Nati Writes

Pieces of soul made tangible in language.

[comingoutasawriter]

Cutting into corals older than human memory

Just to build an empty castle

[comingoutasawriter]

Ivy was very impressed by the dessert Belladona presented her with. It was a cheery spring green and smelled delivious. "Is this that Japanese desseert the councilwoman was talking about yesterday? Elinor did always love matcha."

"You can tell her she can ask me if she ever wants the recipe," Belladona looked with pride at the matcha souffle pancake piled high with whipped cream dotted with berries sitting proudly on her plate. Much too good for some snob who couldn't bake a cupcake, and had the gall to insult her baking.

"No" she pierced the fluffy dessert with a gtin, " but she's always welcome to ask."

"Would you really give it to her?" Ivy asked, eyebrow raised and fork poised on a rasberry

[comingoutasawriter]

But every accidental touch bounces off like hailstones on a memorial

[comingoutasawriter]

But every accidental touch bounces off like hailstones on a memorial

[comingoutasawriter]

Violence as a Vice

A part of me wishes I could be one of those full force pacifists with a deep disgust of violence that shakes their bones.

But I'm not.

I've found deep satisfaction in taking a swing, feeling that connection of flesh and bone at bruising force. The sensation of diggin in your nails so deep as to draw blood.

Dragging the knife down with a fury that could freeze oceans, weeping for mercy, and ready to shatter. The thought of it makes something in me sing where I should cringe.

I dream of peace, and cling to that. There is a sort of lurid charm to violence, but like all vices it must be tempered before it corrupts.

Understanding violence and using that to fuel your desire for peace. Im content with that. Someone more willing to extend a hand up than pulling back a fist to swing. Never attack someone who is helpless to retaliate. As always it's about the power. The trauma. A battle between warriors is so different from backhanding a child.

I'm finding that most interactions can be governed by the same principals. Good sex, good magic, and a good fight all involve consent and protection. To forego either shifts the balance of power and the repercussions.

The goal should always be peace. No casualties. No damage. No pain. Today that is a fantasy, but if we cannot make a perfect world even in our dreams then how can we remember what we're working for?

[comingoutasawriter]

"Belladona Suarez was a woman of 30 with the air of someone who lived through the crusades and has refused to give a single solitary fuck since."

[comingoutasawriter]

Really gotta put up that edit of For the Love of Art. The current version is cringy

[comingoutasawriter]

So the plan is Queer Cozy Mystery with fantasy elements. I got a witch who owns the local bookshop/cafe and now I need to come up with the dozen side characters necessary for this kinda thing.

[shitty-check-please-aus]

do you have any recs for romance novels that are like fanfic (but with original characters obv) in that they AREN’T those books w a shirtless guy on the cover that middle aged women love? idk ngozi posted a bit about sport news reporters on her pillowfort and it made me crave more stuff like that

1) don’t diss the old-school romance novels and, cliche as it may be, don’t judge a book by its cover. Romance writers and readers are dismissed all the time in spite of being one of the most successful genres in sales and reader numbers, and I have a lot of feelings about that. 

2) if you want romance recommendations regularly, I highly recommend following the bookstore The Ripped Bodice on social media. They’re in LA and while I’m internet friends with someone who works there, I have never been there, but their recommendations are always on point. There may be some other romance bookstores out there, but I like them. 

Okay now a few recommendations. Some of these feel more like fanfiction than others, but I liked them, so maybe you’ll like them, too. I’m linking them to bookshop dot org listings, because that benefits small bookstores; I signed up for an affiliate program, so full disclosure I could get money back if you choose to buy here, but I would just use that money to buy more books to read and recommend; also you can probably get e-versions from your library using Libby or Overdrive or Hoopla or whatever:

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. 

Short summary: The son of America’s first female president and the prince of England totally hate each other. Wait, actually, the son of America’s first female president is a disaster bi who didn’t realize he had an enormous (reciprocated) crush on the prince of England. 

