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Here are 10 fics that are a bit different from standard fare! Uncommon viewpoints bringing you more peeks into the world of Baldur's Gate!

Surround Sound by magmethius (68430, Mature) Content Notes: your sanity Pairings: The Emperor/Tav

Moss (Tav) is getting adjusted in their new life as a mindflayer. The emperor helps them, absolute sweetness ensues!

Reccer says: Incredible collection of off-the-wall pairings, worth the gaze just to wonder how the author came up with them all

Eat your eyes, your visions, your goals, your hunger. (Drink your blood, your breadth, your mettle.) by martyrologics (4651, Mature) Content Notes: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Pairings: The Elder Brain/The Dark Urge

The crowning of the Netherbrain. In the author's words: Bind me, thwart me, fell me. Or else I'll make you a god.

Reccer says: POV the Elder Brain. Yes, I said it, and it's incredible

I Do So Like Them Obedient by madeoflightning (18582, Explicit) Content Notes: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Pairings: Enver Gortash/The Dark Urge

As the final stages of the plan to enslave an Elder Brain loom ever closer, the boundaries of your alliance with the Banite start to blur beyond recognition. The Heist Fic.

Reccer says: It's second POV but it's a fully-formed character, conflicted, worried, cautious, afraid--although she'd never admit it. A masterpiece of pre-BG3 Durgetash with both of the characters pushing and pulling at each other, culminating in a twist you should really have seen coming. And by You, I mean... this character.

36 Days Before it All Went Wrong by Chaus_Cobolorum (37830, Explicit) Content Notes: Astarion's past abuse, canon-typical violence and gore, vampire-related blood kinks, dubcon, explicit sex Pairings: Astarion/Tav

2nd person where the reader is Astarion, canon-divergent retelling of the main story. Story is WIP but tagged to include major character deaths and a sad ending.

Reccer says: Interesting exploration of Astarion's thoughts and motivations. Shadowheart is really leaning into her evil side, and that is creating an interesting dynamic between the two.

Fleeting Dreams by LottaVilja (41992, Explicit) Content Notes: dead dove, the fic contains themes of mental health and suicidal thoughts as well as other struggles such as depression Pairings: Astarion/Tav, Astarion/Reader

A unique premise of where Tav is reverse-isekai'd away to our world and shares her body with a poor soul who didn't ask for any of this.

Reccer says: I love the whole premise about it as it's so unique and I'm constantly at the edge of my seat wanting to know how it continues!

Head Games by GinaTeeth (32439, Explicit) Content Notes: Explicit sexual content, graphic depictions of violence, non-con/rape*. *while depicted, the rape is not sexualized. Pairings: Astarion/Tav

You've become distracted. Two nights ago you allowed Astarion to drink your blood after he came to you in desperation. Now, you've taken to re-living that moment, embellished with your carnal appetite, hoping this time your obsession will ease from a rushing river to a controllable trickle.

Reccer says: I liked it

Broken Mirrors by ShandoraTheExplorer (38558, Explicit) Content Notes: It's dead dove, dealing with a lot of Cazador's cruelty and the aftermath for Tav as well as Gale's struggles with the orb. The tags are no joke. Pairings: Astarion/Tav, Gale/Halsin

An AU where Tav is Cazador's spawn and Astarion is mortal. The fic handles the game events.

Reccer says: The character insight you get from the 1st person POV and the premise itself is so unique!

A Pleasurable Deal by GinaTeeth (35000, Explicit) Content Notes: Explicitly sexual, kink-heavy, lots of graphic depictions of sex and body fluids Pairings: Astarion/Tav, Astarion/Tav/OC, Astarion/Tav/Gale/OC

Non-ascended vampire lord Astarion suggests a spit roasting of his consort with the palace’s newest footman, who bears a striking resemblance to him. Lots of tease, ethical non-monogamy and eventual Bloodweave with vampire spawn Gale!

