where I hoard my favourite nonsense

it's only been a handful of months since the film came out and the film ao3 tag is already insanely big. as such, i'm definitely missing out on some great fics that by all rights ought to be on this list. if you've read something cool lately, please throw a reply under this list so i and others can check it out!

in the meantime, here's a bunch of authors i'm obsessed with who one day will receive a hugo award. or maybe already have, honestly. in this lineup i'd hardly be surprised.

GEN/TEEN

forever altered by @deervsheadlights (T)

Grace finds an extra bag of vodka. Rocky makes clear to us, the audience, that nobody has ever suffered so nobly for love like an Eridian having to be designated driver.

"I will not describe the next 1,042 seconds in any further detail, because the very reminder of it leaves my insides writhing in ways that make me consider whether there could be kindness in the embrace of the void waiting beyond the Hail Mary's hull."

better than your best by Goldmonger (T)

One of the best explorations of Rocky's trauma relating to sleeping alone for nearly half a century, using some great additions to Eridian biology and culture to get those feelings out in the open.

"You can’t build while you’re sleeping, but you can die. You can die for no reason at all."

The Chain (Keeps Us Together) by @bottommattmurdock (G)

Vignettes of conversations during the long, boring task of making a chain, and two aliens becoming besties4life. As the author says, it's extremely 'delirious at the sleepover' vibes, in the best way possible.

"Grace eats a breakfast burrito. Throwing himself out of the airlock has been postponed. For now."

silence more musical than any song by @hansdevice (G)

Rocky's years alone on the Blip-A, trying to engineer himself out of an impossible problem. Incredible characterisation of someone who's only surviving by pushing their skills and competence to the bitter limits, and still not succeeding despite it.

"After twenty-seven years alone, he builds a nest. It’s humiliating, this primitive effort. It feels like something ♪♫♪♫♫♩ would do, not an Eridian, but what other choice does he have?"

Without a Doubt by @eldritch-elrics (G)

An amazingly detailed and well-researched dig into linguistics that, in the PHM tradition, finds a tender story in the exploration of a really dense subject.

"'Does Grace feel like the dictionary is cucking him?' Rocky says in the placid tones of the TTS."

MATURE/EXPLICIT (UNDER THE CUT)

twelve episodes, twelve contestants - a mix of annoying middle aged sci fi authors, fan fic authors and random people off the street

a variety of against the clock writing tasks, big finish scripts, ability to interact with actors without shouting at them and challenges where you have no budget or doctor for an episode

judged by solely by christopher eccleston

I really felt quite distressed of not receiving an invitation.

If you don't mind, could you also share like editing tips as well? I always struggle with that part...

Of course, I answer all my asks! And I'd be happy to give tips, but I honesty don't fully know what my editing process even is.

My flash fiction pieces I just reread a lot and make tiny changes until they feel right. And for anything longer I have the unfair advantage of a sister who has been either listening to or beta-ing my stories for as long as I can remember, so I can just edit guided by her commentary.

But for what it's worth:

• Reading the piece aloud always helps me. Both for dropped words and punctuation and for word choice and sentence construction.

• If you're getting frustrated or dissatisfied, stop editing. Put it away and get back to it later.

• If there was a part you did not enjoy writing / had to force onto the page, that part is probably going to need more attention.

• Maybe it doesn't need more editing, maybe you're done. It's allowed to be done. It will never feel the way it did when it was only in your head, and that's okay.

• Always remind yourself: