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insteading · 1 month

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So, I'm newish to fandom, right? Though I'm not new to being obsessed about particular shows, my last rounds of obsession came when the blogosphere was still a thing, and that's where my blathering about it in the tags energy went.

I get that "Positive feedback only on art and fic" is a way of extending support to artists and writers who make things for free! (I also have ascertained that we don't have the same norms for meta / nonfiction, which I find fascinating AF. Is it that meta's commitments are more explicitly intellectual, and that we therefore expect and accept a level of critique we wouldn't where fic and art are concerned?)

The caveat I've been seeing "Except where racism is concerned-- we call out racism ..."

We don't. Not universally, not consistently. And I'm going to bet calling out racism when that calling out actually happens is a comparatively new fandom norm, and there are some people who dismiss it as a form of moralism. My point here is:

Fandom norms aren't eternal, and (this is my blogosphere training talking)

Re: "ship and let ship," you like what you like, but what you like is culturally influenced. Subtracting the wrinkles from someone you're drawing comes from somewhere (and it's not always "I'm drawing an AU in which these guys met in high school"). Drawing someone as skinnier than they are comes from somewhere. (I'm thin. The number of times IRL someone has attempted to force-team me into bonding over snarking on someone for their fatness is substantial and not cute.)

The norm of "If you don't like it, use the back button" means if I nope out of your fic in chapter 7 because I just read a sentence in which Stede's eyes are blue, and that has been a pretty reliable proxy for racism, you will never know why I stopped engaging. You won't know that I stopped reading because your Ed can't read-- a detail that you think is canonical but that has been disproven multiple times in the show. You might think life intervened. No. I have three hours of commuting and a ridiculous amount of reading time. If I didn't finish a fic there is a reason why. Maybe you're happier not knowing it. Meanwhile I'm thinking: if we were actually friends, I would be working up the courage to talk to you about it, because Blogosphere Years Ago I promised that I would not let pointing out racism, fatphobia, ableism be the sole responsibility of POC, fat people, and people with disabilities.

I get that it's stressful to be called out. Hell, it's stressful to say "I have a problem with this" too! But I've also seen people do absolute master classes in responding to a gentle callout without defensiveness, and with changed behavior, and it made me better at in-person conflict to witness. One of my blogosphere lessons is: Preferring harmony over growth isn't neutral. It's culturally white, and it has costs (mostly to the people who don't share the cultural positioning of the majority).

So yeah: part of what makes me sad about the back button norm is that I think it reinforces a producer / consumer relationship between writers and readers. If I can't tell you when I've got a problem with something, and you can't tell me when you've got a problem with something, that's a hard limit on the extent to which we can know each other. (Also: because I write meta rather than fic, it is absolutely within tumblr norms for you to tell me my take is bad, even if it's not within fandom norms for me to say "I love this fic except for X.") And as someone who made enduring IRL friendships from my blogosphere days, I find that a bit saddening.

#i'm ace enough not to have a huge gap between my politics and what i find tasty in fic #and i absolutely get that's not the case for everyone #but i have not experienced lasting damage from being asked to interrogate my preferences #the way friends of color have been harmed by other people's uninterrogated preferences coming out to play on dating sites #fandom #god i miss the blogosphere sometimes

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fanauthorworkshop · 5 months

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Applications for the Spring 2024 session are now open!

The Fanauthor Workshop is a biannual Zoom course for writers of fanfiction. My goal is to create a supportive space for fanauthors to receive constructive feedback on fanfiction, original fiction, or creative nonfiction. If desired, I also provide guidance on moving outside of fan spheres to traditional publishing or other creative writing programs such as MFAs.

Participants of the workshop receive

Attendance in an 8-week Zoom course during which you’ll provide feedback to your peers and workshop one piece of your own work, up to 6,000 words.

Access to the Fanauthor Workshop Discord server, an active community where we host weekly accountability meetings, write-ins, and other events and activities.

A one-hour consultation with me to go over your workshop feedback, come up with a plan for revision and/or publication, or anything else you’d like to discuss regarding your writing.

Open enrollment option in future workshops.

When

The workshop meets on Fridays from April 12 through May 31 via Zoom. You can apply for one of two sessions:

Group A: 12pm - 2pm EST

Group B: 6pm - 8pm EST

Cost

The cost is "pay what you think the experience is worth," with a recommended amount of $300. To be as inclusive as possible, I don't want money to be a deterrent for anyone interested in participating.

Payment can be made before, during, or after the workshop, via PayPal or Venmo.

How to apply

Eligibility

Anyone over the age of 18 who considers themselves a participant of fandom and who is familiar with fanfiction may apply. A stable internet connection is also required. Submissions must be written in English.

Application requirements

To apply, you will need:

A brief cover letter discussing your fan history and goals as a (fan)writer (more specific instructions on submittable).

