fanfics, mostly

the original Iverson stan | occasional writing advice | all ideas, no follow-through

[amairawrites]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

“You’re a good dad to him.”

Iverson frowned. That should have been something that made him feel good. All he wanted was to be a good dad to Keith, and yet hearing it from Aisling in that flat voice felt so wrong.

“Well,” he said, carefully, “I try to be, but no one’s perfect.”

“He still calls you his dad.”

It wasn’t a question, and Iverson was a little lost. “It was his choice.”

“Don’t you think that’s a little... unfair?”

“Unfair?” Iverson choked. “What the hell do you mean by that?”

“Oh come on, don’t be naive.” Aisling huffed and tossed her hair, looking at him like he was a child. “He already had a dad. What about when you have your own kids,” she explained, stretching out the words, “and you are actually their dad?”

[amairawrites]

TBV Chapter 15 teaser!

After... five years... I'm almost done with chapter 15!

–

“You’re a good dad to him.”

Iverson frowned. That should have been something that made him feel good. All he wanted was to be a good dad to Keith, and yet hearing it from Aisling in that flat voice felt so wrong.

“Well,” he said, carefully, “I try to be, but no one’s perfect.”

“He still calls you his dad.”

It wasn’t a question, and Iverson was a little lost. “It was his choice.”

“Don’t you think that’s a little... unfair?”

“Unfair?” Iverson choked. “What the hell do you mean by that?”

“Oh come on, don’t be naive.” Aisling huffed and tossed her hair, looking at him like he was a child. “He already had a dad. What about when you have your own kids,” she explained, stretching out the words, “and you are actually their dad?”

[amairawrites]

Wonder what this could be

[ao3commentoftheday]

Some fics on ao3 are so brutal, why are they allowed to stay up???

Because AO3 is a hosting service. They don’t exist to police the content on their site as long as that content doesn’t breach the Terms of Service.

It’s an author’s responsibility to tag and rate and warn their fics appropriately. It’s a reader’s responsibility to read those tags and ratings and warnings and decide whether or not they want to read the fic. Anyone who isn’t willing to do their part probably shouldn’t be using the service.

[ao3commentoftheday]

In the wake of China apparently banning AO3 in the country, this post has been making the rounds on Weibo and now on Twitter. I thought I’d bring it back here, as well. 

AO3 has a robust tagging system so that users can either find or avoid content. The site doesn’t moderate the content because the users do. If authors fail to tag or readers fail to pay attention to tags, that moderation slips and people are exposed to content they don’t want to see. 

I love the fact that AO3 puts the power over what I see in my hands. I have control, not some faceless person and certainly not my government. I can see whatever I want to see and avoid whatever I want to avoid and every other user of the site can do the same thing. 

This is a group effort, and if there’s anything that fandom is good at it’s banding together to get shit done. Tag your fics. Read the tags. Don’t be an asshole.

[feminismandmedia]

[image description: a tweet by user @indigenousAI saying

"fun fact: as a DV survivor i cannot register to vote because doing so makes my address public. anyone who is fleeing or hiding from an abuser is automatically disenfranchised from the political process and this is a feature, not a bug"]

[taehyungsgrowl]

I don’t know of the original poster might not be aware

but!

if you’ve been a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, you can enroll into the address confidentiality program (free of cost!) and be registered to vote as an absentee voter and your name and address will not be made available for the public

it is super easy to get enrolled - the application takes like 5 minutes, but it has to be with someone who is certified to do it (most likely an advocate! try going to a family justice center in your area or calling the Attorney Generals office in your area!!!!)

ALSO : 

you don’t need to have any police reports or have a protection order to qualify!!! you just have to sign stating that you’ve been a victim of one of the aforementioned crimes.

[orgy-of-nerdiness]

Links to the info for every state in the Wikipedia article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Address_confidentiality_program

Address confidentiality program - Wikipedia

[debthedemi]

Reposting as Primaries and General Voting are coming up.

[brynwrites]

High Payoff Scenes.

