cogito ergo sum

i can imagine him stationary in between clients, picking you up just to devote his spare time to you. he’s looking over, hints of crimson tinting his sunken, weighted eyes from the invariable exposure of secondhand smoke. connie is nodding at whatever you're saying but in reality, he’s not listening to a single word you’re saying—just roaming those pretty hazel eyes across your face, studying the way your face contorts while you express your thoughts. He could listen to you talk forever. the world moves in slow motion outside of his windows all while this song is creeping from speakers, curling around you both akin to a ravenous python. he interrupts you with good intentions—only to whisper, “you’re so pretty, baby.”

You sure can ask and I sure will answer ✨

💗

I'm in a yapping mood, so I wanna preface this by saying, this is all MY opinion about how I write detailed smut. And because I'm a fucking literary nerd, I'm going into a bit of that said detail.

So, tbh, the same techniques you use to write one part of a story are also used to write smut. But the most important thing I often find lacking in some smut is the technique:

"Show, Don't Tell"

I'm not afraid to drop an actual @, so once again, Hi Epiphany/nahimjustfeelingit-writes

EDIT: I want to clarify something that I did not realize was something people didn't understand because of the way she worded things to her followers but, we were mutuals. She actually followed me first not long after I posted my story because she reblogged it. Which was my point about mentioning interaction. I was on her dashboard until a couple weeks ago. And I can count on one hand the amount of times she was ever in my notifications after that, yet there are all these "coincidences".

I came to you privately and did my damnedest to be cordial and impartial about all this and you thought it would be cute of you to do this shit for whatever reason instead of just agreeing to disagree and blocking one another.

I sent you a DM yesterday afternoon that you ignored. I sent a few more messages that evening when I saw you replying to people. You ignored it. So I sent you an ask at 9:20 this morning that you could have also easily replied privately to and you chose not to.

I don't know why you felt the need to lie about that when it's in your own screenshots with timestamps. But then again, you barely read what I was saying to you before responding in the first place.

And it's probably why you reblogged this post trying to be funny after you talked to me.

I truly do not care about any of the shit you're waxing. You're saying more in public posts and asks than you were willing to say to my face one on one because you need followers echoing you in the background. Which tells me a lot about your character lol.

I chose the mature route of NOT publicly calling you out, and I'm glad I did. The bullshit you're egging on in your comments and asks just proves my point. You're trying to cover your ass by blasting this down the dashboard like some kind of social media influencer wannabe instead of someone in a fandom trying to cultivate a community.

I honestly could've done the same to you. I have other blogs with a hefty amount of followers as well, so I know how this goes. I've been on here since 2012 the same way you been here since 2018. But when I get responses like this, I no longer give a fuck about being nice or liked. I get my attention at home from friends and family like everyone else and come to tumblr for interaction from like-minded creatives.

Clearly that's not what you're about.

I was truly going to just leave things where they were in the DMs and block you, girl. But since you want to put on your clown wig and have everyone on here talking crazy, I'm taking off the filter.

And forgive me, Umber, for jumping on your post, but what are we doing 🫠

I already got wind of AI being other black fanfic spaces, but seeing it in sinners is...surpising?? But also disappointing.

Its not like Umber-Cinders came off rudely or anything. She came with screenshots and seemed to approach it pretty diplomatically. And with how far the other author content goes back and being as I am a incognito reader.

Im surpised she answered like that, instead of answering and generally talking about it. Seeing her blowing off the conversation and trying to bully Umber. Definitely has put a bad taste in my mouth for that corner of Sinners fandom.

That's cringe as hell.

​With story theft running rampant, people constantly misidentify what "inspiration" actually means. I'm going to explain the definitive line between building on an idea and stealing someone’s work.

​1. The Difference

Inspiration: ​You read a story, and a specific concept, dynamic, or emotional description resonates with you, sparking an entirely new, original idea. You take that spark and write it using your own voice, your own structural layout, unique dialogue, and your own world-building.

​Plagiarism: ​You took the author’s blueprint. Changing a few adjectives, swapping character names, or using a thesaurus to copy the same sentence structure is theft. It does not matter if you physically typed the words yourself; if you stole the exact paragraph flow, lines of dialogue, scene-by-scene progression, and specific narrative, it is plagiarism

​2. Textual Examples: Seeing the Difference

​Example A: The Physical Discomfort / Closet Setup

​The Original Work by @2neaky:

​The Plagiarized Version by @getmoneygirl:

Why this is theft: The author did zero original structural thinking. Even though they converted the perspective to second person ("you") and changed the underlying cause from a food allergy to ovulation, they stole the exact flow of the scene. They followed the identical sequence of physical moments: standing at the mirror, pulling up a top, analyzing a slight swell over the waistband of sweatpants, prodding the skin, experiencing an unexpected sharp ache low in the stomach, and combining a teeth-sucking sound with the exact dialogue "Are you fucking serious?" They even wrapped the sequence up with the exact same comfort element—the realization that they are wearing their boyfriend's oversized clothing. This is lifting a writer's unique pacing and creative choices, then just rephrasing the sentences to hide it.

