graymatters

[graymatters]

Writing tips for long fics that helped me that no one asked for.

1.) Don't actually delete content from your WIP unless it is minor editing - instead cut it and put it in a secondary document. If you're omitting paragraphs of content, dialog, a whole scene you might find a better place for it later and having it readily available can really save time. Sometimes your idea was fantastic, but it just wasn't in the right spot.

2.) Stuck with wording the action? Just write the dialog then revisit it later.

3.) Stuck on the whole scene? Skip it and write the next one.

4.) Write on literally any other color than a white background. It just works. (I use black)

5.) If you have a beta, while they are beta-ing have them read your fic out loud. Yes, I know a lot of betas/writers do not have the luxury of face-timing or have the opportunity to do this due to time constraints etc but reading your fic out loud can catch some very awkward phrasing that otherwise might be missed. If you don't have a beta, you read it out loud to yourself. Throw some passion into your dialog, you might find a better way to word it if it sounds stuffy or weird.

6.) The moment you have an idea, write it down. If you don't have paper or a pen, EMAIL it to yourself or put it in a draft etc etc. I have sent myself dozens of ideas while laying down before sleep that I 10/10 forgot the next morning but had emailed them to myself and got to implement them.

7.) Remember - hits/likes/kudos/comments are not reflective of the quality of your fic or your ability to write. Most people just don't comment - even if they say they do, they don't, even if they preach all day about commenting, they don't, even if they are a very popular blog that passionately reminds people to comment - they don't comment (I know this personally). Even if your fic brought tears to their eyes and it haunted them for weeks and they printed it out and sent it to their friends they just don't comment. You just have to accept it. That being said - comment on the fic you're reading now, just do it, if you're 'shy' and that's why you don't comment the more you comment the better you'll get at it. Just do it.

8.) Remove unrealistic daily word count goals from your routine. I've seen people stress 1500 - 2000 words a day and if they don't reach that they feel like a failure and they get discouraged. This is ridiculous. Write when you can, but remove absurd goals. My average is 500 words a day in combination with a 40 hour a week job and I have written over 200k words from 2022-2023.

9.) There are dozens of ways to do an outline from precise analytical deconstruction that goes scene by scene to the minimalist bullet point list - it doesn't matter which one you use just have some sort of direction. A partial outline is better than no outline.

10.) Write for yourself, not for others. Write the fic you know no one is going to read. Write the fic that sounds ridiculous. You will be so happy you put it out in the world and there will be people who will be glad it exists.

[graymatters]

For the top five ask game - Top Five... of your own fics, please

Nor All That Glisters (Drarry, E, 111k) because it's the first thing I've ever written, and I loved writing it, and everything fandom came from this fic. It's still the fic I think I'm most associated with, and as well as the original amazing art by @fantalfart and @deancebra-art, it now contains art and calligraphy by @bluebutter-art and @squintclover, and the bound copy from @emmalovesdilemmas is the first thing I wrote that I've got to hold in my hands! Plus, I still think it's the coolest concept of all my fics!

Lonely and frustrated on house arrest, with no prospects for the future, Draco begins brewing Felix Felicis in an attempt to improve his lot. Just in the short term, of course. He isn’t a total idiot.

But before long he finds himself with a thriving business, a nice flat, some actual (albeit irritatingly Gryffindor) friends, and a very satisfying sex life. What’s more, no-one is hexing him in the street. And Harry Potter is single, and gorgeous, and giving Draco decidedly interested looks.

Stop taking the Felix? You must be joking…

Dreaming Skies (Dron, E, 21k, co-written with Tacky) because it's the only fic of mine I've reread properly, and more than once, and I love it more - especially Ron - every time. Writing it (in 13 days!) with one of my all-time favourite authors, and writing it for @sitp-recs, was a dream.

Draco's life is going nowhere, so when Charlie Weasley offers him a job out on his reserve, Draco doesn't think twice before booking a Portkey. After all, it's not as if he has many other options. But when he arrives in Romania, he realises that nothing is quite what he expected...

