books, and stories, the "written"word

bibliophiles unite

[avaantares]

Fanfiction Authors: HEADS UP

(Non-authors, please RB to signal boost to your author friends!)

An astute reader informed me this morning that one of my fics (Children of the Future Age) had been pirated and was being sold as a novel on Amazon:

(And they weren't even creative with their cover design. If you're going to pirate something that I spent a full year of my life writing, at least give me a pretty screenshot to brag about later. Seriously.)

I promptly filed a DMCA complaint to have it removed, but I checked out the company that put it up -- Plush Books -- and it looks like A LOT of their books are pirated fic. They are by no means the only ones doing this, either -- the fact that """publishers""" can download stories from AO3 in ebook format and then reupload them to Amazon in just a few clicks makes fic piracy a common problem. There are a whole host of reasons why letting this continue is bad -- including actual legal risk to fanfiction archives -- but basically:

IF YOU ARE A FANFIC AUTHOR WITH LONG AND/OR POPULAR WORKS, PLEASE CHECK AMAZON TO SEE IF YOUR STORIES HAVE BEEN PIRATED.

You can search for your fics by title, or by text from the description (which is often just copied wholesale from AO3 as well). If you find that someone has stolen your work and is selling it as their own, you can lodge a DMCA complaint (Amazon.com/USA site; other countries have different systems). If you haven't done this before, it's easy! Here's a tutorial:

HOW TO FILE A COPYRIGHT COMPLAINT FOR STOLEN WORK ON AMAZON.COM:

First, go to this form. You'll need to be signed into your Amazon account.

Select the radio buttons/dropdown options (shown below) to indicate that you are the legal Rights Owner, you have a copyright concern, and it is about a pirated product.

Enter the name of your story in the Name of Brand field.

In the Link to the Copyrighted Work box, enter a link to the story on AO3 or whatever site your work is posted on.

In the Additional Information box, explain that you are the author of the work and it is being sold without your permission. That's all you really need. If you want, you can include additional information that might be helpful in establishing the validity of your claim, but you don't have to go into great detail. You can simply write something like this:

I am the author of this work, which is being sold by [publisher] without my permission. I originally published this story in [date/year] on [name of site], and have provided a link to the original above. On request, I can provide documentation proving that I am the owner of the account that originally posted this story.

In the ASIN/ISBN-10 field, copy and paste the ID number from the pirated copy's URL. You'll find this ten-digit number in the Amazon URL after the word "product," as in the screenshot below. (If the URL extends beyond this number, you can ignore everything from the question mark on.) Once this number has been added, Amazon will pull the product information automatically and add it to the complaint form, so you can check the listing title and make sure it's correct.

Finally, add your contact information to the relevant fields, check the "I have read and accept the statements" box, and then click Submit. You should receive an email confirmation that Amazon has received the form.

Please share this information with your writer friends, keep an eye out for/report pirated works, and help us keep fanfiction free and legally protected!

NOTE: All of the above also applies to Amazon products featuring stolen artwork, etc., so fan artists should check too!

[robbersdjh-deactivated20221115]

“‘prompts: 1) things you said at 1 am 2) things you said through your teeth 3) things you said too quietly 4) things you said over the phone 5) things you didn’t say at all 6) things you said under the stars and in the grass 7) things you said while we were driving 8) things you said when you were crying 9) things you said when I was crying 10) things you said that made me feel like shit 11) things you said when you were drunk 12) things you said when you thought I was asleep 13) things you said at the kitchen table 14)things you said after you kissed me 15) things you said with too many miles between us 16) things you said with no space between us 17) things you said that I wish you hadn’t 18) things you said when you were scared 19) things you said when we were the happiest we ever were 20) things you said that I wasn’t meant to hear 21) things you said when we were on top of the world 22) things you said after it was over 23) things you said on the streetcar at 1 am 24) things you said with clenched fists 25) things you said in the back seat of a cab 26) things you said sitting still 27) things you said on the phone at 4 am 28) things you said but not out loud 29) things you said in the backyard at night 30) things you said on the highway 31) things you said while I cried in your arms 32) things you said I wouldn’t understand 33) things you said at the back of the theatre 34) things you said in your sleep 35) things you said that made me feel real 36) things you said you’ll never forget 37) things you said with the tv on mute 38)things you said while holding my hand’ 39) things you said when we first met 40) things you said when you met my parents 41) things you said you loved about me 42) things you said when you asked me to marry you 43) things you said in our vows 44) things you said before you kissed me 45) things you said on new year’s eve 46) things you said when you kissed me goodnight 47) things you said in a hotel room 48) things you said on our honeymoon 49) things you said when we were 18 50) things you said when we were 70 51) things you said as we danced in our socks 52) things you said with my lips on your neck 53) things you said in the dark 54) things you always meant to say but never got the chance 55) things you said under your breath 56) things you said in the spur of the moment 57) things you said when no one else was around 58) things you were afraid to say 59) things you said after we fell in love 60) things you said [make your own]”

