mercurial-thrills

[mercurial-thrills]

Not yet, they haven't, and perhaps they never will.

I have two male characters who are canonically queer. They have the ability to be attracted to each other. They've showered together (to conserve water). They've been unhoused together. They've been practically butt naked together, physically and mentally. They even sleep in the same bed, sometimes spooning, sometimes with backs touching. Soon enough, their other friend joins in: a bisexual lady who has a hard time trusting people.

They're not soul brothers. They're not lovers. They're not even queerplatonic companions as far as I know. I haven't decided what their love will look like, nor how it will involve the other character.

Still, neither of them can sleep at night if one of them is gone.

“i’m scared of losing you” but they’ve never even kissed.

[mercurial-thrills]

A Drabble About Writing Being Hard

I can’t focus. This blank page is laughing at me, taunting me with its white backdrop and blue lines. Nagging me, it begs me to scribble gibberish, vomit balderdash, and scratch out malarky.

The problem is: I cannot motivate myself to write. I cannot think of what I want to write. The thoughts in my mind are bouncing around like the Windows XP screensaver. They are bouncing around so much that I went to YouTube to verify which screensaver I was talking about.

That’s it. That’s all I can say. That’s my 100 words, done and out of the way.

[mercurial-thrills]

Drinking Realitea🍵

I was a dreamer. I really was. It started with how my mother narrated a story about going camping, bonfire flames flickering between my eyes. I climbed mountains and ate chocolate ice cream on the beach, sand sinking underneath my feet.

These dreams morphed from avant-garde water levels in video games, to what I wanted, and what I feared. Words spilled onto paper of these dreams, ink splattering as I recalled bullying, floods, and a Wayside-style school collapsing.

Books I read turned into story elements. Reading Discover Rocks and Minerals conjured a superhero who could tell the Mohs scale of any stone. This was particularly important when they were entrapped in a cage with three different types of stone bars.

Soon enough, I devoted my life to the cause. I would write. I would live to write, and I would write to live. Until...

I got stuck in a rut a.k.a. writer's block, where my draft wasn't getting much better.

I saw the tuition for the English/creative writing/journalism programs at my local university and screamed.

I found out I had a disability that would make everything much more challenging, including the competitive job market for writers.

I settled into accounting classes, suggesting my detail-oriented nature would be beneficial for bookkeeping positions. However, the Co-op component left me rugged: applying to jobs, going to interviews, doing tests after interviews, practicing for more interviews, studying and more.

No matter what career path I'd find myself, there will remain a challenge to find a position to work. Sure, the job market for accountants is better, but it will still be a challenge to compete with others. It left me thinking, "Would becoming a copy editor for a living be worth the competition?"

I sit here today, stiff, crying about having not found a job for the summer. It feels as if I've come full circle: working my tail off, only to receive little payback due to outside circumstances.

Despite this, fantasies and stories remain within me. Like blood, they keep me alive, but I won't, shouldn't, and can't be kept alive with stories alone.

That would be a dream, and I stopped dreaming.

[mercurial-thrills]

We’ve set a small initial goal of £500, and thanks to a few kind hearts, we’ve already raised £30 — just £470 left to reach our first step!

Every little bit counts, and your help truly means the world to us ❤️

This fundraiser is verified by @bilal-salah0 and @a-shade-of-blue 🤝✅

Please, be one of the first to donate — even £10 can bring us closer to safety and hope 🏠✨

And if you can’t donate, a simple share could reach someone who can!

https://gofund.me/5cdd060e

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts 🇵🇸🍉

⬆️This one's only had 7 donations so far. Check it out!

[mercurial-thrills]

Hey 💌 I’m Saja — a mother trying to hold onto hope through days that feel impossibly heavy.

I know you probably see a lot online, but if you could take just a moment… I’d be so grateful.

💫 A reblog of my pinned post could help our story reach someone who cares.

🌿 And if you’re in a place to give, even a small donation could bring comfort to my daughter and help us feel safe again.

