#like i just started reading the ballad of songbirds and snakes and the opening scene alone is chalk full of these tiny decisions

[wutheringmights]

Hey yk what I don’t know if I’ve said this before, but ur like…really unfairly hard on ur own writing?? And oddly that makes me feel better when I see so many mistakes/flaws in my own writing because if YOU see a bunch of flaws in urs, and I never notice them, then maybe others don’t see the flaws in my writing either. does that make sense??

Anyway kudos x 1 million on ctb’s latest chapter!!! I was CACKLINF over this one fr fr 🙏🙏

Thanks! I'm glad you liked the chapter!

Trust me, I try to be as fair to my writing as possible. I feel like my writing only improved when I started reading back what I wrote and finding areas I actively need to improve. I am way more enthusiastic about my writing chops now than I have been in years past.

I think I just fall victim to wishing my writing wasn't mine. To me, a good piece of writing melts away until you can hardly notice the words on the page. If you see the words there, it's because they are used in an interesting way.

Every word I write holds the moment of time when I wrote it. I can go back through anything I wrote and remember every frustration I had picking words, fixing sentence structures, and agonizing over characters.

The prose never melts away. I can see every brick I lay and know exactly why I put it there. I forget sometimes that people can't read my prose like a fortune teller discerning my palm.

#sometimes when i read books i try to imagine what the writer was thinking when writing scenes #and i get overwhelmed by all the little decisions I find #like i just started reading the ballad of songbirds and snakes and the opening scene alone is chalk full of these tiny decisions #it drives me insane thinking about how susanne collins' mind pulled all of it together #me rambling #lu ctb #ask #shoot-i-messed-up

[victoriablyth]

pov: you're tom blyth

word count: 1198 letting everyone know this was a small thing i wrote for my english tutor! the prompt was to write about switching bodies with someone and how it would affect you and i decided to write about being in tom blyths body. but theres a twist. this pov is from someone who has NO IDEA about tbosas. i hope you enjoy this!! this is just a goofy thing i wrote <33 warning: its a lil bit cringy...kinda idk JUST READ IT. lmk if you want part two (might have spelling errors n shit sorry!!) Sunlight met my closed eyes. I could feel the warmth of the dim beam that crawled it ways out of the blinds. I slowly rised from the quilt that wrapped around my body all night. My eyes were still drowsy, still forcing my eyelids to shut, as I stretched. I clambered out of bed, still feeling lethargic. I rubbed my eyes, my hands more coarser than before. The shape of my face felt weird, it didn’t feel like it was my  face. As I fully opened my eyes, I look down to my hands. Long and pale, clearly weren’t the complexion it should be. The nails weren’t painted mars black like before. I put my hands to my cold cheeks. I could feel a short stubble growing. ‘What the hell?’ I mutter to myself. I then I realise something else. This wasn’t my room. I started walking toward a small door that likely led to a bathroom. I was right. When I turned on the heat bulb, the amount of luminosity blinded me for a second. But after my eyes adjusted to the lighting, the first thing I saw was my reflection. Or, it was the body I lived in. I was my celebrity crush, Tom Blyth. My piercing blue orbs widened in bewilderment. I stumbled back and I bumped  into the glass door that led to the shower. I slapped myself so I could wake up, I thought  it was a bad dream. But the burning sensation that was left after the slap felt real. It felt like I experienced the slapping in real time, not in a dream. Why is this happening to me? I pondered, as I gazed back at the body I was now using as a vessel for my soul. ‘Tom?’ A young female vocalized from outside. I didn't realize that she called  out to me until she faintly knocked on the door. I scrambled quickly out of the bathroom and opened the door. As I swung open the dainty white door, I saw one of my most favorite actresses of all time. ‘RACHEL???’ I exclaim, my eyes tried not to tear up as I absorbed her angelic presence. ‘Hi…Tom…’ She said, eyebrows knitted together in confusion. I forgot I was now Tom Blyth. ‘Did you forget to set your alarm to 4am again? We have to shoot scenes.’ Rachel continued, her tone serious. I nodded aggressively, and Rachel looked as if she witnessed a UFO fly over a wheat field. ‘Are you ok Tom?’ Rachel muttered. ‘Uhhh- nah I’m all good!’ I said, with a sheepish smile. Her eyes glare in dread as I showcased my pearly whites in an uncanny manner. I exited the caravan, and hopped in whatever direction that felt right. It was of course the opposite direction of where we set up for the shooting.

