In My Beginner Crochet Journey, I Have Made My First Plushie/decoration/non-clothing Thing!! A Halloween

i'm curious to know the ratio of writers to readers on ao3 so here's a poll. when i say writer, i mean people who have published works on ao3, doesn't matter if it's once, or if it was ages ago, or if it's a regular occurrence. when i say reader, i mean people who have never published a work on ao3. the reader vote still counts if you don't have an account on ao3. if you're a writer who is also an active reader, please still click on the "writer" option!

please do boost this so it reaches a larger sample space!

there’s something so bittersweet and lovely about fanfic, at it’s core. it’s so impermeable, because it’s so individual. fics don’t get finished. fics get lost because they were typed out and sent to friends, in the 70s, and somewhere along the way someone packed it up in a cardboard box and their kids shuffled it to the attic. websites go down. archives get built, but then people lose faith in the story or the canon or the creator and delete them. you read it at like, 3am, and can’t remember the title months later when you look for it again.

the tiktok these comments are from was lamenting about the loss of a favourite fic—it (the tiktok) had 85k+ likes, and over 700 comments, mostly similar to these. people talking about downloading fics to read on a tablet only for them to disappear the next day. using the wayback machine and combing through results, just to find something they loved. i think it’s sweet because it’s so human—how easily we love something, and how easily we lose it. i used to print out my favourite fics, as a kid—i still have a binder of them, buried under yearbooks and the old journals i kept during those topsy turvy preteen years. i could tell you the overarching plot to a Cardcaptor Sakura fantasy AU i read (and loved; it became my personality for months afterwards) but i can’t remember how it ended, or if it even did. i finally broke down and signed up for an account on AO3 specifically to bookmark an old, old fic that i had read somewhere else, years and years and years ago and found again on AO3 only because i accidentally stumbled on the author here on tumblr (i had only found the fic in the first place all those years ago because of a playlist). i used the same shade of lipstick for years purely because a fic i really liked had the main character apply it (it was a limited edition one at the time; i bought my first one from a ebay seller in the UK at double the retail price, lmao) while the love interest watched them, but i can’t remember the name of it, only how it made me feel (and how, for years afterwards, i would wear that shade whenever i felt like the day had something promising to it).

one of the first anon’s i ever got, in the early days of this tumblr, was someone who asked me if it was okay if they downloaded surrender—and of course it was. of course it is. there was a point, during the final stretch when i was trying to write the last chapter, that i almost lost the entirety of what i had written for that fic—and i mean, it was on AO3 by that stage so it would’ve only set me back a chapter or so, but it goes to show how fragile things can be. how sometimes fics only last in tiny ways—because of the unfinished PDF file someone downloads. The patchy memory of someone’s who’s jumbling it and three other fics together. Because someone wore the same shade of lipstick you mentioned, off-hand, for years afterwards.

(this is a love letter to the silent readers; the silent savers. the lurkers. fandom and the internet at large is made of lurkers (eighty-five thousand likes. seven hundred comments). people who saved fics and waybacked them and will reread them, even uncompleted. telling each other we did a good job, that we liked this or we liked that is wonderful, and fun, and a great (and important) way to build a community and has also given me my current friends—but sometimes something you make will matter and live on in a way you will never, ever know. and it’s just how it is. it’s part of the fun and it’s part of the charm. it’s just how we work as people.)

I need to sleep one hour one year

FULL GAME HERE [Released 8/8/2023]

You play as Zak Soto, a normal 25-year-old guy trying to live his life. Ok, scratch that, he isn’t normal at all. He has extremely strong psychic abilities, and is able to see things that most normal people do not. On top of that, he’s currently being hunted down by demons, and the one who is supposed to be protecting him...? Is a demon who is holding a grudge against him!

Will he be able to survive these encounters with demons while he tries to find the solution to his problems? Will his demon be able to get over himself for two seconds to help him? Are these feelings towards his demon just frustration or is there something more...?  

You help decide in... DEMO PARANORMAL!

CONTENT WARNINGS IN GAME

-Help Zak make choices with his relationships, his problems, and help him find solutions

-Romance a demon! [Or befriend him, if you prefer]

-Become friends with angels, humans and 1 [one] other friendly demon

-Learn the mysteries around Zak's life

-Help keep Zak alive.

