#why write mystrade

[professordrarry]

Sometimes, when I write, I think 'what the fuck am I even typing' and then I edit and I'm like 'huh so that's what I was typing, not terrible' and that, kids, is called ✨dissociation✨.

[mimisempai]

20 fic writer questions

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

1077

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

1,290,973

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Ineffable husbands and Mystrade

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

I want it to be an "us" (905) - Good Omens fix-it season 2

The beginning of something new (881) - Dreamling

You are the reason I will always come back (770) - Dreamling

When you kiss me, you speak to my soul (731) - Lokius

Something new but not unknown (729) - Dreamiling

(Personally happy with the speed with which my fix-it Good Omens took first place)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Always, I feel grateful for each comment, be it a long comment full of hindsights or one emoji. Interacting with readers who enjoy what I write is something I absolutely love!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

None, I can't write angst without happy ending

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Hard t answer but probably because it's fresh on my mind, I would say I want it to be an "us"

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I've had them from time to time, most in the Sambucky fandom and my first Barisi fandom. Mostly homophobic.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I've written some, but I'm not very good at it and in the end it doesn't bring me any joy to write it. So no.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I've only done it once for fun, Dreamling - Lokius - AziraCrow for Halloween (that was my first in the Good Omens fandom one year ago) - No trick, no treat, just love

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't think.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes, 50 fics mostly in Russian

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Not really

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Aziraphale/Crowley (they stole my heart and never gave it back)

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

If it's not love, then what is it? I don't know if I will finish it because I can't connect with Dreaming at the moment. But who knows...

16. What are your writing strengths?

Fluff, emotionalhurt/comfort, soft and intimate moments between the characters, I think. Don't know if it is strengths though...

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

To much to describe, the biggest probably the fact that I don't like to go out of my comfort zone. Language too, because English is not my native language. The fact that I don't want to have a beta.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I love it. I din't use it a lot, but when it's appropriate yes, I love it.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Barisi

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

I want it to be an "us"

Tagging @loki-is-my-kink-awakening @rins-love-wins @insert-witty-user-name-here

[writingfanficsfan]

I'm reading Billy Summers by Stephen King again and there was a little scene with Billy and Phil and her being dumped by her boyfriend and it sparked inspiration in me.

“Gregory? What are you-” 

“I had a bad night, Mycroft. Can I- Can I come in?” Greg asks, rubbing at his eyes. He can see the realization in Mycroft’s eyes and shrugs a shoulder, giving him a self-deprecating laugh. 

“You were right. As usual.” Greg says, his voice rough and throat closed off. He tries to keep the anger and hurt out of his voice, it’s not Mycroft’s fault, but something must slip out because Mycroft gives him that look. That look that makes Greg want to scream or hide away. He’s not exactly sure which one it is tonight. 

“Come inside.” Mycroft says, not commenting on Greg’s tone but gesturing him in. Greg breathes out, feeling Mycroft’s warmth against him as he steps inside. Smelling a little hint of his cologne in the air and it does something to his body. He’s still not exactly sure why he came here. 

“Sit down, please. I’ll make us some tea.” Mycroft says, guiding Greg to a kitchen chair. Mycroft’s hand at the small of his back makes him shiver, settling something inside his body that makes him relax for the first time since- 

He sits down, knees suddenly too weak to keep him upright. There is concern in Mycroft’s eyes before he turns around, puttering around in the kitchen, and soon a steaming cup of tea is in front of Greg. 

“Drink it.” 

“You’re very bossy, Myc.” Greg whispers but takes a sip, letting out a sigh of contentment when the tea fills his stomach and warms him up. Mycroft just raises an eyebrow and Greg sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

“I’m sorry, Gregory. I didn’t want to be right.” Mycroft says then, drinking his own tea, not exactly meeting Greg’s eyes. 

