stray-crow

[stray-crow]

Week 16: Apr 22 - Apr 28

743 words of old man yaoi (๑˃ᴗ˂) reorganized the brain dump and now i just need to let them be disgustingly cute together

521 we are on a ROLL haha!

wed i was. exhausted.

THURSDAY I FINISHED READING A TEMERAIRE BOOK, YIPPEE!!

we are one a one track mind, 242 w

edited some earlier parts and set-up the next half of the O.M.Y., 441 w

no writing sunday but that's okie :>

April's Goal: 6150/6000

April's Progress: 102.5%

..... >.>? agh April is almost over anyways and i've been inspired this month. wtf. with original goal it would be ~800 more words tho, which sounds stressy......

who says i cant just always >100% my goals tho akxhskxj

#if i write tomorrow or tuesday; what if i count that towards may akxhskxjsk #word count progress

[stray-crow]

HELLO??????????????

i look forward to learning about them (at your own pace ofc) 👀👀👀

eheheh (๑˃ᴗ˂) ive put a lot more active thought into a Star Wars OC since this appeared in my inbox, and there's so much more to build, but tonight i figured out the name!! so i wanted to answer :>

i thought a Mando'a noun name would be nice, since in my head this character would be striving to archive Mandalorian history and help create new traditions based on what is known about the old since, well [gestures to everything]. also i love noun names alxhskxh

Veshok [clan name TBD], pronouns in Basic being xe/xem/xyr

important things to me about xem:

veshok is a large evergreen tree with oak-like grains, and i like the vibes of long-lasting that it, and therefore this character, embodies (alternatively, Gi as in fish. cause i like fish akxhsjs)

xyr armor would begin painted with white (new start) and black (justice) colors as xe swears the Resol'nare and starts this archival effort, but as Veshok's journey continues xe would change white to orange (lust for life). likely once i've figured out xyr family, red (honoring a parent) details will be included

Veshok is easily chilled, so any wraps and ponchos are like a constant eheh

xyr kute acts like compression clothing to help circulate xyr blood and help ease joint pain (i bequeath one of my disabilities to xem)

xe has curly hair very susceptible to helmet squish and despairs about that, so Veshok only wears xyr helmet when tryna Not Be Perceived (but xe will almost always wear xyr bell pauldrons even casually because its comforting both metaphorically as the first beskar'gam xe got and also physically in its weight)

next to rotate is how much Found Family and keldabe kisses xe will get (๑˃ᴗ˂)

#star wars oc

[stray-crow]

Week 15: Apr 15 - 21

226 words for unnamed aftg fic (tag story: whatever the fox says?)

edited in 157 words for Shaking Kevin, which i also deleted what felt like a lot so when i saw the word count had gone up i was like "...Okay" ajxhskdh;;

428 words brain dump for some old men being sickenely in gay love ٩( ᐛ )و i shall def revisit to weave a short oneshot of fluffs......

thursday through saturday i didnt write due to the Exhaustion

472 words for that unnamed rehab!au wip. somehow (Neil Fucking Josten) it got a Plotting plot and im shaking Neil cause we can't have a normal day i guess??

April's Goal: 4203/6000

April's Progress: 70.1%

#glad i waited till read of the sunshine court before pushing too hard for editing ch 2 cause i felt affirmed by many choices #and also write in more #word count progress #story: whatever the fox says #<- idk im just. temporary i guess. but also if this becomes a thing like Shaking Kevin in a Bottle did ima scream akxjskxj;;

[stray-crow]

my cat had some opinions on my inquiry for @altruistic-meme...

#story: shaking kevin in a bottle

[stray-crow]

i must ask 🪤 and 📚 for procyon <3<3

of course 🥰

🪤 What is one thing that could be used to lure your OC Procyon into a trap?

Mel. oh gods could you imagine Mel being taken hostage (...again. but like this time by people with malicious intent) and Procyon fucking tearing apart the worlds trying to get back to him? and walking willingly into a trap? oof

but on a smaller scale, any pretty flower would trap Procyon so well. you've seen their garden alxhskxhs and there's multiple reasons why Procyon would use plants to remind them of Mel, and that's cause they're just so enamored by life

📚 Your OC Procyon has to improvise a 10 minute lecture about a topic of their choosing. What do they chose?

the history of the Demon Kings. Procyon had that drilled into them ever since they were a pup as preparation for their own reign.

but only because Dryomys would instantly shut down any presentation regaling Mel akxhskxhs and Procyon can't talk about flowers without making it about their queerplatonic partner lolol

...i never really realized how much Procyon orbits around Mel akxhskd darling we need to expand your gardening hobby

link to ask game!

