#sunday ask a thon

[ask-a-thon]

Happy Sunday Ask-A-Thon!

Is there a character in your WIP that you didn't think would be a hit but your mutuals ended up loving? Why did this surprise you?

[caxycreations]

Hi there, its Athena for Sunday Ask-A-Thon week 2 at @ask-a-thon: Is there any advice you would give to a new writeblr or a friend/ an oc who wanted to get into writing?

A few things, actually! There's some pretty simple and basic steps you can take to really sink your teeth into writing.

Don't be afraid to write small! It doesn't matter if your work is 500k words, 250k, 10k, 2k, or just 500 words long. It's your work, and that's worth being proud of! So if you want to write but don't feel like you can put together the full story in your head, just pick your favorite part of it, find a starting point for that and put a little of it into words. Even if it's only ten words, it's experience and it's progress!

If your project is big, set a reasonable daily goal. If you can usually knock out a couple thousand words a day, then set a goal of about 1.5k. It's easy enough to be within reach, but not so low that you feel unproductive calling it quits there. If you have a slower pace and average around 200-300 words a day, that's fine too! Terry Pratchett only wrote 400 a day and look where it got him! Set reasonable goals, and you'll make progress at a solid, steady pace, I promise.

Take breaks from the serious work. It's important, believe me. Nobody can sit there and write seriously for hours a day, multiple days a week, for any length of weeks, without getting burnt out or sick of their own effort. Whether "taking a break" means stopping writing entirely for a day or two, or if it means writing a silly, goofy little non-canon ficlet, do something to relax your writing muscles. You'll be glad you did.

Writing for you is the most self-sustaining method, but if you're like me and you just CAN'T write for yourself with any degree of satisfaction, write for one person. Can be your mom, a friend, a role model, or a hypothetical person you don't know exists for sure. But pick someone, someone important to you, and write for them. You don't need to write for thousands, or millions, or even just hundreds. You just need to write for one, single person. And if you can't be that person for yourself, remember you always have at least one other person who will read your work and love every word.

This is the big one...BE YOU! Write like YOU. Nobody picks up a Terry Pratchett book and expects to find Stephen King's writing, nor does anyone pick up one of Tolkien's works expecting to find Rick Riordan's writing. If people are reading your work, it's because they want to read it the way YOU wrote it. So don't ever let anyone else tell you what style to write in, or what perspective, or even what format. Write YOUR way. The right crowd WILL find you, and they will ADORE you.

That's all I can really say on it. Hopefully it helps someone, somewhere. Thank you for the ask <3

[werehamburglar]

Happy Sunday Ask-A-Thon, week 4 for @ask-a-thon . What inspires you the most to write, what makes you want to write and what do you treasure most about your writing?

Oh, no. These are hard questions to answer.

I'd say that everything inspires me to write. Everything makes me want to write. It's like the constantly-turning gear in the back of my head. I'll walk to the store while listening to a podcast and start thinking about some plot point instead of watching for the crossing signal; I'll do the dishes and whisper dialogue to myself; I'll be in class and suddenly start working whatever I'm learning into what I'm writing (firearms and physics and the way black powder keeps getting all over my face and chest). It's all the time; it's everything.

I love the feeling of it, I think-- when your mind is suddenly on for the first time in weeks, when it comes out of you like cream from the bottle, when you're incapable of stopping because you're so caught up in it. Losing yourself to the story-- what's more precious?

[eli-writes-sometimes]

Happy Sunday Ask-A-Thon! Thank you for following us (@ask-a-thon) from the previous blog. On to your Sunday questions! [What inspired you to write your very first piece of writing? What about your most current WIP(s)? How has your writing changed from the beginning to now?

Hey! Thanks for the ask! This is from last week, and I'm sorry for not getting to it then, but I was with family and didn't get the chance to answer.

I can't remember exactly what my first piece of writing was, but the reasoning behind the earliest one that I can remember was that I just thought it would be cool if someone could turn off the sun and decided to scrawl something about it in an old notebook that I found in a WH Smiths

My justification for why I want to write things hasn't changed much, to be honest - I just thought that it would be cool if there was a queer story woth pirates and princesses, and the idea snowballs from there into what it is now.

