Rachel Is Writing

I'm here, i'm queer, i'm writing and reading and watching. Always watching

[racheliswritingfic]

“Ballum Big Bang 2020 entry”

The Ex Factor

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25315921

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Word count: 15205 words

Rating: Teen and up

Tags: post breakup, established relationship, alternate universe- reality show, fluff and angst, ballum Big Bang 2020

Ben Mitchell has always dreamed about a music career, when he gets asked to be part of a new TV reality competition he jumps at the chance.

Callum Highway is relishing in a new role as handler for contestants on a tv show, when he realises one of the people auditioning is someone he used to know.

Will Ben reach for superstardom or realise the top prize is something (or someone) else entirely?

Beta https://scarletseidhr.tumblr.com/

Artist https://bisexualalienblast.tumblr.com/ (AMAZING thank you so much!)

AMAZING ART IS HERE. Insert key smash at the clip of max singing!! https://bisexualalienblast.tumblr.com/post/623869112743034881/ballum-big-bang-2020-artwork-2-the-ex-factor also the photo at the top is theirs!! I’m crying 😢

This is part one, the second part will be a chaptered fic posted every Saturday at 8pm like most UK reality shows are!!

This wouldn’t be possible at all without the help and support from the wonderful @kay-okays @leblonde and my senpai @jestbee .

Babykaykes I owe you my life, you dragged me into this fandom and helped me in more ways than you will ever know. I might shame you about chicken legs but please know it comes from a place of love.

Babybel, you are a light in the dark, your sweetness and joy touches all who need it, your friendship has been the best thing of 2020 and I hope it lasts for many more. I love you ms blonde (4 haha)

Red. My senpai, what can I say that I haven’t already told you. You mean the whole world, you deserve the whole world. You are so very loved and I’m so proud of the way you are taking your talent in this little world of fic writing. I will always be your #1

Right that’s enough sap from me, everyone knows I’m a soulless being without a heart.

[ballumbigbang]

WRITERS SUMMARIES 15/02/2021

Good afternoon everyone! 

We are pleased to finally be able to share with you each of the summaries for the 2021 fic collection! If you are an Artist/Beta for the event, please read the list carefully, and choose your top 5 options to work with - from here we will assign you 1-2 to work with over the next few months! 

HOW TO SEND US YOUR CHOICES: Please send an ASK to the @ballumbigbang​ inbox, stating 1. The name of YOUR blog that you are participating with (if you send from your main, when your EE blog is a side blog, we won’t know who you are!) 2. Your top five choices of fics to work with - when writing these, make sure you include the assigned letter of the alphabet, and the AU writing (in bold below) 3. Lastly, if there is any persons you do not wish to work with, or any triggers you wish to avoid, please let us know - this is completely confidential, and helps things run smoother on our end. If this does not apply to you, please tell us it is not applicable, that way we know you’ve read and understand this post. 

The reason we are doing requests via our ASKs this year is so we have a definitive timeline of who requested people when, making our first-come-first-serve basis much more fair than if it were dependent on when your mod was online.

If you have any questions, please send us an ASK, or message your mod.

Now, without further ado, here are the summaries of the Ballum Big Bang 2021 fics!

Keep reading

[racheliswritingfic]

Oh hi my summary. Also I’m not bodyguard or you’ve got Mail but if either of those people would like to marry me because they sound *chefs kiss*

[ballumbigbang]

ANNOUNCEMENT 24/01/2021

Good evening everyone! Due to the large number of Writers in comparison to Artists and Betas, we have decided to close the BBB2021 Writers sign-up form early. If you wish to participate as a Writer and have not yet signed up, please do so before 00:01am GMT 27th January 2021. (Essentially, Tuesday is the last day you may sign up as a writer.) Any Writer applications after this point will be void. All accepted Writers, if not in contact already, will be contacted on the 27th. Please note if you signed up a while ago and have not yet received a welcome message, these are going out in batches. 

We are cutting this sign-up period short due to the continually rising number of Writer applicants, as the Artist and Beta applicant numbers stay the same.

On Wednesday 27th January, the sign up form will have been open one month, and we plan to close the Artist/Beta form on the Wednesday 10th February, after which, the schedule will continue as planned. 

