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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Gilmore Girls (TV 2000) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Luke Danes/Lorelai Gilmore, Lorelai Gilmore & Rory Gilmore Characters: Lorelai Gilmore, Luke Danes, Rory Gilmore Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, First Dates, First Kiss, Fluff, Mild Angst, Misunderstandings, Post-Season/Series 04 Summary:

It was like she could only communicate in moron, could only think in caveman. How was she supposed to grapple with their situation like this? Or, more pressingly, how was she supposed to decide on what to wear?

(i.e., the Dragonfly's test run passes by uneventfully, and Luke and Lorelai go on their movie date)

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300 Prompts

I kindly ask that you don’t send me more than three (3) prompts per request, thank you!

“Christ, my back hurts” 

“Do you have to?” 

“I wish you didn’t have to go” 

“Look at me” 

“C’mon, kid, time’s a wastin’” 

“What’re you doing up?” 

“I haven’t slept properly lately” 

“Hey, is something going on?” 

“I’m good, as long as I’m with you” 

“I might not look like much” 

“I’m yours” 

“Little rough around the edges, huh?” 

“It ain’t much”

“Come here. Now.” 

“Cuddle?” 

“Do you have to fidget so much?” 

“Don’t bottle it up” 

“We’re all a bit mad” 

“I’m not mad. Honest.” 

“Can we talk?” 

“I’m your father!” 

“Well, it was a worth a shot”

“Please, choose a different song before I tear my ear off” 

“You’re jealous, aren’t you?” 

“Nobody could ever make me feel the way you do” 

“Please tell me you had something to eat” 

“You’re gonna work yourself into the ground” 

“What do you care?” 

“ I'm… I’m scared” 

“This ain’t love” 

“I just want you” 

“You’re all I need” 

“As much as I cherish you as a friend, you’re a prick” 

“I’m tired of begging for your attention”

“I’m not happy”

“Is it normal to have sex dreams about your best friend?”

“I’d tear my heart out before I let that happen”

“You’re so weird… I love you”

“If you’re making a cake, can I have the bowl when you’re done?”

“Do you feel the way I do?”

“When I’m with you, it’s magical”

“My job is to keep you safe”

“No one talks to my best friend like that”

“Can you teach me how to do that?”

“You’re special to me”

“I’d rather have friends than enemies”

“I don’t wanna keep this relationship hidden anymore”

“Please tell me you’re joking”

“I thought you were a bit under the weather”

“Well, this is a tricky situation”

“You didn’t inherit it from me”

“I’ll fight, for us”

“I got you flowers”

“I did it for love, for you, for us”

“Come on, come sit on my lap”

“Can I sit with you for a little while?”

“Alright, that’s enough out of you”

“Let’s go outside and have a smoke”

“That’s my favourite hoodie”

“You’ve been smoking in here”

“Meet me up the park in ten”

“I don’t do maths”

“You’re putting too much pressure on yourself”

“Do you know what I mean?”

“Man, I haven’t felt like this in ages”

“Fuck me, I’m bored”

“I’ll even let you pick the music”

“Can I give you a hand there?”

“Thought I’d come and check on you”

“He’s my best friend”

“You make a damn good cup of tea”

“Hey, relax, it’s alright”

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you out”

“Close the goddamn door”

“This calls for a toast!”

“You’re not setting it on fire, end of story!”

“Why do you two argue so much?”

“Dancing ain’t a crime”

“Just one kiss”

“That dog follows you around everywhere”

“You’re shaking”

“He’s got a point”

“I fixed it”

“Stop it”

“Sometimes, I wonder how you’re still alive”

“It looks good on you”

“I’m so tired”

“Can we rest, now?”

“Any news?”

“We’re lying to ourselves”

“I wouldn’t if I was you, mate”

“There’s nothing you can do about it”

“Hold on”

“I’ll race you home”

“As much as I wanna hate you, I can’t”

“Y’know, he’s growing on me”

“If you’re gonna hit me, hit me harder”

“You better knock me out the first time”

“Why do you keep zoning out? Are you alright?”