If that scene you meant to be emotional, jaw-dropping and climactic isn’t working right, try taking a step back. 

All the usual aspects of a good scene also apply to the buildup toward a good scene. As well as including all these aspects into the scene itself, remember that at the point where your awe inspiring scene hits…

The reader should already feel deep, ‘positive’ emotions for the characters involved, whether that be love, intrigue, or an I love to hate them feeling.

The reader should already understand and have witnessed the characters struggling in some way with the goals they are working towards during that scene.

The reader should already have a clear picture of the character’s relationships and emotions, and understand which direction they are moving.

The reader should already be well-based in the plot and have a good understanding of every piece of information they need order to be fully immersed in the scene. 

The reader should already have a clear picture of the current stakes and playing field, so they can decide what outcome to root for. (Or in some cases, they can feel the same desperation the pov character has as they realize there are no good outcomes.)

Most importantly, remember that there are no perfect first drafts, and barely any half-decent second, third, or fourth drafts either. If you need to rewrite and rewrite a few times over, that’s okay. 

Just because the amazing scene in your head seems to fall short once it’s written, doesn’t mean all its amazingness isn’t still buried in there somewhere.

[fellshish]

@ fic authors what do you personally consider a successful fic? What’s the bar?

[sherl-grey]

actually writing the fic down

[hellyeahscarleteen]

Protecting Yourself from Criminalization for Self-Managed Abortion — OARS

Self-managed abortion (SMA) with pills is very medically safe and effective throughout early pregnancy, but there is a significant risk of criminalization in many U.S. states. While it is impossible to fully eliminate the risk of criminalization when having or planning to have an abortion at home, t

[kickerofelves]

Leave no online footprint of searches or purchases. Digital Defense Fund’s abortion privacy guide is your go-to resource for this. Using private browsers, two-factor authentication, encrypted messaging, strong passwords, etc. is critical. Google searches have been presented as evidence in an SMA trial before. Do not leave a digital trail.

Use the medications properly to prevent interactions with healthcare providers. The pills are very effective, but they have to be used right. Carefully follow the instructions provided on the How to Use Abortion Pill website. Note that misoprostol tablets should always be taken by dissolving them under the tongue. Do NOT insert misoprostol vaginally if you are self-managing an abortion. While this is medically safe, it can leave incriminating pill remnants that can be detected in the vagina during a pelvic exam if you end up needing to seek medical care. 

If it’s not an emergency but you need expert health advice, use a free calling service like Google Voice to call or text the Miscarriage + Abortion Hotline at 1-833-246-2632. Medical complications are very uncommon with abortion pills, but they’re not impossible. The M+A Hotline is safe to use and is staffed by trustworthy clinicians who volunteer their time to help those who choose SMA. Do not use your own phone number to call as this will create a record that is visible to your cell service provider. 

Don’t disclose any information about SMA to emergency room staff if you do need to seek medical care. This is how most people who are arrested for SMA are reported. Healthcare providers are almost always who calls the police in cases of SMA criminalization. Contrary to popular belief, HIPAA does not protect your private health information from being shared with police if you are suspected of doing something that could be considered a crime. If you believe you need to seek urgent medical care, do not hesitate to go. Say “I think I’m having a miscarriage” and provide your symptoms. Do not mention any use of or purchase of abortion pills. There is no widely available test to detect misoprostol in your bloodstream. If you do not disclose it, there is no way for a medical provider to tell the difference between a medication abortion and a spontaneous miscarriage.

Do not talk to the cops. Period. Do. Not. Talk. To. The. Cops. If you are questioned by police you should state, “I am exercising my right to remain silent, and I wish to speak with an attorney.” Do not speak again or nod in response to a question. Contact the Repro Legal Helpline as soon as possible for expert legal advice: 1-844-868-2812. Do not agree to questioning or speak to any law enforcement official without a lawyer present.

[ms-demeanor]

Plan B is shelf stable for up to 4 years. Afterpill is shelf stable for about 18 months.