Maximum 1,000 words of your writing, either original work or fanfiction. This may be previously published/posted.

You can apply via submittable. Applications close March 8. There is no fee for applying.

FAQ under the cut.

FAQ

Are there any content restrictions to what I can workshop?

The only restriction is word count (max 6k), with the following caveats:

If you workshop a piece in a form other than prose (for example, a script), your peers may not be able to offer constructive feedback on that aspect of the work. Participants are asked only to have a familiarity with prose.

Content warnings are required for each piece (if applicable), and participants who are uncomfortable reading certain subject matter may abstain from your workshop.

I want to participate in the workshop, but these times/dates don't work for me.

While the workshop is a big part of my life, I have to prioritize my own schedule, and as of right now, these are the only times/dates I can run it.

However, I'm working on developing other workshop models that may be more accessible for people who can't attend the regular spring/fall session. For example, a summer sprint workshop (meeting more often per week for fewer weeks) and/or an asynchronous workshop (written feedback only, no Zoom meeting). More on that later this year or next.

What is the time commitment of the workshop?

As a participant of the workshop, you'll be asked to:

Workshop any piece of your own prose up to 6k words, which will need to be uploaded to the group folder no later than the Sunday prior to your workshop.

Read 2 pieces per week, write a 1-page crit letter for the author, and attend the workshop itself.

What is the timeline of the workshop?

In week 1, we go over the syllabus and do a writing exercise. Weeks 2 through 8 will be a workshop, a discussion of an external reading, or a writing activity. Prior to the start of workshop, you'll be able to sign up for the week you would like to workshop your piece.

Structure of the sessions:

Question of the day

First workshop

Short break

Second workshop

We'll go over my workshop model and the syllabus in week 1.

Do I have to participate in the Zoom meetings (camera and mic on)?

Attending the workshop itself is required, and everyone is asked to offer at least one note of positive feedback on each piece, so mics are necessary. Cameras are preferred but not required.

You can't asynchronously participate, i.e. read the pieces and offer written feedback without attending the sessions.

What are the benefits of being in the Fanauthor Workshop community?

We have an active Discord server open only to those who have participated in the workshop. Once you've completed the workshop, you'll have access to attend weekly accountability meetings, write-ins, and other events we host.

You'll also have an open enrollment option in future workshops, where in lieu of applying again, you can pay a portion of what you intend to pay and secure your seat in the upcoming workshop.

I'll be working on rolling out additional events and benefits throughout the year.

Can workshop participants submit to OFIC Magazine?

Yes! Part of the reason I run the workshop is to inspire and promote the original work of fanwriters. You can follow us on tumblr @oficmag.

Who is running the workshop?

@bettsfic! In short, I lived a dreary cubicle life as a banker until I found fanfiction at 24. I loved it so much that I quit my job to get an MFA in creative writing. I loved the MFA so much that I became a writing teacher. I have some publications, awards, an agent, and 2 million words of fic on ao3. I don't have a book out yet but I'm getting there.

Currently I'm a writing coach and freelance editor. I also have a lowkey writing-related newsletter. And I've been answering writing advice asks on my blog for 10 years.

If you want an idea of the kind of writing activities I create, last summer I worked with @books on a workshop series which includes craft essays and some fun prompts.

If you're interested in my original work, my short story "Not If, When" is a good representation of my writing. For something darker, check out "Shut Up and Kill Me."

What is the workshop like?

Check out G's experience of attending the workshop. And here's some feedback from previous participants.

One final note: I'm working on updating the copy about the workshop on my website and move it over to OFIC's website. This post and Submittable has the most updated information on the workshop. If you have questions about discrepancies (or anything at all), you can shoot me an ask, DM me, or add me on Discord (I'm bettsfic there too). Or you can email me at [email protected].

#fanauthor workshop #fanfiction #faw sp24

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writerthreads · 2 years

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Are you a new writer? Read this!

Writing is a lifelong pursuit, and the best writers never stop learning or striving to improve their craft. If you’re new to writing, here are some writing tips can help simplify the process:

Keep a daily writing habit

The first rule of being a professional writer is to start writing on a daily basis, ideally every day. Writing is hard work, and it’s difficult to tangibly improve your writing if you aren’t writing daily. The best writers know that they can’t possibly produce their best work day in and day out, but even so, they force themselves to get through the tough days. Once you’re in the habit of writing every day, you’ll find that those tough days come around less frequently, and you’ll start to build more confidence in your writing skills. Don’t let feelings of inadequacy or discouragement stop you from sitting down at your desk and doing the work on a daily basis.

Read diligently

The best way to develop your writing style is to read everything you can get your hands on. You’d be hard-pressed to meet a good writer who isn’t also a voracious reader, and that’s because so much of a writer’s style is informed by great writers they admire. Keep your favourite books on hand for reference. Bookmark and underline your favourite passages and seek out new books to expand your base of knowledge.

