#how do you write a magic centric character in a world without magic

[shikariiin]

Lady Meredith Topham hatt.

The "Mother" and Savior of the Engine's race.

[cringekind]

AGOT reread prologue -> catelyn I

i said before that i wanted to "liveblog" my reread of agot that im doing while following a podcast, i guess this is that! I say "liveblog" because I'm annotating as I read and this is more a reflection on that and general thoughts, it would be too disruptive to actually write every time I had a thought to share! long post incoming

brief heads up that if i quote something and the text is colored, that's the color tab I used when I read the book initially. I have 7 colored tabs when reading agot and they are:

yellow - world building details / foreshadowing

orange - simply pretty or funny

red - sansa / jon / jonsa related

blue - any of the other starks centric

green - literally any other character

purple - marks deaths

pink - daenerys related

For the sake of this reading post, both "yellow" and "orange" tabs will be in yellow should I quote them. Having read the book already once I'm not sure if this is exactly how I should've set it up, but hey it there. I'll probably change is for ACOK, who knows.

Sometimes I'm going to quote whatever I tabbed without comment, but not always. Only if I simply think the line is good / pretty.

Prologue

Having the POV character be Will instead of Gared or Waymar is sooooo smart. Despite being high fantasy I like that we aren't dropped into the brain of a Knight right away, but also Will being a hunter is best equipped to actually notice all these little details being told to us.

i have a lot of things highlighted that are simply wonderful to read. I know we talk about it a lot, but George really is an amazing writer, like an actual delight to read. Like this quote:

"Will could sense something else in the older man. You could taste it, a nervous tension that came perilous close to fear."

On a craft level its so good! It tells us something about both Gared (his fear of whatever is in the woods, currently being covered by surliness) and of Will (how observant he is, using all his senses, but also how intuitive he is), and on top of all that it reads so smoothly.

because of my color coded tabs it literally made me giggle to highlight the description of Waymar as "...grey-eyed and graceful and slender as a knife." knowing I'm only thinking of Jon and jonsa. Sorry Waymar, you're beauty is only important to me for ship reasons.

Another thing that struck me as very Jon like happens only a couple lines later:

"It is hard to take orders from a man you laughed at in your cups, Will reflected... Gared must have felt the same."

Despite currently doing a reread of AGOT, I've never read past this book, but this feels so Jon to me. His status as a beloved bastard creates all that tension with his brothers, I imagine the more status he receives the more his brothers feel this. Jon is capable, but then so is Waymar. Doesn't stop Gared and Will from not taking him seriously.

If this chapter had been in Waymar's POV it would have read like a detective novel. He's clearly very analytically minded, but poor Waymar that brain and bravery isn't going to do you any good here.

"It burns, it does. Nothing burns like the cold. But only for a while."

Both Will and Gared have this instinctual fear of the Other's despite not knowing they're real. Like they can feel something is about to happen. I don't believe either of them is from the North, but I wonder if the longer you spend in Beyond the Wall, the more the magic of the place gets to you.

The entire fight between Waymar the the Others is perfect. Waymar's bravery yes, but more importantly it's the perfect introduction to what will be The Big Threat Beyond The Wall for the entire series. They're so nonhuman but not in an animal way, in a Fae way. Cruel and so beyond even a strong man's power, inescapable. Will hiding in the tree was smart and all but him being smart and observant like a hunter and still dying really pushes the idea again that no man is a match for these creatures.

Bran I

Being reminded instantly that Bran is only seven in this book broke my heart so bad. Still such a baby, and on his first big boy duty, watching an execution. If I think about it too long I'll start to get mad at Ned even though he's trying to do what he can to prepare his son's for adulthood.

"He had taken off Father's face, Bran thought, and donned the face of Lord Stark of Winterfell."

Ned's first and last actions in the book being a beheading fuck me up so bad. Every action he takes in these early chapters damns him in some way down the line, no matter how noble the intentions.

"Jon was fourteen, an old hand at justice." is such a silly and yet sad thing for Bran to think. It's so younger brother of him to assume Jon at 14 holds all this knowledge inside him, considers him wise, but Jon is just a child too. It's sad knowing that Jon is expected to act like a man, will be considered a man soon.

"Jon's eyes were a grey so dark they seemed almost black, but there was little they did not see. He was of an age with Robb, but they did not look alike. Jon was slender where Robb was muscular, dark where Robb was fair, graceful and quick where his half brother was strong and fast."

Whatever could all these details mean! This is one of those details from all those Jonsa metas that really fucking got to me. Like three pages before Waymar is described the exact same way, and I'm not meant to connect them in my mind? And then eventually we find out Sansa had a crush on Waymar? idc if I'm grasping at straws it feels real to me.

I love that immediately after than Robb and Jon show just how young they are and race to the bridge. It's one of the last times they'll allowed to be kids.

"Bran thought about it. 'Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?' 'That is the only time a man can be brave,' his father told him."

I think that quote is like a thesis statement for the Starks as a family. I know their words are Winter is Coming, but all of them are eternally brave in the face of their fear. Even Catelyn, so proud of being a Tully, is a Stark in this way.

People always bring up the 'the man who swings the sword' bit from this conversation between Bran and Ned, but the more important bit is just after. "A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is." This is about the Starks yes, but more importantly it's about Westeros and everyone in it. Like. I can't articulate how important it is, but this is what Ned is trying to teach Bran, not just that Bran should take responsibility for his decisions by fulfilling them himself.

Theon is such a shit, but also Jon snarking him back "I see [a direwolf] now" is the start of Jon's dry ass humor. Why did people make me think Jon is all duty and somber monologues, this kid is funny!! And he continues to be after this iirc!! Jon funny canon please remember this people!!!

The direwolf being impaled on antlers is maybe the least subtle foreshadowing of any in this series and yet it feels so smart to me! To plant this here before we know the Baratheon sigil. And that from the eyes of innocent seven year old Bran this means almost nothing, other than him remarking on how gruesome it is, but later is superstitious Catelyn's eyes it takes on new meanings!!

"He loved Jon with all his heart at that moment. Even at seven, Bran understood what his brother had done. The count had some right only because Jon had omitted himself."

For all that Catelyn has no reason to like Jon, in other circumstance she might love the guy. "Family, Duty, Honor" right? That's all Jon is! Here he is, putting his little brother's wants above all else, even as he struggles with not being Ned's trueborn son. To voluntarily bring it up so that Bran can have a puppy... the family>duty>honor is in the room with us, coming from one Jon Snow!!

Ghost's eyes being open = "but there was little [Jon] did not see" yeah, yeah exactly! soul wolves are here besties!!!!

Catelyn I

Catelyn is that girl, I'm sorry she is the superior POV in this series. First of all she's very smart, always thinking and making connections. It's why we get this infodump from her right away, because Catelyn really can't think of being in the Godswood without comparing it to her childhood home. Second of all I love the way she is religious. Most religious characters in books and film are sort of boiled down to religious zealots or someone deeply conservative. For Catelyn it's simply part of her, a part that will never go away. She doesn't feel at home in the godswood of Winterfell because those aren't her gods, but she doesn't call them fake. They simply aren't hers. She's spiritual, it's why she see's the antler in the direwolf as a sign and takes it seriously ("dread coiled in her like a snake...") when Ned won't. I just think it gives her a unique perspective in this story, one that leads her to be almost genre aware.

"...but the red eyes of the weirwood seemed to follow her as she came."

oh no i hope we don't find out that someone is using the trees to watch people that would be so creepy /s

"'Beyond the Wall?' The thought made Catelyn shudder. Ned saw the dread on her face. 'Mance Rayder is nothing for us to fear.' 'There are darker things beyond the Wall.' She glanced behind her at the heart tree, the pale bark and red eyes, watching, listening, thinking it's long slow thoughts."

like this! there is no reason for Catelyn, a woman raised in Riverun, to fear beyond the wall more than Ned, who was born in the North. I know he spent a lot of his childhood in the Vale, but you can't tell me baby Ned wasn't told stories of what's out there. But it's Catelyn the eternally superstitious who believes them. And she's right! Always right, my poor Cassandra.

She's also so politically minded. Ned is nothing but excited to see and old friend. It doesn't even worry him that the King is making an unannounced visit. Catelyn though, she knows. Jon Arryn dead, Robert coming, the direwolf. It might aswell be in neon flashing lights to her!!

Alright, that's it for now. Daenerys I, Eddard I, and Jon I should be next, with a three a week pace is all goes according to plan. This took me way longer than I thought it was going to but it was so much fun, and as long as it continues to be fun I will continue to make them!

[annawayne]

TOP 10 favourite AA fanfics?

Hello!

Thank you for asking me too, since I saw the answers from the dear comrades in AA fandom, and I'm very touched you also asked me. Thank you!

