Perplexed.

Overly attached to fictional characters and universes | She/They | Aotearoa

[swifty-fox]

That’s my friend…wait no that’s my friend….he’s not supposed to be here….

Do you think Ghost James ever visited Sirius in azkaban? 

[dara-art]

The Black Sisters: Andromeda, Bellatrix and Narcissa.

[erin-writes-stuff]

how do i decide if i want to write in first or third person 

[theouterdark]

First Person

Advantages:

You get to know one character quickly and effectively

Builds attachment

Simpler

Let’s you cheat at info dumps

Epistolary stories are an option (journal style like The Martian or Dracula where everything takes place in letters or blogs)

Limitations:

Tougher to distinguish between viewpoint characters with each one you add

Untrustworthy narrator

Hard to be epic in scope

Gives away that the protagonist lives

If your audience doesn’t like the voice of your main character it will be a horrible experience for them

You don’t get the advantages of third person

Third Person

Advantages:

Large casts work better than in First Person

Sometimes better for scene/setting of immediate nature

Epic scope

Best for hiding things from the reader (except for omniscient)

More viewpoint freedom

Easier to off characters

Shows inherent discord (conflicted thoughts and dialogue)

More immersive (for some)

Easier to forgive characters of their mistakes

Limitations:

Can’t cheat on info dumps

Don’t get the advantages of First Person

These are from my notes on Brandon Sanderson’s lectures. I highly recommend them to anyone interested, I believe he is posting the most recent semester on his YouTube once a week.

[writingonesdreams]

This is an excellent break down. Thank you! Makes it much clearer to decide what the story needs.

[ofools]

not gonna say it again!!!!

a BOG is a wetland that is acidic

a FEN is a wetland that is alkaline

[vampireapologist-archive-deacti]

FINALLY someone said it!!!!!!!

[flight-freedom-deactivated20231]

a SWAMP is a wetland that can support trees a MARSH is a wetland that cannot support trees

[omruc]

tumblr posts like this do more for the education system than any public school in america

[thegunlady]

bird twitter is lighting up

[studentlifeproblems]

[konoko]

ghosting everyone because i think i’m annoying

[sabertoothwalrus]

anyway uhhh. baby

[sabertoothwalrus]

I’m kind of regretting not posting this with the original comic but here’s the sequel:

[bogglebeans]

I ship Draco x libraries almost as hard as I ship drarry! (ref)

[mar-mellata]

i found these random screencaps from a movie i’ve never seen and decided to draw this. 👁

[shealwaysreads]

this is so soft and beautiful and peak romance 🧡💖

[mar-mellata]

Draco’s never really kissed anyone (Pansy doesn’t count) (and that was years ago, anyway), so he’s not sure what he’s supposed to do. He feels Potter’s lips part, slightly, his breath warm. “‘s this alright?” he whispers, moving away just an inch.

Draco nods, eyes still closed.

[gendernoncompliantbi]

Thing is is, as much m/f that is produced in the world, as a bi woman, sometimes I want to see a man fall in love with an obviously queer woman. I want to see a man realizing that the woman he is interested in is gnc and that isn't going to change.

[gendernoncompliantbi]

And women fall for GNC men! I want women who are enamored with their soft queer lover.

I want to see masc/masc and fem/fem m/f ships. Wlm and mlw can and should be queer in media.

[gendernoncompliantbi]

You know what, Im seeing my own post again and wanna say.... I wanna see queer makeover scenes and I wanna see the love interest gush.

I want the nerdy conservatively dressed girl bestfriend get her hair done and her fancy clothes on and she appears in a pressed suit. And I want the love interest to loose his breath because she's so handsome in a bow tie and slacks.

I want the guy in a skirt or a dress, I want his love interest so blown away by the way his nylons look.

I wanna see the girl give the boy a corsage.

I want gnc bi love. I want gnc love period ngl.

[fw00shy]

Debts Owed

Malfoys never borrow. Draco learns this the first time he reaches for Father’s quill and receives his own instead. It’s an easy lesson, and he swallows it comfortably as he does the word “mine”: My room, My broom, My books. My father will hear about this. 

Draco’s world inverts when Harry saves his life. “Pay it off,” Father hisses from behind bars, so Draco tries. He forces his way into the Aurors, onto Harry’s missions, into any possible opportunity to even the scales. But instead, Draco’s debt only grows when Harry saves him so often that Draco finds himself transforming, morphing into something of Harry’s making. Like in breathing on borrowed time, he’s become something to own.

———————–

For January’s Drarry Discord Drabble Challenge! 117 words, prompt: borrowed

[jittery-wisp]

[xanthippe74]

Drarry microfic: Bonfire

Come over tonight? I’m burning my relatives.

