#write an original vampire story. learn from twilights mistakes.

[youknowmymethods]

Content Creator Interview #2

In this week’s interview, fandom friends @lilsherlockian1975 and @mrsmcrieff talk about whether they found Sherlock hot or not at first sight, how publicly sharing their work changed their writing, and the hardest thing about writing smutfic (pun fully intended).

And for those who don’t know, today is Lillian’s Birthday, so m’dear, Many Happy Returns!!!!

Hey, so Lilsherlockian1975 and myself, MrsMCrieff, have decided to interview each other for Aine’s challenge. We’re going to try to answer each other’s questions but there is always the danger of us going massively off piste. Our conversations in the past have been eclectic and very wide-ranging not to mention M rated.

 Anyway, I thought we could start by saying how we came into the fandom and more than that writing in the fandom. Lil, do you want to start?

Lil: All right, my sister on another continent, here’s how it went: As I’ve explained about finding The Full House on Pinterest, let’s explore what came before that moment, then just after... I was working third shift at a hotel (I had to as Mr Lil and I didn’t really have any childcare options at the time, so we just worked opposite shifts). The hotel was in a very small town - we were never busy, some nights we sold maybe 2 rooms - I usually spent my time watching Netflix. After making my way through Doctor Who, Star Trek Next Gen, Voyager then (God help me) DS9, Farscape and Firefly, I’d finally run out of anything to watch. You’d be surprised how quickly you can burn through a series binge watching for 8 hours at a time (and getting paid for it!).

 Then… then I found Sherlock. Well, that changed things… a bit.

 “Good Lord, who is the Cumberstud chap and why won’t he have all the sex with me!?” was my first thought, my second was, “Maybe I have a chance with the dishy DI?” and third? “Oh… what fresh hell is this ‘Mycroft’? Yummy!” Then finally, “Ahh, did the casting director somehow read my diary? Creepy but… all right.” To my defense, it was late and I usually worked on very little sleep. Also, I’m a kinky bitch.

 I’d never been involved in a ‘fandom proper’, I suppose. That’s not to say that I wasn’t a fangirl. I am and always have been. I was hugely into the Kevin Smith movies, going as far as visiting the Quick Stop and RST Video in Lenardo, NJ, respectively, as well as The Secret Stash, in Red Bank. I was a comic book geek in my youth, Marvel mostly, but some DC as well.

 After reading The Full House, I desperately needed MORE Sherlock and luckily enough, there was more to be found.

 At first I was just reading, then I wrote and posted a couple of (horrible) fics and met this fellow writer named MrsMCrieff (I might have had a little ‘writing crush’ on you, Mrs!). We chatted on FF.net and struck up a friendship.

 So, for me, writing came before fandom. Mrs was doing some betaing for me, but I didn’t ask for help often; I hated bothering her all the time for the multitude of stories I was turning out. At some point around here, I got an elusive invite to AO3 from sherlockian87, bless her soul, because I kept trying to join and couldn’t get a blessed invitation. Also around this time, I had written a prompt and got a PM from MizJoely asking if she could fix some of my mistakes (she was very sweet about it, even though I totally flipped - half fangirling, half losing my shit because ‘Crap, I screwed up so bad, here was The MizJoely asking if she could edit out my mistakes!’) but she wasn’t being critical at all, of course, just helpful as I soon found out. Shortly after, now having formed a friendship with MIz, she suggested that I start a Tumblr blog. And that’s how it all started.

Yes, sorry… I, um, tend to be a tad loquacious. Writing out my answers doesn’t help one little bit.

 Okay, Mrs, right back atcha!

 Mrs: OK, shall I try to be more concise? I’ll probably fail as I’m terrible as writing short fics they always seem to end up spread over multiple chapters.

 I’m another one who had always been a fangirl, Doctor Who, Buffy, Twilight, vampire Diaries (yeah, I love my vampires) but I’d also been a Sherlock Holmes fan. I’d read all the books in my teens, watched the Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett adaptations and even stayed at the Sherlock Holmes hotel on Baker St so when a new series was advertised it was an easy sale.

 I was late to the cumberobsession though. I have to admit watching the first two series as they came out and I remember thinking I like them but it’s a shame Sherlock isn’t that hot. I know, I know, I’m embarrassed even as I write that.

 It all changed after watching season 3 and I blame the Sherlolly kiss 100%. I watched the series, DELETED the records!! And then realised I was spending a lot of time thinking about Sherlock and Benedict...that turned into looking him up online and from there it was a short step to reading Sherlolly fics on fanfic (I was already reading fics for other shipping obsessions). Anyway, it didn’t take long before Sherlolly took over all my other ships and Benedict was my number one hottie.

 As for writing, I hadn’t written anything fiction based since school and school was a long time ago...almost thirty years. But one day I was looking for a specific fic, I wanted to read about Sherlock and Molly having to share body heat and I just couldn’t find anything that satisfied me. I’m not sure why but in that moment I decided to write it myself and in half an hour I’d written Frozen...my first ever fic. It took another couple of hours to pluck up the courage to post it and I clearly remember feeling a bit sick and my hand shaking as I pressed the final button to post.

 Thankfully, I almost immediately started to receive positive reviews and feedback and it wasn’t long before I started to write more...the rest as they say is history. Lil got in touch soon after and it was fun chatting to another writer just starting out. We soon found we were not dissimilar in age and both had two sons and the friendship started there.

 We’ve been through quite a lot over the last few years Lil and written some fab stories. Wouldn’t you agree?

 (I should let on that we are now faffing about trying to find the original list of questions...we are trying to be professional).

 Ok Lil, so I’ve looked at Aine’s questions and they look really hard. Any preferences on which ones you want to answer :).

 Lil: I think a great follow up to that first one is this: How did posting your first story change your process of writing? So I’m shooting it back to you, Mrs, and you can send me that one or select a new one for me. Tag, you’re it!

 Mrs: I can tell you quite simply how it changed my process of writing...given that it was my first piece of writing in 30 years I was starting from scratch when it came to any process. One thing that I started with that’s held true for me ever since is that my stories are fully mapped out and written before I even start posting the first chapter. I will edit and make refinements but the bones of the story are there.

 I know lots of people post a chapter and then write the next chapter but that would put me under too much pressure. The downside is that if someone gives me a prompt they could be waiting months before they see it posted. The upside is if I’ve started posting a fic you will get the end of it as it’s already been written.

 There have only been two exceptions to this method: Sherlock Holmes, Vampire which I worked on over a year or so posting four chapters every so often as I wrote them...it was stressful. And the other is Never Have I Ever which was/is more of a collection of one shots woven together into a fic.

 How about you Lil? How did it change for you?

 Lil: So, I’d been writing little stories and whatnot for years and years but, having no idea that there was such a thing as ff.net or AO3, I had no place to put them. Writing was always a very, very distant dream of mine. I have loads of notebooks filled with stories, story ideas and my own personal ramblings (unfortunately, my Tumblr followers now have to read the ‘ramblings business’). I stopped for many years after my roommate/best friend since childhood found some of my writing in college that I’d carefully hidden under my bed. I came home to find her in my room, sat on the floor, on the phone with our Art History professor (whom she was sleeping with), as she read him my story and laughed hysterically at its awfulness.

 I was devastated and vowed never to write again.

 But that changed, of course. Those first maybe ten stories were just me letting my mind go and getting out what I wanted to say (aided by liberal amounts of wine). Since then, however, my ‘process’ has changed drastically. I don’t always write an outline (never for one shots, which I write often) but I generally do for long fics. If not, it’s easy for me to get lost and miss critical points. My writing has become more about ‘layering’ for lack of a better word.

 I found after those first few posted fics, that in going back and re-reading them I wanted to make changes. I didn’t re-edit them (because I’m lazy), but it made me realize that my writing required more time and proofing before posting; that first draft is just the start for me - a thin layer of primer paint on a canvas, if you will. I then read over it and add more details and more and more until I get the desired effect. Again, much like oil painting, I have to build things up, layer by layer. This works for me; I have no idea if it’s a proper method of writing. So, posting my first fic(s) helped me learn that I shouldn’t be so trigger happy about posting if the story wasn’t ready.

 Okay, Mrs, this one is geared specifically towards you. I don’t think anyone would argue with me about your supernatural ability to write ‘case fics’, so let me ask: Which do you prefer writing, case fics or fluffy smut-filled romps? And why?

 Mrs: Oh God, ask me something easy why don’t you. Both, I like writing both. I love the depth of a case fic, the idea, the research, plotting it out and working out the characters and detail but it’s so time consuming and I often write a bit, leave it, come back to it etc. etc. so a detailed case fic can take six months.

 Fluff on the other hand is less satisfying but quicker (my minds already in the gutter with an analogy).

 Woohoo I kept is fairly short for once. So, here’s one that’s good for you. I’m endlessly envious of how easily you make friends and how you know so many people in the fandom whereas I’m the introverted hermit. Which other authors are you friends with, and how have they help you become a better writer?

 Lil: Goodness! You make me sound like a social butterfly (Mr Lil calls me that all the time!). I like people, plain and simple. Other than you, I am close to MizJoely and Darnedchild, that’s no secret, so I’ll talk about them first (you included, because you’ve made me a better writer, I’m sure of it - have actual proof!)

