#Choose your own adventure. I used to love those books as a kid.

[taylorrepdetective]

As a gaylor, I always felt Sweet Nothing was a sad song because the line “all that you ever wanted from me…” is past tense. I found it really interesting that she said publicly that she wrote it with Joe as if to make it sound so romantic when I’ve always viewed it as pretty melancholy. She’s a master with words and getting across the stories that she wants to, and it would have been so easy to write “all that you’ve ever wanted” and make it present tense, but she didn’t. I don’t have any strong opinions about behind the scenes things but I just wanted to say that I can see why hetlors are saying it’s actually sad when no longer believing T & J are in love, I guess

Yes! You can believe this. It’s fine to have this sort of interpretation of any Taylor song. Take one word or tone or twist (in this case it feels past tense) and adjust its meaning away from the most obvious. She does this and we shouldn’t ignore it. So I am fully supportive of you having this interpretation. It’s not my interpretation. But that’s fine!

But more of what I’ve been talking about (and have talked about for years):

She writes songs that almost always have some sort of sad, “haunting” quality about them. But you also have to look at it in complete context. You can’t see evermore as the saddest breakup album of all time and just ignore the existence of Long Story Short and the last verse of Evermore. You can’t only see Maroon and ignore Mastermind and Paris. You shouldn’t ignore all the other context clues we get from her in her performances and videos, interviews, dates she does things, and merch etc… It’s hard to figure her out because she makes it hard. But she does seem to like to give clues that can be obvious but also gives her plausible deniability.

But it’s specifically the blanket retconning that gets me. One day an album comes out and people who believe she’s in a happy long term relationship interpret songs as straightforward happy songs (Lover, Peace, there are so many), while ignoring a song that is devastating like DBATC, Exile or Hoax, or Happiness, and just attribute them to fiction or about a friend or about the distant past or about her masters, but then later when they decide that she wasn’t in such a happy long term relationship like they thought, then they take that inherent sadness and haunting quality and turn it the whole thing into a breakup album, ignoring the fact that she can be singing about fiction or about a friend or about the distant past or about her masters.

The songs haven’t changed, only their perspective changed. I see it over and over and over again. And when this happens over and over and over again, maybe people should take a step back and think A) well maybe all of her love songs have this haunting quality because of a deep basic reason about the situation she finds herself in that no matter how solid a relationship might be, there’s always this THING hanging over it that won’t allow her to just be happy. That thing might be crippling depression, it might be trauma, being in an incredibly complicated situation, it might be fame, she might be gay, or you know ALL OF THE ABOVE. But it doesn’t mean that she’s not basically happy with the muse of that song. Especially in private like described in Sweet Nothing. B) sometimes she writes a song about a devastating moment but it doesn’t mean it’s the end of a relationship moment. C) sometimes she makes a song that’s about something completely unrelatable to a normal person, and she changes it to be about something that is relatable because her job is to sell records. And D) maybe we don’t know everything about her private life and aren’t good at figuring it out through her lyrics because she doesn’t want us to know everything, and so we should approach things using words like “maybe, I think, I could be wrong, here are a few possibilities, who knows?” Etc etc etc instead making our account’s entire personality about being an expert on Taylor swift’s life like you have been there in the room with her during it all.

When I say this I am thinking of a few different specific blogs and TikToks, mostly on the Toe side of the spectrum, but we see it on the gaylor side just as much. I am guilty of it sometimes too (more so in the past I think, but you know I do have strong opinions too and sometimes I unequivocally state them.)

All that being said, I have chosen to take the most straightforward interpretation of Sweet Nothing. It’s about her private home life being an oasis from the craziness of her life outside and one of the best things about her lover is that they don’t want anything from her other than her. It’s “you like me for me” expanded out. I interpret it as she just really really values this “normalness” she gets at home, and that normalness really is something only the muse of this song has been able to give her. And as always, home doesn’t have to be a physical place. And, luckily for us, because it’s from the album midnights that she said is about different midnights throughout life, you can choose to make this scene be happening at any time when she was happy with her lover. It doesn’t need to be the way things were at the moment she sat down to write it. It doesn’t have to be turned into some sort of sad song about the process of breaking up because you believe she broke up with the subject. This is why her writing ever since she sat down to write DBATC, and explained it to us,is so much more interesting to me. She very specifically told us with that song (the last known song written for lover) that she was going to be writing things that can be seen as hypotheticals in the future so we’d better get used to it! Folklore!!! That’s why it’s my pinned post.

[allieebobo]

What's your story, why are you so good at writing.. how did you start writing? HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH CT:OS HELP IM JUST OBSSESED

HAHAHAHA awww I am so flattered thank you, you're making me blush ☺️

CT:OS: Origin Story

Well! It's partially from experience, playing for a varsity sports team.

But most of all I wanted to write something fun and cosy and let the characters take centre stage. Found family and falling in love with your teammates/best friend from back home were things I really wanted to explore, and G's based on an experience I had as well.

Here's a longer interview I did with @interact-if for their awesome Asian/Pacific Islander month, I don't fully remember what I said in that but I think it should still stand haha 😅

Author: origin story below the cut :P

I can only answer the writing bit by saying I was one of those kids who carried a book everywhere and spent all my time in school or on rainy days or at family gatherings (or whenever I was corralled indoors, really) reading a book under my desk. Then I graduated to listening to audiobooks as an adult, on all my commutes and sometimes while working (some things never change).

I went through seminal periods of my life obsessed with certain authors and sometimes I think of those years not just by what I experienced but also the books I crossed paths with (e.g. the only reason why I wanted to study in the US at 17, 18 was because I had just come off my back-to-back obsessions with Steinbeck/Hemingway/Fitzgerald and Arthur Miller/Tennessee Williams and was convinced I could find freedom and solitude and the space I could never find in Singapore...)

Anyway, I've also been writing since I was a kid--typical kid stuff (comics and game books for friends--choose your own adventure stuff, RPG stuff) and then as a teen I wrote a couple of fanfics (still have em up on archiveofourown but they're all unfinished (bad track record oh dear).

But yeah, tldr; I rarely knew what I was doing when I was doing them--it always seemed to me like I was dabbling in a million different things. But on hindsight I guess they've really been connected dots in a constellation (in some sense), and I'm very glad to have found Interactive Fiction! I think it's an amazing medium/field and so many cool stories are being told here! :)

[writergirl3]

Vacationing w/ 4 Town

So, I'm tired of the cold and consumed by wanderlust rn, so I let my imagination go wild.