Why it’s good: Beautiful writing, like no straight people, political drama that’s like West Wing levels of stress, not Real Life levels of stress, and just the best romantic emails.

Nota Bene: I keep seeing this on YA lists. It is not YA. It’s aimed at younger adults, but it’s not aimed at 13-18 year olds. There is some actual sex in here and everyone is like 22. It could be categorized as New Adult. 

Also I can’t wait for her next book. 

ANYTHING by Meg Cabot. 

Okay this is a broad recommendation. I guess it doesn’t count her books for kids, because I haven’t read those. But! Meg Cabot writes a lot of great stuff and I love her. 

Most recent is No Judgments, so I’ll recommend that first. It’s a standalone book where a girl, Bri, who’s falling apart after several family crises rides out a hurricane in the Florida Keys. Unfortunately, the hurricane is way more severe than people thought, and pets that would’ve been okay being left at home for a couple days are going to be alone for weeks. Bri and a very hot man go around rescuing pets. They are smooching on the cover so I think you can guess how that ends up. 

Ok the next couple are ones that I’ve heard recommended, but that I haven’t read yet. 

The Kiss Quotient, by Helen Hoang, and her other books. 

A book about an autistic woman written by an autistic woman! I’ve heard it’s fun and sexy and good. It’s on my shelf; I got it at my local used bookstore in The Before Times. 

Jasmine Guillory’s books

Haven’t read them yet, but they’re highly recommended by a bunch of people. She’s generally writing about black couples, weddings, fake dating, and a touch of enemies to lovers. They also seem to be in a shared universe situation, so if you like being able to see characters in different books from different perspectives, this might be good for you. 

Recommendations from the bookseller I’m friends with when I was lamenting how I don’t think I’ve read any wlw-focused romance, in spite of being myself a wlw; I haven’t read them yet but look I have about ten thousand books on my to-read list:

Something to Talk About, Meryl Wilsner- not out yet but there’s some buzz around it

The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics, Olivia Waite. Looks like it’s historical, but I am intrigued. 

[shitty-check-please-aus]

@constellationgrayson reminded me of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee, which I personally kind of think of as an adventure/roadtrip book with a strong romance element more than as a Romance Book, but which I do strongly recommend

edit: I also like Becky Albertalli a whole bunch so I’m gonna recommend Leah on the Offbeat, one of the few F/F books I’ve seen in tons of bookstores! Goodreads hates it, but I think Goodreads reviewers just like to be assholes when female characters are written with flaws and emotions so

[shitty-check-please-aus]

Oh my god I forgot about Rainbow Rowell! Now if you want that fanfic flavor, you cannot go wrong here. While she has tons of experience in journalism, she got her start writing in fiction-writing fic, and she knows the things people like about it.

Fangirl, Carry On, and Pumpkinheads are three great places to start!

[doggernaut]

I just received an email about a giveaway for Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev and I thought of this post. I haven’t read any of the author’s other books, but it’s basically billed as Persuasion fanfic and the plot (a chef is paired with her pro-athlete ex in a reality show competition) reminds me of some of the Zimbits AUs I’ve read. It looks delightful. It doesn’t come out until the end of this month, but the author has written another contemporary romance inspired by Pride and Prejudice. 

[17piesinseptember]

For resources to do your own searching, you should defs check out Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. They review heaps of romance novels across genres and they have a cool book search feature where you can search by trope, character type, genre etc (or a combination of them all).

Also, they may not be too outside the box (but that can be a comfort in itself), but Harlequin has free reads available online if you create an account with them.

Author wise, I really love Nalini Singh. Her most fanfic-y series is probably Hard Play (beware shirtless men on every cover!). Plus, I can vouch for The Kiss Quotient! by Helen Hoang.

