#maybe this will motivate me to write more of a snippet?

[bvckbiter]

helllooo kai :3 for the AMA, um, have you read luke's diary? what are your general thoughts abt it and how did it affect your perception of luke? 👀

of course i've read the diary of luke castellan 😣😣😣 thats my WIFE!

at the time that i read it, luke explicitly calling himself the "dad" of the broken trio surprised me a LOT—not because i hadn't thought of that characterization aspect. moreso because i was surprised that rick made him say it outright, especially considering that diary of luke castellan is in the same book as staff of hermes, which then has percy "confirm" that luke had feelings for annabeth when he died... 😭 tbh i've been wondering since forever if dlc was a snippet of maybe a thought experiment rick wrote during the pjato days which he just rehashed for publication in the demigod diaries, which would explain this wild parkour... evidence of rick's editor/s once more not doing what they should be doing

so yeah. i love dlc, but on the front of luke's character, it didn't? really tell me anything new about him that i didn't already know, maybe except how explicitly parentified he was even in his own head

the more novel aspect of dlc to me tbh was apollo's impact on the story, manifested through halcyon's character. imo, apollo in that short story is maybe the closest a god in the rrverse comes to being an echo of how they are in the mythos, and i wish we got to see more of that characterization! hal green is luke's first brush with the tragic greek hero-isms that eventually become his fate, too, and it does confirm that luke's wrath doesn't 100% stem from his and may's experiences (the people who claim that luke did it all because of his daddy issues can go SUCK IT. it's almost as if people can draw on multiple experience from their own lives as well as others' when making decisions, and driving motivations aren't always clear-cut).

and, if i may be so bold, hal green is absolutely proof that the titan war playing out the way it did is thanks to the collective efforts of the olympians. not that the fandom doesn't know that—but what i mean is: other than the vaguely sweeping child neglect, specific gods committed specific actions that, when the effects of all those were combined, perfectly set up the stage for kronos being able to manipulate luke and a lot of other demigod children. hermes is self-explanatory. zeus and hades, by trying to kill each other's families, get thalia murked in the process, which tbh is the festering wound that drives so much of luke's grief. now add apollo in... that's a specific incident of luke seeing how the gods can be extremely cruel to their own children. the gods themselves helped fulfill the prophecy that almost destroyed them. (and if you take son of magic as gospel canon, zeus and hera are contributing factors to why demigods are hunted by monsters.) are you picking up what im laying down

unfortunately, rick tries to pretend that luke and the gods' in-universe ethical conundrum doesnt exist anymore, because we get no mention of halcyon at all in toa (which we can't even chalk up to rick's inconsistency; we know he's perfectly capable of going back to his short stories and picking out assets that he can use for later stories eg iapetus/bob). but then again im not surprised because given the quality of his later works, i dont think rick could handle writing anything about hal properly LMAO

[nopeferatu]

maybe i should write more of my latest writing and repost it...

[infinitelymint]

another little snippet of what's now 8k of Violet feeling like proper shit and thinking a baby might fix it (spoiler alert, it won't)

He cups her cheek and she hates herself a little bit for turning into the touch, for savouring the warmth and the feel of his hand against her skin. It’s been so long since she was last touched with any kind of affection that wasn’t from her dragons. It’s a testament to just how long that she lets him of all people. She squeezes her eyes closed tightly, willing herself to keep the tears at bay.

She’s missed it so much, the feel of someone else’s hands on her body. The comfort of a simple, platonic touch. She has missed the connection, the intimacy, the knowledge that someone cares. Gods, she thinks again, what she wouldn’t give for a simple hug.

“Vi,” he breathes, and there he goes again with the ‘Vi’, breaking down her walls even further. He sounds heartbroken and she can’t quite grasp why. He doesn’t care about her, so why does he suddenly sound like he does?

“I don’t think I’m okay,” she confesses and there’s no amount of squeezing her eyes closed that will hold the tears back now, not when she's finally uttered the truth that she has known intimately for months and months out loud. She feels the tears fall down her cheeks, leaving wet, hot tracks in their wake, like a map of her sadness. It doesn’t take long for his thumb to come up to wipe them away.

“I know,” he says, and there’s none of that brute efficiency or cold detachment she'd come to know from him during the war. His tone is gentle. It’s nothing like she remembers him, nothing like the picture she has of him in her mind. She doesn't know how to reconcile this version of him with the one who's only ever shown her indifference or frustration before.

She thinks that maybe peace time allows some to break down, and others to take care of the pieces that are left in ways that war time never could.

[emero0]

In relation to my “how dare project sekai have shows within a game that i wish were real” post i have decided to do the same thing lmaoo

And by that i mean ive had this cinematic universe in my head for a fic i need to write and part if it involves leo/need writing songs for the musical movie (think like how mary poppins has songs in it—old disney movies to reference something more popular)

Which has led me to wanting to write a song for the movie in my fic—

This is what my multifaceted brain gets me—multi media projects woooo

[branmer]

ive really lost my motivation to write recently

[johnslittlespoon]

wow. today is one whole year since i posted chapter one of tough and sweet (like you and me) :') <3

nearly 200,000 words and endless hours of love (and insanity) poured into that shit. got me through a really rough year and i'll forever be grateful for the way it pulled me out of bed every day and made me fall back in love with writing.

forever thankful too for all the ridiculously kind comments and messages i've received about it; i really do go through and reread them so so often, and it means more than i can ever put into words. it's been incredibly motivating to come back to comments while i'm writing, especially on the days where i question whether i have it in me to keep going and finish what i started. would not have made it even half as far as i have without your encouragement and love, and i'm so happy that some of you have been able to find a home or any sort of comfort in the universe i created, in the same way that i built a home for myself in it.

i know i've been pretty quiet here this year, and things fic-related have been moving slower than the rapid-fire pace of last year lol. life's been a whole lot of ups and downs, busy and overwhelming in ways i wish it wasn't and in ways i'm extremely grateful for. so much has changed but i'm still here, the TAS boys aren't going anywhere — they're just taking their time. :) thanks for letting me take mine, thanks for your patience, thanks for everythinggg.

i wish i had a progress update or something! i wanted to have ch13 done by today to post on the one year anni, but i'm still chipping away at it, so all i've got are my thanks and i guess maybe some snippets in the future, if i ever drag myself back onto social media. i hope y'all have been doing well and i hope you have a good summer <3 see you aroundddd :-)

[peachdues]

not gonna lie, motivation is so hard to muster lately when I feel like interactions are so low.