Enjoy! 🧡

Robaire;

He’s big on vacations and avidly activates for the two of you to have some time away from everyday stressors. To help with this, there are two places that he’ll likely take you- unless you have your own preference or idea.

The first is obviously Paris. Need I say any more? Not really, but I will anyway. Paris naturally lends itself to romance- always has, always will. Plus, your boyfriend is practically a fully-trained tour guide, and plans the most romantic outings for the two of you. Whether it’s having a professional photoshoot at the top of the Eiffel Tower or a moonlit boat ride along the Seine, Robaire makes your Parisian vacation truly magical. Yes, his plans are extravagant and lavish, but if you want something low key, he’ll happily set up a picnic in a secluded spot on the city’s outskirts, full of French delicacies.

Now, if you’re both in need of a bit of sun, he’ll definitely take you to Barbados. He used to go on vacation here with his family when growing up, and is on first-name terms with all of the staff in one particular beach resort. He’s been going there all his life, and wants you to experience the same joy there that he has.

He doesn’t mind what activities you do, but will add his signature stamp of romance onto anything you want to do.

Jesse;

Jesse is a pretty chill guy, and he also loves the heat. So, unless you strongly object, he’s gonna take you off to an island somewhere. His personal choice? Any of the Greek islands. Probably Spetses or Ikaria. He’s fascinated by all the old ceramics and ruins that can be explored, and he definitely takes loads of pictures for artistic inspiration. You can expect cheesy compliments that liken you to the statues of Gods/Goddesses scattered around. He’ll likely do a bunch of research before your trip so that you can check out the best ancient sites and travel back in time together.

If the history stuff isn’t your scene? No worries! Jesse will have splashed out on an intimately luxurious hotel. He’ll try and find a place with a pool and private beach, so you can laze around in the sun as much as you want. He wants you to recharge on the trip, and the slower pace of Greek life is the perfect way to do that.

He probably won’t bring his kids for the first couple of vacations, but if they accompany you on one of your trips, there’ll be enough to keep them happy while you chill out.

Aaron T;

I head canon T as being a Brazilian/Sicilian mix, so those are his two preferred spots for your vacation!

Whichever one you opt for really depends on you and your preferences. If you’re an adventurous, curious sort of person, he’ll probably recommend Brazil. Expect a personal tour of the city, lots of street food, and a trip home to his mother’s family. They’ll definitely smother you with love and affection- you’ll probably need another vacation  after being worn out spending a day with them (in the best possible way). Unless you strongly object, he  probably won’t book a hotel and will instead choose to pitch up with his relatives.

If cities aren’t really your thing, though, you’ll definitely be going somewhere quieter in Sicily. This is where his Dad’s side of the family are from, but T probably will go down the hotel/resort route for this choice. He’s a beach lover, so finding a nice spot with a private beach will be on his agenda. Again, he’ll be introducing you to all sorts of local delicacies and having fun, adventurous days in the sand. 

In either location, T really doesn’t mind what you choose to do. He’s happy so long as he’s at your side, relaxing and sharing his cultures with you.

Aaron Z;

Z is kind of a workaholic, so you’ll probably have to introduce the idea of a vacation. He’s definitely up for it, though, because he treasures time with you.

Now, he’s not so into warmer weather. If you flat out just need a beach vacation, he’ll of course be happy to go with you. But his preferred choice? Somewhere with a mild climate and plenty of activities to do.

For that reason, he’ll probably choose somewhere like Austria. There are all kinds of hiking possibilities, and skiing too. If you’re not as athletic as Z, though, and want something a little more chill, he’ll happily stroll round the cute towns with you and maybe suggest a light bike ride to take in the scenery. 

The quiet Austrian culture compliments Z’s personality well, and, like the other guys, he’ll insist that you stay in a nice hotel. To round off each day, whether active or chilled, he’ll plan a private dinner for you both in your suite. On the balcony overlooking the neighbouring town and rolling mountains, he’ll chatter away to you in the peace of your vacation surroundings.

Tae Young;

Tae lives for vacations and definitely has a growing collection of brochures on his bedside table. He wants to see the whole world with you, so narrowing the selection down is tough for him.

Like T, though, Tae wants to introduce you to his family’s culture, so he’ll take you to South Korea! He’ll show you his hometown and, if you’re comfortable with it, introduce you to his extended family. He’ll definitely spoil you, too, taking you around cute boutiques and cafes that he likes. You’ll definitely be returning with a whole new wardrobe and plenty of other gifts, so you better have accommodated for extra baggage allowance!

If you’re already familiar with South Korea, though, Tae will definitely suggests a safari vacation in Africa. You’ll probably venture out to Kenya and get a private guide who keeps you safe. After a day of animal-spotting from the safe confines of the Jeep, you’ll both camp out in a safe spot on the trail and marvel at the clear, star-filled sky. 

---

Musing Meaninglessly Masterlist

[etaindelaserna]

Thanks for answering my ask before. If you don't mind me asking (again), can I ask, what are your top 10 (or top 7) favorite media (can be books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series)? Why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before......

Welcome back!😊 Don’t worry: I‘ll answer anyway 🙌

(Side note: top 7 OR✨ 10?😂 Oddly specific^^)

1. Star Wars

Aside from the obvious things like lightsabers and force powers, I think what pulled me into the SW universe is the simplicity of it, espeically in the OT: good vs. evil, a hero‘s call to adventure and his responsibility to save the galaxy from the evil clutches of the Empire, the power of friendship, the whole concept of the force, the strength to not succumb to the dark side, to stay true to yourself even if it costs you your life, the idea that the good things in our life are things we have to work hard for while the bad things are easy and faster to obtain and oh so manipulative and tempting. It seems to address a truth we can all relate to or are at least aware of. Luke Skywalker is someone I can look up to. And sometimes I can't ask for more.

2. Harry Potter

Always. To this day the Harry Potter books and movies feel like you're coming home after a long time abroad. The world building has always made me feel like it could be true: there could be a wizard society existing right next to our own. Just the sheer richness of characters, places, magical items and wizard life were enough to draw me in as a kid. It’s childhood preserved in book form. It’s fun in the first school years and tragical in the last ones. It’s a world that feels lived in. It’s a tale about the power of friendship and about facing things you actually don’t want to face. It taught me to be brave and kind and that striving for power is a path towards loneliness and a hollow, ego centric existence.

