#i love the wonderful fanfic writers and artists creating fan arts

[mr-awesome-balls]

hello!! i think you should get anon hate for harrypotterposting in this day and age, but i'm not good at hating, so this is what you get. sort yourself out.

idk if this is bot or smth ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯ just unfollow if you dont like it or sort it out yourself in the settings (im pretty sure tumblr has a function to block certain tags or words)

peace out bro ✌️

[nimonabigbang]

Nimona Big Bang Writer Signs Ups Closing March 1st!

Are you a writer who loves the Nimona movie and/or graphic novel? Would you like fanart for a fic?

Sign up for the Nimona Big Bang and we will help match you with a Nimona fan artist!

What's a Big Bang?

A Big Bang is a collaborative fandom event that results in an explosion of new fanwork. Writers are paired with artists, who create fanart for the new fanfic written for the Bang.

For the Nimona Big Bang, we're asking for a 5,000 word minimum for fanfics and two art pieces. Participants can take on up to two possible roles: writer, artist, beta reader (to help proofread draft fics), writer pinch hitter (in case a writer needs to drop out), or artist pinch hitter (in case an artist needs to drop out).

What's the schedule?

Sign ups for all roles opened on January 1, 2024. The deadline to sign up is March 1st for writers, April 1st for artists, and July 28th for beta readers.

Writers need to provide fic summaries/200 word excerpts no later than April 20th so that artists can bid on them. Writers and artists will be paired by April 28th.

We will have several scheduled check-ins to make sure everyone's on track. If you feel like you need to drop out, please do so by July 15th so that we can try to find a replacement writer or artist for your partner.

Final fanfics and fanart will be revealed on September 14th.

The detailed schedule is here.

How do I sign up?

Please sign up using this form.

I'm not sure if I have enough time for this.

We understand that people are busy! The schedule was designed to be relatively relaxed and low pressure. You could also sign up as a pinch hitter in case a writer or artist needs to drop out.

What about...

More detailed information is in the Rules and Guidelines. We also have a Discord server.

If you can't find what you're looking for, feel free to send this blog an ask or message us! @random-nerd-posts and @zyrafowe-sny are helping run the event, with assistance from writer mod @knightofburgers, artist mod @toxix-st6, and beta reader mod @cameron7a.

We hope you sign up today and are looking forward to all the wonderful fic and fanart!

[emeryhall]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers (except me because obvs I have done it). Spread the self-love ❤

Also, thank you to @you-remind-me-of-the-babe for asking me this question too! ❤️ Here goes...

Only Creatures (88K, E)

The fic I just completed. I think this is my best plot with the possible exception of, well, see below. In the middle, I felt like I had so many balls in the air, I was afraid I wouldn't catch them all, or at least not gracefully, but I think I managed it. I've been working on my plots hinging on character choices. They walk through a door, the door shuts behind them, they cannot re-open it, and they change. I feel like I finally got it with this fic. And then there was the morning I woke up to find that @artsyunderstudy had drawn art for chapter 5 and my heart exploded. Except she kept drawing art and every time, I got to see my words come to life in the most beautiful way imaginable. Oh, oh! And then @monbons sewed me a little wings & tail Simon doll and Baz in his PJs, and I adore them ❤️❤️

Blood Sugar Sex Moony (63K, E)

The other contender for best plot. I think this is possibly my most creative fic. Sirius and Remus are both canon-compliant guerrilla soldiers from 1981 AND a goth-boy and star quarterback at a SoCal high school in the mid-90s. I wrote it for the 2023 @rsbigbang, which finally narrowed the wolfstar community down to a small enough group that I could make friends! It's also how I met @euripidestrousers who shaped this fic into what it became. And I was lucky enough to get the amazing artist @spikesteaseasalt as its illustrator.

A Little Bit Deadly (49K, E)

Derek Jeter. Need I say more? This fic was my introduction to the Carry On fandom, and that is reason alone for it to be one of my favorites. Y'all are a beautiful community of people who have been so kind and enthusiastic and welcoming. I'm delighted to be a part of you. ❤️ This fic was another one where I woke up from having posted the last chapter and found that @letraspal had made art - ART! And then she kept making art, including the glorious Mr. June. Derek Jeter was modeled on my amazing orange chonk who died, and every time I see Annie's drawings of him, it makes me cry a little. I feel like he gets to live on in this fic and Annie's art.

The Space Between (34K, M)

This is the first fic I wrote, having read absolutely zero fanfic. It was tagged entirely wrong, had a terrible summary, and only three kudos for, like, ages. But I had one enthusiastic reader who left me the kindest comments about my writing, and since then, it's gained its handful of fans who don't mind a little sadness. I still think it contains some of my prettiest writing, and I love the "behind the veil" space I created, which came out of my studies of Symbolist playwrights for my doctorate.

night after night, I let you eat me alive (8K, E)

Aka, my cannibalism fic. This one took me by surprise. I wrote this ridiculous short story because I needed a break from my Big Bang fic, then wondered if I should post it at all because I thought it was too out there. Happily, some of the RS/BB crew encouraged me because people love it. I love writing comedy, and I think this is the funniest thing I've written. But also, a sweet little fluffy love story - with a twist!

[goodomenscalendar]

What is this? | Submit your own event or tag us! | Be sure to click through to the original post for the latest updates! Last edited: June 14th.

Ending Events

Good Omens Spooky Bang | Sign-ups close June 10

A spooky Good Omens bang to kick off the autumn season! Whether it's Aziraphale pumpkin-picking, a pumpkin spice latte coffee shop AU, or Hell hosting a Halloween bash, you're invited to the Spooky Bang! Both SFW and NSFW content allowed. - @spooky-bang-good-omens -

Good Omens Fairy Tale Bang | Artist Sign-ups close June 15

This is a Good Omens Mini Bang themed entirely around Fairy Tales! Writing your own or adapting a favorite! All versions of all Fairy Tales and Mythology are welcome! Both SFW and NSFW content allowed. - @fairytalegobang -

The Ineffable Con 5 Zine | Submissions close June 15

Whether you’re a fanfic writer, artist or cosplayer, we want to celebrate your contributions to this ineffable fandom with the TIC5 Zine. SFW and NSFW content allowed! - @theineffablecon - Twitter - Website -

In Love With My Car Zine: Volume 2 | Fundraising ends June 20

A zine dedicated to the vehicles in Good Omens. The zine is free to download with the option of donating to the Mercury Phoenix Trust. Featuring SFW and NSFW content! - @in-love-with-my-car-zine - itch.io -

Good Omens Gotcha for Gaza Fundraiser | Sign-ups close June 20

This is a fan-run fundraiser to help out people in Palestine. We will be recruiting volunteer fan artists and writers to create fics/art in return for donations to Care for Gaza, the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, or any Operation Olive Branch family or project. - @goodomensaction -

Ace Omens Zine: Volume 2 | Pre-orders close June 30

A Good Omens zine focused on ace representation. Featuring SFW content! - @aceomenszine - BigCartel -

AU Roulette | Sign-ups close June 30

A casual fic-writing challenge encouraging authors to play around with different types of alternate universe stories with premises they might not otherwise have considered, with varying difficulty levels of participation for writers of all experience levels! - @au-roulette -

Ongoing Events

Above, Below, and the Common Ground | Fundraising now!

A SFW digital charity zine that celebrates the varied and wonderful cast of Good Omens––human, demon, angel, and anything in between! Free to download or with a donation to National Network to End Domestic Violence. Featuring SFW content. - @abczine - Twitter - Instagram - Bluesky -

Monster Bangers Bang | 18+ | Interest Check open now!

Calling all monster-fuckers! A Good Omens bang devoted to monster banging. - @gomonsterbangersbang -

It Ends As It Began Coloring Page | At your leisure!