This is more a personal thought than anything — but I have so, so many asks in my inbox right now asking for various teasers and snippets, and when I do share them (or, certain ones), they rack up interactions. Sure, they’re more easily digestible/there’s less commitment involved with scanning a few hundred words, but those always prompt an additional wave of asks questioning about timelines for updates. Awesome! It lifts my spirit up! People want to read!

Except, when I finally do post an update, there’s few to no interactions with it. Almost no reblogs/comments. What makes me feel worse is that the full chapter itself ends up having far fewer likes even than the 200 word porn teaser from the same fic.

And then the cycle repeats. I post one small snippet and then a flurry of asks about the timeline for the next release, (better) interactions on extremely short (and usually, smutty) teasers, and then next to nothing by comparison when I actually post an update. Idk, so much about writing on here has changed since I joined last summer. Maybe I just need to give up the creative fic stuff and focus on doing exclusively requests and smut and keeping everything below 1-2k words.

TL;dr. It’s hard when the majority of your interactions are asking for updates because, when you do put them out, you only get more of the same questions.

[pinkaditty]

snippet bc im so tired (perv!haku x reader)

ok i wanted 2 finish it 2day butttttt my body is screaming at me 2 go 2 bed. and i need 2 pack 4 a beach trip so. yea. i should go 2 bed.

anyways i hope i post it 2mrw or the day after but in the meantime please consume and enjoy this little snippet of the perv!haku fic im writing bc my mutual aya filled my dashboard with his recent perverted activities.

context is that u and haku were caught in the rain as he was walking u back 2 ur dorm. enjoy!

“I hope you don’t invite just any guy over when you’ve got your clothes lying around like that.” Haku jokes, scuffing his shoes against the wooden floor. A wry smile twists his face again, and his gaze flickers from you to where you hid the hamper. “Some of them might get the wrong idea, you know.” With the way his gaze fixates on you as he says that, you are almost inclined to believe that was a warning against him specifically. You suppress a shiver and blink at him curiously instead, smiling amusedly.

“Well, I know I can trust you!” You turn away, heading towards a closet to collect some towels for the two of you. “You’re my favorite ghoul.”

You grab two white towels and shuffle back to Haku, noticing he seems rather stiff and wide-eyed. He clicks his tongue as he regains his relaxed composure, smirking at you as though he were fine moments ago. “You say that to all the ghouls I bet.” He chuckles.

“No, just you.” You’re standing rather close to Haku, using your own towel to dry off your hair. You’re uncomfortably aware of how your uniform sticks to your body. It makes you shiver, holding the towel tight against your neck. When you look up again, Haku’s gaze snaps upwards to meet yours. You were sure he’d been looking at your chest just now, but maybe you’re overthinking it. “I know I’m technically not allowed favorites,” you start, a teasing smile growing on your face, “but you’ve been so kind. How could you not be my favorite?” You smile cheerily at him before stepping back and focusing on drying your hair, relieving yourself from some of the stagnant chill of the rapidly cooling water. 

Instead of painstakingly attempting to dry your uniform blazer, you decide to try and peel it off. You’ve barely managed to shrug it off your shoulders before you turn back to Haku. He jumps slightly, his gaze flickering to your face, as though he’d been in a trance. “You should take off your wet blazer, too. You’ll still catch a cold if you keep wet clothes on.” 

You turn away and struggle with your blazer a bit more, the sleeves and back insistently stuck to your skin thanks to the rain. Haku laughs behind you, and you hear approaching footsteps. “You know princess, I am always down to help you undress.” His voice lowers in tone by a few notes. You shiver as a warm hand settles on your shoulder. Even warmer breath curls around your ear and you fight the urge to shiver again. “All you have to do is ask.” You can almost feel his lips brushing against the shell of your ear, but choose to ignore it, letting him take hold of one of the sleeves of your blazer.

--------

yea its short i knowwwwwwwwww im disappointed in myself too. i promise im working on it. please feel free 2 motivate me orsomething. writing this has been cathartic i feel rejuvenated and sucked dry at the same time. ok goodnight

[quintessenceofdust88]

Wip Wednesday

I was tagged by @bidisasterevankinard and @typicalopposite for this one (thank you my loves!). I have gotten quite a few things that I'm writing, and y'all had me motivated for new things with your asks, so thank you sooo much for that! ♥ But for this one I'm going with my priest!Tommy AU, so here's the first scene complete. If some stuff looks familiar it's bc I posted snippets a few days ago!

Buck loves LA, but he hates days like this one, where it feels like the whole city is a greenhouse. The heat is sticky and humid, clinging to his skin and making him sweat in his uniform. All he wants is a cold shower and a minute to breathe. And, okay, maybe a cold beer wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Instead, he’s crammed in the back of the 118 fire engine, heading to San Pedro for one more call. And Buck loves his job, he does, but they’ve been on back-to-back calls for the last three hours. 

“Christ, I feel like I’m gonna melt” He whines, and Eddie smirks at him from the front seat (he had won rock paper scissors fair and square, the bastard), pushing his sunglasses up his nose. His Texas-raised ass does just fine with this horrible weather, and Buck hates him for it. 

“Yeah? Better start working hard to go to heaven then, cause you would not survive the eternal flames” He quips. Buck crosses his arms, too stubborn to let himself be influenced by the collective chuckle.

“I already work hard to go to heaven, don’t I? Saving lives and stuff” He says with a shrug, absolutely not pouting, thank you very much.. 

“I don’t know, Buckaroo.” Chim says, a playful smirk on his face. “When was the last time you set foot in a church? That’s supposed to be a big deal for the guy upstairs”

“Well, if that’s the dealbreaker, we’re all screwed” Hen says dryly, even though she doesn’t look particularly concerned. “Except for Cap, of course.”

Bobby chuckles from the driver’s seat, taking a turn to the right and stopping the truck. 

“Well, here’s your chance to make up for it” He says, and Buck comes down from the engine to find out they pulled up to a small stone-walled church. 