…

“TOM!” Francis scowled. I twisted my head towards Francis, the director of the movie I'm in, The Ballad of The Songbirds and Snakes. My lips curled in irritation, my annoyance now at the highest level it could possibly be. Before I thought about what I was about to say, the words spewed out like a volcano that vomited lava. `I AM NOT TOM OH MY DAYS BRO!’ I blurt out, my eyebrows knitted tightly in vexation. The whole room went silent. I was gagged, I once again realized that I am not in my own body, I am in Tom Blyths. “Uhm, well, I mean uhhh…what’s good France?” I said, doing that awkward grin I was doing the whole day. “Please don’t call me France.”  Francis said, his tone flooded with disappointment. “It’s your scene, Tom,” he continued. He awkwardly waddled off to his director's chair. Everyone gives me the same look of concern that I have been receiving for the past two hours. I slowly struted towards my scene partner, I tried to look confident. Josh Andres, my scene partner, awkwardly smiled at me. As I stood in front of the camera, he put his hand on my shoulder. “Tom, are you good?”. I look at Josh, with a stringy smile embroidered on my face. “I’m all good, I’m fine. No need to worry.” I responded. Josh looked at me confused, but then the lights were set. Cameras started rolled. A loud ‘ACTION!’ was heard from the producer. We’re filming already?!  I whispered to myself. I didn’t read or scan through the script, and I didn’t even know much about my role other than his name being Cornelius or something. “Coriolanus!’ Josh said, his face now in bewilderment. I stood awkwardly as I stared into his deep brown eyes which were now filled with desperation. He wanted me to say something. “Yes sir, I am Coral Anus” I say, trying to sound as sane as possible. Obviously, my improv did not go well. “CUT!” Francis said. Josh’s face twisted into distress. “Tom, we have been practicing this script for months, and you reply to my line with CORAL ANUS?” He splurts. “Yeah isn’t that my character?” I say, still smiling. “NO! YOUR PLAY CORIOLANUS!! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?” He continues. His face now in fear, as if saw his bestfriend die right infront of his eyes. “Ok, Tom, please tell me you are joking.” Francis exclaimed. Francis then adverted his gaze towards the crew. “Somebody pass Tom the script, he’s forgotten the lines.” …  As the cloudy night sky loomed over us, so did frustration. Josh shoved the muffin into his mouth. The curls that had once been done with the most finest moose, were now frizzy and tangled. Rachel sat motionless, staring outside the window. The air felt silent in small caravan. All the crew members were asleep, and it was just us three awake. I stretch my arms out, the fabric of my baggy pajamas letting me move freely.

“97 takes…” Josh said. His eyes had bags, dropping down while his eyebrows looked like they were magnets trying to connect. “97 GOD DAMN TAKES JUST TO FILM A SMALL INTERACTION BETWEEN ME AND HIM!!” He exclaimed, scrunching the muffin wrapper that laid in his huge palms. Rachel looked at me like she had just seen a deer in front of her headlights. “Are you really Tom? What’s going on?” Rachel spoke, as she bit through her apple. I couldn't detect whether she was being sarcastic or not. “Well..my pet-” I looked back down into Tom��s phone, scrolling through his photos, until I see a parrot. Me, or Tom was holding the green parakeet with a huge smile. “My parrot died.” I mutter, as I tried  to conceive fake tears in my eyes.

I shove the picture in Josh’s face, covering my eyes and making crying noises.”Tom, that is my parrot you’re holding. Remember when you came to my house? You held Barnaby?” Josh responded, as his irritation turned into fear. I stared back, the room now felt awkward with the pin drop silence. “Cig break guys!” I exclaim, and I slowly slither out of the room. “TOM YOU DON’T SMOKE!”

The first four hours of being in his body has certainly been a terrifying experience for everyone.

#tom blyth #tbosas #rachel zegler #josh andres rivera #fanfic #writers on tumblr #fanfic funny

[lia-land]

House of Earth and Blood

4.5/5 stars

*Spoilers for House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas.

This book is 4.5 stars overall because I enjoyed the pacing, but the last 10% or so was more like 3 stars.

First, I have no idea what the world building is about, but I still really liked the story (I read this amazing Reddit post for a summary of the world building after finishing the book). I don’t think the world building needed to be this complicated. I would have been just as immersed even with 40% less detail. I don’t know why I had no idea who the Asteri were until the Summit. I just assumed Micah was like Supreme President or something. I didn’t realise there were only 7 Asteri until I read that Reddit post. Or is there 6 now? I gave up on even trying to understand how the situation with the human war overseas fit into everything. No idea what that is about but I’m assuming it will become relevant later. I think a big part of the confusion is from how we’re given so much information all at once, rather than being given it when it’s necessary. For example, when Bryce summoned Aidas like halfway or so through the book and we get told about the hierarchy of Hel and where Aidas fits into it. It was relevant then, instead of being given to us as random information at the beginning of the book. It’s the same level of confusing as the Throne of Glass family trees. I started this book 4 days before my law dissertation was due and the dissertation used less of my brain power than understanding this world building did.

Danika and Connor’s deaths were so well written! The whole part before the two year time skip was brilliant. Same vibe as when a movie has a very long intro and you just don’t know it. I really did not see the deaths coming, especially so early on in the book. SJM did such a good job of setting the characters up. I was so invested in Danika’s life and was even a bit annoyed at how predictable it seemed that Connor and Bryce would be endgame. I was so happy to be wrong.

I was slightly put off when I found out it’s another detective trope, but it was executed well, and then it became another cliche detective/murder mystery that is linked to an illegal drug. Again, I enjoyed it, but it’s been done so many times and I expected more from SJM.

