Rules: Snip first and last line/paragraph/ section/artwork you created this year - bookends, if you will and don't forget to tag some friends!
Thanks for the tags bbs @milla-frenchy @604to647 @itwasntimethatdidit40 💖
First words posted: Bad Blood Part 1 - Step uncle Joel Miller x f!reader x stepdad Tommy Miller
"How's that stepdaughter of yours? Calls you daddy yet?"
"No, Joel, she's twenty two. She ain't gonna call me daddy," Tommy replies, fumbling with the coaster under his beer bottle.
"Never say never," Joel mumbles under his breath.
Last words posted: A Hell of A Morning - stepdad Joel Miller x f!reader
"We had fun, uh, beautiful?"
"Yeah," you mumbled.
"Wasn't talkin to you," Joel gruffed before bending down and petting your pussy over your shorts. You scuffed and Joel barked a loud laugh. Then he left your bedroom with a wide smile on his face and thoroughly drained balls.
Npt💖 @iamasaddie @thundermartini @baronessvonglitter @pedge-page @tateypots @sunshineispunk @evolnoomym @pedges-world @nicolethered @vichons76 @kewwrites @quaritchscupquake @wethairjoel @corazondebeskar sorry if you’ve done it already and I missed it! tag me, pls, I’d love to see it💋
Stewy Hosseini will always be my number one comfort character I think. He has me in a loving chokehold and even though that fandom is so dead (😭) I want to write more for him this year (only 2 fics last year...)
This feels like red flag brain rot to admit but Nathan Bateman has definitely been a comfort character for me... Something I never would've thought I'd say a year ago! But also I've written a couple of HCs and just one fic for Richard but I really loved writing him! He's adorable and sweet and perfect for fluff. I'd always write more for him than I planned to and each time easily could've kept going! And I think I'm in a Jake mood too.
But I also wrote my first fic for Lottie Matthews as part of Sickcember and honestly... I think she's going to be the next big comfort character for me and I have a couple of wips for her atm and want to give her all the fics!
That was so long I'm sorry! Just too many 😭😭😭
12. A Concept You'd Like to Develop Next Year
Well this year... Because I'm answering late... sorry...
But you know I'm obsessed with vampires and after a response from @ominoose saying that she thinks Anselm would make so much sense as a vampire I've started writing that....! There's only 600ish words on the doc but I can't stop thinking about vampire! Anselm and trying to have it be really atmospheric and gothic-y. So I want to really work on that and have that posted this year! I also have a sapphic Shiv Roy wip that's been sitting there for several months that I need to develop and finish, oops.
15. An Area of Your Art You Feel Like You Improved On
Bestie, it's all trash. Hopefully less trashy but still definitely trash. Even your reblogs are far too kind to me and I don't deserve them.
Thank you for sending these through! I'm sorry for rambling 🫶
— rules: snip first and last line/paragraph/section/artwork you created this year - bookends, if you will and don't forget to tag some friends!
— thanks for the tag @aurorawritestoescape 🫶🏻
— dividers by @/strangergraphics
mildly nsfw snippet below the cut
first lines from my ficlet addicted (javier peña x afab!reader, idea by @iamasaddie)
The night Javi had spent with you was driving him insane. He could scarcely make his way to work without constantly thinking about how fucking good you felt— how good you sounded— as he had wrecked you.
last lines from crazy for you (joel miller x afab!reader, written for @sp00kymulderr’s dick pronouns challenge)
He wraps an arm around your front and pulls you close to him, revelling in the comfort that your body flush against his brings him. Feeling spent, satisfied and safe, the two of you soon doze off.
npt: @tightjeansjavi, @josephquinnswhore, @magpiepills, @gothcsz + anyone else who wants to participate ♡
14, 16, 19 bestie 😗 for the writer ask game (forgive me, im lazy tonight)
Hey bestie! Sorry this is late!
14. Something new you tried this year?
I tried to be more concise and write shorter fics! A shorter fic for me would be like a couple of thousands words and I'd always want to write more! I can waffle on and so I wanted to try writing shorter fics too, especially for when I'm not feeling so creative. I tried to write a couple of fics around 500 words and they were all still over 1K... But in late October I finally did it! I wrote my first fic under 1K! This Steven Grant fic that's 800 words-ish and then for Sickcember I wrote a couple more around 900 words and my shortest fic yet that was 700 words lol. So with Sickcember I also tried my first writing event/challenge which was crazy lol.
