#astrama

Honestly, it’s been years - since maybe I was a teenager - that I was able to flesh out any real story idea. So I don’t really have a process, per se. Storytelling in TS4 has been a boon because it allows me to bring in visuals and let things grow organically.

Most of the story is unknown to me, and I have no end in mind, only a few major side stories that I’ll eventually get to. But I think about the story and the characters a lot. I keep notes in my phone and a notebook near my bed to write down story ideas, things that Neven will make fun of, dialogue. Once I’m a bit closer to something substantial, I usually plot it out via major actions. For example, here are my notes from the first two posts of the ballet scene:

1: performance, no dialogue- M, D, N in audience- R, F, Y on stage- exterior shot?

2: M, D, N in lobby, after- R’s big entrance- N –> R

So, essentially, I’m blocking out the scene like you would for a play. Then I spend way too much time setting up and capping scenes based on those notes. Somewhere in the meantime I’m writing the dialogue. Then I start making drafts of posts with the finalized caps and the rough dialogue. I fidget with the text of each post up until the minute I publish it. Most of this is not linear, though. I bounce between notes, blocking, capping, and dialogue a ton.

In terms of boredom, several things have helped me:

1) Following my whims. I like the mental challenge of weaving in new elements to the story. Doing crossover storytelling with budgie has been exciting because I look back at her posts and try to figure out their style, how they would respond to things, why my characters would interact with them, etc. On the other hand, rather than thinking out things too deeply, sometimes I go with what I have in front of me. Case in point: I store Alan and Beau in the same house when I’m not actively using them. When I was looking for someone to accompany Beau, Alan was the obvious answer.

2) Making the content meaningful. Besides my own amusement, the Gutterverse story has also been a space to process things I’m going through. Neven’s sense of humor is mine and so is his aversion to dating apps; Danny’s fear and avoidance is mine; Marcus’s vacillation between wanting to be known and maintaining his self-possession is mine. I also infuse my own tastes into the story, like music and literary references. Putting that stuff in there makes it easier to invest.

3) Lastly, having feedback and support. I talk a lot to other Sims storytellers via Tumblr and other venues. Hearing about their process gives me a ton of ideas and in return I get to support and encourage other writers. If you can find a space for yourself, whether online or offline, throw yourself into it. Getting chatty on Tumblr is a great way to start!

jadesabre301 replied to your post “so I signed up for a fic advent calendar thing, and I agreed to go...”

THIS IS ME AND MEHC EVERY. YEAR. solidarity fistbump YOU CAN DO IT! <3 <3 <3

YOU TOO

twistedsinews replied to your post “so I signed up for a fic advent calendar thing, and I agreed to go...”

YOU CAN DO THE THING! \o\

lynne-monstr replied to your post “so I signed up for a fic advent calendar thing, and I agreed to go...”

I BELIEVE IN YOUUUU!!

thank you both! *heartinfinity.gif*

twistedsinews replied to your post “GUESS WHOSE CAR WON’T START”

*cocoa* :<

lynne-monstr replied to your post “GUESS WHOSE CAR WON’T START”

oh no! :(

syzara replied to your post “GUESS WHOSE CAR WON’T START”

they know it ;(

We managed to get it going again, it just needed more of a jump than my little jumper thing can manage, so it is New Battery Time

also an oil change and a general inspection it’s been awhile? And it probably has some more issues. it’s getting old, as cars go

scarletandcream77 replied to your post “you know Magnus has that lovely line about how emotions are never...”

That’s some important meta there. He is such a nonverbal processor that when he declares something verbally, it’s a commitment and he means it all, unequivocally, and everyone else had better hang on. I wonder if he realizes how most of the others are not like that: are more verbal processors whose words don’t carry quite the same level of decisiveness because they are forming and reforming their thoughts as words are spoken. Both ways are just fine, but scary if the difference is not understood.

why thank you. And I think while he knows intellectually that other people use words and emotions differently, he doesn’t really get it, which yeah, adds some heart-break to a lot of already difficult situations.

astrama replied to your post “LUIS DE VEGA JILLY!! LUIS DE VEGA”

He is exactly my type and I remember I first romanced him accidentally bc I didn't know he was an option. :'DD

He’s a very sneaky option. And also the best. 

jadesabre301 replied to your post “ha so  hey you know what’s fun? when you’re stuck on the fic that...”

this is me and this mehc fic oh goodness it's like it's too happy i can't keep it up for more than 500 words at a time what is wrong with me

I am usually good at fluff! But sometimes not.

junemermaid replied to your post “good news: finally got around to trying the thai restaurant near us...”

I miss you and being sick is the worst :( I hope the health issues are sorted out soon for you and yours <33333

I AM STILL SICK. IT WON’T GO AWAY. But it also won’t get *worse*, like, there’s no actual infection that can be treated, it’s just endless cold-virus-gunk I AM VERY TIRED OF IT.

but thank you <3

jadesabre301 replied to your post “good news: finally got around to trying the thai restaurant near us...”

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3 trying to focus on my MEHC gift when all I want to write is Crit Role stuff, whoops. Other than that just trying to keep two tiny humans alive! The usual. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

tiny humans take a lot of time and effort sometimes 

quilleth replied to your post “good news: finally got around to trying the thai restaurant near us...”

I hope you feel better soon!! I still haven't gotten around to trying the Thai place by me and I've worked near it for like 5 years....I hope the place you got the referral to figures things out soon

NOT YET. Probably because I never called them back this week? I am Bad At Adulting(tm) lately. Even for me. *sighs*

thedivinemissema replied to your post “good news: finally got around to trying the thai restaurant near us...”

Feel better! Also lemon balm can help stop cold sores before they become a thing, if you can get your hands on some.

oh, that’s good to know for next time, I shall try and remember to pick some up

teaandinanity replied to your post “good news: finally got around to trying the thai restaurant near us...”

I hope you feel better soon! I'm glad you got to have Tasty Food, at least. Hopefully the doctors will get their nonsense straightened out soon, that sounds irksome. :\

DOCTORS. Frequently irksome. *thbbbt*

kindaresilient replied to your post “good news: finally got around to trying the thai restaurant near us...”

what or who are thing 1 and 2 and, kudos on going to the restaurant.

My children! I used to refer to them by ages, but I realized that got a little confusing as time passed and the blurbs kept changing (and the second one will of course eventually overlap old comments on the first one) so I changed it to Dr Seuss because Books Are Awesome. 

Fox in Socks is probably  my favorite, but Fox and Knox seemed less appropriate (and obvious a reference) than Thing 1 & Thing 2

leahazel replied to your post “servantofclio replied to your post “Semi-regular reminder that...”

Hard same, boo uterus. Boo! Boo, I say!

You know what’s sad? It has been long enough since I replied to anything that I’m just about at the stage to start complaining about my uterus again! *eyeroll*

jadesabre301 replied to your post “servantofclio replied to your post “Semi-regular reminder that...”

also, ah, doctors.

ikr?

jadesabre301 replied to your post “servantofclio replied to your post “Semi-regular reminder that...”

NINE? NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE? HE'S LIKE TWO WHAT ARE YOU SAYING

I DON’T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED EITHER JADE. I USED TO TAG KITTY PICTURES FOR THE 3YO. HoW? wHAT?

syzara replied to your post “servantofclio replied to your post “Semi-regular reminder that...”

well we missed that with mr. tigs vasectomy but jeez, i'm kinda glad O.o who tf says that even...

lynne-monstr replied to your post “servantofclio replied to your post “Semi-regular reminder that...”

that is horrifying that a doctor would say that to you. what the everloving fuck