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#especially in YA where people think every book aspires to the first so if it doesn't hit that it means the author can't write

emeryleewho · 5 months

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99% of Trad Pub: The goal of a good book is to use an easy to relate to character as a lens to explore profound plots and interesting experiences.

Me: The goal of a good book is to use interesting events to fully lay bare the depths of the souls of people who represent the weirdest little fuckers the world has to offer.

#there's nothing wrong with liking the first but lol could not be me #like absolutely not what i seek to write or read almost ever #and I think 99% of “debates” over good fiction come down to which camp people fall into #especially in YA where people think every book aspires to the first so if it doesn't hit that it means the author can't write #anyway don't read my stories for the first #and stop recommending them to me too they are not my thing #I am here for chaos gremlins and heartache #writing #books #fiction #author

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cheesus-doodles · 2 months

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For Yandere BFF Rindo, it seems like he's just a baby in denial (totally in love with bestie but unwilling to admit it and covers by saying its a best friend thing (totally not a boyfriend thing)). Based off your "Opinions about Dating BFF Reader", a question has been sparked.

What would happen if BFF herself asked Rindo to date/why aren't they dating? BFF has heard from other people that when a boy and a girl like each other alot and never want to be apart that means they should date. It totally sounds like an upgrade from BFF (isn't dating just like being super BFF's with kissing?) Once bestie gets an idea in her head she doesn't seem to let up or let go of it, so how would Rindo handle bestie insisting that they should date/aren't they basically dating already? (Or alternatively, does Rindo succeed in convincing bestie that she is mistaken and then proceeds to beat up whoever put these ideas in her head)

I totally can imagine Ran catching wind of this bestie thinks she should be dating Rindo agenda and egging it on (either to annoy Rindo or because he can see how obsessed Rindo is with bestie and thinks it'll do him some good to be able to claim a more official possessive position in her life)

been working on A Friend in Me but also got caught up in the TR Puzz Reve game ;-; so sorry if things get a bit slow here

Recommended Reading: Opinions on dating BFF Bimbo Reader

Masterlist | Rindo Tags

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I previously answered about Rindo being asked by an external party on dating you and how it would react, but I honestly think that the same question coming from you would get a totally different reaction.

Under every circumstance, Rindo will absolutely just freeze up and short circuit the first time you ask about dating. Not because its a strange question to ask, given its something he not only have been asked multiple times before, but also have considered before himself, but because ya know, it’s you of all people. The one person he never expects to know anything beyond what he teaches you.

Yes sure, he knows that you love to read those sappy romance books whenever you sleepover (cause you need him to explain the story to you, and god only knows why this baby boy continues to keep them in his room for you). But he has always made sure to always trick you with regards to what those stories were actually talking about, so where on earth did you hear about dating from?

Asks you to repeat your question as if he didn't hear it the first time, but ends up cutting you off halfway and demanding to know who you heard that from - Rindo's not going to let you leave until he finds out where you learnt that close friends should date, claiming that it's dangerous to listen to others beside him.

Did he actually have feelings for you beyond being a caring, overprotective bestfriend? Irrelevant, in this boy's opinion, especially so right now when there is clearly a more pressing issue to solve at hand.

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But after this stage, Rindo's next actions depend on the current situation the two of you find yourself in.

If it's still just you and Rindo against the world, then this boy would immediately try to change your mind. If you are already insisting that the two of you are essentially dating (since the two of you were already super BFFs right?), Rindo would try his best to persuade you that you had the wrong idea, that dating and having being BFFs were completely different things and that you were completely mistaken in your understanding.

Would do his best to try and find out where you heard it from so that he can have a little talk to set things straight (hoping to anyone out there it isn't Ran because fuccckkkkk). And you'll get to hear straight from the horses mouth on how having a boyfriend was bad for you and you shouldn't aspire to have one. If you heard it from Ran then Rindo just has to convince you to stop talking to his stupid older brother because what else can he do?

However, if you do continue to insist that the two of you are already dating or that you two should start, then Rindo would very reluctantly go along with it with with several conditions, essentially that it would be no different from when the two of you were just BFFs, and that you weren't allowed to tell anyone else about this "dating" without his express permission, especially not Ran.

Anything more than calling himself your bestfriend would not be processable in Rindo's mind, and honestly the idea of kissing for this baby boy is so out there at this point in time that he can't even comprehend it without his brain melting down and him having to reset.

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If this occurs after you have already met Kakucho and worse, Izana, then no doubt that Rindo would immediately agree to being your boyfriend the moment you bring it up. No questions asked. Sure the mere thought of being your boyfriend would bring a blush to his face and he can barely speak without stammering about how you were being so stupid right now, but he knows that allowing you to say that you had a boyfriend and that you were dating him would help to fend off unwanted attention.

He will no doubt start to work on fear-mongering you into thinking that he was doing you an absolute favor because did you know how bad it is to have a boyfriend?? And whoever told you otherwise is lying, especially Izana, though he only says this out of earshot. And hopefully you don't repeat this to the Tenjiku gang leader because god only knows how many beatings he would get in retaliation.

Absolutely worth it though, if you reject any and all other advances, because you can't keep yourself safe even if life on earth depends on it, and Rindo can't trust you with drinking from a straw if he isn't watching.

But at the same time, this baby boy becomes just so shy about doing anything with you and even more self-conscious. What if other people get the wrong idea about what you mean to him? What if people stop seeing him as a delinquent but see him as some mush? So he switches to holding your hand in private, or where people can't watch because of the implications, but Rindo quickly caves when you start pouting.

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Ran no doubt would absolutely encourage your behavior the moment he finds out, and he will because you simply can't keep your mouth shut. This poor older brother not only will enjoy the free real estate of laughs and wiggling eyebrows at his younger brother, but also the peace and quiet of Rindo having some sort of security over you. No more late nights of being awaken by Rindo storming over to your place early in the morning, or being dragged out of bed by another suspicious post on social media.

Rindo's obsession with you has been so obvious from the start that Ran doesn't know why he hasn't just upgraded himself from the start, but honestly he'll be rich before he can mind-read what goes through Rindo's head. Ran would definitely be the sort to take the opportunity not only to pester and annoy Rindo with innuendos and seemingly harmless questions about marriage, but also go behind the poor boy's back to plant the same questions on you to ask your bestfriend.

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kazoosandfannypacks · 2 years

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As an aspiring Mom Friend, here's some helpful life advice, especially aimed at neurodivergents, mentally ill, and college students.

1. So this one I'm just beginning to discover, but ya know how sometimes you'll get a text and it seems harsh and snippy and rude and that'll bog you down? Try your hardest to read that text in their voice. Can you imagine them saying something in that tone irl? Or is it a phrase that's similar to the way they usually speak, but it's usually more upbeat and polite? Not everyone is out to get you, especially not your friends!

2. Do you have a habit of seeing something on Tumblr but not having the mental energy to do anything with it (watch video, reblog with witty reply, ext?) Just click "reblog" then save it to your drafts so you can access it when you do have time!

3. Cleaning your room is a Very Big Task, and you can survive in a messy room, but you can almost feel the difference between survive and thrive in a clean room. The method I've always found helpful for cleaning (because it's hard to even know where to start) is one I read in an American Girl how-to book and hasn't failed yet. Start by putting clothes in the hamper/closet/dresser/one pile specifically. Then, put all of your books on your bookshelf. Then make your bed. That's only three things to do, but it makes an unbelievable difference, and might just give you the momentum you need to keep going.

4. Good at losing things and losing track of time? Get a waterproof watch. (Mine is a timex marathon I got at Wal-Mart for, like, $20 and it has lasted about five years with no signs of slowing down.) You can wear it to bed, in the shower, doing dishes, anywhere, really. It can help you keep track of time, no matter what you're doing, and alleviate time anxiety, and if you just never have to take it off, you don't have to worry about losing it or forgetting to put it on :)

5. There is nothing wrong with eating the same meal on repeat! If you like grilled cheese and it's easy to make, make grilled cheese every afternoon! Don't throw off your habits just because other people might judge you about it.

6. Find something alive to take care of and love. You don't need to raise a family or get a dog, but, like, start small with a hamster or hermit crab or fish (make sure you do this because you want to take care of them, not because of obligation!) If you don't feel qualified, start small, with plants! Get a succulent. Make sure there's a hole in the bottom of the pot. Fill the pot with water until it starts dripping out the hole on the bottom. Repeat every three weeks. It's that easy.

7. Mug cakes are awesome, but it can be difficult to make them all the time because it involves a lot of effort and keeping eight different ingredients on hand. Instead, buy a boxed cake mix. Mix six tablespoons of cake mix with four tablespoons of water in a mug, then microwave for a minute and bam! Instant mug cake that tastes amazing and literally only costs you 20 cents!

8. One time at camp, while my older brother was running the zipline, one of the other counselors was nervous to take that first step off the first platform. From the bottom of the tower I heard him tell her "Don't think about it. Just do it!" Those words still echo in my mind when I'm anxious, especially with social anxiety. "I don't wanna text this person, what if..." Don't think about it! Just do it! "Uhhh I don't know how to bring this up or if I should bring this up because maybe he's gonna..." Don't think about it! Just do it! "Eh, maybe I can do this without asking for help. After all..." Don't think about it! Just do it! I promise you, just like you don't have to do much to zipline once you've stepped off the platform, once you start that conversation you've been dreading, it stays going!

9. On a similar note, the conversations you dread the most are some of the best conversations ever. 9/10, when I was a camp counselor and had a particularly difficult camper, I would dread having a conversation with her, but as soon as I did, I understood her on a deeper level, and the entire scenario would shift. The conversations we fear the most are some of the most important conversations we can have!

10. If you're ever stuck when looking for gift ideas for someone, look through theor pinterest boards. If you're lucky, they'll have a board of cool things/outfits they want to buy that you could get or make for them, or you might find a fandom or interest they have that you could get them something from. Also, gift cards aren't the tacky thing you may think- not only can you give them something they love, but you've also just gifted them the monky brain rush of buying something without the guilt that comes with spending money! Try to find out what stores or restaurants they like (think fun things like Barnes&Nobles or Five Below, not generic stores like Wal-Mart where they're liable to use their frivolous gift money on something responsible,) and a gift card can be something that is so personal! And if you still wanna scratch that instant gratification of having a physical present, buy them a favorite candy bar or snack to go with it (you can usually find out their favorite candy from relatives or close friends, or you can ask them, or just pick something you see them eating often.)

If y'all seem interested I'll add more tips later :)

#kazzy's guide to life #life advice #life hacks #advice #tips

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petroltogo · 3 years

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Hello! Im not sure if asks are allowed? I didnt see anything about it (I didnt scroll that far.) but people doing requests.

I just wanted to say I read ur superhero AU and Im in love with it! Im intimated by your writing (Im trying to make something in the fandom-soon, hopefully) cuz like, its so amazing?? I also admire it, and aspire to get to get to that level one day!

I wanted to say thank you for writing it. I dont really read anything Varia related, and rarely 10th gen (Im mostly into the arco)! And also, any tips for writing? Writing in the khr world? Thank you for taking the time to read this, and Im sorry if Im intruding on ya, homie. Please have a pleasant day!

First of all, you’re not intruding, I love getting asks!! Asks are allowed, welcome and actively encouraged [unless it’s just to spew pointless hate, in which case it’s blocked] and thank you so much for sending me one! And for your super sweet words, I’m glad you enjoyed the super AU so thank you for letting me know and for the ego boost lol

Posting something you’ve written is a scary experience -- I’ve been doing it for years and I still keep second-guessing myself and putting things off and deciding not to write a fic idea because why would anyone want to read that, right? And that goes doubly so for any fandoms I haven’t written in before and established a ground-floor level confidence to build on. But it still gets easier the more often I do it. Moreover I’m not forcing anyone to read it, I’m just offering my fics up for anyone who’s interested in the fandom and wants to take a closer look.

And if more and more people keep on creating things in any one fandom, that means there’s more and more content to choose from for everyone. Which means we all win because we have more fics to read, more art to marvel at, more videos to watch, more whatever it is you wanna do -- we all have more of it to choose from, and with every person that joins in, the chance of any one of us finding exactly the kind of content they’re looking for increases.

So. I hope you will try your hand at creating and that you’ll find the courage to publish it if you’re comfortable with that. I wish you all the self-doubt-silencer in the world [ignore those voices, ignore them like I used to ignore my french homework!] because I guarantee you: Someone is gonna love what you make.

That said, to be completely honest [this could’ve been] a villain’s origin story is the first time I’ve played in the KHR world, so I’m not sure how helpful I’ll be since I’m not actually that familiar with the fandom. But in my experience the most important thing is just to have a story in mind that you want to share and to write the names of the characters correctly -- [on an unrelated note, I’m so sorry Kyoko but I’m still not sure how to spell yours] -- because at the end of the day, writing fanfic to me means sharing your perspective on the characters, your interpretation of them with the world.

And some people will decide it doesn’t align with their own views and will shrug and move on and some will fall in love with it because it will resonate with them or make them rethink the character or give them an insight they’ve never considered. I think that’s one of the most beautiful parts of fandom tbh.

Writing, hm, what can I tell you about writing. This is actually really tricky because I don’t know what type of story you’re trying to write so if there’s something specific you struggle with, feel free to drop me another ask!

But in general I’m a very character-oriented writer [as the super AU probably illustrates] so my tip is to always make your character’s voices count. Whether you write in first POV or in third POV, as long as it’s from the perspective of a specific character always use that too your full advantage. Use the limits that POV defines, use what the characters don’t know -- whether your audience knows or doesn’t know doesn’t matter -- to your advantage.

For example: A conversation between Reborn and Skull in their early arcobaleno days. Reborn’s side of things might be full of double-meanings and hidden messages that he’s trying to get across while probing the cloud for the same sort of information and interpreting Skull’s expressions and reactions [in ways that may not be correct] because he’s mafia. Skull might take the exact same conversation at face value. He might miss all the implications, accidentally give Reborn the wrong impression about 23 random things and not notice and that single interaction could set the tone for their entire relationship going forward.

[Focusing on the limits of a character’s POV also helps keep interactions more realistic in my experience. Because when we interact with people, we don’t actually know what’s going on in their minds but as the authors writing that scene we do. The characters don’t and reflecting that in their interactions makes them seem realer and gives their personality (especially their personal biases and blinders and interpretations) more chance to shine through.]

And btw I don’t mean turn every conversation into a misunderstanding. Drama can be fun but it doesn’t always have to be about drama. I think of it more along the lines of “no two people ever read the same book”: No two people experience the exact same conversation or event the exact same way. That doesn’t mean we misunderstand each other daily, at least not necessarily.

But there’s always things about an interaction with our friends/family/random strangers that we’ll forget or that we meant in a different way than what they take it for and sometimes we notice that while talking and sometimes we don’t. That’s how it can work with characters too: not every different perception has big repercussions or leads to an argument or whatever. Sometimes you can just use that to highlight that your characters are different people with different experiences [Skull is really a great example in this case and so are Colonnello and Lal Mirch vs the “true” mafia members but also maybe how being a mist might color your perception of reality vs being a sun etc.] and that those different backgrounds affect how they perceive and act and justify their behaviors.

Okay, I’m gonna stop here because this could go on for a while and I’m not even sure that’s what you’re looking for, but I hope it helps! [If it doesn’t, let me know if there’s other aspects of writing where I could help.] Happy weekend and (hopefully) happy writing!

#ReRe answers #doingthefrickfrackwithyouknowwho #long post #i couldn't stop rambling #as in you shouldn't get me started on writing #because i can write about writing literally all day long #writing #writing povs #writing tips #ReRe tries advice #jury is still out on whether or not she succeeds #why do I keep talking about myself in 3rd person in these tags is the question we should all ask ourselves

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wordsnstuff · 5 years

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20 Mistakes To Avoid in YA Fiction/Romance

* This is a re-upload due to the original being flagged a few months ago for having a gif of two teenagers...*GASP*... dancing. What, tumblr? What is “adult” about that? The post has been in appeal for 4 months, and I have a feeling it won’t leave, so I decided to finally repost it.

YA Fiction is an incredibly popular genre of literature, and most people have picked one up and devoured it in less than a day, but there is a trend in the genre where in certain instances, people forfeit quality for a cheesy dramatic plot. A lot of these stories are just regurgitated cliches with vaguely interesting characters and just enough drama, fluff, and mildly (or extremely) sexual content to keep the reader paying attention. (No shade to the authors, because obviously, any author who writes and publishes a book works hard, no matter the end product.)

There are a lot of aspects of YA Fiction that repeatedly rear their ugly heads and annoy readers or flat out scream dangerous messages to the young people that indulge in them. I thought I’d put the spotlight on a few in the hopes that it will help clean up the genre’s reputation as new and more awakened authors contribute content to it.

Below you will read about some common mistakes that YA Fiction/Romance writers make that either ruin the story, promote dangerous messages, or unrealistically portray teenagers.