Plan B is currently available over the counter, and you can find coupons for it online for various retailers; some of those coupons require a prescription so check the coupon details carefully. Both of these medications can be ordered online.

Plan B and Afterpill in the 1.5mg tablets are less effective for people over 176 pounds, however it is safe to double the dose, so if you are heavier order two doses. Ella is also effective for heavier people, but requires a prescription.

Emergency contraception is effective for a short period after sex. You need to take Plan B or Afterpill within 72 hours of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.

IUDs and birth control implants are effective long-term birth control that does not require your partner to participate in using the birth control or even be aware of it. IUDs are 99% effective and are effective for 3-12 years depending on type. Planned Parenthood can place an IUD for you, and so can many gynecologist's offices, and IUDs are covered under most health insurance plans. Talk to your doctor or gynecologist about how to get an IUD. Birth control implants are 99% effective and are effective for up to 5 years. Like IUDs, you can talk to your doctor or gynecologist, or visit Planned Parenthood, to get an IUD.

The birth control methods listed here are not effective for preventing STIs, they are for pregnancy prevention only.

If you can become pregnant but do not want to be pregnant, now is a good time to consider a long-term birth control option like an IUD or a birth control implant, and to purchase emergency contraception like Plan B or Afterpill to have it onhand in an emergency.

[ms-demeanor]

Lots of people in this country don't get a good education about birth control or their bodies. Here is Scarleteen's comprehensive, accessible guide to birth control and how it works.

Scarleteen also has a guide to self-managed medical abortions.

Here is a guide on how to get Mifepristone online.

Here's a guide on how to get Misoprostol online.

[iiterative-deactivated20240319]

‘the point of fiction is to build the world we want to see!’ respectfully. No It Is Not.

[valentinedagger]

the point of fiction is to make up some guys and then be like “wouldn’t it be fucked up if this happened to them?”

[nsfwitchy]

Hey so if any of y’all are or have been volunteers for Ao3, PLEASE be careful when checking your emails

And if you know somebody who’s a volunteer I’d check in with them and see if they’re aware of this

[alexenglish]

thread for volunteers who need a next step

[canadianwheatpirates]

Note: The thread clarifies that volunteers for the OTW are not being SWATted at this time. The reason to get in touch with your local police about your risk of being SWATted is that someone malicious has obtained a list of OTW volunteer emails and is sending illegal content (CSAM) to them. A person who will do that is more likely to SWAT you, or give your email to someone who will, than most people, so contacting your local police now means that if it happens you’re prepared in advance. It’s a low-effort way to increase your safety, but is a good move to make if your risk of getting SWATted ticks up above normal as it has for these people.

(CSAM = child sexual assault material. SWAT/SWATted = having a fake bomb or gun threat phoned in naming your address, causing a SWAT team to attack your house, damaging your place of living and risking injuring or killing you and people you live with.)

Additionally, if you’re an OTW volunteer, look up “[your email client] disable image loading”. The steps are specific to whichever programs and services you use, but this will reduce your risk of getting exposed to graphic & illegal images if you’re sent them. It may not catch everything (because that’s more intensive and starts to affect the client’s functioning) but it’s better than nothing and it’s another preemptive step you can take.

[solarbird]

Christ, what monsters.

[awizardcommandingsleep]

Yet another writing ask

Which of your fics would you keep the basic plot of but rewrite completely?

Anything that you’d like to write but feel like you’re unable to?

How would you describe your writing style?

Do you have any OCs? Do you have a story for them?

What’s a tag you never want to use for your works even when it applies?

What’s your ratio for rating your works?

Your favourite ao3 tag.

How slow is a slow burn?

Thoughts on cliffhangers.

Top three favourite fic tropes.

Three tropes that are fine but overrated.

If you write in more than one language, what’s the difference?

Rate your worldbuilding skills from 1 to 10.

Write and share the first sentence of a new fic. Just that.

What’s your favourite plotless fic you have written?