Take writing classes

Many new writers haven’t taken a writing course since high school, but the good news is there are so many options available for aspiring authors looking to continue their creative writing education. Seek out extension courses through a local college’s writing program, or look for online courses that focus on your area of interest.

Join a writing group

Finding a group of peers who you can exchange writing with is a great way to make connections in the literary world and learn from diverse voices. Writers groups are usually free to join and a great resource get additional sets of eyes on a piece of writing you are working on. Getting feedback from someone you know and trust can vastly improve your work and help you take stock of the progress you make as a writer.

Keep reference books handy

Even the best writers make mistakes now and again. Keeping a thesaurus and style guide on hand can help you avoid common mistakes and vary your word choice. If you feel shaky on English grammar or spelling, there are plenty of books and online resources you can consult to make sure that your writing is professional and error-free.

Write in a variety of forms

Just because you gravitate toward one area of writing doesn’t mean you should stop exploring. Writing in a form or medium that you don’t have much experience with can be a great way to develop your voice and strengthen parts of your writing that you might usually neglect. Switching between projects can also be a great way to break out of writer’s block and avoid staring at the dreaded blank page. If you’re working on a short story, consider blogging about something totally unrelated. If you’re stuck on your first novel, write a nonfiction piece about a seminal event from your past. Experimenting with different forms will also make you a more versatile and marketable professional writer.

Learn the rules

As a writer, you have to make sure they know the ins and outs of grammar, spelling, and style. Many young writers haven’t brushed up on formal writing rules since they were in school. If you’re a new writer, take some time to refresh your knowledge of basic writing rules, especially if you plan on writing professionally.

Outline before you write

It’s incredibly useful for young writers to make an outline or roadmap for a new piece of writing before they jump headfirst into the writing process. You might remember your English teachers hounding you to make a detailed outline from introduction to conclusion before you started writing a critical essay. Professional writers can use the same basic outline structure for their work. Without an outline it’s easy to start strong but quickly find yourself stuck after you finish the first page or chapter.

Keep a journal

Great writers find inspiration all around them. If you’re new to writing, make sure to carry a journal with you everywhere you go. You never know when inspiration will strike and what aspects of your real-life will inform parts of your writing. If you see something interesting or an idea strikes you, it’s vital that you have a place to write it down and record it for future writing projects.

Edit carefully

Your best writing will be the product of numerous rewrites. Editing and rewriting are arguably the most important parts of the writing process, especially for professional writers. In order to become a better writer and develop your writing skills, it’s vital that you put in the time editing and revising your first draft. Not only does editing ensure that you’re producing a quality piece of writing, but it also helps clue you in on bad habits you might have or common mistakes you find yourself making.

Remember why you love writing

If you’re writing serially for a group of dedicated readers, don’t let yourself lose the love for writing that made you want to do the work in the first place. Writing well depends on you maintaining your passion. If you ever feel overwhelmed by your work, take a second to do some journaling or work on a short piece that’s just for you. Taking a break to reconnect with your love of writing can help reinvigorate your passion for the craft.

Source: 11 Tips for New Writers by Masterclass

#writers on tumblr #writing #story writing #teen writer #writers #writers block #writing inspiration #writing tips #my writing #writeblr #writing prompt #writerslife #creative writing #writer things

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hayatheauthor · 1 year

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How To Answer Some Common Literary Agent Questions

Writing a book can be hard, but querying can sometimes seem harder without the right resources! If you’re an author who feels like you’re jumping into your queries without any guidance, here are a few tips to help you answer some common literary agent questions.

Before we get started, I would like to put out a disclaimer stating that this is not a list of rules for what you should or shouldn’t do when querying! The sole purpose of this blog post is to help my fellow #amquerying authors get a general idea of how to write a query letter and answer common literary agent questions.

This blog post is based on the research I conducted before sending out my queries and the feedback I received for them. I might not be an industry expert, but I have spent the past couple of months querying agents and received a dozen partial and full requests (which I am eagerly awaiting a response for).

Now that I’ve got that out of the way, let’s get started!

The Author Bio

The author bio is possibly the most common question you will see when querying. Most if not all agents prefer to know at least a little bit about their authors before they jump into your manuscript, this is so they can gain insight into your past experience and credibility as an author.

A writer’s author bio is directly affected by the genre they are writing for and should be adjusted accordingly. What might sound like a good bio for your nonfiction memoir might sound ineffectual for your YA fantasy novel.

Here is a general guide on how to write your author bio based on your genre.

Nonfiction

When writing a nonfiction author bio it’s important to mention two things: why you chose to write about this topic, and why you’re the right person to write this book. I would also mention a little bit about why this book should be written, why you think people would read it, and why now.

If you are a debut author then talk about any past experience you have in the industry you are writing about. For example, if you’re writing a biography about a prominent historical figure who you previously researched for work, a thesis, etc. then consider mentioning that.