3. Naruto

I fell in love with the premise pretty early on when I started watching Naruto: the question of what makes a shinobi a shinobi, how can you be a good shinobi and a good person, are you only allowed to be loyal to your village? What about your friends and family? Why do we have to kill each other? Why is it human nature to be cruel and violent? Naruto asked so many existential and moral questions which I find interesting to explore. Then we have the idea of chakra and how its used, different jutsus and fighting styles, shinobi villages, the struggle between being a human being, the hardships of the shinobi life and how to overcome them and what happens to those who dispair and choose a life of darkness. The messages about friendship, family, loyalty, unconditional love and to work hard for your goal no matter what everybody else says, hit me hard. I will always come back to read or watch Naruto.

4. One Piece

Apart from the world building, which is one of the best in modern literature, I think what made me fall in love with this manga/anime are its characters, the humour and Oda's storytelling ability, which has been consistently brilliant for all those years. The world of One Piece with all its crazy characters and rules shouldn't work but it does, because it's not all fun and games and silliness but it means something. It means something to the characters. There are themes in it I will never get tired of: following your dreams, working hard, loyalty, friendship, we don't abandon our friends or dreams, we stick together no matter what. Oda knows how to balance comedy, tragedy and adventure perfectly. He knows also how to do setups and how to cash in the payoffs at just right moment. You as a reader are allowed to follow the bread crumbs and think and I appreciate it that he doesn't spell the things out for us.

5. The Lord of the Rings

I read the books and I've seen the movies more than I can count. It's my ultimate love. It's something I can pop in at anytime, under any circumstances and be completely emersed in it within seconds. It feels like home. It is home. The world building is rich and complex. The characters are loveable and more nuanced than they might let on. The story has timeless themes that transcend cultures, age, gender: chaos and darkness are tempting and destructive, but you not only have the responsibility to stand against it but also you have the ability to do so. It's a story about sacrifices, will power, love, friendship and hope. It seems to touch something within us. It leaves you with the comfort of this one single thought that there are higher powers or a grand plan involved.

6. True Blood/ The Southern Vampire Mysteries

This book series hit me once my girlish enthusiasm for the Vampire Diaries and its repetiveness slowly started to fade away but my hunger for vampire stories was still as big as ever. I thought I gave it a shot and boy, did it hit me. I think I read the first 4 books within a week. I absolutely liked that Sookie wasn't a teenager anymore but in her mid twenties when the first book picks up her story. The way she sees the world was exactly my kind of humour but mature and that was a welcome suprise after all the teenage drama in TVD. Her problems were how to pay for the gas for her car or for a new driveway. And of course that she can read minds. Charlaine Harris also made her vampires different enough but also used common tropes. It was a blend of the old and the new. She imagined how vampires and humans would live together in the modern world and she slayed on that part. I loved Sookie and I loved Eric. They were the main reasons why I kept reading.

7. A Song of Ice and Fire / Game of Thrones

The richness of the world building and the characters is what made me fall for the TV series and later the books. I think I started to watch it once the third seasons was rolling around. Like most, I did like the approach of "let's make it high fantasy but with an overdose of reality and history to it". That was brilliant. George knows how to write interesting characters, who aren't entirely bad or good but just brutally human. He also understands setup and consequences but above all he understands people. You know somebody is writing bloody good characters and plotlines if your are not mad at the author but at the characters for the choices they are making. You always understood why characters did the things they did, even though it didn't make it any less heartbraking at times. I don't think that George is ever going to be able to bring the series to a satisfying conclusion. The fantasy genre follows specific rules and George broke them to create something new. But he will come to realize that he now can't use these rules to finish the series. It's not going to work.

8. The Mummy (1999)

The cinema and movie nerds among my friends are always making fun of me for liking this movie as much as I do but I can't help it. It's the only successful Indiana Jones movie without Indiana Jones in it. Just the perfect mixture between adventure, horror, romance and comedy. How many times I'm quoting lines of this movie on a daily basis is insane. It's another unconditional love of mine. I'm going to keep watching it till the end of my days. We know that O'Connell and the gang are going to defeat the mummy but how they are doing it is so much fun. Brendan Fraser is a national treasure and just perfect for playing a brave, good looking, slightly ruggish adventurer, with the right amount of humour sprinkled in, who falls hard for the bookish girl. Like, come on. That's enough to sell me on any movie. Him and Rachel Weisz are just hitting it of. This film just feels like a warm cup of cocoa with a lot of cream. It makes me laugh, it makes me gush over Rick, it makes me want to learn acient Egyptian and run off into an adventure.

9. Once Upon a Time

Ten years ago I was so addicted to this show. I liked this idea that because of a spell from the Evil Queen all the fairytale characters have been forced to live a normal life in modern day America and they don't even remember who they are, apart from the Evil Queen. It's a classical the "Chosen One"/Heroes story with a little twist, that the relationship between most of the fairytale characters shifts during the story or was even told differently from how the audience remembers it from their fairytale books. It's basically a criminal investigation about who did this to these characters and how the protagonist can reverse the spell. Besides it's a story about fate, about love, friendship, about how villains and heroes are made and that things aren't just black and white. The characters are complex and because of this setup you can throw them in various scenarios, which made for some surprising teamups (Rumpelstilzchen/Belle). I was never bored with this show. Although it had complex themes at times the show handled them familyfriendly and that just fitted the overall fairytale vibe and wholesomeness of the show perfectly.

10. Band of Brothers

This HBO mini series about the story of E Company of the 101st Airborne during WWII stole my heart. I like war movies and if I had to explain why then I'd say because it reminds me of what was and what could easily happen again. The horrors of war, the sacrifices, the tragedy, the generational trauma, the loss, the heroes, the defeated, how quickly we forget our humanity once the bullets start flying, but also the little moments of friendship and will power that keep us alive. Band of Brothers has all that. It's based on real events and real people and although some things are dramatized for the sake of film making, they managed to stay quite accurate. You get to know these men and you get to see them struggle, in pain, laughing, joking, crying, die or survive. It makes you smile and breaks your heart in the next second. It's a series that captured me from start till finish.

