Of Things Real And Imagined

It's a wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.

[yesthechaos]

[holdtheh]

Why does young George Gershwin look like he knew how to use early 20th century photoshop?

[holdtheh]

You know when

You realize that you’re Liz Lemon and your best friend is Jenna Maloroney.

[salty-ironstrange-shipper]

Canon: They don’t get along.

Fandom:

[bountiful-beautiful-ships]

Canon: They’ve never even met.

Fandom:

[heartless241]

Canon: They all die

Fandom:

[flipwizardisgoodouthere]

Canon: They get almost no screen time

Fandom:

[dead-meme-necromancer-deactivat]

Canon:

Fandom:

[averil-of-fairlea]

This may be the best fanfiction post of all time

[axis3100]

Canon: Things are going well and there is no angst in sight

Fandom:

[steph-writing]

Canon: This is a slow burn and it’ll take a while for any sexy time.

Fandom:

[otome-aeriie-deactivated2019081]

Canon: There’s a good amount of angst, we don’t need any more. 

Me:

[outcasts-redeemer]

Canon: This is a side character. They mean nothing to the story.

Fandom:

[robotmango]

some man online: “arya’s a mary sue. rey’s a mary sue. i simply don’t believe a young girl could be that skilled.”

what they expect me to say: “well, no, actually, canon supports it, because if you look back as far as season three, she’s been training for–”

what i’m actually gonna say: “good. good. about fucking time. in the next movie i hope rey blows up a dreadnought with finger lightning that she learned earlier that day. i hope she rips palpatine’s spine out with her bare hands while everybody claps”

[ao3commentoftheday]

How do I get over the feeling of wasting time with writing fanfiction? I’m currently working on my dissertation and while I do research and work hard on it, every time I sit down and write something fandom related I get this feeling I should be working on my dissertation instead. Writing fanfiction always felt like taking a break from school stuff to me and finally being able to research and write about the things I was interested in but now I can’t do it without feeling guilty.

Plan for it. Schedule it into your week. You can’t work all the time, but you can plan for downtime so that you don’t feel guilty while you enjoy it. 

Would you feel guilty if you went to the gym for an hour? What about if you went to the movies with a friend? Celebrated a birthday? Cooked a really nice meal?

Those are all ways that you can relax and rejuvenate, and so is writing fic. You can’t do it all the time, of course. But if you plan out your day or your week with goals for your dissertation, then the rest of your time is your own. 

Spend a third of your time working, a third of your time sleeping, and a third of your time living your life - or whatever math works for you. But keep it reasonable, okay? Have some fun. If you don’t, you’ll just end up burnt out.

[debooga]

It’s very common to feel like you’re not working enough when you are going through a stressful period of your life (i.e. dissertation, exams and tight deadlines for work all count). More often than not, when you’re not working towards your job (because, let’s face it, that’s what it is. A job. Nothing less and nothing more) your brain will try to guilt trip you into working more because the insecurity of not working, or not working well enough can be overpowering. The sad part is that isn’t even productive. You worry so much and then panic and any and all productivity towards the task you may have had goes out the window (speaking from experience here).  So, take a deep breath and rationalize. Ask yourself ‘How many hours have I worked on this today?’ ‘Is it in a good place?’ ‘Do I have time to finish it in a satisfactory way until the deadline?’ Be honest with yourself. Count the hours if you have to. You’ll realize you’ve put in a lot more work than you thought you did. 

If it helps, try to trick your brain by telling yourself that unwinding and relaxing is part of the job, so you can work more and work better tomorrow. Whenever you feel guilty about doing something relaxing, tell yourself this: I have worked for x hours today and it is enough. Recognize the feeling as the dirty trick it is, and try not to fall for it. Especially if you KNOW you work hard on it when you do! Remember, relaxing is at least as important as working, if not more. It assures endurance during long projects, maintains the energy reserves (mental, emotional or physical) you need to see it though, and most important of all, it brings you joy! Especially if your way of relaxing is writing fanfic, then it brings joy to other people too! Never feel guilty about that! :D

[ao3commentoftheday]

How do you get over the embarrassment of writing fan-fiction? I’m new to it and I’m currently writing a reader insert (which seems infinitely more embarrassing) and I continuously go through a back and forth of enjoying it to being self-conscious and embarrassed. Have you gone through anything similar? Thanks.

I don’t feel embarrassed, myself. I’m a 40 year old professional woman and I like to write about my favourite characters falling in love, doing silly things, or fucking like rabbits. Why not?

That said, I get it. There’s a certain feeling on the internet that fanfic writing is somehow ‘cringey’ or something. But it really does depend who you’re talking to. When I tell friends and coworkers about fanfic, they all just think it’s a cool hobby and they’re amazed that I write fiction for fun. They don’t see it as inherently “less than” any other type of writing. 

I think there was a time - maybe 10 years  ago or so? - when I felt it more. These days, I care less about what other people might possibly, maybe, perhaps think if they ever found out. It’s a hobby like any other. Nobody gets embarrassed about gardening. 

