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Great answer about how you manage to write consistently. Um, just one question - how do you write with ADHD? Maybe it's just me, but sometimes when I try to write it just comes out unnatural, I don't know where I'm going with my thoughts (even when I know exactly what I want to describe sometimes the words just won't come together) or I'm just describing without putting emotions in. And after like 20 minutes of doing so I MUST switch to a YouTube video, preferably a MV/performance video.

Also a huge issue for me - I feel like if I just sit down to do it then I'll forget that everything else around me exists and I just... Won't do the "necessary shit" (aka school/job, chores, etc.), but I still procrastinate on Necessary Shit™ and end up doomwatching YouTube. It's like I'm afraid to live my life to the fullest just to do this exact thing, but if at least feels safer??? Hate it!

This is SOOO relatable 😫.

Honestly trying to do ANYTHING with ADHD is not for the faint of heart.

Planning, planning, planning. I CANNOT stress enough how insanely helpful it is for me to have not only a plan for the story, but a plan for each individual chapter.

I try to aim for the sweet spot between planning so intricately there’s no room to let it breathe and just allowing the characters to do whatever to the degree I’ve completely lost the plot 😂😂.

I’d say the issues you’re having with describing without emotions or rambling is something I resolve in two different ways.

1) I look to my characters. Just like real life, no one in the scene is just standing around existing. They have their own thoughts, feelings, and motivations about what’s going on around them. I refer to this in my head as letting the story breathe. The characters often have a mind of their own. Sometimes I’ll realize that, based on something already established about their background, they’d be acting in a certain way or do something different then what I have planned and it helps make it feel more authentic. Keeping in mind what your characters want and what they’re actively trying to achieve in each scene can help with descriptors.

2) This might be a hot take but, honestly, let yourself ramble. Sometimes I’ll think I’m saying way too much much stuff in a chapter or the pacing is off, then I’ll go back and read it and it’s perfectly fine. I think of it like cooking food. It can take over an hour to bake something and it feels exhausting and like you’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way, but it’s just because you’re standing there measuring things out and adding ingredients. When you actually TASTE what you’ve cooked it all blends together into something much simpler.

No matter what you say, you can always clean it up in editing. The first draft is just you telling yourself the story and even if some of it turns out not to be usuable, you’ve probably learned something about your characters that will help you write them better later on.

This might also sound really weird but the way I structure my chapters and story follows the formula you might use to write an essay 😂😂

Before I do anything else with my story. I pick a theme, something that I’m trying to say/prove, the point of the whole thing, and I treat the rest of the story as evidence for that theme.

Each Act is a big piece of ‘evidence’ to support my theme and then each chapter in the arc follows emotional and plot beats to create that evidence.

Since Act 1 is already over I can use it as an example, though I’m not giving away the story’s overall theme. You can figure that out.😉

My big piece of evidence in Act 1 or my ‘big thought’ that connects to the main theme is “Bill’s current moral bankruptcy isn’t from a place of outright malice, but unprocessed trauma”. Then I planned out the structure to prove it: Bill crashing out spectacularly while trapped in human form by self harming, his relationship with Mabel forming transactionally, Bill trying to control Ford because Bill feels like he needs that to feel secure rather than having an equal partnership, The Axolotl and the first few flashbacks giving context to some of Bill’s actions, and closing out with the big moment between Ford and Bill at the party where he admits he cares about Ford for more than just what he could get from him.

Once I’m satisfied that I’m building the story toward what I’m trying to prove. I move on to the next section. So that’s my wild scientific method approach to big writing projects or even small ones!

As for the “forgetting to do necessary shit”. I set timers for how long I’m going to do what I’m doing and, once they go off, I give myself a few minutes to finish up whatever I’m working on and switch tasks. You can also use this in other areas of life. It’s been super helpful for me when balancing out work and leisure, but if it doesn’t work for you that’s fine too. Everyone’s different.

Procrastinating on “Necessary but unpleasant shit” I try to minimize by making it fun somehow. I plan my schedule a day in advance so I know what’s coming and if it’s a task I find difficult I try to add some element of fun to it. I turn on music or an audiobook when I clean and cook or wear an outfit that makes me feel good. I personally HATE exercising, so I bought a tiny treadmill and instead of sitting watching tv in the evenings, I put the tiny treadmill down and walk on it while watching something I like.

I also try to reframe thinking about the things I don’t want to do in a positive way. Folding the laundry means I get it out of my chair I like to sit in and read books. Vacuuming the floor is getting rid of bad energy and making the carpet soft again. Try to approach things as an adventure rather than a chore. Some stuff can be harder than others to grapple with, but, to quote the jogging Monkey in Bojack Horseman “Every day it gets a little easier, but you’ve got to do it every day. That’s the hard part. But it does get easier.”

