#Writing essentials

[joshagaba]

Objects I Can’t Live Without

Daily writing promptWhat are three objects you couldn’t live without?View all responses There are things I once believed I could live without—until I owned them, used them, and realised their value. Experience shifted my perspective, and now, at this point in my life, there are a few objects that, if taken away, would leave me feeling a little off. Some are tools, others are extensions of my…

[marketingprofitmedia]

10 Easy Steps to Get Your Writing Career Started Right Away!

To kickstart your writing career, begin by refining your skills and building an online presence. Next, network with other writers and create a portfolio to showcase your work.

Embarking on a writing career can seem daunting, but with the right steps, you can launch your journey successfully. As you look to turn your passion for words into a profession, it’s imperative to focus on skill development and strategic self-promotion.

Today, a significant online footprint is crucial for aspiring writers. Creating a robust digital portfolio will serve as the cornerstone of your career, displaying your talents to potential clients or employers. Networking isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a gateway to opportunities, mentorship, and collaborative projects that can accelerate your growth. With the internet at your fingertips, there are countless resources available to help you enhance your writing abilities, stay updated on industry trends, and connect with writing communities. Begin with clarity of purpose and a commitment to continual learning, and you’ll find that launching your writing career can be a structured and clear-cut endeavor.

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The Call Of The Word: Is Writing Your True Passion?

The Call of the Word: Is the symphony of sentences and the rhythm of rhetoric music to your ears? Do you find solace in the warm embrace of pages? If so, writing might just be your true passion. Embarking on this journey requires a blend of creativity, dedication, and strategy.

Identifying Your Niche In Writing

Discovering your niche is akin to finding your home in the vast world of words. It’s where your thoughts flow freely and your voice resounds with authenticity. Consider the following to uncover your writing haven:

Interests: What topics spark joy in your heart? List them down.

Expertise: Are you an expert in a field? Highlight it.

Market Demands: Seek out what readers crave and align it with your interests.

Feedback: Share your work. Note what resonates with your audience.

The Role Of Passion In A Writing Career

Passion fuels persistence, the cornerstone of any successful writing career. It powers you through challenges and sparks creative fires. To gauge if passion drives your writing, reflect on these points:

Do stories and ideas constantly dance in your head?

Do you feel a sense of fulfillment when words form on a page?

Are you willing to write regularly, with or without immediate rewards?

Passion is not just the initial spark; it’s the relentless engine that sustains your writing journey.

Crafting Your Writer’s Toolkit

Embarking on a writing career can be as thrilling as it is daunting. The key to smoothing the path lies in preparing a robust writer’s toolkit. Think of it as your trusty sidekick, equipped with everything necessary to tackle any writing challenge that comes your way. Let’s assemble the essential gear to kickstart your writing journey with confidence!

Essential Tools For Every Aspiring Writer

Building a strong foundation starts with the right tools. These items form the core of your writer’s toolkit:

Reliable Writing Software: Choose a word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Note-Taking Apps: Apps like Evernote or OneNote keep your ideas organized.

Grammar and Style Guides: Resources like Grammarly or the Hemingway Editor enhance your writing.

Inspirational Reading Material: Fill your shelves with books that ignite your creativity.

A Dedicated Notebook: For jotting down thoughts that strike at any hour.

Enhancing Your Digital Toolkit For Writing

Your digital toolkit is crucial for modern writing success. Ensure these tech-savvy items are at your fingertips:

Cloud Storage: Services like Dropbox or Google Drive safeguard your work.

Writing Community Access: Join platforms like Wattpad or Scribophile for feedback.

Online Courses and Webinars: Sites like Coursera or Udemy to sharpen your skills.

Keyword Research Tools: Utilize Google Trends or Ubersuggest for SEO-centric writing.

Social Media Profiles: Promote your work on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

Pack these essentials, and your writer’s toolkit will be ready to tackle any task. Embrace the journey with your well-stocked arsenal!

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Honing Your Craft: Writing Practices

Becoming a prolific writer requires dedication and practice. Start by fostering habits that sharpen your writing abilities. Aim for growth each day. Your skills will blossom with consistent effort. Let’s delve into the steps to refine your writing talent.

Daily Writing Routines To Boost Your Skills

Create a daily writing ritual. This habit forms the backbone of your journey. Commit to writing a minimum word count each day. The content doesn’t need perfection. The goal is to build muscle memory and confidence.

Start a journal. Capture thoughts and daily experiences. It sharpens your ability to observe details.

Play with prompts. They ignite creativity and offer fresh ideas. Use them to spark your imagination.

Write letters. Even if you don’t send them, articulate your voice and connect deeply with topics.

Time of DayWriting ActivityWord Count GoalMorningJournal Entry300 wordsAfternoonShort Story500 wordsEveningReflective Essay400 words

The Importance Of Reading As A Writer

Writers must be avid readers. Reading widens vocabulary and exposes you to different styles. You learn new techniques and storytelling methods. Dedicate time to read each day.

Diverse genres. Explore various genres to understand a range of writing styles.

Analyze writing. Don’t just read for pleasure. Study the author’s choices and use of language.

Take notes. Jot down phrases or structures you admire. Incorporate them into your writing practice.

Remember, reading is as crucial as writing. Both activities complement each other. They fuel your imagination and hone your craft. Invest time in reading broadly and deeply.

Building An Online Presence

Embarking on a writing career signals the start of an exciting adventure. However, before you can captivate an audience with your words, you must first be visible to them. Building an online presence is critical. This digital footprint makes you searchable and accessible to potential readers, clients, and collaborators. Let’s explore some essential steps to establish your online identity.

Creating A Professional Writer’s Website

Your writer’s website is your professional portfolio, storefront, and business card all in one. Here are key elements to include:

Home Page: An inviting welcome with your picture and tagline.

About Page: Your story, experience, and why you write.

Portfolio: Samples of your work, neatly categorized.

Contact: Easy ways to reach you.

Blog: Your thoughts and updates to keep visitors engaged.

Ensure your website is clean, navigable, and mobile-friendly. Use a straightforward domain name, preferably yourname.com

Social Media Strategies For Writers

Social media platforms are tools to amplify your voice and connect with your audience.

