#it's so stupid i'm trying to work on it but hoo bOY is that easier said than done

[byanyan]

the thing about me is that even if i'm super pumped about a thread, i'll still end up taking months to reply to it a lot of the time

[wrestlingisfake]

Full Gear preview

MJF vs. Jay White - Max is making his ninth defense of the AEW men's world championship; if he retains it tonight, then tomorrow he can say he's held the title for an entire year. White stole the title belt on October 4, in retaliation for an attack on September 27. Although the attackers were led by a man wearing MJF's signature devil mask, Friedman has denied any involvement. This will be Max's second match of the night, as he's working the pre-show in a tag match against White's henchmen, Austin and Colten Gunn.

I never expected to be so excited for this matchup. At times I have loathed both men, because they're so dedicated to their heel work that they sometimes cross the line from "boo" to "this is stupid I'm gonna make a sandwich." When White joined AEW it seemed inevitable they'd work together, and I was dreading that black hole of heel heat. In their first promo battle they kept harping on how alike they're supposed to be--a take so tepid I could get that from any idiot on Twitter--and I was like "hoo boy." And yet, they've sold me on it.

MJF's babyface works because it doesn't fundamentally alter who he is as a heel. He's still a spoiled rich kid trying to hurt everyone before they can hurt him. He's still extremely good at using rulebreaking and chicanery to get what he wants. It's just that now he wants to deserve to be loved--by Adam Cole, by the fans, and even by the Acclaimed--so now he's using every trick in his book to get something we want him to have.

Meanwhile, White's strengths as a heel aren't simply having the balls to get the cheapest heat possible, even if that's all he had to do in New Japan. What makes him stand out is that he's cold and calculating. He's too heartless to be distracted by his personal sentiment, which makes it easier for him to spot those weaknesses in an opponent and strategically exploit them. Max wants to be in your head to feel like a big shot; Jay wants to be in your head to dismantle you.

So now Max, the biggest cheater in AEW, is headed into a battle of cheaters, and the story is that he's the underdog, because Jay has stayed one step ahead at every turn. They've done such a great job with this that I almost believe Jay should get the title. Almost. Because at the same time, they've done an even better job building up Samoa Joe as the next challenger. And that story--that the invincible Joe will watch Max's back in exchange for a title match that Max can't win--is too good to disrupt by taking the title off of MJF. One way or another, I think the champ retains tonight.

Christian Cage & Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne vs. Adam Copeland & Sting & Darby Allin - Cage and Lucha have been feuding with Allin and Sting for months. Things escelated on October 1 when Darby's protege Nick Wayne betrayed him to align with Christian, and Adam Copeland debuted with AEW to stop the heels from injuring Sting.

Copeland is best known for his hall-of-fame career in WWE as Edge, which included seven tag team championships alongside Christian. The team broke up in 2001, although they've had more than a few reunions. Aside from battle royales, this is the first time these two have been on opposite sides of the ring since 2010. This is obviously building to a one-on-one match, probably for the AEW TNT title, so don't expect them to settle anything here.

The other big factor in this match is that Sting recently announced plans to retire in a few months. Ric Flair recently debuted with AEW to participate in Sting's final run, and he's going to be in the babyfaces' corner for this match. I suppose Flair doesn't have to turn on Sting, but their history suggests that he's totally going to turn on Sting. Sting hasn't been on the losing side of a match in eight years, but it may be about time for that to change. I could easily see Wayne or Allin getting pinned in this match, depending on what shenanigans happen.

Orange Cassidy vs. Jon Moxley - Cassidy's AEW international title is on the line. Moxley already beat Orange for the title on September 3, but within a few weeks a legit in-ring injury forced an unplanned title change to Rey Fenix. Mox was scheduled for a rematch with Fenix on October 10, but when he couldn't get medical clearance, Cassidy stepped in and regained the title. So even though Orange is once again the defending champion, it feels more like he's the challenger seeking to avenge a crushing defeat two months ago.

Very little has changed since the first bout. Moxley still thinks he can crush Cassidy like a bug, and Orange still has to prove he can weather the storm. If the original plan was a long Moxley title reign with Cassidy chasing him for six months, they could have him win again to get back on track. Or if the plan was for Cassidy to win back the title in the second match, he could simply retain here to set up an epic rubber match. I definitely think Orange needs to win the war, but that doesn't mean he has to win this battle. This could go either way.

Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho vs. Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson - The Golden Jets (Omega and Jericho) have been teaming up of late to fight their mutual enemies in the Don Callis Family, but Matt and Nick aren't happy about it. If the Bucks win this match, the Jets must disband as a team; but if the Jets win, they receive the AEW tag title shot the Bucks earned back on October 1.

The last time Kenny and a partner faced the Bucks, the partner was Adam Page and it was a match of the year candidate. Jericho is not Page, obviously, but even if you think he totally sucks, he doesn't suck enough to keep this match from being great.

It's only been six months since Kenny and the Bucks reconciled with Page, to get the Elite all together again for the first time in three years. So I don't understand the logic of having the Bucks turn on Kenny for no real reason. The only thing that makes sense is to build to Matt and Nick against Omega and Kota Ibushi. So it stands to reason the Bucks will win this match to remove Jericho from the equation.