“I should’ve walked away”

“Shut up and kiss me”

“Please, I’m begging, stop quoting Vines”

“You can’t be serious”

“Hold my hand”

“I’m taking you out on a date”

“You’re an idiot”

“Looks like we’ll be sharing a bed”

“C’mere, doll”

“Hey, it wasn’t your fault”

“Have I ever told you how much I love it when you play with my hair?”

“Go and get dressed”

“Fancy seeing you here”

“I got you, I got you”

“You’re enjoying this way too much”

“Like the view?”

“I… would you… do you wanna marry me?”

“Why don’t you just try?”

“You give me hope”

“My dad used to sing that to me when I was little…”

“When I’m with you, everything seems calmer”

“Are you sure you wanna do this?”

“I couldn’t ask for a better best friend”

“I can’t get you out of my head”

“I wanna go home”

“Christ, I missed you so much”

“You’re an asshole”

“We’ll always be friends”

“It’s only just begun”

“I… I like you, a lot”

“Oh, God, please don’t cry”

“Who wants pudding?”

“Stop biting your lip”

“Remember when we used to get bollocksed up the park?”

“I always got your back”

“I’m tired of all of this bad blood”

“I’m sorry, really”

“I went too far”

“Don’t be late!”

“Together, forever”

“It’s what friends do”

“Oi, now”

“You’re too good looking for your own good”

“Come have a cuddle”

“Please, don’t be mad”

“You deliberately broke the rules”

“I care about you, more than I probably should”

“I came here to get some peace and quiet”

“I think I can help”

“It’s always been just you and me”

“We stay together, ‘til the bitter end”

“Your hugs are the best”

“He started it!” “And I’m finishing it!”

“Yeah, alright”

“Sounds like a plan”

“How much Red Bull have you drank today?”

“I’ll always still love you”

“Nothing’s gonna change between us”

“Sit still, for the love of God”

“My dad’s my hero”

“It’s true”

“Well, that’s certainly not what I was expecting”

“Cross my heart and hope to die”

“I wish things could be a little different”

“Pinkie promise me”

“It’s a good song!”

“What? It brings out your eyes”

“Trust me on this one”

“You really need to sleep”

“We’re family, at the end of the day”

“Don’t worry about that”

“I got it”

“I win, mother fucker!”

“Why are you hiding up here?”

“You had a nightmare”

“Red looks good on you”

“I tried not to fall in love with you… but I failed”

“This is my home, and I’m not leaving it”

“Think fast!”

“Is it me, or is it cold?”

“Trust me, I understand”

“Can… can you stay for a little while, please?”

“Watch your fucking language”

“Say something, anything”

“You can keep that jacket, by the way”

“Mind if I come in?”

“You’re a masterpiece, a work of art”

“Oh, bugger off”

“Are you hurt?”

“Let me treat you, please?”

“As fucking if!”

“Dude, no”

“I needed an excuse to be alone with you, to be honest”

“We’re locked in a fucking shed, and no one’s here to let us out”

“Please don’t stab anyone”

“Hands off my girl”

“God, I love it when you get jealous”

“What do you want for tea?”

“Good morning, sleeping beauty.” “Shut up”

“You’re mine”

“You’re mad”

“Comfy?”

“Come on, time for bed”

“Why are you like this?”

“Well, I dunno”

“You shouldn’t be up here alone”

“It’s nice to see you again”

“Welcome home, baby”

“I missed you so much”

“It’s okay, I’m here now”

“Why did you hesitate?”

“Do we have any skinny chips left?”

“This isn’t half bad”

“Shit, we need to go shopping”

“You, uh, you look, really, really, good”

“Ah, well”

“I dunno why I bother”

“Wanna come up the pub?”

“Are you sure that you’re alright?”

“I’m not leaving ‘til you smile”

“I hope you realise how much you mean to me”

“Alright, why are you being so miserable?”

“I like to know that you’re safe, sue me”

“Oh my God, shut up!”

“Wait!”