As for TOP, it's going to be my subjective taste and, sorry, more than 10, so without further do, in no particular order:

The whole AruAni in Fort Salta, with the leading role of Village By The End of The World by @moonspirit. The true treasure for the AruAni fandom, but, in my opinion, even for the whole AoT fandom as an incredible and impressive post-canon tale.

Phenomenally written with complex, layered narration and excellent character analysis and exploration of various topics - outside and inside, past and present, and the sheer beauty of human lives with all the struggles, traumas and nightmares, tangled with the incredible moments of mundane and peaceful life. This story makes you love this life and see the beauty in the smallest of things - both the characters and the readers.

(but honestly, read all Moon's works)

Black Water and the whole collection by @distortedclouds

A very precise dive into Annie's (and Armin's) relationships through the lens of the family - Annie's father and the one Armin and Annie try to build on their own. It's a fresh and solid exploration with a fantastic character analysis without any restrictions - raw and honest, in all glory. Fantastic style, impressive depths, and a story that leaves a huge impact.

Little Bird by @aquietjune is, perhaps, one of the best Annie-centric fics ever written with a unique post-canon setting and a very sharp, in the most wonderful ways, writing style, that immediately steals you away from this world, and you're caught hostage by June's imagination and mysteries.

Legends by @mimiwrites2000 is an impressive, emotional rollercoaster of canon-divergence with heart-wrenching twists and a beautiful writing style that makes you feel longing for something that you don't even know a name. I would describe this fic as "bittersweet nostalgia".

(just like with Clouds and Moon, go and read everything, honestly)

By Each Crime and Kindness (I'm bound to you) by @aruanimess, in my opinion, is one of the best Cadets AruAni stories I've ever read - the story holds the tense melancholy of the canon with the bittersweet moments of adolescence which was forced to live and to love in their cruel world. But the world is also beautiful, and, I suppose, this is exactly what this story is about.

on the path that led me to you by @the-last-thread-of-my-sanity is another perfect example of one of the best Cadest AruAni fics, in my opinion. Very honest, and fragile, just like the first love and the first leaves in the spring, story, that, however, holds a very deep analysis of AruAni moments during their time as Cadets - and what lies beneath the surface.

The Difference Between Us by @/BreakingSanity - maybe, the most unique AruAni fic ever written. I mean, where else would you find Human!Annie and... Tiny!Annie 4 inches tall romance with unique, complex story-building and universe, plot twists and a lot, a lot of emotions? The story hooked you just from the very first chapter.

Wait By The Ocean by @/SirCookieton is absolutely stellar exploration of the grief and denial, love and hope, that is already doomed from the start, but the sheer longing, the raw emotions that etched every word through the course of the story, leave huge scars in your heart as a reminder that, sometimes, the most difficult part is accepting the inevitable.

Nothing Sweeter Than You, A Perfect Love by @dude-why-3 are my personal favourites and the stories that are very dear to my heart. This is a magical tale of star-crossed lovers in a Romanian village, set in the 1950's, and these stories are a wonderful example of how to write romance stories in general. But let me also mention Who painted the sky? - a story that granted me an experience I never had, but it's so well-written, that it feels like I experienced something like this. It feels like a memory from a summer.

A Force To Be Reckoned by @luciensdefenseattorney a solid historical AU, with mysteries, tension and great background stories! And as for the similar vibe, I would also mention The Viscount and His Silent Ballerina by @/cherriesinmoonlight

These City Lights by @annieleonhardt was one of the first AruAni fics I ever read, and it's still one of my favourites, even if it's not finished. Silent movie director Armin and silent movie actress Annie, set in the early 1920's? Yes, please.

Tater Tots & Heavy Thoughts by Anonymous is still one of the most honest, of the most delicate stories I've ever read, written with a lot of care, attention and love for the details. This story had a huge impact on me, and it still has, so if you want to dive into a fantastic character study through the perspective of some very heavy topics which are explored with a lot of care - this story is exactly for this.

Coveted by @/honeyriot is a majestically written exploration of intimacy and how two ruined souls find solace in each other embrace. 11 chapters of sensuality, honesty, bravery and vulnerability.

On freer seas by @/astralcrow is a very solid Pirate AU, with incredible and stunning world-building, great character analysis and development, and the tension that don't leave you several weeks after you finish this mind-blowing story.

And, some incredible oneshots I really liked a lot:

Tangerine Skies and Muffled Cries by @midnightraine131

A River, An Ocean by @yourmaejesty

Dawn by @/aikrm

okay by @lunamoon1233

Deep Cuts by @dude-why-3

A glimpse of us. by @/Decoii

invisible strings by @diam-etrical

If our love is tragedy why are you my remedy? by @aruxani

But let me summarize that eveyone who creates in AA fandom is incredible, and I'm forever grateful for all the content we have in fandom.

You all are wonderful and thank you a lot!

[jacebeleren]

It bothers me so much that the only transfem rep in mtg cards is this like. Soldier military woman, like 'ooh look at this guy's we made a trans woman who's a part of a war machine' fantastic thank you magic very original

=========

Okay.

First of all, there is no "our" interpretation of the text. My thoughts are my own, and your thoughts are your own. Some of our thoughts might align, but I will not allow you to speak for me.

Second, I am sorry you feel so disappointed in the current state of transgender representation in Magic. I understand your concerns and I think they're valid concerns.

Third, your concerns being valid does not mean I agree with what you have to say, though. Don't come into my inbox complaining unless you're ready for me to honestly respond. Respectfully, your approach to these concerns makes it clear to me that you don't actually understand what you're talking about.

It's apparent that you follow me or have at least seen many of my posts. You appear to respect my opinions / analysis (at least regarding Jace and Tezzeret). So listen to me when I say this:

What constitutes 'good' representation is context-dependent, and it's not something you alone get to decide.

Yes, Alesha is a "soldier military woman", as you said. I understand that you have this complaint because you believe this makes Alesha an example of the stereotype that trans women are violent. But context matters. What you're failing to consider is the fact that she comes from the Mardu Horde, a faction on Tarkir inspired by the Mongol hordes of real-world history. In this context, Alesha isn't presented as violent because she's a trans woman. She's violent because she literally comes from a warrior clan based on one of the greatest military forces in human history. And honestly, with Magic being a combat-centric game, she's not any more violent than any non-Mardu Legends, either.

Do you seriously think a story about a trans woman fighting to proudly declare her trans identity in her culture and later becoming the accomplished and well-respected leader of her clan is bad representation? Does the fact that she's a warrior really outweigh the rest of the lovingly crafted trans narrative they created for her, to you?

It's fine if you feel that way. You don't have to like Alesha or her story. But just because something wasn't made for your taste doesn't mean it's bad writing / bad representation.

Anyway, I highly recommend you read Alesha's story, "The Truth of Names", since it seems like you haven't read it yet. It's a fantastic story-- the most beloved short story in all of Magic, actually. It was the most-read article on the entire Magic website for like 5 years, according to WOTC.

And if you're interested in learning more about transfem characters in Magic who aren't Alesha, I recommend you read about Xantcha, who first appears in the novel "Planeswalker".

Next, I need to make things clear about Ashiok.

Ashiok was never intended to be nonbinary representation. Ashiok was created to be a mysterious, unknowable villain. What makes Ashiok special is that we are not mean to know anything about Ashiok. We do not know Ashiok's species or plane of origin, for example. Another part of that element of mystery is not knowing Ashiok's gender, or how Ashiok identifies. Ashiok's original style guide from Theros explicitly instructs people to not use any pronouns for Ashiok at all (which I still follow because old habits are hard to break.) Official Magic sources did not begin to use they/them pronouns for Ashiok until 2022, in the story "A Garden of Flesh" (another excellent story, BTW.) And they only started using they/them for Ashiok because it is really hard to write a story where the character is mentioned that many times without pronouns.

All this to say: Ashiok as intentional nonbinary representation is certainly not the narrative WOTC is pushing.

Yes, there are many fans of Ashiok who interpret Ashiok as nonbinary, but those are their thoughts and you need not concern yourself with that, if it bothers you so.

As for Niko, it's weird that you say they're "non-existent" in Magic story when 2 of the 5 side stories ("Know Which Way the Wind is Blowing" and "Aim Through the Target") in their debut set Kaldheim were entirely focused on Niko. They're also a starring main character in 15 of the 25 issues of the BOOM! Studios Magic comics.

I'm glad you like my analysis of Jace and Tezzeret as transgender characters. Thank you for that, genuinely. But I want you to understand that the reason I have these interpretations is because I love Magic Story. And more importantly, I actually read it. I love Magic Story, and I have so much respect for the Magic Narrative team and the work they do.

What most people don't understand is that the Magic Narrative Team is in fact very careful and very loving in their approach to queer representation. You may not know this about me, but I'm friends with A LOT of people who formerly or currently work on Magic / Magic Story. Knowing these people personally, I know for a fact that the Magic creative Team does not create queer characters for "diversity points". They're not just checking boxes. The Magic creative team creates queer characters because the Magic creative team is full of queer people and allies who want to tell stories that reflect their own + fans' experiences. And they have to constantly fight to include more / better queer representation in Magic. They want good queer representation in Magic just as much as we do.