Hikaru Shida vs. Toni Storm - This is for Shida's AEW women's world title. Shida won the title from Storm on August 2, but she lost it on August 27 in a four-way when Storm was pinned by her own ally, Saraya. Storm failed to recover the title from Saraya on September 20, but Shida dethroned Saraya on October 10. So yeah, Toni has been having a tough time of late, in case you were wondering why she flipped out and reinvented herself as an old-timey movie star.

Toni's over-the-top gimmick may be the best thing going in the division right now, so you can make the argument she should be the top champion. On the other hand, that would mean feeding your top women to what is essentially a comedy act. I think my preference would be to keep her on TV but out of the title picture, to expand the footprint of the women's division. But I never understand AEW's priorities with the women, so I can't predict this one.

Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland - This is billed as a Texas death match, and I always forget exactly which version of the rules AEW uses. I think you can win by submission or if your opponent stays down for a ten-count. Regardless, the main idea is that the wrestlers can brawl all over the place and use all sorts of weapons.

These two had a big match on October 1, which Strickland won. For some reason that didn't end the feud, so Strickland upped the ante by invading Page's home, so now Page is out for blood. I wasn't wild about the build to the first match, and this time the whole thing feels even more superfluous. Page hit the nail on the head in one of his promos--Strickland should have taken the win in their first match, and moved on to chasing the world title, but instead they're still fighting each other for no particularly good reason.

I can't see Page losing this match, but I also don't see the point of doing this feud if Strickland isn't going to get the last laugh. So something tells me this match won't settle anything, and they'll run it back again next month.

Ricky Starks & Big Bill vs. Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler vs. Malakai Black & Brody King vs. Rush & Dralistico - Starks and Bill are putting the AEW tag championship up for grabs. This is a ladder match, so the tag belts will be hung above the ring and ladders will be placed at ringside--the only rule is that the first man to pull down the belts will win the match and the tag title for his team. In theory you'd need to climb a ladder to get the belts, but something tells me Ricky will try standing on Bill's shoulders at least once.

FTR (Dax and Cash) lost the tag title to Starks and Bill on October 7, so they're trying to reclaim the gold. The Kings of the Black Throne (Black and King) seem to have targeted FTR, although they've also targeted half a dozen other people. Case in point, they gave La Faccion Ingobernable enough grief that they kinda turned babyface to help FTR, so Rush and Dralistico are here to represent LFI.

It probably doesn't make a big difference who wins this match, because I expect the winners to be underdogs when they defend against the winners of tonight's Young Bucks-Golden Jets match. So yeah, let's just go with Starks and Bill to retain.

Kris Statlander vs. Julia Hart vs. Skye Blue - This is a three-way, so the first woman to score a fall will win the match and Statlander's AEW TBS title. I like all three women, but this match seems kind of pointless. Hart beat Blue on September 20, Statlander beat Hart on October 1, and Statlander beat Blue on October 14. Julia qualified for this match by beating Willow Nightingale (whom Statlander already beat) and Skye qualified by beating Red Velvet (who never beats anybody). This is why the women's division needs to have more depth, people.

The only good reason to do this match is that Julia sprayed Skye in the face with black mist. Everybody figured Blue would then turn to the dark side, but thus far she seems to not like Julia or Kris. So it's not clear where any of this is going, and we just have to hope doing this match will settle it somehow.

I get the feeling they've got an idea to do a title change here. I'd be cool with Hart or Blue getting the big win, although I'd prefer to see it happen in a straight one-on-one victory. I guess I'll root for Julia, since she's been killin' it lately.

Eddie Kingston vs. Jay Lethal - This is set for the pre-show. Kingston lost a Memphis street fight to Jeff Jarrett on October 21, which means he has to defend the ROH men's world title against Lethal, because nothing in the Jarrettverse makes any fucking sense. Eddie is also the STRONG men's champion, but that title isn't at stake here. I'm sure the heels will do all their usual cheap heat shit, and it won't matter and Eddie will just clobber them to retain. But...I suppose Lethal could win to set up a rematch at the ROH pay-per-view next month. So you never know.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Buddy Matthews - Another pre-show match. Basically Buddy was clobbering Wheeler Yuta last night and Claudio ran in for the save and issued a challenge for this match. I assume this is leading to Claudio, Yuta, and Jon Moxley vs. Buddy, Malakai Black, and Brody King eventually, but they sure aren't in a hurry to get there. Claudio will probably win here.

MJF & Samoa Joe vs. Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn - The Gunns are challenging for the ROH tag title in the pre-show. MJF and Adam Cole are the titleholders, although Cole has been sidelined with an ankle injury since September 20. Max insists on defending the title until Cole returns, and Joe has graciously offered to help him in exchange for an AEW men's world title match. I wouldn't give the Gunns very good odds against either MJF or Joe, but against MJF and Joe they haven't got a prayer.

[mannatea]

Hi! For the ask game: 🌈 💞 🪄

🌈is there a fic that you worked *really fucking hard on* that no one would ever know? maybe a scene/theme you struggled with?