#story: a different love

[stray-crow]

how about 🌌 and🪤 for the This is not a Home of Honor crew? :Dc

ooo!! ima only do the characters not based on real people akdhsj (5/7 of the Accipitri Scholars are based on my siblings + rival and Wren is based on Abram)

🌌 If your OC has a nightmare, what’s it most likely about?

Pan - we see this in the story, but xyr previous life!

Besra - everyone Besra loves dying (:

Shikra - so fae is on a walk, right, and it's going fine but then fae notices it's a forever loop?? but Shikra isnt able to leave it and keeps going until faer feet bleed but fae just can't stop and then there's the sound of people hurting and everything goes red. but Shikra wakes up like "Wow that was weird" and goes off to hug Besra and forget about it.

🪤 What is one thing that could be used to lure your OC into a trap?

well. Pan for everyone could be a lure akdhhakxhs damn i'm sensing a pattern. i've mustve written this at least 3 times...

anyways!

Pan - nothing can shake xem but oh shit is that something shiny? LORE?? well let's just get a bit closer...

Besra - any historical record Besra doesn't know about yet or that depicts another POV

Shikra - rare ingredients for medicine

ya know the fact that everyone is named after birds (except Panthera, that's a cat) just really reinforces itself whenever i talk about not a home of honor...

link to the OC ask game

#story: this is not a home of honor

[stray-crow]

Week 14: Apr 8 - 14

started the week ✨️ill✨️

224 words for without-a-name WIP

430 words for writing and editing a cover letter, im counting it 😬

no writing Fri and Sat cause i forgor

made myself write 359 words while making myself dinner at same time... not the best work but that's later Milo's problem (^-^)

April's Goal: 2920/6000

April's Progress: 48.7%

#word count progress

[stray-crow]

Week 13: Apr 1 - 7

452 words for fAMily

rotating a daydream...

wrote the daydream, 336 words

tried, managed 46 words, laid down

I AM COUNTING THE What to Expect SERIES. 816 words

sudden switch to new-ish WIP... it doesnt have a name but 257 words

vide0 games all day :>

April's Goal: 1907/6000

April's Progress: 31.8%

#word count progress #story: family

[stray-crow]

did you read an Ao3 fic and want to comment about what you read, whether a specific line or your reactions or whatever, but you're anxious of how it may be received? well, if knowing some possibilities may help:

What to Expect* when you Comment on Ao3

nothing happens externally, but internally your thoughts are essentially puffed into smoke, your feelings have been felt, and you move on with less words weighing you down (catharsis!) – it's like leaving kudos with that physical evidence of you being there, but i find with longer emotional release.

the author responds sometimes rapidly, other times months later. you may get a "thank you" or some more info about the story. sometimes they say how much the comment means to them! or they update and cite your comments as the inspiration. i find it's easier not to hope this to happen (see motivations post) but if you want to have the author reply, i find it helps if you have a question.

another reader responds. extremely rare occurrence, but if they're agreeing with you then it's nice! if this has been after a long-time of "nothing happens", i've been momentarily confused until i remembered the fic and am happy to reminisce or re-read. it has inspired me to reply to other comments that i agree with and we have a tiny connection :>

*this is just from my experience as part of the What to Expect series. i would love to hear your experiences if ya wanna share!

#fandom #just leave a comment fest #ao3 #advice

[stray-crow]

What to Expect* depending on your motivation

as the start of this series, i want to identify the different kinds of motivations because it has a major effect on your expectations and how you experience fandom:

intrinsic motivation - relatively low threshold for catharsis as it involves just yourself doing what you want

extrinsic motivation - relatively high threshold for catharsis as it involves not only yourself but also other people finding you and interacting with you.

with that defined, i want to ask you:

Why are you in fandom? What do you want from fandom? How can you get that?

we can be here forever with me predicting answers (extrinsic + one-sided, extrinsic + community, intrinsic + one-sided, intrinsic + community, etc) and get interpreted as a passive-aggressive know-it-all (though summarizing all our answers in a table later would be fun!!), but i do wanna say:

the best way to get what you want is to do it yourself and then encourage those you've connected with to join you.