(a story about dragons and baking, friendship and little kindnesses, putting down new roots and falling in love)

Silhouettes (Dronarry, E, 17k) because I was so proud of how this one came together. I love the triple POV, the challenge of it, and I love how it skirts the line of some tough difficult topics but stays pretty light. Also, it has one of my two favourite smut scenes I've ever written (other is in Waking Up Slow).

Draco's trying to fix the Burrow, Ron's trying to grieve, and Harry... well, just what is Harry actually doing, anyway?

A tale of grief, gardening, and ghouls, bad memories, bad puns, and bad flirting, and nudity both accidental and very, very deliberate.

Crash (Into Me) (Drarry, T, 14k) because writing this was hilarious (poor @graymatters trying to American-pick it), this was my first time properly writing Ron, and although it's one of the silliest things I've ever written, I think it's a really good concept (Drarry falling for each other during a 24-hour Quidditch match!)

Harry’s done plenty of ridiculous things for charity over the years, but Robards’ latest scheme really takes the biscuit. Or rather, the teacake.

Good job Malfoy’s there to suffer alongside him this time, eh?

Thameslink, the 07:29 from Luton (Drarry, G, 1k) because I think this is a very neat and fast paced little micro which came out well. I also remember chatting to you (Tacky) as I was writing this very quickly and last minute for @ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm's birthday, and - it was just one of those fics that wanted to exist, iykwim.

He gets on at Harpenden, you think, although it might have been earlier.

#some amazing fics here #sweets has such unique concepts for her fics #drarry fic rec #talented human being #drarry

[graymatters]

📻🎶 H/D WIRELESS 2023 - Anon Masterlist

It’s time for the list! And for some numbers!

This year’s Wireless has (as always) some impressive numbers for you. Everyone, the Wireless 2023 stats:

41 days of posting

60 works

7 artworks

5 art and fic combos

43 fics

5 podfics

And a total of 839,620 words!

We mods can’t thank each and everyone of you enough! Without every single one of our participants and readers this fest wouldn’t be possible. Thank you for being here and showing support to the amazingly talented people we had participating this year.

You have a week until we reveal the names of all our amazing creators, and what better way to spend it than catching up with the works you might have missed and playing our fun guessing game! Free bragging rights for every correct guess! And this coveted trophy emoji for the winner 🏆

Have another listen to our prompted songs for the works we post before the reveals happen in a week:   Click here for Spotify (many thanks to @evaeleanor for helping us out there) ❤️ And here for the YouTube playlist.

Please enjoy this year’s entries below the cut:

Keep reading

[graymatters]

Hi! I was hoping to place a hold for fics featuring friends with benefits! I'd love anything and everything you with that! Thank you so much in advance! <3

Your holds have arrived!

Welcome back for week two of the friends with benefits trope! As I said last week, I love this trope and all the soft angst and miscommunications that go with it. I found so many great fics that I enjoyed with this trope that I couldn't fit them all into one list, so here is part two!

If you missed last week's Friends with Benefits list, be sure to check it out too!

Friends with Benefits 2

Forever by @drarrily-we-row-along (770 words, rated M)

“Do you…” he trailed off and then steeled himself to be brave, “Do you think that…” he stopped again, pushing up on his elbows so he could look down at Draco. “I like you,” he said firmly. “Like a lot. And I just wondered if you thought that maybe you could someday like me, too?”

Hush, Hush by @isamijoo (951 words, rated M)

Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy have been meeting secretly to avoid the press. Somewhere along the way, they catch feelings.

emotional affair by @softlystarstruck (1,125 words, rated M)

“I’ll pick you up from the Portkey office,” Harry says quietly, “when you come back.”

Draco, still flushed pink, pointedly rolls away from Harry and off the bed. “It’s just three days, for work. It’s not a big deal.”

Do I Make You Cringe? by @graymatters (4,710 words, rated M)

Harry and Draco play for the Falmouth Falcons, a professional quidditch team known for its questionable sportsmanship. While they've been sleeping together casually for months, Draco wonders if Harry's means of coping with his past might prevent them from having more.

