#Holligay loves reading

[docholligay]

September Book Club Book Selection

In September, we will be doing another Holligay book club!

The book will be the English classic there was a lot else I was going to say here but I decided I didn't really want to affect how you individually think of the book by Evelyn Waugh

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED

I loved this book when I read it in college, but full disclosure I haven't read it since then. Interested to see how I look on it now! This is one of the more contemporary choices for Holligay book club--it was published in the 40s and the language should not be a barrier in the way older books sometimes are for some people.

We're doing this because my mom watched the miniseries and loved it, didn't know it was a book, and got super excited when she told me what she was watching, and I said, 'Oh I fucking loved that book"

She responded, "It's a BOOK???" with great excitement, and she's very excited to be in her first Holligay book club.

If you are not in North America but would like to come PLEASE tell me, and tell me what your time zone is, and I will do my level best to make that possible. I don't mind! The more the merrier!

[keyofjetwolf]

Yellowjackets S1E1 spoiler under the cut (mostly for Doctor Holligay who will be liveblogging this ep later).

I know how this shit works, I know when a show is dangling a juicy little tidbit in front of me like I'm a crocodile expected to leap out of the water. SPLISH SPLASH BABY

So I pause and get a closer look.

Loxipene, sure, I can Google with the best of them. Doesn't seem to exist though, which is weird because you're waving this chicken carcass all up in my face. Pretty close, though, is Loxapine, so maybe a trademark/copyright thing? Let's click through.

"Loxapine, sold under the brand names Loxitane and Adasuve (inhalation only) among others, is a tricyclic antipsychotic medication".

AND THEN I FUCKING CACKLED

#will it even turn out to be a thing? #there's as much chance it could be a red herring as it is foundational #and it makes me wonder if each of these little pre-flight montage scenes have a buried clue or indication of where they'll go #like i'd be lying if i said loretta lynn or whatever her name is #super jesus girl #if i wasn't INCREDIBLY curious to see how the implied events are about to challenge the fuck out of her previously established unshakable faith #because i think maybe maybe maybe it'll be A Thing #also juliette lewis is in this i had no idea i fucking love her glorious #also also the girl who's the team captain whose best friend is obviously in love with her #and also SUPER FUCKED UP beeteedubs #she looks so much like doc's friend's wife and it's unbelievably distracting #super curious to see if Doc'll have the same reaction #anyway i've no intention of liveblogging this even in truncated form #but the 'PAUSE ZOOM ENHANCE GOOGLE' gave me such a wash of nostalgic longing i had to indulge #oh wait i can't put all these tags in the tags because they're spoilery and bared for all to see #and doc reads too fast to be sure she won't catch something #OKAY INTO THE POST BODY UNDER THE CUT YOU GO

[everybodyknows-everybodydies]

Should I read the last unicorn? I saw part of the movie and was not enthralled, but I've heard the book is better??

ESTEEMED DOCTOR HOLLIGAY PLEASE DO READ THIS BOOK

I haven't pitched it via your submission form bc I know you're not interested in fantasy and I wanted to pitch something I was at least even a little more confident might be up your alley haha, but I would genuinely be SO interested in your thoughts on the book. TLU is something I would consider a foundational piece in terms of stories that shaped my tastes (so take that as you will) and Beagle is probably my favorite living author. I love the movie dearly but it cuts a LOT from the book and, I think, loses a lot of the nuance in doing so; it lingers at the surface level much more than the book does. (I don't know how much is allowed re: spoilers and given the nature of my blog you've almost definitely seen me crying about my absolute least favorite book-to-movie change anyway but I will restrain myself here all the same lol.) (SUFFICE TO SAY SOME THINGS I CONSIDER CRUCIAL ARE LEFT OUT)

If I were to pitch it, I would want to highlight the genre awareness of it as something in particular that might interest you: the characters acknowledge a number of times that they are acting out a fairytale, and what roles they play, and what it means to play those roles. There are also, constantly, really thought-provoking questions being implicitly asked by the narrative. What does it mean to be "real" or "beautiful"? Can someone be mythologized simply by writing themselves into folklore? What kind of sacrifices are acceptable to ensure one's continued comfort and happiness? and so on and so forth.

It's silly! (I have to emphasize there are some truly silly things that happen in this book! It makes me laugh, but also there are details that hint at a larger world that just... don't get explained!) It's serious! It's a complicated, thoughtful book, with SO much more depth than an animated movie could manage to fit into a standard runtime. I recognize that I am biased and acknowledge this as a potential judgment-clouding factor, but I really think even if you end up coming away from it with no particular interest in revisiting it that there are at least a few moments and themes that you'll appreciate.