Inspired by the fic Don't Fall Away From Me by PhoenixRose314-- This is a colouring page by @avoicebehindthestars! I'm serious, if you feel like colouring it in (and can put up with the utter mess I've made of the plants xD), grab at will. I want you to! :D - Tumblr Post - AO3 Post -

Upcoming Events

Ineffable Eras 4: Before the Beginning | Preorders open June 24

This is our largest volume yet, featuring 42 artists and 16 authors, creating works about Creation, Heaven's War, The Fall and Aftermath, and the Garden of Eden! Both physical and digital editions available-- digital version includes screen reader text! Shipping from United States, expected late September or early October. - @ineffableeraszine - Twitter - Instagram - Bluesky -

GOAD Doppelbanging Weeks | 16+ | Begins June 24

What it says on the tin-- two weeks of doppelgangers banging each other! Artist, writers, creators and everyone in the middle, it’s time to get bizzy! - @goodomensafterdark -

[rudnitskaia]

Hi, my name is Viktoriia, but you can call me Heldig. :3 I’m 29, she/her. I’m a translator (RUS/ENG), a writer and a bit of an artist.

✨ My main job is creating a proper visualization for different piles of data on dashboards and in various reports.

✨ I adore animation, indie-comics and games, especially old point-and-click adventure games. In general I'm a lazy weirdly joking workaholic & coffeemaniac. Versatile underdeveloped person, to sum it up. :D

✨ Fandoms I’m mostly tracking: Slayers (anime & novels), Lackadaisy, Undertale/Deltarune, Elfquest, LoL/Arcane & ATLA/LOK, but almost any animated/comic/game universe is acceptable and can suddenly grab my attention. I'm familiar with a lot of things, and the fact that I don't track what's going on in a particular fandom doesn't mean I don't like the thing itself, so, if you want to discuss something with me, you can simply ask if I've seen it. :3

✨ My blog contains my arts/writings/translations, life stories about me, my husband Andrew and my friends, and reblogs of the things I truly enjoy, including various fandom things and silly memes. Also since 2016 I mostly have been working on my own novel “Сказка Хрустальных гор” (A Tale of the Crystal Mountains) that I plan to finish and, hopefully, publish in 2024, so rarely I'll also post some stuff about the work process.

✨ My pseuds in creative communities are: LetiOwl (previously), Heldig (Хельдиг/Хельди) and Opossumherd.

✨ Links to my profiles in other social media: AO3, FicBook.Net, Twitter, Youtube, VK Blog, Personal VK page.

✨ All RoMaunce fics can be found here in English and here in Russian. The series aren't finished and are constantly updated.

I LOVE when people chat with me, especially about my and their OCs. Please do more and never hesitate, my asks' inbox and DMs are always opened. 💖

✨ Tags for better navigation in my blog are under the cut (in alphabetical order):

#about myself – random facts and stories about myself #atotcm – various content about my own future novel “Сказка Хрустальных гор” (A Tale of the Crystal Mountains) #augusto venza oc – posts about my Lackadaisy fan-character, Augusto Venza #jokes and memes - various funny things #heldig arts – my arts #heldig life stories – various stories from my life #heldig thoughts – just my random ramblings & opinions on the videogames/movies/books etc. #heldig translations – my ramblings on the translating topic #heldig writings – my writings #maura venza oc – posts about my Lackadaisy fan-character, Maura Venza #me and my husband – funny stories about two loveable dorks on their 9th year of happy marriage :D #romaunce – posts about the ship of the canonical Lackadaisy character, Rocky Rickaby, with my Lackadaisy fan-character, Maura Venza #wonderful animation – other people’s amazing animations and animatics #wonderful art – other people’s amazing art #wonderful story – other people’s amazing fanfics, analytical articles and so on #wonderful things – other amazing things that people share, but that fall out of other categories

[scottxlogan]

Reposting artwork/Don't do it!

So I don't like having to be the one to give my talks here, but sometimes I think people tend to forget in this world we live in that when an artist makes fan works in any form whether it be fan art, fanfic, etc. we put it out there in the world to share with other fans who love what we love. We want to share what we created with others because we're proud of the time we put into the project, of the detail and the inspiration we have on something within the project itself so when an artist/writer/etc finally gets to the point where they are ready to share the work they'll post it on their blog, site, etc to share with others because we want you to see it, to notice it and like it, to reblog it to share with your followers and hope that maybe they like it enough to do the same. What we don't want is someone seeing our work and then saving it to repost it on their own page so that they can pass it off as their own project and get all the love that we were looking for sent their direction. Time and time again I've seen less known artists create something wonderful that a bigger blog will snatch up and post and in the repost it gets a lot of love and attention where the artist who created it never gets to see any of that love, nor do they get any of the credit for their work because someone else is taking the credit even if they aren't outright claiming the work as their own by refusing to credit the artist for their efforts. This bothers me when I see it happening. A LOT!

I understand that everyone wants attention and people want their posts to be noticed. I get that and sometimes someone is new to a platform and doesn't understand the proper etiquette for sharing someone else's work. Honest mistakes are made and I can accept that too, but when someone goes out of their way to post someone else's work without giving proper credit (even after the artist and other people have told them who the artist is) that's outright stealing. If you're going to post someone else's artwork at least be kind enough to credit them as the artist or share the link to the original work. We get that you like something and appreciate it, but show that appreciation by letting others know that we designed this piece that they love. It's only fair and something that should go without saying. It's the way to keep fandom alive and keep these wonderful artists designing works and putting out more content to enjoy. When others steal or take away from the artist's efforts there are less things to enjoy and eventually the artist stops posting for others to see.

I've always felt this way on the matter, but recently I had one of my fan arts taken in such a matter. I, always wanting to give someone the benefit of the doubt, reached out to this person who reposted my art, dm'd them in private so not to embarrass them if they didn't understand why reposting without credit wasn't a good thing and said while I would prefer a reblog of my original work that I did, if they chose to keep their repost up all I asked was credit for being the artist. I'd sent them a dm and relayed all these things to them in a polite and what I felt was a generous fashion after my friends had already responded to their post about it being my artwork. A few hours later they ignored my dm and called my friends out saying they were 'liars' and a few other things because the reposter found the art on 'google images' searching a show that the art itself wasn't a part of. I did the same search and found nothing in an effort to give them another benefit of the doubt, yet they ignored that I was the artist on the piece, refused to accept it was someone's fan work and blatantly ignored my attempt to reach out to them. I responded to their repost again trying to be polite and they once again ignored my request to credit me. As I searched through their page I discovered that taking others art and not crediting them is only the beginning as they are also taking fan art and editing it to fit characters they like in photoshop and then passing the art off as their own creations. They seem to be quite content to take other people's work and alter it to appear that they are creating these pieces which they aren't, which is wrong on so many levels.

That being said i don't like to call people out, but the poster garoniousxmen has made no attempts to try to right the situation after well over 24 hours of being told by multiple people the art they posted was mine and based on their stealing other artwork and altering it to fit their fandom needs it appears that they are quite content to keep stealing from other fan artists. I do understand that everyone wants attention and to be noticed, but this is not the way. I went above and beyond to be reasonable with them, but they see no interest in doing what's right so for anyone who is posting fan art especially in the X-Men or comic fandom beware because this poster is notorious for not only reposting fan works but altering them to fit their favorite characters and passing it off as their own, which is a shame.

I realize that this is a long post, but I hope people take the time to consider what situations like this do to fandom and will at least take the time to reblog something from a fan artist or like it without reposting without their permission and if by some chance you still wish to repost, please just credit the person. It's best to ask them if you can, but if you don't ask for permission still give them the proper credit for what they did. The piece this person reposted and pretended wasn't mine is something I worked on for quite a few hours in Illustrator as it was my own drawing/digital art and while I'm glad they appreciated the art, this is not the way to show it. Not by a longshot.

