#long post 0334

[divorcedfiddleford]

i know this is random, but do you have any tips on writing ford and fiddleford? you do a really good job on their characterizations and even though i'm very familiar with their characters i always write people out of character when i'm writing, lol! thanks !!!!

ghhhgg i Kid but anyway im like super distracted so i just made a list of a bunch of common mistakes i see when people r writing themedit: i was so wrong i made such a long fucking post im sorry this was a Mistake (rip mobile users)

first things first everything in the journal was Fake

fiddleford:

“fiddleford is a poor precious cinnamon roll who is helpless and did nothing wrong uwu” fuck off he built all those robots and probably killed a bunch of people in the process he isnt some innocent sunflower he’s more like a rowdy dandelion

yes this applies even if you’re writing young fiddleford he was just more patient and less open with his life of crime because he didnt want to go to jail

his eyes are blue. theyre fucking blue. theyre fucking b

“he doesnt like swears/he’s soft-spoken” wrong he’s literally the only character to have sworn on-screen

“he started the society because he was traumatized by what he’d seen” no, where did you get that idea. he literally says he invented the gun because he was “haunted by the thoughts of what I’d done” >literally stating that it was guilt not fear that was bothering him. eventually yes he used it for erasing scary memories but that was not his initial intent

he’s not bald anymore

really any idea that fiddleford is pathetic is grossly ooc i can think of one situation in the show that he wasn’t able to get himself out of and thats because he was turned into a fucking arras

what is this southern belle bullshit… he chews tobacco and wrestles pigs please stop woobifying this force of nature

a banjo is not the same as a guitar. a banjo is not the same as a guitar. a banjo is not the same as a guitar.

if youre going to write accents don’t be obnoxious about it

EX: “How are y’all doin’ this fine evening?”NOT: “Hower y’all doien’ this fain evenin’?”you don’t have to use the mannerisms in every sentence and you don’t have to drop the g in every -ingphonetic spelling is a pain to read like at the most you should be using apostrophes not respelling words (“Stanferd” more like kill me now)

also make sure your mannerisms are geographically accurate he’s not from texas i never want to see him say “sugah” again

his accent isnt even that strong in the show …what……….

tip: fiddleford is salty as FUCK he has NO MERCY and holds onto grudges like a lifesaver in a storm

tip: he loves being around people and will talk to them about fucking anything such as his multiple cases of manslaughter but doesn’t usually open up about his insecurities unless prompted

further reading: 1 2 3 4

stanford:

“everything that happened to fiddleford is ford’s fault” did ?? you even watch the show??? fiddleford did all that shit himself ford had nothing to do with it

“ford was manipulating dipper and con-” im gonna stop you right there. ford loves his niece and nephew. he agreed to leave the kids alone because stan thought he was too dangerous to be around them. stan only let dipper hang out with ford after dd&md. ford loves dipper and mabel equally and never wanted them to split up or anything. bill fucking knew this hence why he threatened ford with killing them. he made the proposal to dipper about the apprenticeship because he genuinely thought that was the best thing for dipper. he was wrong but he didnt know that

in fact while we’re at it - ford literally always does stuff with the best of intentions he’s just dumb and unlucky as shit

deal with the devil? he thought the devil was his nerdy buddy not the devil. he just was so happy to have a friend who appreciated him he didnt realize he was the fucking devil

abandon your brother? he thought his brother had sabotaged his dreams and that the only person he’d ever trusted had betrayed him. he was wrong but it’s not like stan apologized or denied it. also what was he supposed to do? challenge his dad? in case you didn’t notice filbrick was a fucking terrible dad

building a doomsday device? too bad you’re literally being manipulated and abused by Lucifer The Triangle

“ford didn’t want to make amends with stan” um, no, like obviously he’s still mad and stuff but in dd&md he stops himself from getting super mad and asks stan if he wants to play with him and dipper

“ford wanted to kick stan out” ?? when did he say that??? the closest thing he said to that was that he wanted his house back and while i GUESS you could interpret that as he wanted it back to himself he follows it up directly with “this mystery shack junk is over forever” so its pretty obvious he means he wants the tourist trap that makes a mockery of his entire life’s purpose out of his house