Also the unicorn is, like, kind of a terrible person, which the movie totally glosses over, but I think you'd enjoy that she has this very self-centered and kind of disdainful "I'm a noble beautiful creature and better than all of you" vibe lol.

ANYWAY IF YOU DO DECIDE TO READ IT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS I'm a little insane about this book. This post is so long and took me like an hour to write bc I'm trying to passionately but coherently explain without going into too much detail hfjdkgs. Hopefully I have succeeded!!

[chrrispine]

for @starrynightdeancas's 3k celebration prompt: "that’s your child too, you know. it’s your turn to play chef in that tiny plastic kitchen"

wc: 580 I read on ao3

“How are my two little chefs?” Dean asked, leaning against the doorframe of the living room. He laughed as Cas flipped him off from behind the play kitchen set. Jack was sitting at the chair waving to Dean and thankfully facing away from Cas’s rude gesture.

“Daddy is making me food!” Jack yelled while banging his hands happily on the table.

“It turns out that I am the chef and Jack is the food critic,” Cas explained, groaning as he got up from couching at the little stove. He set a plate of plastic food in front of Jack. “Bon appetit, Mr. Jack.” Cas bowed at the toddler and then glared at Dean when he began shaking with laughter.

“Thank you, chef,” Jack said with a little head nod before he tucked his napkin into his shirt collar. Where does he learn this stuff, Dean thought, shaking his head.

Jack pretended to eat the food very carefully, pausing to ponder about the imaginary taste. Cas was standing above Jack with a hint of nervousness on his face.

“How is it, Mr. Jack?” Cas asked, raising his eyebrows in earnest.

Jack reached below his chair and picked up a clipboard and pen. “Gimme a minute and then I will give you a star rating,” he said, waving Cas off with his small hand.

Cas bowed his head again and walked across the room to Dean whose eyes were wide open in shock.

“What is all this?” Dean whispered, gesturing at Jack and the kitchen.

“Remember when we put on Ratatouille last week? We both fell asleep but turns out Jack watched the whole thing and decided that instead of being a chef, he wanted to be a food critic. Also, I’m pretty sure he watches Chopped on his own,” Cas whispered back, looking over Dean’s shoulder at Jack who was humming to himself while scribbling on the sheet of his clipboard.

“He’s brutal!” Dean laughed.

Cas shook his head and smiled. “Tell me about it. He threatened to call the health department on my last meal.”

Jack walked up to his dads and handed Cas the clipboard. There were no legible words on it but drawn at the bottom were three little stars. “You passed this time! I’m going to sit down again, and you can bring me some more food,” Jack stated as he marched back to his seat. Dean patted Cas on the back in congratulations, and pity.

Cas rolled his eyes at Dean’s gesture. “How about a new chef, Jack? I bet Dean would love to take a go at it!” Cas suggested, and to his relief Jack nodded excitedly in response.

“Cas, I don’t want to play around with fake food and get harshly judged!” Dean whispered.

“Dean, that’s your child too, you know. It’s your turn to play chef in that tiny plastic kitchen,” Cas said as he thrusted a miniature spatula at Dean.

“But-“ Dean started, but Cas cut him off with a kiss and a slap on the ass as he walked out the room. Dean sighed in defeat and made his way over to the kitchen.

“The food critic is waiting!” Jack announced, tapping the invisible watch on his wrist.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s coming kid,” Dean said as he started filling a plate with the plastic food. He was already feeling the pressure from being behind the tiny stove with the critic watching. The health inspector was definitely going to get called on him.

(tag list under the cut)

tag list: @casbelieves @fivefeetfangirl @smolrowena @chocolatecakecas @starrynightdeancas @acklesology @shelikestv @sinnabonka @dea-stiel @cvsnovak @doc-cas-holligay @jellydeans @evermorecastiel @plantdadcas @manifestingdestiel @achillestiel @multi-fandom-dark-lord @agentplant @ialwaysordericedcoffee @deanwinvhester @winterfrosted @queentrxyler @halaenoor @goldiegabrielfallenangel @winchester-novak @btab66 @maxguevra @wormstacheangel @moosetex @nguyenxtrang @edward-thorn-blog-blog @feraladoration @deductthenseduct @gardenercastiel @no2891 @i-dont-even-wanna-know @chaoticwistfulness @squintingg @casloml @poughkeepsiedeans @charlies-secret-closet

Please let me know if you want to be added or removed from the tag list

[comingfromastatechampionasshole]

Best Cooking Gifts for $20-$60 Dollars

Hi friends, it’s your nearly useful, almost cool Doc Holligay here, fulfilling a really common series of questions I get around Christmas time (I am not going to say the holidays, I am a Jew but I KNOW I have like 6 Jewish followers, and these questions don’t come in around Hanukkah time) that boil down to: What Do I Get Someone Who Likes to Cook?