Are one-shots really underrated?

Past or present tense? Why?

First, second, or third person?

Share a snippet from a wip without giving any context for it.

Do you work on a single project or many at the same time? How does that work for you?

Can you accurately predict how long your fics are going to be? If you can, what’s your secret?

What is it about watching the same two idiots falling in love over and over again?

Dialogue or description? Why is the other one so hard?

Thoughts on flashbacks/flashforwards.

Is writing the whole thing beforehand better or worse than writing it as you go?

What would you describe as OOC?

Do you agree that one shouldn’t start a story with a piece of dialogue?

Any writing advice that works for you and you feel like sharing?

What’s the hardest thing about writing?

Describe a fic that almost happened, but then it didn’t.

What was the most difficult fic for you to write (but in the end you made it)?

Do you have a word/expression that you always use in your writing?

Give your writing a compliment.

Do you write to improve? Or is that not a concern for you?

Thoughts on writing challenges/contests.

How do you come up with fic titles? What’s the one you’re most proud of?

Do you research before writing or while you write? Is it fun or boring for you?

“This never happened” fix-it fics or “this happened but” fix-it fics?

Wildest AU scenario you have written?

Write a 9-word fic.

[amairawrites]

Been a while since I’ve opened up TBV with the intent of making progress on it. Apparently it takes an average 22 months to mentally recover after leaving a shitty job, and I’m not even 5 months in.

However, I am alive and sort of considering getting back into writing again! Go me.

*****

With one of his blankets spread underneath them and the other two wrapped around their shoulders, Shiro and Keith settled in behind the telescope. Shiro had half a dozen star charts open on his tablet, all of different sections of the night sky he wanted to show Keith.

Keith gave him some impressively withering side-eye when he tried to direct him to operate the telescope.

“We haven’t covered this in class yet, Shiro,” he said, humor cracking through the sternness in his voice as he continued, “We’ve literally not touched a telescope. At all.”

Shiro flushed. “Yeah, uh, sorry Keith, I just... forgot. It’s been a while.”

Keith’s lips curled up into a barely-there smile. “It’s alright.”

[blinkpen]

man. remember early in the pandemic, shortly into the telework phase, when a lot of women started vocalizing “wow, i didnt realize just how much time, energy, and even money i was wasting on dolling myself up for work every damn morning, until i didn’t have to do it anymore. i don’t think i’ll go back to doing that when we return to the office? i won’t be a slob or anything, of course, i’m just not going to go out of my way to look pretty at work"  and then,

so many people proceeded to lose every last crumb of their shit about it, writing the most asinine crybaby articles ever where they were just. utterly horrified by the possibility that more and more women might become comfortable looking natural/plain and completely opting out of the expectation to look as appealing as possible at all times, even when all they’re doing is spending all day in a cubicle. that was bonkers. lmao.

[blinkpen]

some ladies were like “during lockdown, i saw myself in the mirror without makeup much more often, and got used to it, so now i don’t feel as anxious for others to see me without makeup on either. i’m comfortable with the face i have, it’s fine just the way it is”

and some absolute dork ass losers heard this and went “truly, this is the death of femininity”

[headspace-hotel]

Death to femininity, if it means anxiety about seeing your face without substances smeared on it. Put the poor thing out of its misery.

[mxtr3ssquickly]

Hey besties I know I’m like … sample size of one, but for perspective, I’m 38 and I’ve never worn makeup to work. Ever. Was customer-facing for 15 years, and now I work with stakeholders internal and external to my company. I have given presentations on big stages with bright lights to international audiences. I have worked with important, high-ranked officials. I have been out there, and visible.

And it has been FINE.

Have I had people in power tell me to wear makeup? Of course. Have they also told me to style/grow out my hair and wear contacts instead of glasses and not get tattoos and show more leg and buy shoes that hurt my feet and and and? Of course.

And I did some of those things because I was scared, and I hated it and I don’t wish that on ANYONE. You – and I – are beautiful as we are. Never feel compelled to wear or not wear or do or not do with your body whatever you damn well please.

