needed to for future-me to understand what I have in mind or any random ideas I may be able to include. These aren't hard and fast guidelines, but they let me visualize better what needs to happen and if the story can get from A to B to C. For something like my Witcher fic (that I really need to finish one day 😭), I have entire docs with character notes, chapter layouts, potential plotlines, scrapped stuff from past chapters that I may be able to use in the future, etc. This can help keep more complicated or bigger project under some control
Which reminds me of my next tip: Do NOT delete anything! In the sense of like, writing paragraphs or even entire chapters that you decide you no longer want, don't delete them! Make a new doc or note or what-have-you and copy-paste them into it. A lot of the time, it can be repurposed later on, or even just give you ideas for other things to write
Now, posting! Since you asked specifically about posting on tumblr, I'll only provide advice on that, but I can give advice for AO3, too
Tumblr posting can be confusing and honestly threw me so far off when I first joined. To preface all of this, I highly recommend only posting fics when you're on desktop. I also recommend NOT writing your fics directly into tumblr and saving it as a draft. That's a disaster waiting to happen
For tagging, I follow a sort of pattern that I follow on most if not all of my fics. I tag them "fanfic" "fanfiction", followed by the character name(s), [character name] x reader, the fandom/show it's from, and because my fics label the gender of the reader, my last tags have that gender specified (ie. "gender neutral reader", "fem reader", "masc reader", etc). This is what works for me, and if you look at my tags on fics, you can sort of see my process and order of tagging things
Don't tag characters or ships that don't appear in the fic. Putting a story in a tag it doesn't belong will most likely get it marked for spam
It's a good idea to tag potential triggers if they come up. "cw spiders" or "tw spiders" for example. This way people who have triggers or phobias can filter out these things and be more aware. I also put warnings up top with all the contents of the fic (this used to just be only things I thought may be triggering and then I just started writing out my ao3 tags and that works better for me to know I'm being thorough)
Okay that was a lot and this took me so long to answer, but I hope it was a little helpful! If you have more questions, I'd be happy to answer them! (Hopefully within a more reasonable timeframe 💀)
3 notes
·
View notes
Note
how did you learn to write that well? is there any way i can get better at it?
I mean I think I have a lot of room for improvement still, but any skill I have I attribute to practice. Ive been preoccupied with story-making since I was a fairly young kid, and I can assure you that the first peice of fanfiction I ever wrote was not particularly good. I look back on stuff I wrote even a few years ago and I see so many flaws, so really I think so much of this hinges on putting the hours in.
That's my first peice of advice: write as much as you can. I write almost whenever i have a chance or an idea, any idle moment is an opportunity to take out my phone and add a line. Also, think about writing as much as you can. When I'm walking to work or doing the dishes I'm thinking about plot, next lines, working out ideas. When you have an idea you like, write it down. You don't have to write it well, just get the idea down so you'll remember it later.
My second peice of advice is to read a lot. Not just fanfiction- theres some great fanfic out there but theres also a lot of really common tropes, and I think its easy to get stuck in those if it's all you're reading. If anything whats most important is to read a lot of different kinds of stuff.
I think one of the bigger influences on my writing is Chuck Palahniuk, who focuses on some of the world's most unreliable narrators. His characters have these fascinating and often very troubling understandings of the world and of morality. But also he's really good at writing things indirectly, which is something I really try to bring to my own work. The character may not be able to explain their emotions or motivations explicitly, but I try to write the broader narrative so that you can figure out whats actually going on if you dig in.
To me, thats the most satisfying kind of narrative- don't give the audience everything laid out clearly. Make them work for it a little. It's more satisfying and it feels more like real life.
Beyond narrative fiction, read poetry, and write poetry. I mean this so earnestly. I think that reading and writing poetry can really help you break out of descriptive tropes, so you find new and unique ways of describing things. I think poetry can also get you comfortable using symbolism, which I think can also be really helpful in terms of beefing up your writing. Some of my favourites right now are Richard Siken and Billy Ray Belcourt.
Theres probably more I could come up with to say but really thats the big stuff. Feed your brain and practice! And don't judge yourself too much. If you don't like what you wrote don't delete it. Come back to it later with your editing hat on or recycle it for parts.
I have a couple other posts with writing advice as well so check those out if you'd like more tips:
19 notes
·
View notes
Text

My American craving for mall-strength air conditioning motivated me to go see this movie in the theater, and I am about to spoil it due to my problems.
My main issue with THE LIFE OF CHUCK is that it pulls what I think is a really dirty trick considering These Unprecedented Times in which we live. The first act presents a pretty solid, disturbing apocalypse scenario drawing on all of the elements that contribute to the apocalyptic scenario playing out in real life, right now. This creates a fairly eerie, uncomfortable viewing experience that may be pretentious, but at least it's provocative...up until the dawning realization that this "apocalypse" is only destroying the inner world of a man on his death bed. Speaking as someone who shares the common feeling that I am living through possible end-times right now, this struck me as a particularly gross version of the always-dirty trick of revealing that the movie "was all a dream" -- a strategy that rarely serves a deeper purpose than smugly outsmarting the audience.
THE LIFE OF CHUCK aims to explode the idea of "containing multitudes," lecturing the viewer on how one's mind holds a version of every experience and every person that ever touches them. That's all well and good, but some of the "multitudes" are inevitably missed opportunities and paths not taken, so there's a major theme in play about how you might fail to achieve, or be dissuaded from achieving your dreams -- but that's ok, because within i.e. a mild-mannered bookkeeper there still dwells a gloriously talented dancer who can spontaneously light up even the most hum-drum day for the ordinary people around him. And like, there's nothing wrong with saying that, in and of itself, but I'm often vexed by the problem of how the world certainly needs great art about common men, but great art is necessarily only made by great people. As soon as you're weaving compelling mythology about the little guy, you, personally, cease to be the little guy, and all your poetic waxing about ordinariness starts to feel a little inappropriate.
I think about this conundrum a lot with Stephen King in particular, who famously grew up without a phone or indoor plumbing, and became one of the most outrageously successful writers in history. I always think that his writing is affected by this uncomfortable ambivalence about rural, blue collar people; so often his protagonists are educated men (even writers!), prodigal sons who are somehow antagonized by their rustic origins. From 'Salem's Lot to Misery, country bumpkins are either the butts of jokes, or deadly threats, while in real life King positions himself as a gentle champion of the common man. I don't even mean to suggest that it's wrong of him to feel ambivalent, but I often wonder how aware he is of this inner contradiction, and what he might think about it.
Anyway, the apparent message of THE LIFE OF CHUCK -- that you can still be divinely special even if you give up on your dreams and die young -- may reflect an anxiety that I suspect all successful creatives struggle with, that is something akin to survivor's guilt. I think there may be a Why me?-ness that darkens or destablizes the enjoyment of great achievements. Whenever I see an award ceremony like the Oscars or the Emmys and somebody gets up and profusely thanks God, I often think, sure, some of these guys might be earnestly religious -- but on another level, it may just feel easier to assign credit for your astounding fortune to an incomprehensible cosmic force, than it is to embrace the icky melange of personal responsibility, privilege, and dumb luck that determines one's fate.
2 notes
·
View notes