Hi, I hope you're doing well, or at least better than before! I have been thinking about your fics while writing my own and a question came to me. Which main Chosen Child from Adventure + 02 is the most difficult for you to write?
Hi there, thank you so much for your well wishes, I really appreciate it! I am taking it day by day.
For me, the most difficult is Miyako. That's partially because I am so overdue for a rewatch of 02 and partially because Miyako has a lot going on. I think it's easy to write her as really gung-ho and outspoken and miss the more subtle aspects of her personality, like how aware she is of her faults, how much she dislikes certain parts of herself, and how she's often the first to buckle under stress, despite being the one keeping spirits high. She's incandescently likeable and a hot mess at the same time. She devotes an ungodly amount of her time to learning skills to support her friends (learning how to make music to help Yamato with his bands, helping Koushiro support the Chosen community.) It's hard to capture all of that!
It also took me a long time to learn how to write Yamato, Sora, and Mimi, but this is running long, so I'll place a cut here.
With Yamato, I think it's easy to sort of... Fold the pervasive English-speaking Fanon Yamato into his characterization. And like, that's fine, fanworks are transformative, they will never be canon, authors should do what they want! But Yamato is basically a pulsing storm of emotions wrapped tight in skin, and often leaking out. He loves hard, deeply, and totally- but is horrible at expressing it outside of protecting his loved ones with his life with zero hesitation. He is not cool. He's actually kind of a mess when it comes to interpersonal stuff. But he has the trappings of cool, not because he's trying to cultivate an image or whatever. He's just doing what he likes.
Sora is a Whole Ass Thing. I'm not sure if I can attempt to summarize. Her character arc is about wanting freedom and choice, wanting to live for herself, while also doing anything and everything, working her fingers to the bone for what other people want if it allows her to not think about what she wants. She's in a really heavy situation for an 11 year old, since she is the heiress to the Takenouchi school of ikebana. We don't really have an equivalent that I can think of in America. It's like... Like... The noble heir of an important cultural craft. Like, a really important position, with all the ikebana practitioners looking to her family. A leader of many people and an artistic ideology. And Sora is 11; she doesn't want to devote her life to being the scion of ikebana. She wants to, like, hang out with her friends and kick a soccer ball and maybe have sleepovers. Normal stuff.
So there's this conflict: I want to be free (I think it's quite clear why her partner is a bird and her name means sky)!!! But she knows that pursuing her own path and wants means rejecting her family. Like, literally rejecting the Takenouchi school, which has been cultivated for generations. And although her relationship with her mother is strained because her mother represents this restriction, Sora adores her parents.
Most of Sora's characterization comes down to these deeply conflicting feelings. I love my family! I hate my family and this pressure! I want to be free! I want to do what my family wants! I want to do whatever helps the people around me! Oh my god I'm choking under the pressure of being what other people want! Oh does that person need something, let me help! Did I need something? Nevermind that, I need to take care of that person. And I think this constant, exhausting internal back and forth is why she is both so loving and so prone to snapping, even at Piyomon.
And in To Sora, we see her finally and definitively choose herself. I've been wondering what Sora is like after that conflict is resolved, since it directs so much of her character.
As for Mimi, my difficulty was probably the English vs the Japanese version differences, plus the confusion of the crest of purity/sincerity. In the English dub, she's selfish, ditzy, and talks about shopping and creature comforts a lot. In the Japanese, she is a girl who has been so doted on and spoiled that... Well, yeah, she is spoiled, but in a totally innocent way, and in a way that would happily want the same for others. The crest of purity is more about... There is no gap between what she thinks and what she says, no malice even when she says something thoughtless. It's sort of that child-like id state, being guided by your own impulses rather than socialization. There is not a catty or mean bone in Mimi's body.
And if you're wondering which character is the easiest to write: Jyou. It's like breathing, lol!
Thanks so much for your q! It was really fun! Best of luck with your writing, I hope you have the most wonderful time!
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I love your character writing! What is the most important thing for writing a character?
Thank you so very much! That's so kind!
I think the most important things for portraying characters are their motivations and their worldviews. I've seen folks fill out extensive character sheets with fields like their favorite drinks, colors, music, hobbies, etc. Those details are fun, but whether someone prefers coffee or tea generally says little about them as a person.
What do they want? What do they need? What do they lack? What do they have, but fail to see or appreciate? Are there key moments in their past, or in the action of the work, that formed how they see the world? What insecurity causes them to do unfortunate things and lose sight of their goals, of themselves? What are their family relationships like? What is their socioeconomic situation, their culture? What shaped their sense of right and wrong?