Forgetting The Supporting Characters

The supporting characters are an important part of any story, even if the main plot revolves around two people. Supporting characters provide subplots, information to the reader, and more opportunities for your audience to connect and relate to your story. It’s always good to give your supporting characters love and attention when creating and writing them. Sometimes they end up carrying the story.

A mistake that a lot of authors make is that they give the reader a couple defining characteristics, a name, a relationship to the main character, and then just make that character pop into the reader’s view whenever the main plot needs them to. No backstory. No life of their own. Just support to the plot, and that’s a huge waste of potential. You don’t want your readers to put down your book and either forget the supporting characters existed at all, or believe that they were extra pieces of a puzzle.

Using Slang Badly

Writers should not feel the need to include current slang in order to make their story more relatable or popular amongst their targeted demographic. Slang is constantly changing, evolving, and most importantly, dying. Not to say that you should only write in traditional terms or put “thy” and “thee” everywhere, but using standard English and avoiding the trendy but temporary slang words is key.

If you must use slang, try to use the bare minimum and only in fitting circumstances. If your character is the type to say “OMG her dat boi memes are on fleek” then, by all means, go right ahead, but you probably cringed when you read that. That would have been totally normal 2 years ago, but every bit of that sentence has died over time, and no matter how much you think a slang word will stick, don’t risk it.

Sympathy and Envy Mongering

Two emotions that YA Fiction and Romance always try to invoke in their readers are sympathy and envy. The author either wants the reader to feel bad for one or many of the characters, or they want them to be jealous of the awesome (and usually unrealistic) lives the characters have. Don’t be one of these. It’s tired and boring and not original in the slightest.

Are sympathy and empathy both totally okay emotions?

Yes.

Are they all you need to write a good story?

Nope. Not at all.

The reader needs and wants to feel more than jealous of and sad for the characters in the story. The best stories are the ones that trigger a complex whirlwind of emotion. Sympathy and envy are the easy way out, and you get out of those emotions what you put into them.

Unrealistically Portraying Teenagers & Teenage Life

Teenagers look up to and compare themselves and their lives to the characters and lives of the characters in your story. Keeping in mind that your audience is young and impressionable is essential for authors of the genre.

Love At First Sight

Love-at-first-sight does not happen. Infatuation, maybe, but love is more complicated than that. Writing a plot based on “love at first sight” can leave a bad taste in your readers’ mouths from the start, and that is something you should avoid at all costs. On top of that, love-at-first-sight is a very easy-way-out move and if you’re dedicated to your characters and your story, there’s a good to fair chance that you can come up with a more satisfying build up.

Unrealistic Romantic Situations

If you’ve ever opened a YA Romance, chances are you’ve read a scene in which the protagonist and the love interest end up in a stunningly beautiful place and the love interest sweeps the protagonist off their feet prior to riding into the sunset. This, unfortunately, does not happen very often, especially in teenage relationships. The most romance you’re going to get (usually) is the love interest offering to pay for the protagonist’s bag of skittles with the leftover money from their paycheck they earned at McDonald’s.

Just because teenagers don’t really go to great lengths to rent an entire ice-skating rink in the middle of the night so they and their crush can skate to Ellie Goulding music doesn’t mean there can’t be cute and memorable moments. Great doesn’t always equal grand and that’s important to remember. A lot of the time, teenagers appreciate fantasizing about things that are actually possible.

Happy Endings

Not all stories have to end happily, and you’ve definitely been told this before, but nobody ever takes into account how stories about teenagers have so much potential when it comes to endings. Teenagers read books about teenagers and unfortunately, this means that a lot of them will take what you’re writing about and try to change their own lives to match. Be honest in your depiction about what actually happens when you leave high school.

The majority of the time, high school sweethearts won’t stay together. Long distance won’t work, they’ll find someone else, the spark will die out, their personalities will undergo drastic changes, and their goals and plans for the future will turn out differently than they expected. “And they lived happily ever after” is criticized harshly for a reason, especially in YA and YA Romance. Most stories don’t end happily, but there is more than one story in a person’s life and giving a person their happy ending as they graduate high school is a great injustice, to your character and your readers.

Avoiding The Dark Parts Of Teenage Life

Teenagers, despite what a lot of the media claims, go through some really serious and stressful and damaging things. Teenagers suffer from mental illness and deal with the intense pressure of the education system and hold their heads high in the face of stigma over every little detail about them. They suffer from eating disorders and body dysmorphia and self-harm tendencies, and that doesn’t even bring into account the bullying and family issues and the stress of constantly learning and feeling things for the very first time with little to no guidance or assurance or resources to ask for help. It is hard being a teenager. Do not forget that, and don’t leave the actual teenagers reading your story feeling underrepresented and/or abnormal because they aren’t as stress-free as the characters they look up to.

Exaggerating How Teenagers Interact With Each Other

A lot of teenage interactions are short, awkward, and uneventful. Teenagers aren’t super eloquent and socially apt, but YA Fiction seems to believe they are. It’s quite rare that a teenager will just walk up to someone they like, say “wanna go to dinner on Saturday?” and all will be fine and dandy. It’s quite rare that a teenager will saunter up to someone who talked about them behind their back, say something super clever and damaging to their enemy’s ego, and saunter off like the king/queen of the world. Those interactions look great in our heads, but they usually contain a few stuttered words and “um”s and blushing. Confidence is usually a trait that people develop later in life, so try not to push it if you’re trying to be realistic.

Maturity of Teenagers

Teenagers are underdeveloped human beings with minimal experience in most areas of life. They do not have it all figured out. A lot of YA books revolve around characters that are extremely intelligent, disciplined and ambitious at a level of maturity a 25-year-old be on. This is not accurate. Making characters “awkward” or “childish” does not have anything to do with how mature they seem to readers. There is a distinct difference between an awkward girl with childlike innocence and a girl who makes mistakes, does not have her life figured out, and is not yet comfortable with casual social interaction. The latter things I mentioned are pretty universal when it comes to teenagers.

Unfitting Aspirations

There are more than two paths in life. It seems that in YA you’re either going to graduate, get married, pop out a couple kids and live the rest of your life in the suburbs, or you’re going to leave home, go to college, travel for 20 years and settle in some random country in Europe writing poetry until the end of your days. There is no in between, which sucks. There are a lot of interesting things you can do in life, not to say that either of the two life paths I mentioned are uninteresting. You could take a gap year and travel the world, go to college, move back home for a couple years then maybe get a job that has you traveling and exploring new things for the rest of your life. You could meet the love of your life in college and have some kids but put them in online school so you could travel with them. You could live your whole life in an awesome cabin in the forest casting spells and adopting wild squirrels. There are so many ways life can be and restricting it to opposite extremes takes the imagination out of the future.

Not All Teenagers Think Their Relationships Will Last Forever

This one is pretty self explanatory, so long story short, not every relationship a teenager enters into is with the end goal of staying together forever, or even more than a few months. Most teenage relationships are pretty short and not very meaningful, and portraying every single couple in your stories as “we’ve been going strong for 2 years and plan on getting married right after graduation” is inaccurate and will probably cause your readers some disappointment in the future.

Relationships Aren’t A Teenager’s Only Concern

Most teenagers are more concerned about the F they got on a History test than they are about who they’re going to stare at next period. Everyone has more than just their crush to worry about. Some teenagers have to worry about where they’re going to get their next meal or how they’re going to get a ride home from school or even how they can apologize to a friend they’ve hurt. It’s not all about relationships for teenagers, in fact, relationships are a pretty small part of teenage life. If all your character has to think about is the hottie they sit next to in Biology, perhaps you should work a little more on character development.

Unnatural Appearances

Most teenagers are not model-level attractive. All teenagers have break-outs and leave the house late with greasy hair or with their shirt on inside out. No teenager shows up at school every day looking absolutely flawless, as if they’re about to walk down the runway. Please keep that in mind, because portraying teenagers accurately, especially when it comes to physical aspects such as weight, acne, etc. is super important. In YA and YA Romance, you must keep in mind that the teenagers you are trying to appeal to should not feel like a piece of trash because they aren’t as perfect as your characters. Yes, YA Fiction is Fiction, but just because you know that it’s unrealistic doesn’t mean your readers do. Readers of YA Fiction compare themselves to the characters in your books whether you like it or not. It is not hard to realistically portray physical appearances of teenagers.

Avoiding Dangerous Messages

A common problem found in YA Fiction is the lacing of dangerous messages found in the smaller details. You may miss them the first couple times you read a story, but if you go looking for them, you will find them, and perhaps you will find the source of a lot of mistakes you’ve made. YA has a bad habit of endorsing mindsets that lead to bad decisions. Some of them, however, can be avoided in your own writing.

The Need To Change The “Flawed” One

Nobody in this world is perfect. Expecting the person you supposedly love to be flawless all the time is not realistic. People make mistakes. People are not always happy and bubbly and confident about themselves. People do not always act the same one day as they did the day before. Human beings are flawed and should be portrayed as such, especially in the stage of their life which is the most confusing and scary. Teenagers are underdeveloped human beings, and for some reason, teenager girls in YA Romance expect teenage boys to be charming and loving and never ever make a mistake, which is ridiculous. Creating love interests that appear flawless and can make no mistakes is detrimental to your audience. It raises your readers’ expectations to an unattainable level which causes them disappointment and might cause their future partners unrepairable damage to their self-esteem because they’ll think that in order to find a partner, they cannot be flawed and cannot make mistakes.

Glorification Of Illegal Activity

It’s not “cool” or “edgy” to pump yourself full of deadly and mind-altering substances you know absolutely nothing about. It doesn’t make you “badass” and it isn’t a personality trait unless that trait is stupid. Whatever your position is on drugs or alcohol or whatever, there is no excuse for putting the idea in the heads of young readers that doing things that are illegal and addictive and that might even get you killed is ok. Not only because most of your readers are younger than 21, but because it will always be dangerous to take drugs, commit crimes, and drink. Your choices are your choices. Don’t impose your habits and excuses on kids who don’t know any better.

Slut Shaming

News flash: it’s 2017, people. Nobody cares who you’re kissing or dating or having sex with. People are finally getting used to the idea that maybe, just maybe, it’s not the end of the world if you do whatever you want, as long as you’re not hurting yourself or anyone else. This recurring theme of “I hate this person because they do what they want with their body” is getting old and annoying. Believe what you will regarding religion and morals and what is right or wrong or whatever you want to believe in, but the second you start turning your story into a commentary on the decisions and beliefs of other people, you’re in the wrong. There are other, more creative reasons to make your characters hate each other than their sexual activity.

Forgetting The First Times

One of the most exciting parts of being a teenager is that everything you’re experiencing, you’re experiencing for the first time. Everything is confusing and exciting and 10x more painful or memorable or enjoyable, and that’s neglected all the time in YA. I don’t mean the common trope of the first kiss or the losing of virginity. I mean love and infatuation and loss and heartbreak; it’s all happening to them for the first time in their lives, and these events make up their memories that they will carry with them forever. Teenage years are incredibly heavy times for people. It is, after all, the years in which they learn the most and the fastest and where the majority of their brain development takes place. These moments that you’re writing, the first kiss, the first time having sex, the first time your character loses someone they love, they’re all going to determine how your character will develop in the future. Treat them that way. Teach young readers that it’s normal and perfectly okay to be scared and inexperienced and lost. That’s the bitter-sweet part of youth and it’s beautiful.

Bad Boys And Boring Girls

Bad Boys are, in reality, bad news. The real “bad boys” in this world are slimy, manipulative jerks who trick girls (usually more than one at a time) into thinking they have feelings for them, using them for things like sex or money, and then either end up controlling their entire lives, introducing drugs and problems, or breaking their hearts. It’s sad, but it’s reality. Yes, there’s always a cause for this behavior, and sometimes these bad boys grow out of it, but that’s not always the case. Portraying these bad boys as “changeable” is not only dangerous for the female readers but also the men in their future. If you make girls think that they can change whomever they’re with to be the perfect prince charming, they will never be satisfied with someone who is flawed (spoiler alert: everyone is flawed) and they may destroy the self-esteem of whoever they’re with by making them think they need to change to be lovable.

Boring Girls are, sort of, connected to bad boys in this sense. They show up in every story, which makes sense financially because authors who make more relatable main characters sell more books. It’s just demographics. But at the same time, this stretch for a wider audience can end up influencing girls’ expectations of themselves and their love lives. If you make every protagonist completely boring, compliant, and devoid of strong, defining traits, girls will take that as advice. They will learn that all a girl has to do to make people fall in love with them is sit quietly and be pretty, which is horrible, in case you hadn’t noticed. Teach girls to look up to strong characters with rich personalities. Nowadays, that counts as an original idea.

Generalization

Portraying every aspect of teenage life and teenagers themselves as if you opened a book full of cliches, closed your eyes and pointed at something is not ok. High schools and families and personalities are different wherever you go, and making blind generalizations about aspects of teenage life can not only change how your reader interprets their own lives, but how adult readers assume teenage life is when they’re not around. It is important to not reinforce the assumption that there is always a popular clique and mean jocks and awkward nerds and dead-beat stoners because these stereotypes are a way for people to justify their snap-judgements, and not only does that say a lot about you as an author, but that will breed a whole new generation of judgmental, close-minded people.

Glorification Of Unhealthy Relationship Behaviors

I’m gonna say this once: It is not “hot” to have the love interest constantly putting restrictions on their supposed loved one. It’s not okay to borderline stalk someone and use “I love you” as an excuse, even if the person reciprocates your feelings. It is unhealthy to ignore someone when they say “no, no, not now” or “no, stop, not here” when you’re in the middle of initiating sex or even just kissing. It is disgusting when romance, especially YA Romance, which has mostly young, impressionable readers taking in your messages, promotes these behaviors like they’re something to strive for. Like it or not, your writing is going to alter the way they imagine a “perfect” relationship. If you aren’t willing to take that responsibility seriously, you should not be writing YA, and especially not YA Romance.

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crackimagines · 4 years

Text

Dorothea and Ann Supports (C-A)

You bet I do, anon!

Persona 5 3H AU Masterlist Here!

(Dorothea) “Hello there, Ann!~”

(Ann) “Oh, what’s up Dorothea?”

(Dorothea) “Nothing too much in particular. I was just wondering if you’d like to get some sweets with me in the dining hall?-”

(Ann) “THERE’S SWEETS?! WHAT KIND?!”

(Dorothea) “I-I’m not too sure actually. Er, ahem! That’s why I was asking, why don’t we go find out together? Two beauties in the mess hall is sure to get some attention~-”

(Ann) “Heck yeah! I’m DYING to get some food in me!”

(Dorothea) “...I swear I just saw you eating earlier though...”

(Ann) “Yeah, I was just going through every snack I managed to sneak in from the mess hall...Let’s see, some sandwiches, some jerky, I think soup...?”

(Dorothea) “W-Wha...You call those snacks and you’re STILL hungry!?”

(Ann) “Yeah, barely half full! Now come on, let’s go have some sweets!”

...

(Ann) “Mmmm! Soooo goood! Maybe I should start eating more European style sweets, these are too delicious to pass up!”

(Dorothea) “How is she not fat after eating all this? I’ve got to get her to tell me her secret...”

(Ann) “Hm? You say something?”

(Dorothea) “Oh, just thanks for accompanying me! Watching you scarf all these sweets down is pretty entertaining...and kinda gross.”

(Ann) “Thanks for inviting me Dorothea! Let’s eat together again sometime!”

(Dorothea) “She was oblivious to all my flirting, and just ate even faster than Caspar. That girl has completely defied my first impressions of her...”

C support has been reached!

(Ann) “Hey, Dorothea!”

(Dorothea) “Hi Ann. Something I can do for ya?”

(Ann) “I just wanted to say thanks again for inviting me out to lunch the other day. It was honestly a lot of fun!”

(Dorothea) “Aww, don’t mention it! I always had a soft spot for pretty ladies.”

(Ann) “Pretty, huh...? Heh, I think that’s a first...”

(Dorothea) “Wait, really? I figured people would’ve been all over a gorgeous girl like you.”

(Ann) “Psh, are you kidding me? Most people avoid me like the plague in my world.”

(Dorothea) “...Huh. I never would have thought.”

(Ann) “Japan isn’t very welcoming to outsiders, especially in the school environments. I was pretty much all alone until Shiho became my friend.”

(Dorothea) “What about your parents?”

(Ann) “I mean, sure they were there, but we were always moving and they were so busy, I’ve pretty much been by myself a good chunk of my life, though I’m used to it.”

(Dorothea) “...”

(Ann) “Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean to bring the mood down!”

(Dorothea) “N-No it’s alright! Your story just...got me thinking about my own life is all. It just sounds a lot like mine, actually.”

(Ann) “I heard you were an orphan. Your life certainly couldn’t have been easy.”

(Dorothea) “It was anything but, Ann. Most people never glanced my way until I became a singer. And the ones that did usually called me nasty things, and even threw objects at me...Then after I became a singer, all they wanted was the famous Diva, not the girl beneath that mask.”