@sajagz, thank you for listening.

Even gentle support creates strength.

From one heart to another — thank you 🤍

Boosting this one also, just click on the link and you'll find her Tumblr blog. ⬆️ All these fundraisers I've been asked to share have been vetted and verified through various means, and are not considered spam.

[mercurial-thrills]

Hi there,

I’m reaching out with a quiet hope in my heart. These days are heavy, and my family is living through a reality filled with uncertainty—but I’m still here, doing my best to hold on and keep going.

If you have a moment, please check out my pinned post.

A simple share could help it reach someone who might be able to make a difference.

If you’re able to give, even the smallest kindness can bring light into the darkest places.

Your time, your voice, your compassion — it all matters more than you know.

With deep gratitude,

@nadinfamily

Boosting this ⬆️

[mercurial-thrills]

My name is Abed.

I’m a survivor from Gaza, holding on to hope in a world that has fallen apart around me. 💔

The life I once knew — my home, my family, my sense of safety — has been shattered by war. Today, I live among the ruins, trying to find a path forward through the rubble and heartbreak. 🏚

Every moment is a battle against fear and uncertainty. What was once ordinary — a safe place to sleep, a future to dream of — now feels like a distant memory. 🕊️

I share my story not to seek pity, but to keep hope alive — to believe that even in the darkest places, kindness can still find a way. 🤍

If my story touches your heart, please consider sharing it or offering support. Every voice, every act of care, brings me one step closer to safety. ✨

Thank you for taking the time to listen. 🙏

Post Link

Boosting this one as well ⬆️

[mercurial-thrills]

Let's Talk About 🍉

I’ve been getting a few asks from people, asking for reblogs and donations for their fundraisers. All of them relate to what’s going on in Palestine right now. On top of the war, the total blockade of the Gaza Strip is preventing medical supplies, fuel, and even food and water from passing through.

No matter what side you are on, Human Rights Watch has declared this to be a war crime. (https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/18/israel-starvation-used-weapon-war-gaza)

According to the law of supply: When the amount of supply decreases, prices increase. This basically means whatever resources they have in Gaza are mad expensive right now. So if you are interested in mutual aid, I’ll be directing people to the few accounts who have requested aid in my inbox.

Check out this article for more details: https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/genocide-is-never-justifiable-israel-and-hamas-in-gaza

Remember: war and genocide can co-exist.

[mercurial-thrills]

Any tips for someone who completly stuck in writeblock with no actual reason? I wasn't writing in years but i can't let it go either.

This is a hard one, particularly because I've never experienced years-long writer's block. One thing I understand, however, is losing endurance, like for focus and exercise.

So, I'll suggest this: treat writing like an exercise. Like exercise, writing can be grueling, challenging, and downright painful (in a healthy, brain-biggering way). Sometimes, it feels impossible to get our brains to put words on paper.

And just like forms of active movement, we do it anyway. We do it for health. Catharsis. Self-expression. Serotonin. Anyway, here's where you could start:

Start with VERY SMALL goals. This could be like, "I will write 100 words today."

Make a weekly goal such as, "I will write 500 words this week." Sound daunting? Try 250 words, or 125 words.

Downsize. If it intimidates you to return to a novel, start a novella, short story, or drabble (100 word story).

Find a writing prompt, or use one word to inspire your writing. This site is quite helpful for random words.

Reframe your thoughts on writing. Ask yourself these questions: What may be preventing me from writing? When I try to write, where do I do it? What thoughts are coming to my brain when I think about my writing?

Remember why you started writing in the first place.

If you haven't exercised in a while, you may struggle. Your form might be off. You may have decreased stamina. Your muscles will be sore. It's the same with writing! So, you can also tell yourself these things:

"My writing is going to be crap, but I'll do it because it will make me better at writing in the long-run."

"I'm going to write so I can detect errors in my work and prevent them from happening next time."

"Today, I will write for five minutes. If I can do that, maybe I'll try writing for six minutes tomorrow."