 I cannot count the ways Miz has helped me improve my writing. She figuratively took me by the ear and said “okay, you don’t suck but do you even know what a comma is used for?” No, not those actual words, she was much kinder about it, but I got the hidden meaning and I needed it, trust me. She also challenges me and is not afraid to be honest with me when I’ve written something that isn’t good or perhaps doesn’t fit. I know I’ve improved since she started betaing for me, like a 1000%. And Child… When I volunteered to beta for the Big Bang Challenge, I had no idea what I was getting into, but man… she’d written and enormous fic. Good, amazing really, but it was longer than anything I’d ever worked on before. It scared the shit out of me but I really think it was exactly what I needed. Betaing someone else’s work can really make you see your own mistakes from a new perspective. I feel like I jumped ahead after working on the BBC with Child. As for you, MrsMCrieff, just the other day I had The Best compliment… someone actually thought I was British! Yes, that happened. I can only attribute that little feat to you, my friend. You’ve taught me when to add a ‘u’, when not to zed and about many different terms like pavement, taps, hob, loo, trousers (we really don’t say that here!). Not to mention the fact that most European men aren’t circumcised. Who knew?! It’s pretty common in the US.

 But that’s just a few. I cannot count the number of fandom friends who have helped me and all the ways that they’ve done so. That doesn’t mean I won’t try…

 There’s likingthistoomuch who always listens to my ideas and encouraged me to post my first Harry Potter fic. OhAine has been a true friend from the very beginning, always insightful and supportive. Mellovesall who is just too sweet for words and always helps with edits, no matter what’s going on in her life. Kendrapendragon who let me bounce ideas for my Mirror Has Two Faces AU off of her for like a whole day! the-sapphiresky who has helped me with this historical AU that may or may not ever see the light of day. Allthebellsinvenice who answered about a dozen questions (over two years!) for Dig Down Deep when I’d panic about some D/s situation I’d written myself into. o0katiekins0o who backs me up when I’m in the middle of a sensitive subject. I can always depend on her to help me when I’m afraid I’m crossing a line. Broomclosetkink, Lord help me! She’s pinch hit for me when I’ve written a fic for Miz or if I just need a good laugh. She’s the best. Sweets… it’s very hard to talk about sweet-sweet-escape. I still cannot even bring myself read her stories or the ones I wrote for her without breaking down, but no one was more supportive or kind to me than Sweets. I miss her so much.

 Then there’s all the love and support I received from everyone during The Fic That Shall Not Be Named debacle. That’s when I knew how much this fandom (well, this ship, really) had my back! I will never forget how much love and support I received. Bless you all!

 I’m forgetting people and I hate that. But I really do love all my fandom friends as if I see them and hang out with them every day. I mean that.

 Okay, Mrs, here’s one for you (I’m going back to the list for this one because I like it and I think it’s interesting): What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters of the opposite sex?

 Mrs: See, see I said you knew loads of people!

 As for your question that’s easy to answer...knowing what it feels like when they get aroused and orgasm. I’m more than happy being female but it would be kind of interesting just to be a guy for one day. It would improve my writing no end.

 On a wider note when it comes to writing characters I don’t think any of us made it easy on ourselves when we decided to try to write being a high functioning sociopathic genius. I think I can speak for most of us when I say he’s not the easiest person to try to write authentically. I just wish I had half his knowledge then I wouldn’t feel like such an idiot when I’m writing him.

 I gave my youngest son the option of any number between 1 and 40. He chose 7 so does writing energise or exhaust you?

 Lil: It absolutely energises me! I do get frustrated trying to find time to write, but actually writing does amazing things for my mental and physical self. I find that I’m much more productive around the house when I’m in the middle of a writing jag. I’ll sit and write for a while, then get up and pound out some chores (usually more quickly as to get back to my computer). Somehow, this works for me. Frankly, it’s probably got to do with my ADHD. I’m the kind of person who needs to do multiple things at once. I’m the same at work; I cannot just stand behind the registrar for 8 hours. I practically beg my managers for extra work, which they’re happy to give me.

 I have an original question for you, love: How does a bad review affect you?

 Mrs: I’ll be honest I don’t react well to a bad review but it does depend on whether I think it’s valid or not. You probably know each and every time I’ve had one because I will probably have sent you a screen shot and asked your opinion. Thankfully they have been few and far between, occasionally they have made me think...especially if I’m being accused of using a tired old trope and I’ve made the effort to up my game in future fics but often they are just being nasty for the sake of it.

 Writing is such a personal thing though, we give a piece of ourselves in each and every fic so it’s hard to not take criticism very personally.

 Same question to you Lil.

 Lil: Oh, I’m a giant baby about a bad review and have been known to take it very personally. At first I brood… like really hard, thinking on the entire thing much longer than necessary. I suppose it depends on the nature and tone, for the most part though. If it’s attacking and spiteful, I’ll attack right back but if it’s coming from a ‘goodish’ place, I do try to look at my writing a bit more objectively (I don’t always succeed). Anonymous bad reviews get to me the most. The fact that I cannot reply drives me up the wall!

 Okay, we’re wrapping this up (else we could go on forever!) Thanks so much and a big thanks to Aine for organizing this as well!

 Mrs & Lil

Next Week:

Posting on Friday 01 March it’s @ohaine ‘s turn (eek!) to interview @ashockinglackofsatin

[video-game-imagines]

Song Lyric Prompts

AN: Alright, Love letters and Ships are done but continuing with my follower celebration because I love you guys! Anyway, I saw a cute idea in a post, I don’t remember where I saw it. My apologies to the OP but it was an idea for short 500-1000 word drabbles based off of specific song lyrics. So, below the cut I’ve written up some song lyrics that are angsty or fluffy. Idea being that you choose 2 characters and one set of song lyrics and I’ll churn out a little drabble. (Reblog from my original 925+ Follower Celebration)

Important: If you want a character x reader story then please state that in your request! Include ‘The Reader’ as a character and please list your preferred pronouns. Thank you! These lyrics will be first come first served (So I’m not writing multiple drabbles for the same lyrics) So, once a set of lyrics is requested I’ll cross it off the list below!

*Some lyrics will have an angsty of fluffy result. Sometimes a little of both. ;)  

💕= Fluff

💔= Angst

1.      “Breathe, release it all. Come on now, I need your love. Come on now, never give up.” Breathe  (Jacob Frye x F! Reader)💕

2.      “But if we're strong enough to let it in, in, in. We’re strong enough to let it go. Let it all go, let it all go. Let it all out now.” Let It All Go  💔

3.      “When your world is feeling heavy you can lay your armor on me. You can lay your head down on me.” Constellate (Connor RK800 x F! Reader)  💕

4.      “I can't help but love you. Even though I try not to I can't help but want you. I know that I'd die without you.” War of Hearts (Desmond Miles x F! Reader)  💕💔

5.      “Come inside from the cold and rest your weary soul. You belong, you are loved, you are wanted. You're not alone. I've missed you so.” Welcome Home (Ezio Auditore x F! Reader)💕

6.      “There is a light, in the dark, and I feel its warmth. In my hands, and my heart. Why can't I hold on?” Waves (Connor RK800 x F! Reader)  💕💔

7.      “But, you don't know what it feels like to fall in love with you. No, you don't know what it's like when you can't go back. 'Cause I only lose my mind when I ain't got you. And how can I not win when I'm always bound to lose.” Lose My Mind  💔

8.      “The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out. You left me in the dark. No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight. In the shadow of your heart.” Cosmic Love  💕

9.      “You break the fall, it’s not easy to trust. I wanna love you but I’m just too cynical. Relive the words. They never heal.” Break the Fall (Connor RK800 x F! Reader) 💔

10.   “I just wanna be where you are. Until the life leaves my body I'll help you stand your ground. No looking back on our mistakes they can't touch us now.” Where You Are 💕

11.   “Watching moments pass I wanna run away from it but I still won't take that step. Locked inside the glass, an empty box of memories and a heart full of regret. Do you know where you're going? Don't even know where I am. I don't wanna miss I don't wanna miss anymore of this. Letting go I wanna feel all of it. I'm hanging on every word you say ” Anymore of This 💕💔

12.   “Just let me know I'm not forgotten out here alone. The air is cold. The night is long. I feel like I might fade into the dawn; fade until I'm gone.” Far From  Home 💔

13.   “Cause I wished you the best of all this world could give. And I told you when you left me there's nothing to forgive. But I always thought you'd come back, tell me all you found was heartbreak and misery. It's hard for me to say, I'm jealous of the way you're happy without me.” Jealous  💔

14. �� “I will always hold you close but I will learn to let you go. I promise I'll do better. I will soften every edge. I'll hold the world to its best and I'll do better. With every heartbeat I have left I will defend your every breath.” Atlas: Light  💕

15.   “But the feeling we once had starts to fade beneath the bad. And it’s everything… it’s everything. I’m losing you, yeah, I’m losing you. And I’m almost at the point of giving it up.” Losing You  💔

16.   “'Cause I’m on fire like a thousand suns. I couldn’t put it out even if I wanted to. These flames tonight, look into my eyes and say you want me, too. Like I want you.” Hunger  (Vampire! Cole Macgrath x F! Reader)💕

17.   “Once in a lifetime does not happen again. So, I took a chance in a gamblers' game put my heart on the line. And maybe I'm crazy, but I'll never regret what I said to a girl I knew, before we even met.” Running Around in My Dreams (Garrus Vakarian x F! Reader)  💕

18.   “There's something in your eyes that reminds me; the worst days of mine are behind me. My heartstrings and yours are winding down. And baby you speak, and your whisper heals my mind. You lay down a kiss where I need it the most.” Heartstrings  💕

19.   “Hoping for a moment that I turn around and you'll be coming after me. 'Cause all that I can say is that it's obvious… It's obvious you're all I see.” Stay (Hero! Cole MacGrath x F! Reality Conduit! Reader)💕💔

20.   “When I heard that sound… When the walls came down I was thinking about you, about you. When my skin grows old when my breath runs cold I'll be thinking about you, about you.” Skin  💔