—

the ones with single quotes aren’t mine, but the rest are. great story and fic prompts

reblog if you want your followers to send you a number and pairing to write a fic about

[snake-and-mouse]

To any fic writers who worry they are wasting their time... I read a fic for a relatively small and inactive fandom about three years ago. And there was one specific scene where a character watched another dancing like an idiot to a beyonce song and it was so sweet and loving that even now years later I have that song on one of my spotify playlist so every once in a while it will play and remind me of that fic, and every time it does I smile and feel a little happier.

The stats on a fic will never really tell you if your writing touched someone. There's no numerical way to show you what impact you made. Maybe you are wasting time, or maybe you are writing something that someone will remember for a long time, something that will never fail to make them smile.

[derinthescarletpescatarian]

Never forget how much fun writing is. You get to make up little guys and other people will love the little guys (because of their stupid human pack bonding brains) and then you can do things to the guys and make readers feel things. You get to make up little mysteries and put them in and watch readers tear themselves apart puzzling it out, but you don’t have to go through that, you’re safe because you know. You already know all the answers and they don’t. You get to put a guy in a situation and surround him with mysteries and be like “hahaha everyone is going to HATE this.”

But they won’t leave. No. They’ll stay to see what happens to the guy and what the answers are. You can force them to think and feel things for YEARS.

[writing-prompt-s]

You were born of a sacrilegious union. Your green dragon mom never figured the knight she seduced while masquerading as a noblewoman was a silver dragon in disguise. You’d no idea either, born a human orphan. When your dragon blood awoke, so did the dangers which all your heritage entails.

[worddevourer]

“I was born half dragon.”

“Oh shit, what’s the other half?”

“Different dragon.

[readerofthewilderwest]

#“i’m two halfs dragon” “that’s just being a whole dragon” “no”

[meu-meu-kissy-ceutie]

“im two halves dragon” “thats just being a whole dragon” “YOUD FUCKING THINK SO WOULDNT YOU”

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Angsty Question Prompts #2

Some angsty dialogue prompts for your next story!

"Is this all there is to life?"

"Don't you miss me anymore?"

"Why am I never good enough?"

"How many times do I have to say it?"

"What could be so terrible that you can't tell me?"

"Is this not what you wanted?"

"Why don't you just leave me alone?"

"What other secrets did you keep from me?"

"How can you let them do this to you?"

"When did we lose sight of what was important?"

"Why don't you understand how much you've hurt me?"

"Have you ever tried to get help?"

"Why do I feel like you're still lying?"

"When will all of this end?"

"How can you live like this?"

"Would you say that it was worth it?"

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Is this the last time I will see you?"

"Why won't you let me help you?"

"Is there anything else you would like to tell me?"

Part I

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

[foeofcolor]

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Random Names

Part III

A list of random names that I've come across to give you some variety for your next characters.

Marietta (f)

Nadim/Nadeem (m)

Judy (f)

Büşra (f)

Nandi (m)

Lodovica (f)

Keanu (m)

Blanche (f)

Haakon/Håkon (m)

Adrien (m)

Thekla (f)

Nevio (m)

Riana (f)

Atilla (m)

Elif (f)

Sigurd (m)

Kalani (f)

Hugo (m)

Birgitta (f)

Kalle (m)

Rieka (f)

Holmer/Holmar (m)

Junus/Yunus/Junuz (m)

Sophia/Sofia/Zsófia (f)

Tian (m)

Saumana (f)

Mailin (f)

Álvaro (m)

Héloise (f)

Manon (f)

More names!