If you are not a debut author then talk about your past experience in the literary industry. Sales, platforms, what type of nonfiction book did you write in the past, etc.

Fiction

When writing a fiction author bio it’s important to mention any and all marketing and writing experience you have. So long as it is relevant.

For example, if you’re writing a fantasy novel and have a booktok account where you post about it, then consider mentioning that. Or if you previously wrote a popular rom-com but are now trying to write a chick lit, then mention who you published with and why you decided to write for this new genre.

Struggling to find the right words for your query? Consider checking out my blog on how to get out of the slush pile and make your agent say YES.

How To Write An Author Bio For Your Debut Novel

Writing an author biography as a debut author might seem pointless to most, but I implore you to take the time to type out an appropriate response to this question.

When I was querying agents I received several rejections during my first and second rounds of querying, but do you know what I didn’t receive? A form rejection. Each and every agent who asked for an author bio responded with some sort of praise for my marketing or writing prowess as a teenager.

Some even went out of their way to provide me with referrals or agent resources, which helped me secure two agents who requested a full manuscript.

My author bio wasn’t overly grand or impressive, in fact, it was quite simple. Here are some things to mention in your author bio as a debut author:

Any relevant past writing experience.

Outside of writing my book, I also work as a content writer for digital marketing agencies, blog about writing advice, and previously wrote a couple of ‘viral’ e-novels and fanfictions on online platforms. None of these have anything to do with my WIP or author journey, but they help prospective agents know that I:

Have gathered a sum of readers with my past work.

Know how to create professional content for marketing purposes.

Can stick to a writing schedule and provide them with new content/WIPs when needed.

This can all help convince them to work with you.

Any social media platforms

We’ve all heard of those lucky few authors who went viral on social media and landed a book deal because of it. It might be a little hard to follow in their footsteps and make a publisher reach out to you because of your platform, but having a social media presence can help you in the long run.

It also shows your agent that you have a pool of readers interested in your book and a couple of industry connections, whether that be other authors or book reviewers.

A thousand followers might not seem like a big achievement when compared to an influencer with a bigger platform, but think of it this way—when you mention your platforms in your author bio, you’re basically telling your agent you have a thousand prospective readers. Most bestseller lists need a minimum of five thousand purchases.

Target Audience

Knowing your target audience is important in order to establish a concrete image of your WIP. When establishing your target audience, here are some things you should take into consideration:

The age group. Your target age group might not seem like a big concern for an author writing adult books, but if you are an author writing for a younger audience it’s important to acknowledge your age group before you send out queries. This helps ensure you don’t query an MG agent a YA book, but also makes it clear whether you’re writing for teenagers, new adults, tweens, or children.

The type of audience in that age group. Once you know your age group, it’s important to figure out your type of audience. This can look like something as simple as ‘teenage girls’ or ‘new adults graduating from college.’

Authors with a similar book. One easy way to establish your target audience is by saying ‘readers of (insert author)’ or ‘readers who like (insert book). I would recommend mentioning two to three books and authors if you decide to go with this method.

Readers who like a certain trope. If you can’t think of any authors with similar books to yours then try mentioning a trope from your book. Something as simple as ‘people who enjoy reading about mythology’ or ‘found family lovers’ is good enough.

Similar Books

A quick Google search can help you find a couple of books similar to your manuscript. These titles don’t have to follow the same plot as your WIP or have all the same tropes. The point is to find books with similar tropes and themes that can give your literary agent a sense of what they’re getting into.

You can either mention a couple of titles and leave it at that or go on to explain why you chose these titles. Something as simple as ‘my manuscript is comparable to books like Six of Crows because it features a thrilling heist’ will suffice.

Remember to keep this section short. The point is to help your agent gain insight into your manuscript.

Need help finding the right resources to perfect your query? Here are some websites and writing apps every author needs.

Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is essentially what you would say to your literary agent if you were trying to pitch your manuscript to them during an elevator ride. It needs to be short yet impactful and hook your agent with one or two sentences.

Look at similar titles and search up their elevator pitches or blogs. Take a look at the first few sentences of their blurb, figure out what helped them hook their readers, and then start drafting your own pitch.

I would recommend writing down five to ten pitches and reading them out to your family or friends who are readers, then ask them which pitch hooked them the most and why.

Why Us?

Literary agents often don’t bother to ask authors why you want to work with them, but a casual mention of how you found out about them can go a long way.

Use direct quotes from their manuscript wishlist or website page. Mention something they seemed proud about or a factor that stuck out to you. Maybe they have a fast response time, maybe they collaborate closely with their authors or work with their authors even after the first project.

If you can’t think of anything to say, then talk about one of their past projects that seems similar to your WIP or has similar tropes and topics.

I hope this blog on how to answer some common literary agent questions will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and subscribe to my email list for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks?