Please signal boost this post, and make sure all your artist/beta friends know! We are looking to improve on our formula from last year, and we are looking forward to seeing what everyone creates!

SIGN UP HERE!

[racheliswritingfic]

We need artists and betas for our Big Bang, please sign up, even if you aren’t into ballum you can still help our writers out 💜💜

[racheliswritingfic]

Realised I didn’t share the amazing #billhader #richietozier Funko Pop my sister @kathrynxjane hand made for me for Christmas! IT Chapter 2 didn’t get a funko release so now I have this one of a kind art instead 🥰🥰💖 https://www.instagram.com/p/CJyXKbcBr8G/?igshid=hnl97nauti34

[ballumbigbang]

SIGN UP FORM OPEN

Welcome to the Ballum Big Bang 2021! The sign up form is officially open, and will stay open until the 31/01/2021 for writers, and the 05/02/2021 for artists and betas. If you wish to take part in the 2021 Big Bang, please fill out the form HERE or at the bottom of this post. 

The Ballum Big Bang 2021 is a creative event where writers and artists in the Ballum and Eastenders fandom come together to create content for the fandom. Writers will create 8k+ fics, which will be accompanied by 2+ pieces of art. All of these pieces will be given dedicated days to be posted in the summer, and the fandom will come together to support the work of one another. 

The Bang was founded last year in 2020, and was a huge success given the uncertain time in which it took place. We hope this year to run smoother and reach even further as we open the posting season in July 2021.

We look forward to seeing everyone sign up, and you will each be contacted confirmation of your participation. In the new year, more information will continue to be released including a schedule, mod groups, and FAQ. On that note, if you have any questions, please send them in here. 

LINK TO SIGN UP FORM

[racheliswritingfic]

Ok I’m in, I think, maybe?

[racheliswritingfic]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 10/10 Fandom: EastEnders (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Callum "Halfway" Highway/Ben Mitchell Characters: Callum "Halfway" Highway, Ben Mitchell, Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s) Additional Tags: Post-Break Up, Established Relationship, Alternate Universe - Reality Show, Fluff and Angst, crack me in half tony clay, Getting Back Together, Angst with a Happy Ending, Mutual Pining, POV Alternating Series: Part 2 of The Ex Factor Summary:

Ben Mitchell has always dreamed about a music career, when he gets asked to be part of a new TV reality competition he jumps at the chance.

Callum Highway is relishing in a new role as handler for contestants on a tv show, when he realises one of the people auditioning is someone he used to know.

Will Ben reach for superstardom or realise the top prize is something (or someone) else entirely?

COMPLETED IT AWWWWWW YEAH BOI!

[racheliswritingfic]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 9/10 Fandom: EastEnders (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Callum "Halfway" Highway/Ben Mitchell Characters: Callum "Halfway" Highway, Ben Mitchell, Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s) Additional Tags: Post-Break Up, Established Relationship, Alternate Universe - Reality Show, Fluff and Angst, crack me in half tony clay, Getting Back Together, Angst with a Happy Ending, Mutual Pining, POV Alternating Series: Part 2 of The Ex Factor Summary:

Ben Mitchell has always dreamed about a music career, when he gets asked to be part of a new TV reality competition he jumps at the chance.

Callum Highway is relishing in a new role as handler for contestants on a tv show, when he realises one of the people auditioning is someone he used to know.

Will Ben reach for superstardom or realise the top prize is something (or someone) else entirely?

[racheliswritingfic]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 8/10 Fandom: EastEnders (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Callum "Halfway" Highway/Ben Mitchell Characters: Callum "Halfway" Highway, Ben Mitchell, Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s) Additional Tags: Post-Break Up, Established Relationship, Alternate Universe - Reality Show, Fluff and Angst, crack me in half tony clay, Getting Back Together, Angst with a Happy Ending, Mutual Pining, POV Alternating Series: Part 2 of The Ex Factor Summary:

Ben Mitchell has always dreamed about a music career, when he gets asked to be part of a new TV reality competition he jumps at the chance.

Callum Highway is relishing in a new role as handler for contestants on a tv show, when he realises one of the people auditioning is someone he used to know.

Will Ben reach for superstardom or realise the top prize is something (or someone) else entirely?

