#fic writer problems

[crimsonprose]

reblog if you’re a fanfic writer who does NOT fw AI but DOES fw em dashes. 🙋🏼‍♀️ I mean, seriously… I’m so sick of seeing those posts. em dashes are literally a necessary tool of the trade sometimes. stop it.

[sulkysnape]

(not my screenshots but I felt the need to say something about this)

I opened up my feed this afternoon and saw that this ao3 user has decided to start an AI witch hunt with absolutely no real credibility behind any of it.

I hate AI and want to see it disappear from this planet too, but I can also recognize that there is absolute no way a person can 1000% confirm that a piece of writing was created with AI unless it was said outright by the creator. I don't care who I piss off when I say this, but YOU ARE NOT FIGHTING AGAINST GENERATIVE AI BY ATTACKING WRITERS WITH BASELESS ACCUSATIONS. YOU ARE ALMOST AS BAD AS THE GENAI USERS.

Commenting "is this AI?" under another person's fic just because you feel like it?? Not the move you think you are making. You are rude.

I saw a post a few days ago that said "all of the 'ai signs' people speak of, are just what most writers actually do." People shouldn't fear using an em dash or writing overly detailed scenes just because some robot that is TRAINED ON HUMAN WRITING exists.

I have been writing fanfiction for over twelve years now and personally, if I were added to a list like this, you guys probably wouldn't see me on here for awhile. Some people are already insecure about their writing as it is and this witch hunting thing is only hurting those who spend long hours working with real passion.

So the next time you decide to harass a poor author with no credibility to back you up, ask yourself this:

Is this question rude or harmful?

Could I be reading a fic that was not written in someone's first language?

Do I think this detailed fic is AI or am I just not used to reading overly detailed fics?

Do I think this fic is AI because it's too short or did the author just prefer to write it that way?

Could my comment contribute to a person stepping away from writing all together?

Could this be an author's first fic who just wanted to write about their favorite character?

Do I actually KNOW if this fic is written with AI????????

I have been wanting to say this for awhile & I'm glad I finally did. Here is a link to the fics that this bozo of a creator decided to harass. PLEASEEE go give them some kudos and comment positive things to combat this weirdo's negative behavior.

WRITING IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN GUYS! WE ARE A COMMUNITY! IT IS FUCK AI ALWAYS, BUT DON'T LET AI RIP APART THE COMMUNITY WE'VE BUILT TOO.

(the link incase you missed it)

-> Bookmarks by i_hate_ai_fics

[firstkanaphans]

There’s some discourse going down on Twitter right now where a fanfic author voiced annoyance that people won’t read long fics if their top/bottom preference isn’t honored considering that is such a small part of the fic. I agree with OP that that is a very dumb reason not to read a fic you might otherwise enjoy but in the end, people are allowed to read what they want. My issue is that everyone is claiming who tops and who bottoms affects characterization—that this one tiny thing permeates the entire fic—and y’all. I cannot stress enough that half the time I, the great and powerful author, don’t even know who’s going to top and who’s going to bottom until I sit down to write the scene. Especially in long fics where there’s usually multiple sex scenes. Is that weird? I thought that was normal 😭

[mx-dragon-faye]

I love getting comments from people enjoying my fics who are looking forward to more, I really do! But maybe it’s something with the way my mind processes it and it’s just me, or maybe this is something others relate to as well, but comments that are just something along the lines of “please update soon” with no variation of “wow I really enjoyed this!” included feel… idk if disheartening is the right word, but something like that.

Because me, personally, I’m usually always actively trying to work my way through writing the next chapter of all my current ongoing fics. But I cannot control the work my professors assign, or the time my chronic pain chooses to flare up nor the severity of it, and nor can I control any other aspect of my life that pops up and slows down or sometimes even fully pauses my usual writing process.

And to see someone who presumably enjoys my fic(s) enough to ask for an update, only ask for an update feels… kinda bad. I don’t know exactly what it is about it, but it’s just like… because they aren’t mentioning anything they liked about the fic, or even that they liked it, in their comment it sorta feels like they don’t truly appreciate the work I’ve put in and only want the end result of the next update?

Not sure if I’m properly articulating the way I feel about it, but yeah. I do appreciate that they even took the time to comment and seem to enjoy the fic because they’re asking for more of it! But at the same time it’s— I enjoy it because it’s a nice comment and not a scam or a bot or hate, but it’s not my favorite kind of nice comment to receive, if that makes sense? Idk I’m tired and in pain rn

[khepiari]

Can 2026 Be The Year When ALL ART SCAM ACCOUNTS ON THE INTERNET VANISH FOREVER, AND THEIR CREATORS FIND THEIR CROTCHES INFLAMED WITH INFECTION!

