#moreraspberry

4. what was your first ship/OTP?

Hi! thanks for asking <3

Oooh, my first OTP was probably Arnold and Helga 🥹

I've had a lot of ships, but they're the first ones that come to mind. Helga was such a complex character, and even as a kid I was so fascinated by her. Arnold was basically the first person in her life to really pay attention to her and show her genuine kindness 🫢. I always felt like she deserved to end up with her great love, even if she was a little insane about it lmao. The show really makes you understand her, and I loved the whole dynamic of her being so mean to his face while secretly loving him with her whole soul.

And thank god the creator is a genius and actually cared about his own characters, because when he finally got the chance to give the story a proper ending years later, he put them together and basically confirmed they were soulmates from childhood 💜

p.s. i read hold me (like a grudge) and absolutely loved it. Patiently (not patiently) waiting for the next chapter

Honestly I love writing with lots of imagery, so Jacqueline Woodson's works (Brown Girl Dreaming and Red to the Bone) has inspired me a lot. I know this is basic, but I do love Emily Henry's novels and those have inspired me a lot. Jenny Han's work was always my favorite growing up (her novels are MUCH better than her TV shows) particularly Shug and the first two All the Boys books. I just love women's fiction combined with a romantic plotline and think the self-discovery aspect makes the romance so much richer.

And ummmmm... *crickets* I'm not going to lie at all I haven't read a lot of novels in the past year or two *hangs head* so honestly a lot of my fanfic writing inspiration is derived from TV shows like Girls or Crazy Ex-Girlfriend or even Sex and the City.

no but genuinely i’m loving it. it’s so well written and i love that you’re subtly dropping in these little reminders of Mike’s and El connection and history.

“El turns back to her puzzle, fitting random pieces together with her hands instead of her mind.

The clench of Mike’s jaw when she mentioned Iceland.

The rattle of her door outside in the disastrous snowstorm. The wind that threatened to tear her house down.

The feeling of near, the only feeling that consumed her senses since 1987.

El snaps herself out of it.

No, she fits two gray puzzle pieces together and moves them to the side. It wasn’t possible.”

OMG?!

i’ll keep reading as soon as i get a little more free time <3

LOLLL I am so sorry I can sympathize with how people feel but Neel is not leaving anytime soon. I think because I am so in the story I am really seeing it from El's POV, that she does love Neel and has been with him for several years and has built this whole life with him, but Mike is so foundationally part of who she is. At this point in the story, Mike and El are so emotionally distant from the previous versions of themselves that thought it was guaranteed forever love but of course they cannot help but to be drawn closer ❤️

*Sigh*

Unfortunately the answer to this is 100% Will.

My mileven beliefs make it very hard for me to imagine either of them finding love or having anything remotely normal with anyone else, but I really love this more mature perspective, and the fact that El is happy with someone else is such an interesting angle to explore. Now I’m definitely going to have to keep reading because I need my mileven happy ending 😭

BAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAAH AT WHO TF is Lacie Barone! I love the Summer I Turned Pretty (the books, more so than the TV show)

This is exactly why I prefaced the rec with that it may not be for everyone, because I totally understand if you love a ship (especially after Mileven's ending) you don't want to read about more factors getting in the way of them being together, especially after Mileven's ending. Thank you so much for giving it a try though! It's a super slow burn and a pretty serious read (especially later) so buckle up

Here are some my other posts I created awhile ago with my thought process, in case you're interested though!

https://the-paris-of-people.tumblr.com/post/815342336863272960/i-love-the-fact-you-gave-el-a-partner-in-your-fic

https://the-paris-of-people.tumblr.com/post/810278919900217344/nah-girl-i-hate-the-idea-of-el-being-someone-else

https://the-paris-of-people.tumblr.com/post/810275109760860160/i-would-absolutely-hate-it-if-in-the-mileven-movie

7 & 8

7.) When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a writer when I grew up but then I quickly fell out of that dream in high school when I started despising my English classes.

Hey!!

I think something I like about my writing is how overall I make the writing flow and also how I’m not afraid to try different approaches to writing.

I can make it simple and flow.

Simply it must feels me, that’s what I like about my writing, it’s me writing how I always have written but being able to adapt and try new things especially as I have spent a long time away from writing prior to January so getting into and rediscovering why I do write and why I love writing.