​The Inspired Version (genuine creative transition):

The mirror was a harsh critic, but the tight, heavy pressure building in her lower abdomen was worse. She adjusted the waistband of her track pants, sighing at how unforgiving the fabric felt against her bloated skin today. It was a dull, heavy ache that made even standing up straight feel like an effort. Sucking in a breath, she leaned against the cool porcelain of the sink and closed her eyes, waiting for the sudden cramp to subside. "Not today," she muttered into the empty space. She did a series of deep breaths before giving up on the reflection entirely, she grabbed the nearest oversized shirt from the laundry basket—his, of course, smelling faintly of cinnamon—and drowned herself in the fabric, desperately seeking the extra room and comfort.

​Alternative Inspired Version (even more distinct):

The apartment was dark when he arrived, save for the faint glow of the television. You were curled on the sofa, staring blankly at a sitcom, completely drained. Hormonal shifts always hit you hard, turning minor inconveniences into insurmountable walls. He didn't ask questions. He ran a hot bath, dumping in the lavender salts you kept in the cabinet, and left a mug of chamomile tea on the counter. When you finally climbed into the tub, he sat on the bathmat beside you, quietly recounting a stupid story from his workday just to give you something to focus on.

Why this is inspiration: It takes a similar core concept—a character dealing with sudden bloating/discomfort in front of a mirror and finding comfort in a partner's clothing—but the execution is entirely unique. The physical reactions are different, the dialogue is completely distinct, and the atmospheric flow belongs entirely to a new writer rather than copying another author's story.

​Example B: The Studio / Creative Frustration Setup

​The Original Work by @aizawash0e:

​The Plagiarized Version (Structural Theft & Setting Copier):

The track had been looping in your headphones for hours. It was the usual routine, you trapped in the vocal booth, the headset pressed to your ears, standing right before the microphone. The music stand held your printed lyrics, though you didn't actually need them. You knew every word by heart, but the vibe wasn't hitting right. Maybe staring at the physical pages would help you see what the issue was. You couldn't figure out if it was your delivery, the track, or the words, but something waswrong. On the other side of the double-paned glass was the high-end control room, with its expensive leather chairs, state-of-the-art gear, and walls covered in your plaques and favorite singers' albums. Sitting across the glass were your manager, Maya, your assistant and best friend, Chloe, and right in the center, sitting directly at the mixing board was Jordan, your producer and boyfriend.

Why this is theft: Once again, this is a complete narration lift. The plagiarist changed a few vocabulary words and swapped the character names, but they stole the exact pacing, the specific internal conflict, and the layout of the room. They copied the exact progression: blocking out hours in the booth, staring at a lyric sheet the character already knows by heart to diagnose a vague creative block, describing the expensive control room through the glass, listing the plaques on the wall, and naming the exact same three-person lineup in the exact same seating order (Manager->Assistant/Friend ->Producer/Boyfriend at the center of the board).

The Inspired Version by @alaiasole: Studio Nights (lacks credit)

​The Inspired Version:

The vocal booth always felt a little claustrophobic after midnight, the heavy foam walls swallowing up every breath. She leaned her forehead against the cool metal of the pop filter, letting the instrumental track bleed through her open-back headphones for the twentieth time. The song was technically perfect, but the emotional delivery was dead on arrival. Across the studio floor, the glass partition reflected the green and red glow of the soundboard. Her producer—who also happened to be the guy she went home to every night—was slumped in his chair, rubbing his eyes while their small puppy dozed off on his lap. She didn't need to look at a lyric sheet to know they were losing the magic; she just needed him to cut the playback so they could figure it out.

Why this is inspiration: It takes the exact same premise—a singer experiencing a creative block inside a recording booth while her producer/boyfriend watches from the control room—but it builds an entirely fresh scene. The atmosphere is different, the character's physical reaction to the frustration is unique, the room layout isn't copied bead-for-bead, and it relies on completely original imagery instead of piggybacking off another writer's structural draft.