21.   “You still get my heart racing, for you. I’ll never stop trying. I’ll never stop watching as you leave. I’ll never stop losing my breath every time I see you looking back at me.” Never Stop 💕

22.   “I knew from the first time, I'd stay for a long time 'cause I like me better when… I like me better when I'm with you.” I Like Me Better (Nathan Drake x F! Reader)💕

23.   “Retrace my lips. Erase your touch It's all too much for me. Blow away like smoke in air.” Six Feet Under  💔

24.   “Fools rush in and I've been the fool before. This time I'm gonna slow it down ‘cause I think this could be more. This thing I'm looking for.” Please Don’t Say You Love Me 💕

25.   “When my head is strong but my heart is weak. I'm full of arrogance and uncertainty. But I can’t find the words you teach my heart to speak. You make it real for me and I'm running to you baby. You are the only one who save me.” You Make it Real 💕

26.   “Sunshine and rain make a beautiful thing. Everything you are is everything I'm not. Night and day, light and dark. Everything I need is everything you've got. All your hate and all your love.” Hate and Love 💕💔

27.   “I leave it all when I feel you near. What I'm saying is I need you here. Even though love never seems to last. If you think we’ve got a chance, stay awhile.” Stay Awhile 💕

28.   “Together can never be close enough for me to feel like I am close enough to you. You wear white and I'll wear out the words "I love you". And you're beautiful. Now that the wait is over and love has finally shown her my way. Marry me.” Marry Me 💕

29.   “Is this the end of the moment or just a beautiful unfolding of a love that will never be or maybe be… Everything that I never thought could happen or ever come to pass? And I wonder, if maybe, maybe I could be all you ever dreamed.” Anywhere But Here 💕

30.  “Oh, give me a sign; I'm starting to wonder if you've lost your way. I've been right here waiting patiently, your lane should be right here next to me. I need you tonight, think of you all of the time. I wonder how you kiss, how you fight, how you laugh, how you smile. All of the time.” I Need You Now 💕💔

31.   “And I do want you to know I hold you up above everyone. And I do want you to know I think you'd be good to me and I'd be so good to you. I would…” Good to You 💕

32.   “Explosions, on the day you wake up needing somebody and you've learned… It's okay to be afraid but it will never be the same. It will never be the same.” Explosions (Markus RK200 x F! Reader) 💕💔

33.   “And from the ballroom floor we are a celebration. One good stretch before our hibernation. Our dreams assured and we are, we'll sleep well. You have stolen… You have stolen my heart.” Stolen 💕

34.   “I could make you happy, make your dreams come true. There's nothing that I wouldn't do. Go to the ends of this Earth for you… To make you feel my love.” Make You Feel My Love 💕

35.   “Highway run into the midnight sun. Wheels go round and round, you're on my mind. Restless hearts sleep alone tonight; sending all my love along the wire.” Faithfully 💕

36.   “I wish you were a bad man. I wish you made it easier. I wish you'd done something unforgivable. 'Cause holding onto you is all that I can do until I learn the hands around my throat are my own.” Don’t Let Me Know  💔

37.   “Wisdom tells me to turn away. Broken once, it's all the same. My arms will grow, chest expanding. Of all the boys you could have landed. Why'd it have to be me? You...can't take my eyes off of you.” Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You  💔

38.   “If you love me, don't let go. Hold on, Hold, on to me… 'Cause I'm a little unsteady. A little unsteady.” Unsteady (Faith Seed x F! Reader)💔

39.   “Open up your heart to me now. Let it all come pouring out there’s nothing I can’t take. If it’s love just feel it and if it’s life will see it. This is no time to be alone, alone. Yeah, I won’t let you go.” I Won’t Let You Go 💕

40.   “Shadows, you took away the shadows. Before you, life was black and white. Though, tonight the room's gone gray. Golden, all the love you gave was golden. Gold that I would gladly pay, to show the love I meant to say.” The Love I Meant to Say  💔

41.   “And I wanna hold you in my arms I wanna let you break my heart. I wanna feel the way it feels to make you stay. And I know you'll bring me to my knees. I know you're way out of my league. I know I can't afford the price I'm gonna pay but I want you anyway.” I Want You Anyway 💕💔

42.   “Darling, so it goes, some things are meant to be. Take my hand, take my whole life too. For I can't help falling in love with you.” Can’t Help Falling In Love (John Seed x F! Reader)💕

43.   “Have you ever wished for an endless night? Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight. Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself, will it ever get better than tonight?” Glitter In The Air 💕

44.   “You're in my arms and all the world is calm. The music playing on for only two. So close together, and when I'm with you… So close to feeling alive.” So Close (Wheaty x F!Deputy! Reader)💕💔

45.   “So, take your time close your eyes. I will be there here with you. They may be right I may be foolish but I will wait for you.” Take Your Time 💕

46.   “Hold my head inside your hands. I need someone who understands. I need someone, someone who hears. For you, I've waited all these years. For you I'd wait 'til kingdom come until my day, my day is done.” Til Kingdom Come 💕

47.   “And when the tears you cry are all you can believe. Just give these loving arms a try and have a little faith in me.” Have a Little Faith in Me 💕

48.   “All your acting, your thin disguise. All your perfectly delivered lies. They don't fool me. You've been lonely, too long.” Dust to Dust  💔

49.   “Off in the night, while you live it up, I'm off to sleep. Waging wars to shape the poet and the beat. I hope it's gonna make you notice… Someone like me.” Use Somebody 💕

50.   “When it’s too hard and too late. When I’m too tired to run away. When it cant stay the way it was. I need you ‘cause you smash the trouble I can’t take. And all the pieces of the break, evaporate” Evaporate 💕

51.   “I don’t even need to change the world. I’ll make the moon shine just for your view. I’ll make the starlight circle the room. And if you feel like night is falling I wanna be the one you’re calling. 'Cause I believe that you could lead the way” Someone to You 💕

52.   “Let me wash away you can find me after the flood. Let me wash away. Caught in the storm, caught in the rain. Caught in the rush that hides this pain. When you love someone you find a way to stay.” Caught In The Storm  💔

53.   “I’ll be the light in the dark if you lose your way. And if you wait for me, I’ll be your voice when you don’t know what to say. I’ll be your shelter, I’ll be your fate. I’ll be forever, Wait for me.” Last Train Home 💕

54.   “Tell your secrets to the night. You do yours and I do mine. So we won’t have to keep them all inside.” Save Yourself  💔

55.   “Give me oceans or canyons so deep they stretch for millions of miles. I’ll cross any divide, not a flicker of doubt. No danger I wouldn’t dare, to be with you.” Goodbye 💕

56.   “If I see you in my dreams tonight and you take my hands and tell me, "I've been waiting for you." Then I'll tell you, "Me too." If I see you in my dreams tonight.” In My Dreams 💕

57.   “Do you feel something pulling you back in? Do you see something you wanna see again? I could be the one. I could make it up to you.” Lonely Boy  💔

58.   “I’ve been there before hoping and trying to make things right. But now I don’t know. Honey, these arms that once held you are ready to fight.” Ready to Fight  💔

59.   “And I’ve always lived like this keeping a comfortable, distance. And up until now I had sworn to myself that I’m content with loneliness. Because none of it was ever worth the risk.” The Only Exception 💕💔

60.   “All my nights, taste like gold. Yeah, when I’m with you it’s like everything glows. And all my days we can lay low. Yeah, when we’re waking up; we’re waking up slow.” Waking Up Slow 💕

61.   “Said a lot of words along the way. I meant them all while we reigned. But shores of love get beaten by the waves and after it was done I wish I’d saved time.” Tokyo Sunrise  💔

63.  “Your losing sight, of your favorite pair of eyes. And the part of you where she was too made you feel alive. But nothing fills the space of things you can’t replace. She has to go and you know you can't chase.” Favorite Pair of Eyes  💔    

64.  “I get to love you It's the best thing that I'll ever do. I get to love you it's a promise I'm making to you. Whatever may come, your heart, I will choose. Forever I'm yours, forever I do.” I Get to Love You  💕 (Connor RK800 x F! Reader)

65.  “Can I stop the flow of time? Can I swim in your divine? 'Cause I don't think I'd ever leave this place. Oh, turn the lights turn the lights down low. Yeah, now I'm feeling you breathing slow. Cause, baby, we're just reckless kids trying to find an island in the flood.” Lights Down Low  💕 (Delsin Rowe x F! Reader)

66.  “ If your world falls apart I'd start a riot. If night falls in your heart I'd light the fire. In the dark, when you sound the alarm we'll find each other's arms. For your love, all you are... I'd start a riot.” Start a Riot 💕

67.  “Oh take me back again. When I was sixteen with an open heart windows down in a beat up car. When I was dumb and the world was young and she was beautiful.” Beautiful  (Sam Drake x F! Reader)💕

68.  “But I'm just content with time well spent savor the taste of sugar. But all you want is milk more than you can drink. All you want is honey, you can't take the sting. You live for overkill but you're ungrateful still.” Milk and Honey 💕💔

69.  “ The night is blind so hard to find the way back home. Losing grip but it's worth the risk. To brave the cold. No matter where you go, I'll find you. Hold on for your life. It can't be time I won't say goodbye.” Hold on for Your Life 💕💔

70.  “You have my all. You are my downfall. Crush me, and keep me for eternity. Break me in your hands, love, where I will always be. Crush me, into pieces, all of these pieces. Crush me, and keep me for eternity.” Eternity💕💔

71.  “‘Did we take too many chances or did we let too many pass us. Did we throw it all away? Did we light too many matches? Turn ourselves into these ashes? Did we throw it all away? We walk through the fire. Is there a way out?” Walk Through the Fire 💔