Am I going to defend everything they do? No! Are they perfect? No! They are just people. They make mistakes and they have blind spots. For example, in my essay about my analysis of Jace as a trans man, I explain that the reason my interpretation means so much to me is because there is currently zero meaningful representation for trans men in Magic canon. There are zero transgender male characters in Magic canon who have names. That's a HUGE blind spot considering the number of canon trans characters! That's something that disappoints and upsets me.

I'm not afraid to criticize Magic Story, and I do so very often. But I am critical of Magic story because I love it. My criticism does not equal hatred or unhappiness.

Sorry to hear that their efforts at including better trans representation in Magic would piss you off. I'm sorry that you've given up.

Lastly, I think Liliana is cis, but that's just my headcanon.

[alexrosekey]

Hermione-centric and HP World Building Expansion edition

A late entry from me. Beware that this list is based on my personal preference. If you don't like the ships, remember the rule - don't like don't read. Ship and let ship!

That being said, it has been a while since the last time I've come up with a rec list. But reccing great fanfics has remained one of my greatest passion. Having decided to fully integrated myself into the Harry Potter fandom again, I'm amazed at how creative and talented the authors of this fandom are. There are a plethora of interesting ideas and premises, with various themes and genres along with inquisitive, thoughtful observation regarding the characters and the world building of Harry Potter.

Without further ado, let's dive in to my submission for today's @hprecfest prompt: fics with over 100k+ words. All the fics below are Hermione-centric (one less than the other two but still), with amazing social commentaries on the HP world and impeccable observation on the magical world, which to me are the best aspect of HP fic.

unsphere the stars by @cocoartistwrites (M, 222,827, Hermione Granger/Tom Riddle)

When you can't change time, but you can't go forward, what is left? Hermione learns how to be the protagonist of her own story.

To quote one of the bookmarks: Hermione is more than she ever was. This story is a journey of Hermione to grow, to love and to explore magic and its beauty more than she could ever be. Don't let the pairing deter you, this is no doubt one of the most memorable fanfic reading experience I have in my years of being in fandoms. Hermione and Tom are both portrayed spectacularly and thoughtfully, and the prose are some of the most poetic I've ever seen.

To sum up the whole of my reading experience, I laid on my bed and stared at the ceiling for 30 mins after reading the last chapter, completely shell-shocked.

All I could say is, if you want an astounding character arc for Hermione, with in-depth magical system and immersive world building, plus interesting OCs and breathtaking writing, then this fic is definitely for you!

*This fic could also be placed under the prompt of Day 7: A Canon-Compliant Fic.

2. What's Past is Prologue by ABitofWit (E, 244,611, Hermione Granger/Lucius Malfoy)

It's eight years after the war and Hermione Granger has taken a break from her career at the Ministry of Magic to compile an oral history of the conflict. She's interviewed just about everyone she can get her hands on but she wants to be thorough. And that means getting in contact with a very unwilling Lucius Malfoy.

Listen, I know the pairing is weird as fuck. I know, I had my doubt too before reading it. But the raving bookmarks convinced me to give this a chance. And boy, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

This fic is more than just a ship fic, it's about love and what we would do for it, the greyness of life and choices, of redemption and finding one's self worth outside of pre-existing, archaic ideas and values. It's about change and how we're never too old to learn. WPIP is everything I've ever wanted in a fic, emotional, sincere, humorous, gorgeous, sexy, steamy and sweet. Full of heart and soul.

Most of all, the development of and between Hermione and Lucius is so natural and makes a lot of sense, without them being OOC. This fic reminds me that Hermione is not at all flawless (the opposite of the usual Mary-Sue, little-miss-perfect trope that Hermione tends to be portrayed in fics), while successfully humanizes and makes Lucius Malfoy one of the most interesting HP characters in my eyes. (Who would have thought that I've spent years not giving a jot about this guy, only to fall in love with such a mess of a man like him??)

Combine with sharp commentaries and observations on the British Wizarding World, Wizarding politics and a not-canon folder supporting cast, this is no doubt one of the best HP fic, and one of the best fanfic I've ever had the pleasure to read.

*This fic could also be placed under the prompt of Day 2: A Comfort Fic and Day 9: A Rare Pair Fic.

3. Six Pomegranate Seeds by Seselt (E, 185,965, no pairing but implied Theodore Nott/Hermione Granger)

At the end, something happened. Hermione clutches at one fraying thread, uncertain whether she is Arachne or Persephone. What she does know is that she will keep fighting to protect her friends even if she must walk a dark path.

Sooo, this is one very weird fic. One of the oddest fics I've ever encoutered, in fact. I've read it twice, one before I read the book series in full, one after I've finished the books. And let me tell you, SPS is a stunning work.

The odd, floating third-person POV, the dry and sharp, straightforward tone of Hermione. Her competency, her compassion despite all the pain and the emotional repression. This is definitely not your usual time travel fix-it fic.

Most of Hermione's work happened in tandem with the 7 books' main storyline. Hermione's soul is put into the body of a young orphan Pureblood heiress. This gives the fic one of the most interesting spin on the Hermione-is-a-pureblood trope.

Through Hermione, we have a closer look into the background and the context of the main events of the books, plus a deeper understanding of the Pureblood society and a much more sympathetic view into the students Slytherin house. All without whitewashing and offsetting the corruption and the effects of the Purebloods and the Slytherins' stuffy, archaic views on not only the young generation of students but also the British Wizarding world.

I lost count of the amount of time I slapped my knees while reading this work the second time whenever I encountered a particularly sharp line of thought/commentary from Hermione in this fic. I'm also amazed at how much work and research the author has put into SPS, particularly in terms of making up tons of new magical theories and the use of exotic and lesser known vocabulary (seriously, if you decide to read this one, prepare a dictionary next to you, or get ready to regularly stop mid reading in order to look up certain words 😆)

*This fic could also be placed under the prompt of Day 7: A Canon-Compliant Fic.

That being said, thank you for checking out my list! Thank the admins of @hprecfest for holding such a fun activity. Feel free to join in yourself. Happy reading 💋

Day 16: A fic that made you laughed

Day 19: Fic with the hottest smut

Day 22: An unfinished fic (hasn't updated in 10 years or the author stated it has been abandoned)

Day 26: A fic with an ending you can't stop thinking about

[chaotic-orphan]

Found fictional story/novel

So... I have found a fictional novel that I wrote over the last ten years that I had completely forgotten about, and then, once I found it again, I realised there is so much of it - like 90,000 words much of it - and it is a lot to comb through and I kind of shut down mentally when I found it but I am working more now on updates for the WIPS I have on Tumblr!

So you can Expect updates soon in:

Delirious Villain x hero caretaker,

Heroic betrayal,

Intoxicating fear (updates every Saturday) (from now) :)

Vendetta,

and, A Benignant Mischief

which are all started in the drafts!

Updates continued under cut

(*not necessary* to read as it is mostly rambles and ranting about the novel I found (and others), but I want to share some fun revelations I found while skimming it)

There are some whumpy scenes from the novel that I may post as I find them, cause some of them are very whumpy, and I enjoyed reading them~

The plot has a lot of male characters which is both interesting and annoying— interesting because I love the two brothers dynamic, even not even blood related, like two brothers joined together by fate, blood, prophecy etc. Annoying because it’s obvious that I looked at the media I was surrounded with and was like “nobody wants to read about women, if they did, there would be more women centric things” so I’ll write about boys!

Point 2 Contd. (Rant!) Obviously discounting the genre of YA dystopian fiction which was great, and populated by mainly female protagonists, and which I enjoyed, but then, were shit on by the mainstream media because GIRLS CAN’T FIGHT? Girls can’t be the main driving force of a novel? Girls suck, boo girls, unless they’re tom boys or men. Ahem, thank you for your input on teenage girl’s book choices FORTY YEAR OLD WHITE MEN :D WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT YOU

Part 2+3 contd. (the brightside!) However, the good thing about this is that I can populate the rest of the novel with strong female characters! There are a few dotted through who i dote on a bit, I love them, like come here my little beautiful minority <3

The plot centers around two brothers who get torn apart when outlaw's raid in their coastal village - actually, my newest Medieval WIP was inspired by the novel!! Same setting/vibe (as in the coastal village) so very fun

This to say that actually I think the new Medieval WIP is my brain trying to flesh the world out more and see what the average people would do in the world… but it’s a story in its own right too!

There are magic, gods, good gods and bad gods ofc, ancients, bloodlines, descendants, royalty, soldiers, outlaws, magic schools, political intrigue - like it is a mix of everything I have loved over the years which is so funny to see because clearly I haven't changed...