personally, i would consider myself intrinsic + one-sided but i still enjoy community:

i have thoughts and feelings, i share them into a "void" for catharsis

unknown people are usually an afterthought, so any interaction (kudos/like, comment/reblog, etc) is bonus feelings because i don't usually desire them for catharsis

once i've connected with others through repeated friendly exchanges, then i then fandom talk with them directly alongside the void

because of this, any experiences i share will heavily lean towards that mindset. if any of that resonates with you and you are someone who wants to interact more with fandom but don't know what to expect, *let's find out together :>

#fandom #tumblr #ao3 #advice

[stray-crow]

What to Expect: The What to Expect Series

observation: strangers and friends concerned about reduced engagement (interactivity) in fandom, but the big posts shame the lack of behavior (whether effective or not, it's not kind and not conducive to building strong, interactive communities)

what i don't know for certain: Why there's apparently less interactivity (heard many possibilities ranging from late-stage capitalism to the materials themselves, but there is infinite nuance) and What it was like before i interacted in fandom

what i do know for certain: i personally struggle doing something when i don't know the +/- consequences of my actions

consider: there may be others who are similar, and may like to hear my experiences without shame so they can do what they want

who i am: regular reblogger of fandom i like since 2018, casual theory writer idc, interacting with fanfic since 2022, and wrote for myself back in 2012 but writing again and sharing now

and now i wanna use this side where i keep track of my WIPs to also organize what i've learned to expect when i'm doing fandom stuff :D

i would also love other's perspectives since this is only one POV, so i'll point out that my inbox is open and would happily organize experiences so we can learn from each other

What to Expect post links:

(if there's no link yet, i haven't written it yet but would like to next wave of inspo)

depending on your motivation

when you leave an Ao3 comment

when you reblog tumblr art

when you create an original tumblr post for a fandom

...?

what is stopping you from taking an action in fandom? what would you like to learn what to expect? let's keep expanding the list ٩( ᐛ )و

#...yes i'm autistic. yes i'm a trained professional scientist. yes i'm a volunteer in advocacy groups. what clues gave it away? #fandom #tumblr #ao3 #advice

[stray-crow]

Week 12: Mar 25 - Mar 31

253 words for fAMily

i was hit with a metaphorical truck of exhaustion btwn health and social life, then only wanted to play video games

March's Goal: 5068/7440

March's Progress: 68.1%

...soooo. i am learning i can't balance a higher social life (in-person gatherings) and shitty health (srsly need to find a doctor) and all the delightful video games out there and also write a lot. i had a daily average of 161 words, also limited inspiration this month- WAIT. THERE WAS THAT FUCKING MENTAL BREAKDOWN- AND ALSO JUST PHYSICAL UNWELLNESS EXHAUSTION. IF I MANAGED TO MAKE MY MONTH GOAL, I WOULD BE EVEN MORE FUCKED OVER, WOULDN'T I????

the majority of my days note "resting" because this had been a fucking exhausting month btwn my Life Anniversary (mind and body remembers the trauma of how it could have been a death anniversary) and huge reactions to things and then my body deciding to nerf me with a 5 day long migraine cause of weird smells.... and coming back with new weird smells, sobb

i do want to write, and having goals helps me, but i cannot expect me to keep up my word count when inspired (240 daily average). i think i was in pretty typical health at the 200 original goals, so ima return to that

#word count progress

[stray-crow]

Week 11: Mar 18 - Mar 24

158 words editing fAMily... im so tired but im happy i was able to do that

284 words editing fAMily... which with my Tired brain idk how well i did akxhskjd but im impressed i did it anyways

like n0 words for so many days until Sunday cause of streams and Activities, tho Friday i set up an excel table for my fAMily world :D

504 words for fAMily (numbers and words were so fucking hard till the last bit of banter)

March's Goal: 4815/7440

March's Progress: 64.7%

#ive been attacked by the gaming bug in full throttle again skxhskdh #also i need to do more planning/outlining but im so tired #to point i just wanna write SOMETHING but cant think of what #the horrors....... #word count progress #story: fAMily

[stray-crow]