Reccer says: I liked it

Otter Creek by mellybaggins (1156, General) Content Notes: Frightening imagery, possible mind control Pairings: no pairing

The shadow curse, from the point of view of a shadow cursed child living in Reithwin.

Reccer says: It's unique. I've never seen another fic from this perspective.

A Hero's Rest by dramatic_chipmunk (1525, General) Content Notes: None Pairings: Scratch & Wyll; Scratch & Astarion

"Tomorrow will catch you!" "Tomorrow you'll trip over your own paws again, just like today." The eternal struggle between dog and cat reaches new heights of drama in this tale of pursuit, pride, and the occasional existential crisis about losing sticks to sparrows. Some fights are worth having. Some dreams are worth chasing.

Reccer says: A delightful short read going into the mind of the best boy of Baldur's Gate. The author chose to use an unusual broken syntax that perfectly mimics the adrenaline a dog feels when chasing prey.

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I'm juggling WIPs right now because of this very issue. Gotta get The VibesTM right before writing a particular piece and sometimes they just ain't there yet. Damn.

every writer has That One Scene that lives in their head rent-free but they can’t write it yet because “the vibes aren’t ripe”

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Fun Facts about your Tavs/OCs Game

Enjoy one of two entire screenshots I have of Halinae from my playthrough lol.

Halinae

Age: 68.

Strengths: Compassion, patience, cleverness, curiosity.

Weaknesses: Cowardice, avoidance.

D&D Class: Bard! (Though technically I prefer to keep strict classes as a gameplay mechanic rather than a world-building/writing one...)

Race: Drow.

Siblings: Elder sister, J'haelyrr (deceased). Younger sister, Vierstra. Unnamed younger brother (deceased).

Favorite food(s): Kuttra duulakah, a type of meat and fungus pie sold by vendors in the Duthcloim in Menzoberranzan.

Least favorite food(s): She's never quite gotten a taste for vegetables or fruit. They feel "wrong", somehow. >_>

Tav or Dark Urge: Tav.

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The best photo I took at Dashcon 2

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You know I love a good Ulder piece...

"Ulder Ravenguard Apologist" fic?

This is a shorter fic I've been working on for a while! Five planned chapters, four of which are from Ulder's POV, following him from his early role as a Blaze up to the events of BG3. I want to try to humanize him a little and contextualize some of his decisions around Wyll.

Here's a brief snip from the first chapter:

Baldur’s Gate had always been a peculiar city. By the estimation of most inhabitants of Faerun, it was also the lesser city when compared to its sisters, Athkatla and Waterdeep– prone to violence, prone to scheming, prone to plots both harmless and nefarious and everything in between. From the muddy streets of Rivington to the gleaming cobblestone of the Upper City; if there was trouble to be had on the Sword Coast, one could make a pretty penny betting that whatever it was, it had started at the Gate. But on a day like today– when the city’s banners caught the gold of the sun just so, and the laughter of children, and of maidens, and of men both young and old filled the streets– one could almost be forgiven for thinking a little more highly of the City of Blood. …Almost.

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this 'being really tired after work' thing is really getting in the way of this 'pursuing my artistic hopes and dreams' thing has anyone else noticed this

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For the wip game: since Rhapsody is already answered, let me ask about the Shadowheart & Halsin fic 👀

This is one doesn't have anything written for it yet, but this is a not-so-secret rarepair favorite of mine haha. There's a few scenes of it happening "in the background" of my longfic, and I've been thinking about doing an expansion of the beginning of this chapter from Shadowheart's POV. Basically showing gruff!Halsin who refuses to be healed by Shar's magic; but is still soft enough to show Shadowheart kindness, which softens her up to him a little. :3

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Rhapsody!!

i think i know what this one is but tell me MORE

Answered here. >:)

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Hello :) Tell me about Rhapsody

I got this request from @arachnomancer and @dramatiquechipmunk too. :)

Here's the pitch:

Ten years after the defeat of the Absolute and a decade post-Ascension, the mighty Lord Ancunin throws himself a lavish ball to celebrate his rise in Baldur's Gate. It goes about as well as can be expected: until the arrival of an old friend and a mysterious letter threaten to send him spiraling into madness.

