#!author's post

[ladyzephroar]

Little Odds and Ends (pt 1): Current WIPs

So now that I feel well enough to make a tentative return back to writing, I think it's time to tell everyone what is planned for next year (2026). I am still writing for the Amazing Spiez fandom but am planning to expand my writing endeavours to Totally Spies and Martin Mystery.

Currently for the Amazing Spiez fandom, I have three unfinished WIPs that I am planning to complete in 2026. I am not so sure about what to do with Rogue Agent as of yet even despite knowing how I want to end this story, but I do have plans to complete The Curse of Sekhmet which has gone through some major revisions with the plot and premise of the story. If you like Ancient Egyptian mythology, I highly recommend that you stay tuned for the next chapter of this story... And I have plans for a sequel since the idea for Curse of Sekhmet got a little too big for one story to handle.

I have made a few changes with this story in terms of plot. Embarrassingly enough, I have discovered the original story plan for this story dating back to like 2022, I think? Anyway, I am pleased to say that I have done a complete reset for this story and am completely happy with where I am planning on taking this story in future. There are 25 chapters planned for this story. At least, that is what my notes say, so fingers crossed that this is what happens.

Mission Rewind will only have nine chapters- which are completely planned. The only thing I've got to do is focus my attention upon writing the remainder of the story out. While I do feel like I jumped the wagon and posted this story before it was ready to be seen by the world, I am mighty proud of the first chapter and am pleased with its reception.

I have made a few changes to this story, however.

Instead of it being a story told strictly in reverse, I have chosen to tell the events of the story in non-chronological/Non-Linear order. This is largely because of stylistic reasons. I do want the reader to feel confused as they are reading Rewind. It is to make the reader question what the truth is. Were the Spiez in the right? What is going on in this mission? Is the villain of the story an actual villain or was Kairo set up by someone else entirely?

Tillie Nithercott is going to be featured in future fics of mine. Originally she was only going to be contained to Rewind, but I found that I loved her too much not to have her included in other stories set within the Totally Spies/Amazing Spiez world.

The companion story to Rewind is currently in the planning process. Originally I was debating whether to keep Rewind as a standalone story, but ultimately decided that Kairo's story deserved to be told. After Rewind has been completed, I plan to take a bit of a break from the story and focus on other projects for the Amazing Spiez (possibly the Totally Spies) fandoms... Then return to the story and tell it from start to finish so that readers can see the truth about what really happened.

I am not sure if Kairo's story is going to exceed past two fics. Rewind and the companion story, but that is the beauty of writing. As you get into the swing of writing a story, more of the story might need to be told.

Outside of flashback scenes through CCTV footage and their EyeTech footage, Lee is going to be largely absent as a present character. I've tried writing him into scenes where he is a more active/present character, but they didn't fit with what I wanted with this story. So he is going to be largely absent. The only time we will see him is either through the footage or in the mission debriefs that I am currently in the process of writing.

As for Mission: Rogue Agent... Unfortunately, this story is still on hiatus. I am sorry everyone. Writing darker fics like this takes a HUGE toll on your mental health. I fully plan on returning to this story when my headspace is in a position to actually tackle this beast. I do know EXACTLY how I want to end this story. The problem is writing the story to fit what I want.

I am going to revisit this story in future. Possibly clean up the chapters so they aren't so long. I am not changing my villain or their motive for why they are doing what they are doing. I feel that his is a story that deserves to be told.

I hope everyone can forgive me with Rogue Agent, but I am going to totally make up for it with future writing projects. And maybe one day, when everyone is least expecting it, notifications for the ninth chapter of Rogue Agent will be in your email inbox.

Anyway, this wraps up this section of my 'Little Odds and Ends' post. Stay tuned for part two where I get into the stories that I plan to post in the new year. ^^

[ladyzephroar]

You know how I wrote that post about the whole editing thing where I was questioning whether I was editing or rewriting?

... Um, yeah... I am rewriting, not editing.

[ladyzephroar]

Before I leave and go get some writing done...

This is going to make me seem really nerdy, but I bought myself a new book of dinosaurs. Not for a fic or anything. I already have a collection of dinosaur/prehistoric life books, but this book has been one that I've had my eye on for years because it discusses the physiology/descriptions of dinosaurs. Even if a lot of it is based on conjecture because I don't actually believe we'll really know what dinosaurs truly looked like.

And it's not like paleontologists can even agree with one another. Dinosaur debates are my favourite types of debates. They are like the Egyptologists of the scientific community... I can sit for hours listening to them debate about things.