PlatformUsageContent TypeTwitterNetworkingQuick thoughts, industry newsFacebookCommunity buildingLong-form posts, event promotionInstagramVisual storytellingImages, short videos, storiesLinkedInProfessional brandingArticles, career milestones

Choose platforms that align with your brand and target audience. Post consistently, engage with followers, and showcase your writing style. Creating valuable content tailored to each platform can grow your followers and elevate your professional status.

Navigating The World Of Publishing

Embarking on a writing journey is thrilling! Entering the publishing world can be intimidating, but it need not be daunting. With some guidance, you can navigate this arena with confidence. Here’s how to understand your options and pitch your work properly, bringing you closer to your dream of becoming a published author.

Understanding Different Publishing Options

Before diving into the publishing lakes, you must know the types of waters. Traditional publishing involves established houses with rigorous selection processes. They often provide thorough support but expect high-quality manuscripts.

Self-publishing grants more control over your content and faster turnaround but requires self-marketing.

Last, hybrid publishing blends both, offering flexibility with some professional services.

Writing Queries And Pitching To Publishers

Once you’re set on a publishing route, create a striking query letter or book proposal. A concise query letter is a gold key to an editor’s attention. Start with a snappy introduction, an overview of your work, your bio, and the reason you think they’re the perfect fit for your manuscript. Remember, a well-crafted pitch sets the stage for your writing journey.

Highlight the uniqueness of your story.

Include a captivating hook to garner interest.

Show off your market awareness and target audience.

Maintain a professional tone throughout.

Ensure the letter is error-free and flawlessly formatted.

Embrace this new chapter with an informed, proactive stance. With consistency and perseverance, you’re sure to make waves in the publishing world!

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Monetizing Your Writing

You love to write and dream of making it your career. The good news is that you can start earning from your writing today. With various options available, you can choose paths that align with your passions and lifestyle. Let’s dive into effective ways to monetize your writing, comparing freelancing with salaried positions and exploring diverse revenue streams.

Freelancing Vs. Salaried Writing Positions

Freelancing and salaried positions offer different benefits. Freelancers enjoy flexibility and variety, taking on projects that excite them. Salaried writers benefit from stability and regular income. Your choice should match your financial needs and work preferences.

Freelancing: Set your schedule, pick your projects, and be your boss.

Salaried Positions: Regular paychecks, company benefits, and team collaboration.

Consider starting with freelancing to build a diverse portfolio. A strong portfolio can lead to a full-time position later. Both paths are viable and can be rewarding for your writing career.

Exploring Revenue Streams For Writers

Expanding your revenue sources is vital for a stable writing income. There are many ways for writers to earn money beyond traditional job roles. Here are a few to consider:

Revenue StreamDescriptionPotential IncomeWriting ArticlesCreate content for blogs or websitesVaries by length and nicheSelf-PublishingWrite and sell your booksRoyalties per book saleCopywritingWrite persuasive content for businessesPer project or hourly ratesContent MarketingStrategy and creation for brand growthRetainer or project-based payAffiliate MarketingEarn by promoting products or servicesCommission on sales

Get creative with your skills and combine different streams for a robust income. For example, you may freelance while building your blog with affiliate links. Think outside the box, and do not hesitate to blend various writing opportunities.

Growing And Sustaining Your Writing Career

Embarking on a writing career sparks excitement and possibility. Yet, the journey from budding writer to established author demands effort beyond just crafting stories or articles. Success in the writing world hinges on building a sustainable career. This requires strategy, dedication, and a proactive mindset.

Networking With Other Writers And Industry Professionals

Connections propel careers forward in the writing industry. Networking is key. With the right community, you gain insights, support, and opportunities. Engage with others through these actionable points:

Join writing forums or online communities

Attend writing workshops or conferences

Follow industry professionals on social media

Participate in local writers’ groups or clubs

Collaborate on projects with peers

Sharing experiences and challenges with fellow writers can lead to partnerships, mentorships, and referrals to new gigs.

Setting Long-term Goals And Staying Motivated

Setting GoalsStaying Motivated

Define clear, achievable objectives

Break down goals into smaller tasks

Set deadlines for each milestone

Celebrate small wins regularly

Keep a journal of progress

Read or listen to success stories

Focus on long-term achievements to maintain a fulfilling career. Create a roadmap and celebrate milestones to stay driven. Balancing ambition with realistic goals keeps motivation high and burnout at bay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Start Writing Freelancing?

Yes, you can start a freelancing writing career by creating a portfolio, joining freelance websites, and networking with potential clients.

What Qualifications Needed For Writing?

No formal qualifications are necessary, but strong writing skills, excellent grammar, and a passion for writing are essential to succeed.

How To Find Writing Job Opportunities?

Explore online job platforms, reach out to content agencies, network in writing communities, and check social media for companies seeking writers.

What Is Essential In Starting Writing?

Understanding your niche, mastering the art of writing, and being persistent are crucial when launching your writing career.

Tips For Maintaining A Writing Routine?

Set clear goals, create a dedicated workspace, schedule regular writing hours, and minimize distractions to maintain a consistent writing routine.

Conclusion

Embarking on your writing journey is thrilling. Remember, consistency and dedication are your best allies. Use the steps outlined to build a solid foundation. Keep exploring, learning, and don’t fear making mistakes. Grab your pen, power up your device, and start crafting your future now – the world awaits your stories.

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Thanks for reading my article on 10 Easy Steps to Get Your Writing Career Started Right Away!, hope it will help!

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Source : 10 Easy Steps to Get Your Writing Career Started Right Away!

[velvetwyrme]

aHhh okay so the discussions of Titan!Megatron on @callsign-relic's blog have fully. FULLY taken over my brain and ive been drawing stuff for it for like the last few days nonstop

the tl;dr of this is AU is pretty much "what if Megatron got turned into a titan/cityformer as a form of penance/imprisonment and now roams the empty wasteland of Cybertron forever" plus "IDW Megatron has really fucked up internals so... what if that, but as a City?"

and of course since he's a Titan, that also means he has a cityspeaker... or three. One per sub-AU thing. Theres 3 options. 3 flavours of AU.

i have so much art to make. but in the meantime, for more info! check out the #titan au tag on Relic's blog :]!! (also uhh potential ns//fw warning for the link shfjbdkd)

Hi. My battery is running out once again so design and art notes get chucked here instead of an image.