“You don’t have to apologize. You didn’t cheat on me. Or lie about it for almost a year. Or made me believe I was going crazy, seeing things that weren’t there. Turns out, they were there. Fucking hell.” Greg curses, tears running down his cheeks. Who knew a human being had so many tears to shed? Mycroft places his cup down and shifts, wrapping his arms around Greg and holding him secure to his chest. It makes Greg sob out loud, his heart skipping a beat because Mycroft isn’t exactly known for being touchy-feely. And now he’s wrapped up in Mycroft’s arms. He relaxes a little bit more because of that, turning his head so his nose is pressed against Mycroft’s neck. 

You’re playing with fire, Greg. 

@chained-to-the-mirror A bit of the mystrade fic I talked to you about.

@lavenderandvanilla I still write for Mystrade sometimes. 😊

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Five Fics Friday: May 19/23

Happy Friday, Everyone! And it’s the unofficial start of the Canadian Summer with our first summer long weekend, so why not queue up some of these fics to read for the next 3 days??? Enjoy!

RECENT MFLs

You're What I Couldn't Find by hubblegleeflower (E, 6,454 w., 1 Ch. || Meta Fic, Self Aware / Fic is Real, Some Things are Real / Some are Not) – Stories just sort of...happen. To John, to Sherlock, to everyone they know. It's yet another odd fact of life, that someone somewhere will start to write, and you'll get whisked off to...someplace (not here) until you've played it out. Then your regular life starts up again, and the story fades, and you forget. John knew there was a way for it to happen without them, for them to opt out. Like everyone else, they didn't usually bother, but it was possible. Even easy. No one knew quite how it worked; you just stayed out of that not-quite-real space where fic took place, and it happened...someplace else. Mycroft once let slip that it happened, instead, to another version of you, one that was willing, but that made no sense and John was happier letting it be.

Romantic Entanglement by LipstickDaddy (G, 12,025 w., 10 Ch. || Mutual Pining, Idiots in Love, Established Sherstrade, Love Triangles, Love Confessions, Eventual Mystrade, One Night Stands, Fluff, Miscommunication, Eventual Johnlock) – Everything else is transport… until it isn’t.

Better Call Sherlock by Gregorovitch (M, 13,032 w., 4 Ch. || Better Call Saul Crossover || Established Relationship, Case Fic, Legal Drama, Implied Sex, Happy Ending) – Sherlock and John are assigned a case in Albuquerque, New Mexico this time. Shenanigans ensue, with lots of chicanery.

Reconcile by illwick (E, 36,464 w., 12 Ch. || Established Relationship, Angst and Feels, Top John, Internalized Homophobia, Homophobia, Oral/Anal Sex, Bottom Sherlock, PTSD, Rough Sex, Switching) – John views his past through a new lens when he finds his relationship with Sherlock on thin ice. Part 24 of Unwind

If He Be Worthy by AndyHood (T, 58,110 w, 18 Ch. || Avengers / MCU Crossover || Friendship, Adventure) – In the aftermath of the alien invasion of London, Coulson's team is set out to retrieve a man, a man that had picked up Thor's hammer. John Watson hadn't meant to get mixed up in the alien invasion only intending to repay a favor. He had only been surveying the damage done by the aliens when he had tripped on a hammer, he didn't know the significance of being able to pick it up.

[ginbenci]

Get to Know Me

Tagged by @im-95-not-dead --- thanks!

List 3 ships I like: Superbat, Spirk, [[why must I only pick 3]], Stony [but special shoutout to Bruce Wayne/Paul Grimson (OC) because they are my darlings and Paul is beleaguered & I usually avoid OC ships and then I wrote one, what?]