Not to get all philosophical, but we only do have this one life. Even if it’s quiet and ordinary or hard sometimes, it’s better to try not to hate it or see just going through your day as something to dread. I’ve found that there’s actually a lot of tiny little things to love around every corner if you go looking for them.

If new things are making you uncomfortable, try what I like to call ‘safe spontaneity’. If I get unsatisfied with what I’m doing I’ll do something small that’s new and adds variety. Try out a new restaurant or a new type of food for one meal. Take 30min-1hr to learn about something that interests you outside of what you normally look at (I say having just finished two documentaries about Oceangate 😅😅). Find tiny ways to switch things up so you still have predictably and structure, but you add something new and grow your world a tiny bit more. Even if you end up hating whatever it is, at least you know you don’t like it and not to do it again! Allow yourself to grow and change at your own pace 🥰💗💗.

This was REALLY long and probably too much information, but I hope it helped!

@anon-22866634

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So I like writing but actively suck at keeping a consistent writing schedule. How do you write these super long chapters every week without going insane!? Tell me your secrets… please

Hello Anon! 💖☺️

I’d say my secret to turning out these long chapters is mostly practice and setting time aside strictly for it.

Writing is my main hobby and I’ve been doing it almost every day for about two years now. I aim to write 2,000ish words each day at this point, but I don’t beat myself up if I don’t make that, just as long as I get something down. I know it’s a little cliche, but doing a little bit every day really does help how long you can write at a stretch.

When I first set out to practice and get better, I’d maybe do 500 words max on a good day, but once you really get a feel for your writing and work out how to push through tough spots it gets easier and easier.

The second thing that also helps me is carving out time each day free of distraction to sit down and get to it. My life runs on a highly structured schedule (courtesy of the OCD and ADHD 😜) So usually I write an hour or two first thing in the morning or right before bed.

If you’re mostly struggling with writer’s block or figuring out where to take your story, I’d suggest making a loose plan of where you want the scene to go. What are the themes you want to use? What characters should the story focus on? What are some things that could go wrong to further the plot? Also, it’s important to minimize dread.

Writing and telling stories should be fun! You should be having a good time doing it! If you’re not and it’s just stressing you out, bring some snacks you like! Light a candle! Play soft music!Go outside! Anything that’s going to boost your mood. And if that doesn’t work, walk away for a while. Even though I’m used to the current pace I’m going at, it doesn’t mean I don’t still need/take breaks.

A Human Condition is an ENORMOUS undertaking, the longest continuous story I’ve written so far and, to keep from getting burned out, I take at least one day every week where I don’t work on it at all and focus on other projects or social time instead. Plus, I have two longer breaks scheduled at the end of each Act to revise my plans and take a step back for a while.

I hope this has helped somehow! And also don’t be discouraged about your writing consistency! I’ve been doing this off and on for maybe a decade now and only JUST started managing these bigger chapters on a regular basis.

Just so long as you’re having fun and you’re enjoying writing your story, that’s all that matters. 😇

Be well Anon and happy writing! 💗📝

(Also: I just found this old post I made about advice I have for any fellow writers out there if you want it!)

[sapphosscribe]

Ahead of next week’s update, I offer you all Fiddleford McGucket’s playlist!

Full of “twangy yee-haw shit” as Stan would say😂

Fiddleford’s about to play a big part in the story🥰

Thank God I’m A Country Boy- John Denver

Rocky Top- Conway Twitty

Southern Nights- Glen Campbell

Take It Easy- The Eagles

Sunshine on My Shoulders- John Denver

One Toke Over the Line- Brewer & Shipley

Swing for the Fences- Elton John, Brandi Carlisle

Don’t Let the Good Life Pass You By- Cass Elliott

Danny’s Song- Loggins & Messina

Here You Come Again- Dolly Parton

Darlin- Houndmouth

Suspicious Minds- Elvis Presley

Dirty Work- Steely Dan

I Will Always Love You- Dolly Parton

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road- Elton John

Are You Lonesome Tonight?- Elvis Presley

Little Talks- Of Monsters and Men

I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow- Oh Brother Where Art Thou?

