Cluttered brain & random thoughts

Hei, I’m Jas. AO3 writer & illustrator.

[europeanficwritersretreat2025]

Writers' Retreat EXTENDED DEADLINE

Seeing as we still have one room available, the registration deadline for the European Fic Writers' Retreat, which takes place in Germany 13-16 August, will be extended until 15 June.

Click here for all further info and registration link.

There's another bedroom upstairs!

Please send a chat message if you have any questions!

Tagging some people below the cut, please help signal boost!

@meetinginsamarra @pagimag @pommedepersephone @the-reading-lemon @shiplocks-of-love @frodosweetstuff @lisbeth-kk @totallysilvergirl @johnlockismyreligion @constancecream @swissmissing @notallthosewhowander @raina-at @vanimelda4 @villainappreciator @myriath @kettykika78

@jaimebluesq

@ewebie

@keirgreeneyes

@blogstandbygo

@221beloved

@inevitably-johnlocked

@actually-a-girls-name

@johnhwatsonblog

@hubblegleeflower

@unreconstructedfangirl

@loveismyrevolution

@kimmycup

@msladysmith

@loki-lock

@alexaprilgarden

@three-patch-problem

@aziraphalianfangirl

@hellonewsletter

@beatrixripley

@7-percent

@topsyturvy-turtely

@damnbluewires

@fellshish @helloliriels

[myriath]

Sign up, it's going to be amazing!!

[europeanficwritersretreat2025]

Germany FIC WRITERS' RETREAT announcement

Dear Fic Writers! (Sherlock fandom and beyond!)

We are very happy to inform you that, after last year's success, the European Fic Writers' Retreat is going to take place again this summer!

The dates will be 13-16 August 2026. Location: Eifel region of Germany. Price: between 240-390 euros (depending on whether you share a room or not). This includes accommodation and food.

Activities There will be 3 writing/fandom workshops or activities each day. The rest of the time is for writing, hanging out and making new fandom friends. Also there will be daily walks to the supermarket (10 mins) to get all the food we need. :)

More info to follow soon!

Tagging a few people again below the cut. Please help signal boost!

@meetinginsamarra @pagimag @pommedepersephone @iamjohnlocked4life @the-reading-lemon @atlinmerrick @shiplocks-of-love @frodosweetstuff @lisbeth-kk @totallysilvergirl @johnlockismyreligion @atikiology @constancecream @swissmissing @miadifferent @notallthosewhowander @raina-at @vanimelda4 @khorazir @fluffbyday-smutbynight @kettykika78

@amindamazed @jaimebluesq @jourqet @auroranibley @ewebie @keirgreeneyes @blogstandbygo @221beloved @inevitably-johnlocked @actually-a-girls-name @johnhwatsonblog @missdaviswrites @hubblegleeflower @unreconstructedfangirl

@loveismyrevolution @may-shepard @mslanna @kimmycup @jourquet @msladysmith @catlock-holmes @loki-lock @alexaprilgarden @three-patch-problem @aziraphalianfangirl @hellonewsletter @beatrixripley @7-percent @topsyturvy-turtely @damnbluewires

Let me know if you would like to be added or removed!

[europeanficwritersretreat2025]

See this post for all the practical info and the link to the registration form.

There's still space for 7 more people!

Don't hesitate to send a chat message if you have any questions!

[helloliriels]

NEW Achievement Unlocked ... 'The Purple Shirt of Sex' - please feel free to download and share! Planning to make a bunch, haha ✌️

Any other 'un-lock-able' achievements ya wanna see? make a suggestion! inbox is OPEN 💘- Liriels

@johnlocky @chinike @rhasima @fluffbyday-smutbynight @friday411 @ghostofnuggetspast @chriscalledmesweetie @totallysilvergirl @sarahthecoat @bluebellofbakerstreet @khorazir @john-smiths-jawline @topsyturvy-turtely @gregorovitch-adler @naefelldaurk @gaylilsherlock @impalaparkedat221b @anyway-kindness @actually-a-girls-name @jobooksncoffee @meetinginsamarra @maiaemerald @kettykika78 @windforkthewriter @strawberrywinter4 @theofficialinternetloner @solarmama-plantsareneat @blogstandbygo @safedistancefrombeingsmart @calaisreno @keirgreeneyes @lisbeth-kk @a-victorian-girl @dragonnan @sgam76 @janetm74 @aquilea-of-the-lonely-mountain @iwlyanmw @missdeliadili @masterofhounds @peanitbear @discordantwords @arwamachine @weeesi @inevitably-johnlocked @dapetty @raina-at @7-percent @jawnn-watson @dinner--starving

[mirrorless-chronicles]

Things to spark writing creativity:

Newspapers, books, and articles (One key way to improve your writing is to improve your reading habits)

Flyers, magazines, pamphlets, and signs

Songs, movies, and shows

Real-life experiences of others or yourself

Historical events, folklore, and mythology

Nature, traveling, and adventures of your own

Dreams and nightmares

Conversations and unique discussions

Art and photography

Personal challenges, emotions, and hardships (Including a personal aspect in your writing can increase your motivation as it adds an emotional connection.)

