Hey uh, I’m writing a fic for an ahit au I thought of but since I’m just starting it, I kinda wanted to ask you (if you dont mind that it is!) if you have any advice? I really like your tlc fit since it’s so greatly written so I thought you’d be the best person to ask
Omgosh I don’t know if I’m the greatest for advice--- I write TLC like in the weirdest way possible (out of order and shoving in what I want when I feel like it. there is a lot of stuff I drop hints to early on that don’t get touched for a while to come)
This is going to get long bear with me I’m a rambler:
I guess the basic idea tho (and my sister who’s also a fic writer shares the sentiment)
Just write what you’d want to read.
I write TLC at the end of the day for myself; because I want to have this fic.
Don’t be afraid to cut things out or edit. You can add them in another way later. I had some scenes I had to shuffle around and right now I’m actually adding an ENTIRE chapter between the last chapter and the next one.
Like sometimes it just helps to get that scene you want to be written, written, even if It won’t happen for a while! I have the chapter in which Snatcher splits his curse pre-written, but timeline-wise It’s not happening for a WHILE (cuz in chapter 12; it’s mid-September/late September. Chapter 13 (well technically it’s gonna be 14 when I add this new chapter in) is in mid-October. BUT that chapter? Happens late July of the following year, almost exactly a year from the time in the first chapter.
Also, I’ve had chapter 16 written as one of my earliest works for the fic. I did need to edit it a lot to add in things that happened prior. And honestly, I had planned this fic a lot shorter. (I’m a liar tho if I thought this was an under 20 chapter fic. No, I’m up to 21 chapters rn and I haven’t even gotten to the villains yet. (So I hope you guys are ready for a long time ride with me :’3c)
Also, I have the chapter that helps start the climax started.
The other thing is just, looking at how far you want to change from the source material and the like. For me, I will sometimes actually go and replay levels to remind myself “would Conductor burn down a pizzeria because he can’t get drunk? Would DJ get mad enough but try to keep his cool if something he dislikes is there? Snatcher and the Kid?”
I’ve written my fair share of Tsundere’s and assholes since I started writing; sometimes I’ll ask my sister her opinion as she doesn’t play AHIT BUT she’s watched me play enough to know how a character should sound without being invested.
Also, it can help to do side writing or plan ahead. Like I couldn’t fit certain things in but I’m going to do it via “brief moments” chapters (my sister calls her chapters like this interludes)
Some may say do an outline but--
I’ll be honest I’m not doing that. I don’t really need it if that makes sense. I have a job where I’m basically alone with my thoughts solo for 3 hours straight. So I’ll throw the playlist I made for the fic on my headphones and think of how I’m going to progress, what to write.
Also, it may sound weird, write things that may not get posted! I have several parts of TLC that in all likelihood won’t get posted! But writing them helps me figure out other stuff! Like I wrote the character Estelle’s death, Marcus’s Death, The destruction of Snatcher’s kingdom, Morgan’s death, How Snatcher met Estelle (this one is so old it has an older name I had picked for Arulius before deciding on Arulius!! Funnier fact, the original name I was gonna give Ru was “Prynce”. Prince Prynce. Yup. I was gonna moon moon him but this fic has the second name which he really did almost wind up with. Auberon)
Don’t constrict yourself to a word count either. Sometimes a fic is longer sometimes shorter. I have some chapters with like 24 pages, and some with maybe 8. My sister is notorious for 22-page chapters and longer.) I used to be like I have to get past a word count! I have to! and it was hard! Earlier chapters are shorter compared to current ones, and I think it’s the fact the more you work on your fic the easier it gets to write it! I used to take the full week to write a chapter. now I can more or less bang a chapter out in a sitting after work. as I said I’ve written up to chapter 21. But letting them sit a bit lets me reread and edit to make them better! Like one chapter I have to go edit some stuff as I thought of a better reason for a character to act as they do.
Also, don’t forget the golden rule: have fun with it.
I have like half a dozen fics that won’t see the light of day but I wrote for me and me alone to have fun. Like I have an entire 3 part fairytale AU for Eclipse and Arulius that’s so AU it’s more original than anything. I have 30+ pages of FNAF based fics I wrote. I have part of the Aladdin AU typed up, I have an entire AU of Moon Guardian Started.
Writing should be fun at the end of the day when it comes to things like fanfic.
I don’t know if this ramble helps at all! But yeah!
Don’t be afraid to edit and cut things out
Don’t force a page/word count
Honestly tho i’m learning as i go!! TLC au is my first fic I’ve actually put out there so ;w;