Champagne and Sex by @emeraldvssilver (6,721 words, rated M)

In which the upper class of the Wizarding society love to throw a good Gala, and Draco's evening always ends with him accidentally falling into bed with Harry Potter. Until it stops being an accident and starts being the reason they both find time out of their busy schedules to attend each and every event. And then Draco catches feelings and decides he's too old for this shit.

In the Early Hours by @manixzen (10,705 words, rated M)

It started with one night, which turned into months, which turned into years. And then, Harry realized he was in over his head.

Licking a Path to You by @drarryruinedme7 (18,478 words, rated E)

Draco Malfoy has one goal in life: to discover the identity of the secret chef of his favourite restaurant, Sweet Prophecies. After all, he can't marry someone he doesn't know.

So what if he's slightly distracted by one Harry Potter and their "just sex" agreement?

Watch The Castles Burn by @moonflower-rose (21,336 words, rated E)

Draco Malfoy knows better than to get involved with Harry Potter. If only someone would have reminded him of that six months sooner, then maybe he wouldn't be in quite such a large mess.

Phoenix in the Fire by @lqtraintracks (28,000 words, rated E)

Harry never expected to have a hot summer fling with Draco Malfoy when he agreed to mind the castle with him. He also never expected that it would all have to end on August thirty-first. What happens when casual sex with Harry’s ex-enemy turns not casual after all? And how the hell is he going to stop Draco from making one of the biggest mistakes of his life?

A Lick and a Promise by @tackytigerfic (55,321 words, rated E)

When magical creatures and students at the school are hit with a debilitating blood curse, Minerva McGonagall approaches the Ministry for help.

Star Auror Harry Potter seems to be the obvious choice to go undercover—as DADA Professor, naturally. He’s going to need the help of the Ministry’s foremost expert in blood magic to get to the bottom of the mystery, though, and he’s not entirely convinced that going back to Hogwarts with Draco Malfoy is a good idea.

Things are complicated between them—what’s new?—but they know they have to learn to work together (and keep their hands off each other in the corridors) in order to solve this case. Luckily for them, Hogwarts itself wants to lend a hand.

A tale of love, lessons, and learning to really live.

We Are Young (I'll Carry You Home Tonight) by @femmequixotic (68,826 words, rated E)

Harry and Draco have been falling into bed on and off again since the last election five years ago, much to the amusement--and financial gain--of their circle of friends. But when Harry agrees to work with Draco to put Kingsley Shacklebolt into the Minister's office, they can't work side-by-side again every day and sleep together; that would be courting disaster. Wouldn't it?

A Secondary Education by Thunderbird587 (234,528 words, rated E)

Fleeing the aftermath of his recent divorce, Draco Malfoy takes up a post as the new Potions Master at Hogwarts. At first he believes his hopes for a fresh start are dashed when he sees that a certain boyhood rival is on staff there as well. But Harry Potter is being weirdly nice to him, leaving Draco no choice but to play along. As Draco reckons with his ex-wife's infidelity and questions about his own sexuality, he finds himself going to an openly gay Potter for guidance. As their friendship deepens, Draco realizes that there is quite a lot that Potter can teach him. And that he is surprisingly ready to learn.

❤️ As always, if you find a fic you enjoy, please remember to leave the author a kudos or a comment! ❤️

Lots of Love and Happy Reading!

#ty for including my fic 💚 #rec of my fic #drarry fic recs #thedrarrylibrarian

[graymatters]

[graymatters]

Instinctive

drarry | E | 1972 words | happy birthday HJP, established relationship, tattooed!harry, yoga, rimming

Read on Ao3

Summary: Draco does what he wants, when he wants. Even on Harry’s birthday. Luckily enough, their wants align.

