Wattpad is seriously pissing me off. 🤬

3 of my short, G rated (yes, G rated!!) stories that I posted last year were removed under claims of 'violation of policies or guidelines'.

Those stories are perfectly clean and had no right to be removed like that!!!

I've appealed all the bogus charges, but I doubt right now that they'll be restored.

This is just all so ridiculous!! I have never been in violation of any of their policies! Where do they get off on saying that G rated short stories are somehow 'violating their policies'?!

This isn't the 1st issue I've had with them either. Seems like every single new follower I've had in the last few months have been nothing but bots! I report and mute them, but they don't seem to disappear at all!! 🤬

That sounds incredibly annoying. I hope you find a place where you can post your stuff freely without having to worry that it'll be taken down or that wattpad gets its head out of its ass. ❤️

Hey, it's been a while!

I'm currently working on getting my life back in order right now, one of my housemates was drunk and wanted to cook and it super fucked up my sleep schedule because I was not willing to leave him alone in the kitchen while not sober

I have a new story I started, an original fiction this time because a friend's birthday is in 2 months, woo woo!

I'm making her this story, and artwork of her, me, and all my accomplices as the characters we appear as in the story for her gift, I just wish my motivation would work with me because that late night has crushed any sense of routine and now I'm falling behind on work and school

Slowly but surely trying to get back into the flow of things, but yeah, that's what I've been up to the past few months

-🪷

That gift... sounds... INCREDIBLE!!! Even if it ends up a bit late, I'm sure she'll be thrilled with it, and if she's not... you need to get a refund and a friend with better taste in gifts :p

No but in all seriousness, take your time! It's better late than hurried and not to the quality you want :)

Good luck!

Excuse this absolute essay of an ask. I had thoughts.

I decided to add a new dynamic into my storywriting because I saw a commentary about how media always saying that the villain has to die is actually a Not Great Thing. Basically, from now on, the only time a villain is going to die in my story is if they Absolutely Cannot Change. It's actually added some really interesting solutions into my storywriting now that I'm not killing off the villains, because their motivations and their ideals significantly influence the results of the story.

Like, let me explain. In one instance, the villain believes that the stronger force in life will always prevail. She's defeated by the protagonists, which is normally when the villain would be killed in, say, a Disney or Dreamworks movie (think HTTYD, Mulan, Tangled, Shrek, etc.) Since it fits with her ideals, though, she actually surrenders once she's been defeated because, to her, she was not the stronger force.

It does have an interesting consequence in that, sometimes, an abusive side villain doesn't die, either. (Before anyone asks, I am an abuse victim.) It's not a guarantee of either thing, and isn't even a guarantee that the villain will turn good, but I approached it more with the idea of "The victim doesn't need their abuser's apology to move on, and the abuser doesn't need their victim's forgiveness to change" because both of those would put the victim in a bad situation. Again, this comes back to the villain always dying being a Not Great Thing. The villains are still facing consequences--all of them lose reputation, their positions of power, etc.--but I think it's more a valuable lesson to be learned that yes, you can be an awful person, but you still have the capacity to change. Also, I think in some cases it's more fitting for the villains to have to face the consequences of their choices in life than it is for them to die but never have to deal with the repercussions that their victims have to.

Of course, then I get back to the case of the villains who will have to die. I do have a couple villains like this, and it's mostly that they have to die simply because they won't stop until they get what they want. I'm not a huge fan of the villain having to die (because, again, it's not a lesson I want to teach my audience), but I think in some ways it's a disrespect to them as a character to not kill them in some cases. Like, say a character is incredibly determined to do this One Thing, and at the second they almost have the One Thing, they suddenly give up. One of my other villains is kind of like this--he wants to stop this One Thing from happening, and to do that he has to kill everyone who could cause this One Thing, including our protagonist. It feels like a disrespect to him for him to get defeated by our protagonist and suddenly decide that he no longer wants to stop this One Thing when he's been working for years to get it, and is willing to die to stop it.