“I’ll always be looking out for you”

“I don’t care”

“Take a walk with me”

“I need you”

“I wish I didn’t love you”

“Forehead kisses are the best”

“I mean, you’re not wrong, but you’re not right, either”

“Hold this for me”

“That’s it! You got it!”

“I’m so proud of you”

“I’m not tired, I’m… I’m full of… full of… energy”

“I wanna meet your family”

“Cheers”

“It made me think of you”

“This song always makes me think of the day we met”

“I dunno who missed you more, me or the dogs”

“Why haven’t you been sleeping?”

“It’s four in the morning, why aren’t you in bed?”

“I made breakfast”

“Love is all you need.” “Is it, though?”

“Shut up, I’m trying to be romantic”

“You’re not the boss of me”

“Here, take my coat, you must be freezing”

“You’re such a softie”

“I need a drink”

“It’s five past, mind”

“I’m gonna go take the dog for a walk, do you wanna come with?”

“Wait, wait, wait, say all that again”

“Call me that again”

“Hey, asshole!”

“You’re getting frustrated, I can tell”

“Sod it”

“You’re not as bad as you think you are”

“Can you forgive me?”

“I know I don’t deserve it”

“I think I’m gonna be sick”

“It seemed like the stupid shit you’d do”

“I just need to feel your arms around me”

“You make me feel safe”

“Nothin’ wrong with that”

“I wanna be more than friends”

“Can I kiss you?”

“Can you do me a solid and pretend to be my boyfriend, just for tonight?”

“I’m a complete failure”

“We’re taking bets”

“Of course, yeah”

“I’ll carry you”

“Climb up on my shoulders”

“Right, let’s play a game”

“Just keep working at it”

“I’m not too sure about this”

“Is it impossible for you to, I dunno, not be an asshole?”

“I’m not kidding”

“I said that”

“I have no idea”

“Who knows?” “Me.”

“Five more minutes”

“You’re smiling!”

“Where should we start?”

“Oh, boy, here we go again”

“That doesn’t mean shit to me”

“Close the curtains!”

“Hide me!”

“You didn’t text me back”

“I think that’s it”

“Answer the question”

“Let’s get you out of here”

“I’ll patch you up”

“I don’t wanna move”

“Someone’s at the door”

“I got you a new book”

“I’ll roll cigarettes if you give me a kiss”

“Don’t tempt me”

“You don’t need to apologise”

“You didn’t do anything wrong, honestly”

“Oh, Jesus Christ!”

Again, please do not send more than three (3) prompts per request!

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quiet acts of love that make me cry 🫂

prompt list by @novelbear

always giving the other the first bite of their food

^ or the last bite

gently resting their head on their shoulder when taking a picture/peeking at something

kisses. on. the. tip. of. the. nose.

zipping or buttoning their jacket for them

when they follow the sidewalk rule :(

^ like imagine realizing it as they gently take the other's wrist and guide them to the other side...omg

waiting until they safely reach the front of the door or get inside before driving off

"did you eat today?"

softly dusting crumbs from their cheeks when eating

^ or even better: kissing it off

"wear a jacket, it's cold out."

watching a movie or show that they know they're interested in.

^ not because they asked them to, but to be able to engage in more conversation related to it when they adorably ramble on and on.

doing their makeup for them

"i brought you flowers." "for what?" "there has to be a reason?"

keeping a few of their favorite snacks in the house for when they visit.

opening the door for them or pulling their seat out before they sit down

lifting the shorter one up so they can be seen in photos

absentmindedly playing with their hair at all times

fixing their clothes a little for them when noticing something is off

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Saying "I love you" without saying "I love you" — some ways your otp can silently express affection

Forehead kisses, and smiling through the kiss

Resting their forehead on the other’s after a kiss

Tucking strands of loose hair behind their ears, with a thumb caressing their cheek

Interlacing their fingers with the other’s when they least expect it

Sleepy back hugs when the other person is busy whipping up breakfast in the kitchen, catching them by surprise

Just doing their own things in the same space; being so comfortable around the other even in their pyjamas

Holding both their hands while holding their gaze gently, just before leaning in for a kiss

Switching positions with the other when walking down a busy sidewalk because your feel the need to keep the other safe

Being playfully clingy in the mornings when one has an off day and the other has to rush to work

Getting them something from the store when they only mentioned it in passing

When one is overseas for a work trip and everything they see reminds them of the other person (bonus: whenever it happens, they take a picture and drop the other person a text.)