First ship ever: Merthur! but I first wrote / actively engaged with Mystrade

Last Song I heard: currently got the New World Symphony thumping away, is that a song? idk [[edited to add, by the end of writing this post, I was on to Slavonic Dance in C, Op. 46/1, "Furiant"--also thumping]]

Favorite Childhood Book: Julie Andrews Edwards' The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (pax, amor, et lepos in iocando was the first Latin I knew by heart. I did not guess right in pronouncing "iocando", but bad pronunciation instincts are my lot in life, and I was like 8)

Currently Reading: Sherlock Holmes and the Mysterious Friend of Oscar Wilde, which is a mystery novel from 1988 about gay men in Victorian/Georgian London? I must look into this publisher. [It's St. Martin's Press, which is not niche, but the book's got a "Stonewall Inn Mystery" icon on the front, so ... I am curious. (Btw, I'm on p 36 and so far John Watson is intensely/laughably homophobic, this is not the land of Johnlock even slightly 👀)

Currently Watching: Star Trek: The Original Series because I've never seen them, only the tribbles and, like, three clips in various philosophy-adjacent class settings

Currently Consuming: Mukoujima Sencha which is the grassiest loveliest green. just about to make a third infusion

Currently Craving: ... Mukoujima Sencha in the third infusion (but I'm easily pleased)

si tu choisis: @marirah @banananutloaf4life @froizetta & anybody else

[voidcat-senket]

20 questions for fic writers

Tagged by @hxhhasmysoul and @subdee!! <3 <3 <3 who are both v lovely go like. look at their blogs. anyway

1. How many works do you have on ao3?

.161

2. What’s your total ao3 word count?

520,484 - 27% of that is one fic looool

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Right now just HxH and SW:Fallen Order series. Sherlock and Star Trek AOS were big ones too

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

Closing the Space (Between Us) - again its 27% of my wordcount! It deserves it! the Hunter x Hunter Killugon Reunion fic of my dreams. I am SO PROUD of this one I have handed it to irl friends! On purpose! My partner got me a physical copy for Xmas 2021!

2. Crying Over Yuuri - a Kyou Kara Maou! fic, which is a fandom I am amazed is still being read. It's a Wolfram POV fic where he, you got it, cries over Yuuri. Pretty fluffy ending. I credit the numbers to the fact that not a lot of fic gets written for KKM anymore so it doesn't disappear under all the new stuff

3. Not Unusual - A ST:AO3 Academy Era McKirk. Bones gets a bunch of clues to something going on with Jim... he gets it a little wrong, Jim freaks out because this man has Issues, but it resolves in the end. I wrote this one as a pinch-hit for an exchange back when I was still RPing Jim Kirk @thewinningscenario

4. 5+1: Are They Or Aren't They? - Somehow my Mystrade (Sherlock BBC) still gets hits with fair regularity and I'll never understand why. It's definitely not my best work but it's cute! 5 times people weren't sure if Mycroft and Lestrade are dating, and the time they know (because they receive a wedding invitation!!)

5. One Flew East, One Flew West - a Killugon Modern AU in which Killua and Gon meet at a Psychiatric Recovery Center, with Kurapika as another patient and Leorio as a therapist. written for HxHBB2020. I'm very fond of this one. It makes me cry <3 I'm so happy there's so much fandom diversity in these! (The next 11 are all either HxH or Sherlock, l o l )

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I wish I could say I did! I mean to! Sometimes I am not in a good place so I mean to do it later and then I forget..... whoof. I am so thankful for each and every review, and I want to repay that!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I wrote a LOT of fics in my teens where people died (not all of them are on A03, it didn't exist at the time. I'm not giving you my ff.net ;) ) Surely, one of them! More recently, I wrote a Dragon Age: Inquisition Lavellan/Dorian in response to Dorian preemptively breaking up with me (rude!) that is Pretty Hecking Angsty. It's tagged "hurt no comfort"

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Closing the Space (Between Us) did so much work to get where it was, and they ended up with Everything! My boys <3 (And Alluka)

8. Do you get hate on fic?

Very rarely! I'm pretty lucky in life that I don't get hate generally. Maybe it's because I'm not Out There enough but- who cares! People are nice and sweet and lovely mostly, and I love writing fanfic for/with them :3

9. Do you write smut?

Sometimes it will appear in other fics. I don't really do PWPs, and smut itself is pretty rare because I don't include it unless it's... necessary? Kinda? Like if the story demands it. I personally only read smut in certain moods, so when smut's included I make it easy to skip, but it certainly exists