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of my blog where I post writing and marketing tools for authors every Monday and Thursday.

Want to learn more about me and my writing journey? Visit my social media pages under the handle @hayatheauthor where I post content about my WIP The Traitor’s Throne and life as a teenage author.

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qqueenofhades · 2 months

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hiii ❣ it's a bit random but do you have any advice for a beginner writer?

i want to write web series and while i'm going to write for my pleasure, i still would love my work to be good enough to have readers.

but while i read stuff and write fics, i don't think it's enough to help me write an original several episode work. + i want to write in english but i'm not a native english speaker.

do you have a textbook or any resource in mind that you'd reccomend to a beginner writer?

Unfortunately, I don't have one single one-size-fits-all resource or silver-bullet magical writing improvement tool that I can recommend, as everyone learns/practices in different ways and some people swear by things that don't work for other people. I can't speak to the value of Grammarly or any other online tool that promises to make you a better writer, as they can often be used to feed your work into AI, make bizarre and/or flatly incorrect suggestions, or otherwise be confusing and unhelpful for a newbie writer, especially someone whose first language isn't English. If you work better within an interactive framework or just want to see if it does seem useful, then by all means do check it out, but don't feel like you HAVE to use it (or anything else) if it doesn't offer much to your process.

As ever, and unhelpfully, my advice for becoming a better writer is to write a lot and read a lot, in all kinds of genres. There's really no get-good-at-writing-quick hack to suddenly get you where you want to be overnight, but you CAN get there by dint of steady and sustained progress. You say that you already read things and write fics -- which is great! You clearly already have some practice with the overall concept, and you are not starting from total scratch. While a lot of writers have a goal of something they really want to do (i.e. in your case, write a web series) and feel like the first one they write has to be The Real and Good One that they only launch into after appropriate years of practice, that's not the case. You can start writing the series now, if you want to. You'll have to also share it with people who you trust to give you helpful and honest feedback (the mortifying ordeal of being known, etc) while also respecting the skill level that you're currently at and not tearing it down for being up to professional standards or something else that doesn't accurately reflect where you are and what you need feedback on. But yes, you will have to write steadily, share your writing with others, and challenge yourself to read and write in different kinds of texts -- i.e. not just fic or amateur fan content, but literature, nonfiction, genre fiction, academia, special interest subjects, and so forth. Writing by professionally published authors is not necessarily always better, but it does give you a sense as to what is deemed marketable, what the general skill level and standard is, and what you might like to emulate or try to do with your own projects.

Also, as a side note, I think that plenty of amateur or fan-written content on the internet is not necessarily outstandingly good, technically speaking. This doesn't mean it's bad -- plenty of people read and enjoy it anyway, and aren't coming in expecting it to be an award-winning piece of fine literature. Standards for what is good, enjoyable, or well-written vary dramatically by genre, medium, what your audience is expecting and/or paying for, and so forth. Some people also have high and/or picky standards for what they will read or what they find enjoyable to read, while others will just go along with the story and don't care as much about the format or technical prowess or so forth. So it is very much a subjective measurement, and if you get to a place where you enjoy reading your own stuff and find it engaging -- regardless of what arbitrary skill level you feel yourself to be on -- chances are that other people will too.

#anonymous #ask #writing advice

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letters-to-lgbt-kids · 2 years

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(CW: abuse in a fictional book, including sexual abuse)

My dear lgbt+ kids,

In this letter, I want to share some worries I struggled with while writing and publishing my second novel. (I will write this assuming that you have not read it - I know most of you can not read it as it is written in my native language German!)

It's called "Wunschkind" (which translates to "wanted child") and is a psychological thriller about an abusive relationship. The main characters are the 35-year-old Royden and the 19-year-old Noah. They started dating 5 years ago when Royden became the legal guardian of Noah who is disabled.

There is more to the plot but that's all you need to know for this letter.

I explicitly used the term "abusive relationship" here but you probably would have guessed that even if I didn't - you just need to do the math to see that this can't be a healthy relationship. 19 minus 5 equals" definitely not the age group a 30-year-old should pursue sexually".

Yes, the book title "Wanted Child" is meant to have a dark double meaning.

Just like in most abusive relationships in real life, the abuse in the novel (after a phase of intense adoration and love-bombing) starts out as emotional abuse and social isolation of the victim and slowly escalates to physical and sexual abuse. And that's one of the reasons Noah, just like most abuse victims in real life, does not understand right away that he is being abused.

This book was a passion project for me. I wanted to show why abuse victims oftentimes can't "just walk away". I wanted to show why leaving an abuser is much more difficult than a usual break-up and why abuse victims often do not realize they are being abused until the abuse becomes life-threatening. I also wanted to show how abuse intersects with discrimination (like ableism, racism and homophobia) and the additional struggles that victims in marginalized groups face.