[leblonde]

i want your heart to beat for me

*ballum lockdown fic*

AO3 Link

Word Count: 21k

Rating: PG-13

“Callum had never really considered how he might fall in love with someone, other than to believe it probably would never happen. He definitely didn’t think it would be while he was sat on a child’s swing, holding a sandwich and an iced bun (which he would later eat before the sandwich, covering his suit with pastry flakes), staring up at someone who he only knows as Jay’s brother who likes to make puns about types of wood. But, there it was. Love. Instant and immediate, like a thunderbolt from the sky.”

Or: Callum’s feelings for Ben are complicated. They’re about to get a lot more complicated when he agrees to be his fake boyfriend.

Tags: Alternate Universe: Canon Divergence; Friends to Enemies to Lovers; Fake Relationship; Mutual Pining; Angst; Highway Family Backstory; Smiley Face Eggs; Every Fake Relationship Trope Possible; Leggings

A gift for @ballumschmallum! - my stalking of your blog, combined with some crafty asks, confirmed that you like friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, and fake relationships so here is a fic which hopefully combines all of those things. plus some dermot kennedy and doctor who references. i so hope that you like it <3 

[racheliswritingfic]

It might not be for me but I’m accepting the gift of the final tag 😂

[racheliswritingfic]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 6/? Fandom: EastEnders (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Callum "Halfway" Highway/Ben Mitchell Characters: Callum "Halfway" Highway, Ben Mitchell, Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s) Additional Tags: Post-Break Up, Established Relationship, Alternate Universe - Reality Show, Fluff and Angst, crack me in half tony clay, Getting Back Together, Angst with a Happy Ending, Mutual Pining, POV Alternating Series: Part 2 of The Ex Factor Summary:

Ben Mitchell has always dreamed about a music career, when he gets asked to be part of a new TV reality competition he jumps at the chance.

Callum Highway is relishing in a new role as handler for contestants on a tv show, when he realises one of the people auditioning is someone he used to know.

Will Ben reach for superstardom or realise the top prize is something (or someone) else entirely?

[racheliswritingfic]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 5/? Fandom: EastEnders (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Callum "Halfway" Highway/Ben Mitchell Characters: Callum "Halfway" Highway, Ben Mitchell, Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s) Additional Tags: Post-Break Up, Established Relationship, Alternate Universe - Reality Show, Fluff and Angst, crack me in half tony clay, Getting Back Together, Angst with a Happy Ending, Mutual Pining, POV Alternating Series: Part 2 of The Ex Factor Summary:

Ben Mitchell has always dreamed about a music career, when he gets asked to be part of a new TV reality competition he jumps at the chance.

Callum Highway is relishing in a new role as handler for contestants on a tv show, when he realises one of the people auditioning is someone he used to know.

Will Ben reach for superstardom or realise the top prize is something (or someone) else entirely?

[totallyradioactive15]

⭐️🌸💗 Fanfiction Writers Appreciation Day 💗🌸⭐️

A bit late to the party but I equally wanted to show my appreciation to all the amazing fanfiction writers in this fandom! (I had written this out a moment ago but tumblr deleted it before I could post 😭, so this is round two)

Fanfiction has been a huge part of my life for a long time but I’ve never known so many talented writers all in once place! I feel that sometimes fanfiction gets a really bad rep and people who don’t follow a fandom honestly do not understand the joy of reading a good quality well written fic, from brilliant AUs to hot smut and everything in the middle! We are so lucky to have so many people that write for FREE! some of which are novel worthy!

Ballum fanfiction literally got me through lockdown and the EE hiatus, I would have never been able to survive it without it.. and that’s all thanks to you guys 💗 so I’d like to shout out to some of my favourite authors:

@dingletragedy @callumsmitchells @stuffymcrandom @icantdowithoutyou @artsy-highway @halfwayinit @minimitchell @calthighway @thefancyspin @moodyblueangel @stillamess22 @yasisworld @ballym @oceandawning @maxsbowden @yougaythen @persephonierose123 @ballumschmallum @laurenkmyers @they-call-me-halfway

( I’m sorry if I’ve left anyone out!) - I love you guys so much and ALL of the fics you post 💗(please don’t make me chose a favourite 😂)

