Merlin Writers

merlin-writers.livejournal.com

[wanderingcas]

i need merthur blog recs, fic recs, and how-do-i-not-die-from-this-new-ship recs, STAT

[rapha-reads]

WELCOME TO THE ONCE AND FUTURE FANDOM.

People to follow :

@dollopheadsandclotpoles @brolinskeep @lao-pendragon @schweetheart @merlins-earmuffs @maryluis @patroclusdefencesquad @guessimaclotpole @pretty-pendragon @the-once-and-future-love @king-of-derpalot @arthur-of-the-pendragons @rocknvaughn @brolin-truelove @elveatas @ofkingsandlionhearts @akane022 @elirwen @merlocked18

… I’m sure I’m forgetting people. Sorry.

Enjoy the rest of the show!

[schweetheart]

We’ve got your back, @wanderingcas 😉🧙‍♂️🔮

Some places for fics, art, and fest content:

@dirtybookshelves, @lionheartlibrary, @merlinfanficquotes, @merlinfic, @merlinsfests, @marrymerthurmonth, @aftercamlann, @camelotremix, @kinkalot, @merthurglompfest, @merlinfanart, @winterknights, @merthurkissfest, @merlinholidays, @finishthatficmerlin.

Other people to follow:

@blue-sky-and-sunny-day, @lefayart, @mushroomtale-fanart, @alexandarcho, @orlaithsstar, @fifty-5ty, @whimsycatcher, @thepolomonkey, @camelittle, @kittylovesmerthur, @tari-sue, @clea2011, @loanmeadragon, @fervidasaflame​ , @excaliburstark​, @katherynefromphilly, @tracionn, @iamcaledonia, @magicalmischel, @fishoutofcamelot, @brokenfannibal, @tehfanglyfish, @profcolsymorgan and basically 90% of the people I interact with on here lbr.

There’s also a Merlin Chatroom accessible here: https://merlin-chat.livejournal.com/639.html

They have a semi-regular rewatch every week, info here: https://merlin-forever.livejournal.com They’ve just hit the beginning of S1 again, I believe, but you’d be welcome to join in whenever XD

If you want any specific fic recs, feel free to DM me with what you’re looking for and I can probably give you at least 10, lol.

[pastelparrotlet]

I hope in 2020 you get to write that thing you’ve been wanting to write, and you write it amazingly.

[camelotremix]

This is the official sign-up post for the 2020 camelotremix ! Important Dates Sign-ups start today and run through to the end of 25 February (in your timezone). Assignments will go out on or before 1 March . Remixes are due 1 June . Fics must be at least 500 words long. No minimum word count for…

Sign-Ups are now OPEN!

[camelotremix]

Time is running out. Sign ups close on 25th February! Click on the link above to find out more!

[lhazaar]

look…………….. write as much shitty fic as you want. nobody can stop you. you’re learning constantly and it’s better to write hackneyed implausible ridiculousness than it is to not write at all out of fear of fucking up. you’re good

[darkandstormyslash]

There was an experiment a professor did. I think it was pottery students. He did an experiment of “quality” vs “quantity”. One half of the class he told; you have to make as many pots as possible. Good pots, bad pots, shitty pots, whatever. The more pots you make, the higher your grade.

The other half of the class were told, “you can make only one pot”. But that pot had to be perfect. The quality had to be high; the highest quality pot would get the best mark.

But when it came to the grading, they noticed something weird.

All the best quality pots were in the ‘quantity’ group.

The guys who were literally churning out pots, trying to make as many as possible, not concentrating on the quality. But every pot they made, made them better at making pots. By the end of the month (I think it was a month) - they had some pretty awesome pots coming out, because they enjoying finding all the ways and all the things they could do to make all their pots. Where as the ‘quality’ guys had spent their time reading up on pots, and technique, and researching and planning; which was all great but they’d had no further practice at actually making pots.

The best way to get really good at something, the only way to be really good at something, is to make lots of shitty attempts at that thing several of which will fail. If all you create are perfect things then you won’t improve, because how can you improve on perfect?

tl:dr MAKE YOUR SHITTY POTS.

[ao3commentoftheday]

In recent days, there have been a number of posts on tumblr about third party apps that host AO3 fic on them. A lot of people are worried and even more people are pissed.

There is no need to send in emails to AO3 Support or to the Policy and Abuse team. They are fully aware of the situation and are probably drowning in emails right now. 

Here’s what I know and what you can do about it.

Fluff app / Fanfiction Pocket Archive Library app / Archive Track Reader app:

These apps work as a sort of skin for the AO3 site itself. They don’t download works and redistribute them. They provide an access point to AO3.

The developers of these apps are making money from the app itself (through tips and subscriptions - both voluntary), which wouldn’t exist without the free content created by AO3 authors. Since people post their work to AO3 because it is free to access and hosted without ads, authors are understandably angered by this.