I am by no way telling you to form a daily writing habit (I certainly don't write everyday). The goal of these tips is to make writing less scary, whether you do it daily, weekly, monthly, or less.

By changing what we expect of ourselves, we can set attainable and sustainable goals that will motivate us to work on bigger projects again!

(not an expert by the way, just someone who takes writing VERY seriously!)

[mercurial-thrills]

I like writing and talking about writing. When I'm not doing either of those things, I'm doing schoolwork, playing video games, or attempting to improve myself. For the sake of anonymity, you can call me Frances.

Here's what you'll find on my blog:

Atypical writing advice and ramblings

Drabbles

Short stories (ones longer than 100 words)

More to come.

I don't have any DNI, and I mostly follow other writing blogs. Trigger warnings will be tagged as "tw (insert trigger here)" and content warnings will be the same.

Here are some of my favourite posts:

Unconventional Writing Tips: https://mercurial-thrills.tumblr.com/post/772403569193369600/unconventional-writing-tips-from-my-many-years-of

Writing While Autistic - A Personal Reflection: https://mercurial-thrills.tumblr.com/

Francoise Sagan quote: https://mercurial-thrills.tumblr.com/day/2024/12/28

Social Media Links:

I'll put them here eventually.

[mercurial-thrills]

Why All Writers Should Keep Track Of Their Dreams 💭

It all started with me stripping into a swimsuit, entering a sensory deprivation tank. Upon coming out, I was crispy and seasoned, with my ribs and thighs becoming a delicacy.

Then I woke up, turned on my side, and grabbed my phone to type out the idea. It would make for the perfect horror anthology submission, after all.

Now, this is why I keep track of my dreams as a writer:

It's a homemade backlog of random story ideas. Most of them, anyway.

Keeping a dream journal can make you more understanding of yourself, which can help make understandable characters in fiction.

It helps with creative thinking according to this study, which is helpful for both fiction and non-fiction writers.

I thought it would be fun because my dreams are usually quite bizarre, and good material for stories AND conversations.

Telling your writer friends about these dreams often gets a reaction like, "Dang, the dream version of me is a JERK!"

And... that's about it, honestly. The hogwash my brain comes up with has fueled a few of my story ideas, after all. Perhaps it will do the same for you.

[mercurial-thrills]

Word Count Matters

If you’re aiming to get your manuscript actually published, word counts are just one more thing you have to be aware of—especially in traditional publishing. Unfortunately, no one is going to publish a 100K children’s storybook, or a 40K high fantasy. That’s because each genre comes with its own expected word count, and while you might get away with being a bit under or over, you should be aiming for that ideal range.

Here's the genres and their typical word count ranges ~

Mysteries/Suspense: 70K-90K

Crime: 90K-100K

High-Fantasy: 100K+

General Fantasy: 90K-120K

Horror: 80K-100K

Sci-Fi: 90K-125K

Speculative: 75K-125K

Romance: 40K-100K

New Adult: 60K-85K

YA: 70K-90K

Middle Grade: 25K-40K

Picture Books: 50-1000

And some general guidelines for what counts as a novel vs a short etc:

Novel: 50K+

Novella: 20K-50K

Novelette: 10K-20K

Short Story: 1000-10K, but ideally 3K-8K

Flash fiction: 1-1000

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(Psst... Did you know I launched a website?)

Head on over to www.gatesannai.com (or click here!) for exclusive blog posts, updates on my work, and pictures of my dog.

While you're there, consider signing up for my newsletter too :-)

[mercurial-thrills]

Me whenever I read my work aloud and people have things to say about it:

got some lovely feedback on a piece of writing. this is me behind the screen.

[mercurial-thrills]

Writing While Autistic: A Personal Reflection

It's Autism Acceptance Month, so I figured I would share my own experiences on writing for autistic and allistic folks alike.

I was diagnosed with autism later in life, as an adult. This meant I spent a large chunk of my life unaware I had it, chocking up my strengths and weaknesses to both internal and external factors. As for writing, realizing I'm autistic made things make more sense.