Excerpt: Harry had a beautiful body. He’d grown into it, slowly but surely. The war had made him lean and wiry, then Auror training and long months of Mrs Weasley’s cooking had bulked him up, but he’d really only started settling into himself when he left the Aurors and started living life in his own careful way. He’d started yoga. Not the sort Draco and Pansy got up to, which consisted mostly of lying on their back and falling asleep mid-class, no, Harry did the sort of yoga that involved lots of handstands, and arched backs, and cantilevered balances that still made Draco’s breath catch in admiration.

Draco liked beautiful things. He liked art, and music, and the way Harry’s body looked against their dark bedding when he stretched out first thing in the morning. He liked their life together—slow mornings, late nights, cotton sheets and a silk dressing gown, wine on the weekends, sex that was a decade of practice in the making.

Read on Ao3

A late birthday offering for our darling Harry James—inspired by @babooshkart’s amazing art, I hope I did it justice my lovely! ✨

Big love and thanks to @bonesliketambourines for beta reading this little baby! ❤️

[graymatters]

📻🎶 H/D WIRELESS 2023 - WEEKLY WRAP-UP #4

🎤 Can you believe we’ve had four weeks already of amazing creations!! We certainly can’t! We hope you’re enjoying the music and music inspired drarry.

There’s about one and a half weeks of works left to post, so buckle up for the final countdown! 🎶

As always you can listen to the prompted songs for the works we post on two playlists:  

Click here for Spotify (many thanks to @evaeleanor for helping us out there) ❤️

And here for the YouTube playlist.

Please enjoy this week’s entries below the cut:

Keep reading

[graymatters]

HBD HARRY JAMES POTTER

[graymatters]

Reblog if you’re 30 or older

This is an experiment to see if there really are as few of us as people think.You can also use this to freak out your followers who think you’re 25 or something. Yay!

[graymatters]

crack you open like an egg

It’s been eight months, two weeks, and five days since their first date, and Draco still hasn’t said, ‘I love you.’

Harry, the sappy git, said it after their second date.

It’s not that Draco doesn’t love Harry. He does. Sometimes, it hurts to love Harry so damn much, like he’s being strangled by Devil’s Snare. Like it could kill him if he’d let it.

I love you just feels so trite, so simple. 

It’s not enough. 

What Draco wants to say is ‘It’s been at least a week since I’ve tried to murder Weasel-King.’ Or ‘Sometimes, I wish I could crack you open like an egg because I cherish your insides as much as your outsides.’ And ‘I’d do anything for you… like give you the head of the Minister for Magic on a silver platter, if only you asked me to.’

Except Draco doesn’t say anything of the sort, because those are things crazy people say before they make a lampshade out of your skin.

Instead, Draco gets up at dawn to cut strawberries into flowers and squeeze fresh orange juice, so Harry can have breakfast in bed. Embarrassing as it is, Draco holds Harry’s hand in public, kisses him on the cheek just to watch him blush. Through not quite legal channels, Draco finds the Dursleys, and sends them a jinxed teapot for Christmas—and a cursed candelabra on Boxing Day for good measure. He buys fifty boxes of Harry's favourite biscuits, runs him hot baths with lavender oil, folds his pants into tiny squares, anything and everything to show Harry that no one cares about him more than Draco.

Because Draco does love Harry—in all the ways that matter.

And one day, an unexceptional Tuesday in April, Draco will finally be brave enough to say it. Of course, when he tries to say 'I love you,' what comes out is, ‘If you wear those trousers, I’ll leave you for Weasel-King.’ 

But Harry will understand all the same, and he’ll kiss Draco’s nose and say, 'I love you too.'

For the @drarrymicrofic prompt: simple.

#love love love #drarry

[graymatters]

Something I really love about tumblr is that when I say in real life that "yeah I'm writing" or "actually, I wanted to write tonight" or "- in the thing I'm writing, I---", this is somehow a wild piece of information about me as a human being. Which, not to diss on people for showing genuine human interest but I keep forgetting that not everyone has a project. People irl will be like "Oh you are writing? Wow what are you writing about! What are you planning to do with it! Can I read it?"