“fords a grumpy guy” he is the opposite . he is overflowing with love and pride for those he holds dear. he might be a little gruff but who wouldnt be after living in hell for 30 years

remember that one asshole whose kink is “ciphord abuse”. dont be that guy. dont write kink shit

just. don’t make ford the villain. dont do it.

this may come as a surprise to you..but….he DOESNT have to bring up his intellect all the time! a shock i know

tip: ford is very excitable he loves getting up and doing things and going on adventures!! he loves interacting with the creatures around gravity falls like the gnomes and steve (see: every gotdamn episode)

he’s also very sympathetic; if someone he knows/cares about is struggling he does whatever he can to help them and comfort them (see: the last mabelcorn, damvtf)

he tends to think more big picture as opposed to worrying about individual details. the priority is always solving the larger problem unless a loved one’s life is ostensibly in danger in which case that takes priority (see: damvtf, wmg1, wmg3)

tip: ford is gay

tip: he’s also anti-social and wouldn’t be very forward with romantic notions like it would take him months before he even THINKS about kissing someone and even then its like a 10 hour loop of beach boys’ wouldn’t it be nice

tip: he is the king of infodumping and explains everything in excruciating detail

tip: he likes to have a good time! don’t be afraid to let him have fun!!

further reading: 1 2 3

for both:

enough of the angst. enough. enough

if you’re going to make them trans don’t milk the dysphoria

tip from my pal rudy @blue-dipper​ (im not trans)

same kinda goes for if youre doing romance dont overplay the internal/external homophobia i made that mistake so many times its just clunky and gets in the way of the characters

the whole idea of “the innocent one” vs “the sinful one” is garbage. abandon it. you will feel a weight lifted from your shoulders

realistically if it’s a reunion thing don’t make them hook up automatically this shit takes time

in general avoid stereotypes. some examples being “the hippie” or “the nerd” just write them like they act on the show its easier and more enjoyable for everyone involved

ALEX HIRSCH ≠ WORD OF GOD only the stuff in the show needs to be considered 100% canon you can pick and choose all the other stuff or ignore it entirely

in conclusion all fiction is subjective and writing someone “in character” all depends on how you perceive the character. these are my perceptions of the character and yeah i get really frustrated when people don’t agree because i believe mine are those that make the most sense and that good representation of neurodivergent and lgbta+ people is important also im petty and annoying. the most important thing is that you be consistent with your portrayals (unless your perception of the character is inconsistency in which case good luck)

[toycarousel]

(2018 anon)...It's just...fucking hard to. I keep trying to better myself and yes, I have high functioning depression, but with out any distraction I fall. How do I live the life I want when the man running the country literally has said it's ok for business to put anti lgbt sign up? I tried calling the hotlines you linked and they just give me the same rotation. Talking won't solve this. Actual action needs to be taken, and if not by him, then by me.... 1 more day. Thats it.

Hi there, Anon!!! I’m really glad you stayed with us one more night, and that you followed-up with me.  And I agree, only talking won’t solve this entirely, though it can be part of the process for you, as an individual whose life is important, and of natural and immense value! 

I was hoping the hotlines would give you more in the way of resources (let you know what sorts of options are out there for people who are suicidal and/or disenfranchised in the wake of how politics have been going; in terms of monetary support, social support, and other stuff like that).  It really depends on the questions you ask, and the person you get, but if they are only serving to frustrate you more, then it’s completely okay to not want to talk to them.  I believe that talking to professionals can definitely help, but if, at this moment in time, you need something different than that to hold you through, then that’s okay! There are other options out there for major depressive disorder than just talk-therapy and hotlines, I promise! And there are more solutions to dealing with an absolutely Godawful president than having to lose your own life.  You should never, ever have to lose your life because disgusting bigots tell you that you’re not worth what you are. 