Basically, characters should have identities, like humans! And in your best case scenario, what characters want, need, how they view the world etc is key to the theme of your piece.
You've been talking about Digimon Ghost Game and Beatbreak, do you think you might write about them?
First of all, my deepest thanks for communicating with me on the day Tumblr staff decimates communication on Tumblr. I hope that doesn't sound sarcastic. Truly, thanks for contacting me today, when dawn feels so far away.
Unfortunately, my answer is no, not right now. I have a lot (a LOT) of Health Stuff going on, so I have no plans to launch new fics. I also have too many open fics at the moment, so if I did write something, it would have to be a oneshot/short.
If I were to write something, hmm... The first thing that comes to mind would be something on Beatbreak and the theme of disobedience/resistance/thinking and acting for yourself/not conforming. Love that for us.
I'm really enjoying both series, though! Happy to chat/shitpost about them.
The year was 2013. I had launched my digimon fanfic, Four Years, a few months prior. I thought, surely there is a way to advertise this to the fandom? I apparently didn't know what Twitter was. The rest is history! (I wish I had a better story, lmao!). BTW, here is my very first post!
17.) Name 3 things that make you happy
My spouse! My cats! Music and books!
26.) Fave color and why?
I hate to say it, but I'm one of those annoying people who changes their answer every day. Blue probably comes up the most. I feel that it has a large emotional spectrum within the color itself, from lively and hopeful sky blue to moody stormy blues.
30.) What's one thing that never fails to make you happy/happier?
I feel like I should have some deep, meaningful answer to this, but um. I legit like to watch this silly song when I feel sad. It's called Look at This from Helluva Boss, and in it, a clown tries to distract the guys who kidnapped him while his assassin friend busts them out. The show is def rated R, so don't watch it around kids. It genuinely does not matter how many times I watch it, I still laugh!!!!!
Why do you insist on coddling fanfiction writers? Shouldn't we welcome constructive criticism so that we may improve? As a writer, I can't think of anything worse than resting my laurels on mediocre writing and developing hubris because everyone was too afraid to tell me how bad my fic really was.
I'm assuming this ask was prompted by the two posts I reblogged about fanfiction recently.
The first states that fanfic writers are working on their own projects. A reviewer telling them to write what they want to see isn't concrit. Unless the writer indicated that they aren't sure where to take the story and are looking for input, then telling a writer what to put in their fic is an attempt to have someone make content for you for free. If a reader wants specific content, they must write it, commission it, or seek out someone who is looking for prompts.
The second states that if you don't like a fic, then you shouldn't read it. The implication is that you should leave rather than leave a nasty review, but personally, I mostly take it as, "hey babe, your free time is precious, don't spend it on stuff you don't like." Again, this isn't about concrit. It's a warning against wasting your own time as a reader. Maybe the internet has always been this way, but there seem to be folks who engage in fandom by... Seeking out the exact opposite of what they like and then raging about it. In my opinion, this hurts everyone. Again, nothing here relates to concrit.
I'd say most writers like concrit, but concrit implies that the reader understood the work, possesses analytical skill, and cares about it enough to want to help the writer improve. If a reader cared about the fic, they wouldn't tell the writer to redo the work with their own preferences (ie, the reader's fave ships, tropes, whatever) (see the first above). At that point, what the reader wants is a different fic (see the second above), not to help this writer make their fic stronger. And if a reader dislikes the fic, its subject matter, whatever, then why would they waste their time giving concrit? They're just having a bad time and will probably not be able to provide concrit in good faith (see the second above).
If you're seeking concrit of your ask, and please do forgive me if you aren't, I'd gently suggest reading the original posts I reblogged more carefully. They make no mention of concrit. Also, they are not about coddling anyone, or even being kind. They're about readers using their most valuable resource- their time- more wisely, and also valuing the time of writers.
If you want concrit of your work, please indicate such in your fic, and also join a writing group. Most folks online don't have the free time or training to provide meaningful concrit, which will center on actual writing issues (pacing, management of exposition, cohesiveness of the narrative, etc). If someone is listing the ships and tropes they like and want to see in your fic in a review, that's not concrit. If someone is insulting your fic, that's not concrit. I'm sorry if you have accepted these things as concrit in the past. You deserve better- but also, you likely aren't going to find it for free, unless you have the incredible fortune of attracting a reader who loves your fic, has enough free time to engage deeply, and has some training in reviewing writing.