Now, here on tumblr, it feels like everyone has a "writing" or at least it is normalised enough not to warrant a question. Yes, your writing, I get it. The "wip". The elusive "project" you are working on. Of course you're writing. That's just behaviour. We all do our daily little writing if we are not procrastinating our daily little writing and complain about our procrastinating, Doesn't require elaboration. You can easily never bring up your writing again after first mentioning that you are "writing" because no one is dumb-founded by learning this fact about you - or you can skip the basic "yes, I'm writing, no it's for fun, yes it is a story, yes fiction, yes I enjoy writing' - and delve head-first into the entire psychological depth and tell me all about your symbolism etc.

[graymatters]

Deadheading the Odd Dahlia, by peachpety

Inspired by the gorgeous art of @beyondtheclose

Harry/Draco Reverse Bang 2022, E, 8.7k exactly

Florist Draco & Smitten Harry 💐 Romantic Fluff & Autumn Vibes 💐 Farmers Market & Soft Pining 💐 Cottagecore & Language of Flowers 💐 Draco Navigating the Muggle World on a Baby Blue Moped

“You could stay at the Manor,” Draco blurts. “I mean”—he twirls the wine stem in his fingers—“not the Manor proper. But Rose Cottage would suit.”

A hush blankets the table, save for Luna scraping a knife full of butter over her toast.

Harry chews his eggs carefully. He takes a bite of bacon and washes it down with a big gulp of wine. Alarm bells sound off in his brain. There are many reasons why living with Draco is a bad idea, first and foremost being his small crush, insignificant really. Although technically he wouldn’t be living with him, but nearby, almost on top of each other—

“Yes,” Harry says. “That’s…I’ll move into Rose Cottage. Thanks.”

Harry is content to spend his days at Draco’s flower stall at the farmers market, burying his true feelings in artisanal coffee and rose bouquets. When forced to find new lodgings, he accepts Draco’s offer to live in a cottage at Malfoy Manor, and his long-hidden crush blossoms out of control. Turns out, proximity makes the heart grow fonder.

💐 @beyondtheclose art & claim post 💐 HDRB post 💐

FIC & ART ON AO3

#im in love with the title #to the MFL if goes #drarry #drarry fanfic

[graymatters]

Reminder that whatever you’re writing, you shouldn’t give up because no one else can put the puzzle together the same way you can. It’s unique to you, so stop comparing yourselves to others. That completely eliminates the whole purpose. 

[graymatters]

Omfg I saw this image and I just had to draw harry with Scorpius 😭😭😭😭😭

#🤣 #drarry

[graymatters]

Fic Recs Wrap Up - June 2023(ノﾟ∀ﾟ)ノ⌒･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*☆

A day in your life by shushu_yaoi_lj @orange-peony

Harry sees it straight away, the white trail of the comet so bright despite the lights of all the buildings surrounding him. He feels a lump in his throat as he stops and stares at the moonless sky. Is he supposed to make a wish or a prayer? He checks that no one is looking his way and then he takes his wand and points it at the bright comet in the sky. He wishes to feel whole again. To feel happy and not so bloody lonely all the time. He wishes for a new life. Rec Post

Then Comes a Mist and a Weeping Rain by Faith Wood (faithwood)

It always rains for Draco Malfoy. Metaphorically. And literally. Ever since he had accidentally Conjured a cloud. A cloud that’s ever so cross. Rec Post

Most Arrogant and Loving of Men by Lomonaaeren

Harry knows very well that he’s showing the mask of the Savior to everyone around him—his friends, his lovers, his enemies—but he doesn’t know how to stop. The part of him that wants things to be different is selfish and greedy. He doesn’t see any way to express it and not have his life explode…until Draco Malfoy, of all people, realizes it’s there. Rec Post

the complete idiot’s guide to losing your entire mind by oknowkiss @oknowkiss

A primer, by Harry James Potter, age 34. Qualifications: lived experience. OR: Draco Malfoy, Ministry of Magic Being Resources representative, accidentally invents No Nut November. Rec Post