16. Something interesting you researched as part of the process?
I feel bad because I do a lot of research and I know there's interesting stuff I've researched as part of the process but I cannot remember any for the life of me 😭 but maybe seeing how common the cucumber and salt snack is for us dizzy girls (and wasn't just me and a couple of friends) for one of my sickcember fics lol.
19. A new genre or style you tried?
I haven't strayed that much in genre yet on here but I'm trying to get more atmospheric in my fics! Which I think I did well in this Norm from Fallout fic it was also me trying to write something more romance-y and slow burny too. It was a fic that 'flopped' but is actually really special to me. I want to keep getting better at atmosphere and pretty writing because I always love to read it!
Going to cheat and say my Sickcember event! It was my first time doing a writing event and it was a cursed time. I wrote the fics during a flare, on immunosuppressants, steroids and having a negative reaction to the immunosuppressants so I'm proud of getting 15 fics out in a month and them being fics that some people resonated with!
5. A scene you enjoyed creating?
Referencing the pussy size meme chart in my Basil Stitt HC/ficlet in this piece. It made me feel like the funniest person alive when I had that idea and then also typed it up.
14. Something new you tried this year?
I tried writing more HC like fics with different characters, usually pairing them with a sick/disabled reader. It turned more into ficlets than HCs I guess? But I found that I liked writing them a lot and that it felt a lot more enjoyable than a lot of the writing of a 'longer' fic for a single character. I'm still more of a fluff and smut writer but I think I tried some different themes in both with more comfort fics but I also tried to write more sensual vibes in The Muse (Laurent x fem reader) and tried sexual tension in Desperate to Please (not a OI character sorry lol!)
Thanks for sending these in Rally! You're amazing and I hope you've had a great weekend 🫶
Yes, this is technically my second End of Year Review post, as my first was back in 2022! If my posting records have anything to show for it, it's clear that in 2023 I ended up engulfed in research and pushing for yet a few more collaborative projects until daylight hours grew shorter. At that point, mustering the energy for EOYR2023 was not in the cards for me, but there is nothing stopping me from returning to that time and speaking on last year as well.
This post aims to summarize both 2023 & 2024 in review, where I again address my progress in various aspects of both project development and personal development.
Massive dump incoming:
Project Summary
Art 2023
The focus was art concepts and game assets for a handful of collaborative visual novel projects, but not nearly as many as the year prior. Just as in 2022, I did not feel the desire to draw for myself when compared to the sense of obligation I had to deliver in other projects... until the middle of the year, when it returned! Arguably! But it seems the desire did not convert into much action until the year after.
In 2023, I made...
Dynamic character sprites and reference sheets for Hello, Counsel by Miseri
Promotional art and logo designs for The Beauty Which Only Beast Knows demo by PumpkinSpike and Akua Kourain
Cover art for The Plaza: A Horror Anthology by Allie Vera
A few commissions for private clients
Fan sketches of Dr. Serizawa from Godzilla, tee hee
Art 2024
Reinvigorated and renewed in the new year, I was running out the gate with new style studies to challenge me. I had set a goal to draw one full-color illustrated piece a month, with a bingo card of personal art trials by my side. Alas, by late April, I had been hired to a new project as a writer. The time-consuming role had my art challenge fall by the wayside. A few art commissions sprinkled in here and there, but ultimately, 2024 was top-heavy art-wise.
In 2024, I made...
A style study illustration of my and Elm's character Bellarmino from our WIP project Primrose Path
A commission of a genderbent MC from Love and Deepspace for a private client
Character pose sketches for a private client
Fan art of Seamus and Hugo from Of Sense and Soul by Forsythia Productions
A Hamtaro OC fan art "attack" on Artfight
Secret Ending CGs for Wake Up Magical Girl! by Miseri
Facial character concepts for Drop Dead Daters
Some experimental, traditional pieces at my library's monthly art night
Writing 2023
Mostly preproduction material for personal visual novels. Most impactful were my notes for The Corpse Lieutenant, spending months looking into—frankly—emotionally exhausting topics in order to better contextualize the thinking behind my main character, and shared some of those insights here on Patreon. Much of the reading pulled from real historical events during World War II. After these notes though, it did take some time for me to reengage with the project. I likely did not realize how the intensity of the content would impact me until much later.