The only part that I was bored was towards the very end during all the fighting scenes with the demons in the city after the portals opened. It also felt a little bit awkward picturing everyone at the Summit watching Bryce fight. I couldn’t stop imagining a Hunger Games situation. Particularly from the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie. The helicopter pages were especially boring and just too action packed for my liking.

I think I would have enjoyed the whole thing about Bryce secretly having starlight a lot more if I hadn’t read Throne of Glass before this series. I’m so bored of SJM making a plot point out of the main character knowing something big that the reader doesn’t. I just don’t think she has ever executed it well (except maybe at the beginning of A Court of War and Ruin if we count that); it always seems too convenient and lazy. I can never get too immersed in SJM’s books because I know that as readers, we never have all the information, so even the near death scenes will never actually end up bad. Personally, it would make my reading experience so much better if she stopped pulling this lazy tactic because she doesn’t want anything truly bad to happen to her characters. Or at least give us all the information and then write a less lazy plot. I think she just didn’t tell us about the light because it would have been too obvious to us at the start that Danika linked Bryce to the Horn somehow and half the murder plot twist would have been diminished. I don’t understand how Bryce didn’t link that together herself since she knew that Danika knew about her light and the Horn needed it. I was so ready to give this book 5 stars until that. If it makes your story too predictable to give readers necessary information at the start, then change your plot because the light and the grinding of the horn to tattoo into Bryce’s skin was far too convenient.

I got the ick so bad when the ancient prime was talking about love being the most powerful thing in the world. If I hear that ‘through love, all is possible’ quote one more time… (update: it does indeed continue to come up in the next two books).

I think this is a rogue opinion but I want more of Prince Aidas. I’m actually really hoping we’ll get another ACOTAR situation and Bryce will end up with Aidas (Update: upon research, it seems like this isn’t actually that unpopular of an opinion). Hunt just reminds me too much of Chaol from ToG and I don’t really care for him. “Sweetheart” is so hard to read and out of character for him. I read a review on Goodreads where someone said they enjoyed Bryce and Hunt when they were interacting with any characters other than each other and that’s exactly how I feel. I am 99.9% sure the Aidas/Bryce pairing isn’t happening but I’ll keep reading for the hope of it. Even until Micah’s death, I was waiting for her to take him up on that dinner offer. I do like Bryce and Hunt together but they’re a boring pairing compared to the other possibilities. Even Bryce and Tharion would be more interesting.

#sarah j maas #crescent city #book review #house of earth and blood #bryce quinlan #hunt athalar #ruhn danaan

[shipcestuous-two]

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

I was surprised that I didn't get any ask about The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, because it features a somewhat prominent and rather shippy (in my opinion) relationship between cousins.

The movie is a prequel to the Hunger Games, taking place about 75 years earlier. It's essentially a villain origin story of Coriolanus Snow, the president of Panem in the Hunger Games movies, who is responsible for a lot of the bad things that happen. In The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, he's 18ish. The Snow family was prominent in the Capitol but have fallen on hard times following a war of rebellion with the Districts. He lives with his cousin, Tigris, and their grandmother, scraping by and being as resourceful as they can to get him through school and to a place where he might be able to elevate the family out of poverty.

In the very beginning, we meet Tigris and Coriolanus during the war as children.

Initially I thought they were siblings, but I'm actually glad they turned out to be cousins. She's older by a few years and was looking out for him and teaching him. By the end of the war, they're both orphans. She calls him "Corio", and the first time I thought she said "Oreo", and I was like, "Why is she calling him Oreo?" If I remember right, she's the only one who calls him that.

He's really sweet with both Tigris and their grandmother and their lives all seemed to revolve around each other and doing what they can to support each other.

I have to get into spoiler territory here. Coriolanus has to mentor a District 12 tribute in the games, Lucy Gray. He gets in trouble for helping her and is banished to military duty in the districts, but she survives the games and he is able to follow her to District 12. However, his plan is always to get back to the Capitol when he can, even though Lucy Gray tries to convince hSoim that they can have a good life. He's able to communicate a little with Tigris, and learns she and their grandmother have been evicted. She tells him that they're getting by and not to worry, but it obviously weighs on him.

Things fall apart with Lucy Gray and when Coriolanus has a chance to return to the Capitol, he takes it. So the movie ends with his love story crashing and burning and him returning to his family. It ends on a sour note in the sense that Tigris can see he has changed for the worse, but overall I thought it was a Tigris/Coriolanus win. And I'd like to think that he started going off the rails because he didn't have her. It was all that time apart from her, thinking he was failing his family and that it would be 20 years before he was back in the Capitol, that started changing him.

Their scenes are really so sweet.

I just looked over the wiki, and I guess Snow is mentioned to have a granddaughter but that's all that is known about his family after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. There's a lot left open there, at least for many decades. By the time Katniss comes around, things have changed for the worse.

I haven't read the Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes book and I haven't seen or read The Hunger Games in a long time so I'm unclear on those details. But I'm sure I could spin it. That's a discussion for another time.

#first post #nc #first cousins #the hunger games #coriolanus and tigris