10. Do you write crossovers?

It depends! In my Sherlock days I had a Sherlock/Stargate Atlantis crossover series and a Sherlock in the HP universe series, but I haven't done any recently.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of! I heard people copy fics over to Wattpad sometimes but I've never looked. I'm not usually in MegaFandoms anyway, so I don't think I'm in any real danger.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

YES!! A few different Sherlock ones! (I guess I was pretty well known in the Mystrade sphere?? IDK that was back on livejournal. Anyone else miss KinkMemes?) I think one got translated to Russian and one to Chinese. Both reached out to me and asked for permission first, which I of course granted! It's very flattering <3

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Way way way back in my teen years I cowrote a few times- one in YuGiOh and one in Fruits Basket with a high school friend. Recently I am technically cowriting a fic with @spyscrapper atm- I say technically because its really an rp l o l (Star Wars: Jedi Survivor Canon Divergent Spyscrapper, it's pretty hecking cool! And painful! :D ) I once cowrote a fic where the other author just like. eliminated my plotline. so. It's not always good, but it's still fun to try!

14. What’s your all-time favourite ship?

I refuse to pick One. Killugon (HxH), McShep (Stargate Atlantis), Seishirou/Subaru (Tokyo Babylon & X/1999) and any combination of McSpirk (Star Trek) have probably had the most long-lasting impact on me. And

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but probably won’t?

I often feel like I should finish Pulling The Trigger because it's an interesting casefic and I like the thought of a mystery, but... it's 12 years old at this point, so...

16. What are your writing strengths?

Nature-themed metaphors and descriptions! And I feel like I have pretty strong character points of view! Oh, and angst. I'm good at angst. >:)

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Planning 🙃 oops what's that. And I use adverbs too much! (but it's fun so I'll keep doing it)

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

It depends why! If a fic is from the POV of Character A and Character B is talking in a language they don't understand, for example, it's fine to use it (though please provide a translation for your reader!) The language switch has to be for a specific reason, and if the character understands it the reader should too. (In One Flew, Gon and Killua sometimes swap to Japanese to disguise their conversations from everyone else- I show that by changing their conversation to italics in most cases.) I definitely wrote a fic as a teen that had all Japanese because I was a weeb and... lol don't do that.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Yugioh, 2001!! It was probably two paragraphs long hahaha

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

Closing the Space (Between Us) for sure! God it's so good. I am begging people to read it. If you're going to read One Thing I have written in my entire life-so-far, please let it be that!!

"Tag 20 people:" that seems like a lot hahaha uuhh @spyscrapper @avtorsola @mmuffncakes @nightingalesighs @etoiline @iwishtocountthestars @unicorncoalition @shalnarkonice @missinkylace @thefledglingdm 10 is a reasonable number. but tbh if you wanna do it, do it, I wanna read ur response!

[holly-the-trash-writer]

The Sign of Three with Mystrade!

Instead of Sholto being the target at the Wedding, Mycroft is!

Sherlock's reaction when he realises his brother is the target!

And Greg goes a bit mental trying to protect him!

Why has no one written this?!

I'm going to write this!

[themirokai]

It’s that time of year!

What is Fandom Trumps Hate? A fantastic opportunity to give to charity and get fan labor or a fanwork created just for you! Details here!

Miro, why are you yelling about this? Aside from the fact that it’s an awesome way to connect with other fans, raise money for great causes, and spur the creation of lots of new fanworks…

I am offering TWO auctions this year!

Auction 1: Beta reading. Any fic, any fandom! Let me help you make your story be the best it can be! Spelling & grammar, phrasing, characterization, plotting, pacing, brainstorming: I want to help you with all of it.

Auction 2: Fan fiction. I want to write a story just for you! Offering in the Sandman, Arcane, and Sherlock (Mystrade) fandoms. If you’re not already familiar, check out my AO3 for the kinds of stories I specialize in. Do you have a prompt in mind but aren’t sure if I’ll be up for writing it? Please send me a DM! The inbox is open!

