The moment I realized Noah was going fuckbuddies with Clint is when the depth of his depression really hit me. That's not bottom of the barrel, that's Cask of Amontillado.
Also I admire your firm refusal to acknowledge Alex's existence.
Good job on Blue Velvet.
Hi, anon, thank you for the ask. I'm sorry it took so long to get back to you; I haven't been on Tumblr for a few months.
Noah's depression was meant to be stark, not just in how he viewed himself, but how he thought others viewed him as well. Obviously, "Blue Velvet" is a story that's focused primarily on him and Qi, and how he comes to realize his own worth and the value of his life, but choosing Clint as the third-most important character in the story served a variety of reasons.
I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed reading "Blue Velvet" - and as for Alex, I actually have a story with him as one of the main characters early in development. It probably won't start until next year at the absolute earliest, but he won't be a background character for much longer. Thank you again for the ask!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
âś“ Live Streamingâś“ Interactive Chatâś“ Private Showsâś“ HD Qualityâś“ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
i really hated blue velvet and i know a lot of other people did too. i can't believe someone who wrote as beautiful a love story as fire walk with me could write such an ugly, hate-filled story. you pulled the rug out from under us and that made so many of us mad. your writing is amazing and you're so talented and its a shame you wasted it on a story like blue velvet. when you write stories like you have, that's what your readers expect. go back to what you do best and the readers will follow.
Well. Hello to you, too, anon. This is quite a message to get at the end of a work week. The saddest part of this message is that I think you actually thought you might have been trying to help here. I can only assume that your absolute lack of tact and empathy comes from a desire to see more of the writing you previously enjoyed and that this is an attempt, however misguided, to motivate me into writing that. I'll respond more in detail after the jump.
You're not the only person to dislike "Blue Velvet," anon. In fact, I've gotten several comments on that story from people who didn't enjoy it. I'm aware that the shift in the story, and the revelations late in the game, did change what people's expectations were. That is one of the risks readers have to accept in reading in-progress works. I don't work by writing an entire story and uploading it all at once, so tags are updated as the story progresses, and as needed. I ensure that the tags are up to date for whatever the most recent chapter of the story is, but if you're going to read something that's still being written, you have to accept the fact that there might be something which occurs that you aren't in favor of.
As to your description of "Blue Velvet" as ugly and hate-filled, that, I would argue, is in the eye of the beholder. I received a number of comments describing the story as beautiful and full of love. You have the right to disagree with that, and so if you found it to be an ugly story, that's your perspective and you have the right to feel that way.
What you really don't have the right to do is come into my house and piss on the carpet. I can only assume that you haven't left comments on any stories I've posted on AO3, and since you don't have the courage to post this any way other than anonymously, I'm willing to guess this is the first feedback you've given me on any of my stories. I don't know what sort of perspective you have on the world and the way it works, and I'm not going to speculate. But the fact that you felt comfortable enough to come to Tumblr, fill out this form, and submit it, tells me that you don't really care about other people, and your pitiful attempt at giving advice - which seems completely to be about what you, personally, want to happen - underscores this.
Here's the reality, anon: I'm not your personal fanfic writer. If you want to pay me $5000 a month so I can quit my job and be your personal fanfic writer, I will absolutely write anything you want. But you're not going to pay me $5000 a month. Nobody is. Nobody has ever paid me anything for any fanfic I've ever written. You have never had to pay a single dime to read any of the almost 2 million words of fanfic I've written since July of 2020. Nobody has ever had to pay for what I write, and that's the way I like it. I like to have the freedom of writing what I want, and publishing it, and getting feedback.
If you actually had constructive feedback based on an aspect of the story, I'd be more than willing to listen to it. If you wanted to argue, for example, that Noah wasn't a realistic character, that his dialogue sounded false, that there wasn't anything clear about what his motivations were, or anything else, that would actually have been helpful. That would have been appreciated. But even then, you don't give advice like that unless someone specifically asks for it. This is not an advanced writing workshop and you are not here to give brutal feedback to get my writing in shape. You are a reader, I am a writer, and if you do not enjoy what I am writing, I have very good news for you - there are literally 11 million other works on AO3 you can read instead.
You might also be surprised that what you've said about readers coming back if I go back to what I do best isn't even true. "Fire Walk with Me" was the high water mark of my fanfic writing career in terms of reader response, as you've noticed. But since then, my readership has fallen off a cliff, even when I'm literally writing work in the same series. "Blue Velvet" has more kudos and more bookmarks than both "Cobblestones" and "Half Past Midnight," so you clearly haven't looked at the actual story data itself.
I'm not angry with you, anon. I feel sorry for you that this is how you choose to interact with the world and what you have to say to someone whose work you allegedly admire. And I'm frustrated, because all feedback like this does is make it less and less likely that I'll write anything in the future.
Thought you would like to know that I started reading your fic around the same time I downloaded the Free Love mod and married both Sebastian and Elliot. And if you watch them together long enough, they will kiss each other pretty often and there's a little heart and everything.