[writing-prompt-s]

You were a baby created by a wish, and you learn the cost of that when you hear about one of your friends' cousins touching seawater and dying on contact. Children like you are fatally vulnerable to something, whether it's snow, silver, too much distance from your home or even kisses. You don't know what your weakness is yet. How will you find out what it is and avoid it?

[writing-prompt-s]

When time came for the princess’ coronation, she is framed for treason and chased from the kingdom by a prince who wants the throne. For three years, the prince has bulked up military to hunt her down. Now, as she comes to take her kingdom back, she finds a clone in her place.

[writing-prompt-s]

You’re a witch who often trades your skills for firstborn children. Write about a day in your home.

[writing-prompt-s]

There is a monster that steals voices, you live in a community where everyone is voiceless. one day a stranger enters your town, asking for directions… In a familiar voice.

[elidyce]

Our village isn’t silent. We’ve made sure of that. We’ve hung wind-chimes, tamed songbirds, built fountains and little waterfalls. The dogs still bark, the cats still mew, the chickens and goats and cows still make sounds. 

There are no human voices left, but our village is not silent. 

It started two years ago. Every night, while we slept, one person’s voice vanished. When they woke, though they seemed perfectly healthy, they could not utter a sound. One every night, until even the babies cried silently. It was never a large village. Before spring came again, it was done. 

Two babies have been born since then. They cried on the first day, and then never again. 

It took some time, but our scholar and our priestess made a language of gestures and signs, and we all learned. The language is still growing, we’re still finding new words to make, but it works. The youngest children don’t even remember speaking with words. 

Now and then, travellers come through. The ones who remember the village before generally don’t come back a second time. Our silence frightens them. Strangers find it a little odd, but it’s a nice village. The inn is comfortable, and the food and beer are good. It’s not the biggest pass through the mountains, but there’s always a steady trickle of travellers in summer, who buy our goods and drink our beer and learn a few of our signs. 

Keep reading

[promptsforthestrugglingauthor]

Writing Prompt #1933

"Am I wrong? Or are you just deluded?"

"Some of us don't confused apathy with enlightenment."

[theworldofprompts]

Your main character discovers their lover leading a protest

[writing-prompt-s]

For 1 day out of the year, Death becomes mortal, and gets to humble herself with a mortal life and explore humanity. She has done so through time, but never made attachments. But for the first time; she experiences true love with a mortal and its pain of losing them to old age.

[darklesmylove]

[holylulusworld]

Accurate. 🥺😫

[quillandinkwell]

Throw back to when my sign language teacher gave us an assignment and I gave him back this nonsense. Our final was a packet of tasks. Most were related to sign language. The last one however was different. He just asked us to suit something. He was very vague, but did say it didn't have to be ASL related. So I submitted the below story. I can't even remember what he wrote about it but I recall he enjoyed it. Anyway have this nonsense that helped me pass my Sign final.

Lilith wanders the graveyard on her way home. As she passes, voices call out to her. Some beg to return to a land they are no longer a part of. Others simply wish for a message to be passed on to a loved one. She listens, without answer, and makes her way. She learned her lesson years ago. Never answer someone you aren’t prepared to fully indulge. She makes note of those asking for her to pass on messages. She’ll research their names later and do her best to find their relatives. Some souls merely greet her with a “hello” or a soft “thank you” as their requests have been answered. Others simply smile or seem to watch her curiously. There are those who glare as she passes. The ones she can’t help. They ask too much, or have no one to pass a message to anymore. She takes the long way through. This is partially to give a chance to communicate to as many as possible, but also partially to avoid the children’s section. The babies hurt her the most. They don’t make requests, don’t barter, plead, or beg. They simply wail. They cry out for a comfort they are no longer afforded. The young, the unborn, those who died at birth, or shortly after. They call for a mother that can not help them. Even in a graveyard there are places you don’t go. Some things are best left buried, unanswered, and ignored.