And yet, even with a clear vision of why I am writing about abuse, there was an internal struggle I had while writing it. I worried: What if someone reads this and thinks those two characters are meant as a representation of a healthy gay relationship? What if someone takes this as me promoting or glorifying abuse?

There were certain steps I took to help readers make an informed decision to buy and read this novel:

explicitly using the term "abuse" in the blurb

mentioning the age difference in the blurb

To avoid needlessly triggering readers, I also decided to:

not actually show the sexual abuse on the page (writing scenes that take place before and after - but no actual rape scene)

having a third character show clear discomfort with their relationship dynamics and later explicitly label it as abusive (to counteract the main character who is at this point still denying that he is being abused)

Abuse is a sensitive topic and needs to be handled responsibly, not just carelessly thrown around as a cheap plot point. But with all those conscious decisions on my part - couldn't someone still read it and take it totally the wrong way? Could someone read it and still say "Ew, this Oliver Ernst guy is clearly okay with adult men abusing minors, why else would he write a whole book about it" or even "I actually think their relationship is hot, it's just an age difference kink :)" (and did I have literal nightmares about potentially receiving feedback like that?)? Yes, yes, and yes.

But - and this is an important but - as a writer, I need to trust not only myself to get my point across, I also need to trust my readers. I need to trust them to pick up the point and understand it.

If I don't trust them, I would need to chew up the darker themes until they are super easy to swallow - but who wants to eat something pre-chewed? In that case, I could only write books that either go "Everyone is super nice. Nothing happens. The end." or "Here is a fictional book about a dark topic! but it's actually an in-depth nonfiction philosophical-psychological essay about said topic with no characters or plot." I don’t want to do either.

So, I will keep writing about important topics, even if they are dark - while doing my best to help readers make an informed decision about reading them and avoiding needlessly triggering content.

With all my love,

Your Tumblr Dad

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kaonarvna · 2 months

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Hello 👋🏻 I'm KNV! I'm a writer and visual artist. This account features both my original work and fanworks for my eternal hyperfixation: ff7!

Disability, chronic pain, narrative medicine, grief, and class are subjects inseparable from my work, and you'll find those ideas weaved into just about everything I make. I primarily write prose, in science fiction/speculative fiction/science fiction fantasy genres (SF/SFF), as well as creative nonfiction essays.

You can't find my website here, though it's (always) desperately in need of an update. If you're just here for the fanfiction, here's my A03. x

「 a "pretty" self portrait — for once 」

Some helpful tag-links:

My Art 🌿 Original Writing 🌿 Fanfiction 🌿 EDS Posting 🌿 BUJO Sketch Dumps 🌿 Misc. Personal Posting 🌿 WIP Posting 🌿 Decision Polls 🌿

Finally——I don't bite! The ask box is open, and if we're mutuals, so are my DMs. Feedback of all varieties is always appreciated. Or, if you think you've found something I'd enjoy, you're more than welcome to send it my way. Thank you for taking a moment to look at my work, I appreciate it.

#info post #pinned post #self portrait #digital art #knv art

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original-writing · 2 years

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This blog is dedicated to reblogging others original writing. Please feel free to tag this blog in anything you write and we will reblog it. I highly suggest adding this blog to any and all of your taglists so it’s easy for us to reblog your work. This blog is for original writing and spreading awareness for all these folks who get drowned out by the tumblr algorithm.

What We Will Do

We’ll reblog your writing, tagging it with the appropriate genres and even offering some feedback. And we’ll make you more aware of other people’s original writing! You can make it even easier for us by stating the genre and type of fiction before your work so we can appropriately tag it.

Who Runs This Blog?

This blog is run by @writingforevren & @apocalypsewriters but if you’d like to help out you’re welcome request an invitation and you can also help promote other people's original works!

What To Do As A Reader

We have taglists! if there’s any genre or type of fiction you’re interested in reading we’ll add you to a taglist and anything within that you’ll be tagged in, and if you’re looking for something specific you could be like “I would only like to be tagged in lgbt fiction which is written in third person limited” or “I want to be tagged in fiction that contains found-family” just pop into our ask box. It doesn’t even have to be listed in our navigation for us to tag you in it.