Anyways, I guess this kind of just boils down to my wanting to deal with the complexity of media and how it can affect people, while also trying to respect the decisions of my characters to the best of my ability. Hopefully it makes some sense. Oh, just to clarify, I'm not saying that "oh, every abuser can change", because that's not what happens in my works and the only reason the ones I'm thinking of got a chance was because I realized I was running into the same faults I was judging others for, and also it made for a more interesting storyline for them to change. I think it just does a disservice to the complexity of human nature to not take into account that people are, in and of themselves, very messy, and including the villains in that makes me feel like my works have more life to them. The three I mentioned all do face some pretty major consequences for their actions, but it does fit their drive--and also, at least two of them are abuse victims themselves, and I wanted to include the idea that even abuse victims who became abusers have the capacity to change. They all show shame for their actions, which is why they're allowed to in the first place.

Most of this was also inspired by Andrew Taint in that it made me want to write books featuring young, male protagonists who teenage and preteen boys could look up to as role models (these characters make mistakes, they apologize, they cry, they're messy and rough at the edges but still good people) because I saw some of the young men around me suffering from the thought process that they were evil and couldn't change, so there was no point in doing so. It's just important to me to establish how powerful the willingness to change is and using media is one way for me to do that. I totally understand how some of this could come off as really wrong, though, especially to anyone else who's an abuse victim.

Thanks for reading my rambling, though. I appreciate the time and effort you put into this blog a lot, because it makes it easier to talk to someone about my works when I can't necessarily do that in real life. Hope you have a lovely day!

First of all, it is no one's business whether or not you're an abuse victim. You are able to draw powerful life lessons from experiences you've never had if you do so respectfully, so the fact that you felt you had to share that you're an abuse victim... you don't. People need to get their heads out of their asses and stop acting like everyone else's lives are any of their business. You're allowed your privacy.

That said, this is a super complex topic and I personally feel that you're doing an amazing job at addressing it and that your thought processes on all of it are really on the right track. :) keep it up! I'm super proud of you and what you're trying to do and the lessons you're trying to portray. :) you're doing amazing work, so don't let others feeling any sort of way deter you. You will touch and reach people.

Every piece of writing on touchy topics will offend some people. It's just the nature of humanity. Just remember you're doing it for the people that you're going to help, not the ones that will yell about it. :)

Thank you for sharing.

For those of you here that don't know, I plan to make a newspaper for writeblr (which already has a blog you can view at @thewriteblrrag). I plan to create a website for it until I can afford a PO box, in which time I plan to start printing physical copies people can pay minimal amounts to get (to pay for the PO box and paper/ink used).

Anyhow, I say this to let you all know that I'm planning on basically having a feature on the website that'll be this blog. It'll also be called the same as this blog, "writeblr's void" and will have topics for each paper which people can submit their own thoughts on, which will be featured in the next paper.

I thought it'd be a fun idea, especially with how much I adore this blog and the idea behind giving a space on the paper for writers to put down their own thoughts on things, but yeah. :] announcing this here because I thought maybe some of you, who liked this blog, might like that idea and be interested.

You can follow the blog mentioned above for further updates on the paper.

one of my characters autonomously decided she was going to be autistic. This isn’t a problem for me, to be honest, because I was planning on having her be ADHD (all my POVs are to some degree bc I have ADHD and it shows), but she decided her special interest is the fun fantasy sci fi tech involved in their floating ships. Originally I was worried because I was like “well, she’s Filipina-Latina and I don’t want it to be the ever so popular stereotype of smart Asian kid AND autistic kid whose special interest is science related” and then I realized that she’s an autistic GIRL and her special interests also involve being a fighter. Plus, there are other Asian characters who fall into neither of the above categories, so it’s not quite the same. More importantly…there probably is some actual Filipina-Latina girl out there whose special interest is Star Wars or something similar who would benefit from seeing a girl like her in media (even if this book is meant for an audience of preteen and teen boys as a way to counter Andrew Taint’s anti-woman hate and targeting of boys’ insecurities. Whole other conversation to be had there, but the guys in this book all have their own character growth and moments where they can be emotional and NOT treated like a joke because of it. Because IRL reasons including MY brothers who were hurt by AT’s ideals). So…yeah. Just wanted to scream into the void about that before I delve into the research I need and figure out how many sensitivity readers the publisher will eventually have to pick up.