How do the rest of you deal? Any advice? I feel like I’m poorly equipped to help on this one XD

[jbaillier]

Oooooooh, my favourite soapbox topic!

It is a combination of historical misogyny, literary snobbery, and plain lack of education in the topic that makes people think fanfic is somehow inferior to other genres of fiction. Lots of folks assume that since we are using characters created by someone else, writing fanfic is somehow easier than creating original fiction?

No. My argument is that it’s in many ways harder to write fic. Why? You have a pre-built reader base that is passionate about this world and these characters, and will not hesitate to call you out on mistakes. You need a lot of knowledge in said areas to do stuff well, and you’ll still have to have the skills that an original author possesses to create plots, execute themes and yes, create original characters. @khorazir spent years researching real history to write Enigma. Bittergreens learned the theory of art of sailing in the golden era of sea travel for Over Fathoms Deep. I dare claim that few professional novel writers work as hard as lots of fanfic authors do when building the worlds of their stories.

A lot of published fiction is shoddy, illogical, childish, clicheed and of low quality. I see, on a regular basis, fanfic that is better written than most of what one can find in bookstores. And, fanfic doesn’t require you to adhere to the rules of professional publishing which are, unfortunately, governed by what sells and what the goldfish masses want. In fic, you can experiment with genres, styles, story length, narrative — you can break all the rules you want. 

I write fic because fic is what I want to write, not because I am preparing to write “a real book” or because I don’t have the skills to write original fiction. Every damned story of mine is original in that no one else could have told that story the way that I did. 

Anthony Horowitz’s novel Moriarty has been a New York Times bestseller. Neil Gaiman won a Hugo with what is essentially a Holmes&Lovecraft fusion fic (and he has even described it as fan fiction himself). James Joyce’s Odysseus is a retelling of a myth — a new interpretation of a story and its characters which he had enjoyed enough that it inspired him to write. Also known as fan fiction. There’s Jane Austen retellings with zombies, comics based on books and even this BBC TV series which takes prior interpretations of a series of stories about a detective named Sherlock Holmes and reimagines them in modern London because the two screenwriters love that world and those characters so much.

We’re not doing anything that these so-called professional writers aren’t doing all the time, and they get praised for these “clever pastiches” and “reimaginings” while fic writers are still seen as some sort of a troll race of lesser intelligence. It makes me bloody furious. Fiction genres favoured by women, sexual minorities and other marginalised groups have always been stomped down by those in power because they promote such dangerous, progressive ideas as equality, healthy and/or kinky portrayals of diverse sexuality, and females and sexual minorities enjoying those things. I sincerely hope that in my lifetime there will be a day when I can step forward and say that I write explicit Sherlock fanfic and not feel like I’ve just stepped to the podium at an AA meeting. I know some of that’s just in my head, but there are many countries in which a healthcare professional publicly engaging in such depravity would became the source of scrutiny from those monitoring the ethics of their conduct. That is sad. 

Of course I’m (partly) exaggerating (a little bit). I keep my literary endeavours pretty secret, but when I do tell non-fandom people about them, the reception tends to be exactly what the person who asked this question illustrated: curiosity, awe and positive encouragement. My mother who does not know johnlock exists but who knows the extent of my ficcy hobbies keeps proudly telling her friends about them.

Maybe that day will come, after all. But I still reserve the right to be a pessimist about it. Still, there’s a lot we can do. Let’s talk about fic to people (just… please don’t start with the omegaverse; all that sort of stuff should come once you’re reeled them in, not earlier!). Let’s not have those conversations apologetically and cowering in shame but proudly. We’re telling stories, and that’s always been an important thing for human connection, the preservation of human culture, and the betterment of it. We are fucking warriors, and don’t let some idiot who’s never done anything creative in their bloody lives make you think differently.

[holdtheh]

Perfect for the panel

[alexxphoenix42]

any good, satisfying, smut worthy fics? just like solid smut if ya got any. (also, love your blog!)

Hey friend thanks for the snaps. Okay, best Sherlock smut out there? Let’s try these fics …

Satisfying Smut

Whenthis is all over, let’s meet in New York by 221b_careful_what_you_wish_for, 12 k, mature. Freelance photographer John Watson is onassignment in a city verging on war. When he meets the mysterious SherlockHolmes, tension crackles and the night takes a decidedly sexy turn. A grittylittle love story inspired by Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Just Browsing bybendingsignpost, 3 k, explicit. Alternate first meeting, Sherlock and John meetin a bookshop and have it off in a storage room.

Say You’ll Stay WithMe by justacookieofacumberbatch(buffyholic), 63 k, explicit. Sherlock/Pretty Woman fusion. It was justsupposed to be an ordinary business trip, but when John’s car stalls out onHollywood Boulevard, he meets someone who just might change his life.

Distractions by allonsys_girl , 9 k, explicit. Sherlock isa detective on a case in a bar. John is a pretty shots boy working the roomwith a tray of drinks. Sherlock texts Lestrade that he’s off the case for thenight as he and John find a private spot.