I'm done with 2/4 chapters, but it's on hold while I try to finish up Under the Sussur Tree prior to my vacation. :3

And here is a short snippet:

The Lord bit into his dinner with a relish, and spittle rolled down his chin. “What is it?” he said, dabbing at his mouth with the delicate touch of a far less powerful man. “Roast squab from the city, my lord.” “It’s quite good.” “The cooks will be pleased to hear it, my lord.” “Will they? How… kind.” The Lord rose his fork to eye level, examining the meat with a critical interest. “Tell me, what is this sauce they’ve smothered over it?” “I believe it’s a mix of butter, shallots, and herbs–” “–No garlic?” The servant shifted where he stood. A brief look of fear appeared across his features and was gone; and when he spoke again, his voice trembled. “O-o-of course not, my lord.”

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WIP Tag Game

Rules: post the names of all files in your WIP folder regardless how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell us about it.

I think I've been tagged on this from ten different directions haha. I don't usually keep a ton of wips in production because it gets overwhelming (and I am a painfully slow writer), but here is my current wip folder:

Under the Sussur Tree Chapter: Gathering Courage

Rhapsody

Untitled "Ulder Ravenguard Apologist" fic

Untitled gapfiller: Shadowheart & Halsin fic

I'm not sure anyone I know HASN'T been tagged at this point hehe, but I'll throw out a few in case they've been missed: @tynithia @amischiefofmice @amoremagnificentbastard @deadly-diminuendo @denesmera

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Redid the Festival of Heroes big group picture I did last year! ☺️

OG below!

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Today we bring you a batch of fics that come highly recommended, but have not had too many eyes upon them! So much fandom content is posted, it's possible for some great things to fall through the cracks. Check these out, maybe you'll find your new favorite fic!

cut it out by symphorine (912, Mature) Content Notes: your sanity Pairings: Gen

After averted catastrophe and a strange dream, Dateile fights her urges.

Reccer says: Incredible collection of off-the-wall pairings, worth the gaze just to wonder how the author came up with them all

Closer by not_rin (9640, Not Rated) Content Notes: None Pairings: Enver Gortash/Bane, Enver Gortash/OC Female

A modern gangster AU: Gortash is fresh out of jail, and wants to make good on his promises to his mob boss, Bane. But can he avoid the boss's daughter?

Reccer says: This screams Sopranos-meets-Baldur's-Gate to me, and you can just perfectly visualize the slicked-back hair and the Jersey Boy Gort jackets. Flawless execution.

The Paths We Tread by DesperateJoys (67552, Explicit) Content Notes: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Pairings: Enver Gortash/The Dark Urge

A retelling of a tangled web of memories, from POV Gortash and POV the Dark Urge, skipping from pre-canon to Act 1 to Act 3 in a kaleidoscope of emotions.

Reccer says: The author does an incredible job of non-linear storytelling, weaving the important memories of the past flawlessly with those in Act 3.

Adrift by vatisvera (6163, Mature) Content Notes: None Pairings: Astarion & Gale

Gale of Waterdeep is recruiting for a first mate in a dingy tavern. Astarion is on the hunt for Cazador in said dingy tavern. What starts off as yet another luring attempt might turn into an escape!

Reccer says: A very different meeting that makes so much sense! Astarion slowly realizing that maybe he can get away... on a boat! Also Gale knows more than he's letting on.

A Pale Elf & the Misadventures of Falling for the Insufferable Hero by BeatrixBea (36083, Explicit) Content Notes: None Pairings: Astarion/Tav, Past Gale/Tav

A Pale Elf has found himself playing caretaker to his savior whilst navigating his own centuries long trauma. All he wishes for now is a life of leisure and luxury. Accompanied by the now broken former hero, they both quest to start living and hopefully achieve the life of leisure they both deserve. If only this barbarian would stop putting on their hero pants for every godsforsaken sob story they encounter.