(Ann) “Dorothea...”

(Dorothea) “Heh, so yeah, don’t worry about it. Your story hits this girl close to home is all. I get where you’re coming from.”

(Ann) “I think I get you too. You’ve certainly defied my first impression of you!”

(Dorothea) “Really? What would that be?”

(Ann) “At first, I just saw some girl who thew herself at everyone she met, and I thought she was a total badass on how nothing anyone said stopped her. And now, I have even more admiration for her. She’s had to go through her struggles in life and came out on top. It reminds me that I aspire to be someone like you!”

(Dorothea) “Come on now, you’re gonna make a girl blush with things like that. But...thanks, Ann. That means a lot.”

(Ann) “I’m just saying what I see is all.”

B support has been reached!

(Ann) “Thanks for inviting me to tea! I’ve actually never had a real tea party before.”

(Dorothea) “Then I’m glad to let you experience it firsthand! And I made sure to bring in all sorts of sweets for us.”

(Ann) “Dorothea, you are a SAINT!”

(Dorothea) “Just try not to scarf it down too fast? After all, we’re here to savor them.”

(Ann) “Right! Well, let’s dig in!”

...

(Ann) “Ah, now that hit the spot! Now that the sweets are finished, you said there was something you wanted to ask?”

(Dorothea) “Yes. If it’s too personal lemme know. So...What did you mean when you said “I wanted to be someone like you”? Are you a singer in your world too?”

(Ann) “Nah, I’ve been told by Ryuji I suck at singing. I’m a modeler. I get in all sorta fashionable clothing and pose for camera-...Er, people to put in books pretty much. It’s pretty rough sometimes, people only looking at you for solely looks, and not what’s underneath. But, I promised Shiho that I’d become a modeler to let her, myself, and other people happy.”

(Dorothea) “Shiho must mean a lot to you.”

(Ann) “S-She’s...my whole world. I’m sure she would have loved to meet you...”

(Dorothea) “Ann...Sweetie you’re crying!”

(Ann) “A-Am I...? Oh...I am...”

(Dorothea) “I’m sorry, did I-”

(Ann) “No it’s okay, you didn’t step on any boundaries. I was just reminded that she’s...been through some things...Have we talked to you much about our school?”

(Dorothea) “I don’t believe you have.”

(Ann) “To put it briefly...”

...

(Dorothea) “Oh my god...I’m so sorry. I’m glad that bastard Kamoshida got what he deserved!”

(Ann) “Thank you...She’s doing better than she was before. But, thank you for letting me tell you that. Really, only Akira and Ryuji know the full situation about Shiho.”

(Dorothea) “Thank you for trusting me enough to even say all of that. Hah, I guess it’s fair to say you defied my impressions of you. I thought you were just a pretty airhead but...You’ve been through your own hell to be standing up strong. You’ve got your future on your sights and working through the blood sweat and tears to get there...Heh, it reminds me of someone I should be.”

(Ann) “How about this? We’ll help each other get to where we’re headed.”

(Dorothea) “That sounds wonderful, Ann.”

A support has been reached!

#fire emblem three houses imagines #fire emblem three houses headcanons #fe3h imagines #crossover #Persona 5 AU #ann takamaki #dorothea arnault #black eagles

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t100ficrecsblog · 4 years

Text

an interview with @changingthefairy-tale

What are you working on right now? Right now, I’m focused on BellarkeFic-for-BLM (I just got an amazing canon prompt I’m really excited to finish). I’ve also been participating in this round of the Chopped Challenge, which has been fun and challenging. In between prompts, I’ve got two WIPs that I’m slowly cranking through. Shoutout to every single reader who’s been incredibly patient while I’ve been so slow on those updates — though, reminder that you can donate to a BLM organization (even a $3 donation works) and request an update to get those higher on my prio list while I’m focused on that initiative.

What’s something you’d like to write one day? My absolute dream job and the ultimate goal is to become a showrunner for a prime time TV show. I love TV shows — I love the way actors and directors and crew take a script and breath life into it, I love how you take a general idea for a story and mold it into something amazing as you go, I love how a series gives a story more time to be fleshed out and explored, I love the concept of a writers room and collaborating on a story. It’s a different ballgame from fic writing (which I do for fun) and travel writing (which I do for a living), but I’m determined to make it happen. JRoth, I’m coming for your job, babe. 😉

What is the fanwork you’re most proud of? I’m still really new to fic writing, especially compared to some of the powerhouse writers in this fandom. And I’m sure one of my WIPs (when finished) will probably supersede this. BUT, my one-shot about Madi calling Bellamy on The Ring (She called you for 2,199 days) is something I’m really proud of. I’m a long-winded writer, so one-shots have never come naturally to me. This one just…clicked. It’s got some good lines in there that I’m proud of, and based on the feedback I’ve gotten, it really made readers feel something and connect to the story. It’s not my longest story or my most thought-out. But it shows my growth as a writer these past few months, and I’m proud of that.

Why did you first start writing fic? I started writing fic as a creative outlet for my writing. My day job is writing about travel and credit cards. And while I enjoy that, it’s just not as creative. My dream is to write for a TV show though, and I was craving a way to flex my creative writing muscles in a low-stress way. I started watching The 100 when it first came out, but I didn’t really get into the fandom until I came back to the show during the S5/6 hiatus. That’s when I started reading fics and reblogging stuff about the show on Tumblr. During the S6/7 hiatus, I had this idea for a Greys Anatomy AU, and my sister (who is also a major fan of the show) was like, “You literally write things for a living. If you want to write a Grey’s AU for t100, there is absolutely nothing stopping you.” I published my first chapter on that The Choices We Make in Dec. 2019, and the rest is history.

What frustrates you most about fic writing? For me, I think that the most frustrating thing isn’t even about fic writing itself; it’s the fact that it’s a side-hobby and not something I can dedicate my full attention to. When you write all day for your day job, then do some for your freelance gig, and then turn around and try to write for a few hours every night for fic… that gets hard sometimes — especially since starting quarantine where I’m not traveling, going out with friends, getting a break from it, etc. Fic writing is a creative release for me, and I absolutely love crafting and writing these stories that involve some of my favorite fictional characters. And I love interacting with other writers and fic readers, I love talking about ideas and exchanging headcanons and fangirling over my favorite writers’ works. But (because there’s always a but), sometimes I just don’t have the mental energy or capacity to write at the end of the day when I’ve turned in 3 deadlines for work. I’ve got all these ideas floating in my head, but only so much time and mental energy I can dedicate to it.

What are your top five songs right now? Oh boy. So I live alone, which means I’ve got either music or Netflix on in the background 24/7 because ya girl doesn’t like silence. I have a different playlist for different moods. I’ll share my fav song from each of those playlists. Lol Fvck Somebody by The Wrecks (On my “Summer state of mind” playlist for when I wanna dance it out in my kitchen like an idiot)

Don Quixote by Drapht (On @talistheintrovert’s “My Good Bitch Murphy” playlist for when I’m feeling *edgy*)

that way by Tate McRae (On my “Pandemic Jams” playlist bc I like angsty music and this song is a Bellarke MOOD)

Washington on Your Side from Hamilton (On my “Feeding my Broadway Obsession” playlist for when I wanna sing show tunes and plot overthrowing the government)

Tea by Noah Davis (Shameless plug for Noah bc it’s a bop and I literally dated Noah’s older brother in junior high — so proud of this kid for making his dreams a reality)

What are your inspirations (books, songs, other fic, really good cake)? All of the above, except I like pie more than cake. lol But really, I kind of use everything around me for inspiration. “The Choices We Make” is inspired by my love of Grey’s Anatomy. “Intertwining your soul (with somebody else)” is inspired my the first draft of my YA novel (though the setting was adapted to a grounder canonverse AU). “The Day He Shut That Rocket Door” and “She called you for 2,199 days” were inspired by @historyofbellarke‘s headcanons that were brought up in S7 speccing conversations (shoutout to her for enabling my angsty ass). My most recent WIP “There are some things written in the stars” that I started as part of Chopped (but will continue because I’m obsessed with the idea) is inspired by my love of Timeless. And I have an entire Notion database filled with fic ideas — some one-shots and some multi-chapter fics — that are inspired by quotes, songs, conversations with friends, books I love, shows I adore, random HCs that pop into my head while I watch, my own life experiences, etc. I take inspiration in any form it decides to come in. 💕

What first attracted you to Bellarke? What attracts you now? I’m a ho for enemies to lovers — the idea that you can put your worst foot forward and show someone all the ugly parts of you… and that they’ll see that and somehow look past it to see the good stuff too, falling in love with your whole self instead of just the pretty parts. Yeah, it’s my favorite romance trope. And that tension is what originally drew me to Bellarke. Now, it’s a combination of things. I love each of these characters in their own right. I relate to Clarke in a lot of ways, and I aspire to be her level of badass. I straight adore Bellamy Blake (flaws, stupid decisions, and all) and would marry him in a heartbeat if he were real — I’m not even kidding. lol But I also love their dynamic. They are partners, best friends, perfect compliments to the other. They see each other in a way no one else does, and they are the one person the other constantly risks everything for. They are both so driven by their responsibilities to their people, yet that all typically goes out the window the moment the other is at risk. I don’t believe in soulmates in real life, but it’s nice to get to believe in this fictional world that they are just made for each other.

BESIDES Bellarke, what character or pairing do you like best on t100? My favorite character besides Bellarke is John Murphy. His arc has been BY FAR the best on this show, going from that little shit in S1 to this “asshole we love” in the middle to now a true hero in this final season. And through it all Richard Harmon has been amazing to watch on screen.

My favorite pairing besides Bellarke is Linctavia. Yes, that ship is problematic in a lot of ways, but I still loved their dynamic. Lincoln helped Octavia navigate this new world that she was so desperate to be apart of while being mindful of her safety. And I thought they were a good match — he helped tame her fire without putting it out, and she helped challenge the way he was raised. Given time, I think they could have become one of the most stable and loving relationships on t100. Of course, that couldn’t happen because Jason needed Bell’s actions in 3A to have heartbreaking consequences, O to spiral for her own character journey, and whatever mess happened off-screen between Ricky and him. But they still remain my favorite ship aside from Bellarke.

Why did you decide to start writing for bellarkefic-for-blm? The second I saw that Sam was planning on doing this, I reached out to ask how I could help/write/be involved. The BLM movement is so important, and this is an amazing way for me to contribute while pursuing my passions. It’s a way for the fandom to get involved and do something good. And ultimately, this helps organizations that need donations. Shameless plug for everyone to please go check out the Bellarke Fic for BLM page — check out the many amazing writers and artists we have participating, and send in prompts. Most of us are allowing WIP chapter update requests, and there are a number of us (myself included) who are matching donations made! No donation is too small, and you’ll be supporting a movement that is a necessity in the U.S. and beyond.

What’s your writing process like? My mind is literal chaos, so I plan and outline like hell in order to make sense of everything. When I get an idea for a fic, it goes on my Notion database. Within Notion, I write down my inspiration for the idea, and a pretty in-depth summary of where I want the fic to go — dialogue ideas, any feelings/emotions I want to invoke, literally just a brain dump of all my ideas. From there, I’ll arrange that brain dumb into an outline. If it’s a one-shot, I’ll generally write the whole thing in the Notion doc. But multi-chapter fics will get a checklist within Notion for me to keep track of progress, and I’ll actually write the fic in Google Docs. I generally start writing from the beginning of a story, but if I get stuck or have an idea for a later scene, the fact that I’ve outlined heavily allows me to jump around as ideas come to me. I’ll read each one-shot or chapter after I’m done to make sure it flows before publishing. I post chapters for my WIPs as I write them, which I should really stop doing. lol For my readers’ sakes, I should work ahead and publish on a schedule rather than making them wait for my slow ass to finish chapter to chapter. But right now, that’s my process!

What are some things you’d like to recommend? Oh goodness, too many fics to possibly name. Instead, I’ll link to my AO3 rec bookmarks (which isn’t all-inclusive of the amazing fics I’ve read in this fandom, but it’s got some good favs in there) and shout out all of our awesome Bellarke Fic for BLM writers. Y’all should check out their work (and send in prompts)!

Where’s the best place to find you (twitter? tumblr?) I’m @changingthefairy-tale on Tumblr and @changingthefairy_tale on AO3! My ask box is always open for anyone who wants to scream about the show, ask about specs, talk about my fics, etc. Come say hey!

#bellarkefic for blm #bellamy blake #clarke griffin #john murphy #bellarke #bellarkefic for blm interviews

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bookswithelli · 4 years

Text

a darker shade of magic: review

synopsis:

Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.

Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.

Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.

review under the cut!

stars: ★★★★☆

First of all, although I rated this book 4 stars, there were some issues with it (mainly involving representation and characterization). I rated it 4 stars because I enjoyed reading it despite its issues, but I recognize that the mediocre representation may turn others away from this book.

characters & representation

Before I begin this section of the review, I would like to say that I am not visually impaired and therefore do not have any authority on that subject. My comments on the treatment of Lila's missing eye are merely based on my own observations and what I have heard from visually impaired people on the topic.

Lila:

A cross-dressing thief and aspiring pirate with a penchant for knives, Lila Bard brings to mind the likes of Inej Ghafa from Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows and Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean. There were times when I really liked Lila; she can be sassy and morally questionable which is always interesting to see when well done. However, her character had a few issues that I wanted to address.

“Delilah Bard looked like a king. No...she looked like a conqueror.” pg. 289

When will fantasy authors stop romanticising conquerors and colonization?! This may be a smaller issue since aside from White London (which is villainized) there is no mention of it in the overarching plot, but this line just really bothered me. It makes me think that V.E. Schwab is a fan of adult and YA fantasy authors like Sarah J. Maas and others who write their main characters to be colonizers and romanticize it in the process. I don’t think this line was necessary at all, and I wish the second sentence had been removed or modified to something a little less problematic (e.g. she looked like a pirate/captain/etc.)

"How did you lose it...your eye?" -Master Tieren, pg. 327

It is revealed near the end of the book that Lila has been missing an eye for as long as she can remember, and she wears a glass eye as a replacement. This is all well and good, but the consequences of her impaired vision are never explored. The only reason the reader knows that Lila is missing an eye is because the author tells them. The narrative never discusses how Lila's lack of an eye affects her day to day life, and it's only brought into the story when it is needed for the plot.

It’s also worth mentioning that Lila is the only female character with a large role in this book, and no matter how “feminist” her character is, there’s not a lot of women in this book that are portrayed positively and with depth.

Rhy:

I actually really liked Rhy and I loved his relationship with Kell. I love sibling love in books and we so rarely get positive sibling relationships, so this was nice to see! It’s also really important to have queer people of color in books. However, I don’t think Rhy’s character is good bi/pan representation (I will refer to him as bi in this review for the sake of brevity, but it’s worth mentioning that neither term is mentioned so Rhy could canonically identify as either).

“He would flirt with a nicely upholstered chair, and he never takes anything seriously.” -Kell, pg. 254

As a queer girl who has identified as bisexual in the past and may in the future, this is bad bi rep 101. Schwab is perpetuating the stereotype of the “promiscuous bi”, or one who flirts and/or sleeps with everyone and everything. This is not a bad characteristic in itself, but it is harmful bi rep because that is the way every bi character is portrayed in media. It reinforces the idea that bisexual people in real life are all like this, and it also reinforces biphobes’ points of view when they say that bisexual people are more likely to cheat because they sleep with more people. This is pretty much the most common stereotype of a bisexual person, so while I doubt that Schwab intended to be harmful in her portrayal of Rhy, it shows that she did not do much research on LGBT+ rep when writing her characters. I do know that some bi people were not bothered by this; however, I believe that writers should stay away from stereotypes, especially when writing characters that are marginalized. Even though promiscuity is not an inherently bad trait, it is harmful when applied to bisexual people because it reinforces real peoples’ beliefs and affects real life bisexuals. This is especially important here because Rhy is the only narrative-confirmed LGBT+ character in the first book. It's not the worst representation I've seen, since Rhy does have a personality outside his flirtatiousness and promiscuity (in fact, it's confirmed that this is a coping mechanism for him) but it's certainly not the best, and I'm just tired of seeing bisexual people represented this way in fiction.

Kell:

I know a lot of people who didn’t like Kell very much, and that is understandable. However, I found him really compelling. It’s refreshing to see a male lead in this genre who’s not jacked and a brooding asshole whose only redeeming quality is his dick size. He’s definitely moody, but not to the point where he becomes an abusive alpha male type guy (yes, I am aware that this is a very low bar). I genuinely enjoyed his character because he’s flawed. He’s stubborn and moody but he’s incredibly caring and he genuinely wants to help people. He feels alienated from his family so he rebels and gets himself in trouble. His character is written well because he’s not perfect by any means, but he’s still likeable and you still root for him.