The cuffs and collar are hardwired into Megatron, so I made the lights the same colour as his biolights!

I imagine that on the tops of his shoulders there are solar panels, even if you can't see them here lol.

I really wanted to keep the swirly bits on Megatron's chest from IDW

Other art notes:

The second picture with the seekers is (loosely) inspired by a discussion about whether or not Megatron gets visitors or not. I thought about who would visit him and well... I think this is as close as Starscream realistically gets to visiting him.

Extra detail about that piece is that Thundercracker and Skywarp are keeping watch from above! Also drawing Megatron took me like 8 hours because I was struggling with his legs really badly kshffkbfkdsbdk,, the background went much faster, funnily enough.

Optimus specifically isn't wearing his Autobot badge any more.

This isn't relevant in this series of images, but Ultra Magnus's eye markings are only on the Magnus armour. His other two forms do not have them :] (... until he begins to discard the armour, that is.)

Megatron is roughly 3200m/2 miles tall. Technically he could have clouds around his knees, but I thought this looked a little bit cooler lol.

Also, height chart! Him big. I didn't even attempt to put a human for scale because that'd be. near impossible with this scale.

[ronanlynchbf]

tshirt that says NO LIVE ORGANISM CAN CONTINUE FOR LONG TO EXIST SANELY UNDER CONDITIONS OF ABSOLUTE REALITY

[tourettesdog]

I am begging people to be normal about completed fics, and in particular one shots.

I am begging people to stop demanding more from authors, and insisting that one shots need to be longer or have sequels.

I don't think yall understand how many fanfic authors are one more "where's the rest of it?" comment away from throwing out any plans they might have had to continue an idea.

Unless an author like specifically says they might write more for an idea, just-- assume something marked as completed is complete, and respect it as it stands, please.

[fishcalcart]

Selkie!stone showing off his teeth >:)

[otaku553]

I really wanna here more about the time travel au. What would c!vanilla and r!vanilla think of each other?

Tbh! I can’t really tell by the abbreviations which one is c and r so I’m sorry about that 😔

But here’s a summary of what I think they think of each other:

On a conscious level both of them realize that the other is themself but they are so removed from each other in age and demeanor that they treat each other as different people, if that makes sense.

In young Pure Vanilla’s mind, he of course is scared of what in the future makes him turn so apathetic to the world, and so reluctant to give and receive kindness. But more importantly, his adult self needs comforting and healing and that’s what he can control and can do for him.

In Truthless Recluse’s (I’ve been calling him Dark Vanilla for the most part as an alias he would use in the AU) mind, he is prepared to protect his child self from Shadow Milk by any means possible and is initially on a hair trigger looking for any signs of Shadow Milk Cookie’s early influence. However, he is slowly but gradually realizing that Shadow Milk Cookie influenced his memories when they interacted, and re-experiencing them from this outside perspective is giving him a tiny bit more peace of mind for the safety of his child self. But this also means that he’s done a lot to himself in the future based on the words of Shadow Milk and is blaming himself for having changed so drastically. He doesn’t believe that he himself will ever be fit to hold the title of hero again, but he does believe that his child self’s potential is separate from his and that child Pure Vanilla, with his boundless kindness, is fully deserving of all the status and power to come his way in the future.

[slayerdurge]

the thing that drives me absolutely crazy though is that gortash is presented as this commanding dominating tyrant and yet it's consistently shown that the thing he appreciates about durge (or tav for that matter) is when they're not willing to submit to him & when they are strong enough to either stand against him or to stand with him & when they are his equal.

an insane thing for someone like him to want. you'd think he'd want to rule alone and yet the insight checks all show that he actually prefers to share so long as there's someone around worth sharing with.

"Half a smile shows he is teasing you. He doesn't think for one moment you'd fully submit to him. Nor should a spawn as formidable as you."

[mournfulroses]

Julian K. Jarboe, from her novel titled "Everyone on the Moon is Essential Personnel,"

[hitlikehammers]

POV: when you overhear your boyfriend’s bandmates who ⛔️do not like you⛔️ talking to him—about YOU

“Be real though, Ed. Harrington? You can’t actually be serious, here.” Steve doesn’t like to eavesdrop, like, on principle. Which is to say he totally does it. He just doesn’t wholly approve of it, or think it’s a very good habit to have, while still doing it. “You got me,” Eddie sighs, longer and deeper than can be taken wholly seriously. “I’m running my longest successful con to date.”

rating: t ♥️ tags: post-s4, established relationship, corroded coffin, as in: the gang’s all here and being VERY JUDGEMENTAL of eddie’s taste in men, and maybe steve had to pick eddie up from practice today so he overhears it WHOLLY WITHOUT INTENDING TO OKAY?, no one ever REALLY want to hear what the people they love really think of them when said people don’t know who all’s actually listening, true love, declarations of feelings, it’s actually really fucking hard to stand up to your friends, happy ending♥️

for @steddielovemonth day ten: "We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." —Dr. Seuss

also! Unnamed Freak is Doug for the purpose of this fic because the book can fuck itself I say so 🖤

“Be real though, Ed,” the voice that filters through, and holds Steve’s hand from pushing the car door shut loud enough to notice, is fairly reasonable, like trying to talk down a suggestion absurd enough to send someone to the ER—which means, of the subjects at hand? It’s gotta be Jeff.

“You can’t actually be serious, here.”

Steve doesn’t like to eavesdrop, like, on principle.

Which is to say he totally does it.

He just doesn’t wholly approve of it, or think it’s a very good habit to have, while still doing it.

“You got me,” Eddie deadpans, but it’s like, venom-laced. It stings just to hear and Steve’s struck with how much his life’s changed since Spring Break, and more still since…well.

Since Eddie.

Because Steve is well aware the man can cut glass with how sharp his tongue can get, they did go to high school together whether they ran in the same circles or not.

It’s just strikes Steve in the moment that not once since Vecna, has Eddie turns that tongue on him.

Now, other uses of his tongue—

“I’m running my longest successful con to date. Yep, totally pulled it over on all you bitches,” and where it could be playful, every single word is sharpened to stab, to pierce, to drag the wound out so it bleeds, like a shiv to remind someone where they fucked up, in perpetuity.

“Please applaud.”