Hoo boy. Yeah. Three fics.

Fireside Dreams. The original was written in 2008 and this rewrite done in 2020. The rewrite was extensive and I DO MEAN EXTENSIVE. In 2008 I was well into adulthood already (lol) but I didn't have a great grasp of who I was as a person yet. I don't mean this in any sort of negative way, but Oscar as a character always spoke to me deeply and it wasn't until I rewatched and reread RoV in 2020 that it hit me square in the face why that was. In my rewrite of this story, I managed to convey a lot of themes I was incapable of putting words or solid feelings to back in 2008, and I wrote Oscar as asexual. I never outright stated it in the story or the notes (because I wanted my readers to feel they could kind of choose that specific for themselves) but that was where my mind was when writing it. Also, I very much wanted to hint at The Incident Scene being as complex as I view it, so I was able to do that too, something I could have NEVER put into words in 2008.

If It Takes a Lifetime. I was actually very happy with the original story, also posted in 2008. The original was more or less a cathartic love letter to the fans; it was my definitive proof that the author knew what she was doing by ending the series the way she did. When I reread it to work on, though, I found that the original was a classic example of what a friend criticized my writing for, once ("too emotional"). I reread it in 2020 as my first foray back into writing after some time away, and it was my first RoV rewrite. I found the story felt underdeveloped and a bit uninspired-feeling, and there was a lot of emotion that didn't really feel real or earned (which is something I've trained myself to notice; I did not have this skill in 2008). I also Get the characters in a way I did not in 2008 which helped a lot. In the rewrite I tried to mimic the manga tone more; the French translation (which is all I had until recently lmao) has this sort of...waxing poetic narration and I needed it for this story to work. I also had to retool basically the whole thing due to the PoV moving from omniscient to limited and the aforementioned issues. Rewriting this damn thing was a labor of love if ever there was one. I was so happy with this rewrite that in my notes I said it felt more like a Rose of Versailles fic than any other RoV story I wrote.

A Rose Is a Rose Is a Rose. I probably should not have labeled this a romance; it's more character study + friendship than anything but sometimes I'm stupid. Anyway, this was the first extensive rewrite I did since 2020 and it was pretty much a complete retooling of the original story, which had a fun premise but was way too short to make the idea work properly. This one was another serious labor of love; the story concept was good but the actual structure had to be tossed out, so I had to more or less just write a whole new story while still keeping the parts of the original that worked for me. And while I was at it I made certain it acted as a bridge to Raine's skit with Regal (where they agree that Lloyd surviving is of the utmost importance) as well as an easier segue into her ending, since I felt the game did a poor job of getting us from "she lied about her identity" to "she's so comfortable with it now she's out trying to end discrimination." (Not that the game did a great job with like, any of the character endings save a few, though lol.)

--

💞what's the most important part of a story for you? the plot, the characters, the worldbuilding, the technical stuff (grammar etc), the figurative language

This is tough because it depends on the story.

Short pieces: Characterization > Metaphors Make Sense > Technical Stuff > Plot > Worldbuilding

Longer works: Characterization > Plot > Worldbuilding > Technical Stuff > Metaphors Make Sense

Like obviously if the technical stuff is dogshit people won't read the story at all, but if we're just talking a few nitpicky details, they matter a lot less in a long fic than in a short one. In a short story you're presenting a bite-sized (or like, cupcake-sized) piece for your reader, and the things that matter in the short-term have to be the most important (like, it's a short story...please edit it before posting, it takes a few minutes to look for typos). I think having a technically sound story is important no matter what but sometimes in long stories you do miss a small thing here or there.

I don't think a short story needs much or any real worldbuilding to be great. Obviously these details are nice in short bursts and fun to see, but they can also REALLY bog down a story if you include too many or the intention is to present something short & punchy. For a long story though, you DO need it, and depending on the canon you're writing for, you may need a lot of it to keep your readers engaged, to help your characters feel more grounded in the world, and/or to help the world feel real.

Metaphors making sense is ranked higher in the short story section because this is where they are most often encountered. It's very very noticeable if you make a terrible metaphor and that metaphor is the crux of the whole 2,000 word long story you're writing. In a long fic you don't see a lot of metaphors generally (and I find most of them just make the story a slog to read) so it's not that big of a deal because you probably won't even use them.

Plot ranks high with longer works because it's literally the second biggest reason people are reading the story. For shorter pieces it's quite low because there is always an audience for pwp and WAFF, which oftentimes have little or no plot.

Characterization remains #1 because nothing jolts me out of a story faster than characters feeling unlike themselves. I understand that sometimes people do drastic AUs and that's great, but if a character I love doesn't feel like the character I love anymore, then I'm out; it's just a personal preference for me. That said, in most situations, characterization makes or breaks any story. Plot matters a lot in a long story but the characterization will always matter more. I'd rather read a basic bitch plot with great characterization than a god-tier plot with mediocre characterization. Also, I do not think this can be overstated, but this is fandom and people are here for the characters; they should ALWAYS matter the most in this medium.

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🪄what is your post-writing/sharing aftercare? How do you take care of yourself or celebrate yourself when you've finished a fic?