What We Will Be Reblogging

Fiction

Writers

WIPs

Short Stories

Poetry

Original Characters

What We Won’t Be Reblogging

Fanfiction

Nonfiction

Erotica

Anything with 18+ tags

Writing Navigation

Writer Intros

WIP Intros

WIP Writing

Short Stories

Poetry

Original Characters

Published Works

By Genre and Theme

#writeblr #writing #original writing #creative writing #writer positivity #writer

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dykelawlight · 11 months

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you're one of the best nsfw writers writing lawlight at the moment what are your tips for being explicit without giving people the ick

Oh wow, thank you ⁠— this is really really sweet!! Let me see what I can think of that's like...concrete building blocks

First things first: if you don't know, research! It's always great to pull from experience when possible, but there have also been many nonfiction books and such written about like, basically Kink Rules™ that can be very helpful to pull from when you're trying to plot out how a scene would go or what you personally find really sexy. (Of course, there are plenty of these that are cringe and icky too because the ~kink community~ is vast and contains many people who are very annoying, so take what works and leave the rest.) I once read an entire book that was just about bootblacking/shoe stuff because I didn't know a lot about it and thought it sounded hot. As a broader example, I write and prefer dom/sub stuff (as you well know!), so I like Dossie Easton & Janet Hardy's The New Topping Book and The New Bottoming Book, both of which can be kind of hokey but which have a lot of sexy things to say from the perspective of people who engage in d/s relationships and scenes irl aimed at people who may be new to one or both. (They're also both available digitally but they're pretty easy to secure hard copies of if you think you'll get any significant use out of them.) I would say I don't need to refer to these personally as a source of actual new knowledge at this stage of my life, but specific concepts or scenes that resonate and/or that I've never personally tried can bloom into fanfic stuff later.

I write things down immediately as they occur to me. If I'm fuckin standing in the elevator and I experience a vision of a character I'm writing like moaning a specific phrase or some shit I'll straight up jot it in my notes app so I don't forget and can build on it. I also often will write when I personally am already kind of warmed up because I find that's when the least inhibited and therefore hottest shit hits the page, to be cleaned up and edited into presentableness by my less-revved self in the future.

Stick to basic terms for most things 99.9% of the time. I find that "cock" and "cunt" etc., while sort of standard and definitely something you'll probably see a lot of if you ctrl+F your fic later, are basically the "said" of porn. Not everything needs to have an explicit description all the time. I will also slide into use of "dick" and "pussy" when I feel it's raunchy and hot to do so but I generally don't come up with any shit other than that. Never talk about anybody's "pearl" or "flower" or shit. I'm not saying you can't make comparisons to those things, but it can't be The Word you use to talk about someone's genitalia.

On the opposite spectrum, too much use of "moan" to describe sounds and sentences gets very repetitive very fast! People make a lot of different noises during sex and describing more of them than just moaning adds depth and sexiness. Much like "said," that's not to say it doesn't have its place and not every word should be "yelped" "whimpered" "sobbed" etc. (though I am partial to the latter), but it doesn't need to be every sound, either.

Don't be afraid to write shit you like even if you feel like you might be the only person on the planet who finds it really sexy. I'm writing strap sex for this next fic I'm working on and, while it's obviously a very broad category, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea and some people are actively averse to it in lesbian fic. That's fine, but I know what I like and what I like is to get my silicone dick wet, so that's what's going to happen. I guarantee other people will find it and enjoy stuff you wrote just for you even if they maybe originally didn't think it was for them.

That's everything that immediately comes to mind!! I welcome feedback/comments/reblogs etc. here because I have some HOTTTT writers following me who I think frankly put me to shame 🙇🏻‍♂️

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amielbjacobs · 8 days

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I am so intrigued by your WIP. I love spies and Cold War shenanigans (in a History 101-level "wow look at the far-reaching effects nuclear proliferation had on geopolitics" way) and GAY SPIES are the best spies.

So I have a question that I hope makes sense: what nonfiction books have you been using as references that you would recommend to someone who is intrigued by your concept and hyped to learn more about the characters/setting/story, but isn't well-versed in that area of history?

Thank you so much!!! I'm really interested by your WIP too. I looked through the character pages and I think Arthur Royston is my favorite . . . which is a surprise to exactly no one who knows me.

This is my favorite kind of question! I had so much fun researching this book and I love to recommend books.

The Lavender Scare: The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government, by David K. Johnson. This is probably the most iconic book about the issues I cover in my story - at least for the US side.

Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington, by James Kirchick. Although my story isn't set in Washington DC, it was really helpful to me to have a sense of everyday gay life in the seat of US power. There's a lot of granular detail here that's very useful to a writer.

The Whisperers: Private Life in Stalin's Russia, by Orlando Figes. This is one of my favorite books for getting a sense of what it was like to actually live in the USSR during the period when Mirsky was coming of age. I felt like I had a decent basic understanding of what the US was like in the 1950s, tho of course I still had to do research on the details, but I really only had the broadest sense of what the USSR was like going into this project.

The Lost Spy: An American in Stalin's Secret Service, by Andrew Meier. This is definitely one of the more accessible and narrative books on my list - more journalistic and less academic. It's beautifully written. I used it mostly as inspiration for the character of Henry Brand, the traitorous CIA agent in my book.

A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal, by Ben MacIntyre. I didn't draw on this book very much as a source because I read it very late into the development process, but it's an incredible read, beautifully written, gripping, very accessible. It also covers a lot of the same territory as my book.

