Stop Putting DNI On Your Tags And Stop Bringing Shipping Discourse Into AO3

If you outline your fics, how do you go about it? Or do you just write it out without a specific plan?

God I wish I could just START writing my fics, but no I am nothing if not a well planned bitch

First, I write stuff out on paper. This makes it’s easier to go back and look at my own writing, but also paper has? Less high stakes for me? If I type something it feels like I HAVE to go in that direction, but when I write on paper I can just scribble it out or turn to the next page. This step is where I’ll write whatever comes to mind that I might want to add, usually out of order. I guess you could call this brainstorming? But I don’t usually cause to me brainstorming is JUST in my head, and this is on paper. That’s another thing, GET THE IDEA OUT ON PAPER because youll be super excited about a certain dialogue line or plot line, and if you don’t write it out you will forget. So step one is filling pages and pages of my favorite, designated ‘Brain Dump’ notebook (mine has mushrooms on it :) )

Then, actual outline. This is also on paper for me, where I’ll write out any big plot lines or bits I’ve come up with in the first step, and try to fit them in an order that makes sense. This is simultaneously the easiest part and the hardest, because I’m someone who wants smoothness in my writing in terms of how stuff flows together, so I’m ver particular about what stuff goes where. If I’m doing an outline for a WHOLE fic, each little line is most likely a chapter, or important chapter moments however, and this is important, I make up an outline for every chapter I write. That way I can go into detail with what dialogue goes where, the blocking of how the characters are, etc

Then it’s first draft time!! This parts fun. This is where I write BADLY. I basically just throw everything at my poor google docs until it sticks, and I try not to stop, so there’s no going back and spell checking, or finding a better word. If I write “says” or “he shivered” eight times in the same paragraph it DOES NOT MATTER. I’ll be back later. This draft is the shittiest possible version of what I want to write.

Step two of first draft is when I’m DONE, I have the bare bones of my draft, and this is where I go back and ask myself if I really deserve to know how to type. I’ll sew up any glaring plot holes, spell checking, rewrite verbs and whatnot to not repeat, stuff like that. If I read the whole thing and decide I don’t like this particular part, I’ll delete it and rewrite it.

Then it’s onto my favorite part, draft two. This is REWRITE TIME. not edit, rewrite. Thats the best writing advice I’ve ever gotten and I can ever give. I pull up two screens, slap my draft 1 on the the first screen and open a new doc, and rewrite the entire thing. Why? Because as im retyping this is when I add prose, and fix the flow, and add more angst in or better word choice or whatever. This is where the LENGTH of whatever I’m writing comes in, I’ll usually double whatever I have for the first draft, on sheer added prose and grace notes alone. This part is immensely satisfying, and it takes the longest by far. I do this for every single chapter of things I post on Ao3

Draft three is usually my final draft. I copy and paste draft 2 in another document, and I’ll read through again for any typos and mistakes and fix those. This is PROOFREADING, plain and simple, and it’s so important. I usually don’t fix much in this stage, but I do read it outloud (quietly to myself or maybe my dog) to see if it sounds right.

And thats it! Usually, at least with Abandon My Eulogy each chapter takes about two weeks, and by two week I mean I spend a week thinking about it not actually writing and then outline, first draft and correct that in three days. Draft two takes. So long, but it’s worth it

‘Sorry I went off on a ramble there

If it’s not in ao3 and everyone understands what your saying than no, your good.

This.

One of my favorite things in GF fics is when Stan throws something Ford has said/ written about him in his face.

Like, for example, some time during their travels Stan somehow reveals that this whole time he's had this creeping thought that Ford only wants him around out of guilt or obligation. Ford is naturally taken aback by just how far from the truth it is and, more importantly, very hurt that his brother can even think that about him.

And so Stan says something along the lines of

"Am I supposed to believe that you suddenly give a shit about me now? Or is it just that I've done something worthwhile for the first time in my life? That I was useful to you?"

And Ford's immediate reaction is

"God, Stanley, why'd you even think-

-oh"

Like, the whole thing of Stan still thinking about those words that were said years ago, now when everything is fine and when Ford is actively doing everything he can to show his brother that he loves him. Meanwhile Ford never thought much about those words, never placed any importance on them and only perhaps meant them the moment when he said them, when he was angry and very tired. He didn't even really regret them because he didn't remember about them, that's how little they mattered. But they mattered to Stan, still do and haunt him every day

I have a fic idea that I'd really like to write, and I hope people would like to read it, but I'm too nervous to do so. I'm afraid people won't like my writing or that I won't get the characters right, etc.