Browsing period is open now and bidding starts March 1!

Check out my link and while you’re there peruse the very many other fantastic offerings.

Other questions about how this works? Hit me up!

[bullet-prooflove]

hi friend! how have you been?

this isn't really an ask, but what are your preferences if i were to request some sort of dom!reader x sub!character?

and do you write only fem!reader?

thank you so much and i hope you have a wonderful day/night! <3

I am doing fab babe! This is week two off my antidepressants and honestly I feel amazing!

Ok so to your qs!

I only write fem reader as it's my experience if that makes sense. Like I have written gay chars from a third person perspective before (Mystrade etc, and I adored writing them) but I cant from a second person perspective as it's more about you as a character if that makes sense and my experience is female. - I hope that makes sense.

I do write some subby bois but it depends who it is if that makes sense?

For some chars it really works for and others it doesn't. Eg: I couldnt write Nick Amaro as sub because he really has a dominant vibe to me, he doesnt bend, I think on some level he needs to be the one to be in control of certain situations to feel safe and secure.

Also I don't really view it as linear as sub/dom if that makes sense. It's about writing the experience for me and what the chars get out of it.

So an example of this is someone like Angel Reyes who has never had someone care for his needs before as opposed to someone like Connor Rhodes, who needs to get out of his own head and know that he's loved. It's not as simple for me as dom this or sub that, I think theres more depth to the writing if you explore why the chars need to adopt those roles.

So basically if you are looking for just smut from that dynamic it wont happen with me.

Also you'll know from my pinned post that I dont write specific situations, so if you put in reader does this and then this and then this I won't be writing it.

I usually write from prompts and these can come in the form of a little idea like gag with Joe Velasco, or a phase like "You're taking me so well darling" with Mike Duarte.

I hope this was helpful and not confusing!

[the-toad-in-your-piano]

I came down to the wire on my word count goals for this month, but I made it!  By the skin of my teeth!  

My original plan for July was to do Camp NaNoWriMo at a goal of 25,000 words.  I work full time and had a significant volunteering commitment during the last two weeks, so I figured that would be an appropriately ambitious goal.  I placed completing Then Let Us Love at about mid-September.

Well.  On July 11, I hit that 25k.  My lunch breaks and late nights had turned out to be rather more productive than expected.  So I had to rethink things a little bit.  I set a new, even more ridiculous goal at 51,000 words.  Why fifty-one?  Because that last 1,000 would push me over 200k for the year.

And I made it!  Somehow!  I finished Then Let Us Love on the 17th, so I had to scramble to find new projects to make it the last 14,202 words that TLUL left me with.  I knocked out almost 5k for a last-minute Mystrade Is Family project and did significant editing, beta-reading, and idea formation for the rest of it (I only count words I actually write down when counting these things, i.e. my beta notes, things I actually add to drafts I’m editing, etc).

So: here I am at 200,076 words for the year.  I logged 51,069 words in July, making it my most productive month by about 4k.  Thursdays were my most productive day this month, which was a bit weird since it’s usually on the lower end.  Tuesdays are usually inexplicably my top.  Let’s see where the next few months take me!

Can you tell I love my spreadsheets?

[out-there-tmblr]

fic stats meme! 💌 rules: give us the links to your fic with the most hits, second most kudos, third most comments, fourth most bookmarks, fifth most words, and fic with the least words.

Hilariously, this meme just proves the biggest fandom I've written in is Sherlock. I've written over 300+ fics on AO3 in over 30 fandoms, but all of these top fives are in Sherlock fandom.

most hits: The Whore of Babylon Was a Perfectly Nice Girl - 32K of words, nearly 320K of hits.