Lovingly writes a fic for my murder-murder-meow ship.

Patiently waits for the first comment.

48 hours later:

“What a beautiful way to write their dynamic in such adversarial set… bla bla bla. My name is Aniya34, reach out to me on discord for Art Commission!”

FUCK YOU!

FUCK YOU!

FUCK YOU!

[bardic-tales]

Do you have any advice for what to do when you feel like your writing is terrible and there's no point in continuing?

Asking for a friend and definitely not for me 🥲

Hope you are having a wonderful night, Synth. I'm about to head to bed myself.

Tell your "friend" that every single writer who has ever cared about their craft has stared down this exact same monster. When you pour your energy into building worlds, dissecting complex character dynamics, and maintaining massive, intricate narratives, a creative crash isn't just possible. It’s mathematically inevitable.

When the brain runs out of the specific fuel required to translate vivid internal visions into text, it defaults to a defense mechanism: convincing you that the work itself is the problem.

The Creative Gap

That crushing feeling that your writing is terrible? It is actually a symptom of growth. Ira Glass famously articulated the concept of the creative gap. Your taste remains impeccable, but your mechanical skill takes time to catch up.

When you read your recent pages and feel dissatisfied, it’s not because your writing has suddenly degraded. It’s because your analytical eye has leveled up, and you can now see nuances, pacing issues, or character beats that you weren't sensitive to a few months ago. Your fingers just need a moment to catch up to your brain.

Production to Exploration

When a massive project feels like a wall you can't climb, the pressure to produce polished, public-ready chapters can paralyze you. Lower the stakes entirely by shifting your goals.

Remind yourself of the absolute freedom of the private draft. Write something entirely self-indulgent that will never see an upload queue, a tag list, or an archive. I do this a lot. I have reams of Sephiroth and Bianca fics and ship development that has never seen my Tumblr.

If prose feels like pulling teeth, stop writing prose. Switch to bullet-pointed headcanons, dialogue-only scripts, or raw, unstructured world-building notes.

Take your characters completely out of their current heavy plotlines. Put them in a low-stakes, high-comfort domestic setting, or an entirely different universe, just to see how they react. Let them breathe without the weight of the main narrative hanging over them.

Protect Yourself From Creative Burnout

Creative burnout is often compounded by social or emotional burnout. If you are spending energy managing community expectations, keeping up with posting schedules, or navigating online spaces, your creative well is going to run dry.

It is completely valid to step back from the social side of fandom. You don't owe anyone a constant presence. Turn off the metrics, close the feedback loops, and reconnect with the quiet, solitary joy of just hanging out with your characters.

If writing sentences feels too heavy, consume instead. Revisit the specific media, music, or mythology that sparked the project in the first place. Let someone else's art or fic refill your tank while you rest.

The "Shitty First Draft"

The point of a first draft is not to be good; the point of a first draft is simply to exist. You cannot edit a blank page.

"Allow yourself to write poorly. Give yourself permission to put down clunky dialogue, repetitive verbs, and pacing that feels completely off. You are just dumping the raw clay onto the wheel. The shaping, the polishing, and the magic happen during revision."

If a scene isn't working, write a bracketed note like [insert brilliant, emotionally devastating conversation here] and keep moving forward. I like to color code my placeholders.

The point of continuing isn't to achieve flawless execution on the first try, nor is it to satisfy an algorithm or a deadline. The point is that these characters and stories belong to you, and they deserve to be told, even if the process is messy, slow, and occasionally frustrating.

Be kind to yourself, pass this along to your "friend," and take a deep breath. The words will come back when they're ready.

[buddieswitness]

guys I know too much about Los Angeles speed limits now, like ask me about the speed limit on laurel canyon boulevard (it’s 40mph)

and I use the metric system

[strawberrychansora]

hey pookies. so funny thing i went to update my sanji masterlist and tumblr hit me with the ‘you’ve reached your limit message.’ apparently you can only have 100 links per post… which means i have officially written 100 sanji fics.

and that’s not even counting the separate girl dad sanji masterlist. some of his fics are in the main one too. so now i have to start a new sanji masterlist like it’s a new season of a show 😭

i told my sister and she said ‘talk about obsessed’ like girl yes obviously that’s my husband. my hyperfixation is eternal. it’s not going anywhere. i’m committed to the bit forever 😌 just thought it would be funny to share that lol.