When it comes to my writing, I think the thing that has changed the most has been my commitment - I would often write three sentences of a story and get bored, never going back to it, but now I've actually managed to get somewhere with my ideas, and while I've never finished a novel, it feels good to know that I'm more committed to my characters now in the seven intervening years.

Thanks for the ask, and sorry again about the delay!

[sergeantnarwhalwrites]

Hi there, its Athena for Sunday Ask-A-Thon week 2 at @ask-a-thon: Do your ocs have a favourite drink, alcoholic and non-alcoholic?

Hey! Thanks for the ask!

Donnie (Robots & Gardens): Cream soda Dr. Pepper

Digits (Robots & Gardens): Mtn dew kickstart (energy drink)

Elliot (Fucked at Five): Slurpee/Slushs favorite flavor is probably Coke or blue raspberry.

Ian (Fucked at Five): Alcoholic definitely beer (specifically IPAs). Non alcoholic probably strawberry milk.

[cryscal]

Hi there, its Athena for Sunday Ask-A-Thon week 2 at @ask-a-thon: Is there any advice you would give to a new writeblr or a friend/ an oc who wanted to get into writing?

Hi again! I would say that when a writer is just starting, making it fun is more important than making it good. The more words you get down, the more you'll improve, and getting words down is so much easier when you enjoy the process.

Does that mean a novice writer should only focus on lighthearted and frivolous subjects? Not at all! But write what commands your interest, what fascinates you. And be sure to write what you want to read instead of forcing yourself into a box of what you think others want to read. Not only will you improve as a writer, you'll find your individual voice, what makes your writing yours.

Thanks for the ask!

[punemy-spotted]

Okay, can I unofficially ask-a-thon prompt you?! Is that allowed?! Lol I don’t want to break any rules or step on any toes 😅

So, I’d love to know:

Do you have a specific method that helps you overcome writer’s block?

What story, scene, or maybe specific character exchange that you wrote really kind of threw you for a loop? Maybe it went in the opposite direction that you planned or the characters rebelled and did what they wanted or something?

Sending you so much love and gratitude! ❤️

Yes! I think ask-a-thons are the greatest thing and I am certainly hoping it helps more writers feel engaged and grow friendships — @ask-a-thon deserves all the credit for inspiring me to spam y'all with their Sunday asks this week (and hopefully more in the future)! Thank you so much for sending this in!!

As always, I rambled forever so everything is under the cut.

Do you have a specific method that helps you overcome writer’s block?

I don't have a set method so much as I tend to use several methods to try and push me through writer's block, depending on (1) whether the method I'm using is working and (2) what the reason for the block is. Lately I've been feeling pretty emotionally and mentally burnt out, so a lot of what I'm doing is taking my time, focusing on my mental recovery, and picking up other crafts that bring my anxiety/agitation down to help me feel ready to write again. I've gotten back into crocheting in a big way, to the point where I've actually managed to make two queen-sized blankets in the past twelve months. When I do feel emotionally ready to write but am struggling with the words, I let music do a lot of the work for me. Sometimes I'll just put on a song to get the vibes for the scene I'm trying to write out and dance, or talk to my friends. A foolproof method for me (at least when someone is... available, I guess?) when I'm in this sort of state is to start gushing about the fic I'm writing — especially if I've written some of it out already, or have an outline and ideas I want to incorporate. Getting excited and seeing my friend/friends get excited with me is really really encouraging and helps loosen some of my self-doubt inhibitions that may block me from doing what I want to do because I am my own worst enemy. I think writing communities are essential for writers to help combat writer's block, especially communities centered around the act of writing itself. Multifandom spaces where I can learn from and encourage other writers who are incredibly different from me and have incredibly diverse interests and joys are — to me — some of the most helpful spaces I have been in to fall in love with writing and also be comfortable taking my own time to write. I think we can all agree that writing in an inherently shared hobby, but it is very difficult to feel comfortable sharing without a community to encourage you.

What story, scene, or maybe specific character exchange that you wrote really kind of threw you for a loop? Maybe it went in the opposite direction that you planned or the characters rebelled and did what they wanted or something?