Where I see things right by InnerLilith

When Harry finds himself unexpectedly pregnant after a one-off with Draco Malfoy, he knows he isn’t keeping it. But when actually getting the abortion turns out to be more complicated than Harry expected, he finds himself turning to Malfoy for help through the process. And that’s actually much less complicated than Harry expected. Rec Post

When Trust and Truth Collide by silvergalaxy

Harry meets Draco for the first time in the employee break room on a boring Wednesday morning and they immediately hit it off. Chance encounters turn into dates, and dates turn into feelings. Oh, yeah. Draco’s also Harry’s boss. Harry has no idea. Rec Post

Debts and Desire by Craftybadger1234

Harry thinks they are dating. Draco thinks he’s serving a life debt. Hilarity ensues. Rec Post

Sweet is the fortune you give me by toutcequonveut  @cequonveut

Draco has worked hard to overcome his post-war struggles and is now the successful and proud owner of his own chain of Potions shops. Who cares if he’s lonely? Certainly not him! Then one day he comes across Harry Potter, Saviour of the Wizarding World, do-gooder to outshine all gooders and hero of the people—on the street without a Knut to his name. What else can Draco do but take him in? Rec Post

Here are a few more fics I've read recently that y'all might like to check out as well! (ﾉ^ヮ^)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

Fool Me Twice by iota @sorrybutblog

The case seemed simple: follow the corruption, bring down the source. Draco just didn’t anticipate Harry Potter crashing in, taking a break from red carpets and nudey-rudey photoshoots to make a giant mess.

Or: Draco is an Unspeakable. Potter is an (unfairly attractive) thorn in his side. Featuring: spies, action, disguises, forced proximity, pining and more!

Inertia by cavendishbutterfly @cavendishbutterfly

It’s three months after the war. Harry has already mucked up all his plans. Draco is no longer the prince of Slytherin house. And they sure as hell didn’t both mean to go back to Hogwarts at the same time. Cue snarking, long conversations…and unexpected snogging.

This is the story of how Harry and Draco put their past aside. And then it's the story of how they finally learn to listen to it.

Eager for the Sky by oknowkiss @oknowkiss

It was announced, just as the Triwizard Tournament had been, at the start of term feast.

A year-long, international Quidditch varsity match — the inaugural Wizarding Academy Cup.

In which Harry is Hogwarts' star Seeker, Draco is on the bench, and they both have a thing or two to learn about playing for the same team.

Once Upon a (Wet) Dream by InnerLilith

Once a year, Harry has a very strange dream. Meanwhile, in real life, he’s falling for Draco Malfoy.

The Faeries, the Prince, and the Cupboard by makeitp1nk @makeitp1nk

In 1967, Roy Disney made a deal with a rare species of fae to build his brother Walt’s dream on their land. Forty-seven years later, that deal will change the lives of two wizarding families forever.

A story about stories, family, dreams, and love.

The Wonder of You by Ladderofyears @ladderofyears

A Family Man AU. In the year 2000, Harry left Draco behind in London, intent on America and Quidditch fame and never looked back. Thirteen years later, Harry gets the opportunity to see what his life could have been like, had his life unravelled in a different way. Nothing in Harry’s world is the same, but Harry soon comes to realise that fatherhood, marriage and the biggest, laziest Crup in Hogsmeade add to up a life he enjoys more than he could ever have imagined.

( •ॢ◡-ॢ)-♡ I hope you enjoy these fics as much as I have! Happy reading, y’all! xoxo Carey  (◍•ᴗ•◍)♡ ✧*💜💙💚💛❤💗💕💖

#ohhh these all look so good #drarry #drarry fic recs

[graymatters]

Listen to your elders

So last week I posted abut the importance of downloading your fic. And then three days later AO3 went down for 24 hours. No one was more weirded out by this than I was. But while y’all were acting like the library at Alexandria was on fire I was reading my download fic and editing chapter eight of Buck, Rogers, and the 21st Century. And also thinking about what I could do to be helpful when the crisis was actually over.