Please be kind and reblog, credit artists because it is something that makes our fandoms even better when we show love the right ways.

[astrabear]

Thoughts on sun/moon symbolism?

What a fascinating question to get with no context whatsoever! I have no idea how to answer it. Do you mean in general? In literature? In fandom? In The Old Guard in particular? Or just any thoughts I might happen to have lying around like spare change?

I'm going to go with the spare change approach.

First, a slight tangent: I got into the Old Guard fandom after having never been involved in fandom in more than a superficial way before. This means, for example, that I had no idea what the common fanfic tropes were. I'd see something and be like "my goodness! How creative! However did they think of that?" and it took a while to realize that's just, like, a thing that everyone knows about. "An AU in which one of them is a florist and the other a tattoo artist, that's interesting, I wonder what the draw was of those particular jobs..."

Anyway I saw a lot of sun/moon symbolism in art and fic, and sure, that makes sense, Joe calls Nicky "the moon when I'm lost in darkness," I dig it, it seems pretty popular. Then I joined tumblr (I started reading fic in summer 2020, joined a TOG Discord server in fall 2020, and didn't create a tumblr account until fall 2021. And I discovered that sun/moon symbolism is also a fandom thing, and people apply it to characters even when one of them doesn't call the other the moon. There was even a sun/moon character poll and I got very melodramatic about it just because it was a fun community bonding event.

But the thing is... after more than three years of TOG activity and especially after more than two years on tumblr and seeing how much of what happens in TOG happens elsewhere... I really don't have a whole lot of interest in tropes that tend to force characters into opposites/binaries. Joe = sun = warm, bright, passionate, loud, cheerful/ Nicky = moon = cool, pale, calm, quiet, inexpressive... they are so similar. They really really are. (They are also not the main characters and appear in a single two-hour movie, so most conclusions about their personalities and habits are extrapolated from very small details. Let's be honest, we've thought way more about this stuff than the writer and actors did and most of it is only one step above 'made up'.)

Also one of my pet peeves hates pet peeves is people trying to force these guys into some kind of weird heteronormative funhouse-mirror version of themselves that's just an awful tangle of misogyny and homophobia and racism. "Let's cast them as opposites" tends to overlap a little with this approach (so then you also get Joe = big, dominant, masculine, aggressive/ Nicky = small, submissive, feminine, meek) and that just makes me even more suspicious of the whole thing.

So... yeah. Those are my thoughts. I will say we've gotten some lovely fan art out of it.

[usamamoweek]

Meet the Creators - Kaito Scarlett

What username(s) and platform(s) can folx find you on? (Please include links!)

Kaito Scarlett on FFnet, Ao3 and Tumblr (@kaitoscarlett) :)

(Fun Fact) What is your favorite kind of potato?

Tough question! I can't live without potatoes <3 Hm...I'd say the usual ones as fries or chips. Preferably spicy and crispy. I could write an essay, but I'll just leave it like that.

How long have you been creating works in fandom spaces? How long have you been active in the SM fandom?

Hm... When I was younger I drew pictures of my favorite characters, but just for myself. Does that count? But I posted my first (still unfinished) Sailor Moon fic in July 2021. It's actually the first fan fiction I have ever written and I never thought I would write one myself. But here I am :)

What type(s) of creative works do you usually make? (fanfics, digital art, cosplay)

Fanfics, but I do occasionally draw.

What do you enjoy about creating for the SM fandom?

Another tough question! Maybe because I still love the characters and while I re-read and re-watched the manga and anime as a grown-up, I kind of felt a connection to especially Usagi, that was very different from when I was a kid. And Sailor Moon will always a have a special place in my heart. It's so cool to see so many other creators who feel the same and get inspired to create wonderful stories and art.

Are you strictly UsaMamo or do you create for other pairings as well?

For now, yes I am. And I don't think it's going to change. I'm a sucker for their relationship (:

What inspires you to create works for Usagi and Mamoru?

It all started, because I dove back into fan fiction after rewatching the anime and I just couldn't get enough. So I scrolled through fan fiction and became a little bit obsessed with so many great stories. Especially the ones in which the characters are grown-up. I've often thought about writing myself, but starting to write is kind of hard. I get inspired when I read other stories or an idea suddenly enters my mind.

But lately life has been quite stressful and I lost my writing groove. We'll see when I get it back.

Do you tend to work on multiple projects (WIPs) simultaneously or try to finish one at a time?

Since I have three unfinished fics at the moment, I'd say I work on multiple projects simultaneously. But I try to concentrate on one at a time. That's why I haven't updated my first fic for over a year.

Do you prefer large projects (chaptered fics, webtoons/zines, highly detailed art) or small projects (one-shots or simple art)?

Hm...I do like to read multi-chapter fics or a long one-shot. I enjoy the excitement of waiting for a new chapter. As for writing myself. I haven't written a one-shot, yet. So I'd say I prefer larger projects. That way I can write a shorter chapter and publish it instead of writing one long story, that I would probably never see the light of day, because I'm a lazy writer.

Are there any common themes, situations, tropes, or mediums in your work?

Maybe a bit of angst? Self-worth is a big topic, I would say. Struggles with adulthood? But I havent't analyzed my fics enough to say there are common themes. Though I'd say the start situation of our beloved couple in my fics is mostly the same/ very similar.

Is there anything you haven’t explored artistically and would like to try?

I want to draw more. And write a fake-dating-trope-story. Nothing else comes to my mind right now :)

[sanversandfriends]

Sanvers fans know her from her amazing contributions of art and fic to the Big Bang, but @morganastorm24 is also a multi-talented writer and artist for multiple ships in the DC universe. She also has love of everything Lois Lane. In honor of the Planet's star reporter, we've asked her to share a glimpse into her writing process. Thanks, Morgana!

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get started writing fic? Have you written for other fandoms? What are your favorite tropes?  

I've been writing for as long as I can remember - even longer according to my mum. I've always loved creating stories and would sit with my teddies and toy horses, reading them stories (even before I could read, because that's what pictures are for, right? Telling a thousand words and all that). For my 6th or 7th birthday, I apparently asked for a "really nice writing set and an even nicer book to write in". I was given a ring binder with plastic pockets, a notebook and a pencil case full of stationery. I still have that ring binder to this day, though it's not filled with all my random childish scribbles like it once was. 

I started writing fanfiction not long after Star Wars: Attack of the Clones came out. That's the earliest fanfic I can remember writing, anyway. I wrote Anakin and Padme's adventures after they got married, and then when rumours started flying about what was going to happen in Episode 3, I wrote my very first "fix it fic" by finding a way to keep Padme alive (as I couldn't bear the thought of my favourite character dying). Most of those very early fics never left the pages of the notebooks they were scrawled in and nobody else ever saw them (thank god!), but it wasn't until I started reading fanfiction online that I realised I could actually do that too - share my ideas with the world. I dabbled a little in fanfic for the tv show Casualty (a British medical drama), had more success with Doctor Who, wrote some more Star Wars, then Merlin and eventually (and most recently) Supergirl (with a dash of other DC). 

What were your inspirations for this particular story? What was it about this/these ships that grabbed you?

This fic was born of a single image - namely Chyler first revealing that she was going to wear a black and blue super suit and become Supergirl for one episode. That image alone was enough to get my mind racing with possibilities and ideas of how it might come to pass. I have to be honest and say I stopped watching the show after the Crisis stuff, so I've never actually seen her episode as Supergirl, but maybe that's a good thing? At least this way I know that my version of her is different and unique.

I am and always will be a huge Sanvers stan, but there's something so appealing about AgentCorp as well, and the show really dropped the ball when they wouldn't let Alex and Lena be together. They're an interesting and dynamic pairing - they share interests, are both huge science nerds and yet so completely different that its great fun writing them both together.

