storiesforsomeone

[storiesforsomeone]

The Causal Chain And Why Your Story Needs It

The most obnoxious thing my writing teacher taught me every story needed, that I absolutely loathed studying in the moment and that only later, after months of resisting and fighting realized she was right, was something called the causal chain.

Simply put, the causal chain is the linked cause-and-effect that must logically connect every event, reaction, and beat that takes place in your story to the ones before and after.

The Causal Chain is exhausting to go through. It is infuriating when someone points out that an event or a character beat comes out of nowhere, unmoored from events around it.

It is profoundly necessary to learn and include because a cause-and-effect chain is what allows readers to follow your story logically which means they can start anticipating what happens next, which is what is required for a writer to be able to build suspense and cognitively engage the audience, to surprise them, and to not infuriate them with random coincidences that hurt or help the characters in order to clumsily advance the author's goals.

By all means, write your story as you want to write it in the first draft, and don't worry about this principle too much. This is an editing tool, not a first draft tool. But one of the first things you should do when retroactively begin preparing your story to be read by others is going step by step through each event and confirming that a previous event leads to it and that subsequent events are impacted by it on the page.

[storiesforsomeone]

Bofur offering the only sensible suggestion in the face of Bilbo and Thorin's absurdity

Bofur i am in love with you

[storiesforsomeone]

AHHH this is stunning!! Gorgeous style and characterisation, love Merlin's little Q mug and Arthur's cocky hat-tip with the Walther, their positions! Merlin's hand on Arthur's shoulder! Their outfits! I'm in love, 10/10, thank you so much for taking the time to create and share this!

My art for this fic:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7563016/chapters/17230489

The author is @storiesforsomeone

Sorry to bother you!Because I really like YOLT, It's WONDERFUL!!!So I drew this for it🥺hope you don't mind.

[storiesforsomeone]

Words from On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

[storiesforsomeone]

“Redistributing the narrative field by telling another version of a crucial myth is a major process in crafting new meanings. One version never replaces another, but the whole field is rearranged in interrelation among all the versions in tension with each other.”

Donna Haraway, “Primatology is Politics by Other Means”, in Feminist Approaches to Science, ed. Ruth Bleir (New York: Pergamon Press, 1986)

Me:

[storiesforsomeone]

I am in AWE. Absolutely beautiful photos, thank you for sharing them! That last one looks about the most picturesque reading nook I can think of, (very Merlin's-first-night-in-Camelot vibes), still can't believe you were reading YOLT there, the world is a beautiful place. So glad you enjoyed the chapter ❤

just had to tell you that you updated yolt at the perfect time for me… i arrived in pierrefonds, france which is where the castle from merlin is the day you posted the new chapter!!!

so excited reading it here at the castle, thanks for all you hard work with this story!🥰

Omg! I'm extremely jealous, please please share photos! Also a little in awe imagining someone reading my Merlin fic in the place the inspiration for it was filmed, it's... actually boggling my mind a bit. Super chuffed that you're taking time to read it amongst your time there, and thank you so much for your kind words! I hope you enjoy it ❤

[storiesforsomeone]

Making long-form webcomics is like

[storiesforsomeone]

Ao3 subscriptions are so fucking wild to me. Every time I write my silly fanfictions and post them 124 people get an email just to let them know that this idiot is posting their fanfictions again. I send 124 people an email every time I write smut. Imagine sending 124 physical letters out just to be like “hello everyone, I put some guys we made up in our heads through the horrors again.” Absolutely absurd. I am kissing all of you on the lips.

[storiesforsomeone]

just had to tell you that you updated yolt at the perfect time for me… i arrived in pierrefonds, france which is where the castle from merlin is the day you posted the new chapter!!!

so excited reading it here at the castle, thanks for all you hard work with this story!🥰

Omg! I'm extremely jealous, please please share photos! Also a little in awe imagining someone reading my Merlin fic in the place the inspiration for it was filmed, it's... actually boggling my mind a bit. Super chuffed that you're taking time to read it amongst your time there, and thank you so much for your kind words! I hope you enjoy it ❤

[storiesforsomeone]

Chapter 26: Breaking the Seal

“Do you think you can bring magic back into the world by pulling strangers from the mud?”

