#grandmastatus

[playingkoii]

it is way past my bedtime.

yes, it’s only 10:30pm on a Sunday night. however, I’m usually in bed by 9pm because sleep is better than just about anything.

I made the decision to drink a cup of coffee way too late in the day and it resulted in me deep cleaning this room. this was going to be my project for tomorrow since I have the day off, but now I’ll have to find another. I’m definitely not complaining. who’s to say I’d have the motivation to clean tomorrow, anyway? I’d rather get it done when I actually have the desire. it’s incredible, though, how big of a difference a clean room can make. I’m one of those people that tends to feel anxious around clutter, especially when the organization of a room is within my control and I’ve let it get out of hand. needless to say I’m sure I’ll sleep like a baby tonight. that is, if this caffeine buzz ever wears off. 

[alexanderloves]

New shower curtain, who dis? #anthropologie #grandmastatus #floraleverything (at Greenwood, Seattle)

[kdramasandkpop]

Felt cute...might delete later idk 💁🏻‍♀️😂 #할머니 #おばあちゃん #grandmastatus https://www.instagram.com/p/B0AlscdhfcK/?igshid=wbn5kr2s99ws

[theflappinbox]

Move aside, Mom Friend, it's time for the Grandma Friend to shine! I've become the person who always has cookie ingredients on hand just in case, so I'll now be accepting applications for the position of Honorary Grandchild #joeybakes #grandmastatus #chocolatechipcookies

[joleystar]

#ngl #kennyrogers is da bomb. now... if u will excuse me, I’m going to take a nap. 😬 #grandmastatus #tfw #hashtag 👀 (at Nashville, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtJ1PFLB3de/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=f3jrxohu0tq5

[aminah-inwonderland]

Retired from raves because we went to #alisonwonderland 's show at the Fonda Theatre and this happened, so I thought I'd quit while I was ahead. 🙌🏻 #march2016 #grandmastatus (at Fonda Theatre)

[krystalkleartxds]

I'm tired. 🦇🌙 #grandmastatus #krystalkleartxds #selfie #mirrorpic #mirror #hufsocks #huf #wifebeater #girlswithtattoos #tattooed

[erinred]

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A post shared by Red 🎈 (@erinred_)

I'd like to introduce to you to Patty Mayonnaise. Much about Patty is unknown/undecided. One thing we know for sure, however, is that pretty soon she's gonna be a mom. • Stay tuned, y'all. Oh, and peep her belly. Those kids are gonna be a handful. • [🎥 taken at @vergbrooklyn / @positivetails] • #veganaf #adventuresinfostering #straycat #rescue #knockedup #adoptdontshop #vegan #spayandneuter #pregnant #positivetails #tnr #kittens #grandmastatus #wokewarriorwitch #brooklyn #nyc #forward #morefire #morelife #morelovenotless #thankyouforhelpingme #healthy #happy #wayup #2017 🐱🐱🐱

[dixonvixon73]

🤣 #not #lol #shenanigans #grandmastatus https://www.instagram.com/p/Boph0F5lezR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jrtaydof1he2

[educated-hebrew]

#swimmingpool #swimming_pool #swimming #grandmasbelike #grandmastatus #grandmastyle #wtf #blackpeoplebelike #blackfolksbelike #blackfolks #summerday https://www.instagram.com/p/BnCeCI7AcAV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mrg1irni48g9

[apandorac]

When you're literally a grandma while driving. No seriously, I brought a blanket to snuggle in, snacks, and crocheting. Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!! ❤ 🍃 📚 #book #bookstagram #booklovers #bookworm #bookaddict #bookish #bookporn #igreads #bookstagramfeature #bibliophile #booknerd #booknerd #read #instabook #ya #yabooks #yaliterature #yalit #morningread #author #likeforlike #like4like #teenfiction #girlswithtattoos #tattoo #remember #blogger #katiefinn #grandmastatus

[djlemon]

How I wanted to celebrate my birthday this year 😹💤🎉✨ #grandmastatus

[eleganteventsla]

Didn't think we were quiiiite hard enough to pull off gansta this Monday morning, but old school 90s is keeping us pumped for the week!! Lol, too corny? #motivationalmonday #momjokes #toocorny #youbethejudge #getoboys #90shiphop #90skids #ifonlywehadthisincrossstitch #grandmastatus

[chronicallygrateful]

I totally have my own housecoat at my parents house 😂 #grandmastatus #itsalwayscoldhere

[bellarkefanfiction]

For the month of October, Lina got the chance to catch up with @kay-emm-gee, author of Small Favors, The More Things Change, Bedgate and many, many more, which you can find here. 

BFF: Tell us about yourself!

Kayla: Hi, I’m Kayla - twentysomething, from the USA, graduate student in cancer biology. And to keep myself sane from science, I spend a good chunk of my free time watching TV and reading. I adore any type of romance story, and those of the fantasy, sci-fi, and historical genres most of all. And, when I’m too tired to read or write, I’m also an avid knitter! #grandmastatus #proudofit

BFF: When did you start shipping Bellarke?

Kayla: Pretty late compared to most, I think? Not until season 2, even though I loved their dynamic from the beginning. I was intrigued by the idea of shipping them by the end of season 1, but I can’t say I really committed until The Hug^tm from 2x05 (I love that I have to specify which hug now lol) and then they went straight to OTP status from there!