Squeezing their hand reassuringly and holding their hand throughout an intense social situation (eg. a large school reunion which the more introverted person is dreading)

Kissing away their tears

^ and letting the other cry on their shoulder even when their t-shirt gets soaked from their tears

Meeting them where they are, mentally and emotionally; never forcing them to do anything they aren’t comfortable with

Wholeheartedly supporting their dreams, and putting that into action by making concrete plans for it to happen

Dropping the other person an encouraging text before an important interview/event

Surprising the other with flowers just because; no occasion and no reason needed

Picking the other person up from work when it’s getting late, and walking them right to their doorstep after

Good morning and goodnight texts

Making the other person a Spotify playlist with songs that remind them of their relationship and growth

Remembering the littlest of things — activities they like and dislike, favourite brands of stationery, go-to ice cream flavour, choice of popcorn

Writing little notes on post-its and leaving them in random pages of their textbook, so that they will get a little endorphin boost when studying

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Chapters: 3/3 Fandom: Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Organized Crime (TV 2021) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Olivia Benson/Elliot Stabler Characters: Olivia Benson, Elliot Stabler, Noah Porter Benson Additional Tags: a little what if, a completely just very fanfic trope what if, Smut, Domestic Fluff, fuzzy socks and coffee basically, EO - Freeform Summary:

“Take my place,” he’d said. Immediately, automatically, with no hesitation. On a reflex, almost, like it was the most normal thing to do. Like they’d arrived here to this moment in a very standard fashion.

Like this was a regular thing for Elliot Stabler to offer to Olivia Benson. 

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Stargate Atlantis Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: John Sheppard/Elizabeth Weir Characters: John Sheppard, Elizabeth Weir Additional Tags: Future Fic, Earth, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alcohol Summary:

John survives until retirement. Now he has to live with it.

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August Prompts 🍋

Word prompts to use for doodling or writing

sunglasses

underwater

backpack

shade

pavilion

sentimental

tent

garden party

swimming pool

coconut

popsicle

island

spicy food

airplane

bubbles

watermelon

palm tree

seashells

ocean

parasol

snorkel

Wanderlust

vintage

bugs

string lights

homemade lemonade

surfboard

polaroid photos

childhood friends

summer reading

water park

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some people think writers are so eloquent and good with words, but the reality is that we can sit there with our fingers on the keyboard going, “what’s the word for non-sunlight lighting? Like, fake lighting?” and for ten minutes, all our brain will supply is “unofficial”, and we know that’s not the right word, but it’s the only word we can come up with…until finally it’s like our face got smashed into a brick wall and we remember the word we want is “artificial”.

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Things I Do To Make Writing Easier as Someone with ADHD

Talking with my therapist the other day, I realized most of my productivity "hacks" fall into 2 categories: changing things that were made by/set up for people without ADHD OR finding ways to "trick" my brain into doing what I want.

MODIFYING THINGS TO FIT THE WAY MY BRAIN THINKS AND WORKS

change the setup and format of documents

something about the standard-size paper with the standard-size margins and standard boring font reminds me too much of school work. it's boring and familiar in a way that doesn't stimulate my brain the way it needs to in order to be fully creative.

Everyone will want theirs to look differently but here are the two ways I usually modify my document setup:

The "formatted paperback book" way that I outlined in THIS POST (Statement size paper, .5" margins, fonts like Georgia or EB Garamond)

And the one I don't have a name for but it's so nice to look at: US Letter size, .5" margins on all 4 sides, and the Karla font on Google Docs*. I also use this method with outlining. The tutorial is HERE!

use spreadsheets to organize character variables for brainstorming

this may sounds bonkers but it has done WONDERS for me when brainstorming new story characters. my thoughts are too scattered and i normally can't hold onto brainstormed ideas very well.

i made a spreadsheet of character elements and categories and basically use it as a random generator sometimes.

