When did you start writing, and what's one piece of writing advice you would give your younger self if you could?
Hi, Lumi! Happy (belated) STS! Thank you for the ask XD
I always say that I started writing when I was six years old. I would write down ideas that I came up with while playing imaginary games with my cousins. The "chapters" were like three pages in a small, pocket sized notebook that today I would barely qualify as an outline. But it got me excited to tell stories and sparked my want to create them and write them down!
If I were to give my younger self advice... I'm not really sure I would. When I first started writing, I wasn't serious about it. I didn't really care about it being "good" or having it be readable by anyone other than myself. It helped me get words on the page when I was first starting as a writer. I would probably just tell myself to keep having fun and following the stories that I was drawn to without worrying about what the "purpose" was. The stories that didn't go anywhere and were just for me and the one or two friends I showed them to are the reason I am where I am today.
💫: Which of your stories would be an absolute dream to see an artist bring to life through fanart? Tell me 1-2 scenes in particular.
🤝: Have you ever collaborated/cowritten anything? If not, would you ever consider it and what would you like to write about?
🫂: What brings your OCs the most comfort?
These are some good questions, thank you for doing these!
💫: Which of your stories would be an absolute dream to see an artist bring to life through fanart? Tell me 1-2 scenes in particular.
Forsaken is definitely my magnum opus lol. It's something I plan to build and work on for years, probably my whole life. My middle-earth, see. So I would love for that one!
I already have some really cool art from a gift exchange, for a scene where Eldwin is learning some powerful fire magic, that's a good scene to choose!
Thinking of another one I've already shared, hmm... One of my favourite fics I've written is A Soul Condemned, where Eldwin makes a pact with a daemon. I'm not sure how the eerie aspect I want is portrayed in art (I'm sure someone could do it, I'm just a writer, not an artist!) but I think it would be really cool if it could work visually too. And more than being my favourite, it's such an important scene for Eldwin too, the scene that shapes his entire life from there on out. A single choice made on a whim one night leads to everything he endures through the story... yes, it's a crucial moment in his life.
🤝: Have you ever collaborated/cowritten anything? If not, would you ever consider it and what would you like to write about?
I haven't! I've discussed some AU's with other writers as a fun thing to see how our characters and worlds would go together, but we've never actually written anything. On the one hand, I think a collaboration would be really fun. On the other hand, I'm socially-anxious enough as is and my worries about being good enough will be doubled. Probably a good idea in theory, not in practice.
But who knows! Maybe if I'm close enough with someone, and getting out of my comfort zone is good, no matter how much I tell myself otherwise! So I would never say never. With the right people and enough planning, and good communication, perhaps some day it will happen.
🫂: What brings your OCs the most comfort?
This one's tricky, because poor Eldwin doesn't get any 😭 Let me use my god-powers to peer into the future a little ;)
He'll find comfort in the knowledge that no matter what, he can change. Humans change, that's what we do. We're adaptable. He's adapted to his life before, and he'll do it again, and again, however many times it takes. He cannot undo what he's done, but that doesn't mean there's no point trying to do better.
Destrian believes that people are inherently good. No one is beyond redemption and ultimately, people want to do the right thing.
Ancassius somewhat shares that view, but he's more jaded. He's seen the worst humanity has to offer. Instead, he clings to the fact that most people are good. Even if he has to keep telling himself that.
If you get this, answer w/ three random facts about yourself and send it to the last 7 blogs in your notifs. Anon or not, doesn't matter, let's get to know the person behind the blog!
This is such a fun way to get to know each other! Thank you for including me, Lumi! <3 (took me a while to get around to answering these, but oh well!)
I'm starting a new summer job tomorrow as a summer counselor! I am nervous and excited at the same time haha.
This weekend I am going to be volunteering at my local Pride event. I have been to the event multiple years, but this is my first time volunteering for it!
I'm currently in grad school to get my masters degree in social work!
Strangely, I went with all work related facts for this one for some reason (the first two were an accident, but the third one was on purpose when I noticed the pattern lol)
Happy Storyteller Saturday! :D What does Reese tend to do when stressed - fight, flight, or freeze? (Or does it depend on the situation?)