Sometimes you write a story for a big fandom that just hits at the right time and hits the right beats. This is a story that was written before s2 confirmed Sherlock's virgin status and it's mostly a love letter to all the reasons why John falls for Sherlock and how great they are together. (Plus, I loved Sherlock's sexual/romantic history framed as a mystery for John to solve.)

second most kudos: Let You Kiss Me (So Sweet and So Soft) - Again, Sherlock because it's a big fandom and johnlock is the main pairing in that fandom. It's such a light-hearted story of Sherlock starts kissing John and John -- being who he is -- mostly rolls with it and then starts trying to figure out the mystery of why.

(I'm clearly fond of Johnlock as a mystery for one or the other of them.)

I have to say I am especially fond of Mycroft in this, his ability to be busy and important and irritatingly all-knowing -- all with the minimum amount of personal interraction.

third most comments: Let You Kiss Me (again).

fourth most bookmarks: Seventeen Letters - Because Sherlock fandom is huge. And this is a short story that's fluffy and sweet and I'm still fond of it.

"I love Sherlock," John says out loud, testing how the words feel in his mouth. It doesn't change anything. Sherlock's still the pillock who fiddled with his computer password.

Fifth most words:

The Habits of a Lifetime - Sherlock fandom, but Mystrade. Basically, this is the story I had to write after watching S4 and needing to reconcile how we go from everythign to the family concert at the very end. It felt unfair to Mycroft and I wanted to give him a happy ending -- which I figured out as I wrote the story meant space from Sherlock, a truce with his family, and getting Greg Lestrade, a hot mature copper who could appreciate hard work and dedication.

least word count: This is actually a tie of two drabbles (exactly 100 words, people!).

Trust - Good Omens and It has to Happen to Someone Else (Sports Night)

Tagging anyone who wants to do this. It's weirdly fun.

[rey-jake-therapist]

I partly agree with you about the gender swap: I think it could have been interesting if Elementary had at least tried to be faithful to canon at the exception of the Watson/Holmes dynamic being different because of the gender swap, but everything's wrong, Mystrade is now Detective Gregson and is so competent at his job you even wonder why he needs Sherlock in the first place, Sherlock met Irene and thus Moriarty before he met Joan Watson, Mycroft's role has been changed too, so yeah, it's just another story entirely and I don't see the point in doing a Sherlock tv show then.

And from what I gather from the comments, people seem to prefer it to Sherlock because he's "more realistic" (but then he's not Sherlock Holmes anymore, the point of Sherlock is that he's NOT an average detective, he IS special, smarter, a genius even), and because "it's feminist" while Sherlock was sexist in its treatment of female characters. And though I don't disagree with the latter statement I would argue that making Watson a woman and give her a more active role is hardly a feminist stance when the protagonist violates her privacy repeatedly and makes gross remarks about her (lack of) sexual life. Maybe he doesn't do it again and that's why people forgot, I don't know, but so far I saw more sexism in the attitude of Miller's Sherlock than I ever saw in Cumberbatch's Sherlock.

The thing about BBC Sherlock is that in the first two seasons, he has no filter and appears rude to EVERYONE; I mean, it's always "Sherlock is so awful with Molly" but he also frequently treats John like a complete idiot and often says he understands nothing even though he's his best friend, never misses a chance to mock Mystrade and the police's incompetence, humiliates both Anderson and Donovan at the beginning but it's mostly Anderson who can't open his mouth or even be in the same room as Sherlock without being relentlessly attacked. So if there's sexism, it's in the way the female characters were written, rather than in Sherlock's behavior.

And to end on this subject, one thing that always drives me nuts is that none of the men who write Irene Adler seem to get her right. Many think to seem that making her Moriarty is super feminist move compared to making her a sexual "dominatrix" in Sherlock. But I disagree because

1) she still seduces Sherlock = she uses her feminine charms to trick him, something that ACD Irene doesn't do

2) she's turned into a literal villain because god forbid a woman being smart enough to beat the male protagonist without being an awful person with a secret evil agenda herself.