Hope the holiday season finds you well.
Oh, my God, that sounds so precious. I'm not much of a modder, but I might have to give this a try just to get to see Sebastian and Elliott kiss in game. Thank you for the tip, and the holiday greetings - I hope you have a wonderful season as well!
Hi! I've recently come across Fire Walk With Me and and it's gotten me excited about reading again. So thank you! What stories inspire you to write/would you recommend reading?
Oh, wow, thank you so very much for the kind words! There are a few Stardew Valley fics that particularly made me get excited about the prospect of writing and that I absolutely recommend:
Through the Worst of the Winter by almostvirginia. The one I recommend everybody in the Stardew fandom read. It's a gorgeous, rich, lush look at a Harvey/Male Farmer romance, subsequent marriage, and adventures toward their own happily ever after. She's published additional works in the series (charmingly named The Adventures of Farm Boy & Dr. Boyfriend) and they are so very wonderful.
The entire Old Patterns, New Threads series by maxRebo, particularly the most recent installment, "Cross Stitch." It's one of the best series I've come across for switching between many, many different points of view, all of which together form a composite view of Pelican Town like a patchwork quilt. Comforting and beautiful and sad and wistful all at the same time.
The Withstanding the Tide series by @captainbobbin. An absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful slow burn between Elliott and a male farmer who just wants to take care of him and make sure he's treated right. The first part of the series, the title story, is complete, but basically acts to set things up for the ongoing story, "In the Grip of Redamancy." He's done such a great job of crafting a world that feels so vibrant and real; pluck an image in a scene and it vibrates with description and resonance.
time/too much/none by jeanjmo. Much like Old Patterns, New Threads, it goes back and forth between many, many different perspectives, but this is a very different take on Pelican Town about five years or so after the events of the game begin: everyone's a little older, and has moved on a bit, but that doesn't mean everything's okay. Hearts still hurt and people still long for things that transpired in the past and wish for everything to be better.
Are you planning a sequel to 'Fire Walk With Me'? I desperately need the answer to be yes!
I am going to come back to and write more of Sebastian and Elliott's adventures in the future, yes. I don't know the exact timetable or which ones I'll write about first, but "Fire Walk with Me" will be the first in a series, and some of the stories in that series might also take place even before the events of "Fire Walk with Me." I'll write some more about those plans in the closing author's notes to chapter 45, which will be the last chapter in the story. :)
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
âś“ Live Streamingâś“ Interactive Chatâś“ Private Showsâś“ HD Qualityâś“ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Hi! I was wondering how you are feeling after finishing Fire Walk With Me and having a little time to bask in it! That green check must feel good. What an accomplishment! I was also curious if you had any surprises during the writing process that you didn't expect, other than the incredible reaction from readers. :) Did you end up changing the plot at all as you went along, or adding anything based on reader reactions? Thanks!
Hi, there, thank you for the question!
Finishing writing "Fire Walk with Me" was a real rollercoaster of emotion. Not even so much while I was writing it, because when I get in the zone, I tend to just put my head down and work, but as soon as I finished the final line, where Elliott says, "We've got all the time in the world," and I looked over at @atlasio's beautiful work, I got a little teary-eyed and went out and sat on the couch in my living room, just letting my emotions go for a bit. It was sad, as finishing any major project that you've put a lot of time into is sad, but I also felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment (and relief) that it was done, and more importantly that I was happy with how it all came together. (And yes, that little green checkmark felt so good when I saw it.)
There were minor things that changed as I went along, but the story overall did stay pretty close to how I intended it. I actually started planning out "Fire Walk with Me" almost six months before I published the first chapter. It was something I intended to start writing much earlier than I did, but when the one-shot that became my Mortal Kombat story "Ice, Storm" caught on and had so many enthusiastic reactions, I decided to put "Fire Walk with Me" on the back burner and focus on that.
It's a decision I'm ultimately very happy I went with. I don't know if the story would have been as successful as it was if I'd started writing it when I initially planned. It needed time to cook, and many, many details that weren't in my initial rough sketch outline (which was... something like twelve chapters? It was going to focus almost entirely on Elliott and Sebastian, without going into anywhere near the detail about the other characters) developed.
One thing that did evolve as I worked, which I feel ended up helping frame the story very nicely, was the development of the four arcs, mirroring the seasons of the year. I didn't have any initial major plans for how the story would be structured, and decided to let it go as I saw fit. I feel like having the structure of the four arcs made it far more successful than it would have been if I left it freeform.
Thank you so much for the question, and I'm very, very glad you enjoyed "Fire Walk with Me"!
Hi! Loving Fire Walk With Me. I was wondering if you have a favorite cut scene from the game for Elliott or Sebastian, or anyone else, really. :)
Ooh, that’s a good question. There’s quite a few that I like, so I’ll list them in no particular order.
Linus’s one heart event: I love this scene so much. This was the scene that convinced me Stardew Valley was something really, really special. The way in which Linus spoke eloquently about his choices to live the way he did, and Gus demonstrated support for him and not wanting anyone to go hungry, I just - ugh. It gets me verklempt just to think about.