72.  “So here I am, stumbling on every word that comes to me. Do you know, that every single beat of your heart starts another fire in mine? Opposite of dwindling is violent like a hurricane.” Beat of Your Heart 💕

73.  “I'm not scared to tell the truth I've been to hell and back and I went with you. Remind me what we were before. When we said,’You are mine and I am yours’. I don't know much but I know myself and I don't wanna love anybody else. So let's break the spell and lift the curse. Remember why we fell for each other, head first.” Heart-shaped Wreckage 💕💔

74.  “Oh, please don't go. Let me have you just one moment more. Oh, all I need, all I want is just one moment more. You've got to hold me and maybe I'll believe. So hold me, even though I know you're leaving.” One Moment More 💔

75.  “Go down with me, fall with me let's make worth it. You rise, I fall. I stand, you crawl. You twist, I turn. Who's the first to burn? You sit and stay I don't obey.” Black Sea 💔

76.  “I didn't know if I could tell her. I didn't know if I could make her see. She didn't need to find her beauty. She didn't need to find a way to show me. They took her moments of feeling alive and made them moments of dying inside. She needed someone to scream her name. To take her pain and it's why I screaming” Annie 💕💔

77.  “And if I was running, you'd be the one who I would be running to. And if I was crying, you would be lining the cloud that would pull me through. And if I was scared, then I would be glad to tell you and walk away. But I am not lying, I am just trying to find my way in to you.” Find a Way 💕

78.   “For a while, you had me going but it’s all over now. You thought you got the best of me but you never realized I don’t break so easily, so easily. Once you tried you keep me from flying now you’ll see me up there defying gravity, gravity.” Gravity 💔

79.  “She's the fire in the sin and I burn breathing her in. Now it's love suicide and I sell my soul for the high. Truth be told I don't mind 'cause her hell's my paradise. She can crush every hope.” Horns 💔

80.  “We had the songs that we sang along to. You had the moves to make me dance with you. I always saw you reaching and catching stars. We had the thing that everyone wanted. Hung on your sleeve, you wore your heart on it. Did you get out? I'm wondering where you are. Did you follow your fire?” Follow Your Fire  💕💔

81.  “There's someone I've been missing I think that they could be the better half of me. They're in the in the wrong place trying to make it right but I'm tired of justifying. So I say to you. Come home, come home 'cause I've been waiting for you for so long.” Come Home 💕💔  

82.  “Do you remember a boy? On the porch swing beside me, the brush of your hand, was all I could stand. You’d send my head spinning. It’s been a long time I know. I don’t see him round here no more. I’m not in love with the man you’ve become but I remember a boy.” I Remember a Boy 💔

83.  “And I'd like to hold you here in my arms and have you never leave. And I'd like to give you all that I have to have you stay with me. Oh, but you, you don't see me; you don't see me that way. You don't see the way I look at you when you are not looking at me.” You Don’t See Me 💔

84.  “I heard there was someone but I know he don't deserve you. If you were mine I'd never let anyone hurt you. I wanna dry those tears, kiss those lips it's all that I've been thinking about. 'Cause a light came on when I heard that song and I want you to sing it again.” Can I Be Him 💕💔  

85.  “I didn't want us to burn out I didn't come here to hurt you. Now I can't stop. I want you to know, that it doesn't matter where we take this road, someone's gotta go. And I want you to know you couldn't have loved me better but I want you to move on. So, I'm already gone.” Already Gone 💕💔  

86.  “What have I done with my heart on the floor? I must be out of my mind to come back begging for more. But if you stay if you just stay for the night. Swear that I'm yours and I'll prove that I'm right.” Litost 💔

87.  “Stars fading but I linger on dear still craving your kiss. I'm longing to linger till dawn dear, just saying this. Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you. Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you. But in your dreams whatever they be, dream a little dream of me.” Dream A Little Dream of Me 💕

88.  “You're my funny valentine, sweet comic valentine. You make me smile with my heart. Your looks are laughable, un-photographable. Yet, you're my favorite work of art.” Funny Valentine  💕

89.  “Every little thing that I've known is every thing I need to let go. You're so much bigger than the world I have made. So, I surrender my soul 'm reaching out for your hope. I lay my weapons down I'm ready for you now.” On My Own  💕💔

90.  “Chaos, in the atmosphere. Maybe, I bring it everywhere, the shadows are the look on your face. I just want a way to escape. At the, point of no return. Can we, bandage up the hurt? Will we change the way we are, the way we are?” Bridges  💕💔

91.  “You were alone left out in the cold clinging to the ruin of your broken home. Too lost and hurting to carry your load. We all need someone to hold. You’ve been fighting the memory all on your own. Nothing washes, nothing grows. I know how it feels being by yourself in the rain. We all need someone to stay.” Someone to Stay 💕💔

92.  “I surrender who I've been for who you are. For nothing makes me stronger than your fragile heart. If I had only felt how it feels to be yours. Well I would have known what I've been living for.” Turning Page 💕

93.  “I wish that I could stay forever this young. Not afraid to close my eyes. Life's a game made for everyone and love is the prize.” Wake Me Up 💕💔

94.  “ Wishing I could find the rain to wash away the past. Knowing that my heart will break, but at least the pain will last. I die each time you look away, my heart, my life, will never be the same. This love will take my everything. One breath, one touch, will be the end of me.” Love Song Requiem 💔

95.  “Falling, yes I am falling, and she keeps calling me back again. I've just seen a face, I can't forget the time or place where we just met. She's just the girl for me and I want all the world to see; we've met.” I Just Saw A Face 💕

96.  “But we're gonna start by drinking old cheap bottles of wine. Sit talking up all night, saying things we haven't for a while. We're smiling but we're close to tears even after all these years. We just now got the feeling that we're meeting for the first time.” For the First Time 💕💔

97.  “Falling slowly, eyes that know me and I can't go back. Moods that take me and erase me and I'm painted black. You have suffered enough and warred with yourself it's time that you won.” Falling Slowly  💕💔

98.  “You're high upon the tower now don't look down. I will be okay here on the ground and you can always call to say hello from time to time. When you're no longer mine.” Tower (Don’t Look Down) 💔

99.  “So don't look any further, don't stray too far. 'Cause I'm right here with you and I'll keep your loving heart. When the night rushes in girl I'll hold a light to the dark. Please understand, I am your man.” I Am Your Man  💕

100.  “Tell me that we belong together, dress it up with the trappings of love. I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above. I'll be your crying shoulder. I'll be love suicide. I'll be better when I'm older. I'll be the greatest fan of your life.” I’ll Be 💕

101.  “Why would you put up with all my crazy? Say yes when I’m saying maybe. It’s got to be a crime, that’s what you said. I’m gonna get myself arrested for stealing your heart. Well, you don’t know how easy it is to be in love, to be in love with you. You’re the only one I’ve ever loved who feels about me the way I feel about you. The way I feel about you.  Feels 💕

102.  “You and me we’ve been fast asleep walking back & forth in the in between. No escaping these days are fading. Let’s lose the weight of this gravity, gravity. If we take some chances and break some plans. Would you hold my hand through the running wild? Yeah its frightening but perfect timing is how you live with not knowing why. Could we touch the sky? Could we touch the sky, with your starry eyes?” Touch the Sky  💕💔

103.  “So hold onto hope, love I've searched high and low for you, for you. Each day gets closer so hold on stronger to me and you.” Hold Onto Hope Love    💕💔

*Don’t worry about the pronouns used in the songs they can easily be changed/ignored for your request

[Listen to the songs here]

[darklygophilia]

Avoiding Those Pesky Cliches: Conflict in Romance

I don’t know why, but this meta took forever to finish & get posted. It felt like every time I sat down to write it and edit it, something pulled me away. But, here it is, finally - and long-winded, as per usual for me! Shout out to @eilowyn1 for beta reading & being patient with me!

(NOTE: I’m using various “ships” from multiple fandoms, including Lauriver from Arrow, as examples in this meta!)

THE PROBLEM WITH LOVE TRIANGLES…

When it comes to writing, I’m always trying to avoid cliches, and if I can’t than I try my damnedest to put a new spin on an old cliche. When it comes to the romance genre, my biggest pet peeve is Love Triangles. I can’t stand them and I refuse to use them!

The truth is, Love Triangles are difficult, both from a writing perspective as well as a reader’s POV. It’s really hard creating two points in the Triangle (the two Love Interests) and presenting them in a way that makes the third point in the Triangle’s (the POV character who’s affections the Love Interests are vying for) inability to make up their mind seem legitimate and genuine. As writers, we always have our favorites in terms of which characters we love writing for more than others - and which character we the writer have already chosen for our POV character. IMO, that favoritism is noticed by our readers and it influences their perception of these three specific character points of the Love Triangle. There’s always one Love Interest within the Triangle that the majority of the audience loves more, while the secondary Love Interest (usually put in the Triangle to cause drama) often feels displaced.

Example #1: Throughout the Twilight Saga, we’re supposed to see Jacob as a legitimate candidate for Bella’s affections in counterpoint to Edward. The problem with this particular Love Triangle - excluding its abusive undertones - is that Stephanie Meyer spent the entire first book of the series building up the love between Bella and Edward. And despite Edward being absent for most of book two, his presence is still felt both by Bella, who’s mourning his absence, and the readers. By the time Edward returns, it seems inevitable who Bella was ALWAYS going to end up with. And that’s one of the problems with Love Triangles - the outcome always feels inevitable in the end. Which makes all the drama caused by the secondary Love Interest feel pointless in the grand scheme of things.