Holland:

Holland is what every YA love interest wishes they were. Honestly. He’s given no excuses for his actions, and yet he is still sympathetic. You understand that he is under the control of Astrid and Athos, but you also understand that all he has done for years is carry out their orders, and that changes a person. His story is heartbreaking, but that doesn’t change what he has done. He knows it, Kell knows it, Lila knows it, the reader knows it. Honestly, if he were in a YA fantasy romance, I bet Holland would be the love interest; his female “mate” would change him for the better, and he would never face the consequences of his actions. That makes his arc in this story all the more enjoyable. Holland is one of my favorite characters of all time, and not because he’s a perfect “book boyfriend” or whatever, but because his story and character are genuinely interesting and executed well.

worldbuilding

I loved the worldbuilding in this book. There was a bit of an info-dump in the beginning, but I’m willing to look past that because the world was so engaging and interesting that I forgot about the dense first chapter once I got past it. Each London has a distinct feel, and they are all almost tangible. The descriptions of each made me feel like I was in the Londons along with Kell and Lila. It seems like the system would be complicated, but Lila sums it up well:

“There’s Dull London, Kell London, Creepy London, and Dead London.” -pg. 198

After the initial info-dump, Schwab weaves information about the magic system seamlessly through the book, leaving enough mystery for the reader to wonder at what might happen in the next books, but never leaving out so much that the reader is confused. I really appreciated the rules that existed around magic. It’s draining, and Antari magic requires blood, which means there is a limit to how much you can perform at once. Magic is seen to affect the world beyond the characters and their main conflict, which I was very happy about as well. There are too many fantasy novels where the magic system has no rules and only exists to further the plot, but in this world you can see it everywhere. The politics of Red London and White London are affected by magic, even where it is not necessarily relevant to the plot. You can see small amounts of magic being performed in the streets of Red London: spells to protect from thieves, etc. Magic is normal for the people in Red London, and it is treated as such in the text.

pacing & plot

This book flew along. I’ve read it multiple times now, and every time, I can’t stop until I finish. And then I want to move along to the next book immediately. It manages to keep up a great pace and still build up to an exciting climax. Schwab’s lyrical writing is not flowery, but it draws the reader in and carries them along the story effortlessly. It’s very engaging and accessible language, which makes it a good stepping stone into adult fantasy (especially if you’re coming from YA).

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The representation that it gets praised so highly for is disappointing, but aside from that I enjoyed most of the characters and the writing was beautiful. The plot and world were engaging and made me want to read the second book immediately (even though I’m on my 3rd or 4th reread). I would recommend this book for fans of YA fantasy who want to get into adult fantasy - this book is categorized as adult, but I found it a lot easier to read than other adult fantasies. For me, this book is a reminder that you can recognize the flaws in a book and still enjoy it, so remember to stay critical, even of your favorite books :)

#adsom #a darker shade of magic #kell maresh #lila bard #rhy maresh #holland vosijk #ve schwab #booklr #review

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cvrnelivs · 4 years

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— ( harry styles, cismale, he/him ) &. * — meet ( cornelius ‘ oliver ’ edwards ) ! ( he ) is ( twenty five ) years old and has lived in st. helens for ( two ) years . when they’re not helping the town prepare for halloween , they work as a ( baker ) . around here, they’re known to be ( idealistic ) & ( intuitive ) yet ( unpredictable ) & ( destructive ) and apparently their favorite fall activity is ( visiting the farmer’s market ) . safe to say it really wouldn’t be halloweentown without them !

hiya! i am kt &+ underneath the read more is a LOT of info about my bb, cornelius/oliver. ** insert clown emoji but make ‘em yee-haw ** if you’d like to plot you can reach me on here or at space cowboy#8536 on discord !! <33 v excited to interact with y’all and your bbs !!

( DISCLAIMER : THIS IS LONG - WOW !!! just felt a lot of muse !!! apologies !! )

𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖈𝖘

name: cornelius oliver edwards.

nicknames: ollie, ol, lee !! literally whatever - “hey, you” dkjfgn

gender: cismale. pronouns: he, him.

age: twenty-five.

birthday: june 27th.

zodiac: cancer !!

orientation: pansexual / panromantic.

occupation: baker // aspiring filmmaker.

languages spoken: english & french.

𝖎𝖓𝖘𝖕𝖎𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓

- PINTEREST - featuring his wardrobe, his home, his aesthetic, some character inspo and olive, his german shepard pup !!

- SPOTIFY PLAYLIST - what oliver is currently listening to !!

personality type: INFJ-T / THE ADVOCATE

moral alignment: chaotic good

style-wise: oliver is v stylish, but isn’t overly flashy by any means. he’s intuitive in the sense of what works and what doesn’t. willing to explore the latest wardrobe craze, but also just likes what he likes and likely won’t venture out unless pressed by another to do so. post coming soon for his wardrobe !!! they say that the cancer man’s clothing is selected to reflect “ sophistication over flash “ but kdgjn i’ll let ya’ll be the judge of that. he’s v much harry inspired clothing wardrobe, but also tones it down with some casual looks, especially with being in the bakery and getting his hands dirty in creative aspects !!

𝖇𝖆𝖈𝖐𝖌𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖉

oliver was born in kent, england. he’s the youngest in his family of three, having an older brother and sister w/ two loving parents. when he was nine, his family packed up and moved to southern california, where they resided until oliver left for college on the east coast - his family trading off between living back in england and on the west coast throughout the year. upon moving to a new country at a young age, oliver truly found himself via escaping into various books and movies. often attempting to write his own and would force encourage his siblings to act his skits/plays out for his parents enjoyment. growing up, oliver also enjoyed playing all types of sports ( his parents kind of threw him in hoping he’d make friends ), but when it came down to it, athletic abilities-wise, there truly wasn’t anything that he wasn’t ‘ good ‘ at, and that’s simply because he’s always been such a competitive individual / as well as a perfectionist. that competitive/perfectionist energy caused him to go home and practice a skill or trick for hours in order to be able to come back the next day and whoop everyone’s asses. throughout highschool ; oliver was a v dedicated student. although he’s a bit reckless and loved to goof off, he was always acing classes and applying himself. he genuinely cares for others, you could’ve seen his ass volunteering at a soup kitchen with his mom on sundays and what not, as well as take part in various clubs and sports ! just SOFT and sportythings.

post-high school, oliver attended NYU double majoring in film & television and dramatic writing. despite his extensive and well received portfolio, oliver has always been a perfectionist and overcritical of his work, unwilling to share his projects with anyone until he deems them to be ~ perfect ~ himself. after graduating, he spent a year traveling, trying to find a bit of inspiration around him and taking up odd jobs to get some $$ of his own, dog walking, attempting his best at being a handy man, etc !! he moved back home to socal, and eventually made his way up to st.helen’s after he was sent a job posting for the bakery in town !! although he knows he doesn’t want to pursue a career in baking forever, he’s enjoying his time while trying to find a bit more muse for his future film&writing career.

overall, oliver can come off as a bit reserved, and distant whether that be a result of his untrusting nature of others, or simply unfamiliarity. it takes a bit of time before he feels comfortable to share his true opinion / commentary / only doing so when he feels secure to do so. he’s not necessarily unfriendly, just a bit distant / lost in his thoughts. which varies, as with most ppl ofc, upon person to person and his level of comfortability among them. despite his often lack of conversation, he abhors an uncomfortable silence to settle and will fill it with nonsense to simply avoid the feeling altogether. so, if you ever want to catch him rambling, just making him uncomfortable dkjfngdf. he definitely approaches most things with a bit of ‘ tough love ‘ . he doesn’t mind getting into a quarrel or two if he knows its worth the outcome he’s envisioned. oliver will tell others when they are fucking up, and if they are throwing a punch as a result - catch him leaning into it, which explains his bout of reckless antics. he can come off as a know it all, when it comes to advice giving, but more so because he thinks he’s really good at analyzing others and situations they are in, not necessarily because he’s lived through them himself, he’s just rather intuitive and able to empathize quite easily with others despite his verbal admittance of it. when it comes down to this binches reckless bits, he just feels so intensely that he ends up numbing himself in the aftermath of it all ( especially bc he’s definitely not sharing those feelings with the people around him ), therefore he’s willing to put himself into harms way in order to get a bit of that - happiness / pain, it doesn’t matter to him as long as he no longer feels overwhelmed by numbness. so, if ya see him with some scrapes and stitches ~ mind ya business. but he’ll likely try to drag somebody else into it, and make it seem like it was their idea. but if he is truly comfortable with somebody, he walks a fine line of won’t stop talking, especially if it’s an interest of his, and comfortable silence.

𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖞 & 𝖍𝖆𝖇𝖎𝖙𝖘

he is a CANCER, therefore in this essay i will..... kidding but here’s some fun cancer info i saw that applies to my bb !! at first he appears to be wistful, sarcastic ( maybe a lil crabby ) , shy, distant and mysterious. this personality remains if he isn’t completely comfortable around somebody. but overall, that’s just his facade, his ‘smokescreen’ of sorts to scare off the world from his outwards persona. underneath that layer ( makes me think of shrek metaphor with onions // don’t mind me ), BUT he’s gentle, kind and affectionate ( if you manage to make it to that level * bell dings * ) !!! overall, oliver is a sensitive soul, a bit emotional although he’d rather d*e than show that to others. likely will internalize anything that can hurt his feelings / a low blow and will do something chaotic as a result later on bc of it. very polite, and a little worldly, he is truly the epitome of old-school gentlemanly manners. chivalry coming as a second nature to him !!

that was getting ramble-y, so continuing HERE. but when it comes to romance, as per the cancer man, the concept of love is a mystery, one that oliver is trying to attain. however, his shyness and innate distrust of others make it difficult for him to allow himself to fall in love. his guard is always up when it comes to his emotions, and it’ll take a bit of prodding before he’s willing to speak up on what’s desired from him. he’s v picky when it comes to finding the “ partner of his dreams “ - but he’s def willing to throw himself into the romance of the situation, i.e. buying flowers, riding white horses, and slaying metaphorical dragons. the traditional side means that he will shower his partner with thoughtful gifts, wine and dine them in the best restaurants, and try to grant their every wish. he will take the garbage out, fix that wobbly shelf, navigate on road trips, and kill more so trap and release bugs for his partner, and most important of all he will do it all without being asked. his loyalty and keen attention to the needs and wants of his potential partner. so basically, more so willing to showcase through actions than speak on it. it’s the little things, right ??!?!?! he def cherishes not just the act of being in a relationship, but what it means to become one with another person in mind, body, and soul.

prides himself on being able to make a mean cup of coffee, likely the worst person to watch a movie with bc he knows exactly how it’s going to end after only watching five minutes of it, he has a godawful sense of direction, will walk in circles for fifteen minutes before even raising a question about it/noticing ( but he refuses to acknowledge it. )

his house, car, workspace, junk drawer, closet….you name it - it’s organized, practically sparkling. often times arranged by color, and / or style. nothing is ever out of place, and if it is - there’s trouble brewing. but, more than anything, if he’s visiting somebody’s place and it’s messy, he will spend a solid thirty minutes picking everything up before doing whatever it is that was intended.

likes : reading, flowers, handwritten notes/letters, deep cleaning, baking, curating soundtracks for his film projects, watching the history channel and true crime docs and playing / watching hockey !!

dislikes : artichoke, clutter, sandals ( fkjgh ), unrealistic plotlines in movies &+ burnt coffee.

habits : smoking cigarettes - although he’s been meaning to quit. likely has a severe caffeine addiction, although he’s now normalized having six cups of coffee throughout his day. he’s an early riser, no matter how little the amount of sleep he’s received, he’s always the first to rise - for his early morning runs !!

strengths: creative, insightful, inspiring, convincing, determined and passionate, decisive, altruistic, intuitive !!

weaknesses: sensitive, extremely private, perfectionist, low-key always needs to have a cause / purpose, can burn out easily !!

overall : oliver truly strives to be kind, and genuinely wants for everyone to get along. treat people with kindness and the like. he has the best of intentions, but often times that can get a bit muddled with the way he goes about things due to his bit of chaotic energy / as well as his often points of getting lost in his thoughts. he won’t realize he’s been quiet for the last three hours unless it’s mentioned to him. he will do anything to lighten a dark mood, and will sacrifice / throw himself under the bus if its needed. however, he also is the type to cause the dark mood depending on the day. wahoo! his more reckless antics increase when he’s feeling a bit emotional !! but he’ll likely try and convince somebody to propose the idea so it’s not on him.

𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖉𝖔𝖒 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖉 𝖈𝖆𝖓𝖔𝖓𝖘

in an attempt to throw himself into the town’s traditions and what not, after moving to st. helen’s oliver decided it was upon himself to put on a very spooo0ooky haunted house! so, catch him converting his home into a haunted house for the month of october !!! nothing cheesy either !! it’s more a psychological scare dkjgn with some gore elements !! EnTeR iF yOu DaRe !!!

he bounced around playing sports growing up, but favored ice hockey and field lacrosse out of them all.

HE WANTS TO JOIN A BOOKCLUB PLEASE !!!!!!!! or at least have some casual moments of silence with another reading. plz and tysm.

he is a vegetarian ! he has been since his freshman year of high school and has no plans on eating seafood/meat ever again.

he loves fancy wine ~ he’s cultured. visits seb’s winery v often !!!

he can play the drums !!

he collects vintage matchbooks and the stickers off of various fruits ( he puts them in a little notebook - can be found on his bookshelf ).

saves handwritten notes and letters from pals.

he loves to garden !!!! he has a specified rose shearing hat.

to make things a bit simple, he has all of harry’s tattoos !! might add more along the way !! stay tuned, folks !!

𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖓𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘

honestly, i am so up for anything !!! please accept this ramble of ideas thrown below. if you have any other ideas, lmk !!!! <3333 :’-)

( 2 / 2 ) - BFFZ : the z for an added emphasis dkfjgnd. somebody who likely has a key to oliver’s house, they can enjoy one anothers company as well as the bouts of comfortable silence. you know how best friends are but kdjfngd still !! whether they are likeminded or polar opposites that just flow ~~ down for anything !! even a trio of sorts ?!

( 0 / ?? ) - MUSE(S) : somebody that he often strikes inspo from for his short films and what not !! or has starred/he plans to have them star in his future compilations of sorts !! can be simply from their own ideals, their look / ~vibe~ dkfjgn // whatever !!

( 1 / 1 ) - RIDE OR DIE / CHAOTIC COMPANION : it would be wrong to say one is the more likely the bad influence over the other, although oliver may just be. these two find themselves bounding into, well hell, ( i guess??? ) together. playing on one anothers impulsiveness and if one ends up in the back of a police car, the other is handcuffed to them. and yet despite the length of their potential injuries, they find themselves thinking of something crazier to subject them to the next time around.

( 1 / 1 ) - GUARDIAN ANGEL / GOOD INFLUENCE : with ollie being a bit chaotic in nature, he needs somebody that is likely going to steer him clear from all the ideas that’ll bring him to the brink of disaster. he’s impulsive and in that desperate attempt to feel again, he’s very likely to bring a bit of mayhem upon himself. so while they may be worrying and attempting to talk his ideas down, he’s trying to get them to go along with his plan. it may be rare that he actually takes their advice, but when he does it seems to be for the best.

( 0 / 1 ) - PARTY FRIEND : these two know how to have a good time together. despite the amount of alcohol they are throwing back and the shenanigans they find themselves in as a result, this is a time where they also find themselves confiding in one another. if you look at their camera rolls, it’s likely they have tons of embarrassing and unflattering videos and pics of one another, in between their sob-worthy confessionals and venting/rants. these two trust one another, and although they love getting wreckT together, they find themselves discussing very raw and personal details. likely the only person oliver confides in, simply bc he’s completely plastered.

( 1 / 1 ) - SIBLING-LIKE RELATIONSHIP : these two have a love/hate relationship, very sibling like filled with pranks, competition, teasing and playful banter. however, when it comes down to it they have so much love and respect for one another. they know that no matter what happens they will always have one anothers back and be supportive of the other. truly a pure content filled relationship.

okay quick mention, ENEMY PLOTS ?!?!?!?!?!? i would live for one. i can’t imagine oliver being hardcore nasty, but i’d like to see whatever version comes out for this. so let’s get it djfngjakdfg maybe they just hold different viewpoints on the world and what not and clash, anything really !!! v open !!

( 1 / 1 ) - MENTOR - oliver needs a bit of structured or unstructured guidance, all depending on what their deemed mentor is wanting to impart on him, a bit of wisdom or slight chaos. kdjfgn he’ll take anything !! life advice in any and all aspects. maybe they come into the bakery, or maybe they help him with his garden. who knows, i certainly don’t know how they met, but we’ll figure it out ?!?!