So, I decided to share my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to writing, particularly ones that relate to having autism. At the end, I'll also share more tips.

A Necessary Disclaimer: I cannot speak on behalf of all autistic people. For disclosure, I was diagnosed as Level 1/2(1 in Part A, 2 in Part B) because of how it impacts me. For those who are unfamiliar with the diagnostic criteria, you can read this article with the original (deficit model) criteria as well as re-written criteria from a neurodiversity lens.

My Writing Strengths

When I was 12 years old, writing became a special interest. I like to think about it all the time, I like to do it all the time, and I wanted to become a copy-editor for a long time.

It seems I was gifted at reading, writing, and spelling as a child, well advanced beyond my peers. While this isn't necessarily an autism thing, many autistic people experience similar phenomena of being gifted, having uneven skill sets, etc.

I find it easier to write when I'm involving a hyperfixation/special interest in my writing, like trauma disorders, D&D, or straight-up writing fanfiction.

Things like NaNoWriMo are usually productive because they create the routine of writing every single day. Once it's in my routine, it's not something I want to stop or skip.

I'm good with writing autistic characters because I'm autistic. I also find that my comorbidities are helpful in writing characters with anxiety, PTSD, and depression.

Because of my special interest in writing, I spent a lot of time getting to know everything I could about the writing practice. There's still lots I haven't figured out, though.

I'm very strict with my writing rules.

I script in conversations on a regular basis, which has helped with writing dialogue to a degree.

Writing, and learning about writing, has made metaphors and other figurative speech easier to understand.

My Writing Weaknesses

I would talk about writing all the time and not notice that people did not care until they outright told me. This is because I have a hard time with facial expressions, and even looking at people's faces to understand how they are feeling.

I have a hard time starting and stopping activities, which makes it hard for me to find time to write when busy. If I want to write a part of my novel, it will often be an entire chapter or nothing at all.

My minimal experience in having conversations with others means dialogue can sometimes be stiff. It's also highly inspired by conversations I've experienced, heard, or read about. It's hard to be "original" in this regard.

One random trait I have is needing to plan everything to ensure I know what's going to happen. This means I always plot stories rather than pantsing them, meaning that writing with a given word prompt does not always fare well.

I tend find writing club and other writing communities overwhelming. It's easier when they're online.

It's challenging to write stories from the lens of a neurotypical character. In fact, it's hard to write stories from the lens of a character without autism. It seems everything I write has neurodivergent allegory, and while this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it means it's harder to branch out.

Niche Tips For Other Autistic Writers

Study story structures, regardless of whether you're a plotter or a pantser. You don't have to use them, you just have to know them and think about them when coming up with writing ideas.

If you're struggling with writer's block, pace. Pacing happens to be one of my stims and helps me come up with good ideas. Perhaps it will do the same for you.

Fanfiction is good. It's a real medium, and if it involves one of your special interests, even better!

Find out what works for you! We're similar but also different, so it's kind of difficult to provide suggestions that are likely to work with the most people.

It felt important to mention that autism has its strengths and weaknesses. Being autistic shouldn't be a source of shame, the end of the world, or a death sentence, but it also isn't like a walk in the park either. It is still considered a disability, impacting some areas of life more than others.

Still, I'm trying to be proud of it.

[mercurial-thrills]

Writing Resources List

I use my blog to share writing resources that I’ve collected over the years. I’ve recently gotten some new followers, so I thought I would make a list of many of these resources for easy reference.  

(However, this is not a complete list of all the resources I’ve posted. For more writing resources, feel free to check out my blog.)

Encouragement for Writers

Writer’s Block & Procrastination

Writing Your Story’s Plot

How to Write a Scene

Choosing a Setting for Your Story

Character Arc & Character Development

Character Traits

How to Write Heroes & Villains

Elemental Magic & Superpowers

Writing Magic Systems

Fantasy Writing & World-Building

Writing Fight Scenes

Swords and Bows

Writing Mermaids

Writing Relationships & Romance

Romance & Relationship Prompts

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I’m a writer, poet, and editor. I share writing resources that I’ve collected over the years and found helpful for my own writing. If you like my blog, follow me for more resources! ♡

[mercurial-thrills]

This is not an ad. I promise I'm just excited.