Five Times by strangegibbon, 22 k, explicit. Five lap-related incidents that have made up the whole of Sherlock’ssex life.  

Evening Ride by lapislazuli, 8 k,explicit. Johnliterally bumps into a tall posh stranger in a crowded tube car, and theresulting anonymous humping is something they seem to keep (accidentally onpurpose) repeating on a bi-weekly basis.

Best ofThree by SilentAuror, 17 k, explicit . Utterly hot bet thatSherlock won’t turn on “Not Gay” John in a little three-nights-runningexperiment. Hot, and sweet, and bewitching.

Guilty Secrets by Ellipsical, 55 k,explicit. John has a prostate exam and discovers something surprising about himself.Experimentation follows. Sherlock is happy to help

whiskies neat by Ellipsical, 20 k,explicit. Home and hearth and whiskies neat, or, alternatively, Sherlock Holmesfalls in love. Told in second person, this fic is a lyrical, sensual feast forthe imagination as Sherlock brings a hot solider home from a bar one night.

What did you think about series by Chryse – 6 parts, explicitJohnlock PWP shorts that involve John and Sherlock trading their sexualfantasies back and forth as they find ways to act them out. Wows

Curious Case by Cleo2010, 44 k, explicit. Some of the hottestgetting-together sex ever. Sherlock has burns on his hands, and has to ask Johnto jerk him off to relieve his sexual tension and clear his mind. For somereason, this must go on for 11 searingly-hot chapters as “straight” Johnnavigates his sexuality crisis, and admits he’s in a relationship withSherlock. DAMN

Perpetual Motion by Fay(orphanaccount), 75 k, explicit. Virginlock. The line between friends and somethingmore blurs when little games between Sherlock and John start to get out ofhand. Through the fights, a month-long orgasm denial challenge for Sherlock,and a trip to view the house he inherits from his grandmamma, things get real.

TheGreat Sex Olympics of 221B by XistentialAngst,explicit, 58 k words. Summary: John Watsonthinks Sherlock Holmes should admit that he, Watson, is more of an expert onsex than Sherlock is. But Sherlock refuses to concede the point. He comes upwith an experiment plan that will resolve the issue. The results will determinewho wins the prize. But sometimes even the best thought-out scientific studyhas unexpected consequences.

A Cure For Boredomby EmmaGrant01, 81 k, explicit. One of the hottest slash things you will everread. The lads start to visit a sex club so that Sherlock can do some research.John’s safeword is “cinnamon.” PWP. Be still my beating heart. Original!

Wrapped Around Your Finger by MojoFlower, 27 k, explicit. Hold me, thisis HOT. Period 1900′s daddy kink. Teen Sherlock meets an older man in Morocco,and things are never quite the same for either of them. Warnings fordubcon.

I’d Arrest You if I Had Handcuffsby taylorpotato, 60 k words, explicit, Sherlock/Lestrade. Porn without plot –each chapter is a “one shot” kink scene between Sherlock and Lestrade. Hotstuff.

The Pleasure-dome Hotel byraiining, 16 k, explicit. Takes place in a BDSM AU. Sherlock stays at the fancyhotel to solve a case for Mycroft, but he might as well take advantage of theamenities the room has to offer while he’s there.

The OneWhere Sherlock Comes In His Pants  by ellie_hell, 5 k, explicit. The five timesSherlock came in his pants and the one time he came in someone else’s.Aaarrgggh. Hot kinky sex that remains sweet.

[mycroftssuitsruinedmylife]

Reblogging so I don’t lose them before I read them all lol

[holdtheh]

Bitches I’m back

[rapradar]

[lustt-and-luxury-deactivated201]

THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE !!!!

[holdtheh]

Say whaaaa

[jedavu]

[holdtheh]

Master Wayne

In The Dark Knight, after Alfred doesn't find Bruce Wayne in his bed while bringing breakfast at the beginning, he proceeds to go to the temporary bat cave to find him, but what I never noticed was...he goes with a thermos of coffee in his pea coat for Master Wayne. Adorable.

[tortillah]

[holdtheh]

Mine as well.

[earthdad]

you: *is a hoe*

me: *is also a hoe and respects you for the decisions you make in your hoe career*

[just-shower-thoughts]

Your sense of hearing is actually just a highly-specialized aspect of your sense of touch.

[londoncallingsigh]

[holdtheh]

“Either-or? I think there are plenty of good actors who are fathers.” (x)

What a babe. I'd even have a child with this man.

[senttaurus]

[holdtheh]

Wow

[flawlesstrueperfection-deactiva]

the first step towards confidence is not being afraid to be ugly

once you get over the fear of being unattractive and stop equating beauty with other good things in life (friends, love, happiness) it’s a lot easier to love yourself unconditionally

your job is not to sit around and be pretty and easy on everyone else’s eyes

your job is to do whatever the fuck you want and look however the fuck you want while doing it

[holdtheh]

This is right what I needed to read right at this moment.