As for Lois and Kara - that one literally came out of nowhere and took me by surprise. I'd never intended for it to happen, and yet now that it has, I'm wondering why I never thought of it sooner!

Has the time spent away from your story changed your outlook or approach to any of the storylines or themes? Have you had any new inspirations or breakthroughs/revelations in the meantime? 

Absolutely. I got to a point with the fic where it had grown stale, and I was constantly hitting up against a wall with no idea how to get around it, or to power through it. So, I walked away from the fic and decided to focus on other WIPs and new creations instead. Coming back to it now, I've been able to see everything with fresh eyes, and I can see not only where I was going wrong before, but also a way to fix it. Changing the villain, adding characters, getting rid of redundant plot threads and adding more relevant pieces has really helped to get this work to a place where finally, I can see the finish line and I know I'm going to make it. That's a huge relief, considering where I was 2 years ago when I first started writing it.

Any advice for new or aspiring fic writers?

Never give up. No matter how hard it might be, just put words on a page. It doesn't matter how rubbish they are, as my BFF always says, "You can't edit a blank page." Let yourself suck, let yourself write horrendously. It's all good practice. Even if those words never leave your notebook or the document on your computer, they've taught you something, they've helped you to improve, so be proud of them.

Writing is also a bit like a painting. Not even Da Vinci or Van Gogh sat at his easel and created a masterpiece on his first try. There's the initial sketches to plan out the idea. That's your plot or summary. Then you add basic blocks of colours. That's your first draft. From then on, you work away slowly, adding details, shading, contouring...those are your second, third, fourth drafts. Keep revising and editing as much as you need - there's no right or wrong number of times you should be doing it. Because each time you do, you're adding more detail to your masterpiece. And what you end up with is a work of art.

One final piece of advice... writing is not a solo event. All those times a writer is depicted sitting along, tapping away at a keyboard or scribbling in a notebook, it's so misleading. Get yourself a writing buddy. DKGwrites and I are best friends, we met through fanfiction (and I'm eternally grateful for that everyday). We have regular writing sessions together, and ok it's 90% messing around, distracting one another, talking utter nonsense or throwing random videos and links to each other, but that 10% when we do actually behave and get down to the task at hand, it's so much more fun writing together than it ever is when we try to write alone. Silliness aside, we help one another, bounce ideas off one another, motivate and encourage one another, and it's the best thing ever. So find yourself a writing buddy, and have a blast!

If you were going to promote this fic with a single line, what would it be? 

What if Supergirl was a badass redhead called Alex Danvers?

We'll have more about her artwork in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, check out her work on A03!

[themysterycrewau]

Introduction

Hello geeks, weirdos, and explorers! Welcome to the Mystery Crew AU blog! My name is Matsurra, and I created this au on my main blog @maki-matsurra!

How It Started

I am a huge fan of Gravity Falls. From the writing to the characters, to the art style. It was truly an amazing show that deserves so much love and attention. I joined the fandom a little late, but nevertheless, enjoyed every episode I binged.

I'm also a huge fan of the stop-motion Laika movies! I got to see Coraline in 3D when it was first in theaters (yes, the movie did give me nightmares), and I just really loved it too! The aesthetic of the movie and the story and characters as well were top-notch! Paranorman is a movie I know not many people may know about, but it's still such a good movie and should be checked out! When I watched that movie, there were so many scenes where I was just bawling my eyes out in sadness or just on the edge of my seat.

Now, as a fanfiction writer, I love to try and combine fandoms to make crazy new fanfics, sometimes taking inspiration from fan art or just fan edit videos. This AU actually came to me when listening to Follow the Sun while sitting outside. I wondered; "What would a universe be like if Coraline, Paranoman, and Gravity Falls were in the same one?" And then well... Ta-da! It came to be!

I posted the first chapter of the first book for the AU on May 1st, 2022 on Tumblr, then on AO3 on July 29th, 2022, titling it The Button Key. And the fanfic is still being worked on to this day.

Meet The Crew

Coraline Jones 🗝️

Full Name: Coraline Jones

Age: 13 (Currently)

Home: Pink Palace Apartments, Gravity Falls, Oregon

Family: Mel Jones (Mother), Charlie Jones (Father)

Friends/Allies: Wybie Lovat (Best Friend), Mabel Pines (Best Friend), Dipper Pines (Best Friend), Norman Babcock (Best friend), The Cat, April Spink, Miriam Forcible, Mr. Bobinksy, Stan Pines, Ford Pines, Soos, Wendy Corduroy, Courtney Babcock, Niel Downe, Mitch Downe

Enemies: Other Mother, Other Father (former), Alvin (former), Pacifica Northwest (former), Gideon Gleeful, Bill Cipher

Item/Symbol: Button Key

Other Info (Will be updated as time goes on) - Goes to Gravity Falls Middle School - Wears her orange gloves to school - Favorite class is Science (Specifically loves learning Earth Science) - Previously lived in Pontiac, Michigan - Skilled Artist - Also likes Astrology

Wybie Lovat 💀

Full Name: Wyborne "Wybie" Lovat

Age: 14 (Currently)

Home: His Grandmother's house, Gravity Falls, Oregon

Family: His Grandmother

Friends/Allies: Coraline Jones (Best Friend), Mabel Pines (Best Friend), Dipper Pines (Best Friend), Norman Babcock (Best friend), The Cat, April Spink, Miriam Forcible, Mr. Bobinksy, Stan Pines, Ford Pines, Soos, Wendy Corduroy, Courtney Babcock, Niel Downe, Mitch Downe

Enemies: Other Mother, Alvin (former), Pacifica Northwest (former), Gideon Gleeful, Bill Cipher

Item/Symbol: Mask with a skull on it

Other Info (Will be updated as time goes on) - Goes to Gravity Falls Middle School - Wears his skeleton bike gloves to school - Favorite class is Science - Loves to go to dirt bike races - Parents passed away in a car accident

Dipper Pines 🌲

(Art by the amazing @your-local-neighborhood-nerd) Full Name: Mason "Dipper" Pines

Age: 12 (Currently)

Home: 618 Gopher Road, Gravity Falls, Oregon (The Mystery Shack)

Family: Mr. Pines, Mrs. Pines ✝️, Mabel Pines (Twin Sister), Stan Pines (Granduncle and current caretaker), Ford Pines (Granduncle)

Friends/Allies: Coraline Jones (Best Friend), Wybie Lovat (Best Friend), Norman Babcock (Best friend), The Cat, April Spink, Miriam Forcible, Mr. Bobinksy, Soos, Wendy Corduroy, Courtney Babcock, Niel Downe, Mitch Downe

Enemies: Other Mother, Alvin (former), Pacifica Northwest (former), Gideon Gleeful (former), Bill Cipher

Item/Symbol: Pine Tree

Other Info (Will be updated as time goes on) - Goes to Gravity Falls Middle School - Wears his hat everywhere - Favorite Class in English - Does well in all of his classes - Also loves Astrology - Trans ftm - Was adopted by Grunkle Stan ever since they were toddlers - Mother passed away during childbirth - Father is not in the picture

Mabel Pines 🌠

Full Name: Mabel Pines

Age: 12 (Currently)

Home: 618 Gopher Road, Gravity Falls, Oregon (The Mystery Shack)

Family: Mr. Pines, Mrs. Pines ✝️, Dipper Pines (Twin Brother), Stan Pines (Granduncle and current caretaker), Ford Pines (Granduncle)

Friends/Allies: Coraline Jones (Best Friend), Wybie Lovat (Best Friend), Norman Babcock (Best friend), The Cat, April Spink, Miriam Forcible, Mr. Bobinksy, Soos, Wendy Corduroy, Courtney Babcock, Niel Downe, Mitch Downe

Enemies: Other Mother, Alvin (former), Pacifica Northwest (former), Gideon Gleeful (former), Bill Cipher