I tried to take a break since I finished writing Break Open the Sky and I've just been bored out of my damn mind, honestly. Started planning the sequel because I can't take it.

Usually when I write something and post it, I just do something else for a while: watch a movie, play a game. I'm an idiot who can't stop working on things to do simple tasks like eat or shower (hyperfocus or die), so usually when I finish something extensive I go look at something that isn't a screen for a while and shower, put in eyedrops, do a load of laundry or vacuum, and get myself something to eat.

Also my biggest writing care tip is CUT YOUR FINGERNAILS. Especially if you're a fast typist like me or if you have arthritis—or there's a history of arthritis in your family (osteo or rheumatoid). Got this advice years ago from @kippielovesyou, I think before a NaNoWriMo; it had never really occurred to me before but now if my hands hurt too quickly I cut my nails and feel like a brand new person again. It's truly wild.

Most touch typists like me use touch so extensively that when our nails get too long we have to use more pressure to feel. To be clear, I'm worse off than most people because I have the aforementioned arthritis + nerve damage in my hands (I have very very little feeling in the tips of my fingers), so I notice the extra pain in my joints very quickly BUT!! It could be a gamechanger for anyone, so I like to pass the knowledge on.

If you DO have the start of carpal tunnel or arthritis or tendonitis PLEASEPLEASE for the love of God don't overdo it. You WILL NOT get your hands back. Please. I'm literally begging. I fucked up my hands and arms in a factory years ago and I am not even 40 and have the hands of a 70 year old woman and permanent restrictions to keep my tendons from rupturing. Don't push through pain; it will not get better. I learned this the hard way and I am passing that knowledge on to you guys. Stretch, drink a lot of water, and give your hands a break when you need it!!!!

[himboholhorse-moving]

1 2 4 7 8 9 13 18 20 26 27 29 30 32 39 40 41 43/44 45 46 49 51 53 55 56 57 59 63 65 that is. so many dghsdghsdgv I'm sorry I just see an ask meme and go crazy aaaa go stupid aaaa. You can just answer whichever u like from those!! also 69(nice): you seem rly nice and funny from your 🅱️osts and I appreciate u... I hope you can find better irl friends who aren't trash

HDSKFJKS I completely understand but lucky for u I LOVE to talk !!

1) How are you?

Pretty good, actually!! Which is a nice change of pace. I went to Walmart with some friends yesterday and got a few things, baked a family recipe that my friends LOVE, and finally did my laundry (it’s been a couple weeks we love depression and executive dysfunction dfhkjsfd). I went to Cracker Barrel with some friends and earlier and played a 4-way game of Tetris after. :3c

2) Post a picture of yourself.

Here you go !!

4) What is your entire name?

Sierra Alexis and my last name is something constantly misspelled so I’ll give you the name of a historical figure whose name is a letter off from mine: George B. McClellan, to whom I may or may not be related because last name variations are fuckin’ WEIRD.

7) Your zodiac/horoscope and if you think it fits your personality.

I’m a Capricorn sun and moon, and Libra rising !! And from what I’ve read on Twitter from various astrologers, like Milkstrology, I LOVE her, I’d say it’s pretty accurate with my personality!! I like to say Capricorn’s aren’t cold bitches but, I Have A Tendency To Be One !!

8) What did you do on your last birthday?

God what DID I do on my last birthday… it was in January, so like, I SHOULD remember… OH I went to IHOP with my friends !! I share a birthday with another friend and I got a JoJo notebook and something called a Fuggler! They’re stuffed animals more or less but designed to be “ugly.” I got one that looks like Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty because I LOVE Gritty… he’s so fun and funky.

9) What is one thing you’d like to accomplish before your next birthday?

Get all my requests in my inbox over on my writing blog done KJHFDJKSF it’s been a few months and life has been. Hectic to say the least.

13) If you could change your eye color, would you?

There’s so much weird as hell brown-eye-phobia so like… I think blue eyes would be pretty neat. OR PURPLE… give me some unnatural eye colors pls...

18) Do you have any tattoos?

Not yet!! I’m going to get one the next time I go back home for break. :3c And I have a few ideas for other ones!! I wanna get a big-ass “Dragon Age: Origins” tattoo that’s the dragon on the cover on my thigh. I also wanna get a DA2 and “Inquisition” tattoo… and the Joestar birthmark… too many ideas… 

20) Left or right handed?

Right-handed !! I could have been left-handed or ambidextrous if I broke my arm AFTER I started kindergarten, but alas that was before.

26) Something you are working on right now:

This !! But also the script for my next podcast episode that I record on uhhh Monday I think. Should probably figure that one out dsjfjhsf

27) Do you have any “rules” about food?

I answered that in the last ask !!

29) What would you say is your best quality?

I also answered this in the last ask !!

30) What do you think you’re really good at?

Writing, I’d say! And memorizing trivia about the stuff I’m super into. If it’s stuff pertaining to “M*A*S*H” or old movies or TV shows or actors or specific historical events, I will know that shit FOR LIFE. Don’t ask me to do math pls thank u

32) What talent do you wish you’d been born with?