Meaningful concrit is a give and take thing. Expecting it for free is... A bit of an ask (although it does happen! I see you, review angels). So join a writing group that provides it, and give back in turn. Please don't hoist that expectation onto internet strangers. This kind of work is how you avoid resting on your laurels.
Oh, also, if you're looking for people to "tell you how bad your fic really was," there's... Probably a subreddit for that, assuming it hasn't imploded over the last few days. But again, "this fic is bad," is not concrit. That's... just an insult. If you want that, hey, go for it! But oh my goodness, please don't expect other people to want it in general. They don't. They really, really don't.
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Citrus! Thank you so much for the asks! If anyone is looking for Digimon Adventure and 02 fanfics, you can read mine on FFN or on AO3 if you are logged in <3
17.) Do you have a writing routine?
A few years ago, I was big on finding a place with a closed door and lighting a candle (partly for vibes, partly to discourage wandering off). But these days, I try to be as informal as possible, so that it's easy to write anytime, anywhere. Sometimes, all you can do is get 15 minutes of copying edits into your draft or jotting down ideas, and those 15 minutes are way better than nothing.
18.) Do you enjoy research? Which fic of yours required the most research?
I enjoyed research a lot more about 10 years ago. Search engines are a nightmare these days! I tried to research courtship in Japan and France in the 1930s for Puits d'Amour, and there is. Nothing. Searchable on Google in English for anywhere except the states and the UK. I ended up purchasing some books on the history of courtship that are, sadly, still very US and UK oriented, and just. Making it clear in my fic that the countries portrayed are fictional, largely in part bc I just could not get my hands on the info I needed.
I did some medical research for Seeking Resonance that was really interesting for me at the time, and oddly, came up in my career just last week! I was floored lol!
25.) What’s your favorite part of the writing process (worldbuilding, brainstorming/outlining, writing, editing, etc)?
I seem to be comparatively light on the worldbuilding and outlining. I love writing because flow state feels amazing and I love editing because it's challenging play. Often, I find that what I want to say evolves from the moods and ideas that occur during flow state. It's been interesting, because over the 12 years of publishing as ahiddenpath, I can see reflections of what I was dealing with personally at the time, and how I resolved that strain with the story. Of course, this kind of writing demands more editing later, as it's so freeform. But I enjoy editing, and I believe my love of writing and need to write are strongly connected to the fact that I use writing to deal with things, to understand myself, to challenge myself, and to grow.
49.) What fic of yours would you say is the best introduction to you as a writer?
How I write and how I think about writing is always changing and evolving, so I suppose my more recent fics? But for the digimon fandom specifically, I usually say After August. Like most of my stories, it's a character-based drama. Specifically, it's about the Adventure Chosen dealing with the loss of their partners and the difficulty of shifting from life as a Chosen in the Digital World to life as kids on earth. Each of them copes in a resoundingly individual way, and they reach out to one another to offer what comfort and support they can.
My works tend to be about people grasping for self-growth and dealing with their demons. They usually aren't plot heavy, although I've been pushing myself to explore plot-based stories recently.
51.) Does what you like to write differ from what you like to read?
One of my closest friends has a master's in literature, and she obligingly wrote me a list of what is... How do you say this? Expertly??? Considered the best literature available in the English language. I've spent the last several years feasting on that, hoping to learn and grow. So, um. My writing can't compete, lol!!!!!
But lately, I've gotten back into reading purely for fun, rather than growth/challenge/experience. I devoured three modern Greek myth retellings in like a three week span, and I have another waiting at the library for me to pick up! Typical, lmao!
The sudden contrast made me notice that, at the risk of sounding snobbish, books written because the narrative is fun, imaginative, and joyful to behold are a different experience than books that encapsulate some aspect of humanity with painful, exquisite, brutal clarity. It's like, hello reader, would you like enjoyment or an existential crisis???? It's been a privilege and a joy to grow from these uh... Literature degree required reading list books. But man it's fun to eat a novel like it's cake!!! OM NOM NOM MORE PLEASE!
I'm not sure if that answered the question at all, but I guess recently I am trying to explore books that I find delightful rather than personally challenging.
Thanks for the asks friend, they were a great distraction from some difficult stuff <3 I really appreciate it! I'm happy to take more if anyone is interested.
Do you have any advice for a-spec writers who struggle with writing allo characters or just allo things like attraction, romance, and sex?
OH MAN what a great Pride Month ask?!?!?! Thank you for trusting me with this. (For anyone who might not have the bg info, I'm a-spec myself, and I do write romance and sex).