And oh, even Steve flinches at that tone, and he’s not even the target. Hell, he’s still in the driveway—he doesn’t make a rule of crashing band practice, no matter whose parents’ garage they’re using; Eddie’s van is just regularly in the shop for one thing or another, so he’s gotta come get his man. But he doesn’t, like, push his way in. Sometimes doesn’t even get out of the driver’s seat. He knows Eddie would more than welcome him; has the handful of times he’s ventured to step in to apologize for interrupting but remind him they have to pick up the shitheads. But one: Eddie is alone in his welcome, and like, the polar opposite of the other three guys, who range from staring daggers at Steve to sneering so scrunched up to the nose that it’d give Carol Perkins at her snittiest a run for her money.

And Steve wouldn’t have made it this far if he didn’t know how to recognise where he’s not wanted, and learn how to make the calculated decision of whether to walk or push his way in. And much as he loves Eddie? Steve actually wants his friends to eventually come around from probably, like, muttering ancestral curses under their breaths at him or something.

Plus, from what Steve understands? Jam sessions are personal. Sacred. Eddie had blushes and stammered the first time he let Steve listen in on works in progress; and Steve had rewarded him for the gift of it liberally and with genuine gusto. It’s earned him repeat performances on the regular, but Steve gets it’s a private thing in general. And these guys don’t know him, don’t presently care to—don’t trust him.

He figures it’s like…masturbating in front of someone. The art thing, the depth of making music and stuff. Showing your soul a little bit, losing control for the betterment of the final product.

Now, he and Eddie definitely have masturbated together, it’s actually fantastic foreplay, or even just a deliciously sloppy go on its own. But that’s neither here nor there. And also totally fucking different.

Steve really doesn’t want Eddie masturbating in front of anyone other than him, ever again. Steve’s sure as shit not looking to on his end; definitely not with the other members of Corroded fucking Coffin.

The metaphor might have gotten away from him. But you get the picture.

“No, man,” and that’s, that’s Gareth’s voice, Steve’s almost sure. Sharper. Concerned but also caustic on the undertow. “It’s just,” he snorts, the disbelieving sort: “this can’t be real.”

Okay, yeah. Tone plus actual words add up.

“Yeah, just,” Doug laughs a little nervous, like of all of them, Eddie’s verbal attack had the most weight in tempering his response of the three of them; “blink twice if you’re being held against your will.”

They all chuckle, but it’s toned down the whole way around—even Steve can clock that. These guys are boisterous when left to their devices, Steve’s taken note of that. Mostly watching from the sidelines—almost exclusively when they don’t know he’s there to watch.

Again: does not condone eavesdropping.

Does not try at all to refrain from doing it.

“I mean, you don’t expect us to believe you’re actually fucking him,” and oh, yeah, okay: Steve was pretty sure he was the topic conversation here, and despite some of the setbacks of recent years, he’s not insecure when it comes to relationships especially.

He’s definitely the only one fucking Eddie. And Eddie’s the only one fucking him.

And while he doesn’t really hold it against these guys for being wary of him—he wasn’t really a perpetrator of their high school woes, but he definitely didn’t do anything to make them less…woeful—so he’s mostly bummed about it for Eddie’s sake, and on principle, but like, seriously.

Doubting Steve successfully scoring Eddie Munson? Like, Eddie’s a catch, Steve of ll people is well aware, but. Steve’s also been long past fishing the shallow end of the pond, y’know?

Give him some credit.

“Right,” Steve narrows back in on what’s happening in the garage that he’s definitely feeling less guilty bout, seeing as he’s definitely a subject of the debate unfolding, but Eddie sounds…angry. Pissed off in that way he gets when he’s fed the fuck up.

“I’m out,” Steve hears scraping of equipment, the guitar case flipped open; “can’t actually make it next week,” he adds like a footnote.

It’s clear within a second he’s the only one who takes it with that same…energy.

“But we have to practice before the open mic—” Jeff, ever the voice of reason, sounds baffled; on his way to ticked off but not quite there yet.

Eddie, however—as is his wont in this type of mood—could not give two shits where the people around him land on the anger-o-meter; he’s exceeded them, even if only in his own head, and they are all therefore irrelevant to his very responsible decision to put distance between himself and doing something stupid he can’t take back.

It’s not the nicest way to deal but, honestly? Steve’s mostly just proud of Eddie for sticking with a coping mechanism that, while not without consequences, generally works better than most.

“I’ll see you guys in two, then. Probably.” And the case clicks shut, definitive, and Steve’s proud of that too; that Eddie’s not digging a hole when the guys re trying to bait him, intentionally or not, over Steve.

Steve doesn’t need Eddie to complicate his band, his friendships, over what the two of them have. One, it’s not their fucking business. And two?

Steve doesn’t thing he’s being self-important in saying he and Eddie…are bigger, and more, than even the very beat high school band.

Not that Steve would ever ask Eddie to choose or some bullshit like that. And he really does believe Eddie’s going places, if that’s what he decides he wants. But…there’s that.

Then there is them.

Different, like, stratospheres.

“What the fuck came up that you can’t make it next week? When we’re staring down our first actual shot at Battle of the Bands this year,” and yeah, of course, if anyone’s gonna try to drag the whole thing out, it’s Gareth. Kid’s got a fucking temper.

“Something more important.”

Which yeah, that’s what was going through Steve’s mind, basically, but—

“The hell could be more—“

“I have plans,” Eddie hisses, viper-quick and fucking deadly, shuts them all right up for it, but then he spins a 180–preens so big Steve swears he can hear his shoulders go back and his chest puff out:

“It’s my anniversary.”

So…yeah. Just because it was where Steve’s head had just been at doesn’t mean his whole chest goes all gooey to hear it said out loud.

And in front of Eddie’s band, who…they aren’t hiding from, but they have discussed keeping kinda mum around. For the same kinds of reasons Steve’s been privy to just in the past couple minutes.

But then Eddie’s voice follows the feeling in Steve’s chest like they’re tethered there, and honestly, more times than not?

Steve thinks they just might actually be, and he’s not proven wrong with the way Eddie halfway coos:

“Our anniversary.”

“Your what?”

Jeff, again, is that middle ground: actually confused, laced with being angry that Eddie’s ducking out.