Because these apps are basically just a portal to the site, a DMCA notice will not apply in this case. All works currently hosted on AO3 will show up on these apps, because these apps are simply letting you view AO3 through their interface.

Woodsign company apps (including MCU, Harry Potter, Sherlock, Creepypasta, and more):

These apps seem to curate  some fic from the various fandoms and rehost it. They allow users to read offline, so it’s possible they are redistributing it. In this case, a DMCA takedown might be effective.

This app developer is also making money by hosting fanfic that was written and posted for free on AO3. They have put up a paywall so that you can only access the complete fic if you pay for it or rate the app in the App store. 

If you want to post a negative review, consider saying things like:

* these fanworks are free already at archiveofourown.org * you can kudos, comment, bookmark, subscribe, and mark to read for later for free with an archiveofourown.org account * you can also download fics to read later in various file formats - both pdf and formats that are usable by ereaders * archiveofourown.org is a website with full mobile browser accessibility. Anything you can do in this app, you can do on the site - for free, and without ads * the Archive is a fully-licensed non-profit organization run by volunteers, unlike this for-profit app

There is no official AO3 app. The website is mobile friendly and if you want to have quick button access to it, you can Add to Homescreen on your phone and you can click in just like you would on an app. None of these third party apps can provide you with AO3 support. Only AO3 can do that. The best version of the site will always, always be the site itself.

If you’ve read this far, please signal boost so that AO3 Support can get fewer tickets. And if you love AO3, consider donating to them. They accept donations year round, not just during their pledge drives. 

[merthurglompfest]

Just a reminder to all out Merthur Glompers who’ve been dragging their heels, Claiming closes on 19 Feb, that’s in 1 week time! Not sure if you qualify as a Glomper? Check out our hand flowchart here! If you have already made a claim, but haven’t filled out our Google form please do so here, so that we can contact you for a check in closer to the time, and give you a posting date!

On February 20, any remaining prompts will be opened to claiming by both Glompers whom wish to take a second prompt, and Glompee’s who would also like to fill a prompt.

So check out our FAQs and then head on over and check out our prompts. There are still plenty of great ones left to claim!

[writing-l0vers]

[pastperfectcontinuous]

I want you to write for pleasure—to play. Just listen to the sounds and rhythms of the sentences you write and play with them, like a kid with a kazoo. This isn’t “free writing,” but it’s similar in that you’re relaxing control: you’re encouraging the words themselves—the sounds of them, the beats and echoes—to lead you on. For the moment, forget all the good advice that says good style is invisible, good art conceals art. Show off! Use the whole orchestra our wonderful language offers us! Write it for children, if that’s the way you can give yourself permission to do it. Write it for your ancestors. Use any narrating voice you like. If you’re familiar with a dialect or accent, use it instead of vanilla English. Be very noisy, or be hushed. Try to reproduce the action in the jerky or flowing movement of the words. Make what happens happen in the sounds of the words, the rhythms of the sentences. Have fun, cut loose, play around, repeat, invent, feel free.

Ursula K. Le Guin, Steering The Craft

[kittylovesmerthur]

It’s the season for sharing! Please share your favorite Christmas or Winter Holiday fic and art HERE! Just fill out the google form to share some of your best Merlin holiday themed memories and the spreadsheet will collect a list of all our favorite and best loved winter holiday recs!

Share your Favorites | See the List

[the-professor-persists]

Listen. I'm old and I've been doing this a long damn time. Writing is not a science. Are you someone who can write on a deadline? Someone who word counts and sprints and has goals and tracks their progress? Good for you, you funky lil star.

Are you someone who writes when the mood takes them? Who flies out of bed in the middle of the night to jot down a scene? Who can go weeks writing nothing and then spew out 10k of glorious beauty in three hours? Way to go, you fucking gem.

Don't let the culture of writing stop you from writing. Don't let people tell you the 'right way' to write.

Defend your art and the way you do it.

[leftoverbingo]

Sign Ups are Here!

(Told you it would be quick!) We anticipate a low turn out for the first run, so we’re just gonna plow ahead with this. 

The schedule:

First Round of Leftover Bingo:

Sign ups start - December 1st, 2019

Sign ups end - December 22nd, 2019

Depending on volume of sign ups, the Cards will go out as they’re ready but no later than December 31st, 2019

Warning: Cards could be delayed depending on if we need to contact you for further information.

First Round begins - January 1st, 2020

First Round ends - April 30th, 2020

You will have 4 months to play with your bingo card - please sumbit (Or post and tag us) a Masterlist of your works by April 30th, 2020

Late Sign ups for the first Round will happen in January

Late Sign ups start -  January 11th, 2020

Late Sign ups end - January 18th, 2020

Schedule for Second Round will be announced closer to the start date as we work out what may need to be tweaked sign up portion of the schedule for this event.