So I’ve created a series of gift guides, based on things I think are excellent, in different price ranges, (all are on my blog) for people that could be considered moderate to excellent cooks. People who need a few extra things for the kitchen, but have the basics down. Some of these DO make great basic gifts, but that’s not what this gift guide is FOR.

I get no kickback from any of this, unless specifically marked, and then you have to use my referral code. A lot of these places SHOULD give me a kickback for the years I’ve spent referring them, but they don’t. If I can make one request of you, it’s don’t buy this shit from Amazon. Amazon is a horrible company working to break the back of the American worker, and the least you can do for me is not use them for my recommendations. THEY HIRED THE FUCKING PINKERTONS. Galaxy brain is to try and pick this up from your locally owned kitchen store, as I did with most of these! I bet they’d love to hear from you!

IF this was useful to you and YOU’D like to give me a kickback, check out my Ko-fi!

Lodge Cast Iron 10.25 In Skillet--- $21

If the person you love loves to cook but has never gotten into cast iron, please set them up with this amazing skillet, which is usually the first thing I recommend for first-timers. So many things cook better in cast iron, and it can go straight to the oven!

Wiremonkey Bread Lame-- $28.00

If your gift recipient is a bread baker, this is a really nice gift. If you don’t bake, you may not know what this is: It holds the razorblade so you can make scores in your loaves. It’s a very nice one, made in Connecticut and pays fair wages. Definitely a step up over a raw blade. 

Dot Alarm Thermometer ---$43

This is the secret to my success for turkey every year, as well as prime rib at Passover, and it gets a TON of use in my smoker. After this Thanksgiving, my mom declared that she was going to get one too, because it did such a great job of letting you know the SECOND the turkey comes to temp, and also you don’t need to open the oven or smoker! They have a bluetooth version as well--I don’t use it. 

Escali Primo Scale-- $40.00 

This is the kitchen scale I have, and love, after years of trying to find something that fit my parameters of being small, being bright colored (so it’s easy to find in the kitchen) and having a weight limit of at least ten pounds. It’s also really highly rated for accuracy! Kitchen scales are the bantam standard for baking, but I use it for so many things. 

Silpat Liner -- $27.00

I have a tiny one of these that I bought to see how well they work and I kick myself for not buying a full size one, which is what I’ve recommended to you here. Even the stickiest things come off with little trouble. Especially for baking fine things like florentines, this is so useful. 

Thermoworks 600D---$29.00 (as of the literal second I am publishing this, they’re having a sale for it at 18 bucks) 

Doc, stop just recommending Thermoworks stuff. NO. Their warranties are amazing, and the accuracy of their thermometers is exceptional. After years of using a cheap thermometer that was barely helping at all, I bought one of these, and it has more than paid for itself. I would never go back. 5-6 second super accurate reading. 

Spring Loaded Tofu Press-- $50.00

I know what you’re all thinking, and I probably would have thought it too before I used one at a friends’ house. Now I want one more than I can say. Great for vegetarian and vegan cooks, obviously, but also amazing if you need to press water out of anything, so if you’re trying to make eggplant parm, press water out of spinach, etc, this is an amazing go to. It sort of breaks my general feelings on kitchenwares and use, but squeezin those things even with the book method is so onerous that I make exceptions.