Memory- Nicole Scherzinger (Cats)

All My Love- Noah Kahan

Landslide- Fleetwood Mac

Another Story- The Head and The Heart

(There’ll be a few more added but I’m not gonna spoil anything 😉)

[sapphosscribe]

I’VE FINALLY HAD TIME TO ADD THE ART INTO CHAPTERS!! 🎨🖼️

Shoutout to @knockknockwhosthereartistism @dontjinxit18 @inkspillled @yihagathe @axoltheartist @kimpuntoexe @bluberymuffinz @michelle-jwhssp2719

I clutch each of these drawings to my chest giggling like a child every time I receive them 🥹 You’re doing the Axolotl’s work 🥰🥰

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@illusioncanthurtme--art

Stanford Pines circa 1982 trying to convince his older self to get excited for the Need Him Pregnant poll results when he locks eyes with “his muse” across the room 😂🤣

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WE ALREADY HAVE ART FROM THE NEW CHAPTER!!

@dontjinxit18 has Bill and Mabel facing off against the Shadow Stalker. I love these two so much and had a great time writing this scene.

Check it out! 💜

Battle of the Beasts

“Star shrieked, scrambling further back in a wild panic and Bill cringed away, heart hammering in his chest. He flattened Star behind him, looking for an escape, but there was none, they were trapped.”

From @sapphosscribe ‘s “A Human Condition” chapter 36.

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The Chapter Update is here! 😃😃

https://archiveofourown.org/works/58360870/chapters/171969340

Thank you all for your patience! It's about to be rewarded in a big way.

[sapphosscribe]

A little teaser for the Billford coming up in the story 🥰

I will be providing no additional context.

(Oh, and expect an update today, dear readers😉)

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We’ve got art of Bill and Ford dancing a la the Goblin King and Sarah by @bluberymuffinz ! Enjoy! The update will be out soon after I edit 😮‍💨

huuugh I’m late but here u go!

@sapphosscribe

this was what I was listening to when I made this

Ford is suppose to be taller but it was just too late for me to change it lmao. They look so in love though! I mean Bill does! Lmao

from chapter 31

https://archiveofourown.org/works/58360870/chapters/165622372#workskin

[sapphosscribe]

This poll has me in the edge of my seat fr 😬. VOTE FORD!! 🫃

NEED👏THAT👏MAN👏PREGNANT GROUP ONE *FINALS

*The winner of this matchup will represent their bracket in the inter-group finale poll(s).

PROPAGANDA:

[Dean]

"hes so breedable. hed be such a good mom."

"we need a supernatural sequel somehow."

"He’s the reason we have the concept of Omegaverse. Destiel had a part of the development of Ao3. Most people consider the Destiel Love Confession scene as a reliable news source. This used to be THE Supernatural Destiel website. Don’t do my boy Dean dirty like this, he’s been through enough. 😭

Misha Collins himself just said at a con that if he could go back and refilm the series with Castiel there from the start, Cas would have gotten season 1 Dean pregnant immediately."

Propaganda courtesy of @acefusti138

[Grunkle Ford]

"He has that pathetic nerd swag why wouldn't I want him pregnant. I know multiple people who would want to bang that senior citizen."

"okay so this is the most breedable motherfucker in gravity falls. sorry but its true. eldritch chaos god triangle wants him so bad he ended the world about it, genius engineer wanted him so bad it made his wife divorce him, aliens want him, everyone in the town keeps calling him a silver fox and hot, etc. his autistic swag, presumable complete sexual inexperience in his 60s, and whimsy are a recipe for all to feel extreme lust when gazing upon his visage.

reasons that he is so mpreg-able aside, it is actually somewhat plausible that he is currently, as we speak, mpregnant. the new gravity falls book, the book of bill, had a website that was released to promote the book and also relay a bunch of new fun information and arg things. this new book, in universe, is written with the intent to be read by ford, and for the website, it is showcasing ford's laboratory. so one could view all of the material with the perspective of it being directed at ford.

one of these messages on the website is an image of an ultrasound of a baby-- a triangular baby. on it, there is the message "congrats, guess what's growing inside you right now! see you in nine months, papa!"

so…. ford might be mpregnant with his ex, bill ciphers baby. yayyyy."

"He's just so submissive and breedable. he should get a sci fi abortion. he would not enjoy fatherhood."

[sapphosscribe]

*Ride of the Valkyrie plays in the distance while tiny clones of Bill look on in horror*

Oh gods no! It’s the positivity pelicans!! 😂😂

@bluberymuffinz has drawn one of my favorite gags from the most recent chapter with some fun music to go with it! Come enjoy it while you await the update. It’s coming. Prepare yourselves.