Happy (belated) STS! Thank you so much for the ask XD
For Reese, it definitely depends. He is able to think through scenarios and variables very quickly. He knows when he's outmatched or cornered or stuck. He will defend himself just enough to get away if he is outmatched, fight his way out if he is cornered, or find another solution if he is stuck. The only thing I think he wouldn't do is freeze.
When they are younger, Reese definitely has to be the voice of reason in situations where they are outmatched. Nate would rather take his chances and fight (but Nate learns a lot from Reese as they get older and chills out a bit haha).
Do you have any songs that come to mind when you think of your OCs? If so, what are some of them and why?
Happy slightly late STS!
I LOVE songs for my characters. I have whole playlists dedicated to them! It's one of my favourite things to do
ELDWIN
Devil's Train by The Lab Rats always comes to mind. I love the eerieness of it, and it's what inspired a fic I wrote regarding when Eldwin made a pact with, well, the devil.
Weight of the World by Shayfer James. To me, that's him justifying himself, you know, we do what we must to survive, the weak won't cut it.
I could go one but I'll just obligatory drop his playlist instead haha
JOWAN
Love me, Love me, Love me by Kikuo. This song screams Jowan to me. It is, to my and popular interpretation, about golden child syndrome and neglect, a child trying to be perfect and begging to be loved to the point that they soon believe they are better than everyone else, they need to be better.
Not A Common Man, sang by Matt Smith for American Psycho. Now I've never seen American Psycho so we're playing with personal interpretations based on one song, so don't @ me.
With this one we look into Jowan's arrogance. He's not super overt about it, but he was raised with the belief and expectations that, like with the Kikuo song, he is better. We also get the "every pleasure is a bore" line, which also fits. Jowan is dedicated to his work and pursuit of scientific achievement. There is nothing else. He doesn't need anything else.
ANCASSIUS
How To Save A Life by The Fray. He does have a saviour complex, but this song specifically to me is his relationship with Eldwin. They were friends as kids, but then well, Eldwin left and became entangled with the criminal syndicate. The next time they meet, Eldwin's a mess. Substance use, suicidal tendencies, lashing out at people who don't deserve it... he's nothing like the kid Cass knew. Eventually, they argue and Ancassius leaves. That's his deepest regret. He wonders, if he had stayed, could he have changed anything? He tried to contact Eldwin, afterwards, but never received a response. There were times he didn't know if he was even alive.
When Eldwin eventually reunites with him again, I hope to explore their relationship. They both desperately want to be close again, but it also feels too... tense, too stifling. They'll have some issues to work through and I think it'll be fun.
To end on a lighter note befitting of his character, let's say Could Have Been Me by The Struts. Ancassius is certainly not without his struggles, he holds himself to high standards and carries a lot of guilt, but despite all that he is still a confident, cheerful character who is so unapologetically himself. "I wanna taste love and pain, wanna feel pride and shame" - he wants to live a life and not be held back by the fear of others judgement or of failure. I like this song for him because it speaks to his determined and optimistic nature. As I said, he has his struggles, but he wants to live, and he wants it to be worth it.
Eldwin 🌓: His absolute favourite way to relax is to be outside, out in nature, away from the city. He likes hanging out in the city, he loves to be on the rooftops at night especially on festival days where he can watch the crowds from afar. But his favourite way to properly relax would be somewhere quiet. A dense woodland would be ideal, and he'll sit back against the trees, with gentle sunlight on his face and a soft breeze, listening to the birds sing and just... letting everything stop. Just for a moment, a brief respite from his life. Given the chance he'd stay there through the night too, admiring the stars he doesn't get to see with the city pollution.
Destrian 🐉: They would love to just have a day with nothing to do. No obligations, no one relying on them - then they can truly unwind. They would finally get some sleep. Read a book they've had for months but haven't had the chance to read. Maybe take a stroll through the town, visit the marketplace for fun instead of for work. ...They may need someone with them to make sure they don't promise their time to someone though.
Jowan 🧪: Definitely something that gets him thinking. A difficult puzzle of some kind would be great, keeping his mind off things while getting it working. He always enjoys science experiments of course, but I think even like, wordy puzzles and even escape room style games would keep him happy. He just loves to have something to think about.