The dialogue?!?!? I don't think I have written like that ever, but the dialogue is so much better than the dialogue I write today and idk why? Maybe because I wrote it off a sudden throng of inspiration or something? But, fuck, how do I write like that again? I mean, without editing, because the amount of editing I had to do to make the novel READABLE wasn't funny, it took so long... it's finished now though, just the editing, NOTHING else - give me strength, I need it

Also, realised that I hate editing - is it something new? Not really, but holy moly... editing sucks, but it also?? Improves the story and fluidity so much, I should start editing my pieces before I publish and come off as far more eloquent than I do

Planning... is also so difficult - 90% of the novel is like this:

Scene X: completed Me: ah, good, that scene is written, I can move on to the next one Me, still staring at Scene X: ...move on now My brain: but what if it happened like this? PROVIDES SEVEN DIFFERENT ALTERNATE ENDINGS TO THE SCENE THAT WEREN'T NECESSARY AND NOW I HAVE TO CUT SO MUCH CRAP BUT MY BRAIN'S STILL LIKE - BUT WHAT IF?

My brain's literally like the writer's brain from Hush, such a good movie... ANYWAYS!!!!

That's the end of all my ramblings for today, was this post necessary? No, but like, I clearly wanted to get it off my chest and vent so we live, laugh, love... I hope all your days are going well :3

~ Orphan,

(P.S. - I'm toying with the idea of dropping my nickname in the bio, or doing a whole overhaul of the blog - the name, the layout... get rid of orphan, or maybe just become "nickname_the orphan", or something. But, see orphans are just so whumpy though I love a good orphan story... thoughts, ideas, waste management? I'm just dunking all my overflow of thoughts on this update today, but sure, look, be grand — I’m truly sorry if you read this far, I am having an ✨episode✨)

[dulcidyne]

#3 for the book asks please. My tbr doesn’t need to be bigger than it is, but I’m prepared to add to it.

Ohh, Sloth thank you for the ask!!!

3. What were your top five books of the year? Oh, this is going to be hard to narrow down but I believe in myself! 1. Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir This whole series is 10/10 for me with the added extra deliciousness that is a beautiful anatomy-centric prose. Harrow adds to this by featuring more of the sci-fi elements, an even more unreliable narrator somehow, and a soup scene that will live forever in my brain, it was so incredible. I did two formats on all three books in this series: audiobook while at work and then when I got home, I'd read my digital copy (very helpful for annotation) because I could not put it down. I also bought physical copies so I could do a re-read without my blocks of highlighted texts.

2. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Housseini I listened to this on audiobook at work first and ended up sobbing and sniffling pathetically into my surgical mask, which was embarrassing, so I finished it at home reading my digital copy. So many of these vignettes haunt me to this day, they're so beautiful. This may be one of my favorite books of all time, it was so incredible and I need a physical copy asap.

3. The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater I love every single one of her Regency era fairytales. The exploration of class and gender dynamics just brings so much to the time period, and I love how her protagonists can come from all walks of life. I was just so invested in the main characters in this, the paired traumas brought out everything I love bout Olvia Atwater's universe 4. Babel by R.F. Kuang I don't think it was flawless, I wish there was a bit more focus on the characters but it more than made up for that in the world building and magic system. I mentioned how I loved the translation of the historic into sci-fi in An Unkindness of Ghosts and this book did something very similar but into fantasy. I don't think it got the balance as right as Rivers Solomon did, but to me the critique of academia's power structures made up for it. 5. Really, an Unkindness of Ghosts belongs here but since I already talked about it, I'm going to put #6 here instead: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. I love the narrative voice and diction, I love her prose, and I love her characters. Poisonwood Bible is maybe my favorite book of all time (up there at least), so I am very biased to like anything Kingsolver writes. It was a bit long, I'll admit haha. Ask Meme

[k4tisblog]

10 MEDIA DIARY: MLP:FiM & YAKYAKISTAN.

Hello! Hi! This post may be a bit of a ramble. I have watched all 9 seasons of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It’s a comfort show, and has been very dear to me since I was a kid. While I love it to death, I want to point out its portrayal of race.

From the "Buffalo tribe" being analogous to Indigenous Americans (S1), to Rarity gentrifying an Indian Pony restaurant (S6), one could probably write an entire thesis about it. However, for everyone's sake, I'll focus on the episode "She's all Yak." (Season 9 Episode 7). Spoilers ahead, of course.

Introducing MLP:FiM A quick summary of the show thus far- Twilight Sparkle was a unicorn who earned the title of Princess of Friendship (and also wings). She couldn't have done it without her friends Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and last but not least, Rarity! The Mane 6 (that's a pun) have a reputation for saving the world (too many times to keep track). At the premiere of season 8, Twilight starts the very first School of Friendship! The point: to invite everypony everycreature to come and learn friendship. (There are implications here- but that's another discussion in and of itself.) The school's credibility is questionable, but they get through the trials and tribulations of the education system with the power of friendship!

Yakyakistan Let's just say things can go a bit off the rails when you invite different species into the My Little Pony cinematic universe. It didn't have to be bad. It really didn't.

Alas, the Yaks. They're from Yakyakistan. Speak "broken" English when no other species does. Being destructive is "crucial to their culture". Need I say more? It is not necessary to create this association to real-world regions using the suffix "-stan", for them to have "caveman-like” speech, for their "traditions" to be destructive tendencies. They are prideful and nationalistic to an unrational extent as well. Refusing cooperation with others, instead choosing to eat and sleep on snow comes to mind.

"However, despite Pinkie and the yaks' efforts, there is too much snow for them to dig through, and their forceful digging only causes more snow to fall from the mountain. Pinkie Pie offers to return to Ponyville and get help from her friends, but the proud Rutherford and his subjects refuse to accept help from ponies. Rutherford suggests simply waiting for the snow to melt, and he and his subjects resort to eating and sleeping on snow to survive. " (S7 Ep 11, MLP:FiM Wiki)

YONA: SHE'S ALL YAK As much as the Yaks were in poor taste (AT BEST), it was easy to avoid; they typically only existed in their own standalone episodes. Unfortunately, they keep appearing; Yona is chosen by Yakyakistan's Prince Rutherford to attend the School of Friendship. The main thing with the Yaks as characters is that their main "problems" in their episodes are the clash of their “savage” cultural norms vs. the “civilised” ponies.

Considering once again a clear association to real-life ethnic groups and these "cultural norms" enforcing real-world prejudice… Yeah, I do flinch every time a Yak plot is introduced. "She's All Yak" is an episode that I watched all the way through. I have things to say. Yona is asked by her (pony) friend Sandbar to join the Amity Ball and partake in the Pony Pals contest with him. Since the dance is traditionally pony-centric, she responds "But Yona yak. Yona not pony." Sandbar assures her that that doesn't matter and she accepts.

Now filled with a want to be the best Pony Pal, Yona sees Rarity stressing about Ball dresses and feels she has a lot to learn before the event. She turns to Rarity for guidance on what to wear, and how to act.

Rarity teaches Yona how to talk - shoving Brussels sprouts in her mouth to help annunciation.

Rarity: [elocuting] The weather is quite agreeable today. Yona: [muffled] The weather is quite agreeable today. [chews, gulps, belches loudly] Yona like Brussels sprouts! Rarity: Let's move on.

While Rarity looks through different dress options, Yona tells her she likes brown. Rarity expresses disgust at "earth tones," sticking her tongue out and calling them "earthy." She says not to worry; she'll find a dress to make Yona stand out! Yona says she doesn't want to stand out, but rather to fit in… Cue the musical number. "Once you learn the pony way you'll start to fit right in." Rarity sings while Yona gets transformation montage.

Yona's struggle in integrating into pony norms is turned comedic. It's exaggerated to the point of being downright unflattering. She's highlighted as dirty, clumsy, unfashionable, and, of course, destructive.

After a long while of Yona getting everything wrong, she manages to get things right! (She dances without causing earthquakes and speaks like a posh pony now.)

Yona’s ready to rumble.

THE AMITY BALL

Gallus: I'm just glad I'm here with you guys. Least I'm not the only non-pony in the crowd. Sandbar: You're not still worried about that, are you? Like Headmare Twilight said, this is a dance for everycreature. There's no pony pressure.

Yona's friends giggle at the contrast between Sandbars' statement and the sight of ridiculously-overponified-Yona.

They are all taken aback, and Sandbar looks concerned. He plays along with it; she did all this for him after all. The dances begin! Yona is excited, inviting Sandbar to dance. She dances well until she trips on her dress and takes a tumble. Regaining her composure, they move on to the Pony Prance. Yona’s wig temporarily obscures her vision and she freaks out. Stampeding through the Ball, she ends up hurting everyone and destroying everything in her path. Inconsolable, Yona runs off in tears.

"Yona disappoint Sandbar. Yona not make very good pony." Sandbar finds Yona and they have a heart to heart.