This part made me smiled so I had to draw it. So whimsical that dream demon is💛

@sapphosscribe

And now the song I was listening to when I made this lol

From chapter 35

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The chapter update is cooking guys. Since I’m a little off schedule, I’m going to post it as soon as it’s done so look for it sometime today or tomorrow.

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Avast ye Mateys! Stan and Ford Pines in swashbuckling attire be upon ye!! @michelle-jwhssp2719 drew Stan and Ford in their Summerween costumes! Have a look!

Drew Stanley and Stanford in their pirate Summerween costumes from A Human Conditon by @sapphosscribe ! I don't draw stuff for fics ever, but this one just gripped me by the throat and made me pick up the pen. Highly recommend

[sapphosscribe]

Hello, dear readers 😘

Chapter update will be late tomorrow or early Monday since I’m behind schedule after I was unexpectedly kidnapped by a band of drunken, debauched pirates (AKA my best friends) and carted off to a deserted isle.

Send help (or at least some rum 🍹)

[sapphosscribe]

Triangles. This is about to be the weirdest ask you’ve ever received. Yes, I have gone mad. But all the best people are.

Did you know that the first evidence of triangles has been traced back to Egypt? They used them a lot when constructing anything, and as such discovered that they are the strongest shape.

The pyramids had started off being shaped that way because of the Egyptians longing for connection with higher beings. The Egyptian gods. The pyramids smooth angled sides symbolized the rays of the sun, and were designed that way so that the Egyptian kings buried there would have a smooth ascension to the afterlife.

The pyramids were so symbolic that they were ingrained into everyday buildings in ancient Egypt. Eventually, over time, people realized that the buildings with triangle shapes ingrained in the construction lasted longer.

Triangles were also popular because of early mathematics. The Egyptians and Babylonians both used the earliest signs of triangles in mathematics by using trigonometry.

Anyways. Triangles are very durable shapes that have existed since the beginnings of the ancient Egyptians. Of course they existed before that, but weren’t exactly used until then.

Tying this shpeel back to you, I would like to say that in the Gravity Falls universe, it may be entirely possible that the Egyptians started using triangles as their strongest shape because of a certain triangle we know.

Bill influenced them to build the pyramids in his image, as we know. And now we also know that the in reality Egyptians shaped the pyramids to be closet to their gods…

All I’m saying is there are connections to be made here.

Ok I know this was the weirdest and most useless ask you’ve ever had, but uh…. Hope you had fun?

No, because I LOVE fun facts and digging into the symbolism of things! Thanks for Sharing! 😍

For anon and anyone else out there who might be interested, Triangles are considered the universe’s fundamental building blocks in sacred geometry, symbolizing balance, wisdom, and the essence of divine creation/expression.

Anon mentioned above that the pyramids were seen as a way to make the pharaoh’s journey to the afterlife easier. In a broader sense, triangles are ALSO seen as a metaphor for the soul’s journey to enlightenment and spiritual transformation 😉😉.

And, of course, as Dipper mentioned in Irrational Treasure, the triangle is the alchemical symbol for fire.

You can be assured I thought about these things very carefully when planning out this story….

I like the idea of Bill being the shape of something the Egyptians considered sturdy and enduring that symbolized their longing to connect with something outside themselves. The fact that it symbolizes the rays of light from a star are just an added bonus like, come on, the symbolism and metaphors are everywherrrrreee. 🤨🧐

If you’d like my personal headcanon Anon, I think Bill enjoyed playing god with the Egyptians for a while, but got bored or violent after they had no interest in building his portal and made them hate him with a few ‘fun and flirty plagues’. He does have a history of being an incredibly unlikeable and erratic creature to humanity in the Gravity Falls universe.

All this to say, this was such a fun ask to read and overthink. ☺️

May all your accomplishments in life be as strong and enduring as the pyramids Anon! 🔺

[sapphosscribe]

Ahead of this week’s update, we have Bill and Mabel in the rainbow grove! Those are some pretty nice unicorns you’ve got there @knockknockwhosthereartistism. Would be a shame if something happened to them…. 😉😈

The magical creatures of Gravity Falls meet in Chp. 35

@sapphosscribe

[sapphosscribe]

when i saw the response to one comment that smut is not something we should be worried about for the next 2-3 chapters i blinked then blinked again then just kept on staring in something akin to disbelief-

I didn’t say anything about the fourth chapter 😉. The smut would’ve been here sooner but Bill is causing PROBLEMS. Yes, they are plot essential problems that are important for character development, but they’re a real boner killer 😂.

Ironically enough, it’s not going to be Billford smut we see first. As you might guess, Bill’s good behavior might be coming to an end soon… 😈