HERE is the post explaining how I use it.

layer the sounds

i work while listening to something. i think most of us do. i have found that the best way to keep my brain focused is to play music and then open a YouTube tab on lower volume of white noise ambiance like wind, rain, or rainforest sounds. That provides a constant so the changing music doesn't feel so uneven and distracting.

along with this, i usually find an instrumental, themed playlist on YouTube. French countryside, jazz lounge, 1950s picnic. You can find just about anything.

if i really want my music (with lyrics), i pick one song per scene and loop it. the consistency not only takes away distractions, but also makes the scene i'm writing more consistent in tone. most of all, it helps me stay engaged and in the moment.

HOW I (POSITIVELY) TRICK MY BRAIN INTO DOING WHAT I WANT

Reward Systems (that actually work for me)

Normal reward systems for productivity don't work for me. I get frustrated or impatient or let the reward sidetrack me for SO long. Here are some rewards/breaks that work for me.

if i want to use my phone for social media, tiktok, or other scrolling things, I set my timer for 5 minutes. it can take a lot of discipline to actually stop at that timer but sometimes an annoying alarm sound can help or hitting the on/off button (on iPhones) will turn off the alarm AND your phone at the same time.

if my reward is getting a snack, i get it beforehand and put it somewhere in my workspace. otherwise, i will go to the kitchen and get sidetracked for 30 minutes. this goes for most things-- try to get everything you may need or want in your space beforehand. maybe have a written list of usual items.

for a longer break, i do something related to my writing that still gives me a break from the productivity monster. making a playlist for it or finding new music for one, watching (a previously set number of) YouTube videos about the subject or writing craft, drawing a character, creating a fake book cover or poster for it, etc.

separate your "floater" thoughts from the task at hand

i often get thoughts about things to do for the project in the future or ideas for later in the story/outline/scene/etc. But for some reason, adding it to a separate document or in my phone's notes can completely throw off my rhythm and derail my focus. but i HAVE to get it down or i will forget and/or worry so much about trying to remember than i'm not actually focusing on anything.

the only solution i've found for this is physically writing the thoughts or ideas down on paper. something about it being a separate action from typing and a thing i can do so quickly without changing my computer screen makes it easier for me to get it down and keep going. i have a pile of scratch paper and a pen right next to me at all times.

find a way to organize the material you reference while writing that is intuitive and easy for you

i can't have my outline, visual reference/inspiration, AND my draft document in different tabs or windows. i'm not switching through them without being sidetracked or frustrated by how complicated it can get.

the most basic, quick, and free way to fix this is a split screen. Apple laptops and iPads will help you do a full-screen split between two windows. even with the sites i mention below, i always do this.

organizing an outline to reference on a linear document doesn't always work with my brain. i've been trying milanote recently. it lets me create separate pages and organize things like a board with notes, timelines, and photos. the free version may only fit one project depending on how much you have but for my projects (no world-building references needed), the free version is enough.

making a physical copy of it, either on a board or in a binder also works for me. i'm not blindly scrolling trying to find something, it's much more about holding it and muscle memory.

i believe Scrivener also can be used as a board system. it's a one-time purchase and currently there is a discount code if you search "Camp NaNoWriMo offers". They do this every April and November with their events.

I hope this is helpful or at least a good launch point for anyone (ADHD or not) who needs it! I might make a second one if I think of more.

[ADHD is not a one-size-fits-all thing. This is simply what I do as someone with diagnosed but unmedicated ADHD]

As always, take what you want and leave the rest. happy writing!

[call it good] writing

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XF AU - Fic Recs

When the world was unrecognizable and upside down, there was one thing that remained the same. You... were my friend, and you told me the truth. Even when the world was falling apart, you were my constant... my touchstone (or, alternate universe and canon-divergent fics):

Contemporary AUs:

A Companion Unobtrusive by @slippinmickeys - She needed a roommate. He needed a room.