The world missing out on another LGBT+ person, someone who can make a difference in other people’s lives – even by existing – would be horrible… and it’s something that Trump might even want to see, you know? People who have hatred in their hearts for LGBT+ people might even consider it a victory when another good, determined LGBT+ person is taken too early, be that by murder, suicide, or any sort of death…

I know I already said this in the answer to your previous ask, but Trump’s policies may not last long at all.  Fewer and fewer people (even the ones who voted for him) have any faith left in him.  People see him as dangerous (and the fact that he’s done these horrible things to people of colour, Mexican immigrants, Islamic people, LGBT+ people, a whole lot of people, does mean that he can be dangerous), but they also see him as a joke.  Even his once supportive staff in the White House are giving up on him.  He’s his own worst enemy. 

Along that vein, that means that people can fight against his policies and demand that they be changed, and success is more likely.  And the more people out there fighting for that change, the more likely it’ll happen (and its likelihood is growing by the day – a lot of people are hurt, and angry, and willing to do anything it takes to change the US for the better).  Instead of dying… and of missing out on all the opportunities you might have in the future – of all the amazing people you’ll meet (activists, friends), of all the lives you could help change… it might be a good idea to work on becoming an activist as well! That’s taking action, you know? It might not be the same action you want to take right now, and that’s okay.  It’s okay to feel the way you do and to want something better.  There are still ways of doing that, and there is still hope.

I know it can seem daunting, and not everyone has the ability to just go out and be an activist, marching in protests all day long – but there are even things you can do from home, to make changes.  Speak out against these policies.  Spread posts, spread awareness, make your own posts, start your own political blog/space, create a safe space for LGBT+ people, partake in spaces like these that already exist… talk to people who are on your side, and who will always support you! I can tell you that I will always support LGBT+ people (and I am a gay man), so even talking to me, helping me see just how serious and terrifying this has been for you, and therefore must be for many, many people, was a valuable thing that you did.  By speaking honestly with me, you’re already helping.  And I will always do what I can to help protest these violations of human rights.

Your life is worth living, no matter what a sign on a door says you can or cannot do… those signs just point out which people didn’t deserve your time of day to begin with; those signs point out a vocal minority who are going to lose a great deal of respect and power, simply by revealing themselves as scumbags.  And someday (I suspect soon), those signs won’t even be put up anymore.  

You’re right about taking action – I think it’s important to have those hotlines and resources for your own health, but they are meant as a supplement, not an answer to political change.  And if taking action will help, then you should do just that.  Stand up against these injustices.  Talk to and support the other people that are suffering in your country right now because of the same politicians who’re hurting you! It can be the smallest thing per day.  Even just making a single daily goal can help create a life worth living (ex; a goal could be to write one kind message to another LGBT+ person per day).  

You can have that life worth living, Anon, and you deserve it, too!!! No force on Earth can ever change that.  Not a sign.  Not an eerily anthropomorphized sea-sponge with a bad sunburn.  Not anyone who thinks you don’t deserve just as much happiness as anyone else! 

If you’re comfortable doing so, I’m 100% open to talking to you on Skype, Facebook – anywhere that allows us to have a more back-and-forth, regular dialogue wherein I can learn more about your situation, and do anything in my power to help.  If you can’t get relevant resources through hotlines at the moment, then I’m happy to look for some that may actually make a difference, or at least spark a hopeful change in your life.  And as I said before, you can always, always, always talk to me, about anything you want, anything that comes to mind, or even just to say “I don’t know what to do.” I’m on your side, Anon, and so are a lot of other people who’ve been unfairly thrown into the same boat… you’ve got allies, and you are not alone in this.  You never have to be alone.

So feel free to talk to me, even if you’d prefer to keep it on anon, through asks.  But just in case you’re interested in maybe getting more to the bottom of all this, and figuring out actions you can take, or connecting with more people who are interested in changing things so that this world is safe for you all again, I’ll leave my FB and Skype (and Discord) below, so I can start doing more in-depth research.  And even just if you want to talk more directly, about absolutely anything!

Facebook: Pacifica Lavande

Skype: WrenDex (may also show up under “Mettadoll~!”)

Discord: #0334