i love writing. (/genuine)

Countering stereotypes with something that could be deemed stereotypical but done just right... beautiful. Void hopes you put enough research in, and use all the tools at your disposal to do that just the right way. I believe in you! You've got this. :)

Happy writing, my friend. Remember to have fun while you're doing all of this! <3

Quick note that I am a disabled queer (ace) author. My main character raised his younger sister after their parents died and their village didn't help, so of course he would have helped her bathe and stuff when she got sick (and probably also when she wasn't up until she could do it herself, since they're not that much older). Major theme in the book is sacrifice and loyalty, which is why this is important.

Anyways, one of his new friends has a disability like POTS (same as I do), and after some magic stuff and a sacrifice of his own, friend has a moment where he has a bad flare and can't bathe by himself (inspired by my own struggles with this exact type of thing). He swore off romance due to backstory reasons and ends up asking MC for help bc of other reasons. I was sitting in the shower thinking "this is going to be a great scene!"

Now I'm kind of upset because I realized people are going to severely sexualize a moment that's literally about the two bonding over the shared trauma of being forced to grow up too early and a moment where the MC isn't thinking of romance (his eye is on another friend in the group) and is instead thinking about his sister. On top of that, both of these characters are queer and we've already been sexualized enough in the media.

It's so frustrating, I'm not even sure I want to leave that scene in or just let whatever publisher the book ends up with decide if it shouldn't be there so I can fade to black. I want to write the scene because it feels important, it's just really upsetting to know it'll be romanticized or sexualized when it's just my MC doing exactly the same thing he's done with his sister.

That, and also I know people are going to think that it's creepy he helped his sister shower and stuff when they were younger but tbh that part I have less issue with because anyone with media literacy can probably figure out that MC and his sister were so broke they could barely afford hot water and food, let alone medical care or stuff like that. Maybe I should just add in some questions like the ones you see in literature class after reading a section, lol.

Anyways, thanks for listening to my rant! Hope you have a lovely day.

Honestly, people will sexualize and romanticize anything. Literally anything. And there's nothing a writer can do about that. It's a hard truth many writers that are in your boat have to swallow at some point.

So the question becomes: is the scene important enough to you to leave it in for the people that will understand it, knowing there will be people that will twist it like that, or do you want to do away with it altogther? Does it add enough to the story that you feel it's too important to leave out? Or do you just love the scene enough to deal with all of that nonsense? If so, just keep it. Let people interpret it how they will. There's no way you're going to convince them of something different than what they want to see, so just let them see it and let those that will relate or understand or that need to see that connection get what you actually intended out of it.

There are a lot of important lessons and personal relations that would never happen if people were to worry about how others could take it. Essentially, if it's important or special enough to you to keep it, then keep it.

Sorry, talking in circles. I think you get my gist.

Either way, happy writing. I hope whatever you decide, you're happy with it. 🧡

~The Void

writing is so funny because sometimes you’re trying to write a scene and then your main character, who is a blacksmith and wouldn’t read often anyways, autonomously decides that he’s dyslexic to some degree. Sir. This was not in the original plan. I’m not complaining but also where did this come from???

😂😂😂 I love when characters reveal things about themselves not previously agreed upon. Just like excuse me. We had a plan. Do you mind sticking to it? No way, I can burn? Alright then, your plan it is.

I had to duke it out with my creativity to write down an idea for what I wanted to do for my screenwriting class but I finally got it together and now I get to write a Zelda-inspired story because apparently Zelda and Link are queer enough for my creativity not to pitch an absolute caterwaul over the fact I can't write a queer love story for safety reasons.

Instead we shall write about two gendernonconforming characters who are fighting an elemental goddess who betrayed her sisters. Hehehehe. Our battle shall be (wait for it) Legendary!

I love this!!!! I'm assuming this is the same anon that messaged me at @iloveyou-writers because everything in this matched that anonymous message other than that message was about being unable to come up with anything... so if this is the same nonnie, I'm thrilled you thought of something! Sounds really fun. Hope it goes well!