The doors are open, and most people are outside or at the very back of the church, chatting agitatedly, their eyes widened as most people when they find themselves witnesses to a 911-level emergency. It’s a sizable crowd, he thinks, considering it’s a Wednesday afternoon (which, as far as his Episcopalian-raised knowledge goes, is not a church day). 

As they rush up the church’s steps, he notices half of the crowd are the usual elderly ladies, but half of it are people around their 20s and 30s, and a few teens, which surprises Buck. They’re all whispering fiercely to each other and keep stealing glances inside the church. One of the ladies approaches them, relief clear in her eyes. 

“Oh, thank God you got here so fast!” She says, wringing her hands together. “It’s Mrs. Bellini, you see, she has low blood pressure, and this weather…”

“Ma’am” Bobby cuts her off as gently as possible. “Were you the one who called 911?”

“No, it was father Kinard.” She clarifies, leading them inside. “He’s already tended to her forehead, but he didn’t want to risk moving her until you arrived to check her situation.”

The church is relatively small, but the ceiling is high, and their footsteps echo against the walls. It’s a lot cooler inside, and Buck lets out an involuntary sigh of relief as they get out of the intense sunlight.

The woman leads them to one of the front pews, where they find another lady who’s sitting down, looking pale and sheepish. There's a white gaze pressed against her forehead, and a small red stain seems to have formed against it. Sitting by her side is a man dressed in white robes, a green-colored long scarf-looking thingy around his neck. 

He stands up when they approach, and Buck’s taken aback, because he’s ridiculously tall; a little taller than Buck, even, and that’s no easy feat. His features are sharp, a jawbone that could probably cut through glass, and he has a cleft on his chin (why did Buck notice that, he wonders? Is it weird to notice a priest has a cleft?). He’s looking at them with widened blue eyes that are filled with concern. 

“Father Kinard? I’m Captain Nash.” Bobby says, and the man nods sharply, his stance almost militarily. "Can you tell us what happened?" 

"He is exaggerating is what happened" The woman quips, her voice a little trembling, but her glare towards the priest is very firm. Father Kinard, however, doesn't seem intimidated. 

"Calling 911 after you passed out and hit your head is not exaggerating, Gloria, and you know that" He says gently, then puts a massive hand on her bony shoulder. "I'm your shepherd, I have to make sure my sheep are doing alright, don't I?" 

Buck smiles a little at that; it shouldn’t sound that endearing, but it does, and even the lady seems convinced, because she shakes her head resignedly, and doesn’t protest when Chim takes her arm and wraps the pressure cuff around it. 

“She fell unconscious during service and hit her head on the pew.” Father Kinard elaborates, still looking at Mrs. Bellini worriedly. “I figured the heat brought her blood pressure down, so I asked everyone to step outside and called 911 immediately. I applied pressure to the wound and it seems to have stopped the bleeding. I made sure to keep her awake and she’s not showing any signs of confusion or dizziness.”

He knows it’s not polite to stare, but Buck can’t help himself. It’s not common for someone to give them this level of information with so much calmness when they arrive on a call. Usually they try to gather what little snippets they can through tears, yelling and fainting over the sight of blood. But father Kinard is collected and eloquent in what he says, and Buck's astounded. 

“And you're right, her blood pressure is a little low. The wound looks fine, though.” Chimney says, gently removing the gauze to inspect the cut. “Wow, looks like your priest cleaned this up real well, didn't he, Gloria? My job is already done for me.”

“Father Kinard is great whenever anyone gets hurt.” Gloria gushes, and the priest blushes under the attention, shrugging sheepishly.

“I had first aid training in the army.” He says, and when they all turn to him with widened eyes, he gives them a wry smirk. “Which was obviously before I joined the seminary.”

“Well, you were trained well, father.” Hen says approvingly, inspecting the wound herself and dabbing at it with a cotton swab covered in anti-septic. Gloria flinches a little, but sits still as Hen gets it cleaned and then places a band-aid over it. “This won't need stitches, it's very superficial. How are you feeling, Mrs. Bellini?”

“Oh, I'm perfectly alright now.” She says distractedly, her eyes turning back to her priest. “But I am so ashamed you had to stop service because of me, father! I'm very sorry! And for such a small thing too.”

“We’re lucky it was small, but it could have been bad. I wouldn’t risk it.” Father Kinard says patiently. “And don't worry about the service, Gloria, it was after Communion; we'd already done the greatest bits anyway.” He winks at her, a blinding smile on his face. 

Buck doesn’t get the joke, but apparently it’s funny, because both Eddie and Bobby chuckle at it. Chim is removing the cuff from Gloria’s arm and patting it jovially. 

“Well, looks like you’re all set, Mrs. Bellini.” He tells her. “If you experience any dizziness or headache, you should look for a hospital, but otherwise, you’re fine.” 

“And thank God for that!” Father Kinard adds with a smile that makes his eyes crinkle, squeezing Gloria’s shoulder with genuine affection. “And thank you, first responders, as well. Come, I’ll walk you out before giving Gloria a lift home.” He says, and then strides along them to the back of the church, the smile still lingering on his face.

Buck has a hard time reconciling this laughing priest to the buttoned-up, serious-faced ministers he knew in childhood, from the few times his parents made him attend church. This man is full of joy and confidence, Buck can tell right away, and he just thinks he’s so cool. 

“You quite literally have nothing to thank us for, Father.” Bobby adds warmly, smiling at Kinard. Buck knows his captain has a close relationship with church, and he seems completely comfortable striking up a conversation with the priest. “You had done half our job for us before we were here.”

He shrugs modestly once more, walking alongside Bobby, and Buck is irrationally envious of his boss for a second or two. They stop by the church’s entrance, and the man extends a hand to Bobby. 

“Thank you, captain…” He says, trailing off, and Bobby firmly shakes his hand, smiling warmly. 

“Nash. Captain Bobby Nash. Your blessing, father.” Bobby asks respectfully, and the priest makes a cross sign over his head. 

“God Bless you and your team, Captain Nash. May He keep you safe in your very necessary jobs.” He says warmly, and then turns to Hen. “And thank you, firefighter…”

Buck watches in increasing despair as her, Chim and Eddie introduce themselves to the priest, shaking his hand, and realizes that soon it’ll be his turn.