The Annapolis Grant by @slippinmickeys - Fake relationship! Scully hires Mulder to pretend to be her boyfriend.

Aprons and Scrubs by @lokisgame - Scully’s a doctor and Mulder runs a bar.

Five Years and a Lifetime by @monikafilefan @slippinmickeys - One night stand AU. Five years later, Scully and Mulder work at the same pediatric hospital, and Scully's four year old daughter bears a striking resemblance to the picture of a dark haired girl that sits on Mulder's desk...

Skin by Annie Sewell-Jennings - In a world where Mulder and Scully have never met, fate intervenes and brings two worlds colliding in the city of Charleston, as a vicious murderer reigns and a storm approaches.

Sinners Come Down by aster_risk - Six years into her marriage to Daniel, Scully meets Fox Mulder at a bar one night, and they get talking and fucking over alcohol and self-pity.

In the Best Interest of the Child by @mldrgrl - When tragedy strikes, Mulder is forced to take guardianship of his young niece, but the matter is complicated by the arrival of a sister-in-law he's never met.

Historical AUs:

By the Dim and Flaring Lamps by @sunflowerseedsandscience - Civil War AU. Captain Mulder befriends Private Scully who’s hiding a secret…

The Countess and The Earl by @slippinmickeys - Regency Romance!

Old Growth Forest by Andrea - Mulder and Scully travel back to frontier times

Rocky Mountain Interlude Part 1 and Part 2 by Jacquie LaVa and Tess - Mulder and Scully travel back in time to solve the case of a Colorado mining ghost

The Science of Sex by @if-the-seascatchfire - Masters of Sex AU. Mulder and Scully are doctors in the late 1950s who undertake a years-long study about human sexuality, and as part of the research, they also have sex with each other - you know, for the science.

Out of this World:

The Magician by Suzanne Bickerstaffe and Jennifer Lyon - Fantasy series where Mulder and Scully travel to another world full of magic (one of the first fanfics I ever remember reading!)

Out of the Little Grove by @slippinmickeys - Crossover with His Dark Materials (a mashup truly made just for me, my 13 year old self would have been over the moon)

Blinded by White Light by @dashakay - Post-colonization. What are we, but the sum of our memories? A classic.

Julia and Gabriel by Mish - Post-colonization. A new identity, a new, dangerous society, an unchanged heart and soul. Gave me Hunger Games vibes for some reason (although written years before that was published)

Canon-Divergent: Pre or Early Series

Eleventh Hour by Rachel Anton - Mulder travels back in time to find college-aged Scully and change everything.

Belphagor’s Prime by Prufrock’s Love - When Scully disappears Mulder travels back in time to a pre-X-Files Scully for help.

In Another Life by @mldrgrl - What if there was no conspiracy? What if Mulder was just a regular FBI Agent? What if Scully was just a bureau pathologist?

How They Met by @peacenik0 - After an encounter at Scully’s FBI academy graduation party they must determine how to deal with their past and their undeniable attraction to one another when partnered up.

One Week at Quantico by CrossedBeams - What if Mulder had been teaching at the Academy when Scully was training…

Paging Dr. Scully by @mangokiwitropicalswirl - Mulder keeps ending up in Dr Scully’s ER.

Only One Choice by @sisterspooky1013 - Scully was never assigned to The X Files.

The Way Things Are by Sukie Tawdry - A season 1 one night stand changes everything. Baby-fic.

Departures & Arrivals by anarchybeauty - After the X Files are closed in 1994, Scully moves on. Two years later, she runs into Mulder in an airport.

Right Hand Return by humphreywrites - Scully is returned from her abduction with a baby, no memories of anything prior to her captivity and some PTSD.

12 Rites of Passage and 12 Degrees of Separation by Anne Hayes - mytharc story written very early in the series run.

parent_1 by @markwatneyandenesemble - It’s 1996, Mulder’s been off the X-Files for three years, and not speaking to Scully. They’ve almost moved on with their lives. Almost.