The Fix It: Instead of having the Love Triangle between Bella, Jacob and Edward, Meyers could’ve focused on a more genuine friendship between Bella and Jacob. Jacob loves Bella, but he’s not in-love with her. He’s her friend, he’s worried about her choices, but he also develops a reluctant friendship with Edward because they both have a shared interest in protecting Bella. Not only would this have done away with the Love Triangle while still keeping Jacob in the story and in Bella’s life, it would’ve also done away with the secondary cliche of the entire series - the nonsensical hatred between vampires and werewolves. Not to mention it would’ve made Jacob’s connection with Renesme in the end seem just a little less awkward if he never had romantic feelings for Bella to begin with.

Example #2: What about the Peeta, Katniss and Gale Love Triangle in The Hunger Games? The rare thing about Peeta and Katniss is that Peeta knows first hand - if not exactly, than similarly - what Katniss went through during the Games. He understands her PTSD because he has PTSD from their shared experience, too. By the time Katniss comes out of the Games, Gale is a stranger to her. He may witness her PTSD, but he’ll never understand it like Peeta. So, by the end of the series when we learn that Peeta and Katniss live happily-ever-after, it feels pretty anti-climactic due to their inevitability in ending up together.

Now, I’m not saying writers should pull a 180 and shockingly have their POV character who’s been the center of a Love Triangle end up with someone totally random at the end of the story. That didn’t work out so well for the readers of the Sookie Stackhouse Novels. But, writers should at the very least make BOTH Love Interests equal candidates for the POV character’s affections. That way, that POV character’s indecisiveness in choosing between Love Interests feel more real, instead of just drama designed to slow things down until the inevitable ending.

Example #3: What about the Damon, Elena and Stefan Love Triangle in The Vampire Diaries? IMO, halfway through the third season it became pretty obvious Elena would end up with Damon in the end. There’s three reasons why. 1) Elena and Stefan met and fell in-love soon after her parents died. Having a minor in Psychology reminded me that whenever you loose someone you love - the death of a friend or family member - there’s a reason we’re told not to make any life-altering decisions too soon! Elena’s insta-love-at-first-sight with Stefan, breaking up with her ex-boyfriend, her parents’ deaths, starting a new school year, suddenly learning Stefan was a vampire AND being thrust into the supernatural world ALL hinted at a doomed relationship from the start! It was all too much, too soon. 2) Counteract all that with how Elena gets to know Damon before she got involved with him romantically was the exact opposite of how her relationship started with Stefan. By the time Elena did get together with Damon, she pretty much knew the kind of person he really was. 3) The friendship Elena struck up with Damon before she got involved with him romantically was paralleled by the friendship we see slowly develop into something romantic between Stefan and Caroline. To the point where Stefan and Caroline made more sense as a romantic couple by the end of the series, than Stefan and Elena did at the beginning of the series.

The Fix It: The interesting thing here was the steady friendship-to-romance between Stefan/Caroline was an example of romance that’s pleasantly sneaks up on you. It helped trip-up the Love Triangle cliche that permeated the show. You don’t want to pull a Sookie/Sam on your audience; the end romance still needs to make sense! However, having the two Love Interests fall out of love with the POV character, and instead end up with someone else gives a fresh new take on the Love Triangle. IMO, the show should’ve expanded on the concept by having Damon fall for his best friend, Bonnie. It would’ve added irony, having Stefan/Damon fall in-love with Elena’s best friends.

(NOTE: I’m not saying all this as a shipper. I’m not a fan of the Twilight Saga, though I’ve read the books. The Hunger Games felt like every other YA series out there. The Vampire Diaries was just like every other CW show. But, I do feel like the ends of the various Love Triangles within these individual series all had the same problem - I saw it coming a mile away! By the time I’d finished the Twilight Saga, the fact that Bella ended up with Edward forever was pretty inevitable. The same could be said for Peeta and Katniss, or Damon and Elena. Because of that inevitability, all the drama in-between, IMO, felt like a waist of time when you can guess the ending result.)

When you look at the three sides of the Love Triangle – the indecisive POV character and the two Love Interests vying for his/her affections – there’s always one point of the Triangle (one Love Interest) that falls short. Solidifying just who’s side the audience, and the writers, are gonna be on.

Arrow’s Lauriver & Olicity has this problem. Laurel, nor Sara, ever seemed to match Oliver the way Felicity did. The history Oliver had with both Lance sisters was just too toxic; sister-swapping doe NOT a romance make! And in the end, it made any Love Triangle on Arrow seem forced (and downright nonsensical at times).

Arrow seemed to readily embrace the requisite Love Triangle cliche the CW seemed to have in all of their shows. After all, Arrow started in the middle of The Vampire Diaries’ heyday, when love triangles were the basic element of any CW show. But - and this is a BIG but - despite the CW’s obsessive fascination with Love Triangles, I’d like to point out that the Arrow writers did NOT intend for there to ever be a Love Triangle! The original plan was supposed to be an epic romance between Green Arrow and Black Canary. The CW and DC had no romantic aspirations for Arrow beyond that.

There’s many reasons why Lauriver could never work. And while I do personally ship Olicity, I’m NOT trying to make this into a shipping war thing! That’s not the intention of this meta. This is about the writing; how differently the writers approached these two ships that THEY created and how the writing influenced how the audience views these ships.

When you’re writing a romance in TV, you need to be open to change, especially if you’re writing away from canon. You may be writing two characters who were supposed to have this epic love, but they don’t gel the way you thought they would. Certain things differ in writing for TV as apposed to writing a Novel. In books, writers create the chemistry between characters because we can get into their heads, read their feelings, examine their thoughts. We can’t do that with TV, thus the only way to really develop chemistry is naturally between two actors. 

The first things that stood against Lauriver from the start was that, IMO there was zero chemistry between Katie Cassidy and Stephen Amell. In fact, the producers of Arrow have outright admitted that Cassidy was hired before they even looked at Amell, and by the time Amell was hired, there was no point in doing a chemistry test. That’s a big mistake on the show creators part. While chemistry, like beauty, is in the eye-of-the-beholder, it still plays a big role in a TV show, especially when writers are setting-the-stage for an epic romance. It’s hard to make any romance believable, let alone an epic one, when there’s no chemistry between the actors.

In comparison, while Olicity was not planned the moment Emily Bett Rickards entered the show, the chemistry between her and Amell was undeniable and certainly would make writing a romance between their characters more organic. And this is where an openness to change is needed when writing, especially in TV. When you see something NOT working, you as a writer need to take a step back and reconsider it. Likewise, when writers see something that DOES work, go with it! It’ll make your job as writer that much more easier. You may start developing your hero/heroine’s relationship more with a character you never thought would be so perfect for them – but they are perfect, in a fresh and unexpected way. That “being open to change” in the planning of your story and the characters gives you the unexpected surprise of a relationship that even you, the writer, never saw coming. And THAT’S what makes it all organic - it happens naturally. That’s what makes a love story epic!

Felicity works because she wasn’t planned. She wasn’t shaped for the main-white-male-character the way Laurel was. And she didn’t chase after Oliver the way Laurel did either. When it looked like Oliver might never return her affections, Felicity did her best to move on, while Laurel marinated in her pinning love for Ollie. This comparison of healthy vs. unhealthy POV in regards to Felicity and Laurel is also what stood against Lauriver. This brings up another aspect of Love Triangles that I hate. If its a man with two female Love Interests, he typically looks like a tool, IMO, who’s leading on these women because he can’t make up his own mind. If its a woman stuck between two guys, she just looks fickle which is insulting to women.

Felicity was designed as an independent character who happened to be part of Oliver’s story. Emily Bett Rickards came out of nowhere; the writers never saw Felicity coming. Because of this, everything from the writing, the acting, and audience reception progressed naturally. There were next to no preconceived perceptions or expectations when it came to Felicity - unlike the canon-compliant Lauriver. In counterpoint, Laurel was a character that could never stand on her own as an individual. Having a female character be so reliant on the main-male-character is not empowering and, personally turned me off the Lauriver “ship.” Everything about Laurel’s character relied on other characters (Oliver, her father, Tommy, even Sara). Where as, within the Olicity “ship” Felicity can stand on her own as an individual; she doesn’t need Oliver in her life to make her an interesting character. But, I’d say that I wouldn’t find Oliver half as interesting without Felicity. It’s rare to have the main-white-male character be reliant upon a female character! Emily’s unexpectedness and Felicity’s individuality made the character that much more real and likable for the majority of Arrow fans.

AVOIDING LOVE TRIANGLES…

With ALL that said, here’s 5 great sources of conflict in romance that don’t revolve around Love Triangles! Some of these were used in both the Olicity and Lauriver relationships. However, it’s how they were applied that make the real difference in getting your audience hooked on a “ship.”

That’s another thing – you’re not only worrying about hooking your audience on your overall story and characters as individuals! You’re also having to hook them onto a specific relationship. Because every love story needs a couple the audience wants to root for!

1) Lifestyle Differences - This leaves the initial chemistry between the couple intact while providing manageable conflict for a long-term relationship. This also helps showcase the couple’s individual priorities as opposed to shared priorities. To make it genuine, show how important these characters’ lifestyles are to them. There should, however, be a compromise in the end. Be certain to have BOTH parties compromise; that way you don’t mar your happy ending by making it look like one character feels or looks trapped, or that one of them had to stop being true to themselves by giving up their lifestyle!

Lauriver: Pre-island Lauriver had very different lifestyles. Laurel was a strict, ambitious student who wanted to have a successful career, get married, and be part of the ultimate power couple of Starling City. Ollie just wanted to party, sleep around, and ignore reality. Neither of these lifestyles gelled. Post-island Lauriver STILL had vastly different lifestyles. The one similarity they had (wanting to save the city in their own way) was quickly overshadowed by all their differences! Laurel was still career oriented (nothing wrong with that individually), but Oliver (new & improved) was solely focused on being the Hood. Also the fact that Ollie/Oliver was accustomed to the rich lifestyle he’d been born into. Laurel seemed to want to be part of that extravagant lifestyle, but she also spent an inordinate amount of time begrudging the elite lifestyle. There was no compromising pre-island party-animal-womanizing-billionaire-Ollie, nor the post-island Oliver who spent a great deal of his time pretending to be that guy. By this time, Laurel had grown very bitter.