He thought the church was cooler than the outside, but all of a sudden he's feeling hot all over again. Should he ask for the man’s blessing? He didn’t offer it to the others, and they didn’t ask, but should he? Is he even allowed if he’s not a Catholic? Does he even want the man to touch his sweaty forehead? 

And then the priest looks at him with that crunchy smile, an inexplicable blush creeps up to his cheeks. Buck thanks God - yes, he’s fully aware of the irony, and he does not find it funny - that he can blame it on the heat and his heavy uniform (never mind that father Kinard's clothes also look heavy and he's still perfectly composed, but Buck definitely won't think about how he'd look all sweaty).

“Thank you, firefighter…” He says, trailing off and extending a hand, and it takes Buck a second to realize he's supposed to shake it and offer his name (not his phone number. Definitely not his phone number).

“Evan. Buckley. Buck!” He blurts out like a complete idiot, and wonders if it's wrong to wish for a five scale fire so they can rush out of there.

Father Kinard raises an eyebrow at him, a smirk on his curved lips. That's when Buck notices he's still shaking hands with the man, and he lets go clumsily. 

“My, that's a mouthful” Kinard says, and Buck almost blurts out that he has something else that's a mouthful before his eyes clock the white collar around the man's neck. 

As it is, he just snickers awkwardly and mutters a goodbye, his voice high-pitched and strained.

Buck's at the truck before anyone else, mentally preparing himself for being teased all through the shift they just started. 

His only saving grace is that, as much as he made a complete fool of himself in front of father Kinard, it's not a problem. Buck'll never have to see the man again, will he? So it's not like it matters.

Naturally, the priest shows up at the station the next day.

Np tagging @agentpeggycartering @unhingedangstaddict @fairytalegonewronga03 @laundryandtaxesworld @mmso-notlikethat and whoever else would like to do it!

[jollyhunter]

. ☆.´☽¸.Tell me about the Stars.¸☽´.☆ .

⋆ ˚｡⋆ Heavy Angst Warning!

[Season5] Dean x ForeignHunter!Reader

Re: The WIP Folder Game - Thank you @bettystonewell and @the-potato-is-lonely for asking me about this one shot (? Maybe I’ll continue this, let me know if you’d be interested <3) I decided to post a bigger snippet / extract of it since it’s been sitting in my drafts for some days now and you just motivated me to write on it some more! 💙

“So, Dean, how’s your mornin’ been so far?” You try to make small talk. The thought of falling asleep to some stranger blabbing about their ordinary life without ever seeing them – yeah, that sounds like a good thing to clock out to.

Much better than the screams of the woman that’s still ringing in your ears. Or the snarling that had clawed at the back of your throat while the sound of shattering bones had filled your mouth.

“It’s in the middle of the night.” He states, his tone confused. “Tell me again, how the hell did my number end up in your contacts?” His voice sounds gravely and thick with exasperation.

You huff. As if you knew? It was just… there. No name, no notes, no nothing. Just a blank number. Last time you’d saved a number must’ve been years ago, way before you-

You stop that thought right there.

“I told you, I don’t know.” You repeat, your energy draining with each word, “I just wanted to know who’s behind the number. Have a little chat. That’s all.”

You spilled a half truth.

“Look, it’s late here and I really don’t know why I’m talking to you but what do you want exactly?” He sounds exhausted. Almost as much as you. And it makes you wonder what life must have thrown at this man to make him sound like he was two breaths away from a breakdown.

Little did you know that Dean was way past the two breaths.

You couldn’t see how his free hand’s rubbing his stinging, red eyes. Couldn’t know the reason for his raspy sound was a voice hoarse from desperate begging into the nightsky. For someone, anyone for help.

“Can you see the stars from where you are?” You suddenly ask in a strained whisper. And your question must have taken him off guard because his side falls awfully silent at that.

Your eyes travel down your limp legs until you witness the first light of the day kiss the forest floor, just out of your reach.

You sigh, shakily. The back of your head thuds against the side of your van in resignation. Head tilted slightly, you lift your gaze to meet the soft painting in the sky. Pink colors frame the endless rows of mountain peaks. A pair of birds sing above you, welcoming the sun to the horizon. So peaceful.

The corner of your lips melt into a smile at the sight. A weary one, at best, but it did manage to redirect the red streak dripping down your cheeks.

There’s a long pause on the other side of the line and for a moment you fear he might have hung up.

But then he responds in a low, husky voice, “Yeah, I see ‘em.”

You hum, eyes briefly fluttering close. Thank God, he's still there.

After a moment of sinking into the silence that's between you, he adds in a softer voice now, “What ‘bout you, what can you see?”

“The sun’s rising here,” you murmur, your voice sounding heavy, but he can pick up on the hint of a smile to it. Albeit a sad one. “It’s a beautiful morning.”

It was true. But you also wished you could have seen the night sky one last time. Watch the stars twinkle and bath in the moon light. Instead your eyes linger on the tree tops, filled with bitter envy. How the God rays caress the leaves with a gentleness you could only dream of. And its shadows dance across your sprawled out form while the fresh morning breeze weaves through your blood soaked tangled hair.

You shudder. The sound of your lungs grow heavier as every raise of your chest fills the distance between you.

The realization has your trembling fingers curl around the phone like it’s your only lifeline.

Dean must have noticed how your breath comes out a little too ragged and a little too weak for someone just calling a random stranger for a chipper small talk.

“Hey uh, you all right? You sound like you’ve been through the wringer.”

“‘M fine.” Your lips press together, swallowing back a hiss at natures cold touch against your exposed skin. The smell of earth and pine trees flood your senses.

Thankfully the sharp inhale through your nose instantly dampens the taste of metal in your mouth.

“Tell me about the stars.” You prompt softly.

𓃦 A/N: I started writing this after I rewatched the "My Bloody Valentine" episode with Dean's breakdown in the end. 🥺 [The entire setting is inspired by an original story of mine, about a female solo-hunter in Scandinavia who lives off the grid with her dogs. 🤭] Dean Tags:

@aylacavebear @jc-winchester @ambiguous-avery @bettystonewell @lyarr24 @ladysparkles78 @v1v1-3

[wolf08]

Hi ! How are you ?🌸

For many years I've been wanting to try writing fanfiction, but I get so intimidated and don't where to start.

So I wanted to ask, how do you write a fanfic ?