​Example C: The Direct Copy-Paste

The Original Work by @liliacsdelight:

The Plagerized Fic by @lovedcow:

Why this is theft: ​The wording is identical, copy-and-pasting has been done, and the entire story follows the original's structure, dialogue, and pacing.

The Inspired Version: You didn't know what to do after last night. The timeline in your head kept looping back to the exact moment the screen shifted on FaceTime. He had been screensharing something stupid, a corny video about JJK fans, when his thumb swiped too far left and cracked open his camera roll, and you saw it. The apology after had been clumsy, automated. "Oh, um... sorry. Just forget you saw that." ​You had forced your face to stay flat, keeping the conversation running on autopilot until the random facts about whales became too awkward breathe through. "Who are you even sending nudes to?" you’d asked, trying for a detached, casual tone. ​He’d shifted on his end of the screen, the sudden flare of embarrassment turning the tips of his ears dark. "Nobody," he muttered. ​You let out a dry, sarcastic hum. "Riiiight." ​Then he’d leaned into the camera, a sudden, nervous joke cutting through the static. "Why? You want some?" ​The air had left your lungs instantly. Your throat felt coated in sand, a sudden, choking heat climbing up your neck. You mumbled some half-baked excuse about needing to throw laundry in or check the door, snapping the call shut before he could see the panic in your eyes. ​And now, twenty-four hours later, your brain was stuck in a loop.

​3. Why Giving Credit Matters

​People love to argue, "No one owns a trope! Ideas aren't unique!"

​True, no one owns the producer trope or the comfort trope. But if you read a specific author's work, and their specific execution of a trope gave you the idea to write your own version, give them credit. A simple "Inspired by @[Author Name]'s incredible story" costs you nothing. It shows humility, respects the community, and acknowledges that another creator's brain sparked your own creativity.

​Feigning ignorance and pretending you came up with a hyper-specific concept entirely in a vacuum after just interacting with their post is transparent and disrespectful.

​4. The Parasitic Nature of Theft and AI

​When you copy an author's story, run someone's work through an AI generator, or use AI to write your fanfiction, you are announcing that you are lazy and talentless.

​Writing is a muscle. The more you struggle through the awkward drafts, look for the right words, and build your own worlds, the more your mind expands and your skills improve. If you slack off and steal, you will never grow. You will remain a scummy, fake-writer.

​If you want to get better:

Read actual literature: Stop consuming exclusively internet erotica. Read published books, analyze their prose, and study how professional authors pace a scene.

Do your research: Learn about the subjects you write about.

Seek feedback: Reach out to authors you admire and ask for constructive criticism (I still do this even though my writing has improved drastically).

​5. How to Handle Story Theft

​To the authors and readers who care about this community; telling thieves to stop won't magically fix their morals. We have to look out for one another—especially keeping an eye on popular accounts or new creators who quietly lift concepts, plot structures, and entire stories from other writers.

​If you find your work has been plagiarized:

Gather Proof: Take screenshots immediately. Document the timestamps, the exact paragraphs, lines, and the formatting matches.

Decide Your Approach: You can handle it privately if you think it's a new writer who genuinely doesn't understand anything. Or, if they are malicious and you just want to, you can put them on blast publicly. Expose them and spread awareness outside of your immediate circle.

​Do not let people tell you that you're overreacting/reaching. Your words and your creative work belong to you. Protect your work, credit your inspirations, and stop letting people treat your labor as a free resource.

☆—————————☆—————————☆

All examples written by me!!

𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘧𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘴, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘵 @getmoneygirl 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 “𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥” 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴.

@getmoneygirl has admitted to reading my work before & wanting to plagiarize one of my more recent fics: Thank U 4 The Dono

My opening sequence (left) vs. @getmoneygirl (right).

@getmoneygirl even copied my warnings (mine is the left & hers is the right).

Here is her ( @getmoneygirl ) newest version (bottom two screenshots) of reheating my nachos (top two).

𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘴, 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘐? 𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘱𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘱 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 @getmoneygirl 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭. 𝘐𝘯 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.

“𝘐𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴.”

—𝘖𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸/ 𝘖𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦

​Sorry for the recent delays. I know I was supposed to be giving you all lots of lesbianism and monster fucking all month, but between a busy schedule, dealing with life stuff, and recently finding out my work was plagiarized, I needed a short break from this app to figure out my plans.

​Moving forward, I am transitioning my longer stories (anything over 8.5k words) to AO3, which will be set up late next month-ish. I want my long-form writing to live in a space that appreciates deeper narration and character development.

​What to expect here going forward:

​Less frequent short stories

​Teasers/beginnings of my longer stories (with links to the full versions on AO3)

​Moodboards and character profiles

Whatever I want