“Six months,” Eddie answers, soft-like, a little dreamy but in this way that’s rooted somehow still, and in being struck all over again by a level of shock Steve understands, sometimes feels in reverse, but still doesn’t understand being felt so deep as it sounds, now, when it’s applied to…him.

It’s wild y’know?

“I’m like,” Steve hears Eddie’s curls brush against something as he shakes his head—Steve’s money’s on him crouched by his case, or having it already slung over his shoulder:

“Never thought I’d get something to celebrate like that in the first place, but get to keep it, that long without fucking it up?”

Steve, again, wants to give up the pretense and walk the fuck in there and kiss the shit out of his boyfriend because one, same, but two?

Dumbass.

Steve goddamn adores him.

“You mean, with Harrington?” Gareth’s spitting and Steve just shakes his head, a little sad—he doesn’t know what’s crawled up that kid’s ass about him, man; he’s not so much younger that Steve never saw him or didn’t know of him but godDamn: the circles he ran in at the time weren’t the ones doing shit yet when they were in the same elementary school, Steve was barely popular in middle school, and come high school the worst anyone he knew did to the frosh was bang them into a locker—not great, but.

Not worth this shit. And the worst part is if he doesn’t know what’s crawled he did to really piss Gareth off this bad? He can’t even try to Harrington-charm his way back into the guy’s tolerable category. Like, even his best fucking not-pot brownie recipe didn’t sway the fucker.

“Yes,” Eddie is answering, the answer emphatic, like he’s brimming with feeling over it, but then clipped too, like demonstrating that he was brimming and is now being forced to clip it all backis very much the intent: “of course I mean with Steve, who the fuck else?”

It’s not lost on Steve how Eddie says his name. Ever. All the name.

But right now, how he’s making a point to say it in that warm, kinda…beloved way, when anyone else uses his last name in a way that’s anything-but.

“You cannot be—” Gareth scoffs, Steve can imagine him throwing up his hands, that sort of deal, but then Eddie comes in, and it’s a tone Steve’s only ever hear when he’s about to run a campaign into the ground where the characters may never recover, and if somehow manage it, they’ll wish they hadn’t:

“Oh, I am deadly serious.”

Because it’s not Steve’s character, but in defense of Steve’s relationship, that tone trickles something molten through his veins and prickles up his spine and…he’s gone have to stick that one in his back pocket to explore at a later date, for sure.

“Six months?”

Jeff—and Steve kinda likes Jeff, and not for the reason his bandmates would like, that he kicks around Hawkins after graduation, too, but more because Steve knows why; that’s to make more money for a college outside Indiana, and Steve thinks that’s fucking cool—but it’s here where Jeff dips fully away from being angry to being stupefied. Steve lets himself smirk at nothing because fuck yes: him and Eddie.

Six whole goddamn months.

“I was actually gonna ask you guys to come over soon, introduce him properly and stuff,” Eddie says, the disappointment in his voice again; Steve’s niggling desire to go and hug him from behind, maybe kiss under his ear a little, back in full force.

“He picks you up from practice, we see him,” Doug pipes back up, likewise confused, but Steve just takes the useful confirmation that no one did catch on that he pulled up ages ago, now.

“We know who Steve Harrington is—” Gareth snaps, protests in the way that betrays his eye-rolling, his thin-wearing patience.

“No!”

And that comes out of Eddie fierce enough to echo down at least half the block they’re on—seems like Eddie’s patience was worn out a while ago.

“You don’t!”

And everyone is silent in that way Steve knows all too well: when shit’a gone down but now you’re waiting in the edge for the worse thing to hit.

Then it does:

“And it’s a good thing I didn’t bring it up because you dipshits aren’t ready,” Eddie snaps, says dipshitso different from how he does with the Party, theirParty, their kids; he says it here with something real fucking close to disgust.

“Asking hostage questions, fuck off,” he huffs, and Steve hears Eddie’s footsteps, can’t tell if he’s gonna leave it at that, come find Steve and know he’s been standing there but that’ll be fine, it’s not like Steve wasn’t going to let him know as soon as they left—but then:

“Look,” and Eddie sounds the way Steve sounds when he’s pinching the bridge of his nose to fight a growing migraine, the sting of tears for all sorts of pain behind his eyes, and that hurts to hear from his boyfriend, like, a lot.

It fucking hurts.

“I am not just fucking him,” Eddie growls through the bridge-pinching pain; “I mean, fuck yes, I am, but,” and Steve hears the way he swallows all the way down the drive:

“I’m in this for the long haul,” Eddie tells his bandmates like throwing down a gauntlet; “and if you can’t respect me enough, and my choices, that stings,” Steve knows Eddie shrugs then: “but I’ll live.”

Steve’s about a millisecond from saying fuck it, opening the door just to slam it to announce his approach, and then going to physically grab his boyfriend, drag him to the car, and park in the abandoned lot down from the Wheelers’ neighborhood to kiss him senseless because that’s the closest place he can think of and he doesn’t think he’ll make it to either of their homes before he can’t fucking handle himself.

“But if you are gonna disrespect the man I love, no. Absolutely not.”

Eddies voice is a deadly sort of whisper. Steve would cower at it, the way it washes through a person, if he hadn’t just…said.

That.

“You love him?”

And for what Steve thinks is the first time since he climbed out of the car and committed to listening where he wasn’t invited, Gareth sounds…muted. Genuinely asking a question.

Steve, for his own part, kinda expected that he’d be more breathless, heart racing and shit, to hear the answer but in reality?

“Of course I love him.”

Steve already knew that in his cells, in his bones.

In his steady, not all-that-fast but particularly-especially-happily beating heart.

“Have you guys, like, said it and stuff?”

And of course Steve already knows that answer, both the literal one and the one that matters more, but he does perk up a bit, curious to hear what—if anything of note—Eddie chooses to give away here.

“He has,” Eddie says, and now…now maybe Steve should stop listening because this part, the way Eddie says that as flat fact—Steve doesn’t knowthis part beyond speculation. But…

“I wanted to, like,” and eddies voice can’t hide the way he’s gotta have that soft smile, the one he used to hide behind his hair before Steve started pulling it back to see in full, so now he only brings his hair out just to tease, to okay.