RANDOM LITTLE IDEAS : maybe they’ve heard of one another in town, but haven’t quite met yet! or maybe they see each other around all the time, but have yet to introduce themselves to one another but low-key maybe in some online forum for the town together ?! who knows some fun things kdjnfg i AM OPEN !

ooh maybe a slowburn of sorts ?! something spicy to wreck ollie’s and my life with. dkfjgn we can base this off of chemistry !!! :’-)

#( ❛ ᴏʟɪᴠᴇʀ ᴇᴅᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ | ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ . )#htintro #excited to plot with y'all <3333 :)

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breesays · 5 years

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all i want for christmas

It’s weird when you’re a grown up and people still ask you what you want for Christmas. Like, listen—I work hard for the money and then I spend that money on the things I want so I am not often left wanting. Ya dig? Also, I’m not going to be an asshole and ask for anything over $100.

However. I LOVE buying Desmond clothes. Does he grow out of them quickly? Eh. But I DERIVE GREAT JOY out of dressing my human doll every day. The onesies, the rompers, the socks, the bandannas… I’m also kind of grateful I didn’t get many hand me downs. I feel like I’m developing a personal brand for Des. That’s not to say I buy everything NEW—I Poshmark for him way more than myself these days. And I wish there were more secondhand shops for kids—ESPECIALLY when we get cute clothes but they just don’t… look right on him. TRADESIES. So, sorry not sorry my Amazon wish list is just a dream wardrobe for my little. But he is my project now. My art, my investment, my sweet little bean.

Meanwhile, I’m wearing a paper bag and house slippers. JK. Sort of.

I also love getting him books. I check everything out from the library for my Kindle now, so my literary habits are frugal. But man I want him to love words as much as I do, so I aspire to build him a great library. I also wouldn’t mind memorizing some of the books, so I can perform them on the fly. Pout Pout Fish, for example.

What I’m saying is I already have what I want, and everything else is icing on the cake.

If we’re talking about a “put it out in the universe” situation—I would love a bigger place for the same price. Ditto for bigger car for the same price. A house cleaner, because that’s something I’ll never pay for. I would like to build my collection of blankets, but I kind of only want expensive ones now—weighted, or those chunky cable-knit ones. And I’m running out of space to store them, although I think I’m close to fulfilling my dream of being able to build the most comfy indoor fort.

All the things I want require more space so I guess I should just ask the universe for that. Says everyone who has a kid. You kind of don’t realize how much space their EQUIPMENT takes up until you’re running a gauntlet to the bathroom during a BRIEF NAP trying not to break your face by slipping on a Fisher Price maraca.

So, anyway, all I want for Christmas is clothes and accessories for my real life baby doll. He may only wear the outfits once but if we are CARPE DIEM-ing correctly, once is enough. Check our INSTA. Then they go into storage so I can reflect on their cuteness and tininess in the future. I don’t hand things down, either. 1. I did a lot of research and I haven’t entirely blacklisted the idea of a second child down the line (if we get rich) 2. When it’s your first kid, I feel like you want the experience of buying your own… everything. I did get many items USED but I sought them out. I didn’t want to wait 2 months for a Babyletto mini-crib so, to Facebook market I went.

This is getting long and a tad tangential.

Since it’s Thanksgiving and not yet Christmas I will say I am thankful for my current place in life. I am thankful for where I am and what I have and who I know so it’s not really necessary to ask for anything more. I know, Christmas is not about necessity. But it is about wonder and magic and imagination and all that… that I want Des to experience. He’s probably too young but YOLO.

#breesays #parenting

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neirawrites · 5 years

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Like a love story, by Abdi Nazemian

This book is monumental and beautifully written. This book is something that everyone, especially young LGBT people need to read. This book also left me with the desire to read something else.

Spoilers ahead:

A book about a closeted Iranian teenager, a rebellious gay activist and plus sized young ally should have been my favorite thing I’ve read this year, and yet my favorite character was the gay uncle.

Positives (spoiler free)

Some of the quotes in this book made me pause for a few moments and regret my decision to listen to it instead of reading it because I wanted to underline them and reread them, over and over again. I’m going to look for them online just so I can share them with others.

I love the note of hopefulness that permeates the whole book, despite the grim circumstances. it shows the worst of the worst, the darkest hours of our history, but it doesn't leave you broken and hopeless. that sense that love will save us, the passion and the community behind it all, a cause worth fighting for, it is something I aspire to in my writing. I call this the “Bury your gays, but don’t bury the hope” approach, like in the works of Adam Silvera (review here) and also my own Phantom Limb (I hope)

Uncle Stephen is awesome and I kinda want a spin off novel about him.

The small bits of character developments and the arc of learning to accept their loved ones we see in side characters was a nice detail and it shows most people need time and education. The fact some never change their minds was also a good reminder assholes will always exist

I like the bitter sweet last chapter. So much progress, so many great things, but the fight is not over yet.

Negatives (spoiler free)

The main characters just struck a wrong cord with me.

I get the Madonna thing and I like the explanation, but too much Madonna is too much. I would have like if they put an emphasis of maybe some actual queer icon of time. It’s a nit pick, I know, but it stacks up after 11 hours.

Negatives (spoilers)

I don’t know. Maybe I’m too old, maybe too prudish, but the fact Art and Reza spent a solid 1/4 of the book thinking about sex kinda bugged me. I get the symbolic meaning, that gay sex isn’t diseased, isn’t a sin, isn’t dirty and won’t kill you, but it just seemed too heavy handed for me. I like the emphasis on the safe sex tho. More YA books would benefit from mentioning that. Maybe I’m just not a teenage boy and I’m a repressed robot who never even held hands with someone. Art was waaaay to pushy sometimes and it honestly made me uncomfortable. (but, as I said, I am a prude and it has come to a point my prudishness and inability to talk about sex, love or pretty much any other emotion is slowly ruining my life, so take my opinion with a boulder of salt)

Judy drew the short end of the stick writing wise. I wanted to like her, but that part where she ignores her best friend for months on end because he dared to have a crush on the same guy she was dating just came off as a dick move. I get she was hurt and I would have been fine if their feud lasted a few days or weeks, but months just makes her seem like a bad person and a bad friend.

I would have liked to see a lesbian or a trans character or two. I know, not every book has to have every single demographic represented, but I was waiting for the reveal Judy’s new girl friend was gay to happen or something like that, but it never did. Just a missed opportunity, especially given the importance of trans women in the LGBT+ history.

Final thoughts (spoiler free)

I love the fact this book is set in the middle of the AIDS crisis. I don’t know enough about that period of history and that is a shame. Like Stephen said, I don’t want it to be forgotten, all the fighting, all the sacrifices. But I found myself wanting to drop this book and finally watch Angels in America or read a non fiction book about the AIDS crisis. It made me want to message the local organization and ask them where I can read about the LGBT history in ex Yugoslavia.

But then again, maybe that was the point. Maybe that was what Abdi Nazemian wanted to do in the first place.

All in all, I would recommend you read this book, if you are interested in this era of time. If nothing else, it is a great opportunity to get the conversation started.

#bookblr #book review #like a love story #Abdi Nazemian

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thesffcorner · 5 years

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Tell Me How You Really Feel

Tell Me How You Really Feel is a YA romance written by Aminah Mae Safi. It follows Sana and Rachel, seniors in high school, who are sworn enemies. Rachel is an aspiring filmmaker, struggling to finish her senior project which may seal or destroy her scholarship to NYU, and Sana is a future med student, who is struggling with the possibility that she may not want to be a doctor after all. Due to a series of unfortunate events, the two are forced to work together on Rachel’s film, and their relationship might change, taking their futures along with it. I loved this book. I knew I would love it from the moment I started reading; by the time we got to Rachel’s PoV I was already sold. This was one of the easiest 5 stars I’ve given out all year, and I absolutely adored this book. It’s very cute and funny, but it also tackle a lot of really important subjects like tradition, family, feminism, the male gaze and the struggle that queer girls have with relationships. If you are at all interested in the synopsis, pick this up now; you will not regret it. Before I gush about this book for 12 paragraphs straight, I do have to get my one gripe out of the way. This whole book revolves around Rachel’s film which is a modern retelling of the Odyssey. Except it isn’t; it’s the Iliad. They talk about the Trojan War, Helen of Troy is one of the main characters, the OG narrator is supposed to be Cassandra and Odysseus or Penelope are not mentioned once. I don’t understand how this happened; I refuse to believe Safi doesn’t know that the Iliad covers the Trojan War? Everytime the Odyssey was mentioned I wanted to scream, it bugged me that much. That admittedly petty gripe aside, I really loved this book. One of the first things that caught my eye that I loved were the chapter titles: each one is a reference to a different film or music video, but they are a lot more subtle than the usual. The one that made me cackle was You Take Me By the Heart when You Take Me By the Hand, but I also appreciated There Goes Your Social Life and Chew Like You Have a Secret. This whole book is one big love letter to film making and film in general; there is so much stuff in this book about editing, shooting, and even the more technical aspects of film like gaffing, which as someone who was pretty often the gaffer on student shoots, I was super down for. Every single conversation about the industry just punched me in the stomach in the best way possible; I loved that Rachel was such a crass and bold filmmaker, who treated set like male filmmakers do, and all the discussions of women in film, and how underrepresented and how many difficulties they have making it. None of the conversations felt like I was being preached too, and having seen first hand how differently men and women are treated on set, I was nodding along angrily to everything I read. It’s not all bad stuff though; there are scenes where Rachel and Sana discuss why they love film so much, and everything that the medium can deliver in terms of emotions. I was just so happy reading this book, because it was such a clear love-letter to film-making, while still keeping it generally realistic to a teenager. Rachel has a rater conventional taste; Sana even calls her out on how all the ‘classics’ she wants Sana to see are white and Hollywood. The other big love of this book is cheer-leading. I feel like for whatever reason, I have been just bombarded with cheer-leading recently; I re-watched Bring it On, I watched a video on Bring it On, I re-watched Fired Up, and then this book. Sana is a cheerleader and she’s also the captain of the team. I really enjoyed that she loved cheer as a sport, rather than as a social activity (I also cackled at the jab about how Chess players are considered athletes, but cheer is an ‘athletic activity’, barf). Though we don’t get a lot of routines and actual practices, what we do get was fun, and I really enjoyed Sana’s little speech towards the end. Also the fact that her favorite film is But I’m a Cheerleader, also made me happy. A major focus of the book is family. Both Sana and Rachel come from single parent households, though they get there through different circumstances. Rachel has a lot of resentment and anger towards her mother for leaving her, and learning about the circumstances was heartbreaking. Even though the book never fully acknowledges it, it’s pretty clear why Rachel hates beautiful girls and Helen of Troy specifically, once you learn that, and this section really left me heartbroken. On the flip-side, Sana has some major issues with both her father and grandparents. This was the part that I wasn’t a super big fan of, mostly because it’s both very different from how I was raised, and eerily similar to how families are here. The focus on appearances, and tradition, while sometimes sacrificing healthy and fulfilling relationships with children and elders really is a subject I dislike reading about. I did find it refreshing that Sana is out to her family and for the most part they are very accepting; her struggles are mostly to do with her desire to both please everyone and be the perfect daughter, while also trying to find her own path, and do things that aren’t necessarily in line with what her family expects from her. Speaking of being out, I really liked the discussion on queerness too. There is a passage where Rachel discussed how Sana has been placed in a cage all her life, not because she is afraid to flirt or to be out, but because other people just refuse to believe or acknowledge that someone like her could be gay. The whole ‘does everything in the book that is overt flirting, and yet gets treated as just being friendly’ really hit me hard, because I have experienced the same. It’s really difficult to convince others sometimes that you are in fact interested in women, and even more so to actually toe the line between flirting and coming on too strong. There is also discussion of class in this book, which I found interesting. Both Sana and Rachel have preconceived notions about the social background of the other, which are both wrong. It reminded me a bit of Pride and Prejudice, in that they are both so proud and stubborn and their mixed messages come from these ingrained fears tied to their class and family. The plot of the book was fine; I liked how melodramatic it was at points, especially the ending, but it firmly places itself in the teen rom-com genre and uses all the tropes in the best way possible. Even the falling out between the two girls felt really justified and I was glad that it was Rachel who had the most growing to do to be able to really connect with Sana. Speaking of, the characters were likewise great. I liked both families, though I was more attached to Sana’s mother who was a really cool woman, someone that I would like to be one day if I stay in the film industry. She was smart, and hardworking, and I loved that even when Sana and Rachel were at outs, she still reached out to help Rachel connect with other female industry professionals. Rachel was the character I related to more, and as such she annoyed me more. She is super aggressive a lot of the time, and doesn’t realize that because she’s always so defensive and has trained both herself and everyone else that she never needs help, that's why people never offer it. She had the more severe character arc, and I really enjoyed her examining her own biases and internalized sexism; I don’t read many books who do that. Sana I absolutely loved. She was a great character, just a super-well fleshed out teenager. I related to her struggles with asking girls out, her crush on Rachel, her viewing Helen of Troy as a person rather than a stereotype. I don’t even know how to describe her without just listing all the things about her that I loved which would be everything; she was truly a gem of a character, and definitely my favorite character I’ve read so far this year. Overall, read this book. It’s cute, it’s deep, it deals with film and feminism, and has one of the best female-female romances I’ve ever read. I 100% recommend it; I think it should get as much love as Red White and Royal Blue.

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#tell me how you really feel #tell me how you really feel review #moni talks #book review

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littlemisssquiggles · 6 years

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RWBY Musings #46: A Smaller, More Honest Soul. Is Ruby Rose the key to stopping Salem once and for all?

@stuck-up-snowflake asked“ I've seen your thoughts and theories on Oscar Pine's future character growth and I personally agree with them!

But I was wondering if you had any thoughts on Ruby's personal growth for the future volume(s), considering that there are many fans clearly bothered by the fact that she hasn't had any sort of character development since the first 3 seasons or so(?) compared to Weiss, Blake, and Yang. If you had already addressed this, I would love to see that post about it. Thank you! “

Squiggles Answers:

@stuck-up-snowflake

Salutations Snowflake! Firstly, let me thank you for reading my musings. I’m happy that you read the ones on Oscar, because those were some that I enjoyed writing the most, and that you even agree with them. That’s awesome!

Now to answer your question. Well I did share one or two theories for Ruby’s story arc before. I believe it was in RWBY Musing #18 where I shared an unpopular opinion about wanting Ruby and Oscar to both be captured by Salem’s forces only to daringly escape and then be forced to survive the trek through Salem’s Domain; depending only on their skills and each other as they try to escape the Grimm-infested wasteland and make their way back to their friends.

To be honest, I haven’t really shared much about Ruby beyond shipping related stuff. But since you asked me and I’ve had more time to ponder on it, I do have two main hunches for her character.

Disclaimer: This is yet another LONG musing post folks. Ya’ll are probably used to this from me by now but out of common courtesy, I still feel it necessary to give you the usual heads up.

Crimson Spark

My theory is that Ruby Rose is the aforementioned key to everything. From the start of the series, the narrative has placed great emphasis on the importance of hope and how mankind’s greatest strength lies in their ability to derive power from their sentiment. The way how I see it, Ruby has two major roles in the upcoming story. As the fragile peace Ozpin and his forces so desperately fought for ions to uphold is tethering to its breaking point, like Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, Ruby will become the Crimson Spark---a symbol to inspire humanity and reignite the flare of hope in the masses during such dire times in Remnant as an impending Second Great War looms around the corner.

Beyond that, Ruby is the key to finally ending Salem and possibly the Grimm too, because of her hidden power as a Silver Eyed Warrior. The next chapter in her story arc would involve her learning what that means as she trains to hone her skills as the last living Silver Eyes; a title that I believe holds a much deeper symbolism with its connection to the Creatures of Grimm that the series has yet to enlighten us on.

A Rose By Any Other Name

Before I get into the meat of my post, let me just say this here. Not to sound nitpicky but when I consider it, I don't understand why the CRWBY Writers felt the need to even make Ruby a Silver Eyed Warrior in the first place.

Did they really need to introduce this concept into the story lore? Especially since they then followed up with two whole seasons that barely gave any further insight into it. When you think about it, there really wasn’t even any actual build up to Ruby possessing this kind of power in the first place. We get one throwaway line from Ozpin in the very first episode of the series and that was the closest thing to introducing Ruby’s eyes as some special trait that we got until V3. Almost as if the writers themselves are still planning out what this power will mean in the long run of the story.

But Ruby was already established as a good character before the series decided to slap her with this mystical power she allegedly inherited from her deceased mother.

Ruby was endearing, somewhat fearless, a bit ditzy at times which added for some genuinely funny moments with her, loyal but most of all what makes Ruby so great is her willingness to help others and how much her drive to become a strong huntress fuels her every decision.

She may not be the strongest or smartest. She isn't exactly a perfect rose. Even the most perfect rose has thorns.

As Ozpin so rightfully stated in V5 Chapter 5, Ruby has her fair share of faults that may cause her to falter at times but beyond those quirks, she also possesses something unquantifiable. She has an inspirational spirit and charm about her that is able to motivate those around her in ways that managed to even impress an old soul such as Ozpin who has probably met a ton of inspirational folks in his lifetime. But none as unique as Ruby, apparently. And as an audience member watching this, it is this trait that truly makes Ruby a good protagonist and a good hero to me.