 Shun Sora Utility Knife-- $60.00 

I don’t often recommend Japanese style knives to people, despite them being my preferred style, versus German knives. They’re more fragile as a nature of how they are created and maintained. But people who love them, like me, REALLY FUCKING LOVE THEM. This is the cheapest possible version of my absolute favorite knife. (Full disclosure--I don’t own anything from the Sora line, but my general feelings on Shun lead me to believe it’ll be fine quality) It’s a 6 inch utility knife, which is great for smaller people like me who can occasionally find a Chef’s knife unwieldy, and the blade holds an edge, as long as cared for, longer than average (It still needs to be sharpened. All knives do.) A great way to introduce a cook to a better class of knife. (Without getting into the weeds, buying a block of knives is generally a mistake) 

Victorinox Fibrox Chef’s knife-- $48.00

If you prefer or expect you will prefer a German style knife, this is one of the best entry-level choices out there. It’s a great gift for someone with a lot of talent but not a lot of great equipment, as I find, weirdly, knives are one of the last things to be upgraded. I thicker knife that will need more frequent sharpening but is a WORKHORSE you would have to work pretty hard to destroy, I recommend this knife to advancing cooks all the time. I don’t think there’s better for the price point. 

OXO V Blade Mandoline Slicer--- $42.00

If your gift recipient has any love of cooking things that require a lot of slicing, this is a must-have. I bought mine used, but this OXO is at a great price point for value and if they decide they want something heavier duty later, they can always pursue it. It’s the kind of thing people don’t realize they love until they own one. They’re also deeply satisfying to use, which I find wonderful as a kitchen item. 

I hope you enjoyed these recommendations and stay tuned for the next price point up! 

[saileen-away]

i was tagged by @dainty-dean to pick out my favorite fic tropes! i recently started reading fanfic so this is very nice, thank you for tagging me! 💕

coffee shop or flower shop • alternative universe or fix-it • enemies to lovers or childhood friends • angst or fluff • love at first sight or pining • modern au or historical au • soulmate or and unrequited • fake dating or secret dating • breakup and makeup or and proposals and weddings • get together or established relationship • oblivious pining or domestic fluff • hurt/comfort or crack • meet the parent or meet cute

i’ll tag (only if you guys want to do it, of course, and if so take as long as you need): @castielbrainrot @imnotaneffigy @cvtstiel @i-can-sabotage-me-bi-myself @zompire-plutopian @riss7167 @rowan-guerrins @fourevereatoncheesebuns @elliehope123 @friendshapedcastiel @doc-cas-holligay @royal-rowenas @lotsofquestionslimitedanswers @fellshish

[castiel-angel-of-thursdays]

Catch Up With Me Tag

I was tagged by @doc-cas-holligay @destiel-in-its-natural-habitat and @im-shaking-like-milk thank you all for the tags and sorry it took so long!!

Rules seem to just be tagging people you want to catch up with, and don’t know well

Last Song: Red Side of the Moon - Trixie Mattel

Last Movie: I cannot remember... possibly Enola Holmes?

Currently Reading: Funny You Should Ask by the QI Elves

Currently Watching: Rewatching supernatural, and watching Wandavision

Currently Craving: I’d love an iced coffee and a glazed donut.

Tagging: @casuallycastielly @samandcheesewinchesterr @bloodfreaklesbian @casthyelle and anyone else who wants to!

[docholligay]

What western novels do you recommend? I don’t think I’ve ever read one and was hoping to give it a try!

I LOVE Westerns. I love them even when they aren't particularly good. Whenever people accuse me of hating genre fiction, I'm like, "I think my collection of Westerns begs to differ. I just have DIFFERENT bad taste." (My collection of horror books too)

OKAY SO, MUCH OF THIS DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO FIND IN A WESTERN NOVEL.

Perhaps the best Western Novel ever written: Lovesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry.

It's not just me that would say this of Lonesome Dove, I think you can find this on lists of the world's greatest Westerns, it's fairly largely acknowledged as a great American Novel, many books have TRIED to be Lonesome Dove and are not. This book was one of the things Jill and I talked for HOURS about on our first date. We almost mutually changed our last names to McCrae instead of her taking Holligay. She walked down the aisle to the theme from the miniseries.

To MASSIVELY OVERSIMPLIFY, this is the story of a cattle drive from Texas to Montana. But it's about relationships, and dedication, and doing everything right and losing anyhow, sometimes. It's about finding connections. It's about dreams and failures. It contains one of the greatest versions of "the grumpy one is soft for the sunshine one" in platonic form. Also the idea that a friend, who is never anything romantic, can be the love of your life.

A fun revival Western: The Shootist by Glendon Swartout

I actually just reread this! So in the 80s and 90s, Westerns became 'grittier' sort of like comic book movies did in the 00s. This is not an altogether bad thing, and it certainly wasn't all the way to 'gritty' until we get to, movie wise, things like 3:10 to Yuma, which actually is incredible. ANYWAY, so The Shootist breaks from a lot of the molds of 60 and 70s Westerns (upstanding law officer, gang of mustache twirling villains, etc) and is about the last great shootist--what a gunfighter would have been actually called in the 1800s--who is dying of cancer.

