catch you when the current lets you go @charmingstrangeness - Tumblr Blog

I found a meme on Facebook, decided to fix it up a little for all the struggling writers

What needs to be remembered is that people love the dino game. It might never be what we want, but it’s something that people enjoy.

#positivity #memes #getting myself back into writing slowly by rebloggingmemes lmao

why-is-it-always-autumn

You know what I don’t get? When fanfic authors apologize for long chapters. It’s like? You gave me bonus content, for free, and you’re sorry about it? Bruh. I have already named my firstborn after you. Dude.

why-is-it-always-autumn

You know what else I don’t get? When they apologize for short updates. It’s like: look at these new words I gave you! Sorry I didn’t give you even more free words. Bro, that’s at least two words that I did not have yesterday. For free. Dude. Thank you.

why-is-it-always-autumn

And another thing: when people drop out of nowhere with a surprise update and then apologize for it taking a while. Like, dude, I wasn’t expecting anything, and you gave me words. I thought this fic was abandoned, but wait: there’s more. You just popped in and reminded me that this is a Good Fic that I should probably reread. You made my goshdarn day.

why-is-it-always-autumn

Basically fanfic writers are under no obligation to publish anything so when they do update it’s always a net positive because the story is longer now, and I have something to read, so thank you so much to everyone who writes fic at whatever pace or quantity they want.

#positivity #stares at all my WIPs and sobs uncontrollably #i'll finish these one day i swear........

ittybittytatertot

Some of the best writing advice I ever got was if you’re stuck on a scene or a line, the problem is actually about 10 lines back and that’s saved me from writer’s block so many times.

melindawrites

I feel like I need an elaborate explanation

ittybittytatertot

Often times, I find myself stuck on what a character should say next or what should happen in a scene to connect A to B or so on. When this happens, I fall into the trap of writing and rewriting the same few lines over and over, and becoming more and more dissatisfied every time until I give up.

But problem is almost never actually whatever line I’m trying to write at the moment; the issue is the stuff leading up to the line. Maybe there are structural issues with the set up, maybe I wrote a bit of dialogue that was out of character leading to a discussion that doesn’t make sense, maybe I’m missing a vital piece of exposition or expositing too much. It could be a lot of things, but the important part of the advice is to look back and be willing to consider changes to something earlier in the work (even if you’re really attached to like a piece of dialogue or a particular sentence or something) instead of trying to find a way to force out a scene that’s not working.

melindawrites

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for explaining!

softestvirgil

This is really helpful!

epicfangirl01

Woah! I never thought about that! Thanks!

#reseources

i was working nights for like two and a half months straight there so i didnt write at all which sucks but im on a normal human work schedule now and tonight im re-reading my WIPs to re-inspire myself to work on them so there’s that at least!

#thoughts #specifically im reading The Long Fic and fuck i have such good fucking ideas #can i like dictate what i want to happen in the story and then get someone else to actually write it down for me #maybe then these ideas will get out of my WIP folder and onto ao3

hoardofhyperfixations

I Apologize

I have things to write

I know I should be writing

I want to write

SO WHY DON’T I FEEL LIKE WRITING

badkidgorgug

“I want to write so why don’t I want to write” is the biggest mood and I’m so glad someone understands

#this has been the Mood for most of the fall #i'm sorry

cheaphalloweencostume

caseyd1a

plancinginthemoonlight

I feel so called out

#this is the entire point of this sideblog im fucgking

clevergirlhelps

Heroic Traits and Their Faults

Accepting – too accepting; willing to excuse extreme behavior

Adaptable – used to traveling from situation to situation; may not be able to fully adapt/live in a permanent situation

Affable – accidentally befriends the wrong sort of people; pushes to befriend everyone

Affectionate –inappropriate affection

Alert – constantly on edge; paranoid

Altruistic – self-destructive behavior for the sake of their Cause

Apologetic – apologizes too much; is a doormat; guilt-ridden

Aspiring – becomes very ambitious; ruthless in their attempts to reach goals

Assertive – misunderstood as aggressive; actually aggressive; others react negatively when they take command all the time

Athletic – joints weakened from exercise; performance-enhancing drug abuse; competitive

Keep reading

#resources

every time someone compliments my writing style an angel gets its wings

#thoughts #seriously yall have no idea how much i worry that i write too concisely/dry/choppy because of being trained to write scientific papers #it warms my heart every time i hear otherwise

Rating: Teen

Pairing: Rei/Nagisa

Characters: Rei, Nagisa, Haru, Rin, Nitori

Word Count: 2262

Summary: In which art major Ryuugazaki Rei runs an art installation as his term project where people can anonymously submit their failed goals, and gets strangely attached to one mysterious serial submitter.

(Also he gets saddled with a shitty group for his psych elective's group paper, but he'd prefer not think about that if he can help it. That hooligan Hazuki Nagisa who doesn't take anything remotely seriously is already bad enough in person, so he really shouldn't be occupying more space in Rei's mind than strictly necessary.)

I've been sitting on this idea for over two years. Shoutout to the Free! anime staff for making a third season and giving me the inspiration to actually come back and finish this old-ass project.