Week 10: Mar 11 - Mar 17

i tried but... no inspiration

referring to this writer's block post, i wrote 1072 words combining prompt + processing my depression. yippee

daydreaming

finishing up (634) and posting my depression akjdghajk yippee

and 0 words all weekend cause im tired and disabled and ough

March's Goal: 3869/7440

March's Progress: 52.0%

#having to use all my spoons for errands instead of writing makes me . ough #word count progress

[stray-crow]

Fandom: Original Work Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Original Character(s) & Original Character(s) Characters: Original Non-Binary Character, The Minotaur, Emil (it/its) the Minotaur, Jade (they/them) the Human Additional Tags: Friendship, Depression, this minotaur is going through it (suicidal) but it will be okay, Hurt/Comfort, Short One Shot, Human/Monster Society, i think that may be an appropriate tag (let me know if i should add anything), Recovery

#monster march 2024 #honestly this is helping a lot with my 'its okay. just post it milo' akdjhgkjag #i think i like writing longer things but this is nice too #minotaur

[stray-crow]

Things That May Be Causing Your Writer's Block- and How to Beat Them

I don't like the term 'Writer's Block' - not because it isn't real, but because the term is so vague that it's useless. Hundreds of issues all get lumped together under this one umbrella, making writer's block seem like this all-powerful boogeyman that's impossible to beat. Worse yet, it leaves people giving and receiving advice that is completely ineffective because people often don't realize they're talking about entirely different issues.

In my experience, the key to beating writer's block is figuring out what the block even is, so I put together a list of Actual Reasons why you may be struggling to write:

(note that any case of writer's block is usually a mix of two or more)

Perfectionism (most common)

What it looks like:

You write one sentence and spend the next hour googling "synonyms for ___"

Write. Erase. Write. Rewrite. Erase.

Should I even start writing this scene when I haven't figured out this one specific detail yet?

I hate everything I write

Cringing while writing

My first draft must be perfect, or else I'm a terrible writer

Things that can help:

Give yourself permission to suck

Keep in mind that nothing you write is going to be perfect, especially your first draft

Think of writing your first/early drafts not as writing, but sketching out a loose foundation to build upon later

People write multiple drafts for a reason: write now, edit later

Stop googling synonyms and save that for editing

Write with a pen to reduce temptation to erase

Embrace leaving blank spaces in your writing when you can't think of the right word, name, or detail

It's okay if your writing sucks. We all suck at some point. Embrace the growth mindset, and focus on getting words on a page

Lack of inspiration (easiest to fix)

What it looks like:

Head empty, no ideas

What do I even write about???

I don't have a plot, I just have an image

Want to write but no story to write

Things that can help:

Google writing prompts

If writing prompts aren't your thing, instead try thinking about what kind of tropes/genres/story elements you would like to try out

Instead of thinking about the story you would like to write, think about the story you would like to read, and write that

It's okay if you don't have a fully fleshed out story idea. Even if it's just an image or a line of dialogue, it's okay to write that. A story may or may not come out of it, but at least you got the creative juices flowing

Stop writing. Step away from your desk and let yourself naturally get inspired. Go for a walk, read a book, travel, play video games, research history, etc. Don't force ideas, but do open up your mind to them

If you're like me, world-building may come more naturally than plotting. Design the world first and let the story come later

Boredom/Understimulation (lost the flow)

What it looks like:

I know I should be writing but uugggghhhh I just can'tttttt

Writing words feels like pulling teeth

I started writing, but then I got bored/distracted

I enjoy the idea of writing, but the actual process makes me want to throw my laptop out the window

Things that can help:

Introduce stimulation: snacks, beverages, gum, music such as lo-fi, blankets, decorate your writing space, get a clickity-clackity keyboard, etc.

Add variety: write in a new location, try a new idea/different story for a day or so, switch up how you write (pen and paper vs. computer) or try voice recording or speech-to-text

Gamify writing: create an arbitrary challenge, such as trying to see how many words you can write in a set time and try to beat your high score

Find a writing buddy or join a writer's group

Give yourself a reward for every writing milestone, even if it's just writing a paragraph

Ask yourself whether this project you're working on is something you really want to be doing, and be honest with your answer

Intimidation/Procrastination (often related to perfectionism, but not always)

What it looks like:

I was feeling really motivated to write, but then I opened my laptop

I don't even know where to start

I love writing, but I can never seem to get started

I'll write tomorrow. I mean next week. Next month? Next month, I swear (doesn't write next month)

Can't find the time or energy

Unreasonable expectations (I should be able to write 10,000 words a day, right????)