[literaticat]

I live in a deep red state, chose to be a stay at home mom, and generally look as though I believe like every white person around me. However, I don’t. I am just wondering how I write my bio in order for agents to not immediately label me a certain way. I write humor MG and YA with some progressive themes, but they aren’t the focus of the story.

I do appreciate your sensitivity and not wanting to be labeled in a certain way -- but I also think you're overthinking it a hair.

Lots of agents are white, and/or have lots of white clients. Lots of agents are from places other than NYC, and rep clients all over the US and the world. So I don't think most of us would automatically assume anything negative about an author just based on where they live or what they do or what they look like.

After all, why should we, when we can base negative feelings on things a person actually says and the books they've actually written! I promise you that people who have uh... extremely divisive views... can't help but say so in their queries or in the kinds of books they choose to write. It's QUITE CLEAR when a book is coming from somebody who, you know, hates books, or despises "woke ideology", or whatever other weirdo stance -- they say it right out loud and there are no assumptions or guessing games necessary!

If anything, unless you tell me differently, my automatic assumption would be the opposite. I'd be more likely to think, if you are querying me with a fun kids book with mildly progressive themes, and your query is well-written, and your bio doesn't mention "Guns, God and American Values!" or something like that, and you seem affable and not-bonkers, that you are probably liberal-leaning (or "fiscally/politically moderate-to-liberal but socially very liberal") regardless of where you live.

That's because a) most people who want to read and write great books for kids LOVE AND RESPECT KIDS BOOKS, and kids books is, frankly, a 'snowflake' kind of field to be in; and b) If you seem to have read the guidelines and targeted the book correctly, you must be smart; and thus c) you must know that I rep a lot of queer and other kinds of diverse and "woke" kinds of books, and I would think that most very conservative people wouldn't WANT to be repped by me!

BUT ANYWAY. If you want to make that even more clear in your bio, you can. It's short, but there's space for you to put a kind of "mission statement." There's no need to say you are a SAHM if you feel like that pigeonholes you. You don't even need to say exactly where you live if you feel like THAT pigeonholes you, just say something general about the region.

"I'm Mindy Smith, and I am passionate about writing fun, accessible stories for kids and teens that also touch on themes that are important to them and their future, such as climate change and environmental activism. I live near a swamp, and when I'm not writing children's books, I get my heart rate up by chasing alligators off the porch while wrangling two toddlers and an unruly dog."

"I'm Dorothy Gale-Belvedere. I grew up in Kansas and still live nearby with my family, and yes, I've heard all the Wizard of Oz jokes, and yes, I am skittish about tornados, and also yes, as the light and fun books I write can attest, I do love rainbows and glittery shoes and all things magical! But no, I don't have a dog named Toto, just a cat named Gretchen."

"I'm Deborah Candleflame, and I'm a former elementary school English Language Arts teacher who still loves sharing stories with kids -- particularly stories of grand adventure tinged with fantasy and folklore elements that can show them the limitless bounds of their own imagination! I live in a holler in the beautiful Appalachian mountains and, in addition to writing, I am raising three spoiled kids* as well as two fairly well-adjusted human children."

*(that was a goat joke!)

See how all those people sound pretty nice and not unhinged, and you'd never think "yikes, they sound like they might want to put gay people in jail"? Just do something like that!

[wanderinglotus7]

I appreciated reading this book. Another book about feminism, yet with a Black perspective. Not only a Black perspective, but from a voice of someone who identifies as a Fat Black Queer Woman. I don’t necessarily identify myself in that way, but I loved how this author spoke true on how she navigates in this world. Speaking the truth in acknowledging and embodying our intersectionality. Who knew there is such a thing called Trap feminism. If trap feminism means I can be me without giving 2 f**ks of what others think of me…sign me up!

I am a Christian Black Feminist Demisexual Woman who is intelligent, independent, compassionate, and adventurous who is also a counselor, a storyteller, an advocate, a prayer warrior, and a bookworm who loves her music and probably the realest person you’ll ever meet.

HERE ARE MY TAKEAWAYS:

“Generally speaking, Black people do have a higher tolerance for body fat on feminine bodies than other groups do. But thick and fat are not the same thing. White beauty norms will always find themselves a seat at the table, even ours, and that includes vicious fat phobia.”

“For those of us who are most marginalized, beauty actually becomes a tool that can be used to defend ourselves against racism, sexism, transphobia, classism, etc.”

“Multiple studies have concluded that Black women and girls have higher rates of self-esteem and confidence than other female groups. Confidence is waiting on the other side of choosing to keep it real with yourself, choosing to heal some shit, choosing to humble yourself.”

“Maintaining your standards means saying no to people, places, and things that don’t serve you.”

“Economic mobility is a bit of a myth in that it’s often dangled in front of Black folks as the key to a better life, but without context, nuance, or a blueprint.”

“Our bodies are heavily surveilled and our behaviors unfairly policed out of fear that we will misuse our sexuality. We’re expected to protect ourselves from abusers, and it’s us who are held accountable when we are abused. We’re denied the right to innocence before we’re old enough to know what it means.”

“Our own internalized anti-Blackness has led us to believe that Black excellence comes only in the form of heterosexual marriage, kids, and wealth building. Because our survival as Black folks in Westernized culture often depends on our ability and willingness to succeed under these moral codes, we’ve embraced those heteronormative, binary rules and incorrectly processed them as part of some natural order.”

“ The reasons and methods used to shame Black women for their choices in sex, dating, and relationships are endless. Black women can no longer afford to be martyrs, healers, parents, or scapegoats in our relationships. I’M NOT A THERAPIST, A BUSINESS MENTOR, A LIFE COACH, OR A CRISIS MANAGER. I AM NOT TAKING ON ANY OF THOSE ROLES TO DATE SOMEONE. I WANT A LOVER, NOT A JOB.”

“Friendship is how you get really good practice in empathy, healthy conflict resolution, and to build and be in community. It’s how you learn to appreciate community so that you’re not headed into your other relationships expecting one person to be your everything.”

[angie-j-kay]

🌸 and/or 🍀

Lol, I messaged you asking which OC to write about without checking the list. I need more tea. 🌸 Who's your most morally questionable OCs (not including villains)?