I wish I was able to do stuff with music. That was never really in my blood, despite all the music classes they make you take in elementary school. I just never learned how to memorize or read sheet music. :/ I would have loved to play violin, tho… my friend plays and she says I would have been a good cellist.

39) Do you sleep with a stuffed toy?

YES… have for years. I still have my Care Bear from when I was 5, Gritty as mentioned above, a plush of my school’s mascot, and a little Fugo !! He’s so tiny.

40) What do you think about the most?

Everything and constantly and all at once. But the past really because I can never let stuff go and even the small things I mess up on haunt me forever… Wish that wasn’t the case but it is !!

41) Share two habits:

Biting my nails and having a very specific routine in which I get ready when I wake up. Like, I’ve gotta go brush my hair before I put my important cards in my left pocket, then put on my silver bracelet, then my beaded bracelet, then my earbuds in my right pocket, then put my earrings in. I HAVE to do it in that order…

And other oddities that include, like, if I need to go around something I HAVE to follow the urge to go one way and not the other, lest I feel the need to go back and fix it. And then which foot goes first before I reach a crack in the sidewalk, or up or down a curb, etc.

43) What are your career goals?

If I can just make people happy or get some kind of joy out of the things I do, I’d call that enough. :)

44) What is your ideal career?

Mmm, either a film historian or a film professor !! Preferably at the college I’m at right now but wherever the wind takes me, I’ll go! Or a Twitch streamer or YouTuber, it really depends on my mood jdhfjskf

45) Is your life anything like it was two years ago?

It was pretty much the same !! Freshman year was pretty lively, I didn’t have a job on campus yet though, or my podcast. Everything else is basically the same!

46) Do you replay things that have happened in your head?

CONSTANTLY… good or bad it’ll play back over and over and over again.

49) Do you have any phobias?

HOO BOY, DO I… fear of heights; fear of insects/bugs/arachnids/bees/wasps; I have a strong dislike of the number 13 but I don’t know if it’s a phobia, I just. REALLY hate it; the unknown, more or less what lurks somewhere beyond where I can see. Not so much a fear of the dark with that one, just what could BE in it.

51) Are you allergic to anything? If so, what?

I answered this in my last ask, as well!

53) Ever come close to death?

Two or three times, maybe? Two of them involved what’s called a laryngospasm, typically it can happen when your sick, which is what happened to me both times. Basically your throat just closes up on your for a hot minute and you can’t breathe. The first time I genuinely thought I was going to die (and my dad still sent me to school that day… HOE), the second time I was also sick and was losing/had lost my voice DURING A JOB RETREAT and it happened in the middle of the night so that was funny sitting there gasping for breath in the pitch dark.

At the FIRST retreat I went on for that job, you had to take pictures as part of a scavenger hunt, and the place used to be an old military fort, so there were still the old bunkers there. We had to take one on top of it and I was taking the picture, and it’s a wide shot so I go to take a step back but before I do I look behind me. If I hadn’t I would have fallen a good 10-15 feet down onto solid Civil War-era bunker concrete. I’d consider that being a “close to death” moment because I really could have died!

55) A random fact about yourself:

I have a half-brother !! My sis and I finally found him after her 23andMe results came back (which she decided to do despite us being like THE GOVERNMENT WILL COLLECT OUR DATA) and we didn’t think our mom would be happy she found him but she was !! My sis might reach out and contact him, she just wanted our mom’s permission first to do it.

56) What are three things most people don’t know about you?

Well, that I have a half-brother. I don’t mention it a lot. Aside from y’all on here and my sister, most everyone else doesn’t know I’m nonbinary! Everyone else knows I’m bi though lmao. And that there were times I’d stretch or bend the truth or lie about something just to impress someone else. It’s a… Bad Habit. Another thing is that most people don’t know I like coffee? Like I need to put a shit ton of creamer in with it because I’m a Bitch, but yeah.

57) An unknown fact about your life:

I wouldn’t call this an “unknown” fact but I’d used to go to work with my dad every now and again when he worked at the Home Depot and he was assistant manager. I’d either chill in the back room which was an office he shared with two other guys, or walk around the store with him. I had my own apron, too, which was my name with “Mini Mac” next to it, “Mac” being my dad’s nickname and something easier to say than my last name. I actually helped a few customers out so I wonder if I should have gotten paid for that despite being like, ages 9-13 when I’d go jshfkjd

And I guess I technically tested video games as a kid? Basically, when my dad was stationed at Fort Knox, they’d get demos of video games that hadn’t come out yet to test I suppose? and I still have a few somewhere. He’d hand them off to me and I’d play them so there’s that.

59) Five weird things that you like:

Eating globs of wasabi for no reason.

Scaring my friends also for no reason.

I wouldn’t say using cotton swabs to get wax out of your ears because it feels good is weird, just more medically inadvisable if anything.

When I was younger I’d like to floss really hard because the slight pain from it felt good. Young me was a #Freaque KJHDFJJDHF

I don’t know if being fond of alphabetizing and reorganizing things is considered weird but I LOVE doing that.

63) A quote you try to live by:

“It matters not how strait the gate, / How charged with punishments the scroll; / I am the master of my fate: / I am the captain of my soul.” It’s from the poem “Invictus” and the last two lines are what I’m getting tattooed !!