You don’t owe the world someone else’s standard of beauty. Full stop.

[amairawrites]

Women’s faces are not unprofessional.

[iamthedukeofurl]

A Thought

Any analysis of Superman and Captain America should involve two main points. 1) They are every bit the caricature of honest goodness that they are said to be. And  2) BEING a a caricature of honest goodness means not just fighting obvious villainy, but raging against institutional injustice, even when it comes from “Legitimate” sources.  There is a difference, however. The Kent’s raised Clark with a strong moral compass, but also good sense. He’s very aware that, as Superman, anything he does comes with a tinge of Threat. He’s keenly aware that with the power he wields, the only way he can continue to operate is by appearing completely nonthreatening to the status quo. Unless he is preventing immediate, obvious harm, he has to be very careful with his intervention. He’ll see a city councilman skimming funds from schools, a factory illegally disposing of waste, or Cops inflating their quotas with bogus charges, and he’ll be outraged. But, Superman can’t do anything about those things. If he intervenes, people won’t see Superman protecting civilians from police abuse, they’ll see Superman Threatening A Cop. If Superman expresses any opinions besides the most milquetoast “Be Kind To One Another” stuff, it gets spun into “Scary Indestructible Alien Man Wants To Take Over The World”. So, Superman takes all that rage, every injustice and abuse he sees, and those that he cannot solve as Superman, he gives to Clark Kent.  And behind the “Aw Shucks’ Kansas Farmboy affect, Clark Kent is RUTHLESS. He will pick apart your life and nail you sins the sky for all to see.  Like, everybody knows about Lois Lane, and she’s objectively the better journalist, but people always underestimate Clark. Those that remember anything about him usually think of him as harmless, the guy who comes to collect the statements your media people prepared, so you’re caught off-guard when the fangs come out. A Clark Kent interview goes like this: First Question: Hello Police Chief Smith. So, how did you get involved in law enforcement? Second Question:  What are the key values that drive your police department?  Third Question: On September 14th, you called your officers together and told them to, and I quote “ Pull over every [racial slur] you can find out there. If they let you search, say you smell weed and bring them in. If they don’t, bring ‘em in for refusing to cooperate. Just get those [expletive deleted] in cuffs and paying fines, or else start looking for a new job”. Would you say this policy of deliberately targeting racial minorities is in line with the values you described earlier?”  And Clark Kent doesn’t stop after he gets his headline. It might end up on Page 3, but he’ll keep the story going until your career is torn to shreds and staked outside as a warning to others.  And then it’s back to human-interest stories and the feel-good beat until he selects his next target.  Superman is forced to overlook things, but he IS looking, and he won’t forget, and just because he’s not throwing you into the sun, doesn’t mean he intends to spare you.  Steve Rogers on the other hand will interrupt an interview to kick the shit out of a crooked real estate developer for driving people out of their homes. When arrested he’ll say “I’m sorry, how about we just chalk up the next time I save the world as community service”. 

[lurkinglurkerwholurks]

#…….someone pls write me clark kent interviewing steve rogers #idk what would happen but I very badly want to know via @aethersea

i-would-like-to-see-it.gif

[shieldmaiden19]

Steve Rogers grew up a scrawny queer kid with more sass than sense, and he is now more than willing to throw his weight around (especially now that he has weight). But at the same time, he would be in awe of the work Clark does. Because whoever can eviscerate a homophobic politician in less than three sentences is the real hero here.

Oh my god.

LET STEVE DRAW POLITICAL CARTOONS TO CLARK’S ARTICLES

[sunken-standard]

For Writers:

Reblog if it’s okay for your followers to leave you an ask telling you what the one thing is they remember you for as a writer.  Is it a scene or a detail or a specific line? Is it something like style or characterization?  Is it that one weird kink they never thought they’d be into, but oh my god wow self-discovery time?

[kotaface]

When fic writers host writing tutorials.