Gods, this is a hard one. I mean, it's gonna have to depend on your definition of "villains." I've got a couple of characters who aren't formally antagonists, but are still very much awful people.

To be fair, NONE of my characters are paragons of virtue. Most of these guys suck a little bit. Hell, even one of my romantic leads eats a bunch of people in the first book. And the second... and... yeah, Reli's got a theme here.

And if we're considering that the Fae do NOT measure themselves by Human ethics? Even the so-called Good Guys are going to make some decisions that we all hate. I wish they'd ask me before they do this crap.

As it is, I'm gonna be stuck somewhere between Ser Elias and Agent Larson, though. I won't tell you why, because that would be a spoiler, and they're both allies in the first book, but yeah. These two... just nah.

🍀 Which OCs would get along the best?

Most of them do interact at some point, and oddly, Doctor Pertwee and Billy Jameson surprised me by getting along way, way too well. Two old dudes who are trying just SO HARD to not have any more adventures of their own, but keep having to step in to rescue those damned kids who can't stay out of trouble. I suppose it was only a matter of time before they wound up living together.

Other notable options: Tracey and Sarah The Reliquus and Tracey Billy and Elias

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What You Cast Out: A Tale From Little Egypt (Novel Masterpost HERE!)

A small college town is rocked by a horrific murder, with only one suspect. Officer Gabe Nelson knows Tracey Rutledge can't possibly be guilty, but the only thing more incriminating than the woman's behavior is everything else that his investigation reveals.

Why does the case trace back to her childhood home, and why did she run away from it eight years ago?

Why is the FBI as interested in Tracey as they are in the murder?

What smells like wet dogs?

As the case closes in on Tracey, so does the real killer. Gabe will have to choose between the life he has always believed in and the values he has always held, while the world he thought was real starts to fall apart.

Chapter 1 will be released to the public on March 1, and Chapters 3-5 will be available to Patreon and Ko-Fi followers!

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NO AI WAS OR EVER WILL BE USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF MY ZINES.

If you like this post, I'd love it if you shared it so more folks could see it. The more people share this post, the more people will be able to read the novel!

And if you'd like to join my taglist, let me know!

The current taglist: @wedgie-of-destiny, @nightacquainted, @storminmywake, @brokenandlonelysouls, @tattur, @theamazingchickenman, @solstice-muse-collective, @axl-ul, @tucsonhorse

[nicnight9]

An Endless Summer Character Profiles: Diego Soto!

📼 Diego has always been completely upset with his own lack of fame and popularity. Sure, he still loves Diana, but he always dreamt of big adventures and heroism. 📼 For that same reason, he becomes absolutely enamored with the idea of traveling to La Huerta, viewing this as his own opportunity of living the life always sees in movies. 📼 Diego is a tad insecure, and even a bit of an coward - as he is used to being a viewer in most situations in life, not an active participant. 📼He's extremely loyal to his friends and shares the same curiosity Diana does, usually using this to discover everyone's gossip, just for the sake of this.

📼Like everyone on the island, Diego also has a secret. Why is he so obssessed with the idea of being famous and surrounded by popular people? Why is he so uninterested in his own life, choosing to spend his days daydreaming about others? Those are things he won't tell a soul. Not even his best friend.

Basic Data

21 years old Born in 03/12/1999, in Riverside Junior at Hartfeld, Literature Major Uses he/him pronouns Identifies as gay

Loves: fantasy books, daydreams, gossip

Hates: unpopularity, bad film adaptations, being alone

Fun Data

Is a Pisces His MBTI is INFP (aka The Mediator) His Hogwarts House would be Hufflepuff, and his Godly Parent would be Hermes.

Favorite Things

Movie: Rogue One TV Show: Friends Food: Pepperoni Pizza Drink: Sex On The Beach Hoobie: Watching arguably bad films Friend: Diana <3

Fun Facts

📼His favorite Batman is the Christian Bale one; 📼He's the first of his family to actually go to college, and has four older siblings.

Moodboard

Some inspiration pictures, characters i relate her to and just overall vibe from the character! Check the moodboard over here!

Diego's Fashion

Whilst Diana takes a lot of inspo from the 70s, Diego is more of an 80s and 90s. Also, i always view him wearing more colorful clothing than the vast majority of the La Huerta guys, just for the funsies. I don't think his clothes would be too old or too expensive, but they surely be filled with references or mini jokes.

Inspo here!

Diego's Playlist

Cloud 9 - Beach Bunny

Cool Kids - Echosmith

Foolish One - Taylor Swift

Heather - Conan Grey

If We Have Each Other - Alec Benjamin

jealousy, jealousy - Olivia Rodrigo

A Sociedade dos Nerds Psicóticos - kamaitachi

stacy's brother - Mad Tsai

You're On Your Own, Kid - Taylor Swift

YOUTH - Troye Sivan

link for playlist here!

"I finally got a nickname and it's just Pop Culture Nerd? Everyone got a cooler one!"

[enruiinas]

[it's munday!] 3. whose writing has impacted your writing style the most? (you can choose anyone! famous writer or not.)

QUESTIONS FOR MUNS. // always accepting!

Okay, I've got 3 famous writers and a fellow roleplayer to talk about here. The published authors I'm going to mention are Eoin Colfer, Chris Wooding, and Cornelia Funke, whose works (the Artemis Fowl series, Poison, and The Thief Lord respectively) I revisit AT LEAST once a year. I have been reading those novels over and over again for years now and though I haven't done any of my regular re-reads since I picked up RPing in May, I know when I go back through them there is no way I won't find myself going "Oh I 100% do this in my own writing thanks to repeated exposure to this work of art".

If I elaborated on this as much as I wanted to, it would turn into a novella on its own, but some of the big things I think I've picked up on or appreciated enough in their writing to aspire to in my own are:

♡ Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl books: platonic affection, snarky characters, a love of fairies and "worlds hidden/tucked away right in front of us". ♡ Chris Wooding's Poison: flowy writing, fun world building, characters with a sense of "everyone just says 'this is how it is' and never lifts a finger to change things", finding yourself on journeys you never wanted to be forced into... just an overall sense of whimsy and fun names + relatable existential crises regarding the nature of free will. ♡ Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord: this is the first chapter book I read as a kid and the one that completely inspired my love of reading. From it I developed an appreciation for found family, family of choice, a sense that not everyone wants the same things out of life (childhood isn't the "best time of your life" for everyone, adulthood isn't the best time for everyone either), magic in a modern world, and kids taking on adventures that feel so much bigger than they really are.