Read on AO3 here:

[storiesforsomeone]

Hello! I just finished reading YOLT and..... OMG YOU ARE A GOD OF WRITING!!!! it's so good!!!!! I know you take time between updates but it's been awhile and I wanted to ask if your still writing it?

Seriously, the best fic I have ever read, I can only dream of one day writing with as much beauty as you do.

Hello! Thank you so much! I'm so so happy you've been enjoying it!

I do indeed take time between updates, because sadly, I do not write for a living, and my life is super busy.

That being said, I'm just finishing up edits on the next chapter update, so keep a weather eye on the horizon!

Wishing you all good things ☺️

[storiesforsomeone]

WHERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOLT😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[storiesforsomeone]

Things I have written on YOLT this past once-in-a-blue-moon week I have actually had time to write.

The ending scene

Arthur and Merlin making pancakes

Undisclosed scene that made me cry

Undisclosed scene that made me cry (2)

Merlin and Arthur roast a chicken

Merlin and Arthur have sex in a tent

The Revelation 🤌

The team has a rave in the Paris catacombs

The team fights scary things in the Paris catacombs

Leon, perennially: 'Oh what fresh hell'

Merlin's everyday magical exploits spark 3 new fields of study in the future

Mordred, finding new and improved surfaces to slam his head into

'It was at this moment that Kilgharrah knew, He Had Fucked Up'

Loving descriptions of subterranean London

Aredian's Very Bad, No Good Day

Things I have not written:

Author's-bane missing scene that would allow me to post chapter 26

[storiesforsomeone]

[storiesforsomeone]

“He's stopped breathing,” Guinevere says. “What's happening? Gaius?”

She turns to Gaius in a wordless plea for him to deny it, to forestall the grief already cracking behind her ribs. But Guinevere watches Gaius put his ear to Merlin’s chest, sees the way that Gaius’s expression drops, and she knows.

No. 

She shakes her head, a tiny, aborted motion.

“His heart has stopped,” Gaius whispers.

There’s a commotion outside the physician’s chambers: distant yelled voices, the slap of feet on stone steps, the thud of the wooden door slamming open. 

Arthur bursts in, out of breath and wild-eyed.

“Where is he?” Arthur demands.

He barely waits for an answer, advancing forwards like he's storming into battle.

“Did it work? Was it enough? Is he—”

Arthur stops. Jerks, to a halt. The rest of the words yank in his throat with a sharp, pained noise. 

He’s staring at Merlin, who lies too still. Pale on the bed, head lolled a bit to the side, hair damp at his temples, deep bruises under his eyes. Slack. Unresponsive. 

Arthur says nothing. He stares at Merlin like if he does it for long enough he will see Merlin breathe.

“He's dead,” Guinevere says, as the tears crawl up her throat.

A chink of a reaction cracks through Arthur’s shock. His sword-hand spasms. Arthur’s face goes grey. He reels back a bit. 

“He can't be,” Gaius says, disbelieving. He stands, withdrawing from Merlin. "He can't be.”

Guinevere can’t look at Arthur’s expression. It’s too much. The red-raw of his eyes, the tight way he’s holding his jaw, clamping down on the tremor of emotion, the bright-burning anguish.

She turns into Gaius instead, who pulls her close, holds her as she begins to sob. 

“It’s my fault.”

Gaius shushes her. “No, Gwen. No, the fault is mine, I…”

“This was my doing.” Arthur cuts them both off. It’s the first thing he’s said since seeing Merlin, and the emptiness in his voice makes Guinevere flinch. “The poison was intended for me. I allowed him to drink it. I…” His voice runs out.

Guinevere looks up through her tears to see Arthur has gravitated nearer, one hand on the pallet just shy of Merlin’s head, as though he wants to touch but can't allow himself.

“I failed,” Arthur finishes, and Guinevere sees the exact moment he breaks. Something in him crumbles. His shoulders curl in. “I. I failed.”

“Prince Arthur!” A voice yells distantly from outside. “Prince Arthur! You are to return to the cells immediately! By order of the King!”

For some reason, this makes Guinevere cry harder. Deep, wracking sobs that rise from somewhere unknown and terrifying. Gaius holds her as she cries. His head bows and she feels his tears in her hair. Arthur doesn’t move. The muscles in his shoulders bunch and convulse. His fists clench against the wood of the bed-frame. He is utterly silent and yet Guinevere can see him screaming.