BFF: How long have you been writing fanfiction?

Kayla: Funny enough…I actually wrote fanfiction when I was eight or nine, based on Pony Pals (I was obsessed with horses for many of my younger years), I believe, for a class assignment. So that was technically my start haha – but I guess my first published fanfiction was on FFN for Avatar The Last Airbender, a little piece that was supposed to be a prologue for a longer Zuko/Katara post-series multichapter AU…which I planned out entirely but never wrote (some things never change!). I posted a few other things there (for Smallville, Gossip Girl, The Infernal Devices series) but I was more in a reading stage then and couldn’t get enough of fanfiction (Tempest in A Teacup or Stormbenders, anyone??). I didn’t hit a prolific writing phase until Bellarke! And then the floodgates opened and I couldn’t stop writing, for them or for other ships too.

BFF: Are you a part of any other fandoms?

Kayla: Game of Thrones is something I have gotten into writing for recently, although it’s mostly for rarepair ships, which is strange for me (shameless plug for my sideblog, @winterfellslady). I’m usually very much about the narratively obvious pairings, but the Thrones universe is so expansive that it’s hard not to see so many possibilities. Aside from that, I’ve written here and there for a lot of other fandoms: Teen Wolf, A Court of Thorns & Roses series, From Dusk Till Dawn, The White Princess, The Shannara Chronicles, Reign, & Black Sails.  

BFF: Which of your fics was easiest to write, and why?

Kayla: First one that comes to mind as ‘easiest’ was my Peaky Blinders AU oneshot (Our Glory Days Are Numbered). It was a 3AM fic idea that just would not go away, and so I sat up and wrote it in less than an hour with barely any edits. It was a rare experience of producing something I was super proud of, super quickly. The process is usually much more laborious for me when it comes to fics that I want to stand out. As far as multi-chapters, strangely enough, my first one (Small Favors) was easiest to write? I think it was because I had very concise & defined ideas for each chapter, so it kept it simple and the ideas didn’t run away from me…like they do most times now.

BFF: Which fic did you find most challenging to write?

Kayla: It’s a tie between my modern scientist/lawyer AU i pick my poison (and it’s you) and my modern Sense & Sensibility AU by insensible degrees. The first never sat quite right with me (still doesn’t) because I never felt like the scientist perspective/experience came through smoothly enough. The second was tough because I had to power through writing it in its entirety before posting, which was a resolution for me so I didn’t leave it unfinished, but wow was it difficult. It ended up working, but it took almost a year to write (and honestly, it only got finished because @hawthornewhisperer gave me such good feedback & encouragement along the way so shoutout to her for that!). Even so, it’s probably one of my favorite fics that I’ve ever written.  

BFF: What do you predict will happen in season 5? Especially for our favourite duo?

Kayla: After being separated for six years and not knowing if the other is alive, Bellamy and Clarke are gonna have a lot of baggage to work through. Since I’m always here for the Bellarke Angst, I hope, predict, and expect we’ll get that in boatloads. Also, I don’t necessarily predict this will happen, but I’m interested to see if the Clarke & Madi dynamics mirrors season 1 Bellamy & Octavia at all, and if so, how that plays into Bellamy & Clarke’s dynamic (for better or worse). I’d love to see Bellarke get together on screen, of course, but honestly…I just want them to be each other’s centers again in season 5, that’s really all I ask for!

BFF: Do you have a specific process for your writing?

Kayla: Music is essential – I need thematic/atmospheric music to really get in the groove. Most of my Spotify is playlists for different story ideas actually. Aside from that, nothing too particular. I tend to edit as I go, which isn’t the most effective way to write, but I’m too much of a perfectionist to do proper draft editing.

BFF: Do you have any plans for other fics you’d like to write, if so could you spoil or tease us?

Kayla: Real life has been higher-than-average busy for like a year now, so I can’t find much time to write (and I’m working on Game of Thrones fics when I do find it), but there is one Bellarke fic WIP that is holding my interest right now. It was a request from a follower celebration winner for an Anastasia AU, but I wanted to put a spin on it, so I’m making it steampunk! Honestly, it’s the most inspired I’ve felt for this pairing in ages, which is promising. Here’s hoping the inspiration and motivation stays high!

BFF: What advice would you give novice writers?

Kayla: Keep writing. Even if you hate it now, it’ll make you better. And, later, when you do get better, don’t hate something you wrote early on, especially if you loved it when you wrote it. It’s where you came from, where you started, and it’s proof that practice makes a difference. And while you should mostly write what you want to write, it’s also okay to write for others. Because honestly, sometimes writing something that you definitely know other people will like or love is a safe way to boost your confidence (and get you motivated on stuff that you aren’t sure people will like!). One of the best tricks I’ve come across, and I use it often. Lastly, use a placemarker (like a unique, random combination of letters that you can easily Ctrl+F for) to note in the text when you need to look up a fact or something, and keep writing, instead of trying to find the info at that moment. It’s a useful way to prevent falling down a research hole and instead allows the inspiration and words to keep flowing.

We thank Lina and Kayla both for bringing us such a lovely interview! Please look forward to next month’s author interview!

[herinnermuse]

Tonight has been my first time out past 2am in mooooonths. And at the age of 25, let me tell you my body AINT HAVIN IT. #grandmastatus Can't keep up with these youngsters anymore 😂

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