I know that does not make it sound fun, but it is, actually, and it is an easy read. Lots of fun Western colloquialisms and there IS depth there if you want to go looking for it, but it's totally extraneous to the enjoyment of the book and also might be half made up in my head.

A great classic Western: Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey

Riders of the Purple Sage is actually responsible for helping form a lot of what we understand as being the Western genre today. This puppy has it all: Gunfights, cattle rustling, the moral code of one's own pride, falling in love with a lonely little woman hell bent to make it on her own.

There are so many things in this novel that will come to define the genre, but because it is a little pre-genre, at least in a strong and stratified way that separates itself from the dimestore novels, it's not as formulaic as you might expect and borrows heavily from early 1900s literature wrought large.

A WESTERN Western: Literally anything by Louis L'amour

Am I here to defend Louis L'amour? No I am not. Do I love Louis L'Amour? Yes absolutely. I am not even so much suggesting that you actually read a L'amour book because I think you really have to love the genre to get into them, but boy are they GENRE. Love them. There's like 5 or 6 plotlines between them. I read them in the tub all the time. I don't even count them toward my books read they are such popcorn. Delightful. I gave them away as favors at my wedding.

A modern Western: All The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy

Now we're getting into the weeds a bit because there are some people who would argue that a lot of what modern Western literary fiction is, isn't really "Westerns" and I know what they're saying but I don't think I agree. There can be great novels of any genre that break genre, and I think this is just one of those. It has all the hallmarks of a Western.

Anyway, anyone who tells you The Road is Cormac McCarthy's best novel is out of their fucking minds and also probably very boring and controversially either doesn't read much or doesn't read much serious stuff. All of McCarthy's border novels are better than The Road, All the Pretty Horses just happens to be my favorite.

A Western that is probably more fairly slotted into Historical Fiction: Doc: A Novel, by Mary Doria Russell.

This book made me stop writing my Doc Holliday historical novel because I can't do a better job than this.

[heyhellerfriends]

tag people you wanna know better. i was tagged by @castielnova thank you muchly! 🤍

currently listening to: my Disney playlist

last movie you watched: Onward! I loved it.

currently watching: the wonderful mickey mouse cartoons and supernatural

currently reading: nothing atm but as soon as I'm sure it will be destiel related when I do.

currently craving: McDonald's chicken nuggets

i tag: @doc-cas-holligay @padfootrose @deans-asscot @cmorgana and anyone else who wants to join in!

[chrrispine]

for the lovely @starrynightdeancas - happy birthday sophie <3

Dean comes up behind Cas as he's reading at the table and wraps him in a hug.

"Hey," he whispers in Cas's ear. "What do you think about taking a little trip?"

Cas turns around to face Dean, giving him his classic squinted look. "What do you mean a trip? A hunt?"

Dean shakes his head and smiles. "No, definitely not a hunt. Though I guess there are some ghosts in the park that we could investigate if we have some time. But, I don't think we will," Dean rambles, his smile getting wider.

Cas continues to stare at him confused. "The park? Dean, what are you talking about?"

Dean pulls over a chair next to Cas and sits down. His leg begins to bounce in excitement.

"Disneyland!" Dean exclaims, throwing his hands into the air. "I figured we could take a road trip west and hit up the happiest place on Earth. There are rides, amazing food, and all those silly mouse ears we can wear..." Dean trails off and coughs. "Y'know, for Jack."

Cas considers what Dean says and scoots his chair closer to him so they're touching knees. "Mmhm," Cas muses. "Well it sounds like it will be a lot of fun for you - I mean Jack." Cas winks as he takes one of Dean's hands in his.

"So, you're game?" Dean smiles with his eyebrows raised.

"Yes, Dean, I'm game," Cas replies, making air quotes with his free hand. "Jack needs to do some more normal kid stuff anyway. Plus, instead of watching Toy Story yet again, he can experience it in person. There's only so many times I can watch those toys cross the street in the traffic cones," Cas reflects, shaking his head.

Dean brings a hand to Cas's cheek and leans in for a kiss. "Thanks, Cas. I'm really excited for us to go," he says as he pulls away.

Cas reaches across the table to grab the laptop and opens it. "Do we buy the tickets online?"

Dean rubs the back of his neck. "Uh yes...but I kind of already got them?" He flashes Cas a nervous smile.