Yona: Yona just want to do all the right pony things and fit in at dance! Then maybe Sandbar and Yona win best pony pals contest. Instead, Yona win worst pony ever.[crunch] Sandbar: That's not true. (...) Sandbar: Yona, it doesn't really matter if you're a great pony or a horrible pony. You're the best Yona I know. That's why I asked you to the dance.

I don't have an issue with the message this episode is trying to convey. It's an obvious trajectory towards being yourself; you don't have to change for anyone - I appreciate the representation of this in Sandbar and Yona's relationship.

We get a sincere apology from the Mane 6, admitting that it was no fault of Yona's but rather their fault for unknowingly forcing her to be something she was not. Yona and Sandbar are given the winning trophy for the Pony Pal competition!

Spike then exclaims that "everypony wants to learn that crazy dance [Yona] did." She teaches them all the "Yakyakistan Stomp." They all start to dance as the camera shakes and the credits roll.

How do you feel about the use of the word “crazy”? CONCLUSIONS As much as I understand the intent, I can't ignore the root of Yona's character. From her personality traits to her place of origin... There are too many implications. I've scavenged for online articles, forums, etc. for opinions on My Little Pony’s Yaks, but it's proving to be a bit of a niche topic. Only in conversation have I heard of people who share my concerns or even acknowledge them. A friend of my girlfriend's posted about this on Reddit once, as I have come to learn, but was shot down by negative responses and disagreements. I suspect the difference in the main fanbases for MLP are a factor.

(I might go into this more in a future blog post - let’s just say that humanified fanart now is more diverse compared to a decade ago.) These comments I found while scrolling through the MLP:FiM wiki piqued my interest. While a fine assessment of the episode at large - the descriptions of Yak culture further prove my point. Just choosing to describe Yakyakistan culture with the word "simple" says a lot.

User Angel Emfrbl's "not that bad" feels like we're settling for "it could be worse. It all makes sense with the current characterizations." I want more people to want to dig deeper into what it all represents. There is a lack of acknowledgment of the root of the Yaks’ existence - their designs, plots, and worldviews.

The unflattering portrayal of Yaks being destructive and completely un-ponylike feels dehumanizing (deponifying?). There ARE ponies that are portrayed as Indian and East Asian. Even the Kirin species closely resemble ponies (just sporting different manes, horns, and tails.) If I'd even go out on a limb and hypothetically say the Dragons are implied to be Europeans (since they based on traditional European dragons), who could be hurt by being compared to a dragon? It certainly gets complicated to explore not only racial implications between ponies, but entire different species. Nonetheless, there is a heavy responsibility to check in with those who experience real-world discrimination before using it as plot points. At the end of the day - Personal biases must be checked, especially when writing for children's media. Hm. Thoughts?

Comments? Concerns?

Otherwise, have a good evening!

[bajoop-sheeb]

I can't help but notice that all of the people in your anti-colonialism by "marginalized people" book rec list are people who were born and grew up in either the US or, in one or two cases, another white Anglophone country. I.e. the imperial core.

As a non-American I wonder whether, due to the cultural hegemony of the US and other Anglophone countries, the perspectives of people who have spent their whole lives in the Imperial core (even if marginalized in other ways due to their race or some other attribute) can be considered "authentic" depictions of the effects of colonialism in the way that you are presenting them. I find that people from the US, even POC people from the US, are often pretty incapable of understanding non-US perspectives on social justice issues because they're rarely exposed to them and because they grew up brainwashed with media that treats the US as the center of the world, so they overlay the US framework over everything.

I would perhaps have liked to see more recs for authors writing about colonialism who actually grew up in countries that have been affected by colonialism, or at least in countries that aren't as rich and powerful as the US and are therefore heavily dependent on the political whims of powerful Western ones. I'm sure there's a bunch of people in South America writing SF/F, for example, considering their long tradition of awesome magical realism. Or South Africa. Or India (I note that Salman Rushdie is not on your list, for example). I'm not writing this to be pettish, because I don't know enough about it either and would actually like to know, I just feel like perhaps we should all be a bit humbler when talking about this since a strictly US-centric perspective is still a VERY limited one when talking about colonialism (by definition an international, intercultural phenomenon), even when written by POC.

I also wonder about your definition of "marginalized" and if it doesn't fall into the same US-centrism that I talked about in my previous paragraph (even if we assume that "marginalized" means "marginalized as it relates to colonialism" and ignore other forms of marginalization). Is a person from, say, the Balkans, marginalized enough to write about anti-colonialism, or are they exactly the same as a white American in your perspective? Does it matter where from the Balkans? Does it matter if they're Muslim or Christian? How about a Ukrainian person? How about a Ukrainian Jew? Is a person from Bosnia or Ukraine, who went through a war in their lifetime, less qualified to write about war than Kuang, who grew up middle class and went to an Ivy League school (and honestly did a really shitty job of portraying a war in The Poppy Wars), just because they're "Caucasian"?

Also, people are allowed to acknowledge flaws of books written by POC without being automatically labeled as racist, you know. Finding Babel too heavy-handed or on the nose has nothing to do with finding POC characters annoying or unrelatable and sorry but, yeah, IMHO it's really on the nose and annoying about it. It's the writing style that's the problem, not the themes. Also the central metaphor, IMHO, makes it completely useless as a colonialism allegory because if you can destroy colonialism by destroying one magical uberpowerful whatsit, your book is kinda not serious enough about nuanced representation of sociological and political forces to be considered impactful anti-colonialist literature. Saying that as someone who loves Butler and Jemisin. Thea Guanzhon, for example, is a Filipina born and raised in the Philippines and still lives there, which makes her book way more of an "own voices" account of colonialism than Kuang's could ever be in my accounting, but that doesn't mean that her account of colonialism has any particular nuance to it (so far it's just the backdrop for the enemies to lovers romance). So even assuming that Kuang's account is resonant enough with enough people (which I know it is because her book is super popular), who is more deserving of being on your "own voices" list, Kuang or Guanzhon?

I also wonder why white women in particular?

The simple response to all of this is that the post you're referring to broke containment.

I debated replying, because I can't help but feel your message was written in bad faith. But I'm going to try to give you the benefit of the doubt.

You are absolutely right about the limitations of the original list. I truly didn't expect it to reach so many people, and I am not nearly as well-read as I'd like to be when it comes to literature written outside of the West. Please take a look at the reblogs, where a bunch of awesome people have done incredible work filling the gaps I left.

I struggle with the rest of your message. I explicitly stated that I do not expect people to enjoy specific books written by BIPOC authors, simply that I've noticed a very frustrating pattern. And yet you suggest I'm saying that if someone doesn't like Babel or The Hurricane Wars, I'm saying they're racist. Be serious.

Even as a child of multigenerational immigrants, I'll freely admit that I personally have a very US-centric perspective on social issues that I need to work on, but it's wild of you to say that all POC people born in the US are "pretty incapable of understanding" global issues.

When I wrote "marginalized" in the original post, what I really meant was "BIPOC and BIPOC queer people.” I should’ve been more careful about the wording.

Why white women in particular? When it comes to anti-colonial and anti-imperialist fiction (written by Anglophones) the authors that I see most highly and frequently praised are white women. I'd list the specific ones I'm talking about here, but 1. I don't want to be hunted for sport by their fans, 2. I've actually enjoyed some of their work, and 3. they're only a small part of the problem and I think people should be allowed to write whatever they want as long as they can handle the criticism. But I'm sorry, white women. I'll do better next time. I also want to use this moment to apologize to all the dumbasses complaining about my tone/me being "shouty." Reverse racism is real, and we must all stand vigilant hahaha miss me

You telling me to be humble feels a tad hypocritical, but sure, I'll take that under advisement.

[raayllum]

1 - favorite fic you wrote this year. 3 - favorite line/scene you wrote this year. 12 - favorite character to write about this year. 14 - a fic you didn’t expect to write. 21 - most memorable comment/review. And 24 - favorite fic you read this year.

I have no precision on fandom or fic... You are free to choose which fandom. Thus, you may make us discover other universes.

1) favourite fic you wrote this year

Looked through and discovered that I wrote 20 fics this year, which is wild, even if the majority are oneshots so... certainly have my pick an picks for various reasons!