Laurel wanted Ollie to change according to her idea of who he should be, while Ollie became Oliver without Laurel. The most character growth Oliver showed had nothing to do with Laurel and everything to do with his experiences on the Island (away from Laurel), as well as the influences of Digg and Felicity. Laurel didn’t play a part in Oliver’s significant character growth!

Olicity: They started out with lifestyle differences, but that evolved as they grew closer. Felicity was used to a frugal life as both the daughter of a Vegas waitress as well as a lowly IT girl. Both Ollie & S1 Oliver enjoyed a very high-end lifestyle. But as the show and their relationship progressed, Olicity moved towards each other to the point of sharing a common lifestyle. Oliver was brought down in the world, no longer the incalculably wealthy playboy; Felicity rose up in the world, going from lowly IT girl to businesswoman. At times, they often compromised and worked together equally. It's not just giving or taking - it’s a balance of the two. To top it off, they were good for each other and grew as individuals because of their shared experiences.

2) Cultural Taboos - Your character(s) may be ashamed of their feelings for someone. Maybe they were raised a certain way & view relationships differently. Maybe one partner is in to BDSM & the other isn’t. A shameful past. The possibilities are endless.

Lauriver: Ollie’s cheating is, IMO, definitely a taboo in my book. How does a hero come back from that in the eyes of the audience? Have him get repeatedly tortured on an Island of literal Purgatory. Having Laurel hold him accountable for his actions sounds great to begin with, but never letting him forget his shameful past (Oliver’s made it clear, he’s very ashamed of who he was) while simultaneously having her ready and willing to take him back with eager, open arms is more than a little contradictory!

It doesn’t make Laurel seem forgiving or empowering; it only serves to make the audience feel sorry for the new and improved Oliver because of Laurel’s judgments, as well as to emphasis her bitter bitterness. I would categorize the Merlance/Lauriver Love Triangle as taboo, too simply because, once again, it doesn’t paint Laurel in a positive light. It makes her look like she’s breaking apart a lifelong friendship, and the fact they’re both billionaires just makes her seem like a gold-digger, even if that wasn’t the writer’s intention. Overall, Laurel’s faux-feminism is the biggest taboo, IMO, especially with today’s recent wave of feminism – she’s every bad feminist stereotype!

Olicity: the fact that Oliver is a vigilante can be a taboo in itself, IMO. Laurel’s very against the Hood’s initial brand of vigilantism, even going as far as labeling him a “monster.”  In S2 she actively hunts him. Her becoming a vigilante later in the story doesn’t change this problem because they still can’t compromise on a way to do things. While Felicity doesn’t always agree with Oliver’s methods, she sees the purpose behind them and she even gets him to take a new road to vigilantism through her open mind & ability to understand him. This helps encourage him to be open to new ways of doing things, as well as makes Oliver feel less ashamed of his past and less ashamed of the man he’s become!

3) Character Flaws - A perfect hero/heroine is boring, unrealistic, and downright impossible! So are perfect couples! Create intimacy or trust issues to make things more real. Maybe one of your characters suffers from PTSD, or is recovering from rape and trying to date again. Maybe one partner has a mental illness.

Lauriver: I may support the theory that Laurel is both Bipolar & Narcissistic, but neither of these things are addressed within the show’s narrative. In fact, very little of Laurel is addressed in the show’s narrative. Her alcoholism goes from nearly destroying her life to being cured overnight. And, if anything, it further drives a wedge between her and Oliver, as seen in 2x14. It shows up especially when Oliver points out Laurel’s addictive personality is what fuels her need to be a vigilante (see S3). Oliver sees Laurel’s problems, but Laurel doesn’t. More specifically, the show writers wrote Laurel as a flawed character, but allowed the show’s narrative to present her as if she could do no wrong; she never paid for her mistakes. They never addressed her flaws despite her being very flawed.

Olicity: The show’s narrative addresses Oliver’s PTSD, as well as Felicity’s psychological issues of abandonment. Simultaneously, Oliver and Felicity recognize these issues in each other. These issues are not ignore, not by the couple nor by the show’s narrative! Not only do they see the problems the other has, they face them both as individuals and as a couple.

4) Opposing Interests - Opposites attract, but do they really? And is that healthy, to a certain extent? What about mutually exclusive goals? Or a balance between their differences and similarities? Maybe they have opposing goals they need to work through. Possible “Pride & Prejudice” motif - but be careful not to make their hate and/or their past history with each other too toxic or it’ll be hard for the audience to fathom them being together at all!

Lauriver: At first glance they seem perfect for each other - or at least the image of them together does (even Laurel thinks so). They’re two beautiful people, one has the high end lifestyle (Ollie), the other is attracted to that same lifestyle but doesn’t quite have it (Laurel). They both want what’s best for the city (but too often clash in regards to how to save it). Their education, their individual approach to their careers, how invested they are in each other (Laurel wanted the marriage, house & 2.5 kids; Ollie/Oliver didn’t have a typical family so his perception of marriage, fidelity, and children were jaded to say the least). These two don’t compromise their goals/interests equally. By the time they are on common ground (when Laurel becomes a vigilante) they’re too often still at odds with each other.

Olicity: Oliver’s more brawn than brains, where as Felicity is all brains, all tech. Oliver’s a charming vigilante, & Felicity is his chatty tech-support. He was raised rich, but with much expected of him; she was raised by a single mother on a budget. And yet, in spite of their ‘Geek & the Beast’ motif, they actually share a lot of common goals. They both care a great deal for their family, even if said family has some skeletons in the closet. They both want to save the city can compromise on how to do that together. Felicity can see things from Oliver’s POV and he does the same for her. In spite of their differences, they still manage to work well together.

Lauriver Again: they may have a shared history, but that same history is filled with sooo much distrust, too much tragedy, and bitter anger that borders on hatred - they just never felt romantic. This is why it’s important to ensure that your couple doesn’t become toxic! Otherwise, it’s hard to believe they’re even a legitimate couple.

5) Magic - one character could be a witch/wizard, the other not. Or maybe one of them’s under a curse (”Beauty & the Beast” motif). What about soulmates?

There may not be any curses or magic in terms of the couples themselves, but the way that Olicity compliment each other, to the point that even their differences are just as much positive reinforcements to the foundation of their relationship as their similarities are. It makes them feel perfect for each other, even if they aren’t perfect individuals or a perfect couple.

[divine-identite]

RULES. repost, don’t reblog. tag ten. TAGGED. @thegreatunxter  thank you Lari :) TAGGING. anyone else who wants to do this.

BASICS.

FULL  NAME.   Paddra-Ballad Caius, Caius Ballad NICKNAME.   none AGE.   2,000+ BIRTHDAY.   December 27th  ♑  Capricorn ♑ (Capricorn Sun / Scorpio moon) ETHNIC GROUP.   Indigenous/Aborginals/Paddran NATIONALITY.   Pulsian LANGUAGE / S. canon: Pulsian  ;New World: French, Italian, Russian God of Death: Nigh-omniscience  SEXUAL ORIENTATION.   Heterosexual  ROMANTIC ORIENTATION.   Demiromantic RELATIONSHIP STATUS. Single (canon) / in a relationship (AU) CLASS.  N/A HOME TOWN / AREA.   Paddra CURRENT HOME.   The New Unseen Realm PROFESSION.   Seeress’s Guardian, God of Death

PHYSICAL.

HAIR.  Long purple hair, goes down to her mid-back. Smooth with light purple tufts of hair. EYES.  a vivid purple, almond-shaped. His eyes are normally sharp, stern, and intense usually some moments, which may intimidate some people who see them NOSE.  Wide bridge but slender nostrils it's also tall and straight  FACE. His face is kinda of square, prominent, strong jaw, open forehead, and subtle high cheekbones. LIPS. Full lips, the bottom is a bit more full COMPLEXION.  tanned - earth tones mostly, smooth, and soft with some weathering. BLEMISHES. He has freckles when looked upon closely have lightened up over the years but are distinguishable under a keen eye SCARS.  A few but they have faded possible or just non-existent due to the nature of the heart of chaos. TATTOOS. N/A HEIGHT.   6′4″ WEIGHT. 197 lbs BUILD.   Athletic, slender FEATURES. My seem imposing, vivid purple hair  ALLERGIES. N/A USUAL HAIR STYLE. Usually let down, held in place by his headband a large sweeping bang from the left. USUAL FACE LOOK.   Stern, unmoved and confident, even seen smirking arrogantly. While it’s not rare nor is it a common occurence, her features tends to soften up when he’s around people such as Yeul USUAL CLOTHING.  Armour made by Etro reverence of Bahamut

PSYCHOLOGY.

FEAR / S.  Failure, in the past many perhaps not being personal worth. ASPIRATION / S.  To end his and her suffering and free themselves from this accursed torment given by the Goddess Etro POSITIVE TRAITS.  Determined, Persistent, Dutiful, Practical, Wise,  NEGATIVE TRAITS.  Apathetic/Callous, Dogged, Blunt, Manipulative, Merciless, Cruel, Nonsense, Dogged MBTI.   LOGISTICIAN (ISTJ-A) ZODIAC.   Capricorn TEMPEREMENT.   Phlegmatic/ Choleric SOUL TYPE / S.  Hunter/ Caregiver ANIMALS.   Sable VICE HABIT / S.  N/A FAITH.  Agnostic GHOSTS? Yes AFTERLIFE? Yes REINCARNATION? He has none ALIENS? No. POLITICAL ALIGNMENT.  N/A  ECONOMIC PREFERENCE. N/A SOCIOPOLITICAL POSITION. EDUCATION LEVEL.  Home-schooled 

FAMILY.