“Prince Arthur!” 

There’s a thunder of footsteps. The door bangs open again. Gaius makes a small, wounded noise as the guards pour in around where Merlin still lies.

Arthur raises his head at the intrusion. His eyes are black with grief, glistening with an awful wet sheen. He looks at the guards, and they stop dead.

“Prince… Prince Arthur,” a guard at the front tries, hesitantly. “The King has ordered you remain in the cells. You must come back with us.”

Arthur dismisses them with the flick of his eyes. He turns from them, back to Merlin. “I will not,” he says.

“Prince Arthur…”

“I will not leave,” Arthur snaps. “Any man who tries to make me will be met with force. I welcome you to try.”

Arthur is unarmed. His words still make some of the guards hesitate. A few of the others who don’t know better draw their swords.

“Arthur,” Gaius says, very gently. “There’s nothing more we can do.”

“He died because I was in those cells.” Arthur says, head whipping sideways to stare at Gaius ferociously. “Because I went quietly when my father demanded it.”

Fresh tears fill Guinevere’s eyes. She’s hurting with him, but she tries, too, because she knows, “Merlin wouldn’t want—”

“Merlin is DEAD!” Arthur breaks out.

“Ah, well. That’s inconvenient,” says Merlin.

Guinevere feels faint. Gaius sits down heavily with a little moan. The guards startle backwards.

Guinevere turns around, disbelieving.

Merlin’s eyes are open. His head is raised a bit, and he’s breathing, and he’s staring at all of them with bemusement.

“Merlin,” Gaius manages, breathless, “you’re alive.”

“No, I’m a ghost come back to haunt you,” Merlin returns, lips curling up.

The laugh that gasps out of Guinevere hurts — sharp and lovely, like good things hurt.

Merlin's eyes are gentle as they find her. Then they shift sideways to Arthur, and Merlin's eyes widen.

"Arth—"

There’s a blur of movement. 

Arthur kisses him. Out of nowhere, dropping down and cradling Merlin’s jaw to turn his head, kissing him deeply with something feverish and bright, a desperate outpouring of relief.

It’s over as quickly as it began.

“Arthur, what…?” Merlin murmurs the moment they part, turning into Arthur like it's the most natural thing in the world. Merlin looks — dazed. Astonished. He looks at Arthur like Arthur had been looking at him earlier, like there’s no air to breathe if they are not sharing it. 

“I’m sorry,” Arthur says immediately. His hand is still cupping the nape of Merlin's neck, thumb framing the curve of Merlin's jaw seemingly without realising. “I just. Thought you were dead.”

Everyone is staring at them. Neither of them notice.

Arthur is flushing a bit. He’s gone stiff again, drawing back and straightening up, rubbing at his neck, looking anywhere but Merlin.

Guinevere bites down hard on her smile.

“It’s fine.” Merlin says automatically. Then he appears to grasp the situation, and amends, with a smile that’s small-part cheek, small-part uncertainty, but altogether emanates joy, “It’s more than fine.”

Arthur’s eyes meet Merlin's again. Neither of them look away. 

The guard coughs, looking a bit like he's wishing for the sweet release of death. “Um. Prince Arthur?”

Arthur jumps almost guiltily. He glances round, apparently just remembering their audience. There's an awkward beat of silence.

“Ah, yes,” Arthur says, as though this had been the intention all along. “Cells. I’m coming.”

Merlin looks confused all over again. “...Why are you in the cells?”

“For saving your life,” Arthur shrugs off as the guards surround him, still appearing marginally terrified that Arthur might kill them if they touch him.

“Right,” says Merlin, sounding more confused. “Why are you not in the cells right now?”

“Broke out to confirm that I saved your life,” Arthur says. "After my father crushed the miracle flower and I smuggled it in bread, I wasn't sure it would work."

“Right. Hang on. What?”

“Gaius will explain,” Arthur dismisses as they start to escort him away. "If my father should lock me in the dungeons indefinitely, I expect you to wear my favour and remember me fondly."

“I will not," says Merlin, indignant. "I would come and get you out, you prat.”

“That’s preferable,” Arthur admits. 