[randomnoteforfuturereference]

If you want to stay on tumblr, I suggest @christinaroseandrews. They themselves are writers, but they also review tons of romance stories of various pairing types. Some of the stories are excellent. Some… not so much. And some are so awful that they have to dedicate multi-part posts to the suck.

Also they provide a path to other romance sources.

[christinaroseandrews]

If you’re looking for romance that reads like fanfic, how about reading romance written by fanfic authors turned Pro that aren’t Cassandra Clare, Diana Gabaldon, or EL James? All of the following are fanfic authors turned pro that we know either in Real Life, fandom life, or who we read back in the day.

(like the OP we use affiliate codes)

YA:

Lindsay Ouimet - Wrote Hunger Games Fanfic. Includes soulmates and sexy coming-of-age stories about people who don’t belong.

Alwyn Hamilton - Wrote Sims fanfic. Wrote Rebel of the Sands which is a trilogy with strong Romantic Themes

Tanaz Bhathena - Wrote Hunger Games Fanfic. Has two award winning books. Is an author of color. And writes characters of color. JSYK like many YA romance there isn’t always a happy ending

N.K. Jemison - Wrote DBZ fanfic. While not fully romance, her books have strong romantic elements.

Paranormal Romance

Natalia Jaster - Wrote Hunger Games Fanfic. Writes books featuring gods and mortals

Joy Demorra - Still writes fic (Good Omens, Harry Potter, and Witcher) You know her as @thebibliosphere​ her equal triad Phangs is coming out soon.

Liz Ashe - wrote Harry Potter and Buffy fanfic

Felicity Heaton - wrote Buffy Fanfic - now writes a ton of vampire and shifter stuff… including some with the serial numbers vaguely filed off

Naomi Novik - Helped found Ao3

Zoe Chant - Multiple people including @dsudis - This is one of those where the penname is shared with multiple authors.

Contemporary Romance

Sera Taino - Wrote Hunger Games Fanfic - Recently was picked up by I think Harlequin…

M.T. Kearney - Writes Hunger Games Fanfic

Caitlyn Lynch - Writes MCU Fanfic - best known as @ozhawkauthor​ - also writes historical (listed below)

Annika Steele - Writes MCU Fanfic - also writes paranormal

Livvy Ward - Writes MCU Fanfic - also writes paranormal

Kristen Rouse - Wrote Hunger Games Fanfic

Historical Romance

Catherine Bilson - Writes MCU Fanfic

LBGT Romance:

Ariel Bishop - wrote MCU Fanfic

Leslie Bond - Wrote Sims fanfic

Diana Ferris - wrote Hunger Games Fanfic (I think)

Elizabeth L. Brooks - writes MCU fanfic

Dessa Lux - writes MCU & Witcher fic -

There’s a lot more. But if you want to support romance that reads like fanfic, then you need to support the authors who came from fandom when they transition. If you don’t, then you get a lot of the same over and over.

[ardatli]

Hard agreed! Also a plug: I am a fanfic author (primarily but not exclusively Young Avengers) who also writes original LBGT romance. 

I’ve got a high-heat queer Regency historical series as Tess Bowery (the second book in that series is F/F/M and was short-listed for the Bisexual Book Awards). You can buy my books directly from my site without going through Amazon. 

I have a new book coming out next year which is a contemporary sapphic rom-com under the name Jennet Alexander. (add it on Goodreads here).

Also look at @shiraglassman for queer Jewish fantasy romance adventure! 

[shiraglassman]

Thank you, @ardatli ! I have definitely heard people say my works read like fanfiction in a good way – and Cinnamon Blade specifically can almost BE considered fanfiction in a meta sense given that it’s about the imaginary fandom I created for the girls in Knit One Girl Two.

Has anyone brought up @rebekahweatherspoon ‘s books on this post yet? Her writing is very human and self-indulgent and fun and those are the traits I associate with fanfiction, i.e. just wanting to have a really good time as a reader and a writer.