Each time Ruby gives a speech that forces the villains to question their motives; I kinda wanna stand up and give her a small salute for being a true trooper I mean it ain’t the brightest move to make in the heat of combat. But it does display Ruby's humility. She wants to understand the people she meets and this even includes the villains.

Some folks might find this annoying about her personality but it's why I like her. The best kind of heroes to me aren’t the ones with a lot of power or brains but those with a lot of heart. Now Ruby isn’t the first hero character to display this kind of virtues. She’s isn’t the first humble, hopeful hero with a heart of gold that is able to connect with others that I’ve stumbled across in my favourite media. But dammit, I’ll be lying if I said I’m not a sucker for those types of heroes.

In a way, why I like Ruby as a hero is for the same reason I adore Steven Universe. At this point, you might as well make a drinking game out of how many times I compare RWBY to Steven Universe.

Steven and Ruby are both the type to want to understand others. This same trait can also be said of Sora, the hero of my favourite videogame of all time: Kingdom Hearts. It's that level of compassion for their fellow men that warms my heart about all three of these young heroes. While Ruby wasn't as sociable in the beginning, she eventually came out of her shell and started communicating and forming bonds with other characters.

The story building up Ruby as the kind of huntress who chose this career path because she wanted to help others was already great from the start. This selfless need to do your duty for the well being of others is what made Ruby a great heroine.

Since Ruby mentioned wanting to become a huntress like the heroes in the bedtime stories from her childhood, I wonder if there’s any particular book or fairytale that Ruby loved as a kid that first inspired her love of heroes?

Was there ever a moment where Summer Rose used to read Ruby those same fairytales of heroes and monsters too? The interesting part about Ruby is that she wanted to become a huntress despite her mother perishing from this lifestyle. You would think that her beloved mother being killed as a huntress would deter a young Ruby Rose from pursuing this similar career path.

Imagine...if Summer Rose started reading the fairytales to Ruby first and young Ruby’s desire to become a huntress stemmed from a combination of aspiring be like the heroes of her favourite stories and her mother, her hero in real life who was living the dream she longed for?

Imagine... if once Summer passed away, for a while, Ruby lost her drive to become a hero and it was actually her big sister Yang, picking up one of the old stories Summer would read to her sister that brought Ruby out of her slump.

Perhaps it was Yang who renewed Ruby’s ambition to become a hero, reassuring her that Summer wouldn’t have wanted her death to cause her to be any less courageous than she already was at such a tender young age.

Summer and childhood fables may have ignited Ruby’s inner spark but it was the support of those who loved her, like her sister that has kept that spark burning, making her believe in heroes once more.

I actually want the story to touch upon just how far would Ruby go to be a hero. In V3, Torchwick told Ruby that if she wanted to be a hero then she should do her part and die like every huntsman and huntress throughout Remnant's history.

‘...Ya got spirit Red. But this is the real world! The real world is cold! The real world doesn't care about spirit! You wanna be a hero? Then play the part and die like every other huntsman in history!'

If it boiled down to the point that Ruby needed to sacrifice her life to save Remnant, would she be willing to do it? No trickery from others trying to deceive her into believing this resort is the only way to put an end to things. But of her own free will, would Ruby Rose give her life to save the world? Would she give her life to become the hero she desired to be and what the story has been foreshadowing her to become in the long run?

Will the story ever play with the concept of Ruby becoming so broken that she loses her resolve and gives up being a huntress entirely?

After all, even the most optimistic of heroes eventually go through a breaking point that tests their belief in the things they’re fighting for. The question is, will Ruby Rose ever go through such an obstacle?

I know Ruby gave that magnificent speech about moving forward to Oscar in V5 Chapter 5 but, I don’t want to be naive and assume that that’s the writers’ way of slapping her with impenetrable plot armour that shields her from facing any kind of true struggle.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Ruby hasn’t suffered loss or faced any kind of emotional hard ships throughout the current story because she has as evidenced by the past three seasons. But has she hit a low point? Has Ruby Rose hit a low point in her story arc that has backed her into a corner, challenged her as a character...maybe even changed her in a way that differs than how she was when the series first started? Made her question her own self? Forced her to question her own motives and outlook on the world? Perhaps even scarred her, both physically and emotionally for life? Has she? I don’t think so. Not yet at least.

Of the four main members of RWBY, Ruby herself is the only one to have not suffered a low point.

For Weiss, her low point was being dragged back to Atlas; back to the frostbitten, lonely cage that her tyrannical father had a built around her---a sheltered yet domineering life she had willingly abandoned the first time in order to forge her own path only to be sadly taken back there following the events of V3. For Blake, her low moment was returning to her old habits of running away; leaving her loved ones behind despite promising that she wouldn’t instead of staying and fighting with and for them.

And for Yang, her low point was when she had lost her fire---lost the thing that made her who she was and had to learn to pick herself back up after going through an immense lost---not just physically but mostly emotionally after watching everyone she knew leave and move forward without her during a time when she may have needed them the most.

When her teammates’ heads were forced down under the weight of their own troubles, Ruby was the only one to keep hers up high and look towards a brighter outcome even if things seemed bleak at the time.

Even when her team was divided, her school and previous home fallen into chaos and the deaths of former comrades still fresh in her memory, through it all, Ruby was more or less the one to remain hopeful and keep moving forward.

Even in the face of loss, Ruby has never lost her spark. But how long can that spark truly last though?

The Unsolved Murder of Summer Rose

At first I figured that Ruby’s story will involve her learning more about her lineage but what I didn’t realize is that there is an underlying mystery to Summer’s death.

What do we know about Summer Rose? Well according to Yang during the events of V2, she described Summer as being a wonderful mother to both Ruby and herself, despite not being her biological mother. Summer was portrayed as being a warm and caring person, no different that her daughter Ruby. In terms of a career, Summer was a huntress just like Tai Yang who took on missions around the Kingdom of Vale while Tai doubled as a teacher over at Signal Academy. One day, as Yang justified, Summer went on a mission and never returned.

That’s the only explanation we have for Summer’s death. That she left for a mission one fine day and the next thing everyone knew, she was dead. And that’s all we’ve known because that’s all the story has disclosed thus far.

But doesn’t that make Summer’s entire death sound odd? There are so many questions that arise from this unfortunate circumstance.

What were the details Summer’s mission? Where exactly did she go? Who delegated that specific mission to Summer Rose? Was it a case where she went off on said mission and upon returning met her unexpected demise? Or was the mission in fact a ploy to lure out the key target: Summer Rose in the first place?

How did Summer die exactly? How was she killed? Was she ambushed by an onslaught of Grimm and died valiantly in the line of duty or...was she slaughtered in cold blood by an unknown assailant? Was it a combination of both where Summer was laid in wait against an army of Grimm, in a similar fashion to Ruby Rose during the VI Red Trailer; and by the time Summer had finished taking out the monsters, her strength was too depleted that she could’ve barely defended herself against the assassin sent to kill her.

If Summer was indeed killed, then how was she found dead? Who found her dead? How did the other learn that she had died? Was Qrow sent to find her after she hadn’t returned from her mission and discovered her corpse? Or did the two run into each other while on their respective missions and Qrow happened to have been present during the time when Summer was attacked?

This brings me back to one of my previous questions. Who gave Summer that particular mission? Was it Ozpin? It would make sense if it was him since according to Raven Branwen in V5, Team STQR were basically Ozpin’s go-to team during their years at Beacon and it wouldn’t surprise me if each member, with the exception of Raven, kept on doing missions for the old wizard well into their adult years.

After all, Qrow still performed private missions for Ozpin so it wouldn’t surprise me if Summer was also involved with him at some point in that regards. So, if that’s the case, does Oz know the truth about Summer’s death?

Did he have a part to play in its occurrence and has been sitting on that secret from Ruby and...perhaps Tai Yang and even Qrow as well?

There is no doubt that being a Silver Eyes means something important in the plot and will play a detrimental part in the next stage of Ruby’s development as she delves deeper into the origins of her mysterious powers and its purpose.

By learning more about the Silver Eyed Warriors, Ruby will in turn uncover the truth about what really happened on the day her mother died and why she was targeted. She’ll learn how Summer was killed and more importantly, she’ll learn who killed her mother.

How exactly does one kill a Silver Eyed Warrior? If the Silver Eyes are unstoppable against the Grimm, mankind’s greatest threat and adversary next to Salem, that means that Summer must’ve been a very powerful huntress. So how was she taken down?

Ruby will learn how this all happened and once this is out in the open, how Ruby chooses to react to this news will hint at another subplot for her character arc. Possibly avenging her mother by defeating the one solely responsible for taking her mother away.

As I mentioned in my last RWBY Remarks, the show itself has unfortunately done very little to actually demonstrate how much Summer’s death has affected Ruby emotionally. The only times we’ve been given some semblance of the harsh reality of Ruby’s feelings surrounding her mother has been in the OST, Red like Roses Part II and I even heard that the RWBY Red Like Roses manga, which is Ruby-centric, gives more insight on that as well.

It is alleged that Ruby was devastated; perhaps even broken by her mother’s passing. I really wish the show would show this kind of emotion from Ruby. We’ve heard Yang’s perception of Summer Rose. I want Ruby’s now. I want flashbacks of Ruby together with her mother. According to the lyrics for Red Like Roses Part II, it definitely hints that the mother and daughter shared an unbreakable bond that was only thwarted by her passing.

Remember how in Avatar the Last Airbender, during its third season, it touched on an episode where Katara got to avenge her mother by hunting down the Fire Nation general, then retired, that caused her death. From this development, she was able to finally put to rest her feelings of anger and resentment over what the Fire Nation did to her, her mother and their people of the Southern Water Tribe, and in doing so, learnt to finally understand and trust Zuko as he joined Team Avatar.

Perhaps RWBY will take a page from Avatar’s book and give us a similar story. A story where Ruby, desperate for answers surrounding her mother’s death goes in search of answers and this journey brings her much closer to understanding things about her mother that she didn’t as a child. Such as her reasons for committing the actions she did leading up to her death.

‘...I know you’re broken down by anger and by sadness, You feel I left you in a world that’s full of madness, Wish I could talk to you, if only for a minute, Make you understand the reasons why I did it.

I wanna tell you that you’re all that ever mattered, Want you to know that, for eternity, I’m shattered, I tried so hard just to protect you, but I failed to, And in a prison of abandonment I’ve jailed you...’

Perchance, in her searches, Ruby learns something along the lines of, Ozpin being partially responsible for what happened to her mother. What if... Ruby ends up blaming Ozpin entirely for what happened to her mother and all the pain she endured from losing her mother to his schemes. Ruby then loses trust in Ozpin and in turn, this puts a big damper on her relationship with Oscar.

Seeds of Doubt

As a RoseGarden shipper, as much as I’m anticipating the two becoming a couple sometime later in the series, I also expect that their relationship wouldn’t come without its fair share of complications. Not just from Oscar’s shared body and mind with the old wizard but more so for what Ozpin’s previous ties with Ruby’s mother can bring up.

I have a hunch that Ozpin had some involvement with what happened to Summer and for the RG-shippers, if the two young heroes were a couple at this point, this is the kind of thing I would expect to cause them to either break up entirely or at least put an uncomfortable strain on it. More so than Ozpin’s presence just presiding inside of Oscar.

Imagine how detrimental it would be if Ruby discovered that Ozpin caused it all. He was the one that sent his mother on the mission that eventually killed her. After hearing so many lies masked as clever excuses, Ruby would reach a point where she’d grow tired of Ozpin’s guilt. After all, how much genuine remorse can one truly feel from the consequences of their past crimes if they keep returning to the same poor methods?

The RWBY OSTs sung from the perspective of characters distrustful of Ozpin, like Sacrifice (RWBY V2 Credit theme) and Divide (RWBY V3 ending credit theme) almost seem to mock Ozpin, bringing to light the cruel penalties of what his actions have cost those who chose to follow him blindly out of an obscure sense of loyalty.

These themes paint such an ugly portrait of the darker impressions to Ozpin’s character and what starkly contrasts this is the way how the characters surrounding Ozpin, such as our heroes, still continue to trust him despite learning of some of the skeletons from his pasts. Our heroes still place their trust in Ozpin. More notably, Ruby still trusts Ozpin.

But, what would happen if the silver-eyed girl did lose this trust? I’d imagine that if any other character should begin to distrust Oz, conspiring a divide and mutiny amongst the team, Ruby would be the one to turn in order to rebel against this; serving her purpose as the Crimson Spark to convince the others to rethink their feelings about Oz.

However; what if...Ruby’s the one to first have misgivings about following Ozpin and it is her own distrust that slowly begins to sow seeds of doubt in the others. It would be the complete opposite effect to the character Ozpin had been wordlessly breeding her to be which would make for a nice twist. Wouldn’t it be quite interesting if Ozpin had been so concerned about Salem being the one to snuff out his spark of hope that ironically, he becomes the culprit to do it himself?

And in light of this, if Ruby loses hope, then who would be the one to reignite her trust in Oz? Would it be Oscar? Poor Oscar would be caught in the middle of it all. If Ruby shuts Ozpin out then that in turn could spell her shutting Oscar out.

After all, whether they’re lovers or close friends at the point of this change, it would be discomforting for Oscar to know that Ruby only trusts half of him. Volume 5 established how Oscar now thinks as Oz and himself as one being. He and Oz are now like Eddie Brock and the Venom Symbiote. Instead of he. They are we. We are Ozpin.

And due to their joint partnership, to Ruby’s dismay, Oscar might not be too quick to take her side all the way. On the contrary, Oscar might oddly remain loyal to Ozpin because in his heart and mind, he both knows and emotionally understands the truth behind what Ozpin did with Summer. He may even try at times to convince Ruby to hear the truth from his perspective. However it would be a truth that Ruby would unfortunately not want to hear. Not even in his words because she’d be too blinded from the pain of knowing that a man she trusted so much sent the most precious person in her life to her grave for a cause that he had acknowledged time and time again was all his doing.

I think having Ruby, of all people, lose fate in Ozpin would be a nice turning point in the story. Up until this point, Ruby has always been very trusting of Oz because he’s shown to be the one teacher from Beacon who’s shared the most interaction with her; secondary to Dr. Oobleck in V2.

From their very first encounter to their conversation at the ball to even their momentary exchange of dialogue in Chapter 10 of V5 when he was OZ-Car, Ruby and Ozpin have always been in good standings with one another. Even when the other has faltered. But what if that is shattered.

Seeing Ruby lose trust in Ozpin, which in turn causes a rift in her relationship with Oscar (y’know technically half of Ozpin) but then slowly learn to regain her fate in him through Oscar would be nice. I want for a moment where one of Ozpin’s many mistakes finally causes him to break down. I want to see him react to it in a more emotional way. Meaning, I wanna see Ozpin cry. I want to see him really, really torn up about a mistake he’s made.

Up until this point, the impression that I get is that Ozpin has made so many mistakes that he’s almost numb to the emotional consequences of it all. This doesn’t make him uncompassionate. On the contrary, Ozpin does care a lot but I imagine that he’s been wearing his mantle as protector of Remnant for so long and has faced so many years of trials and tribulations that at this point, he’s become somewhat detached even in the face of true loss.

He’s so used to putting on a brave face and remaining calm to maintain his optimistic disposition and fairly naive perception of fate in humanity, that he’s lost sight of his own emotions in a way; if that makes a lick of sense.

All living things have thoughts. We all have things that come to our mind and possess the understanding to comprehend the positivity and negativity in those said thoughts. But what is the element that exists within mankind that drives us to comprehend the difference between the good and bad?

The answer is our feelings.

It is our emotions that work hand in hand with our thoughts to help us to fully grasp the world around us. What makes the difference is that some people are driven more by their thoughts and simply commit the first action that come to mind where as others are driven more by their emotions, going with the flow of things depending on what feels just in the moment rather than whether or not it’s rational.

In the case of Professor Ozpin. He’s worn so many faces---both literally and figuratively, that you can say he’s almost forgotten how to, I guess, feel. Don’t get me wrong, Ozpin isn’t unnaturally stoic. He’s not a robot. He has his moments of feeling but there usually kind of short-lived, replaced by a more solemn undertone.

This is why I appreciate the contrast in personalities between Oz and Oscar. In my opinion, Ozpin thinks more with his mind---he’s intelligent, tactical and more careful in his actions because he bares a deeper understanding in the value of everything including how actions can cause ripple effects that can prove either rewarding or catastrophic.

Oscar, on the other hand, based on what I’ve observed about him so far, thinks more with his heart. He’s definitely more emotional than Ozpin, usually trusting his gut even if those feelings may lead to senseless actions void of proper thinking. Remember what Oscar told Ozpin when the two finally left his aunt’s farm? I find it interesting that when Oscar finally succumbed to Oz’s influence, his sole justification was, not because he thought it was the right thing to do, but because it felt like that it was the right thing to do.