Sebastian’s six heart event: It’s Solarian Chronicles! I mean, come on, it’s so much fun. Getting to hang out with Sam and Sebastian like this is awesome, because it really feels like you get to be with your friends and just do friend stuff, which is a nice contrast to some of the other scenes in the game, which feel a little isolating.
Sebastian’s eight heart event: This was the event that inspired the first chapter of “Fire Walk with Me,” so yeah, I’ve got some love for it. The mood of being on the docks in the rain, standing under the umbrella with Sebastian is just so great.
Elliott’s four heart event: I love drunk Elliott. That is all.
Harvey’s ten heart event: This is my favorite ten-heart event by far. Harvey isn’t my favorite bachelor to marry, but I do like him a lot, and seeing him try to overcome his fear and share a magical experience with you up in the hot air balloon makes my heart swell.
Emily’s four heart event: This event gave me such a new appreciation for Emily, when she talks about her friend the parrot and how she also doesn’t feel the same as everybody around her. Breaks my heart a little bit, but also shows what a good soul Emily is.
There are others that I enjoy, but these are the ones that came to mind right off. Thank you for the question, and I’m glad you’re enjoying “Fire Walk with Me” so much!
Hi! You have some great rare pairs in your fic. I was curious if you have other favorite pairings between villagers that you ship or enjoy reading about in other stories?
Thank you for the question and compliment! I do enjoy reading rarepairs, especially ones that go into depth about how they ended up together. Suffice to say, Elliott/Sebastian, Leah/Shane, and Abigail/Sam won’t be the last rarepair that makes an appearance before “Fire Walk with Me” is over; we’ll get to see another one crop up a few chapters into the autumn arc.
Some of my favorites that I’ve read in other fics include the following:
Shane/Alex: Given how Shane was a gridball star in his own right back in the day, I can only imagine how Alex had some hero-worship going on. Alex’s determination and drive, if put toward helping Shane break out of the cycle of self-loathing and making him realize how much people actually do care about him, creates the potential for such sweetness and growth for both of them. I would love to see a future for Shane and Alex where they settle into raising lots of blue chickens + Jas together and Alex comes to terms with his latent bisexuality and helps Shane through his alcoholism and they give each other the home life they always wanted to have.
Marnie/Gus: Marnie and Gus are both people who take care of others and care for them deeply. I’ve seen this pairing once before (and a pox on my house, I didn’t save the fic as a bookmark, argh!) and was surprised at how much I loved it. Marnie deserves so much better than Lewis and Gus deserves a relationship with someone who appreciates him for what a good, decent, kind man he is. I get the impression that Marnie and Gus both went through much of their lives not necessarily believing they would ever really be happy in the conventional way and so have made the best of what they have, not trying to seek out something that would actually make them happy. When two people who care so deeply end up together, it’s pure magic.
Harvey/Elliott: I don’t think this is quite so much a rarepair now, given that I’ve seen several fics recently writing about them, but I adore Harvey and Elliott together (to the point where I even had them once having a brief fling pre-“Fire Walk with Me”). They both are in a place in their lives where they seem to understand who they are and what they want or need, and they would be very good for each other. Elliott’s gift for words would provide the praise and care that Harvey so desperately needs, and Harvey’s work ethic and stability would really help to ground Elliott and give him a place of security. Plus, they’re both so damn sweet.
Kent/Sebastian: While I don’t particularly care for reading about fics with cheating, I have read some really wonderful explorations of a relationship between these two broken people, usually after Kent and Jodi get a divorce, and the image of them finding comfort in each other and offering support as they both try their best to navigate a world that seems in many ways to have left them behind. I can very, very easily see Sebastian having had a longstanding crush on Kent from when he was younger, perhaps being the first indication that he wasn’t straight (which I’ve offered some hints at in “Fire Walk with Me”), and of how a relationship of just friendship or companionship between them evolves into something neither expected but both desperately need.
Haley/Abigail: I really like this pairing, particularly where I’ve seen it as Haley and Abigail originally being friends as children but growing in different directions and their friendship falling apart after they went to high school and ended up in different circles. I think there’s a lot here that they can help each other with. They both have a need for some purpose in their lives, both of them have dreams that they’re afraid of pursuing, and both secretly want to be thought of as more than just what they appear as on the surface. I’ve seen some really lovely explorations of how they each help the other grow into the woman she’s meant to be.
Gunther/Penny: This one I have never actually seen in a fic, but I mean. Penny so desperately needs stability and comfort and someone who understands her, and Gunther is so lonely and never even goes out. I see both Gunther and Penny as suffering from terminal shyness and secretly pining for each other for a long, long time. They would be so good for each other - Penny could help Gunther come out of his shell and integrate more fully into the town, while Gunther could provide a home and a place where Penny feels completely herself.
Thank you so much for the question, and I’m glad you’re enjoying “Fire Walk with Me”!