[myriath]

Also embrace boredom, doing nothing (put away your phone/book/whatever) gives your brain a break and makes it eventually start running in various directions.

Don't forget creativity is within everyone of us. Our brain is wired to be creative. Try replacing the word "but" with the word "and" and "must" with "want", you'll see it will change your thinking and help your brain unblock itself.

And most importantly: Break your routines.

Do you always write indoors at your desk? Try writing in a café. Do you spend most of your time sitting? Go on a walk or exercise. Just bring your brain out of its routine and it will have to get creative.

[thatssofunnybye]

“why do you want to visit London?”

“the aesthetic”

the aesthetic:

[myriath]

After being a good 1.5 years out of fandom and creative activities, I'm finally getting back into it.

It's been 1.5 years with a frozen to-do list that constantly looked at me, judging me for not working on it. But whenever I tried it was impossible. Now it feels finally possible again.

[helloliriels]

FANDOMTRUMPSHATE

I'M DOING IT!!!! I'M OFFERING FIC! AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHHHH!!!

Excited to participate in my 3rd year of FANDOM TRUMPS HATE! The fanworks I will be offering in 2024 are Johnlock/Sherlock related (I know ... shocking!😋), including:

1 FAN 🎨 ART (Any Sherlock, Johnlock, or BBC Mystrade)

1 FAN ✍️ FIC (BBC Johnlock)

Is there a (hopefully fluffy ending) fic you've always wanted to see? Have an idea you want to read but don't want to write? I've never tried this before, but you never know what crazy good can come out of trying new things! so *takes deep breath and jumps in*😏😎🤘Offering art for a third year. Offering fic for the first time. Bahaha! (be gentle with me!) PLEASE SHARE! #FTH 2024! Other fandom creators ... sign-ups are OPEN!!

Much love! - Liriels

Examples of my past ART and WRITING here.

@johnlocky @chinike @rhasima @whatnext2020 @ohlooktheresabee @1-800-get-sherlocked @mentally-unstable-fangirl @impalaparkedat221b @anyway-kindness @glows-n-the-dark @missdeliadili @peanitbear @peageetibbs @kettykika78 @kaursblog11 @chriscalledmesweetie @totallysilvergirl @fluffbyday-smutbynight @hasenkind687 @mrb488 @scrub456 @meetinginsamarra @gregorovitchworld @topsyturvy-turtely @iamjustreading @demonicangeling @dragonnan @bertytravelsfar @kitten-kin @bluebellofbakerstreet @safedistancefrombeingsmart @saki101 @loki-lock @lovelenivy @gaypiningshit @i-call-me-clarence @inatshej @masterofhounds @purplevatican @raina-at @discordantwords @13monkton @sabsi221b @aquilea-of-the-lonely-mountain @geekinator @kabubsmagga @arwamachine @amyreadsandstresses @jobooksncoffee @keirgreeneyes

[lyonneriley]

a little depressing

[dduane]

(muttering) And it's SO annoying.

[myriath]

[dilfosaur]

i realized this was also lost in the fall of the CH website so

since it’s That Time of Year again, i’m just gonna bring back my Every Christmas TV Rom-Com comic

[safedistancefrombeingsmart]

If the BBC Sherlock characters had iPhones...

Oh, Sherlock's notifications for this one app *coughs* are for a case, of course!

[Insp] [Template] by @cal-kestis

[helloliriels]

I didn't know they MoVeD!!!!

[myriath]

Those are great!!

And of course Mycroft's is redacted. He wouldn't want anyone to know that he has a pic of his parents and Sherlock (maybe even plus John) from their last family gathering as a wallpaper.

[maikaartwork]

Artists, let’s talk about Instagram commission scammers

There’s been a huge rise in commission scammers recently, mostly on Instagram. A lot of new artists don’t know what to look out for, so I figured this might help people.

How they begin

Usually the scammer will write to you asking about a commission. Something deceptively cute - mostly I encounter asks about pet portraits, with one or two photos sent. They’ll probably try to sell you a sweet little story, like “It’s for my son’s birthday”. They will insist that they love your artwork and style, even though they don’t follow you or never liked a single piece of your art.

What to look out for:

Their profiles will either be private, empty, or filled with very generic stuff, dating at most a few years back.

Their language will be very simple, rushed or downright bad. They might use weird emojis that nobody ever uses. They will probably send impatient “??” when you don’t answer immediately. They’re in a crunch - lots of people to scam, you know. 