FATHER.  N/A MOTHER. N/A SIBLINGS.  N/A EXTENDED  FAMILY.  N/A NAME MEANING / S.   Caius is classical and serious but also has a simple, joyful quality. There was a third century pope named Caius, as well as an early Christian writer, several Shakespearean characters, and a Twilight vampire. We would pronounce the name to rhyme with eye-us though at Cambridge University in England, where it's the name of a college, it's pronounced keys. Caius is currently Number 164 on Nameberry. 

HISTORICAL CONNECTION ?  N/A

FAVOURITES.

BOOK. N/A MOVIE. N/A 5 SONGS.  “ Heavy” - Florence + The Machine, “Caius Theme” - Final Fantasy XIII-2  “Oblivion“ - Bastille Sun and Steel” - Audiomachine “ Dawn ” - Skyrim DEITY.  N/A HOLIDAY.  N/A MONTH.  November, December SEASON.  Fall, Winter PLACE.  Paddra WEATHER. Fair temperatures, little  humidity, weather with slight forecast SOUND. Rainfall, night-time cricket ambience, the night, THE QUIET SCENT / S. like night, like fresh after a rain storm night. Coupled with a bit of sea water, jasmine, metal and earthy tones.  TASTE / S. Salt, Honey FEEL / S.  Leather, animal hide, scales ANIMAL / S.  Bahamut NUMBER.  N/A COLOUR. Green

EXTRA.

TALENTS.  Piano, creating metal sculpture art BAD  AT.  Critical, Self-Expressing, Fastidious, Judgemental, Conservative, Apathetic TURN  ONS.  An interesting personality, a good rival, determination, passion, being vigilant and perhaps just someone battling the odds.  TURN  OFFS.  Ignorance, constant nonsense, terrible personality, invading personal space, Weakness HOBBIES. Reading, taking long walks, training, stargazing TROPES. Papa Wolf: Seriously, do not mess with Yeul when he's around. That includes you, universe and you too, Etro. AESTHETIC  TAGS.   Moon, rain, mountains, forests, charcoal, feathers, leather, time, Fog GPOY  QUOTES.  “ Forever isn’t bright; it isn’t like that. Forever is cold and hard and final. .” - Deathless, Catherynne M. Valente

FC INFO.

MAIN  FC / S. N/A ALT  FC / S.  N/A OLDER  FC / S.  N/A YOUNGER  FC / S. N/A VOICE  CLAIM / S. Liam’ O Bren

MUN QUESTIONS.

Q1.   if you could write your character your way in their own movie, what would it be called, what style would it be filmed in, and what would it be about?  A1.  Walk to Oblvion - that explores the boundaries of morality between what is typically good and evil, and understand what is truly human in character in our core. I think perhaps a western movie or a high fantasy movie which Caius cause’s destruction for a greater purpose.

Q2.   what would their soundtrack / score sound like? A2.   Oh, boy I say Dawn - Jeremy Soule, Skyrim. 

Q3.   why did you start writing this character? A3.    From long story to short, it started when I was in yoga class when Book 4 was still airing. My muse for her came out of nowhere and I told myself the feeling is going to go away, but that night…I ended up making a blog for her. And here I am now.

Q4.   what first attracted you to this character? A4. Oh boy, this is a long explanation you’re demanding from me lol but I’ll bite. Well to star,t I picked up Caius out of curiosity and perhaps chance, I originally wanted to do Noctis - but Tumblr was so oversaturated with Noctis that I didn't want to be a clone. So, I had to go through the “fishing for a muse” phase.  I roleplayed a bit as Riku from KH , Kefka from FF6 and thus Caius. Now I chose Caius because from what I was told usually people pick him up and drop him like a dime - it sounded like a role I could take to see how it went since he was my first villain (at that point was a bit insecure at the time  ) At first, I was unsure if I would be good with him when I went on a massive study on him, he was this compelling villain and seem always to have a recognisable appearance which i was worried I would not master or convey into my other rps. Later,  I learned he was the most human of all final fantasy characters out there; with him wanting to destroy time for just one person, which other final fantasy 13 character such as Lightning, Fang wanted cocoon destroyed just to save those they loved and that kind of drew in more the more I realised it; the whole grey spectrum and his personality I could just connect with it off the bat ( I don’t know something about stoic attitude that always kinda makes me want to roleplay them so well and it always works for me, funny as it was since I used to RP Cloud Strife back on myspace). Though I think me and Caius have many differences we do have many similarities which made me fancy the character and got me to portray him to this level where. It’s perhaps easy to know  So, I guess you can say I roleplayed him as a mistake?

Q5.   describe the biggest thing you dislike about your muse. A5.  Being cryptic and generally just being callous so many things that some people would be, pretty much an asshole to people and his unfiltered honesty. Not being expressive

Q6.   what do you have in common with your muse? A6.   quite blunt lol and down to earth actually, i guess being practical at least.

Q7.   how does your muse feel about you? A7.  cool dood just needs to lighten the fuck up sometimes and be less blunt and callous, he would make a lot of friends if he did that.

Q8.   what characters does your muse have interesting interactions with? A8.   Kuvira (Avatar. Legend of Korra), Alex Benedetto (Gangsta), i think mostly Moana (Disney’s Moana), Fang ( Final Fantasy XIII trilogy), Kuja (Final Fantasy IX)

Q9.   what gives you the inspiration to write your muse? A9.  SE not fleshing out Caius, a lot of gothic horror pieces of literature, Lovecraft and Poe to flesh out his emotional states in some of my rps and what not. To expound upon such an amazing character is an honour and give my perspective on certain events, ones even sensitive, that have shaped his bleak future which he woefully remembers most of his life.

Q10. how long did this take you to complete?

Like a week lol because I was so on and off and doing multiple things

[booktasticnl]

Mr Darcy, Vampyre - Amanda Grange

Following the marriage of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, there’s a secret being kept, there is danger ahead, and there’s a honeymoon journey completely different from Lizzy’s expectations! Based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, let Amanda take you on a journey of inner turmoil and outer beauty.

The Story

Starting with the marriage of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth, now Mrs Darcy, and a change of plans as soon as they have joined in holy matrimony when Mr Darcy announces that he doesn’t want to take Lizzy to Pemberley, but to Paris instead. What follows is a journey through different lands in Europe. But this journey unfortunately does not help to settle the worry our new Mrs Darcy is experiencing. Rather, her worry increases.  Why does Mr Darcy look pained when he is around her? And why doesn’t he wish to consummate their marriage? Has this all been a mistake? Travelling

Don’t let the title fool you. This novel is a travel journal, a travelling story, before anything else. In neat detail Amanda describes the new countries that the newly wed couple experience, as well as all the people and sceneries they meet along the way.  One of the main themes is that of suspense created by personal conflict. This starts as early as in chapter one, when Mr Darcy tells Elizabeth they will deviate from their original plans, which were to journey the Lake District for their honeymoon, and to go to Paris instead. Elizabeth is left to ponder her husband’s true motives for the change as well as his intentions behind them. To make matters worse, Paris turns out to be a place where she learns that those around them think she’s beneath them. Their social background is amplified, the differences between them pointed out once again, and Elizabeth is left to wonder if it might be the cause for her husband’s distant behaviour. On top of that, Mr Darcy is seeking advice on a problem he won’t share with her. The lack of trust between them and the secret that is kept from her weigh heavier upon them each day. If anything, the journey through Europe only manages to strengthen Elizabeth’s fears. Was their marriage a mistake? Does Mr Darcy regret his choices? This story caries a feeling of suspense. The feeling that something’s amiss has embedded itself throughout the story arc. Rather than an action-packed tale - which many people expected upon reading the title - the adventures of Mr and Mrs Darcy are rather timid. All the while, the characters continue onward with a sense of dread filling them. The journey goes from scenery to scenery, new sights are described with meticulous detail, and the reader should therefore be prepared to enjoy a lot of travelling throughout the first 200 pages or so. Vampires

But, as this book counts only about 300 pages, when will the vampires arrive? Let me inform you that the title of this book, as well as the blurb on the back, are somewhat misleading. In the midst of the vampire and zombie hype, one would expect a story packed with action, blood and gore. The type of vampire we expect is either a dangerous all-eating Dracula or a glittering to-swoon-over Twilight Edward Cullen. This story doesn’t offer any of the expectations mentioned above in this paragraph. In fact, read back this review and keep your focus and mind on the travelling and suspense.