None of the guards look like they know what to make of any of this. Gaius is sighing the deep sigh of a man who has experienced the trials of a decade in the space of a few minutes. Guinevere is still desperately trying to suppress her mirth behind her hand.

“Arthur,” Merlin calls in different tone, just before Arthur reaches the door.

Ignoring the guards entirely, Arthur stops and turns. His and Merlin's eyes meet again. Guinevere sees worlds in the look they share.

“Thank you,” Merlin says.

Arthur’s expression goes a little slack, almost vulnerable. There’s a warmth there, too, though, a tender sort of sincerity that feels too intimate to witness.

“You too,” Arthur says, gentle in a way Guinevere hasn’t heard from him before. “Get some rest.”

Then he’s gone, strolling off down the stairs whilst the guards scramble in his wake to follow.

Merlin turns back to the two of them. Gaius raises one, highly dubious eyebrow. Guinevere isn’t sure what her face is doing, but Merlin takes one look at her and cracks up, slumping back onto the pallet with his hands over his face.

“Okay. What happened? The last thing I remember is drinking the wine, then the next thing I know…”

“Arthur’s kissing you?” Guinevere finishes dryly, sitting down on the pallet next to his hip.

Merlin makes a small, muffled sound into his hands. Just beneath, Guinevere can see his skin flushing deep red. She grins.

“It wasn’t that dissimilar to how you woke up, come to think of it,” she says thoughtfully. “You collapsed, everyone else started pointing swords at each other and yelling, but Arthur ran to your side, took your face in his hands…”

“Gwen!”

Gaius starts laughing. Merlin tugs the pillow over his face in a weak attempt to smother himself. Guinevere pokes him in the side and steals the pillow away, and then Merlin is laughing too, when barely a minute earlier Guinevere thought she might never hear him laugh again.

The pillow falls to the floor and Guinevere pulls Merlin into a fierce hug. She presses her face into his chest and she breathes him in. Merlin makes a small sound of surprise but his arms come up around her without pause, gathering her closer, turning to press a quick kiss to her forehead. She doesn’t have any words. There are no words for relief like this. She just breathes, listening to his heartbeat.

“It’s alright,” Merlin murmurs. “It’s all alright.”

Gwen’s fingers curl into his shirt, holding on, and she sends a prayer of thanks for the little yellow flower and Arthur’s disdain for the rules. 

“Don’t let it get to that big head of yours, Merlin.

I just… thought you were dead.”

[storiesforsomeone]

The headline only gives Merlin a moment's pause.

'France's own Excalibur-like legendary sword disappears after 1,300 years wedged in a high rock wall'

He stares at it for a second, then shrugs and keeps scrolling. Merlin knows exactly where Excalibur is, and it certainly isn't wedged in a French cliff. Merlin hasn't had enough coffee yet this morning to be worrying about the mysterious disappearance of someone else's sword. He sips his current mug with a little content sigh and continues scanning the news on his phone. There's a fair deal on the French election. Wimbledon. Heat waves in Europe.

Then it comes up again.

'Priest discovers theft of the ancient Durandal sword early this morning in Rocamadour'

Merlin lingers a tad longer this time, scanning the first few lines of the article -- 'Police baffled', 'relic vanishes overnight', 'who could have done this thing? La question est sur toutes les lèvres'.

He sips his coffee again, amused, and taps on the story to see if there are any more recent updates.

'One man heist: mysterious figure disappears after pulling sword from solid rock.'

Typical journalistic hyperbole. Merlin, in his long, long life, has only known one person to pull a sword from solid rock, and that person has yet to pull his royal arse out of a lake.

'Unknown man reported scaling 32ft cliff to steal sword chained to the rock'

Impressive, Merlin thinks, but wonders what sort of idiot would scale a cliff at night just for a sword.

A new article flashes up.

LATEST FROM ROCAMADOUR:

'Raving Englishman climbs utility pole in full chainmail, gets electrocuted, falls 40ft into ditch, fights swan with sword and escapes on electric scooter.'

There's a photo as well.

Merlin drops his coffee.

"Arthur, what the fuck," Merlin swears, and leaps up to get his coat.

national elections so fucked someone's out to become king of the franks

[storiesforsomeone]

“Is it okay if I draw fanart of your fanfic?👉🏼👈🏼”

My brother in Christ we shall have a spring wedding