My 2022 concern that I had no drive to produce more short, personal works, and that hopefully it would turn around in 2023 did not materialize. But far more importantly, this year, I did not feel so pressed about such output. It is what it is!
In 2023, I wrote...
More plot outlining for my unnamed sprite and spider adventure visual novel
Notes on war crimes, related criminal testimony, and psychology research for The Corpse Lieutenant
Writing 2024
The overwhelming majority of 2024 was dedicated to a dating sim visual novel project for which I was hired. I ended up being offered a promotion to a greater and additionally more managerial role among the freelance writing department. I found the shared creativity of the freelancers very uplifting and inspiring. Equally, production had proven challenging for many reasons.
Because I had to prioritize this large commercial project, I had not made much time to return to my own visual novel, The Corpse Lieutenant. That said, I did plot out and bullet story beats for considerable changes to the script that I believe are for the better. I also ended up creating a separate guilty pleasure, just-for-fun fiction project with my best friend in order to break up the writing monotony, as well as the beginnings of a different project with a different friend's studio.
In 2024, I wrote...
Expanded scenes and narrative changes for the second draft of The Corpse Lieutenant
A narrative design document, writing style guide, event script template, demo outline draft, interview transcripts, and character route outlines with other co-writers as a lead freelance writer for a studio client
Some story concepts for an upcoming project with Studio Ephua
Edits for a friend's WIP novel
Several chapters of a gay supernatural sports story under an alias with my best friend that you will have to find yourself if you're curious lol
Audio 2023
Compared to 2022, I really slowed down on voice acting and audio engineering. Much of that work came from volunteering on game jams. But after the fun work of lending my voice to a poison-dealing romance during one such jam, that was really it for the year.
A project or two afterwards where I was brought on for my voice work did not materialize. That may have influenced my setting it aside into the next year, as I've written before that I don't have the time and energy as an independent, non-union, and agentless talent to really hustle for roles in a paid capacity. At least, not when I put more weight into art and writing at the moment.
In 2023, I have...
Voiced Marie Chaligault in the Belladonna's Flight demo by Night Asobu
Audio 2024
I did not do any voice acting or audio engineering this year. I did not plan for any, I did not seek it out, nor was I approached for any.
That said, I had been invited to a couple of just-for-fun gaming and anime commentary streams with anime enthusiast, anime journalist, and content creator Wolfborg, so huge shoutout to him for knowing I'd bring the funk! Probably. I mean I brought something, lol.
In 2024, I have...
A few goofball special guest appearances on anime review & co-op gaming streams by Wolfborg
Business 2023
My primary focus was streamlining some processes for requests of my services, drafting up new and comprehensive ToS and forms for my commission and consultation services, and detailing processes of how I usually go through an accepted request or session for new client transparency.
In 2023, I have...
Set up my art commissions page and request form
Set up my narrative consultation page, request form, and booking site
Updated my art and writing portfolios and resumes
Killed my Twitter/X and moved to Bluesky
Joined some online art commission request communities
Business 2024
I did not do much this year in the way of business preparation, organization, or expansion. Much of my time was taken up by the actual work I was performing. I don't foresee doing much business building in 2025 either, probably just maintaining the websites and resources I do have, but once I get the ball rolling on certain projects, I will want to more aggressively market my services online to my target audience of independent creative clients.
Personal Review
Career 2023
The year before, I mentioned wanting to move into an associate or assistant producer, product management, project management, or art director role for a "steady day job". This year, I made strides towards applications for at least 2D character artist roles at AA studios, and learning specifically about project management in independent study so that I could be ready when it came time to purchase an exam to pass for certification.
Unfortunately, I've not been picked up for any such positions yet. Regarding character artist roles, 2D appears to be a shrinking demand. 3D is the vogue, as is working knowledge of 3D game engines like Unreal. Tragically, I do not have any 3D skills or knowledge, though I want to at least pursue 3D sculpting once I can afford a better workstation.
As for PM certification, I want to hold off until I can really spare the cost for an exam.
I want to continue my efforts into 2024, but there is a small part of me that wonders if I would fare better in a completely unrelated day job with much lower barriers of entry, just so I don't end up burning out on my passions. Because at the end of the day, affording to do my projects is not just a money issue. It is also a time and energy balance as well.