But anyway, this book got me thinking about a fic I have been thinking of writing for the Amazing Spiez fandom. It's centred on the Caveman as a villain and of course, dinosaurs... Because I noticed that there were a lot more dinosaurs that weren't seen afterwards, and Lee, Tony, and Megan only dealt with the carnivores (Tyrannasauruses? Possibly? The heads are Tyrannasaurus Rex, but I suspect that one of them might've actually been an Allosaurus)... And yes, details matter!

For both the dinosaur species AND the fact that I noticed that there were more dinosaurs that weren't taken out. But I've got my list of dinosaurs and I am going to rewrite thefight scene. Mostly out of spite because HOW WAS THE SAUROPOD TAKEN OUT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I get that it's such a silly little thing to be hung up about, but you can't be teasing a dinosaur lover with all these dinosaurs and not show what happened to them afterwards. That's like declaring war on my brain.

Now, I have my eye set on this book I found while I was browsing all the dinosaur books I want, but can't get right now. It's about the plants of the Mesozoic. See, I have books on dinosaurs, I have books on early mammals... I have general books that discuss both, while also mentioning plant life. But I have nothing that discusses prehistoric plants... And now that I know this book exists, I want it... I want it more than the updated version of Brusatte's Dinosaur Paleobiology whose price makes me cry. Because even second hand copies at my local second hand bookstore that caters to the university crowd is way over $100

*coughs* Anyway, I just wanted to tell everyone and their mother that I got a new dinosaur book because I am celebrating my nerdy passions instead of being ashamed of them. Very long story...

[ladyzephroar]

Why does this happen???

So, I have a story I am writing. And I have done a lot of editing and rewriting... Mostly rewriting. Or maybe it's editing? I don't know what to call it. I think it would be editing because I am not going back to the beginning to rewrite everything because perfectionism is the bane of my existence.

But... Here's the thing. My doc is long because my chapters are long, and I love long chapters. However, I went from 11,600 words to 12,130 words and they are all necessary. Mind you, I am still editing. So there is a possibility that the doc will have less words than 12k at the end of the day.

But still, the point of editing was to not only make the writing better, but to also reduce the word count, and somehow I made the word count higher.

[ladyzephroar]

Just a question about primordial beings...

Now that I have vented about how much of a mess my personal life has become, let's get to the reason for why I have come back to Tumblr.

I have a character that I've created for a story that I am currently writing that is a primordial being (Ancient Greek Mythology Centric/Inspired) that is older than both the Titans and the Olympians even though it does have a Greek sounding name. Now, I just have a question about the gender/genderless thing because I am not sure what to call this one even though this primordial being goes by they/them/it pronouns.

So, in its natural form, this being does not have a gender. Its like other primordial beings in that it is a concept that emerged from both void and chaos. It is extremely powerful. But when it does take on a form, its masculine (hence some of the names that humans have chosen to call this being in my story).

My question is this: If this primordial being takes on a masculine form, would that still make it genderless because it doesn't actually conform to gender/gender norms. It doesn't have a gender identity attached to it despite the form it takes on when it deems it necessary.

Or would the being be considered Androgynous/Dual Nature?

ETA: I think that if this being was considered androgynous that it would be taking on characteristics of both male and female sexes? Not sure if that is what I was envisioning when I drew up this character since the being would take on characteristics of one gender when it takes on a form.

[ladyzephroar]

Where to Find Me

I can be found on multiple sites for my writing. Just thought that I'd list them just in case someone is active on any of them and wants to connect. I do plan on becoming more active on Dreamwidth, but I am trying to figure out if I want my Livejournal or both of these for blogging/in depth story discussions purposes.

You can find me:

On FFN: Zephroar

On AO3: Zephroar

On Wattpad: LadyZephroar

On Quotev: Zephroar

On LiveJournal: zephroar

On Dreamwidth: zephroar

I know that there's not going to be a lot of traffic to my LJ and DW accounts since these are rather older platforms... Not to mention that I am not very active on them, but I am comforted by the fact that the exist and someday, I will be more active (at least on my DW) because of writing challenges and fests.

Just one more note: I am planning on writing for other fandoms like CSI, Criminal Minds, Law & Order, etc. Since I want there to be a separation from my current works and the ones I am planning on writing in future, I am going to have another writing account on FFN and AO3 for these stories. I will come and update this post to include the links to those accounts. While I do know that AO3 has the option to create another pseud on your main account, I do not like this when your main pseud is also included on every story you post on the new pen name.