65) Weird things you do when you’re alone:

Practice the “Lucky Star” dance. I GOT THE LYRICS DOWN… JUST NEED TO DO THE DANCE NOW…

69) Leave me a compliment:

“you seem rly nice and funny from your 🅱️osts and I appreciate u... I hope you can find better irl friends who aren't trash”

Anon pls 🥺 I do my best to be nice but my friend really do test me sometimes... my feelings bounce back n forth like if they do something my feelings can switch to angry or like, hate, and then if they do something nice I’ll like them again. It sucks but ! I just take it one day at a time. Anon I care for u 💜💜💜

[punkscowardschampions]

Grace & Janis

Grace: did you see who brought my coat back??? Grace: 🤞🤞 Janis: I did Grace: No you didn't Janis: ? Janis: Welcome, bitch Grace: UM excuse me but why & how? Janis: One of the baristas hit me up, I went and got it earlier Grace: OMG Grace: which one? Janis: New boy Janis: The English one Grace: HE DID NOT HIT YOU UP Grace: what really happened Janis: [Screenshot of the friend/message request] Grace: 😱😱😱😱 Janis: Breathe Grace: what did he say about me?? Janis: That you left your coat Janis: That's about it Grace: 🙄🙄🙄 Grace: what did you say? Grace: I'll kill you if you were cringe Janis: As if I was talking about you Janis: None of your business is it Grace: OMG Grace: you're not his type babes Janis: You reckon you are? Grace: duh Janis: 😂 Janis: Oh babes Grace: if he screenshots your desperation I don't know you, yeah? Janis: Says the girl who's salty her latest plan to get noticed didn't work Grace: says you Grace: he notices me every time thanks Janis: EVERY time Janis: says it all Janis: get a hobby Grace: get a clue Grace: you know nothing about boys Janis: Letting 'em all get off with you doesn't make you an expert in the field, babes Janis: no matter how much stalking hours you put in Grace: 😂😂😂 Grace: oh hun Janis: Ain't coming from me Janis: wanna talk shaming Grace: now I know you're lying Grace: don't be tragic Janis: why would I Janis: you'll get banned if you ain't careful Janis: back to starbies with the other basics Grace: cos you're jealous Grace: as usual Janis: of what Grace: me, bitch Janis: 😂😂😂😂 Janis: You don't want to be you, Gracie Janis: no one else does Janis: least of all me Grace: what ARE you talking about? Janis: Your pathetic lack of self-esteem Janis: if I liked you I'd be sad, tragic 😥 Grace: Mine? 👌 Love yourself first, babes Grace: think about the barista if it helps Janis: save that for your private time Janis: keep me out of it though, people'll talk Grace: 🤒 you're such a freak genuinely Janis: 💔 unlucky you'll never know Grace: EW STOP Janis: what a surprise, gracie can't hack it Grace: If you wanna follow in Ri's footsteps, pick a willing family member Janis: yeah, that's me Janis: desperately tryna be like her in every way ⛾ Grace: if you're gonna be all 😍 for my barista you could do worse Grace: least she knows how to flirt Grace: clueless virgin won't get you very far Janis: 'cos desperate slag's done wonders for you Janis: if I needed advice, I wouldn't go to either of you, but at least she has got somewhere Grace: 👌 devastated obvs Janis: everyone can see it Janis: sad face Grace: 😂😂😂 Grace: you've shown yourself up WAY worse with that boy, trust me Janis: Not up to you, gutted Janis: he didn't seem to think so Grace: oh please Janis: nah, no matter how nice you ask Janis: he just ain't feeling you Grace: what's the truth, Jan-Jan, did you talk about me or didn't you? Grace: 🤔🤔 Janis: get a clue, gracie Janis: your details are just as easy to find as mine Janis: easier Grace: like I said, get one yourself first Grace: its as easy to work out we're related, worst luck Janis: you ain't hard to get Janis: just want Grace: says you Grace: can't get through the door for your admirers, can we, babes? Janis: not tryna make it a family affair like you 👌 Grace: not trying Grace: until now, but you went too hard, shame 💔 Janis: surrounding by such great influences Janis: 🤷 what can I do eh Grace: OMG YOU LITERALLY DID NOTHING Grace: 😂😂😂 Grace: I wouldn't be smug if I were you though, girl Grace: Such a cliche & not the first time he's tried it Janis: Who's smug? Janis: Just you sounds of Grace: I'm just trying to warn you Grace: I won't bother next time, bitch Grace: OMG so rude Janis: Don't, like Janis: if you had any idea you wouldn't have all the shit exes you do already so go off Grace: if you had any idea I wouldn't have to Grace: this is so embarrassing Grace: he's gonna make you look even more tragic & I can't pretend I don't know you Janis: nah Janis: i don't let boys do that Janis: your kink, not mine Grace: he already is Grace: flirting with you to get MY attention, hello! Janis: is it comfy in there? Grace: 🙄 Wake up, Janis OMG Grace: he's been flirting with me since he got here Janis: Filling your order isn't foreplay Janis: actually gonna catch a case if you don't calm down Grace: cos you'd know Janis: yeah? Grace: You're making me die Grace: cringe fest Janis: 🤞 Janis: 🎂 wishes coming through at last Grace: focus on that cos he isn't gonna make any happen for you, hun Grace: unless you're hoping to be used by a boy who likes me more Janis: that's what boys are for, right? Janis: 😂 Grace: 🙄 Grace: that's why you like girls more, yeah? 