Item/Symbol: Shooting Star

Other Info (Will be updated as time goes on) - Goes to Gravity Falls Middle School - Wears sweater over uniform - Favorite class is Art - Always comes prepared with bandaids and stickers - Was adopted by Grunkle Stan ever since they were toddlers - Mother passed away during childbirth - Father is not in the picture

Norman Babcock 📙

Full Name: Norman Babcock

Age: 13 (Currently)

Home: Gravity Falls, Oregon

Family: Perry Babcock (Father), Sandra Babcock (Mother), Courtney Babcock (Older Sister)

Friends/Allies: Coraline Jones (Best Friend), Wybie Lovat (Best Friend), Dipper Pines (Best Friend), Mabel Pines (Best Friend), April Spink, Miriam Forcible, Mr. Bobinksy, Soos, Wendy Corduroy, Niel Downe, Mitch Downe

Enemies: Aggie Prenderghast (former), Alvin (former), Pacifica Northwest (former), Gideon Gleeful (former), Bill Cipher

Item/Symbol: Fairytales Book

Other Info (Will be updated as time goes on) - Goes to Gravity Falls Middle School - Wears Red Hoodie over uniform - Favorite class is History - Loves to watch horror movies (especially with zombies in them) - The most skittish and shyest in the crew

Other Info (Will be Updated)

The Pink Palace is within walking distance of The Mystery Shack (2 Miles Away)

Some of the characters are aged up a little, but not too much (I did this so they could somewhat be in the same grade and class in school)

The Mystery Shack is where the crew hangs out most of the time

Pacifica has a small crush on Dipper

Fanfics

The Button Key (Book 1) [Avaliable on AO3!] Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4

[padfootagain]

hullo!

I have been wondering about so many of these! You'll have to excuse my excitement hihihi

B C N S T U Y

Hi anon!! Thank you for asking!!

B: Any of your stories inspired by personal experience?

I'll just give the same answer I've given previously to this question : not directly (my life is pretty boring tbh it would not make a very interesting fanfic 😅). But then again, I think that as soon as you're writing something, you put a little bit of yourself in it. Because it relies on your beliefs, on how you see the world, on how you deal with emotions, and on your own experiences as well. So... no, not a full story is inspired by something i've lived, but sometimes I talk about things I've experienced, and anyway... I always put a little of my own heart in my writings. I really am not a believer of that theory stating that you can separate the art and the artist, definitely not. The two make only one. The very act of creating something means tearing out a part of yourself and rearranging it into art.

C: What member do you identify with most?

... member of what? I'm so sorry, I don't know what that means!! NOOO!! I'm so stupid!! I'm sorry!! My braincells are failing me!!

A member of what?

N: Is there a fic you wish someone else would write (or finish) for you?

Hmm... no, not necessarily, honestly. I tried writing with other writers, and we didn't manage to finish our projects, so I'd love to work more on these with them. But I don't think i would want anyone to write my own fics in my stead. They're my babies (even if they're not finished)!

S: Any fandom tropes you can’t resist?

Friends to lovers. HANDS DOWN FRIENDS TO LOVERS!! I love this shit. It's tender. It's cute. It's so okpijirjfioerjozijiaejfizpje!!!!!!!! You want to shake some sense into their stupid heads and scream!!! I love that.

T: Any fandom tropes you can’t stand?

Anything with... alphas, or stuff like that... Anything a bit too dark sexually... not a huge fan. I don't like that at all.

In PG 13 tropes... I don't like love triangles very much. Like... you're hesitating between two people and... berk! Nope. I don't like that.

U: Share three of your favorite fic writers and why you like them so much.

Ooooh... Hang on... only three...

I am such a huge fan of Pray for Us, Icarus by Atalan on AO3. It's my favourite fanfic ever! It made me cry so much. I just read the whole thing in one day and didn't eat, didn't sleep, didn't do anything until I was done. I cried soooooo much...

I'm trying to read quite a lot of Ben Barnes content these days, and I've been reading a lot of @pinchofhoney for that. It's nice to have some Ben content!!

Everything @fortisfilia writes is amazing too! Been a fan since forever, really. And she's very sweet!

There are many more people I could talk about though, they're just the first three people that popped in my head, really.

Y: A character you want to protect.

All of them... hahahahaha!!

They're my babies, I want to torture them, and then pat them on the head, give them a hug, and send them towards a happy ever after.

[unabletocomply]

Dear @chronicintrovert,

Hi.

One year ago today, I sat down on a Friday evening to watch this new show on Netflix. I didn't know much about it other than that it was gay (inclusive) and British, either of which is enough to get me to watch something.

I knew it was eight episodes, so I didn't intend to finish the whole thing in one sitting. But I simply couldn't look away. I was stunned by every aspect: The concept, the writing, the acting, the animations, even the blue-yellow color scheme that I catch some new detail of on each rewatch. Before I knew it, it was midnight and I was watching animated waves splash around Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, confirmed boyfriends.

The next morning, I sat at a traffic light on my way to the grocery store when I realized I was smiling for no discernible reason (it was 8 o’clock… I had no reason to be happy running errands at that hour). It was leftover joy from the previous night. Never before has media so affected me — infected me — as Heartstopper did.

Today, I can happily report Heartstopper had a tangible, deeply positive impact on my life. I devoured your entire back catalog of work, each one as impressive and engrossing and relatable as the last. I continued on, plowing through stacks of queer books (thanks, local library!) with a hunger I haven't felt since I was a teenager. 

You've also brought me my own creative fulfilment. Heartstopper inspired me to write more than I ever had before, and to get to know other wonderful, dedicated, talented Heartstopper writers from around the world. Sorry, it's fanfic, I know there are legal and personal reasons you can never read it. 

Still, please know there's an incredible community of writers and artists churning out world-class fiction that extends the canonical stories of Nick and Charlie or other characters, or imagines them in new settings: Single dad Nick struggling not to fall in love with his housemate; a dating app AU that is a comprehensive study of trauma and healing; 10th century Vikings exploring historical themes of queerness; two patients meeting in a hospital and healing each other emotionally; professional rugby AUs that tap into queer sports issues; fics where Nick and/or Charlie are trans or demi; even one where they're soulmates who turn into cats when the other has naughty thoughts about them. And those are just the tip of the iceberg. 

On a more personal note, Nick and Charlie have enriched my life. My life is way better because I found Heartstopper. I try to keep compassion and empathy at the forefront, just like Charlie. When I'm angry, I think to myself, "What Would Nick Nelson Do?", and that usually involves calming myself and seeking solutions. (I have yet to punch a homophobe, but I'm not opposed.) 

I was also inspired by Nick to come out to my family and friends as aspec. I had long thought it didn't matter much, since I will never bring home a partner, so what was there to tell? But after watching Heartstopper, I desired to live more openly, and now I am.

I know all of this has come at a cost. You've spoken about the intense pressure to deliver season 2 and the ongoing comics. The cast has also faced inappropriate and invasive attention from what I firmly believe is a small minority of Heartstopper fans who clearly missed its message (not that those people should be considered fans at all). I'm not sure what to do about the world other than cherish your art and proclaim its ideals.

Thank you for your vision, your talent, and your years of hard work. Thank you to the cast and crew who brought Heartstopper off the page and onto my screen. I cannot wait (but I will!) to see what you create next.

Love,

A Heartstopper fan xx

PS To balance all that text, here’s a shot from (just before) my favorite kiss scene in my favorite episode, Girls:

[shadowbends]

I posted 5,560 times in 2022

That's 2,468 more posts than 2021!