They’ll give you absolutely no guidelines. No hints on style, contents aside from (usually) the pet and often a name written on the artwork, no theme. Anything you draw will be perfect. Full artistic freedom. In reality they don’t really care for this part.

They’ll offer you a ridiculous amount of money. Usually 100 or 300 USD. They’ll often put in a phrase like “I am willing to compensate you financially” and “I want the best you can draw”, peppered with vague praise. It will most likely sound way too good to be true. That’s because it is.

Where the scam actually happens

If you agree, they will ask you for a payment method. They’ll try to get to this part as soon as possible. 

Usually, they’ll insist on PayPal. And not just any PayPal. They’ll always insist on sending you a transfer immediately. None of that PayPal Invoice stuff (although some do have methods for that, too). They’ll really, REALLY want to get your PayPal email address and name for the transfer - that’s what they’re after. If you insist on any other method, they’ll just circle back to the transfer “for easiest method”. If you do provide them with the info, most likely you’ll soon get a scam email. It most likely be a message with a link that will ultimately lead to bleeding you dry. Never, and I mean NEVER click on any emails or links you get from them. It’s like with any other scam emails you can ever get.

A few things can happen here:

They overpay you and ask for the difference to be wired back. Usually it will go to a different account and you’ll never see that money again. 

They’ll overpay you “for shipping costs” and ask you to forward the difference to their shipping company. Just like before, you’ll never see that money again.

The actual owner of the account (yes, they most likely use stolen accounts to wire from) will realize there’s been something sketchy going on and request a refund via official channels. Your account will be charged with fees and/or you get in trouble for fraudulent transactions. 

You will transfer the money from your PayPal credit to your bank account and they will make a shitstorm when they want their money back, making your life a living hell. They will call you a scammer, a thief, make wild claims, wearing you down and forcing you into wiring money “back” - aka to their final destination account. 

Never, EVER wire money to anyone. This is not how it’s supposed to go. Use PayPal Invoice for secure exchanges where the client needs to provide you with their email, not the other way around.

You can find more info on that method HERE.

What to do when you encounter a scammer:

Ask the right questions: inquire about the style, which artwork of yours they like, as much details as you can. They won’t supply you with any good answers.

Don’t let the rush of the exchange, their praise and the promise of insanely good money to get to you. That’s how they operate, that’s how they make you lose vigilance. 

Don’t engage them. As soon as you realize it might be a scam, block them. The sense of urgency they create with their rushed exchange, and pressure they put on you will sooner or later get to you and you might do something that you’ll regret later.

Never wire money to anyone. Never give out your personal data. Never provide your email, name, address or credit card info. 

Don’t be deceived by receiving a payment, if you somehow agree to go along with it. Just because it’s there now doesn’t mean it can’t be withdrawn. 

Here is a very standard example of such an exchange. I realized it’s a scam pretty fast and went along with it, because I wanted good screenshots for you guys, so I tried going very “by the book” with it. 

Please share this post, make it reach as many artists as possible. Let young or inexperienced artists know that this is going on. So many people have no idea that this is a thing. Let’s help each other out. If you think I missed any relevant info, do add it as an rb!

Also, if you know other scam methods that you think should be shared, consider rb-ing this post with them below. Having a master post of scam protection would AWESOME to have in the art community.

[helloliriels]

Good to know! I didn't realize invoice was a thing until recent.

[darcylindbergh]

Sherlock doesn’t wear the suits because he likes the suits. Sherlock wears the suits because he’s an ex-junkie trying to make a career out of helping law enforcement, he’s trying to get people to take him seriously, he’s trying to get people to respect him, to believe him, when he makes a deduction, because if they don’t respect him as an intelligent, competent individual they discount him as a drug addict, as making it up, as lying, as the perpetrator. He is trying, essentially, to run a small business and he needs to look like he’s good at what he does, he needs to look worth paying. Sherlock wears the suits because that’s what a consulting detective would wear, that’s the image his clients expect out of a genius. The suits are only there to sell you on Sherlock the Ruthless Genius who will solve your case by any means.

Sherlock likes to wear soft inside out t-shirts and silk dressing gowns and bare feet, and he’ll like the way John feels on his skin too, if he ever gets the chance to try it.

[sarahthecoat]

i think i must have read this when i was a lurker, so now i get to reblog it for the first time. yes, this.

[helloliriels]

Omg YES.

[sherlocked-development]

And now the story of an army doctor who lost everything, and the one detective who had no choice but to keep him together. [x] [x]

[sherlocked-development]

[dduane]

(snort)

[myriath]

How to get back into a fandom: Visit the place where it is set and do fandom related stuff.

[clambutts]

A study in colours

[spooksicl-e]

eye twitching in thirteen years

[jobooksncoffee]

Goodness ♥️♥️