The big reproach I have to make Moffat/Gattiss isn't to have made her a "dominatrix" because considering that Sherlock had this "not interested in sex and romance" stance, it made the confrontation of these two opposites very interesting. AND she proved to be extremely smart, just like in the books. I don't understand why they had to make her rely on Moriarty for help, though: that was imho a disgrace to her character. I didn't mind her falling for Sherlock bc smart women can fall in love, but having her be a damsel in distress at the end so Sherlock could save her was another mistake for me. If they wanted Sherlock was flesh and blood and not just a thinking machine who didn't care about anyone, they had other ways to do it than by dismissing Irene's ability to save herself imho.

No, Sherlock isn't gay, but the fans have been very insistent that he was ever since the BBC show was released, and they still are. Recently someone made a compilation of "Sherlock's gayest moments" and it was just Sherlock being Sherlock, but most people believe that all the stereotypes about gay men are true and thus that if a man/male character doesn't act like they think a typical straight/bi man/male character should, he has to be gay. Sherlock likes to dance? He's gay. Sherlock says "girlfriends" isn't his area? he's gay. Sherlock doesn't act like a creep around Irene when she stands naked before him? He's gay. It's as simple as that and I believe that's what motivated the authors of Elemenary to portray him as straight as they could, thus falling themselves into the stereotype of straight men as pigs who comment on women's sex lives and like to watch books of naked anonymous women.

Sorry I let myself carried away again :) Thank you for the references, I may check them out soon! I think I can find the Rathbone-Bruce movies quite easily, not sure about the Soviet tv serie though :(

I'm just eight minutes in Elementary and I'm already hating it.

Not a good start.

[johannadc]

The Mistress of Mystrade Monday: An Interview

Mystrade fans, we owe a lot of gratitude to @lavenderandvanilla​, the mastermind behind Mystrade Monday and the @mystradepromptsandscenarios​ tumblr. She keeps us going weekly, with a years-long record of Monday stories. And she was kind enough to answer a few questions about the idea. 

For this Mystrade Monday, I present an interview ... and encouragement for you to try participating! 

Where did you get the idea to do these weekly prompts and how long have you been doing them? Was Mystrade Monday a thing before you started?

To my knowledge, Mystrade Monday was not a thing before I started it. Gatiss Wednesday was a thing, and so was Silver Fox Saturday. ��There had been a prompt list (all dialogue prompts) going around on Tumblr earlier that year. I'm not exactly sure where the list originated, @prompt-bank, I believe. It had been reblogged numerous times. The challenge was to write a drabble with the prompt. 

People were sending each other a number from the list to their ask box, a number and a ship requesting a drabble. Most folks defined drabble pretty loosely. Being very new to writing and fan fiction, I looked it up. A drabble is a 100 word fic/scene. I got about 10 asks to do from the list. It was fun, and I wanted to write more. 

I came up with the idea of doing one a week and posting it on Monday, hence Mystrade Monday. I posted my first Mystrade Monday work on August 28, 2017, on AO3 under the very dramatic title, Mystrade Mondays: Mystrade Drabbles from Drabble Challenge 1-50.

Keep reading for more on the prompt sources, lessons, and advice.

How do you generate the prompts? Do you pick things you already want to write about or is there another source? 

I have a list, well, actually, a file [nb: I see what you did there!] with lists of prompts, mostly dialogue prompts. I've scavenged them from prompt posts on Tumblr for the most part. Some I found on other online sources. Mostly, I just let the prompt guide me. Sometimes I have a specific idea in mind for a fic and find a way to incorporate the prompt. 

What draws you to Mystrade as a ship? 

I enjoy the freedom Mystrade has by not being terribly bound by canon. I like that they are mature adults, with power and responsibilities. I find that very relatable.  

What have you learned writing for Mystrade Monday every week? 

I've learned a lot. Writing on a regular basis makes writing a heck of a lot easier, even when you aren't sure what you want to write. You get comfortable with writing snippets of things and setting them aside for another time. You get better at editing and word choice. 