Canon-Divergent: Mid Series

A Different Place by @myownsuperintendent - When Mulder successfully brings one of the Samantha clones back from the farm with him in Herrenvolk, she must learn to adapt to a different life.

Once More With Feeling by @sisterspooky1013 - While on a stakeout Mulder is shot in the head and loses his memory.

Iolokus by rivkat and MustangSally - Mytharc AU. Painted across the barren and desolate reaches of Texas, the shadows of the Project put additional pressure on Scully and Mulder's already fragile relationship. After a hostage crisis raises more questions about the Project's breeding program, Scully begins her own investigation, leaving Mulder to choose between saving her and saving himself. Pretty disturbing but fascinating, a classic.

Arizona Highways by Fialka - Mytharc AU. Visions of Melissa lead Our Heroes on a case confirming the existence of a series of Emilys. But does Melissa really have a message, or is it all in Scully’s head? Another classic.

Heuvelmans' On the Track by @mashnotesofthemythopoeic - post-FTF mytharc AU, truly a ride you’ll never forget.

The Leap and Landfall by Ambress - Scully has a one time opportunity for motherhood, given to her by the Kurt Crawfords.

All That Is Dark and Bright by @malibusunset-xf-blog - Emily lives AU.

Five Years and One Night by Shalimar - Scully leaves the X-Files post-Emily but gets drawn back in when Mulder discovers Emily wasn’t the only child created.

Cubed by Louise Marin - Mid-season 6 Scully does a little body-swapping of her own. Can she and Mulder make it back to each other? Do they want to?

The Boy on the Beach and Tonight We're Gonna Party Like It's 1999 by @cecilysass - One moment she was sitting in the chair. Her chin up, her expression ice. And the next moment she was gone. Fantastic exploration of the Samantha storyline.

Canon-Divergent: Late or Post Series

40 Weeks by @malibusunset-xf-blog - What if the IVF attempt in Per Manum had been successful?

Mobius by L.A. Ward - Post-Requiem while investigating the disappearance of a physicist, Scully finds someone she didn't expect - Mulder. But is it her Mulder?

By the Wind Grieved by Karen Rasch - Mulder is returned several months post Requiem but he doesn't know who he is or what Scully and he are to each other. Together they must reclaim the past before their enemies take away their future.

Deadalive AU by @markwatneyandenesemble - Mulder is returned but is missing several years of memory.

The 13th Sign and 7 Days in May by Prufrock’s Love - Post-Deadalive. Mulder saw no reason for life, death, sex, Armageddon, or emotional dysfunction to stand in the way of true love.

Hurricane Season by rah and beduini - Post-Existence week at the beach with the Scully family and baby Wim.

Terra Firma series by @malibusunset-xf-blog - Post-Existence domestic family drama, a classic comfort read for me.

2008 by MystPhile - With the quest at an end, the X-Files closed in the year 2000. Our heroes went their separate ways. In 2008, they meet in Bloomingdale's and the past, present, and future are explored.

Dr. Scully's School for Exceptional Boys by Prufrock’s Love - More than a decade had passed. Mulder had no reason to hole up in his apartment alone, wearing a Three Dog Night T-shirt with dried mustard on the hem and blue jeans that had seen better days. He wasn't "saving himself" for anyone. Especially not Her. Though she remained epically, beautifully, brilliantly kick-A-S-S.

Machines of Freedom by Amal Nahurriyeh - post-IWTB. The end of the world is coming. And they're doing everything in their power to stop it.

North of Zero by @slippinmickeys - Post-IWTB, post-colonization. The bombs have fallen. The aliens have come. What’s next?

Canon Parallel AUs:

I've got you under my skin by cuits - In a universe where soulmate identifying marks exist and affect a part of the population, would Mulder and Scully's relationship evolve any different? Unfinished but complete through Existence so it still ends in a satisfying place.

Half-light by skuls - Mulder and Scully get a second chance.

The Family G-Man by Neoxphile and FelineFemme - A double tragedy strikes Mulder the week before Christmas of 2003. What if he could go back and change things, save the son one lost and give the other the family she wanted? Could it keep them safe?