‘...Y’know, the weirdest part is how it feels. Leaving home is crazy. Going to the city is crazy. Everything you’ve told me is completely crazy. But it doesn’t feel crazy anymore. It feels like I’m doing the right thing...’

Another clear example is during Oscar’s fight with Hazel. Despite Ozpin begging him to let him take over because it would’ve been the smarter move, Oscar refused to do so. Why? Because in the moment, he wasn’t thinking with his head. He was thinking with his heart. Even though the smarter option would be to let Oz, the more experienced soul, handle everything, Oscar rebelled against this choice because in the moment he felt he needed to prove himself---to prove to Ozpin that he can fight on his own without him even if it wasn’t not the wisest option.

Not to sound harsh with Oz’s character, but I’m anticipating a future episode where the full weight of everything he’s done over the centuries will all come crashing down hard on him and for the first time, he breaks down over it.

Perhaps he needs a jilting tongue lashing from his smaller, more honest soul to put him in his place to realize the truth of what he’s done---all that he’s done---not just to her but to Summer and everyone else who’d fallen victim to his past blunders.

A Whole New World

‘You're special Ruby... And not in the 'Daddy loves his special angel' kinda way... You’re special the same way your mom was. Remnant's full of legends and stories. Some of them true, some made up.

...But there's one Oz told me a very long time ago... Back before huntsmen, before kingdoms. It was said that those born with silver eyes were destined to lead the life of a warrior. You see, the creatures of Grimm---the most fearsome monsters mankind had ever encountered---were afraid of those silver-eyed warriors. They were the best of the best. It was said that even a single look from one of these fighters could strike a Grimm down.

It's a ridiculous story...'

According to Qrow based on what Ozpin told him, the Silver Eyes existed before the huntsman and the kingdoms and were feared by the Grimm. Do you understand how deep that is? The Creatures of Grimm; monsters that have existed since the dawn of Remnant’s humble beginnings and are a known symbol of fear were afraid of the Silver Eyes.

The Silver Eyes sound like a power that has existed long before even Remnant. As a matter of fact, this makes me think of something interesting. Readers, do you all recall what the very first line muttered in RWBY was?

' ...Legends; stories scattered through time. Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains; forgetting so easily that we are remnants, by products of a forgotten past...'

By products of a forgotten past.

Could the forgotten past that Salem was alluding to back then, a past involving the Silver Eyes and the Creatures of Grimm?

Think about it. The Grimm were created as a result of the God of Darkness’s desire to obliterate all the wonderful and beautiful things his brother had created in his new world. So did the God of Light create the Silver Eyed Warriors to counter the Grimm?

Were the Silver Eyed Warriors in fact the first group of beings to walk the World before mankind was born?

Did The Grimm and the Silver Eyes then waged war against each other? A war which destroyed the First World in the process. Was the war between the Silver Eyes and the Grimm, a symbol of his and his brother’s conflict, destroying the very beautiful world he sought to protect what inspired the God of Light to cease this divergence and call a truce with the God of Darkness so that the two could salvage what was left of the Firstborn World?

Suppose...the shattered moonscape that we commonly see in Remnant is what’s left of the First World that was ultimately destroyed by the war between the Grimm and the Silver Eyed Warriors. Though it was never confirmed by Qrow in his rendition of the Tale of the Brother Gods that they recreated another world together that became Remnant, it would make a lot of sense if Remnant is actually a broken piece of the First World.

And it is this broken piece...this remnant that the brothers then decided to populate with mankind---their first collaboration. Seems legit, am I right?

Though mankind was a symbol of the Brother Gods’ harmony, leftovers of their previous feud still managed to makes its way into Remnant in the form of the Grimm returning to be mankind’s greatest adversary. However, just as the Grimm survived into Remnant, so did a piece of the Silver Eyed Warriors.

While not as prominent as the Grimm, this tiny legacy of the Silver Eyed Warriors still managed to thrive in this new world down through the ages to its current successor---Ruby Rose.

It all makes sense now! If my theories here are proven correct then everything we’ve seen thus far regarding Remnant, the Grimm, the Brother Gods and the connection with the Silver Eyes will all make perfect sense if they’re all connected. But that’s only if I’m proven right.

If my assumptions are true then this would explain why there are no more living Silver Eyes and why only someone like Ozpin, who has lived many lifetimes and was probably the First Man of Remnant, is the only one to know of their existence.

It’s because the Silver Eyes were before the current Remnant. They were probably created as beings to counter the Grimm. For all we know the Silver Eyes weren’t practically human. Just raw light in the shape of something human, if that makes sense.

But unlike the Grimm who survived and relished in the current Remnant, the Silver Eyes probably all died out during the First War against the Grimm. It’s why they’re only just a story. A tale. A legend lost to time.

Or...possibly...there could actually be more Silver Eyes still thriving on the moon we see in Remnant. I once made a throwaway comment about there being a connection between the moon and the Silver Eyed Warriors. Perhaps what we perceive as a moon is in fact the original world of the Silver Eyes. I stand by my hunch that the Remnant Moon is actually the God of Light’s first attempt at a perfect world that got wrecked as a result of his and his brother’s greatest creations clashing in their conflict.

Either way, the Silver Eyes were an ancient race. An ancient force from a forgotten era where they were the sole protectors. An ancient force that Oz probably learnt of after the Gods first cursed him and it is such a power that he discovered reborn in the likes of Summer Rose and eventually her daughter, Ruby Rose.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

‘....I never planned that I would leave you there alone, I was sure that I would see you when I made it back home, And all the times I swore that it would be okay, Now I’m nothing but a liar, and you’re thrown into the fray.

This bedtime story ends with misery ever after, The pages are torn, and there’s no final chapter, I didn’t have a choice; I did what I had to do, I made a sacrifice, but forced a bigger sacrifice on you...

I know you’ve lived a nightmare, I caused you so much pain, But baby, please don’t do what I did, I don’t want you to waste your life in vain...’

The lyrics to ‘Red Like Roses Part II’ really got me thinking. When I first listened to it, I thought the song was implying that Ruby had witnessed her mother being killed as a child and had suppressed those memories from childhood. Now in reading through the lyrics, this song implies so much more that I didn’t realize. It implies a lot about the internal conflicts Summer went through as a mother and a huntress as well as foreshadowing the true nature of what the fate of a Silver Eyed Warrior really is.

The song is written with words that give me the impression that perhaps Summer was the one who introduced Ruby to fairy tales and used to read them to her when she was a little girl before Yang took over after she passed away. The lines that got me the most were ‘I didn’t have a choice. I did what I had to do. I made a sacrifice but forced a bigger sacrifice on you’.

These lines are meant to be seen from Summer’s perspective, right? These are her feelings as she’s singing in response to Ruby’s or at least that’s how I’m going to look at it.

What did Summer mean by she didn’t have a choice? Is she talking about her fate? Is this line foreshadowing a darker fate for the Silver Eyes?

Is it implying that it is the duty of a Silver Eyed Warrior to die and it is a fate they cannot run from?

It would make complete sense if Summer Rose was sacrificed to stop Salem. What if that was her last mission.

Like what if...Summer’s final mission was to go to where Salem was and use her Silver Eyes abilities to put an end to Salem. Since Salem is technically what seems to be a Grimm-human hybrid and has been believed to be unstoppable for years. Perhaps the closest key to stopping her would be the power of a Silver Eyed Warrior.

So when Ozpin found Summer, he believed her to be his one shot at stopping his arch nemesis once and for all. I believe that Ozpin gave Summer her final mission and sent her after Salem to put an end to her. But the plan didn’t work out the way Ozpin had hoped.

What if...Summer was originally Ozpin’s chosen one. The key piece in his plan to finally ending his greatest adversary. But Summer failed Ozpin. I don’t even think it was a case where the Silver Eyed power didn’t work on Salem either. Perhaps even Summer Rose was inexperienced in her abilities as a Silver Eyed Warrior and when the time came for her to use it for the cause she’d be fighting for, she failed and was killed in the process.

Her sacrifice was in vain because Salem is still alive. And now that it’s been realized that Ruby has the same power, she too is probably heading for a similar fate.

Hence the line, ‘forced a bigger sacrifice on you’. The bigger sacrifice being that Ruby must now pay the repercussions of both her mother and Ozpin’s failures. Summer Rose couldn’t fulfil her destiny to stop Salem and now that burden has been unwillingly passed on to her daughter as the one living Silver Eyed Warrior left standing.

I think it is Ruby’s fate to stop Salem once and for all with her Silver Eyed power. But what will make Ruby different and far superior than her mother is that she will fully realize the potential of her abilities and learn to hone it in ways her mother never did.

Did Ozpin force Summer to go on that mission? Was Summer an inexperienced Silver Eyed Warrior? Was she no different than Ruby was in V3? Did Ozpin, out of his desperation to stop Salem, send Summer to complete the job believing that she was ready. But as it turned out, he had been over his head and Summer was unable to use her power in the time it was needed?

Y’know what I wonder about the Silver Eyes? Imagine if Summer’s powers were at its peak when she was younger but the moment she became a mother, she lost half of her power’s strength as it was unknowingly passed on to her daughter during childbirth. If Summer Rose attempted to face Salem at only half the strength, it would make sense for her to lose since her power wouldn’t have been at its most potent. This is just me trying to give justification to my own throwaway hunch. Was Summer reluctant about facing Salem but Ozpin baited her with the promise that they could finally put an end to Salem; using the love Summer had for her own daughter to push her into going into a battle she was doomed to lose from the start? To the Ozpin fans reading this, sorry if I might be painting your guy in a bad light here. It’s just that I really feel there is a connection tying Oz to Summer’s death that’s not going to be pretty once uncovered. Other characters have accused Ozpin of being both deceitful and arrogant; among other not-so-nice adjectives. I’m just still waiting here for the show to prove it with moments of the past that demonstrate these negative traits about him. I think there could be one that ties Ozpin to Summer’s death. I strongly believe there is a hidden moment in Oz’s past where he allowed his own desperation and pride to get the better of him and he messed up big time by sending one of his greatest assets/allies to her grave. But who knows.

Fallen Angel

‘...Close your eyes now, time for dreams. Death is never what it seems. Take things you thought you should, All the things they said were good...

All your faith in ancient ways, Leaves you trapped inside a maze, Take the lives of those you need, Sow the death and reap the seed.

Reap the seed! Born an angel, heaven-sent Falls from grace are never elegant...’

What if...in the past, Ozpin was meant to nurture Remnant’s first Silver Eyed Warrior reborn into the new era and his failure in stopping Salem began with her.

In the OST Sacrifice, Ozpin was described as an angel. Of all the things that Oz could’ve been compared to, why an angel of all things? Was Oz’s original role to be the Guardian Angel of Remnant’s first Silver Eyed Warrior? To teach and help them hone their powers so that when the world falls prey to the darkness again, they would be ready to fulfil their destiny to save it.

Was that it? Was a Silver Eyed Warrior reborn into the new world of Remnant and it was Ozpin’s job, as First Man, to nurture and guide her. Let’s say, all things considered that the Silver Eyes were all primarily women. And this Silver Eyed Warrior was a young girl and as her godly appointed guardian, Oz possibly shared a relationship with said girl akin to that of a big brother or even father figure. Think Terra and Aqua from Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep withVentus or Garnet and Pearl with Steven from Steven Universe.

The Gods probably foretold Ozpin about another Silver Eyes to come in time and he probably spent years searching for her. He was probably beginning to lose all fate when he found Summer Rose. Summer Rose was probably the first Silver Eyes Oz encountered in years and following many lifetimes of fighting an immortal, unbeatable foe, he found his trump card in Summer Rose---another Silver Eyes.

However, Summer ended up making the same mistake as Ozpin did years ago. She too ended up failing in her mission to stop Salem. It’d probably be easier to assume that Ozpin was once a Silver Eyed Warrior himself in a past life; probably even his first life. I like the concept of Ozpin originally being born as both the First Man to walk Remnant but he could just have easily been a Silver Eyes as well.

It would make his failure to stop Salem in the past and his descent from power even greater. Imagine being the sole person born with the power that could’ve ended the greatest evil known to Remnant. But then you fail your mission and die only to be brought back in another life, completely void of that all important power. It would be interesting if in addition to working to reform the world; Ozpin also spent countless lifetimes simultaneously searching for another Silver Eyed Warrior---the only being with the power to stop Salem. I like the idea of Oz being an Silver Eye for this particular reason.

However I don’t want to jump too much on this theory bandwagon because Oz being a Silver Eyes in his past life could additionally spell Ruby unwittingly being a descendent of his. I’d rather not have that. I much prefer the concept of Ozpin formerly being a guardian angel blessed with the knowledge of the Silver Eyes, created to be the mentor and protector to Remnant’s first Silver Eyed Girl who he previously shared a close friendship with.

Could even play with the notion of Ozpin formerly being in love with a Silver Eyed Warrior . Would add for a nice parallel with history repeating itself as the same thing is happening with Oscar and Ruby. Just an idea to toss out.

Y’know what’d be cool too, though? If Ozpin, the First Man of Remnant along with the First Silver Eyed Warrior to be reborn in Remnant and the woman who was Ozpin’s Eve who ultimately became the vessel for Salem were all close friends at some point. I’m thinking something akin toTerra, Aqua and Ventus from Kingdom Hearts.

Salem’s former form---the Eve to Ozpin’s Adam who I dubbed her Ales in my musing on this topic; is Terra, the one who fell to the darkness and became the main villain of the story. This would make the First Silver Eyed Girl Ventus, the youngest of the three friends whose existence was the catalyst to everything meaning she was the reason why Salem’s original self was driven to darkness out of possible jealously for her bond with Oz and the reason why Oz was cursed in the first place. Lastly, Oz is Aqua, the only one left who must now try to repair everything.

Though my theory is that Salem’s former self used to be Ozpin’s lover and companion, I definitely love the concept of Ozpin’s best friend in his first life time being a Silver Eyed Warrior. And her demise at the hands of Salem; probably sacrificing herself to save him, was probably one of his first failures before he became cursed. I’m liking this because it’s a cool way to connect everything; tying both Ozpin and Salem sharing a history with a Silver Eyed Warrior whose origin can probably date back to the Dawn of the Creatures of Grimm and the destruction of the world whose corpse now hangs in the night sky as a permanent reminder to world of Remnant in the form of the moon. Though only theories, it kinda makes sense, right?

All in all, I’m banking on Ozpin becoming Ruby’s mentor for her Silver Eyed powers; hopefully. I mean, unless there are more Silver Eyes living in secret somewhere in or outside of Remnant, who else is it gonna be? He’s the only one that has any prior awareness regarding their existence as he was the one to pass this info onto Qrow. Whether he was originally a Silver Eyes himself or the appointed Guardian to them, I’m definitely anticipating Ozpin teaching Ruby about becoming a full-fledged Silver Eyes.

Not sure how much longer Oz will be in the story though. He is technically already dead and though his soul is attached to Oscar; we all know this is going to be temporary thing as Oz will fuse with Oscar someday. However, if Oscar ends up gaining Oz’s memories and thus the knowledge about the Silver Eyes then that could lead to moments of Ruby training with Oscar to control her power; further developing their friendship. I quite like that idea very much but again, these are all just my theories. Up to the series canon to prove me right or wrong.

So to conclude...

Whelp. This turned out longer than I was gearing for.

I know I shared some decent theories in this post but the gist of what I said can be boiled down to this. There is no doubt that the biggest part of Ruby’s journey will involve her learning more about her heritage as a Silver Eyed Warrior. I’m actually glad that the story hasn’t been focusing much on Ruby these past few volumes. I didn’t even notice for the most part and even when I did, it wasn’t that big of a deal breaker. I feel like the majority of the Beacon Arc was from Ruby’s perspective so it’s good that the Mistral Arc cleared the way to develop the other characters in the main and supporting cast.

Though the show is called RWBY and Ruby Rose is our main heroine, she isn’t the only character in the series. This isn’t just the Ruby Rose show. The other characters and their individual story arcs matter in hindsight as well and help to pave the way for the full narrative just as much as Ruby’s would.

However I do agree with folks that the story needs to start steering back towards rekindling Ruby’s story arc. It needs to have Ruby start asking questions about her lineage. I understand why they wouldn’t have Ruby ask more about the Silver Eyes since the focus of the story and thus Ruby’s focus has been protecting Haven from falling like Beacon. To be honest, Ruby asking about her powers during the events leading up the Haven Battle wouldn’t have been an appropriate time to bring it up regardless of whether or not us as fans wanted it to be that way.

However the time for that has come now. Now that the Battle of Haven has been won and the Mistral Arc is slowly drawing to its epilogue to spearhead the jump into the Atlas Arc, this will be a good time for the series to finally have Ruby desiring to learn more about her powers.