And for the roleplayer shoutout, I have absolutely been impacted, influenced, and encouraged by @climatact - ESPECIALLY in smut-writing because prior to getting into RP I'd never written anything PG-13+ in my life. (It's so much fun, I'm just an awkward aro/ace prude IRL so it was an interesting gap to bridge. But I feel like I've graduated from the initial 'Baby Smut-Chan' status. XD)

[theweirdhybrid]

Quick question, do you have any visual guides to your future Donnie from „Just this once, everybody lives“ aside from the description in chapter 3?

Cause I love the story and I want to draw him

I unfortunately haven't gotten the chance to make a ref sheet for F!Donnie yet! But @somerandomdudelmao (sorry for the ping) has made some absolutely wonderful art of him you can find here, here, and here!

Thank you anon! I'm honestly blown away by how well my silly little fic has been received, I genuinely didn't expect that this many people would like it haha

As for writing tips, the first thing I want to say is to try and avoid reusing words or phrases in the same sentence or paragraph. Adding variety to how you describe a scene, a setting, or a thought process can help captivate your reader and keep them interested in what you have to say. Avoiding run-on sentences is a must too, unless you're trying to amplify or highlight a character's distress. When humans are reading something in their head, they tend to take "breaths" while reading, and placing a comma or period gives them the break they need to catch their breath again. Let me give you an example:

Run on sentences like this can be used to exaggerate or highlight when a character is having a moment of distress or they're experiencing adrenaline and or having one long thought in a moment of panic or they're having some kind of mental break due to stress or some other outside factor because your brain will read this without taking a moment to stop because you the writer have not provided a comma or period or some kind of sentence break for the brain to slow down and stop. See what I mean? Your mental voice may not need to breathe, but it still acts like it does. This can be used to a writer's advantage, but it can also be their downfall if used incorrectly.

Doing a lot of reading will also help you tremendously. I was one of those kids who always had a book in class, and I remember my teacher confiscating one of my books only for me to pull another out of my desk. It helps you expand your vocabulary and see real world examples of how a book can be formatted. But, and this is important, be careful not to use POVs wrong. A POV (or Point of View) can make or break a book or fanfiction. Remember, when you're writing a fanfiction, you're narrating what the characters are doing, you are NOT the character.

First Person ("I went down the road to the bookstore."), for example, is best suited for original works, essays, or a retelling of something. It doesn't tend to work well for fanfictions because it's too intimate - for lack of a better word - for most people. People who read fanfiction are looking to read about the characters, not to be them. It also makes describing things a LOT harder, because you won't be able to point out things the person you're writing from the POV of has missed. HOWEVER, you CAN succeed in using First Person in a fanfiction if done correctly, but it's a tricky thing to do.

Similarly, Second Person ("You went down the road to the bookstore.") also isn't suited for fanfictions. Second Person is predominantly exclusive to quizzes, questionnaires, or choose-your-own-adventure stories. (And sometimes original works, if executed correctly.) Again, people read fanfictions to read ABOUT the characters, not be them.

Third person ("Charlie went down the road to the bookstore.") is your best friend when writing a fanfiction. It lets you describe what's happening from either one character's perspective and multiple at the same time, AND you can "pan the camera" away to show something else that the characters haven't witnessed but is important for the readers to know about to build suspense and or give answers.

I WILL say that I am by no means a professional writer, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but I do have many years of writing experience under my belt and I've learned a thing or two. Don't be afraid to experiment with different POVs when writing anything, you may find that you can use multiple POVs in the same work (original or fan) and doing so enhances the readers experience to a degree simply sticking with one POV would never have been able to do. Writing is all about experimenting and learning as you go!

If you have any specific writing questions just let me know and I'll do my best to answer them!

[rosencrantzsguildenstern]

Hi dost!!!!!!!!

First, LOVE the pink it brings me joy.

Second, I would like to ask you about your favorite metanarratives!!!

hiiiiiiii omg!!!!

my tumblr experience just looks like this <3 i really like pink and i love searing my eyes

did u know you are the first person who's ever taken me up on the 'ask me about my favorite metanarratives' header? :0 thank u for that!

my favorite metanarratives that i'm talking about there are the play rosencrantz and guildenstern are dead and the webnovels omniscient reader's viewpoint and the scum villain's self saving system! basically, ragad is about two self-aware hamlet side characters, svsss is about a guy who enters the world of a story, and orv is about a story that enters the world of a guy! but the reason my header is that is that i just generally like 1) stories that are straight up just about someone ending up in the world of a story/a story world being real for whatever reason 2) stories that look at themselves and their genre and analyze it in depth, and 3) stories that use #1 to do #2, as well as analyzing something deeper about the human condition!

for example, rosencrantz and guildenstern is about fate and mortality; my transmigration (person ending up in the story world stories) favorites are often about how one person's actions can make an impact, as well as taking apart all the vices of the genre they're in!

orv is BRILLIANT at sending a message via its meta format btw, because the protagonist has this tool called the fourth wall which basically stops his emotions from being affected as much by things- because he views what he's in as a story, is what the text tells you from his pov, but it's kind of just disassociation which was ALREADY a thing he did because he had mad trauma! and also, there are themes about understanding each other and how well you really know each other, and the protag kim dokja thinks he understands the protag of the NOVEL and he doesn't, and just like. it's good!!

but in terms of taking apart genre vices, scum villain's amazing at that, and balancing comedy and this inherent tragedy of the situation they're in; i have another thing i like, mistakenly saving the villain, which takes and saves a cannon-fodder type danmei (Chinese boy's love) character who would often have been ignored/genuinely looked down on by the story, and saying 'hey, screw this, nothing of what happened to him was his fault and also maybe he's right and bloody revenge IS okay' and exploring the ramifications of that while deconstructing these ideas of like. young virgin mcs and stockholm-syndromed mcs and censored stories!