"You bought the tickets and planned the trip just assuming I'd agree to all this?" Cas asks as he leans back in his chair with his dom brow raised up high.

Dean shrugs innocently. "Well you did agree, didn't you?" He smirks.

"You're lucky you're cute, Dean Winchester," Cas threatens as he pulls him in for another kiss.

"I'll be even cuter in mouse ears," Dean replies.

tag list under the cut

tag list: @casbelieves @fivefeetfangirl @smolrowena @chocolatecakecas @starrynightdeancas @acklesology @shelikestv @sinnabonka @dea-stiel @cvsnovak @doc-cas-holligay @jellydeans @evermorecastiel @plantdadcas @manifestingdestiel @achillestiel @multi-fandom-dark-lord @agentplant @ialwaysordericedcoffee @deanwinvhester @winterfrosted @queentrxyler @halaenoor @goldiegabrielfallenangel @winchester-novak @btab66 @maxguevra @wormstacheangel @moosetex @nguyenxtrang @edward-thorn-blog-blog @feraladoration @deductthenseduct @gardenercastiel @deductthenseduct @chaoticwistfulness @squintingg @casloml @poughkeepsiedeans @charlies-secret-closet @archervale @llamasdumpsterfire

Please let me know if you'd like to be added or removed from the tag list

[nayeliq1]

Hi! Once you get this you have to say five things you like about yourself, publicly, then send this to ten of your favorite followers (nonnegotiable) SPREAD POSITIVITY! 💌😘

Oh damn I totally forgot about this. Thanks @lilith-wnchstr ! (And thanks for sending it back @doc-cas-holligay!)

1. My hair. It's a lot and it blocks the drains but I love it

2. The way I look with my glasses. I really didn't like it at first but once I got used to it I actually prefer it now

3. My ability to learn and memorise by listening

4. My faith. I think I stand up to it quite well and it helps me a lot so

5. My love and talent for reading, writing and language in general

[scary-pixie]

PRETTY HEROES 2018: FANFICTION 101 WRITING SEMINAR

I hope to be a Master-Class Writer of Fanfiction ™ at some point in the distant future (perhaps close to the year 2034, as I need to actually write some Beginner-Class Fanfiction first), so it was with a great sense of excitement that I sat down to listen to Doc Holligay’s Fanfiction 101 Writing Seminar at Pretty Heroes 2018. First off, I would like to use this moment to fully endorse Doc Holligay’s reasons for why we write fanfiction: to continue the stories we love, to write about situations we never got to see in the original material, to participate in the fandom community, and finally, the reason which is the most important to me: to keep our favorite fandoms, characters and storylines alive. I think this is exceptionally important in our current age of “oh hey, let’s watch whatever’s new and popular and forget about the old stuff.” Stories and characters we love should be eternal…and keeping them alive through fan art and fanfiction is something that speaks to my ACTUAL SOUL. Ahem. Excuse me.

The panel mainly consisted of advice by Doc Holligay on how to improve our writing skills. I won’t repeat all of it, though I will share a few useful bits of advice that really stood out to me: 1. Avoid writing cut-and-paste relationships, where any character can fit into a specific role. Affection looks different for everyone: Some characters are more argumentative than others, don’t enjoy hugs, public displays of affection, or any number of other things. KEEP THIS IN MIND! 2. When writing alternate universes, characters still come first! Be as familiar with the characters as you can possibly be before pulling them out of their own worlds and introducing them to entirely new ones. Invite them over for an imaginary video games night, if you must! But get to know them!! 3. The controversial issue of TROPES. While tropes should not be overused, they can be effective as a way to help readers understand something immediately. Tropes are NOT your arch-nemesis! 3. And finally! I have heard this advice from many, many writers, though I will repeat it again here: If you want to be an awesome writer, READ everything you can! Novels you hate, novels written in a very different style than your own…everything! Then, as an extra bit of fun, try writing something in the style of what you just read! I think this could make for a fun little activity! Coming soon from Kittensoft Productions: HAMTARO, the SHAKESPEARE EDITION*. *this is not actually a current work in progress. But perhaps some day…. I sincerely hope that my enthusiasm regarding this panel clearly shows through in this little report. The panel was great, and Doc Holligay was an excellent, energetic presenter. In addition, she revealed a very useful bit of information that I was not aware of before: the fact that it is entirely possible to make a living by writing fanfiction. TAKE HEART, DEAR WRITERS OF GLORIOUS FANFICTION ON THE INTERNET! DO NOT LOSE HOPE! …and now, I shall go and contemplate some delightful erotic storylines regarding my favorite Marvel characters. Useful research!! Doc Holligay’s Tumblr: http://docholligay.tumblr.com/ …and Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/docholligay @docholligay a little late, but here’s my writeup of your Pretty Heroes panel! This might be of interest to @benicioqueen @lawrofsakaar @mysterioustrashadventures