Reccer says: Watching Astarion have to take care of SOMEBODY ELSE, and not even his love interest (at first anyway) is a really neat experience. WHILE dealing with the return of all his vampire weaknesses. Also a nice exploration of the impact Gale sacrificing himself could have on the others.

The Midwinter Market Mystery (or never trust a wizard with a snowglobe) by Denesmera (8487, Teen) Content Notes: None Pairings: Astarion/Tav

Fun parallel universe shenanigans! A cute idea where adventurers get rewarded in their dreams during mid-winter... but this year, the different timeline's dream bubbles got crossed. Astarion is the love interest for so many Tavs... what happens when there's just ONE Astarion around who wants nothing to do with ANY of them?

Reccer says: I love multi-verse stuff in general and this is a great idea for how to let characters from different timelines interact with one another! It also introduced me to some established D&D chars I had no idea about.

A Very Avernus Midwinter by Gally (3725, Teen) Content Notes: None Pairings: Karlach/Tav

Avernus is the fucking pits, but maybe being stuck there for a while doesn't mean Karlach has to miss out on holiday cheer!

Reccer says: A glimpse into how Karlach can have joy even in the place she never wanted to return, because of her friends.

These things housed in silence by fetch_me_penguins (4862, Mature) Content Notes: None Pairings: The Dark Urge & Orin the Red

A prequel fic, back when Orin was a child, and Durge her protective older brother. Plus, a Bhaalist family tradition. Guess what: it's bloodshed.

Reccer says: Sublime prose, heart-wrenchingly perfect sibling dynamics, worldbuilding within the Bhaalist temple, and then there's that conclusion, ready to tear your heart out.

A saturnalian Affair by ShandoraTheExplorer (8627, Explicit) Content Notes: contains smut Pairings: Astarion/The Dark Urge

Astarion is bored at a formal ball, Tav decides to recreate their first meeting.

Reccer says: it's really sweet and humorous at parts, pure fluff!

Such A Sad Girl by VakarianSyndrome (2152, Mature) Content Notes: Abstract mentions of self-harm and suicide Pairings: Astarion/Tav

Just a bittersweet look at a Tav who's not a perfect leader or friend. Astarion sees past her walls in a way that gets repeated over again throughout.

Reccer says: Tav's really trying to be a functional person, but it's obvious she struggles with loss and the fear of being hurt again, both in romantic and platonic relationships. It just really resonated with me.

Zero and Infinity by OldLight117 (5686, Explicit) Content Notes: It is explicit! Pairings: Shadowheart/Tav

A heated spar between Shadowheart and Violet devolves into a battle of wits, and their tadpoles help them see each other through a different lens.

Reccer says: The perspective change in this is really well executed and it poses a thrilling and exciting read. You can tell it was written with great care and excitement, makes me think of what fanfiction is all about.

The Grip of Steel by aqeldroma (28632, Explicit) Content Notes: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Pairings: The Dark Urge/Enver Gortash, Minthara Baenre/Lae'zel, Raphael/Vlaakith

Post-canon fic where Durgetash is trying to conquer the world, Minthara is trying to conquer Menzoberranzan, Lae'zel is on the run from Vlaakith, and Raphael's a loose cannon. Author updates weekly!

Reccer says: It's an ongoing longfic that goes deep into plot and worldbuilding and truly expands the world of post-canon BG3. All for the love of evil, of course :)

The Science of Desire by Tavylia_Sin (8401, Explicit) Content Notes: Contains some pretty extreme kinks, including (but not limited to) knifeplay, predicament bondage, and mild necrophilia. No archive warnings, but mind the tags! Pairings: Ghustil Stornugoss/Kith'rak Therezzyn

Tormented by sexual frustration that she can't find a release from, Kith'rak Therezzyn seeks help from the Ghustil.