These are the ones, probably:

This Fall Might Just Kill Me is 10.2k of Callum trying and failing to get purified, post-S4, and was one of my favourites and one I return to pretty often for a personal re-read. Very Callum/Rayla centric, some magic worldbuilding, and lots of devotion. Oneshot

Twice as Many Stars is 8.7k of Sir Sparklepuff is an existential horror story, the fic, featuring more religious trauma allegory than expected. Also a oneshot

Teach Me How to Name the Bigger Light a fanon s6 currently of 5 out of roughly 26-30ish chapters, and at 41k and counting. Main characters are Callum, Ezran, Rayla, and Claudia in about that order. It's a lot of fun, and a lot of angst

3) favourite line/scene this year

"If it's not you, it's not anyone" has one of my favourite love / Rayllum confessions I've ever written. I also loved this line from a (now non canon) fic regarding Kpp'Ar's feelings on Callum/people "There are many ways to mend broken things, if you can". I deeply enjoyed Callum threatening Nyx over Rayla's safety in this pre-S5 fic and this piece of description as well: "Callum knelt down in front of her, her cheeks heating as he reached up and pried the shawl away again, looking at the way the scar crept over her shoulder like dark ivy" + this Rayllum passage from "this fall just might kill me" (edit in the link):

“It’s because if I die,” he said, squeezing her hands. “I want you to be the last thing I ever see. And you are good enough, Rayla. You are . I don’t care if you destroy me. I don't care if we make each other better or worse or both. I love you. I’ll fall for you every time. I’ll choose to, I’ll choose you, every time.” 

I also really enjoyed writing Callum and Lujanne in "older but just never wiser" because it was interesting to revisit their dynamic now that well, Callum is older, powerful, and much more jaded/angry.

Drabbles wise this Rayllum one has one of my favourite metaphoric uses I've ever been able to pull off and I always love 1) writing messy Ezran and 2) Ezran being a little done with his brother's less than favourable methods, so this one for Ezran's "underhanded" comment for sure

But if I had to pick a singular exchange fic wise, it is of course the end of the Callum and Ezran fight from Ch4 of fanon s6, because it was a line that hurt me so much I was sad the rest of the day, and I also thought of it before writing a decent chunk of the boys' argument, so making sure it felt earned and hit the way I wanted to was very fun if also angsty. I apologize in advance lmao:

Only this time Callum scoffed, peeling away, his green eyes glinting. “Yeah, right.”  “I am your king and I forbid you—” “You don’t get to forbid me from doing anything because guess what?” A manic gleam overtook his brother’s face. “I don’t fucking care what you think, nevermind what you fucking decree. I’m freeing Runaan, and that’s final.”  “Then you can do it without my help,” Ezran said with a ragged breath. “Because I am not giving you my seal.”  Callum stared at him with cold eyes. “Dad would be so disappointed in you.” But this time Ezran was ready for the blow, as he said, “Well at least I called him Dad."

A shameless plug OG fantasy world wise was definitely this lines from my sequel WIP. You can learn more about it/the fantasy world here <3

The Alpha of the Crescents may have worn her old friend’s face and mannerisms, but the girls they’d both been were long dead, just like their families.  It was time to finish the job and bury them.

as well as

“Good. Vita willing I won’t live to see your next lives.” “Because seeing you again has been so pleasant,” Jamie muttered.

from book one

12) favourite character to write about this year

Given my above answers it's clearly been Callum, but Ezran has probably been my standout in "teach me how to name the bigger light," easy, even if I think Rayla's POV is going to sneak up on me more and more as the fic goes on, especially once we reach the chapters at the Starscraper. I've also written a somewhat decent amount of Kpp'Ar POV this year, I loved writing Claudia in "twice as many stars" in particular. Everyone? Can I say everyone?

But if I had to pick, Callum. (Non fic wise it's all the OG chosen one kiddos running around, I love 'em.)

14) a fic you didn't expect to write

Many days of angry muttering and half concocted plot points predated "teach me how to name the bigger light" and I am still slightly internally salty about it. However, it does feel good to have one last fanon season foray, especially since it's been four years since the last one, and I've been having a fucking blast, lemme tell you.

21) most memorable comment/review

This is hard because I do cherish every review and kind word I get (as well as anyone who leaves notes in their bookmarks) but there are some standouts. Basically anything from twice as many stars is fair game as well as this review on fanon s6, cause I'm gonna go the typical write route and say the long bois make my day / when readers catch onto the smaller details, that's absolutely my favourite:

@inamindfarfaraway <3 hope you've enjoyed the most recent chapter!

24) favourite fic you read this year

Have already done some TDP fic recs here so I'm gonna focus on what's in my bookmarks for now! I mostly read LOZ or SOC fics when I'm not making my way through TDP backlog, but this one for Six of Crows centreing on Inej and Kaz called High Wire Act stood out to me and I'm really enjoying "for the children we couldn't be" for TDP because it's trio centric and the exact kind of time travel fuckery I like to read.

This is tricky, though, cause I find most often the favourite things I participate in is like, the stuff I write because it's what I want to read and most tailored to my specific tastes? I also just don't read as much fic as I could / have in the past and it's hard to pick Just One Fic, y'know? So cop out answer, maybe, but this is the one!

[prowerprojects]

AU & fic ideas masterpost

I just thought I'd put it down for myself, but if any of those interests you, feel free to ask me questions about them! (Most of them are Tails-centric because of course they are)

General ideas & aus building off the mainline setting

I probably wouldn't actually write fics about those but but some of them hardly qualify as "aus" to me. Also most of those don't have actual names

Sunflower au – this is just my general Tails-centric au where I dump all of my worldbuilding headcanons. I base some of the other aus off it.

Roadtrip au – this one is about Tails and Sage as adults going on another soul-searching roadtrip.

The one with Tails's parents – ok I firmly believe that Tails doesn't need parents in canon and I'm glad that it's left up to interpretation, but I was like "what if he has a human name because one of his parents was a human?" And then it kinda happened.

Parents au – similar name to the other one but this one is actually about Knuckles, Amy and Sonic coparenting Tails together. Everyone is older in this au, except for Tails.

Tailswap – this one is just Tails getting bodyswapped with a version of himself from another universe where he only has one tail. They try to swap back (It's not compatible with some of the other aus because alternative universe Miles has different parents)

Bodyswap au - another bodyswap idea, but this time it's the core four getting swapped around. It's just shenanigans all the way through.

Storybook au - this one is just the classic "characters get trapped in a book and have to finish the fairytales to get out", this already kinda happened to Sonic, but this time it's with 6 more people. (Each for a chaos emerald). Each of them is the main character of their own fairytale and they only recover their memories when they get to the end of their story and get the chaos emerald (this part is inspired by the iseakai stories Sonic Channel is doing rn)

Sickfic idea - Tails gets sick for the first time after meeting Sonic. This one I kinda do want to make into a fic.

Memory loss idea - basically Sonic gets a... very specific fantasy version of memory loss (accident in Tails's lab). It's meant to explore how unconventional Sonic and Tails's sibling dynamic is to an outsider, except the "outsider" here is Sonic himself.

Hanahaki idea - I honestly don't have anything specific for it, but maybe I'll come up with something.

Anti au - basically Sonic & his closest friends (at least Tails and Amy, I'm not sure what I want to do with Knuckles here) are... well not evil necessarily, but they cause destruction with no regard for others, they just want to have fun mostly and don't care who gets in the way. Eggman is still not a good person, but he's not as open about his villainy and tries to present a good image to the public. I need a better name for this.

Alvin and the Chipmunks crossover - I just feel that the aatc cast would fit so perfectly into the world of Sonic. I don't know.

Aus that are more explicitly alternative universes

Superhero au - this also doubles as a high school au. It's the classic teenage superhero thing, but it's probably my favourite au and I have a lot of stuff for it.

Magical girl au - magical girls! and boys. Chaos emeralds help the characters transform so it's only 7 people getting the power. Each of them gets a unique power that they can use even without the transformation (for example for Sonic it would be his speed, etc.)

Tangled - au based specifically on Tangled the Series. It's mostly me putting the Sonic characters into scenes from the show and amusing myself with it.

Wizard of Oz - not actually based on the Wizard of Oz, mostly its vibe. Cream and Shadow are the main characters there.

Actual Wizard of Oz au - au where the characters take on the roles of the Oz characters from the first book. It's kind of supposed to be a comedy, all the characters know they're doing a parody.

Aus that are based on specific adaptations

Ever After High au - that's what it is. I'm having a bit of a trouble assigning the characters fairytales, especially Knuckles (he's a very important character there)

Magic School au - eah au is too complicated with assigning the characters and all, so I've decided to also make a regular magic school au

Aosth au with Amy and Metal Sonic - exactly what it says it is. Except Amy has a plot with Scratch and Grounder, while Sonic and Tails try to fight Metal Sonic. It's mostly about Scratch and Grounder leaving Robotnik and Amy becoming a freedom fighter in her own right.

Au based on the Martin Adams novels (with Amy and Metal Sonic) – Metal Sonic here is actually the character that already exists in the novels, I'm just making them into this universe's version of Metal Sonic. But this au is actually mostly about Sonic & Tails's relationship. Sonic has a quarter life crisis.

Boom au where Tails does become Eggman's lab assistant - ok so you know how in like episode 3 Tails offers to become Eggman's lab assistant for the return of his robot, but then the team gets him out before he signs the contract? But what if they were too late? This au is mostly Tails and Eggman being insufferable to each other, also it could be an interesting challenge to rewrite s1 episodes to be without Tails.