So first off, I’m going to repeat that if you’re going to bookmark a fic, you really need to also download the fic and back it up in a safe place. I just do it automatically now and it’s a good habit to get into.

But let’s talk about some other scenarios. Last October I lost power for over a week after hurricane Ian. Apart from not having internet or A/C I did find plenty to do, I collect books so I had plenty to read, but maybe, unlike me, your favorite comfort reads aren’t sitting on a bookshelf. So let’s do something about that, shall we?

In olden times many long years ago around 1995 we printed off a lot of fic. It was mostly SOP to print a fic you planned to reread and stick it in a three ring binder. And that’s totally valid today too, but you can also make a very nice paperback with a minimum amount of skill and materials.

Let’s start with the download; Go to Ao3 and select your fic, we’ll be working with one of mine. This method works best with one shots, long fic tends to need a more complicated approach. Get yourself an HTML download

Open up the HTML download and select all then copy paste into any word processor. Set the page to landscape and two columns, then change the font to something you find easy to read, this is your book, no judgement. This is all you have to do for layout but I like to play a little bit. I move all the meta, summary, notes to the end and pick out a fun font for the title: 

No time like the present to do a quick proofread. Congratulations, you’ve just created your first typeset. On to the fun part.

Now you’re going to need some materials:  8.5x11in paper ruler one sheet of 12x12 medium card stock (60-80lb) scissors pencil pen or fine tip marker sheet of wax paper white glue two binder clips 2 heavy books or 1 brick butter knife

You’ll also need a printer, if you’re in the US there is almost a 100% chance your local library has a printer you can use if you don’t have your own. None of these materials are expensive and you can literally use cheap copy paper and Elmers glue.

Print your text block, one page per side. Fold the first page in half so that the blank side is inside and the printed side out:

use the butter knife to crease the edge. Repeat on all the sheets. When you’ve finished, stack them up with the raw edge on the left and the folded edge on the right. I used standard copy paper, because you’re only printing on one side there’s no bleed to worry about. Take the text block and line everything up. Use the binder clips to hold the raw edge in place.

Wrap the text block in the wax paper so that the raw edge and binder clips are facing out. I’m going to use my home built book press but you don’t need one, a brick or a couple of books or anything else heavy will work fine.

Once the text block is anchored down, take off he binder clips and get out the glue.

You can use a brush but you don’t need one, smear some glue on that raw edge.

Go make a margarita, watch The Mandalorian, call your mother. Don’t come back for at least an hour

In an hour smear some more glue on there and shift your brick forward so that the whole book is covered. This keeps the paper from warping. While glue part 2 is drying we’ll do the cover. Get out your 12x12 cardstock

Mark the cardstock off at 8.5 inches and cut it. Measure in 5.5 inches from the left and put in a score line with the butter knife (the back edge not the sharp edge)

Carefully fold the score line, this is your front cover. You have some options for the cover title, you can use a cutting machine like a cricut if you have one, you can print out a title on the computer and use carbon paper to transfer the text to the cardstock. I was in a mood so I just freehanded that beoch. Pencil first then in pen.

Take your text block out from under your brick. Line it up against the score mark and mark the second score on the other side of the spine

Fold the score and glue the textblock into the cover at the spine. Once the glue dries up mark the back cover with the pencil and then trim the back cover to fit with your scissors.

Voila:

I’m going to put this baby on the shelf next to the Silmarillion.

The whole process, not counting drying time, took less than an hour.

If you want to make a book of a longer fic, I recommend Renegade Publishing, they have a ton of resources for fan-binders. 

[graymatters]

Zombie

I feel dead on my feet. My life is chaotic and the days are a whirlwind.

She's a right terror with the lungs of a swimmer and the temper of a dragon. She's also extremely wily; her smiles light up the entire manor and her green doe eyes can melt the hardest hearts.

She's Lily Luna. And she's ours.

@drarrymicrofic May Prompt #9 - Zombie

#aw i love this #drarry