Each playthrough is around 100k+ words, and there are 2 endings.

CHARACTERS [Headshots here]

Zak Soto- The main character. He's nice and friendly, [maybe a little TOO friendly] and a little too trustworthy. He is very powerful, with a very powerful soul. He's able to see all things supernatural, and he's usually able to 'take care' of whatever pays him a visit. But when the blessing that was bestowed upon him by an angel 20 something years ago starts to lose it's power, that powerful, strong soul starts to cause more problems than solutions for him.

Demo [Pronounced "DEE-mo"]- A lower-ranked demon that used to think he hit the jackpot when he met Zak and made a contract with him. But little did he know how much trouble this little human would cause him. Demo is grumpy and doesn't like to talk much, usually opting to grunt or growl.

Uncle Vic- Zak's uncle. He can't see or sense anything supernatural, but he knows how much of an inconvenience it all causes his nephew. He's a little overprotective of Zak, and hates that he hangs out with a demon. He's dating Mike.

Mike- Uncle Vic's boyfriend. He's the embodiment of 'tropical vacation dad', complete with khaki shorts. He's very kind and giving, and is completely smitten with Vic and his nephew from the 'first moment they met'.

Abriya- Zak's best friend. They meet when Zak gets a job at Mike's antique shop and are inseparable since. Abriya thinks that Zak's powers are super cool, and she herself is able to see more powerful demons and angels.

Murmur- Murmur is a strangely nice, gentle demon. They don't have any need or want to continue to power up anymore, so they don't make contracts anymore, but they do love to learn things about humans.

OTHER LINKS-

Spotify playlist

Kofi link

As someone recently diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, one thing that’s been helping me grapple with the intense shame I have over all my “wasted potential” is accepting that potential doesn’t exist and never did.

This sounds so harsh, but please bare with me.

I procrastinated a lot growing up. I still procrastinate today, but less so. And yet, I got good grades. I could write an A+ paper that “knocked [my professor]’s socks off” in the hour before class and print it with sweat running down my face.

I was so used to hearing from teachers and family that if I just didn’t procrastinate and worked all the time, I could do anything! I had all this potential I wasn’t living up to!

And that’s true, as far as it goes, but that’s like saying if Usain Bolt just kept going he could be the fastest marathon runner in the world. Why does he stop at the end of the race??

If ANYONE could make their top speed/most productive setting the one they used all the time, anyone could do anything. But you can’t. Your top speed is not a speed you’re able to sustain.

Now, I’ve found that I do need to work on not procrastinating. Not because the product is better, even, but because it’s better for my mental health and physical health to not have a full, sweating, panicked breakdown over every task even if the task itself turns out excellently. It’s a shitty way to live! You feel bad ALL the time! And I don’t deserve to live like that anymore.

So all of this to say, I’m not wasting a ton of potential. I don’t have an ocean of productivity and accomplishments inside of me that I could easily, effortlessly access if I just sat down 8 hours a day and worked. There’s no fucking way. That’s not real. It’s an illusion. It’s fine not to live up to an illusion.

And if you have ADHD, I mean this from the bottom of my heart: you do not have limitless potential confounded by your laziness. You have the good potential of a good person, and you can access it with practice and work, but do not accept the story that you are choosing not to be all that you are or can be. You are just a human person.

I couldn’t stop thinking about shikigami slippers from jujutsu kaisen merch

headcanon that shouto is actually really flexible as a result of his hardcore training, but it’s something he’s never brought up because he didn’t think it was important enough to mention.

one day, though, you catch him settling comfortably into middle splits while he reads a book, brows furrowed — not in pain or discomfort — but because he’s focusing on whatever he’s reading. 

he says nothing when he’s easing into a backbend, ears perked while he listens to you move around the kitchen humming a song… up until you notice him, which got you yelping: “what the fuck, shouto! stop doing that!”. he laughs and asks you to help him up. (you know he doesn’t need the help. you know he just wants your hands on him). 

you eventually get used to seeing him in strange poses and stretches around the house, and he gets you to help him out sometimes (“babe, can you come sit on my back real quick? ooooh. feels good. mmmm.”) and you have to suppress the blush that spreads across your cheeks. 

he gets you stretching with him eventually and is merciless with it — your hands fearfully slap him away whenever he tries to or press you down or pull on your limbs or worse: sit on you.

so now you’re the slightest bit more flexible than before, thanks to your boyfriend. you do your due diligence and stretch with him in the mornings, indulging in the way sunlight fills up your bedroom. 

and you try, try your hardest for him: not because you want to be flexible, but because shouto motivates you with hugs, head pats, and the promise of a massage after you two are done (and lots of kisses, too).