Hello again! Would love for you to boost this :) Too many good ideas get lost just because they weren’t written (yet) and I think most if not all of us like to talk about the little characters in our head. So: Unwritten year in review!

https://www.tumblr.com/carladuquette/736627750023102464/ive-seen-posts-%C3%A0-la-ao3-wrapped-where

It's a great idea!!! I love this idea.

The rundown: people talking about their ideas that didn't get written this year. :)

Copy/paste the link above for more information on the idea/thoughts behind it!

Thanks for resending. ~

A poll for writers

Because I'm curious, bored and haven't made a legit poll in a while.

So writers, tell me...

alkdjfljdfalkdjf I just learned you can add more than 10 options on polls now! >:) you guys are in for it for the future. But for now: fill out the above!

Far from my goal of finish writing a book, but someday, someday it might see the light of day. One can still hope, right =D ?

Absolutely! Just keep trekking and one day you'll get there!

It’s kind of sad when you are still brimming with the passion to write fanfics but the fans in the fandom had died out 😕.

DX that sounds so dang disheartening. :( but surely there are some fans still left?

I hope you find a new audience.

Hi void, long time lurker here.

I’m worried I’ve forgotten how to write. I posted a fic but I’m not sure anyone liked it. Yeah, I shouldn’t seek validation but after coming back from a mental breakdown, a stint in IOP and being discharged nine months ago, I was hoping I could be normal again.

I’m scared I’ve destroyed something I love dearly.

It can be difficult not to listen to the voice telling you these things, but I'm sure they're not true! Your readers may have had things going on too. They may not have realized you're back yet.

The last several years have been really hard on everyone, so remember to be patient with your readers and, most of all, be patient with yourself. Even if you have forgotten how to write, you've learned once and you can do it again.

Forgetting isn't the end. It can be the beginning of being even BETTER. Just don't give up.

Void believes in you. Thank you for reaching out and I hope you feel better soon. Welcome back, by the way.

Feeling somewhat discouraged about trying to get people interested in my original fiction. My brain knows it's a combination of the right keywords and interactions, but my heart is convinced it's because no one actually cares.

Which, yes, is fundamentally untrue, but querying is lonely and discouraging

It can be difficult not to listen to that voice, but hey. You recognize that it's not true. That's the first step and you should be proud you even recognize the fact that it isn't true. :)

Keep going. You'll do great!

a little nervous because i have plans to publish the prologue + first two chapters of my story on AO3 soon-ish?? but tbh I haven't actually published stories/writing online in like three years lmao. last time was in 2020 i think??

i'm looking forward to doing it but also not really, it might be because it's either been a while or it's a little nerve-wracking to think about people reading it.

one thing i'm also worried about is that people might get put off halfway into the chapters, because Chapter 1 is 12k words and Chapter 2 is 19k words (yeah it's a lot, i know, i'm a madlad 💀) and i'm not even sure if i could split each chapter into two parts. but it should be fine... maybe...

maybe😳

anyway ramble over lol. hope you have a good day Void :D 💖✨

Void believes in you! A lot of readers love long chapters, as long as the paragraphs are split up! :) could make a lot of people excited because they get more content per reading session!

Anyway, Void is wishing you the very best in your soon-ish ventures of publishing your story! :) you've got this!

Screw it. Speaking into the void

I was planning on finishing my second book a year ago. And then this year. It's still not going to get done. I guess I'm not looking for encouragement or advice or anything. I'm just a little sad I haven't finished it yet, even in the face of everything else I've had going on.

♥️

It's okay to be sad that you're not hitting your goals, but don't let it prevent you from keeping venturing forward! Even if you're not hitting those goals you set for yourself, you're still making progress and that's something to celebrate!

It may be difficult for you to feel proud right now, but I'm proud of you :)

Just gonna shout into the Void real quick—

I’ve been so burned out trying to write the second book to my current series even though I’ve just been outlining the last ten chapters and ~53 of them are already written. I want to take a break, maybe write some poetry or practice journalism, but I feel really guilty about it. I don’t enjoy working on my current WIP because it’s starting to rot my brain, yet at the same time I feel bad about not working on it.

That's all the more sign you need a break. Take one! Your brain will thank you for it. 🥰