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Organized Crime (TV 2021) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Olivia Benson/Elliot Stabler Characters: Olivia Benson, Elliot Stabler, Noah Porter Benson, Donald Cragen, John Munch, Odafin "Fin" Tutuola, Casey Novak Summary:

As far as first dates are concerned, it’s been a fairly odd one.

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Chrissy Cunningham/Eddie Munson Characters: Wayne Munson, Chrissy Cunningham, Eddie Munson Additional Tags: Good Parent Wayne Munson, POV Wayne Munson, No Vecna (Stranger Things), Alternate Universe, Unplanned Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Marriage of Convenience, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Family, Family Feels, Family Fluff Summary:

His boy brings home a girl that spring, a pretty thing with blonde hair and a shy smile and a belly she can’t hide, and when he sees the way Eddie looks at her, Wayne’s heart sinks past his gut.

“It’s not mine,” Eddie tells him the next afternoon. They’re out on the side porch after lunch; Chrissy's inside, asleep on the couch.

“The baby,” Eddie adds when Wayne doesn’t respond right away. He’s frowning fiercely at his knees. “She had a boyfriend. Well, until…”

“Until?” Wayne prompts.

The boy—not so much a boy now, twenty-three and taller than him—shrugs. “Until he knocked her up.” His mouth twists in a sneer. “Fucker thought basketball was a better deal than her and a kid.”

Wayne sits with that for a minute. “Sounds like a piece of work.”

Eddie snorts. “I’ll say.”

A couple cars go by on the road; the whine of a lawnmower a couple spots down drifts in and out.

“Wayne.”

“Yeah, kid.”

Eddie tips his head back to look at him, something between nerves and determination on his face as he squints against the sun.

“I’m gonna marry her. If she’ll let me.”

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Chapters: 5/5 Fandom: Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Organized Crime (TV 2021) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Olivia Benson/Elliot Stabler, Olivia Benson & Elliot Stabler Characters: Elliot Stabler, Olivia Benson, Noah Porter Benson Additional Tags: Post OC 2x09 Summary:

Elliot learns what he's missed.

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Writing advice from my uni teachers:

If your dialog feels flat, rewrite the scene pretending the characters cannot at any cost say exactly what they mean. No one says “I’m mad” but they can say it in 100 other ways.

Wrote a chapter but you dislike it? Rewrite it again from memory. That way you’re only remembering the main parts and can fill in extra details. My teacher who was a playwright literally writes every single script twice because of this.

Don’t overuse metaphors, or they lose their potency. Limit yourself.

Before you write your novel, write a page of anything from your characters POV so you can get their voice right. Do this for every main character introduced.

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ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇʀꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇʀꜱ <3

it's okay to stray from your story. go write that short fic you can't take your mind off of! give you—and your characters—a break.

you! won't! always! make! your! word! count! -- you don't need to keep stretching sentences because the scene you finally got right is a hundred words too short. sometimes it's better that way.

the "rules" and "tips" are just ~guidelines~ (especially for people who like to swear by them) -- writing has no laws. especially first drafts. scrap the grammar, scrap the emotional tips, write it because it feels right, not because someone else says so.

every writer procrastinates. it's not easy being a writer.

take time off for yourself. the only thing harder than writing a story is to keep pushing it when you need a break the most. come back to it later. I promise there will be no dumpster fires when you're gone.

all writing is "real" writing. I don't think there's an explanation here?? fiction writers are writers. nonfiction writers are writers. fanfic writers are writers. (like how all reading is real reading!! in every format, too!)

it doesn't need to be perfect. honestly, it might never be. but it can be really close to it. if you're not satisfied with it, move on and come back when you're ready.

you are just as skilled as any bestselling author. remember that everything you read has been heavily edited by teams of people! their first draft could not even be as good as yours is now.

not using clichés is cliché. you will find one in any story. no one can bring you down for liking a certain trope. just because it's common doesn't mean it's bad!

no writer is fully well-rounded. dialogue will be easier to write for some, and description for others.

and, finally, no one knows what they're doing. trust me. we're all stumbling around blind here.