Could you break down the process into steps?

Ps: I haven't been into sasusaku lately but I will definitely draw smth for a twist in time 😤 or your new story maybe 👀🌸

Very excited for your new story !

Hi! First of all, I am a superfan of your art and I was so excited to receive this message from you. ❤️

Second of all, this particular question made my day. I will kick-off with a few disclaimers:

There is no right way to write. I am very much a planner when it comes to multi-chapter stories (as opposed to a pantser) because my brain finds comfort in structure and feeling in control of where a story is going. But a lot of writers feel the very opposite and find hyper-planning stifling and stressful.

I’m extra. I’m using my current fan fiction WIP as practice for writing novels in general. So, I’m taking the process way more seriously than I have to, but I’m finding that element of it so fun. But, if you are just trying to get into writing and any of these steps don’t sound fun, you absolutely do not have to do them.

I don’t follow this process for one shots/short stories. At least, not as strictly. If you are looking to dip your toes into writing for the first time, one-shots might be a good place to start, where you can practice your style and voice without being bogged down by as much planning.

Okay, with that out of the way, here is my attempt to articulate my current multi-chapter/novel writing process. *cracks knuckles*

Step 1: Brain dump

As soon as I get a story idea, I write down anything and everything that comes to mind for it. And I mean anything: what if scenarios that would be fun to explore, snippets of dialogue, specific settings, physical descriptions of characters, names of characters, anything. I don’t organize it, just dump it somewhere (usually a note in my phone).

Keep that note handy because, if you are like me, the ideas could hit at literally any given moment (while I’m falling asleep… while I’m at work… while I’m watching a movie… while I’m in the middle of a conversation…), and I have a tendency to forget things if I don’t write them down right away.

Also, this step actually never ends. I am continuously brain dumping throughout the entire writing process.

Step 2: String it together

This step begins the moment I realize I’ve got enough material and am excited enough about an idea to attempt to turn it into a full-fledged multi-chapter story. I start by pulling the good parts out of my brain dump notes and thinking about how to string them together in a story.

Then I write a short synopsis of the story that answers questions like: What’s the story about? Who is the main character? What is their goal? What are main themes for the story? I usually start thinking about titles for the story around this stage (or a working title), but that can certainly happen later. Then I organize everything into a one-pager working summary of the story. I try not to get too attached to this summary because it will almost definitely change (many times) during the upcoming steps.

Step 3: Build the world

Even for fan fiction-writing based in a pre-existing world, I find it helpful to think about the context and settings more deeply. Things like the environment, the weather, the living conditions, the overarching mood, etc. I also like to make short profiles for the main characters to capture important details about their motivations, challenges to overcome, appearances, abilities, and relationships, as applicable to my story.

There are tons of character profile and worldbuilding templates out there, with varying levels of detail. I personally like to keep mine high-level, even for OCs and new settings, or else I will get stuck in an endless rabbit hole of world-building procrastination and never get to the actual writing lol. For real, I have been so stuck and frustrated with this step for previous WIPs that I’ve completely abandoned them.   

Step 4: Plot the story

At this point you could probably start writing. But, at this stage, my brain is often a scattered ball of excitement that jumps around between different story points, so I like taking extra time to map things out.

This is when I create two key documents: my story overview and my master outline. The story overview is a more polished version of my working summary. I like to use a framework to structure it. A popular and rather fool-proof one for adventure stories is the Hero’s Journey (it’s what I’m currently using for my WIP). But there are tons of options out there. I also organize my world-building and character profiling notes into the story overview. The goal is for this document to contain an organized snapshot of… well, everything.

Then there’s the master outline – the main planning document. This is a fleshed-out version of the story overview, which describes specific moments and sometimes even fully-written scenes that I came up with in the brain dump. Here is where I start to think of where story arcs and chapters may start and end.

For me, both of these documents are very much ongoing products that I keep on adding to, revising, and even rewriting throughout the whole story, so try not to get too bogged down with making them perfect. Be open to the fact that you’ll probably get some of your best ideas while you’re actually working on the story and that these ideas might even flip your outline upside down.  

If this just sounds cumbersome and horrible to you, then just don’t do it lol. Working from clean and current outlines just makes my brain happy and helps remind me of the story’s big picture.  

Step 5: Plot the chapter

Now it’s writing time, right? For some people, probably. But for me, I like to make chapter outlines first. Basically I extract the chunk of the master outline that I want to capture within the specific chapter I’m working on, and flesh it out in as much detail as I can. This helps me figure out the order I want things to happen and think more carefully about how they’re going to flow.

Another reason I like making chapter outlines is I find them easier to work from during the actual drafting than my bulky-ass master outline.

I am horrible at estimating how many words it’ll take to write a scene (I tend to underestimate). In my WIP, I’m working to keep chapters a relatively consistent length (3k-4k words). So, I try to keep that in mind when developing chapter outlines.

A bonus of writing a chapter outline is, if you make it detailed enough, you might even consider it the chapter’s first draft.

Step 6: Write draft 1 of the chapter

And now it’s time for both my favourite and what is often the most frustrating step: writing the first draft of a chapter. I open the chapter outline in one side of my screen, a blank document on the other, get thesaurus.com queued up, and then run with it. It isn’t always easy to find that sweet spot of having the right amount of motivation, energy, and time for this step to come easily. But when it does – oh boy. That’s the real bread and butter of this whole thing.

I do find this is where being a planner comes in clutch. I always know what’s going to happen next, which does wonders for preventing writer’s block.

Some advice from my experience (that I am actively working on) is don’t self-edit too much in this step. Do not expect perfection. In fact, you might straight-up dislike the first draft (I usually do). But there will be plenty of time to edit and fuss and workshop it into something you do like in a future step. For now, your goal is simply to make your story exist (in any shape or form).

Step 7: Edit, Edit, Edit

If, somehow, your first draft is in excellent condition, this could be a very quick step. But, if you’re like me, this step often turns into a total rewrite of the chapter. Once the first draft exists, it makes it so much easier to see what doesn’t work and needs to be fixed, and to think about things like pacing and flow.

You can spend as much time on this step as you’d like. On average, I find myself editing chapters about 3 times, with the first step sometimes being a full rewrite, and the last being more of a stylistic touch-up. I also find it helpful to read my work out loud during the last edit.