[notafeeling]

Happy holligays! 21, 22, 23

21. most memorable comment/review

honestly it was the one on hold your breath until it’s okay by Stedler2 on AO3:

Wow. Good 5+1, there aren’t many for this fandom yet, they’re nice to read. I haven’t watched B99, but all the things ive seen about it has me wanting to. This included. I really liked this over all, it’s dynamic with the type of cases they solve. And which detective gets what case fits well, Roman flirting to get info and evidence, Patton with domestic abuse, Virgil with a person who didn’t want to hurt and kill, it fits their character type, and I enjoyed that. Logan at the chief fits well, and I like how you included Thomas as his son, with everything getting messy with family connections and names getting misattributed to who’s who. And at the end, it’s a sad ending, but in the physical sense. Roman has guilt and Virgil is hurt, and it’s such a bitter ending with Virgil alone in the hospital with words left unsaid from actions that your not sure truly mean. But you fix it, with having Virgil and Roman talk, and things get better, but then it hurt emotionally, with Roman wanting, but not able to have because Virgil likes Pat, it hurts, but it’s so good.

I really enjoyed this, kudos!!! Stedler

22. events you participated in this year

uhh there was the LGBTQ+ fander meetup at the start of the year where i first came out. i did that on my main account though haha. 

later on there was the appreciation month for the sides and i think i only did patton (sue me). 

there was the fic exchange, in which i wrote Waving Through a Window (i never got a fic back??)

also the two fander secret santa events

23. fics you wanted to write but didn’t

roman’s perspective of virgil through the years (i actually started that one but it’s just kind of collecting dust in my unfinished folder), virgil’s perspective of the other sides (when he first came into being an Actual Side), songfic with moxiety + love is easy, that super angst ask i got about virgil in accepting anxiety 2/2 that i started but then didnt continue, etc (there are a BUNCH OF OTHERS like a hogwarts au, more b99 aus, college aus)

[castiel-angel-of-thursdays]

Thank you for the tag @heaven-sin @doc-cas-holligay @samandcheesewinchesterr @destiel-in-its-natural-habitat

Rules: Answer 30 questions and tag 20 blogs you are contractually obligated to know better whoever you want to :)

1. Name/Nickname: Emma, I get Em occasionally

2. Gender: female (I guess??)

3. Star sign: Leo (I am the least leo leo to ever leo)

4. Height: 5 foot 9ish

5. Time: 7.16pm

6. Birthday: August 7th

7. Favorite bands: fun., Ghost, Queen, Tenacious D, Linkin Park, The Who.

8. Favorite solo artists: Hozier, Trixie Mattel, Carly Rae Jepsen, David Keenan, Grace Petrie.

9. Song stuck in my head: I'm currently listening to Whole Lotta Love - Hozier

10. Last movie: X-Men Apocalypse

11. Last show: Wandavision (new show), supernatural (rewatching)

12. When did I create this blog: Late 2019, but have been on tumblr since 2014 I think

13. What I post: supernatural. Mostly Cas. :)

14. Last thing googled: "xmen movies in order" because I couldn't remember which one was the last one I watched lmao

15. Other blogs: nope!

16. Do I get asks: Yes! Just got a lovely one with a song rec and an anon called wheat messages me regularly and makes my day every time

17. Why I chose my url: I love Cas and I love that his day is thursday lmao

18. Following: 580

19. Followers: 468

20. Average hours of sleep: 8 (any less and I literally can't function lmao)

21. Lucky number: 17!

22. Instruments: I can play tin whistle, recorder, ocarina (these are all basically the same lmao), ukulele, and bass. All badly though lmao

23. What am I wearing: a nightdress. Living my victorian ghost fantasy

24. Dream trip: Oh god anywhere at this stage. A supermarket??? Lockdown is no fun 😂 Okay for real though - I would love to go to Wrestlemania, San Diego Comic Con, and some drag shows. So maybe just a month in the states touring the place.