Harry arrived in the neglected rose garden at dusk, as the note instructed, and found Draco staring down a wobbly pile of oil, canvas, and wood.

“The Manor’s magic keeps hanging them back up, no matter where I stash them. And I’m tired of being called a disappointment and a traitor in my own bloody house.”

Draco cast the Incendio and basked in the rising flames, wrapped in Harry’s arms. Over the roar of the bonfire, three centuries of Malfoys screamed while the dying embers of their hatred floated into the night sky.

[the-arrival-of-the-bee-box]

I really live for wing(wo)man Pansy.

[sitp-recs]

you’re 29??! i can’t believe it!! i just turned 23 and i was feeling really ashamed of still being involved in fandom. not to mention, still reading fanfic. i know the hp fandom is really old but i always assumed the older fans just kinda left as they got older and started careers and families. now i’m starting to wonder how many of the hp (and drarry) blogs i follow are run by people that are around 30! also, i don’t wanna make it seem like i think you’re old. i honestly don’t!!! i guess i just had this idea that people naturally lose interest in their fandoms as they get older and i’m amazed (and relieved) that’s not the case!

Hi anon. I was very sad to read this because I’ve never felt ashamed to be here, and I don’t think you or anyone else should, either. It breaks my heart to see age being perceived as something “bad”, or at the very least as a factor that would make us abandon interests we had back when we were 20. I remember thinking that my life would be settled by the time I was 30, but the truth is the older you get, the more you realize you still have no idea what the fuck is going on; the difference is that accepting that brings a much needed amount of self-reflection, which hopefully will provide some wisdom/peace of mind instead of more frustrated expectations.

I can confidently say that at 29 I feel way more centered and self-assured about my interests, talents, flaws, limits and possibilities than I’ve ever felt at 20. That’s one of the reasons why I’m able to curate my fandom experience so well nowadays, and that brings me a level of joy and satisfaction I didn’t use to have because back then I didn’t know myself that well - and that’s okay! Experimenting is part of growing up, and that step is as important as it’s painful.

I get that everyone deals with aging differently, but to assume that fandoms and blogs are run by 20 year olds is to ignore fandom history itself. We didn’t invent fandom; it’s been around for almost as long as our ages combined, and maybe even longer - I don’t know for certain if Star Trek and The Man from U.N.C.L.E were the very first ones. We owe these folks so much; they were the foundation of fic spaces, they’re at the origins of Tumblr and AO3 communities, and the fics we celebrate as ‘classics’ today were all written by them. Consider this: the first HP book was published in 1997. The fandom has been around for 20 years, which means the HP generation - those who were Harry’s age or older, and who grew up reading those stories - are now in their 40s-50s.

That doesn’t exclude younger folks from the community by any means! I just think it’s super important to acknowledge other generations’ ongoing contribution and to see this as an adult space, formed by an adult fanbase with adult interests. We’re lucky enough that they decided to stick around and share their passion and talent with us, or we wouldn’t have a catalogue of almost 50k fics (and that’s only on AO3!) at our disposal 🙌🏼

This is getting long and I apologize if I sound patronizing or rude, it’s not my intention at all! I just hope this gives you a bit of perspective because ageism in fandom is a real thing that can be really harmful not only to creators but to fans in general. Some things only click as we collect more life experience, but I hope I have helped you let go of any feelings of shame or inadequacy about reading fic or being part of any fandom. If it makes you happy, that’s all that should matter. I for one have been around for almost 20 years and I’m certainly not going anywhere ;) cheers!

[lower-east-side]

This is a really great response, and may I also add to it something that goes beyond the bounds of fandom: 

I’ve seen this sentiment often, that younger fans are surprised people can still be in fandom when they have ‘careers and families,’ and also them being assured that yes, this is the case. And yes, it is indeed the case, but may I also reassure you that you don’t have to have a career and family? If you go through your teens and early twenties assuming this is the endgame, you are going to feel a shock if it doesn’t happen for you, and may feel like a failure. You aren’t. The world is difficult, and these things might not happen for people that want them. But also some people just don’t want them.

“If it makes you happy, that’s all that should matter” applies to fandom for sure but it also applies to life.

[pineau-noir]

I didn't get into fandom and fanfic until my late 30s and honestly, it has been so good for my mental health. I've found some amazing friends and I have a creative outlet and I get to read stories. All the time.

For free!

Fandom is amazing and I know several super talented authors in several fandoms who are 20+ years older than my 40. Enjoying something shouldn't have an expiration date.