Feeling discouraged and wondering why I'm even trying

Things that can help:

Follow the 2 min rule (or the 1 paragraph rule, which works better for me): whenever you sit down to write, tell yourself that you are only going to write for 2 minutes. If you feel like continuing once the 2 mins are up, go for it! Otherwise, stop. Force yourself to start but DO NOT force yourself to continue unless you feel like it. The more often you do this, the easier it will be to get started

Make getting started as easy as possible (i.e. minimize barriers: if getting up to get a notebook is stopping you from getting started, then write in the notes app of your phone)

Commit to a routine that will work for you. Baby steps are important here. Go with something that feels reasonable: every day, every other day, once a week, twice a week, and use cues to help you remember to start. If you chose a set time to write, just make sure that it's a time that feels natural to you- i.e. don't force yourself to writing at 9am every morning if you're not a morning person

Find a friend or a writing buddy you can trust and talk it out or share a piece of work you're proud of. Sometimes we just get a bit bogged down by criticism- either internal or external- and need a few words of encouragement

The Problem's Not You, It's Your Story (or Outline (or Process))

What it looks like:

I have no problems writing other scenes, it's just this scene

I started writing, but now I have no idea where I'm going

I don't think I'm doing this right

What's an outline?

Drowning in documents

This. Doesn't. Make. Sense. How do I get from this plot point to this one?!?!?! (this ColeyDoesThings quote lives in my head rent free cause BOY have I been there)

Things That Can Help:

Go back to the drawing board. Really try to get at the root of why a scene or story isn't working

A part of growing as a writer is learning when to kill your darlings. Sometimes you're trying to force an idea or scene that just doesn't work and you need to let it go

If you don't have an outline, write one

If you have an outline and it isn't working, rewrite it, or look up different ways to structure it

You may be trying to write as a pantser when you're really a plotter or vice versa. Experiment with different writing processes and see what feels most natural

Study story structures, starting with the three act structure. Even if you don't use them, you should know them

Check out Ellen Brock on YouTube. She's a professional novel editor who has a lot of advice on writing strategies for different types of writers

Also check out Savage Books on YouTube (another professional story editor) for advice on story structure and dialogue. Seriously, I cannot recommend this guy enough

Executive Dysfunction, Usually From ADHD/Autism

What it looks like:

Everything in boredom/understimulation

Everything in intimidation/procrastination

You have been diagnosed with and/or have symptoms of ADHD/Autism

Things that can help:

If you haven't already, seek a diagnosis or professional treatment

Hire an ADHD coach or other specialist that can help you work with your brain (I use Shimmer; feel free to DM me for a referral)

Seek out neurodiverse communities for advice and support

Try body doubling! There's lot's of free online body doubling websites out there for you to try. If social anxiety is a barrier, start out with writing streams such as katecavanaughwrites on Twitch

Be aware of any sensory barriers that may be getting in the way of you writing (such as an uncomfortable desk chair, harsh lighting, bad sounds)

And Lastly, Burnout, Depression, or Other Mental Illness

What it looks like:

You have symptoms of burnout or depression

Struggling with all things, not just writing

It's more than a lack of inspiration- the spark is just dead

Things that can help:

Forget writing for now. Focus on healing first.

Seek professional help

If you feel like it, use writing as a way to explore your feelings. It can take the form of journaling, poetry, an abstract reflection of your thoughts, narrative essays, or exploring what you're feeling through your fictional characters. The last two helped me rediscover my love of writing after I thought years of depression had killed it for good. Just don't force yourself to do so, and stop if it takes you to a darker place instead of feeling cathartic

#writing ref

[stray-crow]

Week 9: Mar 4 - Mar 10

vide0 games~

videooo0ooo games~

edit a bit for Shaking Kevin in a Bottle (106 words) aaand posted ch 1 ٩( ᐛ )و

im reading this looong Star Wars fic and didnt feel like getting up t0 write

i drew instead, the dog doodles below the read more :>

463 words of my d&d character's journal! :D

more drawing instead tho oof i wanna write :< but crow doodles :D

March's Goal: 2163/7440

March's Progress: 29.1%