168 Hours of Playtime

Jess. 25. Mostly Marvel, Multifandom, and McElroys (and humor too but that’s not alliterative) Thanks for stopping by (◠‿◠✿)

[imissthembutitwasntadisaster]

Alright tell me in the tags, what’s Your Poem? That poem you heard once and it has dwelt within you ever since?

[estel-system]

[werewolfmack]

#you can argue about whether or not it’s a poem#but the scrapped presidential speech in the event of a failed moon landing#it haunts me in ways little writing ever has

[catchymemes]

[ao3commentoftheday]

Hello.

On the subject of AI, I have a confession to make: I use it. Not to write for me, but to help me check for inconsistencies, to brainstorm ideas, to write outlines, to give me a couple of lines when I've been stuck for hours, to be my beta reader, if you will. Generative AI is bad? Yes, but it also a useful tool if one isn't lazy. I don't ask: write me a story. I go with my story and ask: help me with continuity. Look, this paragraph is clunky, how do I make it better? The demonization of generative AI is fair, but to be honest, I also understand people who use it. Maybe they're afraid of writing themselves, maybe they're insecure and don't trust their prose. Maybe they have brilliannt ideas but they need help to make them become fics.

To me, this is very much connected to my last ask where I was talking about how we don't have enough mentors in fandom to support the influx of people entering it.

All of the things that you're asking AI to do used to be done by a beta reader (or more than one!). A fandom friend (or even a random stranger who volunteered) would read through your work and help you with those issues.

Betas are amazing. They can help with grammar and spelling. They can regionalize language. They can provide sensitivity reading if they're from a marginalized community that you're writing about and aren't a member of. They can track canon, help with research, even just be a sounding board to discuss ideas with.

And sometimes, they're just a cheer reader - someone reading your story and telling you how awesome it is because they love it just as much as you do.

I understand turning to AI if you 1) don't know beta readers exist or 2) don't know how to obtain one. The need for that kind of support doesn't go away just because you can't access it.

But for anyone out there who needs this kind of help and wants to avoid Gen AI, you can write a post on your blog, add it to an author's note, check out resources like @needabeta or - if the time of year is right and you have the funds - place a bid on beta reading services during @fandomtrumpshate

Beta readers are often involved in fandom events like big bangs and exchanges, and if anyone is looking to host such an event, it's a great way to get people involved who aren't writers or artists but would love to help out.

I get it, anon. We use the tools that are available to us. But here's another potential tool if you're interested in branching out?

[notwritinganyflufftoday]

Sometimes it's scary to post a message asking for beta readers, you are putting yourself out there, you have no idea who might respond to your message (if anyone at all) and nowadays a lot of bots are muddying the waters.

I definitely recommend searching a beta reader within the fandom you're writing for rather than someone who knows nothing about it.

And when you don't immediately get a response, ask again. This comes from a person (me) who is now two and a half years into dating the girl who replied to my 'I need a beta reader' post that I was debating to reblog that day.

Sometimes I wonder where our lives would be if I hadn't reblogged it or if she had skipped past the post.

Fandom is a community of people with shared interests. It's supposed to make it easier for us to become friends, hang out and talk for hours.

Not a single AI tool in the world is capable of giving (fandom) writers/artists/creators what they actually need.

Connection.

[mprosperossprite]

YES YES YES YES YES.

AND: betas who like beta-ing (and are good at it) are flattered when you ask us!

The best way to find good betas is to look at your favorite fics. If they have a beta, and the beta has their own AO3 profile or tumblr, consider reaching out to them!

A good beta request message do two things:

1. Recognize the past work the beta has done (eg “[fic title] has some of the best characterization and the author mentioned that you played a big role helping them with that”)

2. Ask for what kind of help you’re looking for: spag only, cheerleading, help with continuity or characterization or pacing or whatever! (eg “I’m looking for a beta who can help me make sure the emotional beats are landing.”)

Boom! At the very least you'll have made someone's day. Even better, maybe you've just gotten yourself a beta. Maybe even possibly, you've just made a friend of life.

[nyxi-pixie]

myyyy fav thing abt shse is sieun is sooo fascinated so quickly like his whole thing is i speak to no one idc abt what everyone else is doing its me my noise cancelling earbuds and my studies against the world and then suho happens and mr never says a word is asking SO MANY QUESTIONS. how many jobs do you have suho dont u get tired suho is that why u sleep in the classroom suho is there really no subject you find interesting suho. he kept up fully one sided conversations in comatose suhos text messages for almost two YEARS. hes actually a massive loser omg ily yeon sieun

[bifauxnenarmand]

I love him so much what is his problem 😭😭😭

[cyndaquillover1074]

Something so funny about Armand genuinely being a weird guy. Like vampirism and immortality and traumatic past aside he is genuinely so odd. Hilarious. Even to other vampires he is super weird. Why is he like that.

[bannertanks]

[contagiousgrace]

I just don't think we ever wrapped up the Clown Sightings of 2016 in a satisfactory way.

[intercal]

you could follow the genuinely funny poster who is going to be gone in 6 months, or you could follow me, the mediocre-to-okayish poster who's been on tumblr for 11.5 years and will be here until the flames finally reach and destroy the data center with our precious memories

[lujinarchive]

Katara and Sokka

[somepomegranatetea]

starting a collection

[teaboot]

I’m not Christian, I don’t go to church anymore, and my pastor died, but when he was alive I’d sometimes go to his sermons and I remember one time he said “it feels good to hate, but we know that it isn’t allowed, so when we’re told that we’re allowed to hate someone we get so excited that we forget we’re supposed to love”, and if my humble atheist ass might borrow some church talk I’d like to perhaps submit that

[teaboot]

Anyhow sometimes on the day to day I feel disgust or revulsion and I have to ask myself “is this a danger to anyone at all or am I just looking for something I’m allowed to hate” and a solid 98/100 times it’s the latter so once again thank you pastor D

[catchymemes]

[seolyoona]

Heavy Serenade (2026) NMIXX

[gyaru-jinsol]

NMIXX The Paradox of Love // Crescendo

[pointlesscandies]

The first mpreg omega-verse tv series is here and although it has insanely well thought out world building, it appears to be mostly a work place drama about competing pharmaceutical sales companies. Which I have to say somehow surprised me more than the mpreg omega-verse of it all

[junkiepunkie]

Soldier Boy and Malchemical knowing each other for all of 30 seconds and already having what appear to be full conversations via eye contact is insane actually.

this is categorical proof that Destiel was not just a collective fever dream, these motherfuckers cannot play straight. They’re gaying it up, with consistency,

[bombsights]

we have omegaverse destiel at home | THE BOYS 5.05

bonus (likely thing for the world’s first omega to say):