Once you do get to the vampires, you might interpret the first part of the story in a different light. But it is not action-filled. The vampires might be dangerous but they are not out for throats or to gain as much blood as possible. In fact, this tale caries a sense of timid exploration, both in surroundings as well as in character, that somehow happens to involve vampires.  Personal Collection

As this is a book I have in my personal collection of Jane Austen inspired novels, I will add a small section with more specific thoughts and opinions. When I bought this book I had a limited budget and an option between Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and this one.The choice I made was the best. I choose Mr Darcy, Vampyre, which disappointed me in the absence of vampires for most of the tale, but satisfied me in so many more. The characters don’t feel forced, they feel true to nature. I can imagine them in this situation. I enjoyed the beautiful places to which Amanda took me - a journey at a pace slow enough to visualize the countries she took me to. I realise the pace of the story might put some people off, but in a reality filled with deadlines (at the time) and obligations this tale felt like an escape, a way to relax.  If you enjoy travel literature then this will be a delightful surprise among the Austen inspired novels. It is sweet, it is light, despite the underlying sense of wrongness, and it takes one back to a time when travelling around the world was exotic and not as common or as easy as it is today. It’s in the spirit of 18th century travel books, think of Mary Wollstonecraft, Henry Fielding and Samuel Johnson.  Now I can imagine the disappointment of those who aren’t seeking a travel journal. But out of my collection I still think Mr Darcy, Vampyre is one of the dearer ones to me. It’s not too difficult plot-wise and it is filled with those little pleasures that make it, to me, a book to enjoy. Writing-style wise, it’s more modern than other Austen inspired books in my collection, but to me that only makes it an easier and more relaxing read. This book is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, but to those that could possibly enjoy it, I would certainly recommend it.  [ Mr Darcy, Vampyre, is a (mostly) calm travel book, describing the honeymoon of Mr and Mrs Darcy, with a sense of underlying suspense and dread and vampires appearing near the end of the tale. Amanda Grange is one of the authors I enjoy reading stories from. She has written more Pride and Prejudice and Austen inspired tales that I would heavily recommend. To visit her website, click here. ]

[smstith-blog]

The Great Escape

How do you escape?  Do you do so through relationships, cliff jumping, unwinding after work in a bar, or talking for hours to a friend?  And what is escaping really?  Why do we do it?  Why do we need it?  Is it helpful? Is it second nature?  For me, at least, I know what my great escape is and that is art in its many forms.

Since it’s my escape, I often wonder what art is.  Is it simply to bring beautiful things into the world? Is it to help us learn things about ourselves and each other that we didn’t know before? Or, perhaps, it’s the combination that’s important.  Learning within, either about ourselves or each other, is bringing beauty into the world.  We escape into ourselves and from there we learn or we pause or we heal.

To me writing has always been my great escape, from reading books to watching movies.  For awhile I’m elsewhere.  For awhile I get what I need, and often I learn something new about myself or about life in general.  That’s what today’s blog post is about—where I escape to and why. And if anyone wants to share their escapes and maybe even why they need to escape, feel free to comment below or on my Facebook page.

I do not pretend to be a critic or to understand how a movie was intended to be.  I only know, as a viewer, how it resonates with me.  And if you are unfamiliar with any titles I am about to talk about be warned.  Spoiler Alert is in affect.  

Sometimes I dream of finding love—the kind that should only exist in fiction, even though I know this to be far-fetched.  It’s an impractical idea from a girl who has spent far too much time in her own head.  It’s even more outrageous for a girl who doesn’t have the energy to keep up with a boyfriend.  And I don’t have to.  That’s where story-telling comes in.  One of my favorite things to do of late is watch re-runs of Dawson’s Creek before I go to bed.  Pacey Witter is the boy I would banter with if fantasy were real.  He’s a wise smart-ass, which is the best kind.  He’s sexy and romantic, but he’d punch a bully in the face for you and still name his boat True Love.  I remind myself he doesn’t truly exist.  He’s a character played by an actor spouting lines a writer or team of writers wrote.  Still, he keeps me company.  And if life had been different, Pacey Witter is the type of boy  I would have looked for to marry.  In a drama series I learned that I’d want a man who could pull a quip as fast as I could, call me out on my bullshit, always make me laugh, and be romantic without thinking it made him less of a man. Even though I’m not out in the world making my own romantic mistakes, I’m still learning.  I understand what it means to me.

Another character I have spent time with is Jace Wayland from the Shadow Hunter series by Cassandra Clare. I was first captured by the MOVIE version.  I was so enthralled with him (which is weird because he’s blonde, and I normally go for the tall dark and handsome type) that I bought the books and have read the series at least three times and will probably re-read them again after I finish re-reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, which is one of my favorites too.  

Jace is the warrior type.  He fights demons after all!  Yet, he’s a bad-ass that can play piano, be vulnerable, and fight for love while doing it so carelessly cool.  He plays in my head when I need to feel tough.  I imagine a female character as tough as him with him. They’re entwined in love and always have a weapon or two up their sleeves.  I like the contrast of that.  I like the mystique of him.  He has an untouchable quality in any enduring sense, yet he finds a soul mate anyways.  I like that.  To me that’s sexy, and since fantasy is my favorite thing to write it’s right up my alley. I can get lost in the Shadow Hunter world any time.  I’m still upset to this day that they dumped the sequels to the movie, but I will always be grateful for Jamie Campbell Bower who played him so well.  Making that movie so well from all fronts for a female who loves fantasy was art.  I’m their target audience, and I loved it!

I’ve been suspended in the struggle and impropriety of Penny Dreadful.  They took something daring, messy, and bloody and made it evocative.  This series ended too soon, but I loved every minute of it.  Vanessa Ives struggled with evil, real true evil. She felt turned away from God, but her friends never turned away from her.  Ethan Chandler had his own crosses to bear, seemed simple but was complicated, and would have died for her. Sir Malcom knew her from childhood and loved her as a daughter, then hated her, then grew to love her again, because he saw in her the same things that were in himself—which weren’t endearing qualities, but qualities they needed to survive in their lives.  This show twisted the works of Oscar Wilde with his character, Dorian Gray.  I loved this book, and I love the spin they gave to him for the show.  There were other familiar villains given a new twist such as Dracula and Frankenstein and his monster—or in the show’s case, monsters. There were familiar faces like Billie Piper and Josh Hartnett (who played Ethan Chandler) that played characters with tragic pasts and bloody futures.  The entire cast did an amazing job.  The writing was phenomenal, and they touched on diversity, rank, and status that still exists to this day.  This was a show you watch to see how many boundaries can be pushed and how far actors can reach. And all the actors in this series showed impeccable reach.

I even fell for the Twilight movies, and I’m not embarrassed to admit it since I didn’t fall as hard as some. But who wouldn’t want to be Bella stuck between Edward and Jacob?  I’m a Jacob girl all the way.  He was described as the warm best-friend.  Who wouldn’t want to end up with that?

I love how certain movies could have gotten it wrong but got it right.  Like how Warm Bodies was in a way making fun of the zombie craze yet it did it in a way that was funny, original, and just good.  Ironically or on purpose they ended up creating ANOTHER good zombie movie.

Vampire Academy is my guilty pleasure.  I’ve watched it at least half a dozen times, because I think it did what it was mean to.  Parts of it showed overacting as teen dramas tend to do, yet it had a story line that wasn’t too deep or to shallow.  And the actress Zoey Deutch portrayed her character well in scenes and with lines that weren’t easy to pull off. She made the movie for me.  I think it was supposed to be a “bad, non-serious, non-accolade” type of movie, but as far as “bad” goes it’s top of the list for me.  This shows that everything has a place and not everything is meant to be the same.  Follow certain rules.  Break others.  Create something.  Some people will get it, and some people wont. Not every line needs to be a soundbite.  Not every story needs to be deep.  Sometimes you just need to laugh, figure out how the script of a show works or didn’t, see how actors can make or break good and bad writing.  Realize how much effort and people it takes to make a good movie or a good book.  For me, just knowing these people, characters, writers, directors, set designers etc are out there makes me feel like part of the world, because when I like a movie or a book, they’re all speaking to me, and my fandom speaks to them.

And today I watched A Walk to Remember.  Jamie dies of cancer in the end.  Her tragic teen love story changed her love interest, Landon, who otherwise would have ventured down a different path with likely hard, unfulfilling consequences.  I don’t like sad endings. Life is hard enough, why take the time to watch something that will make you cry?  Today, with this movie, I made an exception, because at least her death has a point.  She changed him.  Where there was sadness at least there was a silver lining.  I find that in life, if you look hard enough, good usually can come from the bad times too.  I don’t believe we are meant to suffer like these characters did, but until we fix the world’s tragedies, at least we can grow from suffering instead of taking it in and letting our pain add to the collective.

The Farthest Away Mountain by Lynn Reid Banks is what dropped me into the world of words.  This book intrigued me so much that from fourth grade on, I never have stopped reading.  As children we used our imagination to play with dolls or to pretend to be superheros, but until I read this book I didn’t know imagination could go deeper than that or last longer.  It awoke something in me.  My teacher, Mrs. Brock, used this as a class read.  She used this book as an example of how to write creative sentences. And every time she put a plain one up on the whiteboard my hand was first in the air to jazz it up.  With her encouragement, I found that words were inside me too, and I enjoyed playing with them and urging them to come out.  Back then I never realized how much writing would mean to me and not just my own.  Stories have kept me company. Stories have made me laugh and imagine and wonder and hope and feel joy when I need those sensations most.

In Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (which is my favorite Jane Austen book) I sympathized with Fanny Price while wondering if it was weird, in modern times, to root for her ending up with her cousin.

I’ve learned love and forgiveness with A Course In Miracles.  

I can’t wait to get my hands on anything by Marianne Williamson.

Then there are books like Harry Potter.  I wished to be in his world, from being at Hogwarts to the Burrow, to giant friends and Diagon Alley, and from Lord Voldermort to believing in something so much you’d die for it.

My point with these erratic examples is that art in any form takes us away for awhile.  I don’t have to be lonely.  I can imagine there are Pacey Witters in the world.  I don’t have to be bored. I can go on an adventure with Jace Wayland.  I can find boundaries in my mind being pushed with shows like Penny Dreadful.  And I can be inspired by them all.  While I sit silently while people talk about their normal lives, I’m laughing in my own head with characters I’ve read or watched and characters of my own I hope to share with others to make them laugh some day.

I’ve escaped real life when I needed a break and learned something along the way with all of these characters and countless more.

Something true that will always stay with me is this:  ART IS THE GREAT ESCAPE

What is yours?