and you can tell a light-hearted story while still going a bit meta! my favorite book series as a kid was story thieves, which did the AMAZING thing i'm still thinking about of having each book be a different genre with one of them being a choose-your-own-adventure novel with a self aware protagonist. that stuff awakened something in me for real! and stories that don't have that literal story-within-a-story aspect can still do all this stuff, like gekkan shoujo nozaki kun is a manga about shoujo manga that gets a bit meta occasionally with characters in the story having more stereotypical equivalents in the main character's manga, and mostly uses that to uhh (checks notes) be incredibly gender! it's good!

tbh i think these are just the people i follow/am mutuals with but i see a lot of posts about things being metanarratives or characters being 'doomed by the narrative' or whatever by people who aren't talking about this stuff that is GENUINELY so meta and that bothers me, like those elements are there but come on!! u would like all of this stuff i'm talking about if only you knew about it . ... (let me introduce u to character doomed by the narrative: yue wuhuan who quite literally keeps getting LIGHTNING thrown at him from the sky because plot reasons GOD HATES HIM AND HE SHOULD BE DEAD) (also, we're all usually actually talking about metafiction but shh. ignore that there could be a more precise term.)

sooo uh yeah!!! thanks for asking haha i hope this ramble is the start of a beautiful friendship

[irarosleneeee]

"I want to write"

     My life has always been heavily influenced by literature. I write whenever I'm happy. I write whenever I sense a wave of strong emotions rushing over me. I take a piece of paper and just start writing whenever I feel as though the world is ending and my melancholy will be the last emotion I experience before passing away. That way, I can somehow imagine that the pen would be the cure for my conflicted feelings and that it will take it away, making me feel much better than I did before. As they say, write all your issues away. It is that simple. Though it is difficult to pinpoint exactly the factor that draws us to literature, I'd like to presume that everyone's experience is unique. Just as I would never deem myself a math expert or even faintly, mildly "good" at math, which is fine, some individuals have a knack for reading whereas others may not.

    I've always admired writers for their ability to express their ideas in words. Their imaginative creativity has such a profound effect on those readers, like me, who view literature as their means of adventure. Their exquisite, creative use of words and phrases, the organic blending of complex terms, the pictures, and the processes of the mind, Alliteration and word sounds that are closely related to actions are used to set a mood: all of which are beautiful and it takes skill.  Some authors can even leave you feeling as though you are there in person while others may make your heart race with anxiety or anticipation. All of that results in stunning writing.

     Growing up as a child I loved reading and being read to.

     I was a curious kid. Many books were scattered, some are organized into its respective place in a shelf far from my reach. The thought of me having to call out my mom for her to get it for me still stays a funny memory on my mind up to this day. I'm glad to say that, at the age of 17, I am able to choose my own books. Extending my story, I have always loved the concept of fantasy novels and read about them frequently as a child. Up until this point, the idea of reading about princesses, enchantment, and happily ever after’s has been incredibly intriguing to me.  I vividly recall the moment I rummaged through my lola's bookshelves and discovered books with little to no content of tales of a prince and a princess; it turned out that a literature book had unexpectedly revealed itself to me. Nonetheless, I was still able to comprehend the bulk of it, and the only plot I could recall was the complexity of the words considering I was still a little child. On that day, I promised myself that I wouldn't let such unfamiliar words cause me to feel foolish in the future. I suppose I do dread the unfamiliar, but that's perfectly normal. It instead pushed me to explore more of literature.

I had this idea that I should compile all of my ideas into a book. So I did. But since I was just starting off, I instead posted some of my early writing on my writing account while I was in the eighth grade. Since I was interested in watching animations of all genres at the time, it was primarily made up of fan fictions featuring my favorite characters. I believe my writing abilities have increased during those times. I am also really grateful for the acquaintances I made and the constructive feedback they offered on my work in hopes of letting me develop and discover more about it. Nevertheless, as I got older and busier, it became harder for me to freely do what I want to do given how packed and hectic my schedule was. Instead of composing as I usually do, I've been reading stories that have caught my attention as an alternative for the lack of time. I quit writing because of writer's block as well, but occasionally, when I'm encouraged, I would compose narratives and poetry.

    I was happiest when I could express my thoughts in writing. But admittedly, as I grew older, life got in the way of my childhood fantasies. I gained lessons through disappointment and heartache. Tales lost their purpose, and the idea of a happily ever after appeared unattainable. Yet, I am the happiest when I am expressing myself in ways that I adore. In light of the incredible things writing can accomplish for my mind, literature has a special place in my heart. It allows me to experience sensations I've never felt before, acknowledge feelings I've repressed and realize I'm never alone.

Literature is where my heart and mind become one after all.

[sapphic-woes]

i ✨LOVE✨ the idea of interactive fics with the polls!!! reminds me of those choose your own adventure books i used to read as a kid lol

AHSKSHSKJDKD it totally is omgggg

[carlageddon]

I’ll use my Broadsword !! Fire of ‘roth !! I’m never going to get Laid !!

...also it’s WRATH... stupid kid.

Yep... It’s all about HeroQuest.

HeroQuest, is, was and always will be the best board game using fantasy miniatures. (For you Sci-Fi fans, Space Hulk was your alternative). I think it was a basic version of DnD. Choose one of four heroes. Barbarian. Dwarf. Elf. Wizard. Each with their own pro’s and con’s - want a muscle bound in a loin cloth that deals the most damage? Barbarian. Want a character who relies on spells? Wizard...

However, more interesting is the ‘Dungeon Master’ who would control the ‘baddies’, the Goblins, Orcs, Skeletons, Zombie, Mummies, Fimirs, Chaos Warriors, Chaos Sorcerer and the Gargoyle... 

Not only was the game simple and fun, but the models were really well designed and like most people who started off with HeroQuest, it was the perfect introduction into miniature painting. 

One day, earlier this year, I was dragged to a local Charity shop, there I spotted an original 1989 Milton Bradley HeroQuest, sitting on the shelf !! I knew I had to have it. A bit of haggling (got to love some charity shop people for that) it was mine for £30. The next week, in another Charity Shop, I spotted a 1994 White Dwarf issue 184, I’d had this issue in ‘94 when I was into Warhammer 40K. Picked up that, and it brought back so many memories of the old miniatures I used to have and paint. This started my hunt for Old Games Workshop stuffs in Charity shops... apart from months later I was ripped off by the same charity shop selling me the 2012 Blood Bowl box - with NO FIGURES in it for £40 !! (lesson learnt to always look inside the box before buying anything second hand) I’ve never found any more Old White Dwarf Magazines or Games Workshop games or models, but I’ll keep an eye out... maybe I should try going to a car boot? Then again, I already hate the human race... this would not help in changing those views.