Special thanks go to @die-einzelganger and @clankclunk – you may or may not remember but both of you had discussed this idea with me way back then and helped it go from "hey wouldn't this be a fun AU" to a story with some actual substance.

Inspired by this post

[Read it on AO3]

#free!#free! fic #reigisa #ryuugazaki rei #hazuki nagisa #swimming anime #multi chapter #fic #what am i getting myself into

die-einzelganger replied to your post “you ever write something and think that maybe someone with more free...”

if you need someone to bounce ideas off of or a second opinion you let me know! (if i'm eligible to help you i would love to!)

i will probably take you up on that at some point! thank you for the offer <333

#reply #die einzelganger #and as you will see shortly (provided my laptop stops shitting the bed for 0.3 seconds)#you are highly qualified to discuss the project im working on #in fact..... you already know the project ;)

you ever write something and think that maybe someone with more free time and less fatigue should be writing it instead because the idea has a ton of potential and you know you won’t do it justice

but then you remember it’s fanfiction and people just appreciate having more content even if it’s not, like, perfect,

#thoughts #i'm trying to write a summary and thinking about like.... sections i've already drafted/planned #also the fact that i've never written something like this before #gah this is why you need to finish at least a full first draft before you even consider posting stuff #my pacing for this story is gonna be so fucked #but also like.... lmao it's fic no one's gonna care THAT much

finished chapter one of the not-so-secret secret project sg;kfhjdkgjhsd;kfjghsd

i’m actually gonna wait till tomorrow to post it but. i’m really happy.

i also have like half of chapter two drafted, and i’d like to finish that and start drafting chapter 3 today/tomorrow

posting as you write is a terrible idea but this is gonna be a long-ish fic so i’d rather not waste eons writing it to completion first, so i’m trying to compromise by drafting a few chapters ahead

it’s actually kinda nice cause it gives me the freedom to bounce back and forth between different parts of the fic which is a more efficient way to write when you’re stuck with a shit brain that lacks motivation 70% of the time

#thoughts #god i cant believe i'm actually writing this idea i had from like 2 years ago #honestly i'm not too worried about how long it'll take to post chapters i just wanted the first one published before this cour ends #jump on the hype bandwagon ya know?#sidenote i'm stoked that gintama didnt actually end because i still want to finish The Long Fic #and now i have a few more months to do that

*casually revives a 2-year-old writing project i fully anticipated never actually completing in any seriousness*

#thoughts #now the question is can i finish this or at least get it semi-publishable by the time free! finishes airing #i absolutely do Not want to post as a write because that's NEVER A GOOD IDEA #but also it could take way too long to write a full first draft #well...... i have a detailed outline at least so i'll just. roll from there i guess

katiehavok

Affirmations for fanfic authors

It’s okay to take a break. - We all need time to recharge, and your fans will still be there when you get back!

It’s okay to go from fandom to fandom. - Nobody is going to criticize you for following your muse, and if they do, then you know who not to associate with in the future!

It’s okay to have a niche. - If smut is where it’s at, then write smut. If you’re all about the fluff, then schmoop away. If angst is what does it for you, then invest in tissues. Nobody has the right to tell you that you should be doing something else if that isn’t what interests you!

It’s okay to be critical of your own work. - Just don’t allow yourself to become so self-deprecating that you freeze!

It’s okay to ask for help. - If you’re unsure of a trope, concept, fact or universe, reach out to your circle of friends. Chances are, they’ll be more than happy to help you because they want to see you succeed!

It’s okay to ignore criticism. - Constructive criticism is only constructive if it helps you. If someone says something that doesn’t assist or improve you in any way, then please feel free to ignore whatever nugget they are imparting, because chances are good they don’t have the best of intentions for you!

It’s okay to stop writing all together. - Your fans will miss you (and chances are good you have way more than you realize,) but sometimes, you just gotta do you!

It’s okay to write with whatever method works for you. - Long writing marathons where you bang out 12,000 words in one day? Great! Linear, dry style that means you occassionally get stuck because you can’t figure out this scene, but it’s all worth it in the end? Rad! Piecemeal work that you thread together at the end? Fabulous! As long as it works for you, there is no wrong way to write!

It’s okay to have fun. - I think this goes without saying, no? But it seems that sometimes, authors need permission. So consider this permission to wile the hell out, and enjoy the ride!

#important #writing fic is entirely indulgent so you do you!

elumish

You’re allowed to like your writing.

One unfortunate side effect of the “your first draft is shit” rhetoric (which is mostly meant to encourage the understanding that you will need to edit and that having problems in your first draft doesn’t mean you can’t write) is that people tend to feel like they shouldn’t like their writing. They should only be critical of it, only see the flaws of it, and so be unhappy with their writing.

Being critical is good, but keep in mind that you’re not only allowed but encouraged to like what you’ve written. You should like it because that means it’s something people enjoy reading (because you are a person), but also because you will write better if you enjoy what you’re writing. Reread your old writing and smile at the lines that you love. Enjoy your fun scenes, laugh at your own jokes, cry at the tragedies you’ve written particularly poignantly. It’ll make you feel better. I promise.

#this is important