“I don’t think I’ve wanted much in my whole life, but he’s,” and Steve thinks he hears how Eddie chews his bottom lip for a second, in the subtlest click of how it slips free before Eddie takes a deep breath and—

“He doesn’t know what he’s worth,” Eddie starts, a little mournful almost, even, and Steve is unexpectedly glued to the spot in his fucking Nikes.

“He doesn’t understand that I’d sell the sun and the moon just to keep him,” Eddie’s saying, and with passion. With whole-ass honesty. And here, maybe, is where Steve gets to have some of the heart:fluttery feeling after all:

“He comes out the gate with the whole you don’t have to say it back and I just,” Eddie sighs, sniffs a little before heaving another breath deep enough to stretch his shirt, which Steve’s not imagining or anything, at all;

“I couldn’t say it, not right then, and risk him everthinking it was something I’d done to like, match. Like that I didn’t mean it with everything I’ve got, when I mean it with everything I’ve got and then also everything else. Like, anywhere. Ever.”

Steve realized he’d stopped breathing at some point when the little dots start floating in front of his eyes and he sucks in a shaking breath because: he’s known Eddie loves him. Unshakeably.

But, but all this—

“I couldn’t say it and have him ever wondered if I wouldn’t rip my heart out of my chest just to keep his safe.”

And of-fucking-course Steve’s pulse is running fucking riot about how much he’s in love right now, make no goddamn mistake. Jesus, he—

“Fuck.”

And Steve has never heard Gareth Emerson pushed just this side of speechless but: that’s the best way Steve can describe the kind of breathless wonder he says it with, like watching a rare bird take flight.

“You mean it.”

And Steve can pick out Eddie’s huffs and categorize them, on demand at this point: he doesn’t need to see the eye-roll to know Eddie’s deemed the expression of pure shock to be so beneath him in this specific context that he’s deemed it unworthy of any more attention.

His heart’s not jumping that loud to have missed it. So.

Steve just kinda grins toward the blacktop under his shoes.

“Why didn’t you,” Doug starts, still—usually, really, in Steve’s limited experience at least—the peacekeeper, the one who’s most invested at the human level when he’s not getting swept up in whatever the rest of the gang has deemed the cool thing to laugh at or make fun of at any given moment.

The huff Eddie gives this time is his incredulous one, which allows for just the slightest bit more consideration:

“The fuck do you think?”

The slightest bit, being the operative point.

“I’d hoped you’d take it better but,” Eddie adds, and there’s less drama in it than Steve might have expected. He’s being serious with them, and he sounds…disappointed.

Steve kinda want to make some kind of noise, give away his position, and just…hug Eddie tight from behind, if nothing else. Be there. Solid against him, wrapped up around him. Never wavering. Always at his back as much as at his side.

But Eddie’s not done:

“I’m not even asking you to like him, just be decent,” and it sounds like it hurts him to say as much, and Steve knows why; he genuinely despises when anyone thinks Lea with a the very beat thing about Steve. Steve believes this to be n unreasonable standard, and has expressed as much to Eddie who nods and smiles and kisses Steve’s forehead and does absolutely nothing to change his stance, but deep down?

Steve fucking feels so…loved for it.

“And like I said,” Steve can hear the judgement in Eddie’s tone clear as day; “you’re not ready, and I’m not putting him in that kind of situation.”

Steve sucks on the inside of his cheek, lest his grin at the way Eddie is not just defending him, but…protecting him, not his honor but his heart…

No ones ever even tried that before. Steve may not need it, or maybe he just learned he couldn’t survive needing it.

Getting it now…now it’s just…

Wow.

“And I’m in this for keeps, like, this is a forever type thing, so long as he wants it,” Eddie saying, explaining the color of a sky to a small child like what these words are that fundamental, that unalterably true. “So—”

“We’ve known each other forever, man,” Gareth eventually mutters, sounds indignant, but mostly gutted.

Steve knows before it happens that it’s not gonna make a difference.

“And we can still know each other. Just not everything, anymore,” and Eddie does sound a little sad but he’s…he’s a monolith, unshakable. “I don’t trust you with the parts that revolve around him, yet,” and Steve feels more than hears the ways his friends deflate, maybe shrink for being deemed so…insufficient. In the eyes of their ostensible leader, no less.

“Eddie, we didn’t,” Jeff starts, slow, and he doesn’t sound remorseful but—Eddie has all those coping mechanisms for a reason, right?

Because he’s quick to feeling, good and bad, and sometimes neither is fit to the moment.

Steve can’t help but be kinda glad Eddie doesn’t bother with those mechanisms just now, though, if it means he gets to hear this part:

“I know you didn’t, that’s the fucking problem,” Eddie groans, Steve can see the way he lens, bends at the knees and throws his body around a little in sheer, undiluted exasperation. “

“Because I could tell you he’s changed since school, and that’d be true, but that’s not even it,” and there’s more of the frustrated stomping round, Steve can hear it, but he’s…he’s ready distracted by that thing in his chest that has to has to be tied up in Eddie’s, too, that thing tugging on him to pay the fuck attention.

And who is he to ignore it?

“he was never who we thought he was in school in the first place. He is,” Eddie licks his lips, just to snack them loud:

“He is kind and funny, and goofy, and such a fuckin’ nerd, and he’s smart in these incredible ways where he’s sees what everyone else misses, and he’s protective as fuck and he’s got a heart of gold,” and Eddie’s voice only gets more heartfelt in its own right that longer he goes and Steve just, he’s, it’s—

“And I would tear my skin off just so it doesn’t get so much as a scuff on it,” Eddie ends with the most scathing delivery imaginable: he fucking meansthis shit. And Steve is going o live and die next to this man, scuffed heart still kept safe to the fucking end, he will swear that shit to anyone who needs to hear it.

He is going to have a whole fucking life with Eddie Munson, and love him for every single breath of it.

“And I don’t trust you guys yet not to tempt me to tear off my skin,” Eddie says finally after enough silence to catch his breath, and temper his tone just enough to sound tired; a little dejected. “I don’t trust you with him, and until that changes, we’re still friends,” Eddie sniffs, breathes out long; “you just won’t get to know about that part of me.”

He says it so simple, like he’s not half-cutting off some of the longest, closest friendships he’s ever had, and for Steve.

Steve doesn’t know if it makes him a person, or a really selfish one or whatever, if he doesn’t feel any urge to talk Eddie down, to make him walk it back just a little.