Also want to shout out to those writers that I don’t think are on here inc: WatMcGregor/withoutwords/ callumsxbeanie / Witch_of_agnesi / Rachellswriting / ElectricBlueGirl / Smugdendingle 💕

P.S - I know everyone is really struggling at the moment due to lack of readership/kudos & comments but we can do this! We need to stick together and I do believe it will get better we just need to believe in ourselves and others!

xxx

[racheliswritingfic]

thank you so much, I’m soft over your lovely words thank you ❤️❤️

[leblonde]

fanfic writers appreciation day!

before i even start, i am very new to ballum fandom, i’ve only written one and 1/7 of fic so far but, honestly, shoutout to this entire fandom and it’s writers. i am truly amazed by how lovely and supportive you all are of each other, of new writers, of fic fests. i have felt incredibly welcome from the moment i hit post on my bigbang fic <3 thank you to anyone who tagged me in something today and took the time to send a kind message. 

writing fic has always been something of an escape from reality for me, and reading fic is even more so. it amazes me every day that people dedicate their talent to writing actual works of art for free on the internet.

and so here are just a few of my favourite talented work of art creators:

@racheliswritingfic; @kay-okays; @dingletragedy; @halfwayinit; @callumsmitchells; @thefancyspin; @ballumschmallum; @yasisworld @oceandawning; @juguitos; @icantdowithoutyou

i am fully forgetting people because, honestly, i’m new and still catching up on the sheer amount of wonderful writing so please let me know whose entire back catalogue i should read next. i’ll do it <3 

[racheliswritingfic]

Babybel I love you a huge muchness, a light in my darkness, the Rose to our Dorothy and Sophia, I wish for you a billion things and hope you get a billion more 💙💙

[yasisworld]

fanfic writer appreciation day

“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.”

— Franz Kafka on writing

a huge shout out to: @calthighway, @stillamess22, @icantdowithoutyou, @softlofty, @thefancyspin, @dingletragedy, @callumsmitchells, @juguitos, @halfwayinit, @stuffymcrandom, @amsaro, @totallyradioactive15, @they-call-me-halfway, @leblonde, @oceandawning, @escapingreality51, @capseycartwright, @some-mad-lunge, @misswhimsy, @quicksilvermaid, @laurenkmyers, @racheliswritingfic, @ballumschmallum, @artsy-highway, @howlingsaturn, @kay-okays, @rubyallens, @biggayhighway, @permetstu, @sunsetsover, @bernietaylors, @persephonierose123, @minimitchell (I’m pretty sure I’m forgetting people and I’m so sorry about that).

be it today or three years ago, you guys have written fics that I’ve enjoyed and read over and over again. never let anyone make you feel worthless because you’ve created something that made me and others smile, that made us happy. something that made our day. without you fandom would be poorer. I admire you and you guys inspire me 💖💖💖

[racheliswritingfic]

Thank you so much for including me in this, ive never been included in posts like this before so I’m feeling a bit emosh right now ❤️❤️

[yrsonpurpose]

✨ fanfic writer appreciation ✨

a massive thank you to all the writers that have given us some amazing content! here are some of my favourite fics that i would highly recommended you read! 💕

@artsy-highway | someone to you

@callumsmitchells | i can't get over the way (you love me like you do)

@calthighway | what if this world was the end of the road

@dingletragedy | since that night the moon has never seemed the same

@halfwayinit | beer fear

@icantdowithoutyou | I was just trying to survive the night

@juguitos | scenes, contracts, and falling in love

@moodyblueangel | canning town

@minimitchell | healing hands, healing hearts

@oceandawning | third time lucky

@softlofty | chasing rainbows

@stillamess22 | take away the fear

@thefancyspin | stars collide

@racheliswritingfic | the ex factor

@yasisworld | our love was fate

[racheliswritingfic]

Oh.

I’ve never been tagged in one of these before, thank you so much it means the world to me to be recognised ❤️❤️

[racheliswritingfic]

Chapter 4 of my Ballum fic is now live!!

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Describing my fic in two pics

[phandom-of-the-discourse-deacti]

[racheliswritingfic]

Aw the dog balloon, I was at the event with the person who gave him this (I won’t claim it was me, but it was kinda from my kid as well)