Hahahaha, I'm bringing back Glory, Amen again because this fic. This demon of a fic, even in just the form of a oneshot, completely turned all the worldbuilding I had planned for the Valley upside-down. The Valley was supposed to be a full-dark series focusing on incredibly powerful ancient horrors and the means by which they sated their carnal hungers... and instead of Pastor Rogers being an ancient horror intent on eating away at the edge of this universe piece by piece, he is an ancient horror tamed into being a keeper of this world, if only for the sake of his Witch-Wife and the Witch-daughters who keep this place alive. From full dark to vindication and freedom, and I still have no idea what happened.

[clairelsonao3]

Hiya, it's Sunday and that means you get an ask! Courtesy of Athena's ask-a-thon, here's your question.

Would you ever write a crossover between multiple wips/ ocs worlds and timelines etc?

Thanks for the ask, Riveen (and Athena for the ask-a-thon)!

I know I said I would be working all weekend, but I figured one on Sunday to break up the monotony couldn't hurt! I'll get to yesterday's later this week!

I've never done it, but I'll never say never. I've actually considered doing it, a long time ago (which I think I mentioned in a post a while back), back when I kept writing short stories set in the same (real) town in Northern Minnesota, and I didn't see any reason why all of these characters couldn't exist in the same universe a la Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio. I mean, I guess you could say that technically they did, except there was no actual crossover except in my mind.

In any case, one of the characters from that universe, a kid named Sandy who I first introduced as an antagonistic bully and then pulled back the veil, I'm determined to bring back in some form, someday, so it may live on yet.

[lunarsands]

Hi there, its Athena for Sunday Ask-A-Thon week 2 at @ask-a-thon: How long have you been writing, how long have you enjoyed being a writer and do you have any pieces of advice for new writers?

I started experimenting with writing at age 11 but it really took off at age 13 (something something middle school outcast needing escapism). I’m going on over two decades now, and I’ve had my ups and downs, had some periods of writing nothing, and there was a brief time where I was ready to give up on it altogether, but new inspiration finally came my way and I dove right back in, because it truly is something I revel in - getting to create something with my own imagination.

My advice would be to read the genres that most interest you and try to pick up tidbits of how those authors craft their stories. Never hesitate to look up a word that you’re unfamiliar with. My high school librarian gifted me a dictionary and it became my greatest asset, along with a thesaurus. Nowadays you can quickly look up words online and get dozens of synonyms. Look for nuance in words – some might describe a situation better than a similar one, from the sound of it or the “feel” of it. And also, just have fun! Throw any and all ideas onto the page, you can always edit it later!

[ask-a-thon]

I hope that writing continues to be a form of escape that brings you freedom and comfort. I'm happy to see that you're continuing to grow as you continue to write. Great to hear. As always, thank you again for answering and I'll ask you more questions next week!

Happy Sunday Ask-A-Thon! Thank you for following us (@ask-a-thon) from the previous blog. Now, on to your questions! [What pushed you to write your very first piece of writing? What pushed you to write your most current WIP(s)? What has changed about your writing from your first piece of writing to your current work?]

Hey thanks for the questions!!

What pushed you to write your very first piece of writing?

As a kid I needed a place to escape to and the freedom of writing anything I wanted helped me a lot

What pushed you to write your most current WIP(s)?

I wanted to write what I wanted to see in fantasy. element magic. subverting the tropes we often see in elemental magic. tropes that I loooove. avoiding fantasy tropes I hate. a POC female lead. disabilities. trauma. angst. different forms of deep love. etc etc. I want to write what I want to see more of and what I enjoy.

What has changed about your writing from your first piece of writing to your current work?

I aged and my tastes changed haha, and I learned how to write seperate characters with their own needs, wants, desires, and crafted a unique world around them. a unique fantasy world that I've grown to adore.

[ask-a-thon]

Sunday Asks

Okay, so I was wrong- Ask problem still hasn't been fixed like I was told it would be. Hoping it'll be fixed for the Tuesday asks though! I'll keep you guys updated.

If you had to describe your story in 5 words, what would they be? How do those words relate to the story?

What are some reoccurring themes / tropes in your stories? Do you include these intentionally or do they just… happen? Do you also read stories with these themes / tropes?

Has any form of media influenced your stories? If so, what was it and what effect did it have? If not, what's your main source of inspiration for your stories?

~Myth

[midnight-and-his-melodiverse]

Hi there! Its Week 1 of the Sunday Writeblr Ask-A-Thon! I'm Athena, my question for you is: Do your family read your writing? Does anybody in real life read your writing?