I've come to understand that a fair amount of "writing" goes on in your head before you pick up a pencil or touch a keyboard. I've come to appreciate the value of a short and sweet fic. You don't have to write a novel every time you sit down to write. It can be a snippet and be just as entertaining and enjoyable. 

What advice would you give those who were interested in participating? 

As Mark has advised other would-be writers, "Just write." Really any Mystrade fic posted on a Monday would be a Mystrade Monday fic. If you want to use the prompts, go for it. If they don't inspire you, that's okay. Sometimes I'm not inspired by a prompt, but I have to use it. I like the challenge of having a prompt. However, others may not. 

Also, don't feel like you have to write an opus. A hundred words will suffice, or try the 360MG format. I like the short and sweet fics because they don't demand a commitment of more than a few minutes of your attention, and sometimes all you can afford to commit to is that.

What do you envision for the future? How long will you keep on?

I will at least continue for another 25 weeks or so. That's about how many prompts are left on the list, and at this moment, I want to keep up my streak. 

I started off doing it just for me, as a way to exercise my creativity. That is still my primary motivator. Now I get comments and messages that my fics are one of their favorite parts of the week. That adds to my motivation to continue.  This year it has been more work since the fics are longer, and the effect the pandemic has had on my mood and creativity has been overall very negative. 

I'm glad to see other people join in. There never can be too much Mystrade, and I hope Mystrade Monday lasts as long as people are writing Mystrade. 

Thanks very much, Lav! I loved learning more about this event and your inspiration. 

[musingsofmyown]

I have an angsty and/or tragic asf fic idea for mystrade/johnlock:

So John and Sherlocm have been in a relationship for a few years at this point. They're happy and still living in 221b yada yada-

One day, Greg comes into the flat unannounced, clearly recently crying and barely holding himself together. John jumps to action first, making him take a seat on the couch, then Sherlock is trying to deduce what's wrong but he's drawing blanks because he's panicking about why Greg is crying.

He lets a few tears slip out and looks Sherlock in the eye: "He's-" Greg's voice falters "Sherlock- Mycroft... he's gone." John is silent, looking at Sherlock with a hand on Greg's back,"I was too late- Sherlock I'm-"

The younger Holmes says nothing but strides to Lestrade quickly. John gets ready to stop Sherlock from punching/assulting Lestrade, but instead hugs him "It's not your fault. I promise." He starts crying "I promise."

[writingfanficsfan]

Summary:

"I've been praying for you."

“Piss off, Mycroft. And, you’re not even religious!” Greg gritted out, making a hand of his fist as he breathed out harshly through his nose. Of Course Mycroft was the one to see him struggle with the most simplest of spells.

“Language Gregory. And no, I’m not religious but I figured at this stage that any help would be welcome.”

This is a ficlet for the Mystrade Monday prompt organized by @mystradepromptsandscenarios I didn’t think I would be able to work with the promptline but then inspiration came and this came out. 

Hope you enjoy! 

[elizadoolittlethings]

Wrong Side of the Blanket

Previously: Mycroft and Molly get busy (?) working .. talking .. {x}

Scene 15 -

{The terrace outside Mycroft’s study}

“You can be frank with me. I shall not be offended. In fact, I would rather that you be bold and voice your opinions if you do want to continue working for me,” Mycroft’s soft but firm tone brooked no argument.

Molly watched the Lord of the Manor straighten himself and walk stiffly back into his study past the open French window. Hurrying after him she tried again, “He needs a mother’s touch, sir.”

“That he does,” Mycroft replied as he settled behind the desk. Smoothing the page that he should have finished yesterday, Mycroft said, “I have tried my best to be the brother he needs. But, Lestrade has more effect than I do, it seems.”

“He is a nice man.”

“Yes, he is; considering his parentage.”

“Sir?”

“He was ‘born on the wrong side of the blanket’,” Mycroft spoke softly, almost a whisper, as if recollecting something forgotten.

____~____

pic source: @eventhorizon451 {x}