25. Favorite food: Roast Chicken dinner probably? Or chocolate.

26. Nationality: Irish

27. Favorite song: Soldier - Trixie Mattel (this was SO HARD TO PICK)

28. Last book read: I read the newest Gambit comic series, in terms of an actual book it was Funny You Should Ask by the QI Elves

29. Top three fictional universes: Middle Earth (I want to be a hobbit), supernatural (just to meet Cas), MCU (I want to be a wizard)

30. Favorite color: purple or pink

Tagging @lilac-void @trenchcoatimpala @dadstiel-trenchcoat @casthyelle @withclawsandsympathy and anyone else who wants to join!

[docholligay]

Really I think the most stupid grim dark bullshit of show Red Wedding vs book Red Wedding is no one in the show universe CARED. In the books it was a massive thing, with the perpetrators immediately losing allies and finding themselves beset from all sides because it was considered so horrible in universe. In the show it’s just considered a brilliant tactic with no negative representations. Not even the Northerners who had their families slaughtered care.

Yeah, the show is so wrong on so many levels. And, there are plenty of things to complain about in the books, so I'm not sure why the showrunners thought there was ever a need to make it worse.

I actually ragequit the show very very very early on, when they had Drogo rape Dany on their wedding night. I said to myself, "Holligay, these motherfuckers fundamentally misunderstand these books. Let's don't continue." It's such a fundamental thing! The only reason Dany feels like she can access any power at all is that, for the first time in her FUCKING LIFE, someone listens when she says no. It is such an amazing and wold-shaking moment for her. And it immediately lets us know that for all the things we might have thought about the Dothraki, they are more 'civilized' than the culture she came from. I mean it's all very 90s hamfisted shit, but whatever, that's still more than some fantasy that is still enjoyed today.

And yes! The Red Wedding in the books is A) not all that shocking, and B) is an IMMEDIATE PROBLEM for the Lannisters. The whole point being made with them is that there IS a line, even in this world, and they repeatedly cross it, which the showrunners think is very sexy and cool of them in a way that is fun when I'm talking to a fellow fan but annoying when it's people helming a huge budget adaptation of a series they don't seem to fundamentally like or understand.

Like having Jaime rape Cersei in the cavern? HAVING TWINS FUCKING NEXT TO THE CORPSE OF THEIR DEAD SON WAS NOT FUCKED UP ENOUGH FOR YOU ARE YOU KIDDING MEEEEEEEE?

I loved the series when I was in junior high, it was exactly what I was looking for when I was falling out of my affections for fantasy. I even read the fourth book despite not really being a fantasy reader by that point. I maintain that if Martin had finished the series in a timely fashion he would be remembered as having written a fantastic and influential series but now everything is fucked up by the TV show and I do not in any way blame martin for taking the money and kicking back because BITCH SO WOULD I but damn.

[keyofjetwolf]

Congratulations!

There’s still a bit left from Lamonta, in the two-page Twelve Years After epilogue by Shadowjack. Which I’ve read, but don’t have time to write about this side of Shabbat. I’ll be back tomorrow, then, with a write-up, focusing on my thoughts on Shadowjack’s thoughts on the girls’ no-memory D-Point lives.

In the meantime, if you enjoyed today’s fire-spitting look at Evangelion, don’t forget to thank Lamonta for sponsoring. AND YOU SHOULD THANK ME TOO I SUFFER FOR YOU ASSHOLES

Tell me you love me! I’m needy and also not a fucking mindreader.  

Sponsor me at my Patreon! It’s that sponsorship that keeps my puppy fed and allows my job to be entertaining you. Not only does becoming my patron let the content flow here, but you can get some pretty fucking sweet bonus exclusive shit, too!  

Tip me at Ko-Fi! If you really enjoyed yourself today, this is a great way to let me know, and can help steer me toward future content. Let’s face it, I can always use drink money.  

Embrace that capitalism! Nothing says love and appreciation like material goods! I’ve set up some wishlists on Gift Hero if you’d rather not trust me to spend money, which is very fair.  

Send me love/hate mail! I’ve got a shiny PO Box, after all, might as well use it. (Doc and I share it, by the way, so you can send her stuff there too!) If you’ve got a thing you’d like to send my way, I’d love to receive it!  Jet Wolf (and/or Doc Holligay)  PO Box 1621  Billings, MT  59103

Tomorrow, the aforementioned Shadowjack post, and also THE FUCKING SCHEDULES BY GOD

Until next time, my little basket cases.