There must be so many wonderful ways to answer this q, but I'll take my shot beneath the cut!
1.) Intimacy and sensuality
I think my biggest tip is to try to reframe how you think about romance and sex as intimacy and sensuality. Maybe an a-spec person doesn't relate to how it feels to be magnetically pulled towards someone, to feel their pulse beat faster when you see them, to want to, ah, engage in consensual adult activities with them. But maybe they do know what it feels like to worry about someone, to want to help them and see them smile, to want to experience the "feel good" hormones that are released from a hug. These things are also present in platonic relationships, but they're a huge part of romantic relationships, too! If you focus on them, you might be able to portray a romantic relationship in a way that feels comfortable and relatable to you.
For me, my favorite aspect of a relationship- any kind, really- is showing how it makes the characters feel as though they are home. They are safe, they are loved, they are accepted, they belong. It's an achingly human desire, and while this isn't the only way to portray a meaningful relationship, romantic or otherwise, I think it's a good way to convey what love is like without getting into sexy stuff and attraction.
I wrote a bit about this concept in the first two qs of this ask game, if you're interested!
2.) Songs and poetry
If you want to try your hand at conveying a character experiencing attraction, songs and love poems are an amazing resource! Obviously, don't plop lyrics and poetry lines in your work, I'm not asking anyone to plagiarize. But maybe google greatest love songs/poems and explore what language is used.
Attraction tends to be associated with physical signs like an elevated pulse, feeling physically hot, or being distracted. A character may act clumsy/nervous/shy around their crush, or try to do silly things to impress them, especially if they are young. You can try googling signs of attraction for writers, too.
These physical signs and "falling in love" behaviors are linked to powerful emotions, which is why I'm recommending the songs and poems. These feelings will move your readers far more than listing physical indications of attraction- those are mostly there to signal to the reader what is brewing.
3.) Utilize the off-screen sex scene
Real talk, it once took me over a year to write a 14,000 word sexy story. I usually update my fics with a 4-7k word update every other week. Sex scenes are one of the most challenging topics for me, is what I'm trying to say!
That's why the off-screen sex scene is one of my favorite maneuvers! You can imply that characters had a sexy encounter and discuss what it meant to them without getting into it. This is. So much easier.
4.) But what if I WANT to write the sex scene?
I don't think there's a quick solution for this- or if there is, I haven't found it. I start by writing what I want the characters to get out of their sexy encounter. How does the sex reflect where they are in their relationship? With their own body and physical/mental health? What needs do the characters have in this moment (physical or not), and how can they help each other fulfill them? If they can't, what does that mean for the relationship and the individuals?
I have no clue what is sexy/hot, and I don't experience attraction. But I do know that sex is a complex topic that means wildly different things to different people. Sometimes, people experience an urge that they want to scratch, without or without a partner or partners. Sometimes, people feel lonely or stressed, and sex can alleviate that. Sometimes, people like to think of fun scenarios and role play with their partners, or explore a new facet of their sexuality, or...
Man, I'm sure there are a zillion other things I could mention here. Basically, as a writer, you can approach sex from many different angles. Some of them might be comfortable/relatable for you, some might not. There's room to explore here and see if something works for you :D
I hope that helps! Thanks for the q, and happy Pride!
Do you think it's fair to ask others, even strangers, to treat you with kindness and respect, or is that a bit presumptuous because other people don't owe you anything?
Oh, is this one of the qs off that list? Nice, those are some bangers! Thanks for the ask <3
I'm going to answer at length beneath the cut, but here's the short version:
Of course humans owe each other kindness and respect. Of course we owe each other humanity. In fact, humanity can't support itself without cooperation.
However, the difficulty is knowing:
-What is humanity (basic kindness and respect) vs taking on too much?
-What are healthy boundaries?
This trend of, "I don't owe anyone anything!" is really worrisome, man. I guarantee you that literally no one is an island- and I also guarantee that a large percentage of people who espouse this belief feel that others owe them basic kindness and respect, and likely more. But let me try to break all of this down; it's kind of a lot?
Note: I am a scientist, specifically a molecular biologist. I am not an expert in evolution/history/culture. I Googled a lot of stuff, but don't consider me an authority, lol! Also, I can only comment on American culture.
-Why humans owe one another humanity
I'm going way back on this one, fam. Humans have been evolving for... Apparently, at least 160,000 years (that's just modern homo sapiens, this number is far larger if you go back to hominids). Back then, we couldn't buy pre-made goods and services at the store; groups of humans survived by splitting tasks. Some hunted, some foraged, some made clothing, some cooked, some cared for the young and elderly and sick, etc. If humans didn't closely cooperate for the shared goal of group survival, they... well, they died. And the more individuals died, the less likely the group was to survive. This group survival arrangement went on for at least 160,000 years, remember.