👌 Janis: you're the one constantly surrounded Janis: i wouldn't let one sleep in my bed Grace: cos you're too 😍 Grace: it's okay Janis: love the queerbashing Janis: very in Grace: Excuse you Grace: I am not Janis: Yeah you are Janis: stop being a total cunt just 'cos you're sad Grace: I could care less if you're gay Grace: that's not why I don't like you, babes Janis: Yeah, you're just a bitch, cool Grace: You started it Janis: Where? Janis: I got your coat for you Grace: You know I like him, you're breaking girl code Janis: Well I ain't one of the girls, am I Janis: bit late to include me now 'cos it'd benefit you Grace: you're my sister, that's worse Grace: duh Janis: I think you'll survive Grace: like you care Grace: but I'm the bitch, sure Grace: 🙄🙄🙄🙄 Janis: You're just mad that he doesn't want you, that ain't my fault Grace: Stop saying that OMG Grace: you don't know what you're talking about Janis: well I'm the one who managed to have a conversation with him so I know more than you do Janis: doesn't take a genius, come on Grace: You're calling me stupid now too Grace: So rude Janis: You're being it Janis: you don't need to Janis: plenty of boys, plenty of baristas if that's really your speed Grace: Obvs Grace: I don't want your sloppy seconds, thanks Grace: I respect girl code, if you like him then whatever Janis: Nice to know you respect something Grace: Bitch Janis: 👍 Janis: Pleasure as always Grace: Yeah, I know you love coming for me Grace: no secret, babes Janis: Be nice to think this was all about you, I know Grace: You expect me to believe it's about him? You saw him for the first time today Grace: thanks to me Janis: Don't be stupid Janis: he's in loads of my lessons Janis: as if I could ignore the new boy hype you've all been on Grace: Finally you're admitting it Janis: What? That I'd noticed the change in the furniture? Janis: I'M not an idiot Grace: That you're not immune to a hot boy Grace: It's taken you long enough Janis: 😑 Janis: That's what you're taking away from this Janis: really Grace: I know you want me to take away your life changing advice that I'm the worst but Grace: Like I said, you're a bitch Janis: It's not advice Janis: inspiration to change at best Grace: Whatever 🙄 Janis: too much like hard work Janis: it's alright Grace: Excuse you Grace: I always put work in Grace: unlike your effortless chic you're trying to make happen 🙄 Janis: yeah that's what we're talking about Janis: fashion Janis: jesus Grace: Attitude Grace: and yours does need work, babes Janis: 😂 Janis: Where's your getting you but 2nd in command to a cunt and pied by boys left and right Janis: inspirational, truly Grace: Shut up OMG Grace: you don't like my friends or my exes, I'll get over it Janis: No one does Janis: you deal with the leftovers, don't be pouty no one's jealous Grace: You sound soooooooo bitter 🍋 Janis: 💔 Janis: if you like, babes Janis: have that for free, as you're struggling so much Grace: Just 'cos you love a freebie from barista boy Grace: I'm good, thanks 💋 Janis: If you say it enough Janis: you might believe it Janis: positive thinking, yeah, babes? 👍 Grace: 🙄🙄🙄 Grace: try it for me, yeah, babes? ty Grace: you're gonna need all the help you can get now you've got a boyfriend Janis: Behave Grace: You will enough for the both of us Grace: I give it a couple of days before he's bored Janis: 😂 Janis: so concerned with MY sex life Janis: how long's it been, babes? Grace: the day I talk about mine with you is the day I off myself Grace: it's cringe enough chatting to you about things you think you have a clue on Janis: please Janis: you don't talk about anything else Janis: you've got nothing else Grace: you wish, weirdo Janis: 😂 Janis: awh, your comebacks haven't gotten any better Grace: You don't deserve my best, hun Grace: 😘 Janis: I can't begin to get into how tragic you are Janis: at least Monroe had an honest to God sad backstory and drug habit Janis: sort it out, do us all a favour Grace: I do have you as a sister, that's really tragic Grace: Sadly you won't ever let me help you sort yourself out Janis: You're a mess Janis: you have no business trying to sort anyone, state Grace: 😂😂😂 Grace: sure Jan Janis: Laugh it off babe Grace: I'm trying Grace: But you're not very funny Janis: It's your life Janis: I'm telling you, it's really sad Janis: but you insist otherwise so you deal with it Grace: OMG get over yourself Grace: I'm not here for a counselling session Janis: Thank God Janis: you've not got the self-awareness, I've not got the relevant qualifications to deal with your insanity Janis: disaster Grace: It's called self awareness not 'Janis tells me what I am' Janis: And you get neither Janis: boo hoo Grace: I'll get over it, I'm sure Grace: God, if this is what that boy likes, I'm well out of it Janis: Bold Janis: When have you got over anything bigger than split ends, Gracie Janis: and I ain't trying to chirps you Janis: something you seem to be having a lot of trouble with Grace: We've established my backstory isn't tragic enough, sorry babe Grace: Even with you trying to 💔 Janis: 😂 Trying Janis: that's your game Grace: 🙄🙄 Janis: i'm off Janis: be sure to check your pockets for secret love notes i'm sure he left you Janis: 🤞 Grace: yay Grace: let the door hit you on the way out