Please Sign up Here by Clicking this link: 

 Leftover Bingo Google Forms

[writing-in-the-grave]

Hey y'all why are writers always cold?

[run-remi-run]

...why?

[writing-in-the-grave]

They're always surrounded by drafts!

How many mystery writers does it take to change a lightbulb?

[run-remi-run]

Oh god.

How many?

[writing-in-the-grave]

Two! One to change the bulb, and the other to give it an unexpected twist at the end!

What do writers have for breakfast?

[run-remi-run]

Coffee?

[writing-in-the-grave]

Synonym buns!

Where do all the struggling writers live?

[run-remi-run]

How are you coming up with all these?

Where?

[writing-in-the-grave]

Writer's Block!

What do writers suffer from each spring?

(I've heard a lot of them over the years.)

[run-remi-run]

Allergies. Next question.

[writing-in-the-grave]

you were close; A case of allegories

Why are writers always in great shape?

[run-remi-run]

Circular prose

[writing-in-the-grave]

Nope! It's because we're always running out of ideas!

Did you hear about the famous writer who turned out to be a fraud?

[run-remi-run]

I did not

[writing-in-the-grave]

His life had it's prose and cons...

Why is editing a better job than writing?

[run-remi-run]

It's more rewording?

[writing-in-the-grave]

Correct! I am out of jokes. :(

[highasfantasy]

I hate that I laughed at some of these 😂

[winterknights]

Winter is coming here! Posting for WinterKnights 2019 starts today, 1 December, so if you haven’t already, make sure to send in your submissions to the mods ASAP!

If you’re in need of an extension, that can still be arranged, so make sure you let us know at WINTERKNIGHTSFEST at GMAIL dot COM.

Not signed up but want to participate? The more the merrier! Let us know and we can sign you right up!

[merthurkissfest]

(Banner – click on it, it’s huge! – by @lefayart​, @ueberdemnebelmeer​, and @arthur-of-the-pendragons​)

Hello, and welcome to the Merlin/Arthur Kiss Fest 2019!

START DATE: December 24, 2019 ; 00:00 GMT

END DATE: January 20, 2020 ; 23:59 GMT

1. This fest is aimed at the BBC Merlin fandom; more specifically its Merthur subset.

2. This fest is all about Merthur kisses. Romantic, platonic, sexual, innocent, dirty, affectionate, on the nose, on the mouth, on the neck, the back, the ars– ahem. You name it, you can create it for the fest.

This year’s fest is split into four seasons. (Did you get that hint from the banner?)

I. Spring kisses (Dec 24, 2019 - Dec 30, 2019, inclusive)

II. Summer kisses (Dec 31, 2019 - Jan 6, 2020, inclusive)

III. Autumn kisses (Jan 7, 2020 - Jan 13, 2020, inclusive)

IV. Winter kisses (Jan 14, 2020 - Jan 20, 2020, inclusive)

But mod! you ask, curious. Whatever do you mean by the idea of seasonal kisses?

It means whatever the heck you want it to mean :)

3. All creation media are accepted. Fic, art/manips, podfic, video edits, gifsets, filk, anything.

For podfics, please obtain the fic author’s prior permission to have your podfic added to this fest, and indicate that you received it when you post your work.

4. All ratings are welcome. All kinks are welcome (no kinkshaming of any kind will be tolerated). Any setting (canon, AU, canon AU, let your imagination run free) is welcome.

5. You may post your work to any website of your choice, but you have to let the mod know where you’ve posted it (via DM or Tumblr tag, though the latter is unreliable), so that they may include your work in the masterlist. Anonymous posting is allowed, and an AO3 subcollection for that purpose has been set up and linked to below.

If you have any questions, this blog has asks and DMs open. :)

This fest is a celebration of Merthur and kisses. Absolutely cannot wait for it to begin <3

The AO3 collection for the fest is: ao3.org/collections/merthur_kiss_fest_2019

The anonymous AO3 collection for the fest is: ao3.org/collections/merthur_kiss_fest_2019_anonymous

It is recommended that all creators add their work to either of these collections, but no pressure if you don’t want to.

THREE CHEERS FOR MERTHUR KISSES~

Please follow this blog to keep track of the fest! And please reblog this post so it reaches as many Merlin and Merthur fans as possible. Thank you!

[winterknights]

@winterknights is a prompt-based holiday fest for the BBC Merlin fandom. Participants may use any winter or holiday themed idea to create fan-works and share their holiday spirit with the fandom community.

❄ All pairings and formats welcome. Check out the prompts here!

❄ Posting begins on 1 Dec but there’s still time to sign up!

[bookishdiplodocus]

Reblog the writers’ fortune cookie for luck!

[academicssay]