I honestly love this step. I’m all about nit-picking and wordsmithing, especially when it comes to my own work, and find it so satisfying to see the chapter finally coming together how I want it to.

This is also a great place to get feedback on your story, like from a beta reader, or really anyone willing to give it a read.  

Step 8: Rinse and repeat

Now that you’ve got a chapter done, it’s on to the next one! While it’s probably easier to write an entire book from start to finish before publishing any of it, I love how fan fiction gives you an opportunity for ongoing feedback/reactions, so I enjoy publishing chapters as I’m writing.

BUT… (and my WIP is the first time I’m doing this) I give myself a buffer of 3 to 4 chapters, between the chapter that I publish and the one I’m working on. This gives me space to go back and make changes to chapters, plant foreshadowing, make ruthless edits, etc. before I’ve published them.

So, what my writing process tends to look like in action is that I’m always working on 4 different things at the same time:

Brain dumping ideas for current and future scenes into a note in my phone;

Plotting/organizing my master outline or a chapter outline;

Writing a chapter’s draft; and

Editing the previous chapter’s draft.  

The beauty of having different tasks on the go is if you’re ever not in the mood for one of them, you’ve got other options! This helps me so much with writer’s block; I’m less likely to feel stuck or tired of doing one thing.  

Step 9: Post the chapter

Oh, the very best time for me to spot typos in a chapter, no matter how many times I’ve edited it, is after I’ve posted it. 😊

General points

You can ditch the outline. If the outline feels daunting or just not working for you, ignore it and write what you want. Sometimes the best ideas happen that way, for me. BUT I am still Team Outline because even if I don’t stick with it, having one helps me reflect on whether what I had intended to write should move somewhere else or could be scrapped.

I write chronologically. This happens inherently with writing fan fic, where you publish one chapter at a time. But it also helps with character development. For example, sometimes I’m planning for something to happen at a certain time, but when I get there, realize the characters aren’t ready. Like planning for a kiss scene but realizing the romantic chemistry needs more building, or planning for a character to hit a breaking point but realizing you need to torment them some more first lol.

Don’t micromanage. Word count goals do not work for me. Neither does blocking off specific times to write, at least with my current life schedule. I do need some goals though, especially if I’m trying to build writing into my regular routines. I prefer setting broader goals for myself that are more flexible, like writing 2 chapters per month. And if I don’t meet my goals, I try not to get worked up over it.

Take breaks when you need to. Taking breaks to recharge and do non-writing things is as important as any of the above steps, for me. Immerse in things that inspire and excite you. This could mean doing totally different hobbies, socializing with people, or even writing other things. I find prioritizing my mental health helps protect my creative spark. And, likewise, that spark helps with my mental health.

Write what you want. Write what you’d want to read. This is your hobby. You likely aren’t getting paid for this. You are doing this because you love it. Being canon-compliant or even finishing a book isn’t the goal – you enjoying the process of writing is.

Well, that answer might have been a bit extra (on brand with my writing process I guess LOL). But that was super fun and actually really helpful for me to articulate. Thanks sooo much again for that question! Always happy to answer any questions about writing or my WIPs or anything at all! ❤️

PS: Omg yes yes I am so supportive/honoured if you ever wanted to make art for any of my stories!

[gigi-journaling]

Many of us will be starting new journals soon, some of us will be starting our first journal ever! Whether you’ve been knee deep in this hobby for years or a just starting your journey,

Journal Ideas: “About My Life” Pages

“Get to know me” Page

We are constantly changing! This goes for our values, our personalities, our interests… who are you in this current moment?

Take a picture! This is a great memory to have of what you looked like at this time!

What are your favorite songs, bands, artists, books, shows, movies, etc.

List your favorite things about yourself. Talents, skills, character, style, accomplishments, etc.

List what you struggle with the most. (How do you plan on overcoming it?)

Take all sorts of personality quizzes and record your results (16 personalities quiz, alignment test)

Questions: What are your current interests? Have you been really into gardening? Ocean life? Knitting? Space? Ramble about it! What are your current values? Ideals?

“My Bedroom” Page

For many of us, this is room that we spend most of our time in. It’s also a place that will undergo many changes throughout the year. Record what it looks at the moment!

Take a picture! Or make a drawing!

List your favorite items, the most important items, the items with the most sentimental value…

Questions: What does the decor say about you? What does the room itself say about you? Is it messy? Neat? Do you share it with someone?

“My Favorite Place(s)” Page

Sometimes, being in one place often can make us feel caged, or make us feel uninspired. Where do you go to think? To find motivation? To de-stress/recharge?

Include pictures or sketches

Souvenirs! If it’s in nature press some leaves or flowers. If it’s a commercial place, save a receipt! If it’s a library… don’t commit theft 😅 (maybe a bookmark or brochure?)

Describe it using your five senses: sight, touch, sound, smell… taste?

Questions: How often do you visit, do you wish to visit more often? When do you find yourself seeking this place ? How did you come about it? How do you feel when you’re here?

“Meet My Collection” Page

Whether you collect stuffed toys, figurines, dolls, plants even! Chances are you are very attached to them as they bring you joy! Let’s record their memory.

Include: tags, labels, packaging scraps, pictures, drawings, etc

What is its history? Was it a gift? A personal purchase? A hand-me-down? Second hand?

Does it have a personality to you? Lore? Interesting facts? Write about it!

Is it from a show? Book?

Why do you love it?

“Wish List” Page

This can be anything really! It can be about yourself or material objects. Future aspirations!

About yourself: what are your short and long term goals? What style/aesthetic are you striving for? What are some good habits you wish to form? What are personal traits you wish to nurture? Are you looking for love? A career?

Material objects: what video games, books, plushies, comics, figures, are you looking to add to your collections.

Environment: what do you wish to change about your environment? It can be as small as your room layout and decor, or a remodeling project, or something huge like moving out of state!

Traveling: Any local places you wish to visit? Restaurants, small shops, parks, museums? Or maybe you’re looking to backpack Europe? Write down those places and what you’re looking to experience!

“Meet My Pets” Page

Pets are a large part of our lives, each with their own appearance, personality, likes, and dislikes. Dedicate a page to them!

Include pictures, drawings, snippets of fur, inked prints

Tell us about the animal/species/breed in general!