Hi Athena!! I think only two people have read my writing, and those people were two of my high school friends lol Well okay, no. actually three people!! My lovely friend Ame (who goes by "@scratched-fountains around this part of writeblr), was the first friend of mine back in middle school who ever saw the beginnings of my writing XD Thanks for askin' !!

[poore-choice-of-words]

Hi there, its Athena for Sunday Ask-A-Thon week 2 at @ask-a-thon: Is there any advice you would give to a new writeblr or a friend/ an oc who wanted to get into writing?

Hi, Athena! I think a lot about this question, and my short answer is "Ask more specific questions"

The longer explanation for that answer is think about what you actually need to know for you, and look into that from stories and authors. Read the genres you want to write, look at how experienced authors discuss writing on a deadline (and try things out until you find what works for you). When you're at conventions or other places where you get to ask authors questions, ask about what you need to learn at that moment (as long as they're relevant to the panel or event).

In short, focus your writing journey on yourself and you'll find success far sooner, and far more comfortable, than grabbing whatever esoteric advice you get from a bunch of people with different experiences from yours.

[eli-writes-sometimes]

Happy Saturday Ask-A-Thon from the @ask-a-thon team! Here's your question for today:

What's your most interesting or unhinged WIP fact? Tell us about it! How did you come up with this?

Hey! Thanks for the ask! Tumblr is being weird with notifications so I only just saw this, so sorry for the delay!

One of the most interesting facts about The Princess, The Pauper and the Pirate is about one of the main characters, Kai.

He was originally part of a trio of ghost hunting ocs who i eventually repurposed into the three protagonists of PPP, and his original name was Elias.

I originally changed them into fantasy characters about six months before I had my gender crisis, and when I realised that I was a boy, I realised that the name that fit me most was the same as my favourite oc - Elias

Yeah, I named myself after my favourite badass tiefling pirate and it honestly inspired me to keep writing since I loved him so much

Thanks for the ask! :)

[werehamburglar]

Hi buddy! I'm sending another round of questions for Sunday Writeblr Ask-A-Thon! My question to you is: Have your ocs ever brought someone back from the dead by either necromancy or going to heaven, hell and the like?

You double-sent me and I WILL indulge! >:)

The answer is, of course, yes.

The easy answer would be Eve from Unfinished Business, who's technically undead. They're not still around because of necromancy, though. It's just a function of the DMV Afterlife system.

The less-easy answer has to do with Rory Skiff. I set up the characters in The Saints of Beaverboard Bridge with specific motifs tied to specific local deities that Rory then totally fucks with. Rory was originally tied to the Queen of Beasts but, in freeing her brother from his role as Mikil's prophet, also took on his whole role as the chosen herald of the god of rot and decay (though she doesn't give in until a key point). Unfortunately, it isn't so easy to take Sloane away from what she's destiny-bound to: tragic death and drowning. So Rory does a bit of necromancy to bring her back as entirely human, and then has to reap the consequences of having given Sloane the entirety of her life force and now being undead.

The easiest answer of all is Almiel resurrecting Bloodsaw. Unlike Esther, she died in a way that was in fact compatible with the forces of the universe that granted her divinity. So when the universe resurrects Esther, that's not really necromancy. It's fate. When Almiel resurrects Bloodsaw, though, that is a form of necromancy, and this is something referenced by both Tiff in MLSG and The Agent in the first chapter of Tiff's Haunted Adventure (actual name pending).

[did-i-do-this-write]

Hi buddy! I'm sending another round of questions for Sunday Writeblr Ask-A-Thon! My question to you is: Do any of your ocs hate or love certain weather?

Oooohhhhh, I love this question because my main original WIP is focused on characters with elemental powers, so their favorite weather matches up with their elements.

For instance, Sky and Kay are right at home during a thunderstorm. Sky loves the clouds and the shadows, while Kay feels energized by the lightning and thunder :D

Shaun could stand out in the rain all day, where as Reese prefers dry weather because it makes the earth easier for him to manipulate with his element :D

Matt loves the cold, but Nate thrives in the heat and warm weather.

This ask motivated me to write 194 words for Home is Where Your Light Shines Brightest.

Experiment Total: 71,798