21 posts created (0%)

5,539 posts reblogged (100%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@somescribblybits

@dontron-9000

@number5theboy

@camlations

@onaishi

I tagged 5,559 of my posts in 2022

#rottmnt - 1,905 posts

#leonardo - 1,067 posts

#donatello - 990 posts

#umbrella academy - 894 posts

#michelangelo - 851 posts

#i laughed - 818 posts

#raphael - 804 posts

#asdfghjkl - 571 posts

#five - 431 posts

#klaus - 282 posts

Longest Tag: 82 characters

#i’d bet $10 rise!april taught the boys how to do doughnuts in an empty parking lot

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

I looked at my notifs, and one of my favorite ROTTMNT fanfic writers visited my blog??? The stars in my eyes you would not believe, screams—

11 notes - Posted October 1, 2022

#4

I don’t know if it’s turtles having me feeling nostalgic, but I’ve had such an itch to get involved in fandom lately. I’m not much of an artist, and I don’t feel quite brave enough to try my hand at fic again. Gosh, it has be over twelve years since the last time I wrote, and I’m just too rusty. 

The ROTTMNT fandom is super cute, though. I’m deeply enjoying all the fic and art and other creative fan content that crosses my path, and the fans seem very friendly. 

It makes me want to contribute too, even if it’s just in a small way. In line with that, I’m thinking of putting together a fic rec list? Just not sure how I want to go about doing it yet, I’m tossing around several ideas ranging from a simple list to... something a bit more ambitious. We’ll see how it goes.

Idk, though. It’s so funny to me that once again turtles have me feeling like this. I’ve dabbled here and there in other fandoms, but the only one I was actually ever a part of was the 2k3 TMNT series from back in the day. So it’s just kind of serendipitous that ROTTMNT would be the one to make me feel this way again. 

20 notes - Posted October 20, 2022

#3

STUFFED CRUST!! ROTTMNT FANFIC RECS (BETWEEN 5,000 AND 15,000 WORDS)

Hello again, cultured turtle fans! Do you enjoy good fanfic? Hopefully so, because I’m back with more recs! Whether you’re new to the fandom and diving into the ROTTMNT fic scene for the first time, or a veteran looking for content you might have missed, my hope for this project is to point you to something you’ll enjoy!

This rec list is the second of three and focuses on short stories in the fandom, with a length between 5,000 and 15,000 words each. Much like a stuffed crust pizza, they’re the perfect option when you’re feeling for something indulgent, but don’t want to go all out. If you want to browse a little more though, feel free to check out the other lists below!

NEW YORK STYLE, BABY!! ROTTMNT FANFIC RECS (UNDER 5,000 WORDS)

STUFFED CRUST!! ROTTMNT FANFIC RECS (BETWEEN 5,000 AND 15,000 WORDS) — You’re here!

DEEP DISH!! ROTTMNT FANFIC RECS (OVER 15,000 WORDS)

If you enjoy any of these fics, make sure to reblog and spread the love! Don’t forget to check out the other works by these authors; many of them have written multiple wonderful stories not featured here that are just as good. Additionally, consider leaving the authors a comment! I’m not always the best at that myself, but fic writers work hard and deserve all the love in the world.

Now, let’s get to the recs. Bon appétit!

➤ ➤ ➤ PRE-SERIES

The Corner Store by KicsterAsh

12,790 words, 5/5 chapters

Character Focus: Raphael & his brothers, w/ Splinter coming in later

Genre: Fluff, Adventure

“I know what I’m spending my three dollars on,” Raph said. He and Donnie dragged Leo to the machine, which was near the front desk of the store, and sat him down against the wall. “Make sure he doesn’t fall asleep,” Raph said to his other siblings, before rushing to the front desk.

The man, who had been watching them since they dragged Leo into view, looked at the turtle as he ran over. Raph tried ignoring that he noticed this and only looked back once he had reached the counter, where his chin just reached over the top.

“Hello, Mister,” Raph said as politely as he could in his urgency. “How much is a small cup of hot chocolate?”

The man pushed up his glasses and looked at the machine. “It’s two dollars and seventy-five cents after tax,” he said.

“I dunno what tax is, but here.” Raph slapped three dollars down on the counter and then pointed at the machine. “Can you show me how to pour one, please? I’ve never done it before.”

I have such a soft spot for this fic; it was one of the first I ever read for the fandom, and it has the perfect blend of adorable turtle tot hijinks with just enough risk involved to make you concerned and keep the story gripping. To summarize the premise: Splinter lets the boys play topside in the snow while he scavenges for food and supplies, but is gone longer than anticipated. As the hours pass and the temperature drops, a young Raphael decides to break the rules and seek out human shelter to keep his brothers from freezing. All of the turtles’ budding personalities shine through in this story, but good older brother Raph is especially a treat here.

Lost and Found (Family) by ashtreelane

7,007 words, 2/2 chapters

Character Focus: April & Michelangelo, April & The Family

Genre: Fluff, Adventure

"Wow!" April says, her eyes wide with fascination. "Are you some sort of…turtle alien?"

"Yeah! Well- not the alien part, but I am a turtle!“

"So how can you talk?" April asks, leaning in to peek into Mikey's head hole. Her voice echoes slightly in the shell.

"Cause I'm not allllll turtle, duh!" Mikey says, smiling. "Our dad doesn't really like to talk about it, but he says that we’re the product of parental love and ‘unholy sorcery’!

"Oh wow! That’s way more interesting than how I got born!"

After being left behind on a field trip and struggling to find a way home, a young April finds someone just as lost as herself. A charming little story that tells how April met the turtles for the first time.

responsibility by TheWhitesOfYourEyes

See the full post

101 notes - Posted October 27, 2022

#2

New York Style, Baby!! ROTTMNT Fanfic Recs (under 5,000 words)

Greetings, dudes and dudettes, and anyone in between! Do you enjoy good fanfic? Well, then you’ve come to the right place! As something of a collector of fics, I welcome you to peruse the many links below. Whether you’re new to the fandom and diving into the ROTTMNT fic scene for the first time, or a veteran looking for content you might have missed, my hope for this project is to point you to something you’ll enjoy!

This rec list is the first of three and focuses on ficlets in the fandom, with every one clocking in under 5,000 words. As such, all of them are also complete. Think of these as the New York Style pizza of fanfics: thin, but cheesy goodness that’s pre-sliced and ready to go when you have a killer craving, but no time to sit down. If you want to browse a little more though, feel free to check out the other lists below!

NEW YORK STYLE, BABY!! ROTTMNT FANFIC RECS (UNDER 5,000 WORDS) — You’re here!

STUFFED CRUST!! ROTTMNT FANFIC RECS (BETWEEN 5,000 AND 15,000 WORDS)

DEEP DISH!! ROTTMNT FANFIC RECS (OVER 15,000 WORDS)

If you enjoy any of these fics, make sure to reblog and spread the love! Don’t forget to check out the other works by these authors; many of them have written multiple wonderful stories not featured here that are just as good. Additionally, consider leaving the authors a comment! I’m not always the best at that myself, but fic writers work hard and deserve all the love in the world.

With that said, sit back, relax, and let’s grab a slice!

➤ ➤ ➤ PRE-SERIES

An Act of Yokai Kindness by BiographyDivider

2,834 words, 1/1 chapter

Character Focus: Splinter & The Boys

Genre: Fluff, Angst

“Okay, boys,” Lou Jistu said, kneeling down to look his gaggle of sons in the face. “What are our Topside Rules?”

“Hats on all the time,” Blue said, pulling his beanie down a little further.

“Or hoods,” Purple chimed in, scowling at his brother for forgetting that he liked a big hood, not a tight hat. Lou nodded.

“And jackets buttoned up too, right? To your chinny-chin-chins?”

A darling little fic about Splinter taking the boys on a trip to the local library—what might be their last trip, as it’s become increasingly difficult to pass them off as human. Features both Turtle Tot goodness and some absolutely on-point Splinter characterization, and is just all around wholesome. 