DEMO // Patreon // Discord

Last Updated: July 2023

You used to be a beacon of hope. Now they only know you as the failure, the Unchosen. Will you rise above them? Will you become better or far worse than they could ever imagine?

Disenchanted is an interactive fiction novel that takes place in the hidden supernatural society of the modern world.

They found you living half in an orphanage and half on the streets of New York at the age of ten. The Oracle said you were the Chosen One, destined to defeat a great evil that is yet to arrive. Arrive it does, however, in your early childhood.

They called them the Phantom, a plague on the supernatural community, a politician gone mad.

The pressure is on as you begin your education at the New York Boarding School for Arcane Arts. Yet, as the prophecies start, you fail again and again.

Cameron Fletcher does not.

They are hailed a hero, and you are nothing. Not valuable enough to remain with your foster family, not worthless enough to toss back to the mortals.

You’re normal. Maybe worse than normal, what with your history. You’re Unchosen.

Create your character. Customize gender, pronouns, appearance, skills, and personality.

Choose how you feel towards your peers and former loved ones.

Romance any of the ten options (one female, one male, and eight gender selectable). Poly routes are also available.

Choose your species. Options include Nephilim, Cambion, Siren, Banshee, Basilisk, Draca, or Sorcerer.

Decide on your magical specialties.

Lucia/Lucien “Luci” Rivera (Nephilim)(she/her or he/him), your ex-best friend or ex-partner. You used to live with their family before everything that happened. They ditched you when it became the popular thing to do. Are you bitter?

Penelope Eliades (Siren)(she/her), a student from the Mediterranean. She seems nice and is lovely to listen to, but she has fangs for a reason. This one shouldn’t be crossed under any circumstances.

Cameron Fletcher (Sorcerer)(she/her, he/him, or they/them), the new Chosen One. Talented, charming, and everything you couldn’t be. Are they actually nice or just condescending? You can’t tell.

Viktor Orlov (Draca)(he/him), your best friend. The only one that stayed by your side after your disgrace, their family let you couch surf when the Riveras kicked you out.

Harlow Mitchell (Banshee)(she/they or he/they), the child of the Oracle who condemned you to a life in the supernatural world. You don’t know if they’re just bitter that you ended up disgracing their mother’s reputation or if you just annoy them in general.

Amrita/Amrit “Amri” Singh (Nephilim)(she/her or he/him), another student at your college who comes from a long line of Nephilim on their father’s side. Set up for political office, but is generally against the idea.

Theodora/Theodore “Theo” Parker (Cambion)(she/her or he/him), they are quite possibly Cameron Fletcher’s least favorite person in the world. Theo is top of their class, and many would consider them the Chosen One’s rival. They also happen to be your roommate in university.

Charlotte/Charles “Charlie” Ortiz (Basilisk)(she/her or he/him), a fellow student who works at the campus bookstore and is in a few of your classes. Very hot, very kind, and you find a dead body together. Uh oh.

Avery Monroe (Sorcerer)(she/her or he/him), the Phantom. Disappeared six years ago. Were they truly mad in their lust for power as the world claimed, or was there a reason behind their vendetta against the magical government?

??? (Wraith)(she/they or he/they), they are following you. They are in your home, in your head, and you cannot escape.

…The Horrors? You’re unsure of who they are…what they are.

*Poly Routes are Viktor/Theo, Cameron/Luci, Viktor/Luci, Cameron/Avery, Charlie/Avery, Cameron/Theo, Cameron/Viktor, ???/Harlow

My other interactive fiction projects: @fallenlightsif and @reapersbayif

reblog not for a “bigger sample size” but because polls like this are a fun way to help people reinforce their own self-concept and passing it along so that other people can also have the opportunity to strengthen their sense of self by pressing a button is a cool and nice thing to do

Aizawa: If you have a problem with the way I train my kids-

Vlad King: Students.

Aizawa: -you talk to me!!

A Reporter: I have a problem with-

Aizawa: I don’t want to hear it!!