The great thing about getting HeroQuest, is I have a friend that comes over once a month and if my flat mate is about at the same time we all have a couple of games whilst chomping down a burger or two. However their characters are both getting a little too powerful, I’m going to have to put a stop to that.

Then my partners son and his girlfriend would come round and play a few games, that was until I killed them both one match and I’ve not seen them since. It’s been great playing the game and re-living old adventures.

What is great about the game, as we advanced through the given quest book I started inventing my own scenarios as well as introducing new characters.... 

....which also means I’ll go onto Etsy and buy some characters which is great, because I can also then paint them ready for the next scenario. It also gives me a great idea to produce content for MyMiniFactory or Patreon... but that would need some time... and for me not to be so lazy.

So thank you HeroQuest, you’ve really got me back into the hobby I loved as a kid... a hobby that has changed so much since 1995 when I last picked up a paint brush... but I mean how different can the hobby, and what is available for it, and the people who surrounding it be, just 27 years later...? Oh and for all those people wondering what the title of this post was about... cast your mind back to the advert on TV for the game HeroQuest back in 1991 and it looked something like this : 

Until next time hero’s.... 

[bigskydreaming]

Uggggh I’m so disappointed about the cancellation of The Midnight Club, but very glad we got to find out where it was going at least. I wish more cancelled shows would find ways to make that happen, but understand its not always feasible, and also some creators want to revisit cancelled/interrupted stories in some form in later projects.

But I’m so mad we’ll never get to see Cheri’s story because all through Season One I was waiting for hers and at the end of the season that was my ONE big complaint....that she was the ONLY character we didn’t get to hear a story from. Damn.

I looooove the idea though that Anya was supposed to be the lead in Ilonka’s Season 2 story, and Amesh in Natsuki’s, etc. The idea of ‘this is how the Midnight Club lives on....in their friends’ stories’ is just....perfect encapsulation of theme is perfect.

And I really like that Spence was supposed to be the one survivor of next season, the way Sandra was this season. Obviously it sucks that any of these kids die, but the very nature of the premise always meant that most of them would, and that’s okay because this story at its heart is all about reconciling death as a part of life, taking away the fear of it and confronting the idea that its not something that needs to be fought, that you can enjoy your life and not want to leave it and still find your peace with leaving it when the time comes regardless...

That said, I really do like the thought that went into selecting which characters got to leave Brightcliffe by no longer being terminal, and having it be Sandra and Spence in particular, who will live on for years to come......that’s actually really fucking brilliant, considering the journey those two characters have in regards to each other, throughout season one. I choose to believe that Spence reconnects with Sandra ‘out in the world’ and they remain close friends the rest of their lives, who are never afraid to talk or reminisce about the rest of the Midnight Club, because that’s how they keep their friends alive and with them.

Also really bummed that we won’t get to see Ilonka’s Season 2 story because Remember Me is one of my all time fave Pike books, and one of the ones that really stuck with me when admittedly a lot of Pike books did end up being pretty formulaic. Remember Me wasn’t though (and neither was Monster so ugh WHY WOULD YOU TEASE ME WITH THE FACT THAT WAS GOING TO BE CHERI’S STORY? CHERI?!?! TELLING MONSTER??? AND WE’LL NEVER GET TO SEE IT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME HERE!)

And yessssss to the reveal of what the Shadow ultimately was, because I love that theme for this show, these characters and just in general. Always have, always will. Ever since Ursula K. LeGuin used it to great effect in A Wizard of Earthsea, and she didn’t invent it any more than Pike did in Remember Me, but A Wizard of Earthsea was my first exposure to that particular approach to that particular theme. So its always going to come to mind whenever a show, book or movie does something similar with the concept of A Living Shadow that turns out to be not something terrifying or something to run away from, but simply our own fear of the unknown, something that HAS to be faced if you ever want to truly move forward to another chapter, your next great adventure.

Finally, I soooooo called it, that Ilonka and Kevin were the founders of Brightcliffe, reincarnated. Admittedly, its not like it was super unpredictable given that reincarnation was one of Pike’s most oft-recurring themes, and I did get it wrong in terms of WHICH of the founders Ilonka and Kevin were, respectively....but I KNEW that was what was up with them and the visions, so its nice to feel validated there, lol. And I love the idea that this means their story isn’t over and they’ll be back someday, to seek each other out all over again.

Man, I loved this show and hate that we only got one season of it, it REALLY deserved more, as well crafted as it was and with as much love and passion that obviously went into the making of it (if only more shows had this much thought put into their narrative decisions and how to make them pay off thematically as much as just raise dramatic stakes/tension).

But glad we at least got what we did, and that we don’t have to forever wonder what might have happened in Season 2. Especially in regards to the big mysteries we were left with in Season 1, aka the Shadow, the visions, etc.

[hollowedhaunt]

I'm so mad about the fact that it turns out I've just REALLY wanted to make a ttrpg ever since I was a kid but I just... didn't really know that they existed? I used to make mazes on paper with built-in adventures to play with people. I kept coming back to this world building exercise of mine over and over for a whole 5 years but my ex kept telling me "it's not like you could ever make it into a game." If I had just KNOWN. If at any point someone had gestured towards the existence of ttrpgs outside of *just DnD* which I never had friends who would let me play with them since I was "too pretty" (not joking)..

But like, I Very Recently discovered itch.io and I just... that's what I was meant to be doing since I was maybe 8 years old. I kept writing small stories and wanting to share this experience with other people but it was always "so are you going to make this a whole book, or?" So I'd get discouraged because it wasn't ever meant to be a book. At most they could be choose your own adventure books because I LOVED those. But all this time, all I really wanted was to make a whole bunch of little ttrpgs and had no idea that was an actual option.

I had this whole idea I got obsessed with for awhile that was essentially building a world with rules and a map, in which there were a bunch of smaller games paired with real life activity. My ex basically said it was dumb and too ambitious etc, give up on it. And guess what I've found? A huge archive of ttrpgs tailored towards things like "play this game while you do the dishes." It's make believe with guidance. This is literally what I was trying to do but didn't know how to do it. I don't know. I just feel like I've missed out on something.