Coming of Age, Coming to Terms by Drifting_Andromeda

4,018 words, 1/1 chapter

Character Focus: Leonardo & Splinter, Ensemble

Genre: Family Bonding, Fluff

“Huh.” Was all he said, which made Splinter chuckle.

“That’s not the reaction I was expecting.” The rat admitted.

“Really? What were you expecting?”

“Oh I don’t know, maybe some more denial? I was definitely in denial when I first realized I was attracted to men.”

Leonardo realizes something about himself on his 12th birthday, but struggles putting those feelings to words. Thankfully, his dad is there to both offer support and help him sort it out. 

Cradled Close by Poppyseed20

2,903 words, 2/2 chapters

Character Focus: Splinter & Leonardo, Ensemble

See the full post

121 notes - Posted October 25, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

DEEP DISH!! ROTTMNT FANFIC RECS (OVER 15,000 WORDS)

It’s me again, folks. Do you enjoy good fanfic? We’re reaching the end of the line, but I’m here to hook you up! Whether you’re new to the fandom and diving into the ROTTMNT fic scene for the first time, or a veteran looking for content you might have missed, my hope for this project is to point you to something you’ll enjoy!

This rec list is the last of three and focuses on longfic in the fandom, with a word count reaching anywhere over 15,000 words. You’ll find a variety of fic here, from novellas to full-blown novels—some complete, but many still ongoing! Though it may be heresy on the streets of New York, this is the list you want when you’re craving something really thick to sink your teeth into: a sit-down experience exploding with flavor. Don’t have time for that, actually? Then consider checking out my previous rec lists as well!

NEW YORK STYLE, BABY!! ROTTMNT FANFIC RECS (UNDER 5,000 WORDS)

STUFFED CRUST!! ROTTMNT FANFIC RECS (BETWEEN 5,000 AND 15,000 WORDS)

DEEP DISH!! ROTTMNT FANFIC RECS (OVER 15,000 WORDS) — You’re here!

If you enjoy any of these fics, make sure to reblog and spread the love! Don’t forget to check out the other works by these authors; many of them have written multiple wonderful stories not featured here that are just as good. Additionally, consider leaving the authors a comment! I’m not always the best at that myself, but fic writers work hard and deserve all the love in the world.

With all of that said, it’s time for the recs. Let’s dig in!

Quick note: On previous lists, I separated the recs by the general time period they took place in. I’m not going to that here, largely because—uh. Well. Nearly all of them are post-movie! This fandom’s sure been active in the last couple of months, huh? Given that, I’ll be sorting them by a broader method, but yes. If you’ve not seen the movie, this is your warning that spoilers abound in the recs below. 

➤ ➤ ➤ CANON COMPLIANT

The Aftermath by Starrcrossrose

57,262 words, 9/? chapters (last updated 11/03/2022)

Character Focus: Everyone (Leo-centric)

Genre: Angst, Family Drama, Hurt/Comfort

It would’ve been easier to say what he was feeling, but he honestly didn’t know how. He wasn’t sure why, either. He knew his brothers would understand and comfort him and be there if he wanted them to be. Hell, Donnie’s surprise sleepover and everyone showing up for it in the living room had been proof of that.

Yet he still couldn’t do it. He’d tried to talk to Donnie and the pain on his brother’s face had been enough to make him never want to speak about things ever again. He didn’t want them to hurt the way he did; he wanted them to be okay and normal and happy.

You know they aren’t happy. Why do you keep pretending to be fine when the others aren’t either?

Leo squeezed his eyes shut and buried his face into his knees as he pulled himself into an even tighter ball. He wanted to go into his shell as much as possible, but at the same time, a searing energy was making his legs feel like he could run or swim for miles. He could just go and go and go until he collapsed.

Maybe… maybe that'll help.

Set a few months after the movie, Leo struggles with the long recovery time needed for his injuries to heal, both physical and mental. Unable to talk about it, he turns to unhealthy coping methods instead. The rest of the family is doing no better from the fallout of the invasion, however, with each of their own stresses mounting the longer things go unaddressed. That is until Chapter 8, when things come to a head...

There are a lot of post-movie recovery fics out there, each one unique. The Aftermath’s hallmark has to be in its slowburn foreshadowing, and excellent character writing. Throughout many chapters, we get a glimpse into the heads of just about every beloved character the series has to offer, including April and Casey Jr. Little clues to what’s going to go wrong are set up early on, but just like the characters, I was blind to how serious of a turn things were about to take until the problem finally reared its head. This fic does a good job of showing how important it is to talk to one another, even if it’s hard.

Aftershocks by Katiemonz, McBethins, octolingkiera, theashemarie, and this_kills_the_man

153,543 words, 12/15 chapters (last updated 11/06/2022)

Character Focus: Everyone

Genre: Family Drama, Angst, Hurt/Comfort

“Good game,” Leo said to Donnie, smiling at Mikey in the same sly way as before.

“Thank you, Leonardo, but as I’ve said Uno is—”

“But you still lost,” Leo continued. He swept the cards up and began to straighten them for another shuffle.

“Second place is hardly—”

“Honorary title,” Leo cut in again. “Mikey won, so we owe him.”

See the full post

268 notes - Posted November 6, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[tfp-miko-zine]

Q&A from the Interest Check!

Hiya! KAJiRA here, hope all my American fans are having a safe and restful Labor Day.

I received many questions from some of y'allz in from the Interest Check (which closed last Wednesday) and I would like to answer them (to the best of my ability ofc).

You can also ask me some questions on this Tumblr page as well if you missed out on the Interest Check form.

Check out the Q&A below:

Q: Just wondering how Miko's parents are going to be interpreted. The whole super-strict Asian parents thing is done to death.

A: Yeah, as stereotypical as it sounds...sadly, the whole tiger parenting in the Asian community is actually true...on some level depending on the parents. However, according to canon Miko actually doesn't show any signs of hatred towards her parents. In Darkness Rising Part 2 (S1E2), Miko told Jack a little bit about her time in Japan where she said she has loving parents. In the episode, Deux Ex Machina, she mentioned to Bulkhead that her parents did want her to go to college, when he was lecturing her for ditching after-school detention. Collecting those tiny information from the show, I would have to suggest that Miko's parents did allow her to have some freedom, yet made room for assertiveness and keeping her grounded when it comes to her academics and future.

Q: Would zine contributors be paid for their pieces?

A: Given that this zine project is still in early development, and I'm the only one fully responsible for it's organization, design, printing on my dime with my own equipment, assembly, and distribution, etc... and also this is just a little passion project I want to do because of my love for TFP and the characters and me being a total sucker for headcanons.

As a result, zine contributors will not be compensated, but rather they will receive a free copy of the zine plus (potential) merch.

Q: What would the timeline to complete the pieces look like?

A: That is to be determined. With the Interest Check completed, I'm in the process of creating an application form for potential artists and writers. The acceptance letter will include requirements (size, focusing on the theme, etc) and a deadline.

Q: Would artists also be able to contribute to merch designs?

A: Most likely not. Personally, I don't want to make things hard on potential contributors for the merchandise category since merch making can be expensive. Though I am open for artists and fanfic writers, but just wait until applications for contributors opens soon.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now these are not questions at all, but just some kind comments I cannot help but share! <3

Commentor: "Good luck with applications!"

KAJiRA: Thanks!

C: "Can't wait!"

K: ^_^

C: "I have always been interested in Miko’s character so it’s almost a dream come true to see people working on this. Not to mention the quality of this project, it’s a lot more professional compared to the other similar projects I have encountered. Keep up the good work!"