As someone who's become really popular over their fics, at least on Tumblr, I'm curious about how you got over those fears if you had them at all.

I would not say that I'm really popular, I would say I am LOUD at best

And secondly, Anon. I'm squeezing your hands as I say this, literally every person to ever create something to gift to the world has been nervous.

Everyone. Every single goddamn person, you know why? Because we are but finite beings with brains BUILT to stress about things

I can't promise that people will like your writing. I can't say that you'll get the characters right, or any other placating thing.

The most important thing is that YOU like it. And you need to accept the fact that sometimes that's all it's gonna be.

It's fucking OUTSTANDING when people like your stuff. When people leave long comments, and those little numbers tick up, and you feel like you're making things that people ENJOY, and you're having FUN. It's so good.

But its not guaranteed. There's no formula for that, you could read every Good Writing book ever, take a Harvard class on Writing, do all the things

But your stuff will never truly be GOOD until YOU like it.

Because when YOU like your stuff, what does it matter if other people, who you've NEVER MET, who you might never meet, care? It hurts when your stuff isn't as big as you want it to be, there's no denying that, but it'll hurt LESS if you're not reaching for it.

Enjoy your work. Enjoy the process, enjoy writing, because I'll tell you a secret. If you like your work, it shines through. If YOU like what you're making, then chances are, people will see you enjoying that, and join in too.

I make stuff for ME, and I make things I'm proud of or excited by or insane about, and somewhere along the way people who liked it jumped on

My first fics? Not popular. Not at all. I got hate comments back on fanfiction . Net, I was LEARNING, and I'll always be learning, THATS THE JOY OF IT

You'll only get better. You'll only get more confident as you go, as you create, and you'll only create if you START.

I had those fears. I think everyone does. But it takes a special kind of courage to decide "fuck it. I'm doing this for me, and I'm afraid, but I'm doing it anyway."

And I'm so proud of you. For creating. For doing the thing. And I hope you do it. Please, creating is all we have sometimes, and while I can't promise whatever you make will be good, or that other people will like it, I can promise you one thing.

The world is better when you help fill it

This is the magic lucky word count. Reblog for creativity juice. It might even work, who knows.

I have a headcannon. So I feel that Robotnik dressed up for stone. So like he thought stone wont come to work cuz he was sick so he put on casual clothes and stone came and just he was like U DRESS UP FOR ME?

Comfy Rob

ko-fi

Have an idea for a fic that I’m definitely not going to write.

essentially, ford hits a roadblock in his research, but doesn’t summon Bill. He’s just burned out from all that gifted kid syndrome, trying to power through it. His mother recommended he take a break, and the perfect opportunity for that arrived when Fiddleford calls, asking Ford to be his Best Man, and inviting him to his bachelor party.

in Vegas.

so Ford reluctantly goes with Fiddleford and two of his other friends to the city of sin, and Ford completely DESTROYS the casinos. He’s counting cards, he’s worked out the algorithm for when the slot machines hit a jackpot, and he gets SUPER drunk. Ford is having the time of his life cus he gets to use maths to flex on people. And he’s NOT SUBTLE.

so at the end of the night, the casino take Ford out back, and send a goon to beat him up.

and you’ll never guess who the goon is!

so now Stan and Ford have to work together and try to escape the gangs and crime lords that run 1970s Las Vegas.

I call it Gifted Kid Syndrome.

again, not doing anything with it, feel free to do anything with the idea, up to and including wiping your butt with it. Just like, tag me or whatever.

Meet the classics

Just followed for brilliant Stone x Robotnik, Stayed for "Oh they're actually chill as fuck okay-"

Anyways love your art, keep it up- (also slight pleading request for possible "Stone goes apeshit" or a "Stone gets injured and doc obsesses over defensive tech")

It was scary at first, but now Robotnik knows what to do (just talk to him)

ko-fi

Fictional villains: my motivation involves a complex backstory around lost love and a deep yearning to be understood

Real life villains: being cruel makes me feel like a big strong man