For those who struggle with procrastination: I'm sure many of you are familiar with Cold Turkey Blocker. But did you know..

They made software called COLD TURKEY WRITER.

Seriously! The premise of this software is that it will hide your taskbar and everything else with a blank document. You are able to save and load .txt files, so you can work on an entire story in there. Plus, you are able to set a goal word count, or a time limit, for which it will block you from exiting the software.

Yes. I repeat, it will BLOCK YOU from EXITING THE SOFTWARE for A SPECIFIED WORD COUNT or a TIME LIMIT. Plus, there's a free version and a premium version(a one time purchase).

This has made me so much more productive in my writing sessions. It helps me avoid going down Google rabbit holes and opening Discord even though no one has messaged me. As someone with various executive function impairments, its a win!

[mercurial-thrills]

I love this. I would also like to add this VERY LONG list of personality traits I've been using for many years: https://ideonomy.mit.edu/essays/traits.html

Character Flaws and Their Meanings

Impulsiveness : Acts on instinct without careful planning. Perfectionism : Sets unrealistically high standards, leading to self-criticism. Indecisiveness : Struggles to commit to decisions or choose a path. Arrogance : Overestimates one’s abilities and dismisses others. Pessimism : Habitually expects negative outcomes in most situations. Cynicism : Distrusts the motives and sincerity of others. Overconfidence : Places excessive faith in one’s skills, often underestimating risks. Stubbornness : Resists change and refuses to adapt to new ideas. Jealousy : Feels envious of others' success or possessions. Insecurity : Experiences frequent self-doubt and a lack of confidence. Procrastination : Tends to delay tasks, often leading to missed opportunities. Passivity : Avoids taking initiative and relies on others to act. Aggressiveness : Responds with hostility or force rather than reason. Selfishness : Prioritizes personal gain over the welfare of others. Fragility : Is overly sensitive to criticism and easily discouraged. Egotism : Constantly focuses on oneself and one’s own importance. Defensiveness : Quickly rejects or rationalizes away critique or new information. Manipulativeness : Exploits others to fulfill personal needs or desires. Recklessness : Shows a careless disregard for potential risks or consequences. Resentfulness : Holds lingering bitterness and grudges over perceived wrongs. Distractibility : Finds it hard to maintain focus amid competing interests. Impatience : Lacks the willingness to wait, often spoiling opportunities to learn. Perfunctory : Performs actions in a mechanical, uninspired manner. Self-Doubt : Consistently questions personal abilities and decisions. Arbitraryness : Makes decisions based on whim rather than reason or evidence. Rigidity : Is inflexible and unwilling to consider alternative viewpoints. Gullibility : Trusts too easily, often leading to being misled or deceived. Obsession : Becomes excessively fixated on particular ideas or details. Aloofness : Maintains emotional distance, appearing detached or indifferent. Intolerance : Refuses to accept differing perspectives or lifestyles.

Writing Advice for Brainstorming

Mix genres and time periods: Experiment by combining elements from different eras or genres to create unique settings and narratives.

Use "what if" scenarios: Pose unexpected questions (e.g., What if time travel operated on emotions rather than mechanics?) to spark novel ideas.

Draw from diverse mediums: Engage with art, music, or even scientific papers to inspire unexpected plot twists.

Embrace absurdity: Let illogical or surreal ideas guide you; sometimes the wildest thoughts lead to compelling stories.

Reverse clichés: Identify common tropes in your favorite genres and deliberately invert them to create fresh perspectives.

Incorporate personal anomalies: Transform your idiosyncrasies and personal struggles into rich, multi-dimensional characters.

Use mind-mapping: Visually plot your ideas in a freeform way to uncover hidden connections between disparate elements.