The idea of suburbanization seems to have started in the 1940s-50s, at least in the states, along with the rise in the cultural importance of the nuclear family. The problems with spreading out and dividing large human groups (towns) into small ones (households) include:
-Isolation and loss of community
-Ingroup vs outgroup thinking (ie, fear of people beyond the town, or even the household)
-Physically removing people from resources and help, which is especially devastating for vulnerable populations (children, elders, disabled people, anyone who is othered in any way)
And probably a bunch of other things!
Obviously, this is a gross oversimplification, but suffice to say that the shift from community focus to household focus, at least in America, is a very recent and brief part of human evolutionary history. Thinking of our units as the household, rather than the town, seems to have led, in part, to antisocial behaviors that, unsurprisingly, make life more difficult for everyone.
If we don't treat others with kindness, then we can't be surprised when we are not given kindness. If we don't help others, then we can't be surprised when we find ourselves alone in our time of need. Have you ever seen those social media posts that say, "Modern adults have to do all the tasks alone that were once split among families and even towns?" Well, I'm not a sociologist, but yeah, it sure seems that way. We all somehow have to get to work, get our kids to daycare, take care of everyone's medical needs (with what money???), feed everyone, clean, do errands, and more, alone. It didn't used to be that way! There are reasons why we're all so damned tired and burnt out. Chief among them is that help is not at hand without a hefty price tag, because our trusted unit starts and ends at our own front door. And this isn't anyone's fault; American culture is set up this way.
Now, I also believe that we should help each other out of compassion, but even on a basic survival level... Yeah, we owe each other humanity. We suffer at the group and individual level when we don't offer others basic kindness and respect.
However, despite my strong stance on this, um... In practice, it's difficult.
-What is humanity (basic kindness and respect) vs taking on too much?
Oof, now we're at the hard part. I personally have struggled my whole life with being kind vs hurting myself to please others. At the risk of getting too real/personal, I am a cis woman, and I was explicitly raised to have no opinions/desires, to bow to the group, and to take care of everyone. In my mid twenties, I realized that I tensed whenever someone approached me, because I knew they likely wanted something from me. And why wouldn't they? I had unconsciously trained them that I would "happily" help with whatever they wanted. They didn't know about my resentment and perpetual exhaustion.
And the worst thing was probably being a source of emotional labor. Kindly listening can quickly escalate to being everyone's unpaid therapist, and that takes a serious toll.
I'm in my mid thirties now, and I was in therapy for years. I still don't know exactly when to prioritize others vs myself, and what is basic kindness vs extraordinary effort. Everyone probably has their own thresholds for this one, but "treat others how you want to be treated" sounds like a decent starting point?
But no one can help others with an empty cup, so learning to take care of ourselves is a must.
-What are healthy boundaries?
I am not a therapist, and I'm still learning this myself, so this is 100% opinion, but...
I think we owe everyone basic kindness, but those big favors... Well, you can't keep giving forever to someone who doesn't give back. That's not a village, right? That's a pit. If someone approaches you for help and you feel scared or tense instantly, that's a sign that something is wrong.
When I started learning and employing boundaries, I quickly became less popular, lmao! Some people get angry and upset when you start saying no, and may "drop you" as a friend or acquaintance. This is actually far better for your mental health in the long run. As a general rule, if you find yourself anxious about interacting with someone in particular, and especially about telling them no or something they won't want to hear... You likely need boundaries with that person.
A boundary is basically like... Teaching people how you want to be treated. I often see people mistake boundaries as telling other people what to do, but in reality, you can never control other people.
Let's say you have a friend who is chronically late.
Not a boundary: "You can't keep being late!"
Boundary: "If you are more than 15 minutes late, I will leave/start the activity without you."
Boundaries center on your behavior, which you control. Generally, a boundary is established after a problem is proven to be persistent, and you've already tried gently asking for respect.
I admit that, in my own journey, I've pivoted too hard away from being helpful and open. I'm searching for that happy medium of supporting others while prioritizing taking care of myself. But everyone deserves basic kindness and respect, and humans don't thrive while isolated and distrustful. All of this is complex, but please, don't forget to be kind to yourself and others.
We're hurtling through endless space on a blue marble together. Let's keep it real, babes.
Thanks for trusting me with such an important q <3