Reccer says: It's Lesbian Githyanki Bondage Time! And it gets pretty intense, as Stornugoss thoroughly tests the limits of Therezzyn's endurance. Definitely one of the hottest things I've read in this fandom 🔥🔥🔥

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OC Layers Tag Game

Layer One: The Outside

Name: Halinae Darnruel

Eye Color: Pale purple

Hair Style/Color: Silver

Height: 5'1

Clothing Style: She's fond of dresses, but otherwise she doesn't have strong feelings around style overall. In Menzoberranzan clothing was much more uniform for drow of her class; and on arriving to the Surface, she didn't have the coin for her own clothing, relying on charity and hand-me-downs for most of her wardrobe.

Layer Two: The Inside

Fears: Surfacers, Lolth, her matron mother and her sister Vierstra, losing those she loves (again)

Guilty Pleasure: Drinking. She was a bit of a pub crawler in her youth, but she's a lightweight so she doesn't spend a lot of time drinking now.

Biggest Pet Peeve: Halinae dislikes dishonesty as a rule; though she isn't above using it herself when it's useful. She also hates taking cold baths (unfortunately for her, post-tadpoling as an adventurer).

Ambition for the Future: Halinae is not ambitious! Much to the annoyance of her mother. She would be content teaching music and listening to others' stories for the rest of her days.

Layer Three: Thoughts

First Thoughts Waking Up: Practical thoughts- "what will I eat, what will I drink, what's the weather", etc

What They Think About the Most: Before: her student, Arlon. Later: how to get this tadpole out of her head. Latest: Astarion, more often than not.

What They Think About Before Bed: The road ahead and the anxiety that can bring.

What They Think Their Best Quality Is: She's been told her eyes are striking by Surfacers; but growing up in the Underdark, they were considered fairly unremarkable. She does like her hair though; and keeps it long despite it often getting in the way.

Layer Four: What's Better?

Single or Group Dates? Group.

To be Loved or Respected? Respected- because it's safer. Love is useless in Menzoberranzan. But she didn't learn that lesson well enough to avoid loving again.

Beauty or Brains? Brains.

Dogs or Cats? Probably cats.

Layer Five: Do They...?

Lie: On occasion, though usually for good purpose (she thinks!)

Believe in Themselves: Not often. She gets better about it though.

Believe in Love: She wants to, but hasn't seen it modeled often. Despite that, she does tend to love deeply when struck.

Want Someone: Yes.

Layer Six: Have They Ever...?

Been on Stage? Yes, she's a bard!

Done Drugs? No.

Changed Who They Were to Fit In? Yes, out of necessity for survival. (Probably for the better, considering where she's from!)

Layer Seven: What's Their...?

Favorite Color(s): Purple, teal

Favorite Animal: Cat

Favorite Book: She's only recently learned to read Common (vs. Drow) but she's always been fond of collecting folk tales from places she's lived.

Favorite Game: Truth or Lie (she has no talent for Sava)

Layer Eight: Age

DOB: 1424 DR-ish.

How Old Will They Be: 68

Does Age Matter: Yes and no. When you love an immortal being, it can matter a lot.

Layer Nine: Finish the Sentences

She loves: music, children, Arlon, J'haelyrr, Astarion.

She feels: Anxious, but getting stronger everyday.

She hides: love and the deepest parts of her heart.

She misses: Arlon and J'haelyrr.

She wishes: that things could've been different, for them.

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‘playing a bard in bg3 is so cool and fun like you’-

*a bard in combat*

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the other elves welcoming Legolas in Valinor

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🍖 How to Build a Culture Without Just Inventing Spices and Necklaces

(a worldbuilding roast. with love.)

So. You’re building a fantasy world, and you’ve just invented: → Three types of ceremonial jewelry → A spice that tastes like cinnamon if it were bitter and cursed → A holiday where everyone wears gold and screams at dawn

Cute. But that’s not culture. That’s aesthetics.