She did accidentally use it again during the Haven Battle. So I figured now that the pressure of defending another academy is out of the way, Ruby now has a clear head to think about other things. Like her powers. You guys have heard me voice before how much I strongly want V6 to just be another character building season where the volume’s main focus is to tell tales that would give focus to certain individual characters and allow for the story to flesh them out and answer unanswered questions the audience have been waiting to see.

Personally, I need V6 to set up the gang going to Atlas but not necessarily taking them there just yet. This will give the series a chance to give us episodes that develop the characters. This can give Ruby time to finally ask Qrow more about the Silver Eyes and/or discuss the implications of her power with other members of the cast.

Who knows? Maybe Ozpin isn’t in fact the only character to know of the Silver Eyes? Perhaps Oscar remembers his aunt or biological parents mentioning the Silver Eyes to him as a kid as an old Mistralian farm tale or perhaps Blake read about a character with Silver Eyes in a book series she read? Either way, it’s a chance for the story to make Ruby want to know more. It doesn’t necessarily have to answer everything right away cause I figured the key to learning about the Silver Eyes lies with Ozpin who I believe may be out of commission for V6.

What the Silver Eyes are. What it truly means to be one of these warriors. And what the past and final destiny for this race of beings and their descendents is still remains a mystery and I’m interested in learning what the CRWBY Writers has in store for us in that regards. Whatever it is, I just hope it’s properly written and the writers do a proper job at addressing it in the series, both literally and visually.

Until such a time comes to pass, I’ll just stand by my theories. As a Silver Eyed Warrior, I do believe Ruby is the key to putting an end to all this chaos. Her journey ahead---whether she rises up to the challenge or falls into despair will be what drives the major plot going forward. The story began with Ruby Rose debuting as a hero and it will surely end with her as the hero.

That’s my view on it. I hope this helps answer your questions Snowflake. Sorry if this answer was more padded than you’d probably expect. I couldn’t give you an honest response without unleashing pretty much every idea I had on mind about Ruby. You asked if I had any theories for Ruby’s story and I think this best summarizes all the ones I thought of. Any more, I’ll just share in future musings. Let me know what you think of this post if you can. In the meantime, as always I hope you and any other loyal reader enjoyed this musing and see you for the next one.

♦ More RWBY Musings by Squiggles

~LittleMissSquiggles (2018)

#stuck-up-snowflake #squiggle answers #ruby rose #oscar pine #rwby theories #professor ozpin #summer rose #ruby and summer #rwby musings #rwby #rwby salem #squiggles answers: rwby

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measuringlife · 2 years

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This is so relatable.

Confession. I haven’t been much of a reader for at least the last 6 years. Since my tween days I’d say I’ve been a regular reader, at times an avid one. Although I grew up with a television in my room I regularly read, especially before bed. I’ve been known to read until too late into the night.

I remember I read The Lovely Bones in a night - I couldn’t put it down. One of favorite book series from the late 90s was called Trash by Cherie Bennett. It was about college interns working at Jerry Springer-esque talk show. For an aspiring broadcast journalism student like myself I adore this 6 book series and read it many times. I held onto them all these years and rescued them from my mom’s house when we emptied it out.

Of course in college and grad school my pleasure reading was mainly sidelined with some occasional reading during school breaks. I remember reading the Dan Brown books when they were all the rage. Also during this time, Border’s Book (RIP) carried a “chick lit” publisher called Red Dress Ink. I read MANY MANY MANY Red Dress Ink books - I just looked it up and it was an imprint of Harlequin from 2002-2008.

Once I started working full time I started reading more and as an adult I made the choice to not have a TV in my bedroom (and that’s still the case). Around this time (2008), I read all the Twilight books juuuust as the last book was being released/before the release of the first movie. That lead to me reading a large majority of the Sookie Stackhouse books from Charlaine Harris (and yes I watched most of the True Blood series too).

I love a series or at least finding and author I like a reading a bunch of their books. I also read a lot of Jodi Picoult and Janet Evanovich books. One of my favorite authors is Meg Cabot. However the funny thing is Meg Cabot is best known for writing the Princess Diary Series and yet that’s not how I know her, nor have I read that series. I’ve only read her adult series books, not any of her YA books.

In more recent years I’ve tended to read autobiographers, memoirs, and personal development type books. I buy books that seem interesting or people talk about, but they are largely collecting desk on or in my nightstand. So I’m not sure what the issue is. I think part of it is not having a “place” to read. Part of why I know I haven’t read much in the last 6 years is that’s how’s long my now-husband and I have lived together. He goes to bed before me most nights and likes sleeping in the pitch dark (as do I). So my bed used to be the main place where I read a lot when I lived alone.

Another place I did a lot do reading was at the pool. The 4 years I lived in Alabama the pool at my townhouse community was open from early May-end of September and I was out there for HOURS every weekend (since there wasn’t much else to do down there). Even when I moved to Virginia my condo complex I lived at for 3 years had an awesome pool that was open from ~Memorial Day to Labor Day and I was there often. Both of these pools were relatively low trafficked and even then it was mostly adults.

Where I live now the whole town in an HOA and there are 18 pools we could go to, but between summer being my peak season at my last job, weird pool hours, tons of kids and families at the pool, and now COVID the last 2 years I haven’t had much pool time.

I do read at the beach sometimes, but usually I only get the the beach once or twice a summer so when I’m there I like to soak in the sights and sounds and smells rather than read.

As the weather gets warmer and as I try to get into the habit of writing again. I KNOW it would be good for me to get into the habit of reading again too.

So if you have some thoughts on where my “book reading place” could be or what I should be reading to help re-awaken the reader in me I would appreciate that.

#read #reading #readingnook #readersofinstagram #writersofinstagram #lent #habits #accountability #bookstagram #bookrecommendations

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oliverphisher · 4 years

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Lili Wilkinson

Green Valentine By Lili Wilkinson

Lili Wilkinson (born 7 April 1981) is an Australian author. She has also written for several publications, including The Age, and managed insideadog.com.au, a website for teenagers about books, as part of her role at the Centre For Youth Literature at the State Library of Victoria until January 2011.

Lili Wilkinson is the author of twelve books, including Green Valentine, Pink and The Boundless Sublime.

She established insideadog.com.au and the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria. Lili has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Melbourne, and now spends most of her time reading and writing books for teenagers.

Her latest novel is After The Lights Go Out.

She is the award-winning author of ten YA novels, including Scatterheart, Pink and Green Valentine.

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?

Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones

Fire and Hemlock By Diana Wynne Jones

The Secret Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate_Discoveries from A Secret World By Peter Wohlleben

Alanna by Tamora Pierce

Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness series Book 1) By Tamora Pierce

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

This is the most boring thing in the world, but I recently bought some stainless steel washing pegs, as I was so sick of the plastic ones breaking. I love them and they’re much better for the planet!

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

I wrote a novel when I was fourteen. It was very, very long, and very, very bad. I gave it to a publisher who I used to babysit for, and she very kindly never said anything about it. I am glad that a) she didn’t tell me how bad it was, and b) she didn’t publish it. Both would have been bad outcomes.

Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?

“I have a dream too, but it’s about singing and dancing and making people happy. It’s the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with. And I found a whole group of friends who have the same dream, and that makes us sort of like a family.”

-Kermit the Frog

Nolite te Bastardes Carborundorum-The Handmaid’s Tale

What is one of the best investment in a writing resource you’ve ever made?

Scrivener, for sure. I’ve written ten of my thirteen books on Scrivener. It makes it so easy to keep track of all my ideas and plans!

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?

A not unusual, but definitely annoying habit that I cannot break is politely informing people that the inspirational/saccharine quote they have attributed to AA Milne was never said or written by AA Milne. The worst one is “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”, which is is actually from a 1975 biopic of Olympic skier Jill Kinmont.

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life?

Learning to set limits for myself around social media. I love it for so many reasons - it’s an amazing resource for me to learn and make new connections with people - but sometimes it can be overwhelming.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven aspiring author? What advice should they ignore?

Read. Figure out why the good stuff is good, and why the bad stuff is bad. Figure out what you like. Read in the genre you want to write in, and in genres outside of that. Know the market and where you want to sit within it. Write, and get used to hearing constructive criticism. Writers need thick skins! Ignore: “write every day”. You write whenever you want to write. Personally I try to never write on weekends. I need time to recharge. Sometimes deadlines make that impossible, but it’s something I think is really important. But everyone is different!

What are bad recommendations for aspiring authors, that you hear in your often?

Any recommendation that gives only one pathway to publication. The industry is big and complex and people have all sorts of different journeys, depending on their stories and their circumstances.

In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)?

Five years ago I had my first (and only) child, which has made my writing time and my family time very important. So I’ve gotten much better at saying no to work opportunities, but it is still difficult to manage the fear that if you say no too many times, the offers will stop coming!

What marketing tactics should authors avoid?

I think self-promotion is a double-edged sword. You gotta do it, but if you go in too aggressively you can put people off. I’m not quite sure what the secret to it is, but partially it’s about being part of a community. Don’t just promote yourself, promote the books and writers you love (especially writers who may not have as loud a voice as you!).

What new realizations and/or approaches helped you achieve your goals?

I’m trying to be a bit more strategic in what I publish and when. Time will tell if it will help me achieve my goals!

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do?

Go for a walk. Eemergency dance party. Make a list of fifteen things that could happen next in the story.

________

Enjoyed this Q&A? Want to discuss in more depth? Join Community Writers. You'll get access to 100+ exclusive writing tips. Q&As with successful authors, an exclusive ebook on building an audience and much more. Sign-up for free as a community writer here

source https://www.thecommunitywriter.com/blog/lili-wilkinson

#Writing WriteMotivation WritingAdvice

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elisehboyleblogs · 4 years

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CREATIVE WRITING PROMPTS

Prompts for creative writing enjoy a trendiness nowadays, especially on blogs that offer ever-expanding lists (Prompt #452: The color blue -Write about something blue!). While there’s definitely some value in these lists, it’s an approach to prompts that aligns with the idea of “giving a person a fish” – or in some cases hundreds of fish at a time. In this article we’ll explore another approach: “Teaching a person to fish,” as the old adage advises, so that you can create your own prompts for a lifetime of creative writing.

How to Create Your Own Writing Prompts

(Not 365, not 700+, but an infinite number of writing prompts)

This approach to creative writing prompts works by asking the aspiring author to engage with their environment and imagination. It takes practice (like becoming a successful fisherman also does), but once you learn how it works and make it part of your writing life, the dividends pay off over and over again.

A combination of prompt lists and self-prompts can help you write a better book.

LISTS OF CREATIVE WRITING PROMPTS

By category, with additional tools for self-prompting

Fiction writing prompts

Create a fictional explanation for a current event

Imagine another (secret) side of a former president

Describe the journey of a young boy/girl from Europe to America in the 19th Century

Self-prompt: The best fiction comes from truth. Think about a true story. What about it can be fictionalized? Maybe ALL of it! What characters and details in the true story inspire wonder in you. Feel it and write it.

Creative writing prompts for adults

Unusual dynamics in a romantic relationship

The effects of varying amounts of alcohol on a household

How parenthood/grandparenthood changes people

Self-prompt: Presumably you are an adult. Do you always feel like one?Act like one? Why or why not? Think and feel about what it means to be an adult. Freedom? Responsibility? Ask other adults. Write it all down.

Science fiction writing prompts

What if aliens lived among us?

What would the ideal spaceship for humans be like?

What if pollution created a new species of mutant “Bigfoot” creatures?

Self-prompt: Do you own a telescope or binoculars? Take a closer look at the world around you. You can even do this without any equipment. Meditate on the millions of stars and planets in the universe. What thoughts come to mind? Where do your feelings lead you? What fictional ideas resonate with you? Write it all down.

youtube

Creative nonfiction writing prompts

Write about a true story in reverse chronological order

Tell a true story as seen through several people’s perspectives

Add a vivid dream sequence to a biographical story

Self-prompt: Think of a true story that fascinates you. In what way(s) could you write it to make the telling equally fascinating? Let your imagination run wild.

Realistic fiction writing prompts

What if our election system completely failed?

How would a priest or pastor deal with his/her own disease of alcoholism?

What would it be like for a boxer if he never won a professional bout?

Self-prompt: In the previous prompts, you’ll notice that conflict is essential to a good story. How can your fiction writing elucidate a real conflict in the world today? The conflict(s) can be major or minor; it’s HOW you write about them that matters. Put your deepest thoughts and feelings about fictional (and real) conflicts down on paper.

Historical fiction writing prompts

What if one of the framers of the Constitution had been a communist?

What if Julius Caesar had not been assassinated?

What if President Lincoln visited ghosts at a cemetery? (By the way, in the mid-2010s, author George Saunders wrote an acclaimed book of historical fiction on exactly that. The book is Lincoln in the Bardo.)

Self-prompt: Generally speaking, great writers are great readers. Writers historical fiction, as a rule, should know their history. Books on historical events and figures are readily available at any public library, as are copies of historical films. Travel, reading, and movies make for excellent prompts in this genre.

Most great writers are/were avid readers. Don’t skimp on this important element of good book-writing.

Fiction writing prompts for adults

Raising children diagnosed on the autism spectrum

Your first foray into entrepreneurship

A relationship that just keeps getting better and better

Self-prompt: What makes the adult writer different from the youth writer? Adult writers seek writing prompts that are not for children for the same reason they can trust themselves with self-prompting: greater life experience. Use your experience in your writing. Want more prompting than that? Go out and gain MORE experiences.

Weird writing prompts

Net-fishing the high seas for canned tuna

A day in the life of Tiny Tim

The land of talking backwards

Self-prompt: This category of prompts puzzled me a bit when I first encountered it. Do we REALLY need prompts for WEIRD? In THIS world?? Just look out your window! Take a walk on ANY street in America! Well, of course I’m partially joking here, but the point I want to make is that, as writers – as artists – we don’t need prompts for EVERYTHING. Weird is everywhere. We only have to open our eyes, ears, minds… and notebooks.

Inspirational writing prompts

Your earliest memory of your family’s faith

How could Dr. Martin Luther King’s philosophies benefit us today?

Moments of everyday grace

Self-prompt: One might look at this prompt category and think, “Well, isn’t this really searching for inspiration to write about inspiration?” In a way, yes, but is that such a bad thing? I think of the humble person of faith who wants to serve but perhaps doesn’t know exactly how to do it. Whether a kindhearted person is looking for creative writing prompts on line or self-prompting by searching the soul or talking with a faith leader, the virtue of their search can be admired.

Book writing prompts

An issue in your life that has been unresolved for a long time

Settings and characters from a vivid dream

Thoughts and feelings on a person you have long admired

Self-prompt: Though the idea of writing a book might seem daunting, your choices in taking the first step – as you see above – are nearly endless. Stephen King goes so far as to suggest deciding on what your book is about when you begin your second draft. So where you start, or what prompts you to start, is not as important as where your writing takes you.

Your personal experiences are of utmost importance in writing a great book. Share them generously, in your own way, and always be open for more.

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Book prompts for writing

A history book to inspire historical fiction

Works of Charles Dickens to inspire young adult (YA) fiction

A book of the Bible to prompt inspirational writing

Self-prompt: Looking for writing prompts for a book? Look no further than… a book! Some of the best writing prompts for books can be found in existing books. Going a step further, books in public domain offer stories, characters, and concepts you can use in your own work – all free of charge!

Video Transcript:

Hello to all aspiring authors and entrepreneurs out there. I’m Robert Nahas, Founder and CEO of Writer Services. Today we examine the popular practice of using creative writing prompts to generate ideas. The concept behind prompts is that writers who want to practice their craft every day will inevitably run out of ideas on what to write about. In this video, we won’t go into the pros and cons of writing every day, but I will take you through two distinct approaches to prompts for creative writing.

First is the process you might have seen online, where somebody makes a list of scenarios, characters, places, or even primary colors, and the writer is then supposed to practice their daily writing using one or more of those ideas, or prompts.

The second is a more organic approach. One where the writer takes a little time and effort to create their own prompts. This might involve taking a pen and paper and going outdoors for an hour; visiting the local coffee shop and discreetly observing your surroundings: the cafe workers and other patrons as they come and go. Even just picking up and going into a different room in your home can really get your ideas flowing. It’s about changing your environment and really EXPERIENCING things in the world, instead of just on a computer with a list of prompts that someone thought up for you. Experience life and let yourself really THINK and FEEL. Write down your experiences, thoughts, and feelings. The world itself is out there waiting to prompt you in unexpected and wonderful ways.

And as always, I’d love to hear your comments and questions, so please take a moment to leave a reply below. You might also enjoy subscribing to our RSS feed, so you’ll be alerted as soon as our articles and videos are posted each week. Thanks for watching. I’m Robert Nahas. See you again soon.

The post CREATIVE WRITING PROMPTS appeared first on Writer Services.

CREATIVE WRITING PROMPTS published first on https://writerservicesblogs.blogspot.com

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