He doesn’t think he cares, though, either way.

“Seems like a really big part of you,” Doug says, deflated entirely.

“It is,” Eddie answers, unapologetic in a way that swells and sparkles in Steve’s ribs. “He is.”

“You’d walk from the band?” Of course Gareth asks, but it’s the first time he sounds small in his words. Like he maybe knows the answer, and isn’t so okay with how he got around to it even before Eddie wishes all doubt:

“In half a fuckin’ heartbeat.” Boom. Done. No hesitation whatsoever.

Less than half-a-fuckin’-heartbeat.

“That’s not what I’m saying I’m doing right now, but,” Eddie laughs a little, and that probably cuts deeper than anything for the boys, Steve suspects, especially when Eddie makes it unquestionable:

“It’s not even a question.”

And…maybe that drives a knife deeper for the band, but for Steve?

Steve kinda wants to…giggle, or some shit. He hadn’t realized just how much he wanted someone who answered a question like that, exactly like that, who talked about Steve exactly like that, without anything to gain, just because they…believed it.

“Jesus,” Gareth mutters, sounds kinda blindsided, kinda thrown and then some.

“If we,” Jeff clears his throat after a long period of quiet; “if we do better, could we meet him someday?” And the way he says it, earnest and shit:, like he wants to at least think about, at least maybe try:

“Like, really meet him?”

Like Eddie means enough that he’ll try, and that sings sweet in Steve’s veins because goddamn straight, his Eddie deserves that from the people hecares about. No matter who or what Steve is, Eddiedeserves that much, and so much more.

But he sounds like even just this is something amazing, Steve can hear the smile in his voice:

“Yeah, man,” he answers Jeff, claps him audibly on the shoulder; “I look forward to it.”

And shit, y’know what?

So does Steve.

“See you in two weeks,” and Eddies footsteps follow, guitar slung over his back for the way his weight falls with each one, but then:

“Eddie!”

That’s Doug; the footsteps stop close to the edge of the garage door as another set rushes to catch up, where he’ll see Steve if he walks much farther, where Steve’s got his hand on the door handle of the car, slowly inching it open to push shut and look wholly-unsuspicious now that Eddie might be followed out to his ride:

“Get him flowers. For your anniversary,” Doug says, tone low like a secret; “I know, like, it might seem like guys wouldn’t want flowers, but,” and Steve actually has to strain to hear the next part:

“My mom gets my dad flowers on his birthday every year, and he lights up like the Fourth of July.”

Steve remembers the first time he ever got flowers. His favorites, even if he thinks he only knew it subconsciously because they were handed to him with the stammering explanation of I don’t even know if you like flowers, or like these ones, but you look at them when we’re out, like, just walking or something and your eyes linger, and these ones just remind me of you and—

Apparently, Steve loves hyacinths. And sunflowers make Eddie think of him.

Because of course Steve’s first gift of flowers came from Eddie.

“Thanks man,” Eddie sounds the lightest, most genuine Steve’s heard him since he pulled up and got out of the car; “they’re already ordered.”

And Doug chuckles, and Steve?

Steve bites down his smile to less exploding-star levels—if he’d just pulled up he doesn’t have a reason, save that Eddie is enough of a reason in Steve’s eyes, his mind, the way his chest expands just thinking on him—as he pulls the car door closed again, loud enough to be noticed.

For Eddie to walk out of the garage fast as anything and meet Steve with a smile of his own that justifies the fuck out of where Steve’s had started, anyway.

All star-bright and everything.

♥️🎸♥️

✨also on ao3✨

btw this is either titled ‘halcyon shoegazing’ or ‘heart in your shoes’ so if you have an opinion you should maybe tell me or something, my brain’s tired and is resisting decisions rn

✨permanent tag list: OPEN (lmk if you want to be added/removed): @ajeff855 @askitwithflours @awkwardgravity1 @bookworm0690 @bumblebeecuttlefishes @captain--low @depressed-freak13 @dragoon-ze-great @dreamercec @dreamwatch @dreamy-jeans137 @estrellami-1 @goodolefashionedloverboi @grtwdsmwhr @gunsknivesandplaid @hiei-harringtonmunson @hbyrde36 @imhereforthelolzdontyellatme @kimsnooks @live-laugh-love-dietrich @mensch-anthropos-human @nerdyglassescheeseychick @notaqueenakhaleesi @ollyxar @pearynice @perseus-notjackson @pretend-theres-a-name-here

divider credit here and here and here

[reginalusus]

Ah yes. When the protective dad-figure beats up the son-figure's past tormentor only for said tormentor to make a point(?), because the tormentor is the catalyst of Gotham's chaos, and seeing two pieces of the debris from said chaos come together to try and be less broken is amusing. The butt of Gotham's joke, if you will.

I just felt like illustrating a scene from a possible future Harvey-Jason-centered fic...

[colubrina]

no one told me that Stephen King's On Writing calls the entire fantasy genre out as Tolkien fanfic. all I ever heard about this book was that he's anti-adverbs (he is) but there is some scathingly mean and funny shit here.

[gaytobymeres]

My essentials for a solo day out

[dearmyloveleys]

A directing and producing perspective on this WHC1 scene and why I think it’s 100% romantic in nature

Just to preface, I completely agree why some will argue that Sieun and Suho are platonic. There are so many scenes between them that I arguably will even do the same for my friends. I can even excuse the scene where Suho says Sieun is warm hearted in the hospital room and their mini training session by the Hangang. But this scene in the screen grab. THIS.

There is absolutely no reason for this scene to be shot and directed the way it is without leading the audience’s minds. There are zero heterosexual thoughts going through each of the characters’ minds in this scene and the scene direction, even way before when Suho goes to Sieun’s cram school to pick him up. Zero. Zilch. Nada. This scene was not casual at all.

1. Suho picking Sieun up from cram school

First of all, we need to understand that in film, blocking and scripting work hand in hand. Most of the time, these two work so well together that they form cliches in genres of film, especially for TV series. They form how a scene is shot for each line said/unsaid and guides the viewers in their processing and understanding of the scene. The moment Suho shows up on his motorbike waiting only for Sieun outside school, alarm bells go off in my head — dude why does this feel like a typical date scene in teen romance shows. Unless you’re a parent or sibling, you likely to be their romantic partner coming to pick em up.