Career 2024
Looking back in 2023, the classic artist's plight of the suitable "day job" did force me to pivot in my plans, as I did not find much immediate success in applying for my ideal roles in a difficult industry. I decided to compromise for now and take on a smaller "stepping stone" role, just so steadier income could come in that I could reinvest into my tools, services, and projects. But the biggest thing was that balance of time and energy as well. I began to focus on finding flexible, local jobs to keep my chin above water, with a growing emphasis on arts-adjacent or community-related roles.
Two big things happened this year: I applied for and was awarded a $2.5k independent artists grant from my state arts council, and I got a much more flexible day job. The grant was validation that the work I do online is worthy of monetary support in the eyes of my state, and opened up a new way of support for me and my art. And the new day job—where under the county government, I work to keep school children safe—has opened my eyes up to roles that specifically give back to my town, as I do want my day job to be uplifting and enriching for those around me. But perhaps best of all, these two things give me time and money for my personal projects, and to hone new art and business skills.
Moving into 2025, I think at the end of the day, I will be more focused on being self-made, and making career moves that allow me to be so, rather than the prestige I seem to attach to more traditional industry employment.
Hobbies 2023
My concern in 2022 was that I would continue having a dearth in desire to do creative personal work for study or fun. I mentioned that I'd like to try something unrelated to the writing and drawing that I do for work, introducing a new passion into my life. I even thought about whittling, or learning bass guitar.
Sadly, I did not pick up either of these things. I do still want to try whittling though, lol, but I think in 2023, I just didn't set time aside. The good thing though is that my concern became acceptance: sometimes, as I do art and writing for work, I may not want to do more in my spare time beyond engaging friends and consuming media. And that's more than acceptable.
Hobbies 2024
I allowed myself to explore a different part of my creativity that wasn't as reliant on personal, laborious output: I joined a choir. Before the beginning of the year, it had been a decade since I sang in a choir. I've had at least decade of formal training as a youth, and even ten years later, I auditioned and was accepted into a chorus focused on bringing together queer members of the community, from high schoolers to senior citizens. Though I was only with them for a semester (their practice location was unfortunately very far out), the feeling of singing in beautiful harmony a set of songs that touch the soul is something I've deeply missed and truly cherished. And the challenge of learning those complex pieces with the help of others was, in the end, so rewarding!
I also joined a book club! I was reading various literature with friends as a way to get back into reading for fun and inspiration, and engaging in analytical conversation with others. I don't get enough of that anymore as I'm not into fandom these days, so this was a cool and insightful way to go about it. I think I'll even continue with book clubs into 2025, branching out into more casual reads like comics and manga.
Health 2023
I had a difficult start to my 2023, with a fatigue from winter that hung over me even into spring—an unusual length of time from recent memory. And underneath that fatigue was a general anxiety from 2022 due to the public response to the resurgent pandemic. But, with time, exposure, preparation, and medication, I was able to overcome the anxiety and better cope with fatigue, returning to being out and about in public safely.
For the first few months, I had put a challenge on myself to visit one new event in person, and I was able to keep it up. I also took time to take walks with friends and loved ones, and visit my family more outside of holidays and birthdays. And though I wasn't able to do all of these things on a strict schedule throughout the year, it was enough to bring me back to a point mentally and socially before the pandemic hit. I'm glad I took the strides I did to come out of a shell I had unwittingly and only recently formed.
Health 2024
I was on a roll until mid autumn, where I was again hit with SAD. Or so I thought. In trying to get ahead of it, I ordered my usual prescription. But I had noticed that the antidepressant was not working effectively at all this time, regardless of dose, and symptoms of fatigue, resistance, and forgetfulness still persisted. In confiding in friends, family, and my care team, I was able to put some pieces together and went for a certain psychiatric test.
Well, at 29 years old, I received an ADHD diagnosis. It honestly rocked my world. But I'm glad I got it, as it explains the persistence of some of the symptoms I was experiencing when my seasonal depression was, well, out of season. And, it's a treatable condition. I was able to try ADHD medication for the first time in December, and while I'm still looking for the right type, the intended positive effect on me was immediate. I'm looking forward to seeing how my health improves in 2025 with this brand new information.
Final Words
A lot can happen in two years' time, as you can see. If you made it this far, thank you for reading. I'm so grateful for those of you who support me, who encourage me, who understand me, and who keep me company. I give what I get, and the arts is how I do.