Au where Aosth Tails ends up in the Boom universe - exactly what it says it is. It's mostly shenanigans.

[beardyboyzx]

2023 writing self evaluation

I was tagged by @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed, thank you!! <3

1. List of works published this year:

May in my head we can love forever | Explicit | 1.2K, Girl Direction, Harry/Louis -- written for @wankersday

waving to the hard times | NR | 80k, A/B/O, Dystopian AU, Harry/Louis, Liam/Zayn -- written for @onedirectionbigbang [first part of a two piece series]

August I ain't ever fell from a love this tall | G | 733, Liam/Zayn -- written for @wordplayfics

September It's a rush inside I can't control | G | 764, Werewolf AU, Louis-centric -- written for @wordplayfics

you are the magic in me | NR | 2.8k, Magic AU, loosely inspired by BBC Merlin, Liam/Zayn -- written for @wordplayfics

so pretend (pretend) | NR | 1.9k, loosely inspired by White Collar and Catch me if you can, Harry/Louis -- written for @wordplayfics

November to wake up by your side is all I wanna do | G | 1k, AU, Niall/Zayn -- written for @theshowficfest

In 2023: I've published 7 works and a total of 89,283 words!

2. Work you are most proud of (and why):

My Big Bang! I love that story so much, I'm still a bit sad I had to break it in half, but I'm still so proud of how it turned out (@aestheticlarrie's poster is such a masterpiece, I can't help but love that story more because of it <3) I didn't think I could pull it off -- the world building, the characterization...it all looked so intimidating while I was plotting it. But I did it. And I'm happy about it.

3. Work you are least proud of (and why):

Weirdly enough, there is nothing I'm the least proud of. Not even the ones I've written in a rush because of my poor time-managing skills lol

4. A favorite excerpt of your writing:

This bit from waving to the hard times keeps coming into my mind, every now and then:

Louis closes his eyes, taking in a few shaky breaths. He doesn’t want to cry. People will pity him if he will and he hates it. Hates being known as the orphan child, the one who was crying in his mother’s arms as they stood at his uncle’s side twenty-five years ago. He hates being remembered for it, being depicted by the newspapers as a symbol of overcoming grief. Because he’s found out that you can never overcome grief. You just live with it being a big part of yourself, letting it shape you while trying not to let the bad days get to you. Louis also hates not being able to be honest about it just because he doesn’t want to be coddled.

5. Share or describe a favorite review you received:

I can't share them, because they contain spoilers, but there are some comments on my big bang that really made me trust my (creative) writing skills a bit more! <3

6. A time when writing was really, really hard:

Right after I finished the first part of my Big Bang. It was pretty hard for me to write, so much so that I had to drop out from a few fests because of it

7. A scene or character you wrote that surprised you:

Oh, I think Niall from (once again) waving to the hard times surprised me a lot. I didn't know he would turn out to be like that! But I loved him so much.

8. How did you grow as a writer this year:

I don't really know. I re-learnt to let my mind wander and my fingers write without overthinking. Which is something I usually do when I write in Italian and that I used to do when I first started writing in English.

9. How do you hope to grow next year:

I just hope to keep writing what I like and for it to keep being something I love.

10. Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc):

Hello, @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed <3 She's been there for me for every writer's block, metaphorically taking my hand whenever I had to drop out of something, reminding me that taking a break was more than fine. Love you, Mia <3

@chai-hat-tea has been on my side for all the year by hearing my frustration and always cheering me up. Love you!

And @nooradeservedbetter, without whom I'd have been too afraid of publishing my dystopian au.

Last but not least, @bigxrig, @muldxr and @helznik who were my alpha/beta readers for my first two works of the year. Thank you so much, really <3

11. Anything from your real life show up in your writing this year:

Louis' grief and some bits of my political thoughts.

12. Any new wisdom you can share with other writers:

Write what you like and don't forget to have fun while doing it!

14. Tag three writers whose answers you’d like to read. ;)

I'm gonna tag @chai-hat-tea, @nooradeservedbetter and @hellolovers13!

[kradogsrats]

Just leaving you this awkward voicemail to reassure you that yes. Your portrayal of 6-8 year olds is exponentially more believable than in Puzzle House.

I really enjoyed reading In With A Cry. Yeah I'm a Lissa stan, but I'm reallyyy looking forward to seeing Claudia become the same twisted-up tragedy of a person even without her dad alive to take the blame for manipulating her. heh heh heh

Anyways now uh ok byee *click*

aaaaaaa thank you

I do think Claudia is supposed to be precocious, probably to a ridiculous level, but she still has the emotional maturity of a six-year-old soooo... not doing great with those big feelings.

Anyway, it's actually kind of funny because they both wind up still growing up very much in Viren's shadow, but differently? Soren gets praise for showing what Lissa perceived as Viren's positive qualities, like selflessness, loyalty, and fierce defense of others... and Claudia gets disapproval and worry over manifesting what are seen as his negative qualities, like arrogance, disregard for authority, and, of course, interest in magic. So she doesn't develop the same people-pleasing "perfect daughter" bend that she has in canon, she's much more openly chaotic. And then Kpp'Ar is probably the worst person possible to teach her, because he's so personally fucked up about Viren, even years later.

Meanwhile literally everyone else around her is like... significantly softer and more emotionally stable than in canon, just because Sarai doesn't die lmao.

I probably won't actually write any Soren- or Claudia-centric stuff in this AU just because I know the vague shape of how they develop (Soren and Callum get married /finger guns), but particularly Sarai being alive changes the course of the world so much that like... literally every character has to have a completely different arc, and then there's the world politics: Avizandum is still alive, Zym may or may not have hatched by then under Zubeia's care, etc. So like, I "know" Claudia goes to Neolandia to study more dark magic (and be able to perform experiments with a level of ethical ambiguity impossible to pursue in Katolis) and ultimately gets involved with developing dark magic weapons meant to bring a decisive end to the war with Xadia, and then that blows up in her face (literally), all of this while Tressal hovers nervously in the background because Tressal is baby, but like... there isn't really much there to actually write besides scattered scenes, and if I'm going to write Claudia there's other things I'd rather be writing.

But yeah if you want to know how Claudia turns out, picture Lady Eboshi from Princess Mononoke but with like 1000% more war crimes.

[conspire24]

My pitch for a sequel to The Sorcerer's Apprentice 2010

So, this is gonna be a very niche topic, but I watched the 2010 film The Sorcerer's Apprentice starring Nic Cage the other night, and I realized just how unique of a film it was. While the plot itself is rather basic and contrived, the lore they established was crazy. They tried their darnedest to interweave scientific principles into every magical force. So many spells and magic concepts in this film aren't just plain magic, but magic with scientific reasoning - even down to Morgana's evil plan using satellites to make the spell circle, because the signals needed to contact the dead work similar to the signals that satellites send and receive on a daily basis. Maybe it's not totally thought out, but just the idea of integrating science and magic felt pretty cool for its time - keep in mind this came out before the Thor and Doctor Strange films, which kinda popularized magic being a form of science we can't understand. I also liked how sorcerers were established to be from all across the earth, not just in Britain, despite Merlin being the at the epicenter of the plot. It makes the film feel less euro-centric than other films with this similar magical chosen-one concept.

So after watching the post-credits and seeing that Horvath (the main villain) was still alive, my thoughts started roaming as to how a sequel would work. Not that it will happen since this movie bombed, but I do think there's a chance to take the concepts of the original movie even further. I don't know if I got it in me to write a whole script but I can at least give a brief outline.

Quick note; please watch or read a summary of The Sorcerer's Apprentice before reading this; I don't have it in me to explain that whole movie's plot before going into this one

So the film itself is titled: "Night On Bald Mountain." Since the first film didn't do so hot anyway, there's no pressure in calling it "Sorcerer's Apprentice 2." Plus, I think it'd be cool if each film focused on a different segment from Fantasia, with this new film focusing on arguably the second most popular one. The main plot of this film would be Dave training a group of young adult sorcerers attempting to stop Horvath from summoning Chernabog to destroy the world.

The first scene would center on a boy in his late teens, trying to get by in his small town with poor income (in my head, he's Native American and living on a reservation, but I'm not set on the specifics yet). One night, just before going out to meet with some friends, he comes across a ring from one his grandparents - whom unbeknownst him was a sorcerer. As he puts the ring on, there's some magic effects, but nothing else at first. Then, as he's outside he starts to do magic without even realizing it, performing a spell that is specific to his culture (you know, like the Persian quick rug or the Hungarian mirror trap from the first one). Suddenly, the ring starts to have a mind of his own and it leads him to sorcerer duel between Horvath and an older Dave Stuttler. Our new protag gets caught in the crossfire and Dave ends up saving him with his own magic, giving Horvath the chance to escape. Dave sees the boy has a ring and decides to bring him somewhere where he can grow his powers just like Dave had to.