There is this trope you must know about if you watched and read enough romance shows and books, especially het romances. I call this the “I don’t know why I came but I came anyway because I just want to see you”

Character A: *shows up at Character B’s house”

Character B: “What’s up?”

Character A: “Nothing. You wanna go out?”

If not dating, these characters are on the cusp of asking each other out — It’s almost scene for scene, line by line from Suho. And the way Suho just perches outside the cram school so casually waiting to pick Sieun up, it’s so unbelievably partner coded when it falls into that typical romance trope.

2. Suho wearing the helmet for Sieun

It doesn’t help that Suho takes up the helmet, wears it for Sieun and says, “Cute”. Cute? *throws up in the toilet* Suho absolutely is flirting again. And as many others have already pointed out, Sieun hates physical touch but he just goes along with it when it comes to Suho. This entire scene is a good example of that. He has absolutely 0 physical reaction to any of Suho’s advances, and if you watch the scene where Suho places the helmet on Sieun slowly, Sieun’s hands drop to his sides immediately when the helmet is taken out of his hands by Suho.

There’s not even a moment where he freezes and doesn’t understand what’s happening. It’s so adorable — it’s him saying: okay you do it for me. Wear this helmet for me. Dear lord. If I want to be delulu even further, not only does Sieun go along with it, you can even analyse it as Sieun being pliant.

And of course, the highlight of this entire scene, Sieun’s endless ocean eyes at Suho when they arrive at the apartment block to deliver food.

3. When you give me those ocean eyes

From the entire series alone, I can tell all the actors are very much purposeful and directed in their acting. Whatever that needs to be shown is shown. There really isn’t a need for nearly 10-15s of screen time just solely focused on Sieun staring at Suho like that. Like what? Like he’s absolutely infatuated, and we know Park Jihoon’s eyes tell one hell of a story if he wants them to.

Also to reiterate: 10s of a show’s screentime easily translates to 10min of irl action with multiple takes. That scene is directed for about 10-15min irl — it is on purpose to tell the audience about something. We as creatives can’t really put a scene in for shits and giggles. It tells us that something is probably going on between Suho and Sieun but they don’t want to handle that, so this is my guess: they do not show Suho’s close-up reaction shots at all to perform a certain damage control.

4. Production team probably deleted Suho’s reaction shots because it got too gay

🧎‍♀️ If they had included it, it would have just been too high on the gay radar. Because let’s face it, we’d have so many more edits and media noise of that scene if we had Suho’s reaction clips. It’s even worse, because the production team would have definitely filmed reaction shots for Suho and they’re purposefully not adding him into the final product. The post-production team highly likely edited a version of this where both Sieun and Suho were included, but it turned out too romantic so they only kept Sieun in.

A typical, platonically passing scene will be something like their Hangang lesson: you can go check it out, both Sieun and Suho have their respective reaction shots edited in there.

Just for Sieun alone, it’s already filmed with a blocking that’s so romantically shot — a close up, 3/4 profile shot of him staring up at Suho with a soft light illuminating his face, and Suho’s hands would have been on his face if not for the helmet.

In this exact moment in my article header image, it looks like either one is going to kiss the other. The image by the official Waave site doesn’t help: What, am I looking at a romance OST album cover for School 2015? And Suho lifts the visor and pats Sieun’s head again. Patting, alright, whatever.

But the lifting of the visor seems like such an additional step that’s not needed, but it comes so naturally from Suho. Why does he need to do that? 🤨 Plausibly, he’s still physically flirting here. It’s highly likely that he’s flirting with Sieun the entire scene, from picking him up to tricking him into doing the delivery.

5. Conclooooosions

Just like how Sieun grows to be comfortable with physical promixity and touch with Suho, Suho begins to be a tad bit more touchy with Sieun than his usual physical self. Furthermore from what I can grasp, I don’t believe Suho is one to initiate a hangout outside of serious matters (aka beating enemies up), it’s always either Beomseok or Yeongyi.

Hell, even Suho isn’t willing to get out of his comfort zone to help Sieun initially, and now, he’s skipping work, going up to Sieun on his bike for a surprise date. And Sieun? He’s not studying to spend time with Suho. It’s always the going out of one’s usual routines that indicate a change in a relationship and feelings.

These scenes means an awful lot because there is just so much unsaid behind Suho’s actions and Sieun’s eyes. It drives me mad mad. There is absolutely a tension going on between them that is glossed over in these scenes. It’s the only scene that I cannot really find myself excusing to not be romantic in nature. Dare I even say, in whatever untold story there is behind these scenes that night, it intensifies both of Sieun’s and Suho’s motivations behind the actions they take in the next/last few episodes.

[mournfulroses]

Julian K. Jarboe, from her novel titled "Everyone on the Moon is Essential Personnel,"

[bonebabbles]

RiverClan Refugees

Gorseclaw and Lizardtail want to join ThunderClan because they watched Harelight, their only other family, get publicly executed in front of them

They are trying their hardest to be useful and polite while being refugees in ThunderClan, and get mistreated for the effort-- having their food preferences mocked, getting told they're taking up space, hearing a steady stream of slurs, etc

After one more mass shaming session where Squirrelstar asserts they won't be accepting new cats, Sunbeam and Fernstripe join in on condescending them, and we get this;

"It would have felt bad turning them away, but if they chose to go home (AFTER BEING BULLIED FOR SEVERAL CHAPTERS) then there was no need to feel guilty"

This does not come across as these two earnestly missing home and choosing to go back; it comes across like they're accepting the fact that they are unwanted and getting out of dodge before it gets worse.

Honestly, I'm at the point where I can't call this a lack of self awareness. The difference between ThunderClan's treatment of Gorse and Lizard vs RiverClan's treatment of Wasp is obvious to me. The narrative is straightforwardly pro-xenophobic as long as it isn't overtly violent.

Social bigotry is fine. Good, even, to separate the "desirable" immigrants from the "undesirable" ones. What defines those categories? A good one will assimilate fully and leave their culture behind; a bad one only wants safety and a better life for their family.

Terrifying, imo, considering how the irl overton window has shifted on migration at the time of writing this in 2025. Does the spectre of the times loom over these words as I speak them? I hope not.