Tell us about their personality! Their funny habits and the ones that annoy you

Do they have an enclosure? What does it look like?

What work do you put into their lives to make sure they’re happy and healthy? Walks? Catch? Enclosure enrichment? Treats?

“Meet My Friends/Family” Page

Friends and family surround us with love and support! Friends are often found in unlikely people, and family is sometimes chosen, dedicate a page those important people in your life!

Where did you meet? How?

What are they like? What makes them unique? What attracted you to them?

How do they show their love? How do you show them yours?

What traditions do you share? Habits? Regular outings?

And of course, include pictures or drawings! 💛

Hope you’ve found something to include in your journal!

Come our journaling community here! Let’s inspire and motivate each other!

[elixirfromthestars]

WIP Game

thank you so much for tagging me my sweet @buckyys-babydoll 🫶🏼

rules: in a new post, post the names of all the files in your wip folder regardless of 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 have done this a couple of times before, but since I've gotten an influx of new followers this past week, (welcome my lovelies 💖) I thought I would share some more wips and link below my wip lists from before in case you'd like to ask anything on them 🫶🏼 For all my new lovelies, just so you know, I'm the kind of writer that loves to chit chat/yap about my wips because it reminds me they exist 😂😅, and it motivates me to work on them! 💖

here are all my newest wips in no particular order:

The Road That Leads To You || a collection of fics, drabbles, headcannons, etc for my biker boys -> Bucky, Joaquin, & Bob. It's all set in the biker's tulip universe! So feel free to ask anything about any one of them!

The Biker's Tulip || I officially have 10 Chapters planned out 👀✨ So if you're curious about their story at all let me know! (Biker!Bucky B.) [shared even more here]

Pushing It (Boyfriend!Jake S.)

Just A Roommate (Roommate!Jake S.)

Too Much (Avenger!Bucky B.)

Untitled Princess & Pauper AU (Knight!Jake S.)

Untitled Princes & Pauper AU (King!Bucky B.)

Close Call (Jake S.)

Didn't Mean It (Jake S.)

For the rest of my wips, check out the other lists! 💖

wip list #1 -- wip list #2

*Not included here are all my daydreams of Jake Seresin and the Dagger Squad in various AU's (modern cowboy AU, band AU, apocalypse AU, & sports AU) that I giggle over with my beloved Mon, that maybe one day might become wips, but for now, are just daydreams.✨You are welcome to ask about these too because why not? 🤭💖

no pressure tags: @arcane-vagabond @se7entyrell @bcksbarnes @fullymyself @writing-for-marvel @thevillainswhore @artficlly @flowersforbucky @mrs-elsie-barnes @thereoncewasagirlnamedjane & anyone else who would like to do it 💖

[irregularcollapse]

Hey, I'm so sorry to hear about how you feel about the mota fandom and what happened to you :/ I meant to send a message earlier but life got in the way. I hope you're feeling better now, and I can only tell you that your fics and writing are some of my favorite in the fandom. Just by reading your stories, I can tell the care that was put into choosing each word to best convey the story and the characters' feelings, and it is really somethinf I admire :) I hope I can be as good a writer as you someday ❤️ And for the mota fandom, I totally get what you and that anon said! If you'll allow me a bit of a rant, to me, the mota fandom is full of well-intentioned people but I found that one of its problems is that, as much as there is enthusiasm, it is going in circles. Many have said it and I've noticed it too, but some have a tendency to jump on other people's ideas without giving credit or even asking if it's okay to expand, and on more than one occasion I found one of my ideas in someone else's inbox just a week after I'd posted it which threw me off posting any kinds of hc or random ideas, I only post full fics now because I'm scared that people will see an idea/au that they like on my blog and decide to expand on it without my consent or even crediting me for the original idea :/ To me that sucks because what I love about creating is the interactions with people, but because of the seldom posting except for full fics I don't get much 😂 And I know I could post snippet or hc, but the overenthusiasm bordering on no fandom manners that I've noticed stops me from doing that. Also, as a writer, it is quite discouraging to see people constantly reccing the same 5/6 fics/authors. Don't get me wrong, those are GREAT fics and authors, but babes, there are over 1,000 works in the clegan tag on ao3, why are we constantly reccing the same fics as in summer 2024. It feels like people only read the fics with the highest hits count, and from an outsider's pov, you'd think there are only 10 writers in the mota fandom 😭 I don't if it's bc the mota fandom is new so there are a lots of people from tiktok/that weren't on tumblr/in fandom before but it truly feels like fandom manners are getting lost, despite the plethora of incredible creators in the mota fandom. So there's this opposition between the enthusiasm over new ideas that seems to die down as soon as a story is posted, except if if it's one of the big fics from the summer. Imo the actual recognition of fics doesn't follow the enthusiasm of ideas and hcs, which is a bit of a shame I think, and to be quite honest, it made me lose my motivation to write for mota bc it just feels like I'll post a fic, it'll get traction for maybe a day or two, and then it'll be forgotten somewhere when people sort ao3 by number of hits or kudos

Anyway that was quite long I'm sorry, you don't have to answer this at all, I just needed to get this off my chest, but I really hope you know that even if it may not feel that way, you are an amazing writer, who clearly loves your stories, the characters and the words you use, and that is translated to the ao3 page <3 You truly are one of the most talented fic writers this fandom has, and I'd support you and your stories in whatever fandom you may be in ❤️

I assure you, anon, that you're not the only person to feel this way! I've had quite a few private conversations with friends and mutuals about really similar experiences and observations, and how disheartened and uncomfortable it's making us feel.

I guess people don't say anything because they don't want to be seen as sowing discord or being mean. I know that there are going to be people who might see this and interpret it as me "fuelling fandom discourse" or "fandom wanking" or "being a cunt" but actually I'm just talking about how we treat creators in online spaces, and the way that people en masse have apparently forgotten that creators in fandoms are people.

I had another anon tell me that someone laid claim to one of their ideas in the tags of their headcanon post, and I don't think you're the only person whose idea has been stolen and passed to another writer. I'm really sorry that's happened to you, and you're so right to not feel like posting anything because of it! This is truly the kind of stuff that makes people not want to participate or put themselves out there. Sometimes it's even writers doing the stealing, blatantly and without credit. It makes me think that a lot of people haven't shared creative spaces before and don't know how to be polite.