[comingoutasawriter]

The fact that no one has mentioned Courtney Milan and her Brothers Sinister series is a travesty. All that historical romance tropiness without the icky cliches. Her tone isn't fanfic-y per se, but all of her female leads are complex interesting characters who fall in love with lots of snark and interest.

Also, Mercedes Lackey, who is technically a fantasy writer, but outside of her Heralds of Valdemar series most of her stuff is very romance focused. I personally recommend the 500 Kingdom series

[comingoutasawriter]

So I've been working on this new story/universe called For the Love of Art, and I'm going to make a point of posting little character blurbs and sides here ala writblr. Maybe even some lil drawings. Stay tuned...

[jessicacaseyauthor-deactivated2]

Every time I think I’ve followed all the writers I can there’s always more out there

You sneaky little bastards

So I’m doing another writeblr boost.

Please reblog this if you’re a writeblr, particularly if you post about your original work and/or writing references!

[fragmentedink-archived]

Hi!!!

[swellio]

!!

[comingoutasawriter]

What do you mean most writers don't have their characters spring forth from their minds, fully formed --ala Athena -- who insist you write This One Scene at 2am?

[comingoutasawriter]

Ignorance is Bliss

And Bliss,

like any other vice,

will catch up with you

[comingoutasawriter]

Danae leads a simple life. Art conservator by day and partially reformed art thief by night. Things get a little more...

Did I already reblog this from my main blog? Yes.  Am I doing it again? Yes.

[nat-tea-n-coffee]

For the Love of Art

So I’m writing a thing and y’all should check it out. It’s an unapologetically campy, fun, romance featuring an empath who’s not really an empath, a psychic who doesn’t know he’s psychic, bi as the default setting, a lesbian hacker who really likes fashion and bagels, way more information on a 19th century Austrian  painter than you would have expected, and much, much more!  

Here’s the blurb:

Danae leads a simple life.  Art conservator by day and partially reformed art thief by night.  Things get a little more complicated when Tariq, a security officer who’s been chasing her for years, comes to do security for the new exhibit at her museum.  If that weren’t bad enough. a new player in the game shows up, a fellow thief who went by Aurelius.  Things get even more complicated when connections to old jobs start to pop up,  and Danae realizes she has gotten involved in something much bigger than she first thought.

The First Chapter is already up on Wattpad if you want to dive in!

Special shout out to @thebibliosphere for inspiring me to just go ahead and write that fluffy, queer, poly-love-triangle, fantasy/heist  wish fulfillment we deserve.  Not sure I would have had the guts to do it if I hadn’t been following your journey with Hunger Pangs. I’ve had a rough couple of years and a rocky recovery these past six months, but this story is something I’m very proud of.     I should be updating chapters every other Friday.  So the second chapter should be up on May 31st. I hope you like it!

[comingoutasawriter]

Overcast Clouds, 8°C

314 White Dr

Breaking Stones Bones trickle like blood Down the stairs Sharp as glass Calcium caked marrow Can't build anything, Cracked open by her knife Like pearl geodes She sucks them dry, And thinks of home. Where green jewels drip From cellulose arms Little lungs worn on Slim tropical sleeves, You need to crack them open To see what they're made of.

Powered by Journey Diary.

[loganscove]

DIVINE POETRY MASTER POST

Rules: 1. Each poem must follow the prompt. 2. Each post should be tagged with #divine poetry and #loganscove so that I can find them. You can also tag me with @loganscove  3. In order for you to be eligible for prizes, you must have all poems finished by June 10th, 2017, 4. Rules are subject to change as needed Prizes First prize: A set of soaps created by @frankiezaltar, a bookmark reading, a set of envelopes Second Prize: A bookmark reading, set of envelopes Third Prize: a bookmark reading.

In order to be elible for first prize you need to complete all 31 poems by June 10; second prize you need to complete 15 different poems by June 10, third prize one poem by June 10. Prompts May 1 - Three Haiku poems.