We learn that since the events of the first film, Dave has become a Physics professor at a nearby university, and using the campus' resources, he has put together an underground magical study hall, where he trains some teen to young adult sorcerers to harness their powers and protect the world from evil threats like Horvath. It is here we are introduced to our core ensemble of sorcerers, each of whom would come from a unique background/ethnicity and would each have their own perspective on the purpose of magic. Delving into each of these characters will make up most of our middle act. I think it'd be cool if one of them could be Dave and Becky's kid, just to have a parental pressure trope thrown in, but also that kid would be nonbinary (because nb people are often seen as more magical in various cultures/myths) and have a romance with our current pov protag.

Over the course of the film, we find out that Horvath has been trying to search for Chernabog's current resting place, as the encantus reveals Chernabog to be a demon predating humanity itself, a force of nature that comes to cleanse the earth. It is implied he may have influenced wiping out the dinosaurs, showing just how much might he has. Our young sorcerers try to hunt down his resting spot while mastering their powers.

At some point before the third act, we find out that Dave's powers have been dwindling over time. It turns out after he defeated Morgana, his role as the Prime Merlinean came to an end, meaning his powers are no longer needed. In the same vein, we find out that Balthazar (Nic Cage's character) had died some time ago, because his duty to find and train the Prime Merlinean was the one reason he could stay alive for centuries. In case you're wondering, Veronica would still be alive, but she's retired from sorcery since she is grieving and also didn't seem to like magic anyway. She won't play into the plot much except to give a speech to Dave about mentoring the kids, and maybe throw a blast at Horvath during one of his attacks (I'd want at least one line about how she could never fall for him like he'd want her to). But as Horvath attacks the underground hall and gains everything he needs to summon Chernabog, Dave's powers fully vanish, meaning the fate of the world now rests on the young sorcerer group's shoulders.

Each member has a different perspective. Some want to kill Horvath while there's still time. Some want to convince Horvath that the summoning isn't worth it. Some want to let him summon Chernabog and try to take him down. During all this, our protag discovers that there is a special photon-based magic that can silence Chernabog's wrath (which would mirror the way he was taken out in the original sequence). While not everyone agrees its the best choice, they each learn the magic; I'd imagine Horvath also finds out about it, but doesn't know it only works for pure souls (science-wise I'd try to relate it to mental health in some way, maybe with his cortisol-levels, how he had kept all this stress from his mission to end humanity, trauma from being rejected and choosing not to deal with those feelings in a healthy way).

The final battle will take place at Yellowstone (which I chose since it's an active volcano), where Chernabog is about to come up. Horvath and the young sorcerers have one last skirmish beforehand. As Chernabog arises, his actions are one-for-one with the original sequence (or as close as we can get). No-one is able to stop his wrath as he toys with the fleeing mortals. Horvath along with some wicked followers are smited at this time. Then, as it seems no-one is left, one by one, the young sorcerers shine their lights, signaling Chernabog to end his torment. I want this to come off not as Chernabog being defeated, but that he has properly played his part. He may be a demon, but he is also part of the natural order, which must be respected (connecting right back to Merlin's philosophy from the first movie on not wanting to raise the dead). That would be the main theme here, not to focus on conflict, but on caring and connecting with people around you, no matter how different. Those who are too stubborn to connect will get their comuppance one way or another. After this, everyone goes back to their families and enjoys their new leases on life while "Ave Maria" plays in the background.

And that's what I got. I'd hope a sequel to The Sorcerer's Apprentice could be more faithful to its source than the original was, while also dealing with some unique concepts that just a basic chosen-one prophecy. I think I was able to do that here, but I'd love to hear any other ideas people may have. If you made it this far, I'd appreciate any feedback you got. Again, I doubt I'm going to develop this much further, but I just got so intrigued by the premise of sequel, that I just had to share these thoughts somewhere. Who knows, maybe I'll play around with this more at some point.

[cinematicnomad]

🥤🔪🎨

🥤 ⇢ recommend an author or fanfic you love i answered this already, but let's do another rec! and let's make it another stranger things fic since that's what i've been reading lately. i really have been loving the fics where steve and eddie were friends/romantically involved secretly pre-s4, so here's another one:

the man that i could be by ohstars (26/26 | 325k+ | Ex) steddie; post-s3 canon divergent; fix it; angst w/ a happy ending; steve-centric

"steve harrington isn't straight. it's been a few weeks since he sat on that bathroom floor at starcourt with robin, where she shared her biggest secret with him and unintentionally unlocked an entirely new side of steve. since he’s had to come to terms with being open to exploring that side of him, but he's finally acknowledged that he's most likely, definitely, without a doubt into guys." -- after coming to terms that he may be queer, steve harrington does a little exploration on his own and meets the one and only eddie munson. just as things are going well and accepted the fact he's falling for eddie in their own little bubble, steve's world is shaken by a tragedy he can't quite talk about. and when the dust settles and he's nearly ready to put the pieces back together, his worlds collide when he realizes his eddie is the same eddie playing d&d with the kids. the same eddie who's now wanted for murder thanks to another upside down monster. how will he save the day when he can barely focus watching his ex mingle with his monster fighting team?

🔪 ⇢ what’s the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project? uhhh, i don't know that i've ever researched anything SUPER weird, but for taste your beating heart i did research into the believed magical properties of different flowers and stages of the moon. that's not something i personally, as someone who doesn't even buy into zodiac signs as anything more than fun nonsense to read with friends, would have ever researched but i went pretty deep to get that info.

🎨 ⇢ link your favourite piece of fanart and explain why you like it here's a random deepcut: i LOVE this hamlet piece from @binary-bird that's set post-canon as horatio's haunted by the ghost of hamlet and set to the lyrics of tranquilize by finish ticket. i have reblogged this piece SO MANY times and i will continue to do so—something about inversing the traditional black-and-white of the comics so that the panels are flooded in black and the characters/text is in white feels v apt for a ghostly apparition. also it's just??? so appropriate for horatio to be haunted by the ghost of hamlet, when the play is full of ghosts (and questions as to if the ghosts in question are real! is hamlet truly haunted by his father? is he going mad? is he using it as an excuse to avenge his father's memory? in this new scenario: is horatio truly being haunted by hamlet, or does he just miss hamlet SO MUCH that he's imagining his vision coming to him?) i love it

writers truth & dare ask game

[stuck-in-the-ghost-zone]

👀👀👀!!!!!!

cheating bc you sent me 3 eyeballs so im gonna give u 3 different answers 😌 :::

the DSMP Lost Boys AU. GOD i was on some shit when i was thinking abt that. it was literally so perfect. i still have the other half of the references buried somewhere deep in my wip folder but i just. never finished it. i was probably never gonna write an actual fic for it but god did i want to do more screenshot redraws . it was so perfect. i still think abt it sometimes when i watch lost boys like. damn .... sam is so tommy coded . i love you annoying little brothers

ANOTHER dsmp one: vengeful spirit. god. fuck . where do i even start. vengeful spirit was my baby i cared about it so much. it was my ghostbur-centric character study fic series where after cwilbur was revived, ghostbur fought his way out of limbo kicking and screaming and then they had to deal with the consequences of both existing in the living world at the same time. very heart player core. something something you hate yourself so much but now there are two of you and youre different people but also youre the same guy and you hate that your brother trusts the dead fish eyes version of you more than the living breathing one. aka ghostbur gets to be angry because i really just wanted to see him snap and punch something. unfortunately the first fic totally flopped and i had nobody to bounce ideas off of so i was the only person in the world to care about vengeful spirit. i had like 12 oneshots planned out and they were each titled with song lyrics from a song in the playlist (which still exists btw) and i made a layout and everything. A LAYOUT. i never outline things dude thats how u KNOW i went hard for this one. another factor in its death tho is i started writing it like.. right after the cwilbur revival when there was a huge lull in lore streams and i was trying to fill in the blanks. but because i am a slow writer eventually canon surpassed me and i was like "hm this is too divergent now and since i am the only one who is going to read this it will simply live in my brain forever" . also i think my time for writing dsmp is way past me now. sad! oh well theres other fandoms.

third one is NOT dsmp related but it IS general minecraft related. fuck dude i have so many ideas about minecraft worldbuilding. its such a perfect game to write about. i have so many minecraft ocs that have super complex lore that will probably never see the light of day bc im like. how the hell do i convey this information without actually showing people my minecraft world. the intricacies. there are so many. i cannot play this game normally i have to make a story every single time. EVEN WHEN im not actually setting out to make a story. even when im just like "hm yeah this is gonna be a casual world im not gonna take it too seriously" and then suddenly ive rebuilt an entire village to protect it from raids and all the villagers have names and im attached. sigh. i think about minecraft religion and also the magic system and how the world works and how mobs interact with each other and . man . theres so much. does anyone want to play miencraft with me i prommy i wont go insane on you