I also 100% agree about the fic rec thing. It's really disheartening to see the same fics passed around over and over again, not only from a writer perspective but a reader perspective. Something that seems to have emerged in fandom spaces over the years is deifying certain authors of popular fics - fic authors being treated like celebrities, the concept of a "must-read fic", even people only reading fics and authors that are already seen as popular/successful. I get that some people don't want to spend time scraping ao3 for niche fics, that's super understandable, but that's also why it would be nice to see a bit more adventure and variety in fic rec lists!

There is a low-key competitive feeling which a few people have mentioned to me - the feeling that there are people who want to "win" fandom or be the most popular/most reccd/most recognised writer, or whatever it may be. I just feel like anything that makes people feel like they're better than others is... come si dice... not good. I think it's a shitty way to treat people you're sharing a creative space with, to view them as competition and commodity.

Writing for consumption or writing for audience approval isn't something I've ever done, but I feel like it's cropping up more and more in fandom spaces too - not just MOTA, either. That's sort of a different discussion, but I do feel it's related to the copying/stealing in a way as well.

Now I also have to apologise for this getting too long! I'm glad you got it off your chest, and please feel free to come off anon at any time, because you've got an ally in me (and others too, I assure you). I think that everything you've said here merits consideration from everyone, at the very very least! It's in the interest of pursuing a more inclusive, supportive fandom space.

Thanks heaps as well for saying nice stuff about my writing! I only ever want to tell stories, and to give people something to enjoy that has clearly been created with care and consideration. I write to express things I want to express, and so it means a lot to me when other people see what I'm trying to say and pick up what I'm putting down. Truly madly deeply, my most boundless thanks!!! ♥️♥️♥️

[cas-backwards-tie]

🍻 I'm so ready for this next chapter I would love to see a snippet :)

Ahhh! I'm so happy that people are excited about my writing ❤️ It truly means the world! Admittedly, for whatever reason (life, maybe?) I haven't been as inspired lately to figure out the mess of a chapter that I've had drafted up for awhile now. This definitely gives me a reason to continue figuring it out, however, so thank you! Also, picking only three sentences (which would be intriguing) was really hard for this one! [fyi: I know this is technically 4 sentences, but bc you've had to wait so long, I decided to put the last one, bc I felt it tied this moment together better]

This snippet comes from this series, if anyone wants to check it out!

wip motivation game

when someone sends you the corresponding emoji, share three sentences of that wip before writing three more.

The Omega Pack Plan, Chapter Two: Reap What You Sow - poly!taskforce141 x omega!reader

------------

“Going out with a bunch of guys you don’t know?” Kyle tacks on. His arms crossed in front of his chest in a disapproving manner.

“They’re unmated! No way,” Soap protests, now standing before you, obviously unpleased. “You’re not serious.”

“So what?! I’m unmated- who cares? That doesn’t inherently make them evil,” you argue.

Want To See My WIPs?

[mithrilwren]

helloooo!!! i hope you're having a great day ☀️

i absolutely adore your daemon!zosan fic. would you be interested/comfortable in considering adding a part two as a commission? 👀

if not that is a billion and one percent okay!!! it may have been written to be a standalone and that's understandable ❤️ not trying to be pushy, i just love and admire your fic!! 🥰💕

Hi! Thank you so much for this ask, and I hope your day's going great too!!

Trust me, the daemon!zosan au has been on my mind a lot lately too. I never in a million years expected that people would be so interested in reading more (I didn't even know what a daemon au was when I got my OP Secret Santa prompt list!) And while All Aflutter was originally intended as a standalone, I do genuinely intend to publish another story in the universe as soon as I can - no commissions necessary! I want to spend more time with Linnette and Riki, and in fact I already started writing a followup a few months ago. That I haven't finished it isn't due to a lack of motivation or desire, but a simple lack of time. (I started a new job immediately after publishing the first fic, and since then consistent time to write has been very hard to come by.) Unfortunately, a commission won't change the reality of how many hours I have free, but I really appreciate the offer!

Thank you again for asking (and so politely too! I'm so grateful that so many people enjoyed the original story, but the hunger for a second part has been a little overwhelming at times haha). I can't make any promises on when it'll be published, but maybe I can tide you over with a little snippet of the followup WIP?

---

Sanji finally spots Zoro, leaning against Riki’s side beneath the rigging. The shadows of hanging ropes criss-cross with Riki’s stripes, transforming her sleek orange-and-black coat into a checkerboard of shifting light. Zoro’s eyelids are already half-closed. It rarely takes him longer than a few minutes to drift off, and since Riki didn’t come to dinner as per usual, she’s probably been napping for the last hour or so already.

Well, that just means that Sanji doesn’t have to feel bad about waking them up. 

“Oi, fuzzhead, get up here,” Sanji calls down. Zoro cracks one eye open to glare at Sanji.

“You just said you didn’t need my help, Cook. Fuck off.”

“Still don’t,” Sanji retorts. “And I wasn’t talking to you.”

Riki has stirred by this point, roused by Zoro’s stiffening posture. She swivels her head towards the source of Zoro’s disturbance and fixes Sanji with an unimpressed stare. 

“Is that any way to talk to a lady?” she says dryly.

Sanji’s mind races through the typical mental calculus that Riki’s existence always necessitates—she’s a lady, technically, so he should be polite, but she’s also Zoro, which resets the dial back to centre—before concluding that he hasn’t been too unnecessarily rude. Still, the uncomplicatedly-female members of the crew are starting to turn and look, and he hates to interrupt their leisure time, so he lowers his voice a bit.

“Fine. Riki. Could you kindly get your ass up to the galley so we can have a chat?” 

She and Zoro share a look that Sanji is helpless to interpret, then Zoro huffs and they both stand in one seamless motion. Their attunement to each other is genuinely eerie at times. There’s no gap at all between one’s decision and the other’s response: Zoro moves and Riki is already moving. Meanwhile he and Linnette still so often feel tugged in opposite directions. Every decision needs to be debated, talked through, before they can agree on a course of action. He’d never trade Linnette’s sour-sweetness for Riki’s brusque nature, but a small part of him can’t help but be jealous of how easily Zoro and his inner self seem to align.

Just a little taste of what I've got so far!