And if your worldbuilding is all outfits, dances, and spice blends with vaguely mystical names, your story’s probably going to feel like a cosplay convention held inside a Pinterest board.

Here’s how to fix that—aka: how to build a real, functioning culture that shapes your story, not just its vibes.

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🔗 Culture Is Built on Power, Not Just Style

Ask yourself: → Who’s in charge, and why? → Who has land? Who doesn’t? → What’s considered taboo, sacred, or punishable by death?

Culture is shaped by who gets to make the rules and who gets crushed by them. That’s where things like religion, family structure, class divisions, gender roles, and social expectations actually come from.

Start there. Not at the embroidery.

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2.🪓 Culture Comes From Conflict

Did this society evolve peacefully? Was it colonized? Did it colonize? Was it rebuilt after a war? Is it still in one?

→ What was destroyed and mythologized? → What do the survivors still whisper about? → What do children get taught in school that’s… suspiciously sanitized?

No culture is neutral. Every tradition has a history, and that history should taste like blood, loss, or propaganda.

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3.🧠 Belief Systems > Customs Lists

Sure, rituals and holidays are cool. But what do people believe about: → Death? → Love? → Time? → The natural world? → Justice?

Example: A society that believes time is cyclical vs. one that sees time as linear will approach everything—from prison sentences to grief—completely differently.

You don’t need to invent 80 gods. You need to know what those gods mean to the people who pray to them.

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4.🫀 Culture Controls Behavior (Quietly)

Culture shows up in: → What people apologize for → What insults cut deepest → What people are embarrassed about → What’s praised publicly vs. what’s hidden privately

For instance: → A culture obsessed with stoicism won’t say “I love you.” They’ll say “Have you eaten?” → A culture built on legacy might prioritize ancestor veneration, archival writing, name inheritance.

This stuff? Way more immersive than giving everyone matching earrings.

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5. 🏠 Culture = Daily Life, Not Just Festivals

Sure, your MC might attend a funeral where people paint their faces blue. But what about: → Breakfast routines? → How people greet each other on the street? → Who cooks, and who eats first? → What’s considered “clean” or “proper”? → How is parenting handled? Divorce?

Culture is what happens between plot points. It should shape your character’s assumptions, language, fears, and habits—whether or not a festival is going on.

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6. 💬 Let Your Characters Disagree With Their Own Culture

A culture isn’t a monolith.

Even in deeply traditional societies, people: → Rebel → Question → Break rules → Misinterpret laws → Mock sacred things → Act hypocritically → Weaponize or resist what’s expected

Let your characters wrestle with the culture around them. That’s where realism (and tension) lives.

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7.🧼 Beware the “Pretty = Good” Trap

Worldbuilding gets boring fast when: → The protagonist’s homeland is beautiful and pure → The enemy’s culture is dark and “barbaric” → Every detail just reinforces who the reader should like

You can—and should—challenge the aesthetic hierarchy. → Let ugly things be beloved. → Let beautiful things be corrupt. → Let your MC romanticize their culture and then get disillusioned by it later.

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📍 TL;DR (but like, spicy): → Culture is not food and jewelry. → Culture is power, fear, memory, contradiction. → Stop inventing spices until you know who starved last winter. → Let your world feel lived in, not curated.

The best cultural worldbuilding doesn’t look like a list. It feels like a system. A pressure. A presence your characters can’t escape—even if they try.

Now go. Build something real. (You can add spices later.)

—rin t. // writing advice for worldbuilders with rage and range // thewriteadviceforwriters

Sometimes the problem isn’t your plot. It’s your first 5 pages. Fix it here → 🖤 Free eBook: 5 Opening Pages Mistakes to Stop Making:

🕯️ download the pack & write something cursed:

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Or as Strunk and White said in Elements of Style (to the best of my memory), "Feel free to ignore everything in this book rather than write something inelegant."