K: Same here! Kinda wished TFP sheds more light onto the character's backstory during the series' run. It could've been a few Day-In-The-Life episodes or IDW Publishing could've made some comics focusing on the human characters' backstory. Though we heard a few bits about them (i.e. a little bit about Miko's life in Japan, Jack being raised by a single mom and his dad leaving him at a young age, and Raf's struggles of being noticed in a large family and that his clothes are actually hand-me-downs according to the artbook, Transformers: The Art of Prime), the rest could also be open to interpretation. As for the quality of this project...LOL thanks but not sure how the final product might turn out but there will be more updates soon. I will do the best I can to deliver the best fanzine, and who knows I might promote this project at a future appearance at TFcon!

C: "This project sounds delightful!"

K: Thanks for the love, dear!

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Hope this clears things up for now! Again, I never thought I would receive positive responses and interests for a fanzine based on an 11-year-old show that I thought the fandom fizzled out a bit after all those years, but I guess the spark still flies for Transformers Prime *CRIES TEARS OF JOY* !!!

If y'allz got more questions, don't hesitate to tap/click on the "Ask" button or hit this page a message.

またね！(Mata ne! - See ya!)

~ Mod KAJiRA

[gffa]

Shit, now I’m thinking again about the structure of Star Wars fandom versus Star Wars source material creators and I feel like there’s a fascinating discussion to be about how there’s a blurring line between “fan” versus “author/artist/creative” with the way LF is hiring so many popular fans to create source material content for them. And part of that discussion is that there’s no real easy way to tell where the creator ends and the fan begins, especially when LF has been spending increasing amounts of effort to make people act as if liking Star Wars is now part of your personality, that it defines who you are as a person. I look at popular YouTubers being asked to host segments during Celebration or I look at popular fans on Twitter getting to draw official art for LF or the accounts of writers of the SW books, and it’s impossible to tell where the fan begins and the creator ends. Which I don’t think strikes a lot of people as a problem, the sheer number of people who work for LF are all like, “I’m also a Star Wars fan!” and that’s not inherently bad, I think being fan can really, really help them love what they do and have passion for it and you can tell they care about what they put out, even when they’re working for a giant megacorporation.  Nor do I think “just doing your job” is an inherently great way to produce SW material, either. And maybe part of my problem is the separation of creator and fan made it more navigable when interacting with someone, like, let’s say I don’t like a SW book, because they signed a contract to write a book for Lucasfilm, there’s a level of agreeing to people reacting to your work.  They are a professional writer, they can put their big kids’ undies on and deal with it. But I can’t and shouldn’t do the same for a fanfic that someone wrote, because they’re another fan, they don’t have the same influence or reach, nor did they sign a contract to be part of that kind of thing. So, are they fan or creator?  This weird mix of both--and I haven’t even touched on how I’m starting to wonder when LF will be hiring more based on popularity than talent--on the surface feels like it’s trying to be a big, cozy family, but it’s not, it’s a business and a product. And that part is bad, too, but also I’m thinking about how fandom etiquette has certain rules, that you shouldn’t be a dick to other fans (and there’s this whole big other conversation about fandom treating someone who likes something they don’t as the same as being actively horrible as a person, how there are behaviors in fandom that are genuinely worth talking about/examining and then there’s people who hate me just because I like Character A and not Character B or whatever, that this is a difficult morass that we all need to work harder on) but if they’re both fans and creators, then how the hell are you supposed to interact with them?  Are they a professional or a fan?  Because half the time I don’t even know anymore. That distinction is important because, even if you should keep scale in mind, when you criticize an author on something, you’re criticizing up.  They’re still a human being, but they’re also a professional.  When you criticize a fellow fan, you’re criticizing someone parallel to you.  Yes, their amount of being popular on the internet can be a factor and being a fan doesn’t get you immunity from criticism, but they are still just a fan and should be treated as such. 

[purekesseltrash]

My Year in Review

It’s been a fucking wild year.  To put it mildly.  A wild, wild year.  It has been, by far, the year that I have written the most.  I have written 21 fics in 2021 with a total word count of 258,649k, all for My Hero Academia.  I have developed as a writer the most in this year and it isn’t ever close.

It all starts with Rooftop Necromancy.  I wrote the entire thing on January 6th 2021, a date which, as an American, is a bit infamous.  Picture me, getting into an insane hyperfocus stage over metalhead Aizawa and Hizashi and just powering through a fic, only to surface for air and realize that a bunch of Qanon morons have attempted a coup on the fucking House of Representatives.  Picture the surprise and whiplash I felt.  I’m gonna be an old lady one day and someone is gonna ask one day what I was doing and I’m gonna pull up pictures like ‘I wrote a fic of this cockatoo man sucking off this tired boi’.

Anyway though.  Rooftop has let me know so many people that I wouldn’t and I am incredibly grateful for that.  @kyurilin mentioned the Rooftop fucking owned in an erasermic discord and then mentioned that she wrote Cars fanfic and I immediately was like ‘yes, hello, I love you so much’.  And that love has continued.  She just... she’s so nice you guys.  I pester her so much and she’s right there.  She reads all of my google docs.  She reviews EVERY SINGLE ONE of my fics.  She let me, me the biggest goober in the world, read a fic she never would show the light of DAY and it was a glorious fic.  She’s such a good friend?  I’m so lucky?  

@ifyougoillfollow is also someone I know thanks to Rooftop.  They were the first person to comment on Rooftop and if you look at those comments, it is embarrassing how much I was like ‘hello i love you plz be my friend’ but their writing is so fucking good and they are so smart and they leave the nicest reviews in the world and legit, without their reviews,  Rooftop as a series might never have gone on.

@mckittericks is also someone I know thanks to Rooftop.  Id noticed that username steadily leaving kudos on all of my erasermic fics and then following me on tumblr and THEN.  I got THE REVIEW.  The review that was so nicely thought out and that made me cry and I immediately just messaged them on tumblr like ‘hi hello how are you, we are friends now, I love you’.   And god, their comments on my fic and beta help?!!?!?!?!?!  I would pay for it a million times over.  I love it so MUCH.

And then I got into shoutoko, lol.  I got into the BNHA Big Bang and got ready to write Bury Them Deep where I was able to beta for @illogicalruse.  And their story was so fucking fun and clever and wonderful and I kinda fell in love with them as a person just from their writing.  You ever read someone’s writing and just want to be buddies?  Yeah, it was that.  I also got to meet @sarathewise from that Big Bang and again, another person who fucking rules and who I value a ton.

I also had the pleasure of having @starblazer124 as an artist, a fellow midwesterner and wonderful human, and the incredible @shabby-illustrations.  Fucking Shabby, man.  I talk to Shabby at least once a week and have since the big bang.  They have read all of my google docs before they go out and they give me feedback which just FEEDS ME so much.  And they have made me art!!!!  And man, when I decided that Kyuri needed fanart of ‘Present Mic’s Totally Bullshit Life’, I knew exactly who to go to and who would understand that fic like I did.  And I was not wrong.  Shabby rules.

I’ve met alot of other cool people through Shoutoko and BTD.  @the-worm-in-the-dirt has given me amazing feedback and validation and has blessed me with being shown their work and I can’t wait to see what they create this year.  @yeehawshira fucking getssssss me and Tokoyami and is a fabulous artist.  @wingedaria let me just worm my way into her life because I was such a huge fucking fan of her Shoutoko work.

And then there’s Leave Her Johnny, the pirate/regency/smuggler AU that I wrote and kind of forgot about.  But I got a comment from @aubreyms asking if she could cosplay Mic from the fic and I was like ‘?????  That was even an option?!?!?!  Of course?!?!?!’ and then I promptly bragged about it to a select few people and forgot about it.  And then she and @burbanowl made a whole fucking series of tiktoks based on the fic and like.  Y’all.  It was such an honor.  It was so cool.  I... I can’t even begin to say how lucky and honored I feel.  Corndog Patrol read the fucking fic and left a kudos like ?!?!?!?!?!

If 2022 is anything like 2021 in terms of friends and fandom, I will be a lucky, lucky person indeed.  I love you all.