I came back to tumblr full-time because I wanted a place to talk about my fic. I know, nobody asks, and it might seem sad, but I’m going to talk about it anyway.
Nobody: So, what inspired you to write this fic, Cosmic?
Me: I’m so glad you asked! It was -
Plot holes, everywhere…
Actually, that’s inaccurate. It was the numerous articles on the internet back in 2017-18 bemoaning perceived ‘plot holes’ in the Mass Effect story.
One of my favourite things is to join up the dots from very little evidence and interpret findings in a believable way. This is what I did as an archaeologist for a decade (before motherhood and brexit destroyed all my career/future/dreams) my brain was trained to think this way.
I read those articles and thought ‘Whaaaat? Can they not make up something themselves? Develop head canons that fit around what we know? Why can’t they do that? I thought everyone could do that.’
…🤷🏻♀️
Plot hole, you say? *hold my beer*
Anyway, what happened next was surprising to me, and I can’t even explain it. I have to put it down to consuming so much science fiction over the years that my brain was able to draw on multiple sources for inspiration.
From that, Absolution was born.
Fun facts under the cut:
Originally the shuttle was called ‘absolution’ and was named by Tegan. The relay powered dreadnaught Emrys flies did not have a name.
Then I wrote a lore-friendly backstory as to how this turian-built ship ended up being called a name that maybe the turians didn’t even have a concept of. I can’t tell you, because of spoilers, but it was fun! I will share all in time.
Also, oiginally, I called the fic ‘Absolution, a Mass Effect Story’, because I started writing it shortly after Rogue One was released and formatting your fic titles like that was de rigueur.
I later switched it back for the re-write, to a more traditional title for the Mass Effect series and then blow me… If they didn’t release a dragon age anime on Netflix the following years that made me feel all kinds of embarrassment. I thought people would think it was somehow related to this new show, since both are bioware IP.
It’s not, I started writing this fic in 2018, long before I knew this other show was going to exist. The embarrassment did cause a writer’s block for a short while, ngl.
I considered abandoning the story altogether.
I considered changing the name of the fic. But at that point the name had been woven into the story via the name of the ship and the central themes etc.
In the end, it was pure spite allowed me to continue. I’m not going to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing I’ve given up, no matter what bioware does, so I won’t.
I’ve always been a writer, but mostly non-fiction. I never expected to become a fiction writer, in any capacity, that’s a whole other skillset that I didn’t think that I possessed.
Then this story and the characters dropped into my lap. It took hold of my dreams and wouldn’t let go. It became this wonderful place that I could slip into why my whole world came crashing down.
I know, writing fiction doesn’t come naturally to me and I still have a lot to learn. I’m trying to get better and be a better writer.
I don’t care how long it takes me to write it, I’m going to see this through to the end. Like I told my therapist, there’s no way I’m quitting, because I’m just too stubborn.
