nemaria

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They don't know I can see them.

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The BBC is releasing over 16,000 sound effects for free download

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worlds slowest fanfic author tries really really hard

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sometimes it be like

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The Fanfic Author’s Guide to Metatext

(As Used on Ao3) by Eiiri

Also available as a PDF here. This thing is 13,000 words.  The PDF is recommended.

Intro: What is Metatext?

Metatext is everything we fanfic authors post along with our story that is not the story itself: title, tags, summary, author’s notes, even the rating.

It is how we communicate to potential readers what they’re signing themselves up for if they choose to read our story, how we let them make informed decisions regarding which fics they want to read, how we get their interest and, frequently, how they find our story in the first place. A lot of metatext acts as a consent mechanism for readers, it’s the informed part of informed consent.

Since most of us who write fanfic also read it, we understand how important this is! But, for the most part, no one ever teaches us how to use metatext; we have to pick it up by osmosis. That makes it hard to learn how to use it well, we all suck at it when we first start out, and some of us may go years without learning particular conventions that seem obvious to others in our community. This creates frustration for everybody.

Enter this guide!

This is meant to be a sort of handbook for fic writers, particularly those of us who post on Archive of Our Own, laying out and explaining the established metatext conventions already in use in our community so we (and our readers!) are all on the same page. It will also provide some best-practices tips.

The point is to give all of us the tools to communicate with our audience as clearly and effectively as possible, so the people who want to read a story like ours can find it and recognize it as what they’re looking for, those who don’t want to read a story like ours can easily tell it’s not their cup of tea and avoid it, nobody gets hurt, and everybody has fun—including us!

Now that we know what we’re talking about, let’s get on with the guide! The following content sections appear in the order one is expected to provide each kind of metatext when posting a fic on Ao3, but first….

Keep reading

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Misunderstandings…

[ He saw Dick Gumshoe, eating hot dog, he remembers Dicks name because of his license ]

[nemaria]

so it turns out that time actually does go by faster as you get older. just like how adults told me it would when i was younger. pisses me off

[nemaria]

would you be open to deconstruct how you draw Laurent's hair? bc his hair is so gorgeous but messy at the same time (looking at you, book 3 duel piece) and wavy but straight and combed yet unkept unless specifically put into place (looking at you book 1 prince viewing piece) and it looks amazing, but every time i look at it i go "?????????" and aussie!laurent now only added to my confusion. it's consistent how you draw it within one "thing!"laurent, im just so lost his hair is gorgeous i need more Laurent's hair please

The true answer is: I draw it inconsistently as hell 🥹 You get my dilemma. Still, here we go with doodles from a few minutes ago:

Long answer:

First Laurent I ever drew already had his hair pushed back because I wanted a colder looking piece, but his hair was quite straight in it... I prefered it wavy, bc that was closer to my imagination of him! So I began experimenting with wavier hair soon after, joking that "his hair gets wavier when hit by humid hair, so in the books, as they progressively go souther, it would get a little puffier 🤭 For real, I just like drawing some waves in his hair, make that yellow shine ✨

Along with waves, came the multi-purpose Loose Strands(TM). I tend to put more strands when I want a softer look, or when he's a mess (duel scene 🙂‍↕️)., or whenever. Because I love drawing hair strands in general, even in pieces I want that colder, restricted look, they tend to show up.

Overall, I'm a short haired!laurent truther, but his hair is not thaaaat short: it's longer in the front and shorter in the back ( to show off that nape line 🫢). If he used a bang, it'd cover a big portion of his face. I use that to make me feel better because... a few times through the book, Laurent lowers his head and text says his hair hides his face: fully combed back doesn't match that ;; then I lie to myself cheat with make use of the strands getting looser and partially hiding his features :)

As you can see, the hard science behind it is: whatever way my brain is leaning that day. I like to follow a certain look, but it's sadly inconsistent, and can change anyday.

PS: Aussie Laurent is not a design of my own, I just draw too bc it's such a cute design 🥹🤌 so I cant talk much abt him.

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[nemaria]

Will you ever draw more Auguste or does he just not spark enough inspiration for you? (Totally understandable if not)

- sincerely, certified Auguste lives au enjoyer

Hi anon! Nah, I'm just too busy with to indulge, unfortunately 😔 let me post some auguste things from bsky i think i havent shared here

Canon verse

Auguste lives AU (and he's shortie headcanon)

Prison AU visiting Laurent... angsty 🥲

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i have a croissant related grievance

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[forgetting I am mentally ill] why do I feel so Bad

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fucking amazing trying to be pro-drug on this site while half the userbase believes the only people who should be allowed to smoke tobacco are single childless homeowners in detached properties who exhale directly into the vacuum cleaner and then kill themselves to avoid burdening the health system

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Y'all ever just suddenly have the overwhelming urge to swim??? Like not actively but you just wanna,,, be in the water and have some Peace

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Im obsessed with him