[garrettauthor]

I hope this isn't a super invasive question, but are you able to write full time or do you have to maintain a separate job? I'm three seconds from being DONE with my current job--it's killing my soul like that--and while my husband's income can support us, I don't want to do something stupid without a gameplan. And I'm also still unsure how indie writing works (got lots of reading up to do on that) but it seems scarier than traditional publishing. Thanks!

Hoo boy, this has kind of a lot of answers, each of which is long in its own right.

The first answer is the easiest: Yes, I write full-time. I’m an author. That’s my family’s entire income. I’ve recently started my publishing company as well, but I have literally not made a single penny yet from publishing other authors, my FULL income is from writing my own stories. My wife works with me as well.

I FULLY agree that you shouldn’t launch into the Wild West of indie authorhood without a plan. That’s exactly what I did, and it resulted in two of the most stressful years of my life.

That being said, it sounds like you’re in a better position to do it now, than I was when I did it. When I started writing full time, my wife’s income supported us about 75%. I had to make up the remaining 25% each month, which I usually had to do in addition to my writing (because my writing only made a few hundred bucks a month, which was nowhere near enough).

If your husband’s income can support your family 100%, you’re in a REALLY GOOD position to do what you need to do to get your indie author career going. It won’t be easy and it won’t happen quickly, but you won’t be unbelievably stressed by the fact that it’s taking so long, because you’ll have the income you need to get by.

If you want my biggest and best tips to get to full-time authorhood quickly, here they are (in EXTREMELY summarized form):

Choose one genre and stick to it. You can try branching out into other genres later if you want, but stick to one in the beginning.

Pick a genre you truly love. This applies always. Don’t write in romance just because romance is the most popular genre in indie fiction. Only write romance if you really, truly love romance. You’ll be miserable if you build a career—even a lucrative one—writing a genre you don’t truly love. I know. I’ve seen multiple romance or thriller authors fall into this trap, and they’re very unhappy even when they’re making six figures or more per year.

Write series, not standalone books. Series have the most long-term sales potential and will get you started faster. There are exceptions, but they’re VERY exceptional.

Start off publishing to Amazon exclusively, not to other platforms. The sales boosts you get for being in the Kindle Unlimited program are massive, especially for beginners, especially for series, and especially in genre fiction.

When you publish your first book, have an email list ready to go. An email list is your best marketing tool. You have to have one and you have to grow it aggressively.

Write three books before you publish your first one. Publish your first three books in quick succession—about a month apart usually works well. You can do it a little faster or a little slower (three weeks apart, six weeks apart, etc.) but that time frame works nicely.

Once your third book is out, THEN you start marketing. Take Mark Dawson’s Ads for Authors course and learn it cold. Do Facebook ads and Amazon ads to continue driving sales to your books.

Keep writing. Your first job is to get as big a catalog as you can. Think of it this way—if you need to earn $5,000 a month, and you only have three books? Each of those books needs to earn $1,700 per month. If you have 10 books, each of those books only needs to earn $500 per month. The more books you have, the easier this becomes.

DON’T SKIMP ON PRODUCTION. You need professional covers. You need professional editing. These two things, poorly done, will nuke your career faster than anything. You need to pay for these things. Consider staying at your job and saving up ALL your income until you have a few thousand dollars put away to pay for the production of your first several books. Always funnel a portion of sales from your existing books into a savings account that pays for the next book.

These are the basics, but as I said, they’re very summarized. You have to read up and study up on how to do this. You are starting an artistic career, yes, but above all you are starting a BUSINESS. Treat it as a business and invest in it.

Indie publishing is scarier than traditional publishing. This is absolutely true. That’s because you are nearly 100% responsible for your own success or failure. (There’s such a thing as luck, but you can’t factor that into a business plan whether you’re indie or traditional).

Traditional publishing, however, is no guarantee of success. The majority of traditionally published authors don’t earn a living from their writing. If you get a great publisher and editor and the stars align, you can become a successful traditional author. 

But if you get a mediocre publisher, a bad editor, or the timing and marketing on your book release aren’t perfectly aligned with the seventh moon of Jupiter or whatever the hell, your first book or first few books can bomb. And then you’re blacklisted in the industry, and no one will touch you.

Read books on publishing. I recommend How to Market a Book by Joanna Penn and Write. Publish. Repeat. by Platt, Truant and Wright. Also listen to the various self-publishing podcasts, like The Self-Publishing Formula, The Creative Penn, The Sell More Books Show, and so on.

Good luck! It’s a hell of a grind, this industry, but once you hit your stride, it’s seriously the best job.