Homosexual Desire in Revolutionary Russia, by Dan Healey. This one is very academic but I can and I will recommend it at every turn. It has SUCH fascinating stories in it, and I love learning about early 20th century trans and queer people, especially living in such an isolated and oppressive society as the USSR.

Red Closet: The Hidden History of Gay Oppression in the USSR, by Rustam Alexander. This one is an unfortunate mix of trying to be accessible and trying to be academic, but once again I find the stories in it to be utterly fascinating.

Honorable Mentions:

You asked for nonfiction, but I also drew heavily on the fiction of the era - especially since my book is partly about spy fiction. I got a lot of inspiration from the James Bond novels (particularly regarding the sensibilities of the era) even though my book is very un-James-Bond-y, and the works of John le Carre.

I can also recommend some comp titles of modern books that have similar vibes to mine . . . or, of course, if you'd like to learn more about my book, you're welcome to send me asks or come into my DMs! It's actually a complete manuscript, so you can even read it if you'd like - though I might extort you for feedback if you do.

#historical fiction #soviet history #cold war #cold war history #writeblr

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fanauthorworkshop · 10 months

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Applications for the Fall 2023 session are now open!

Participants of the workshop receive:

Attendance in a 5-7 week course during which you’ll provide feedback to your peers and workshop one piece of your own work, up to 6,000 words.

Access to the Fanauthor Workshop Discord server, where you’ll be able to chat with other workshop members, plus a private channel for your group specifically.

A one-hour consultation with me to go over your workshop feedback, come up with a plan for revision and/or publication, or anything else you’d like to discuss regarding your writing.

Applications close October 1. The workshop will take place weekly, beginning on Friday, November 3.

Note that usually the workshop starts in the third week of October, but I'll be traveling until November. We will be skipping over the day after Thanksgiving, November 24, and resume the Friday after.

The number of weeks the workshop will run (5-7) is dependent on the number of participants. Each workshop will have between 8 and 12 participants.

Group A: 12 to 2pm EST

Group B: 6 to 8pm EST

Additional information, my qualifications, and how to apply are under the cut.

How to apply

Eligibility

Anyone over the age of 18 who considers themselves a participant of fandom and who is familiar with fanfiction may apply.

Cost

The cost is "pay what you think the experience is worth,” with the recommended amount of $250.

There's no catch here. I just don't want money to be a deterrent for anyone.

Application requirements

To apply, you will need:

A brief cover letter discussing your fan history and goals as a (fan)writer (more specific instructions on Submittable).

Maximum 2,000 words of your writing, either original fiction or fanfiction. This may be previously published/posted work.

There is no fee for applying.

Testimonials

If you're interested in what other participants have gotten out of the workshop, check out the recent testimonials.

My qualifications

Hello! I'm @bettsfic.

I have an MFA in creative writing pedagogy and coursework toward a PhD in creative writing.

I've taught English composition and creative writing at the university level for 7 years.

I've been a writing coach and freelance editor for 3 years. Here are some client testimonials.

I'm a published author and I've won several awards (see website for more info).

I've written and posted over two million words of fanfiction, with a total of over 1.7 million hits and 140k kudos.

To learn more about me and what I'm about, here's my lowkey writing-related newsletter. You can also check out my writing advice tag where I've been answering craft-related asks for 9 years.

If the information you're looking for isn't listed here, check out the FAQ or send me an ask.

Or if you're ready, you can apply here.

#fanauthor workshop #applications open

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chimerickat · 10 days

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The reader's magazine article for chapter 3 is still such a mess.

Absolutely this is confirming that I could not make it as a nonfiction writer.

Debating posting it for feedback. We shall see. ):

#you can't go back #I have a week to get it in shape #so sad because chapter 4 is pretty good I think #but chapter 3 feels so ok #dragonsilk

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runawaymun · 11 months

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6, 11, 23 for the author asks?

6. Do you have your work beta'd? How important is this to your process?

Nope! Nobody betas for me in a formal sense. Sometimes if I've been staring at a chapter for too long, to the point that I hate it and can't figure out if there's a reason I hate it or if I've just been stuck on it for too long -- or if there is a sentence or paragraph where I feel in my gut that it might not flow correctly/make sense but can't figure out how -- I'll grab @the-commonplace-book & she's usually kind enough to read it/listen to me read it and give unbiased feedback!

11. Link your three favorite fics right now

The Ransom of the House of Fëanor by @eirianerisdar - favorite LOTR fic of all time, literally can't recommend it enough.

Thou Mayst Be False - @jaz-the-bard - Gondolin OT3 complete with jaz-typical levels of miscommunication and misunderstandings and Maeglin whump. So good. SO, so good.

Vincarna - not sure if the author is on tumblr! - but it's a MGME fic and surprisingly well written, and I must admit I'm a sucker for the trope when it's well written, so!

23. Best writing advice for other writers?