@valiantnerdtm / nik <3

bodybag, chloe moriando

— my heart is melting and my hands are weak

i could cry when i hear you speak but that just makes me angry

Have a nice one, babe! 😚💖🌻

– Nik (from my main, hi, hello).

oh my god thank u sm 🥺 this rlly cheered me up

you feel?

-nik

What is something you recently felt proud of in regard to your writing (finished a fic, actually planned for once, etc).

Do you read your own fic?

Do you do research for your fics? What’s the deepest dive you’ve done?

What is a headcanon you have about your own work?

Name one of your fave comfort fics (doesn’t have to be your all time fave).

ok that is all love u

- nikTM

nik nak! Nikarus! my love! hello! lets get into it:

What is something you recently felt proud of in regard to your writing?

Like, actually taking the time to figure out if Im writing a fic because I want to or because I w ant other people to like it. I recently wrote something (its a special secret) and I went back and forth on a specific detail bc it made me happy but I was worried other people wouldn't like it and then I just stopped caring. If it makes me happy, why does it matter if its popular or not

Do you read your own fic?

Sometimes. I read it when I do edits and sometimes I go back and re-read things but mostly the second hand embarrassment kills me too much lol

Do you do research for your fics? What’s the deepest dive you’ve done?

I usually dont! I like to fly in blind with most of what I write. Occasionally if I reference a movie in a fic, I like to watch it. The only fic Ive done research for is the road trip exes to friends to lovers Muke. I did a deep dive to see what art exhibit was at the museum in 2019. Because you know, someone was gonna fact check me. I also looked up things to do in TN. That was fun

What is a headcanon you have about your own work?

Oh loads. I'll give you the highlights for the three big ones:

Bar AU: Luke and Ashton get "married" in 2000, but obviously its not legal. They get real married once gay marriage in the US is legalized and use it as an excuse to throw a party and get gifts. Luke becomes an English teacher and Ashton continues to work in music

Stardust: Lashton get married. Of course they do. Except they're the kind of couple that one goes to propose and the other goes YOU CANT DO THAT I WAS GOING TO PROPOSE FIRST and so they argue over who can propose first. They get married in Wall, and Ashton's mom and siblings go to the wedding. They get a puppy that is also immortal because Luke loves Petunia very much. Also, another headcannon I never mentioned in the fic is that the 1D boys are also semi-immortal? they age slowly bc of the love Calum and Luke have for them.

Lingerie verse: This one is tricky cause so many of the headcannons end up in the fic series. I guess, I think about Luke and Ashton coming out sometimes. Once they start dating they go back and forth on how to come out and when and what to do. And then Ashton slips up and kisses Luke on stage and they go, oh yeah we're dating. I think Luke comes out officially in an interview when they discuss being non-binary and the support from everyone allows them to start posting like OOTD looks for their dresses and makeup. I also think they post a lovely photoset of when they get married in their backyard and then more photos when they get married with their families. Both photosets include a photo of them with cake on their faces laughing, Malum kissing them both, and Ashton carrying Luke bridal style around the area

Name one of your fave comfort fics (doesn’t have to be your all time fave)

Of my own fics, it's I set boundaries . I adore that fic and I read it sometimes when I'm feeling down. It makes me feel loved, even if it's my own fic. Of others, It's either Puzzle Pieces because I like reading the part where they all touch. I like reading Muke's elbow bump and when Ashton finally feels comfortable enough to teach them. It's sweet and I adore it.

Hi nik my love!!

4. Tell me about your favorite will-never-finish-it fic? Why won’t it be finished?

So right now, it's my College Lashton AU. Luke is an English Major and Ashton's something else (psych??). They're roommates and in love but they're idiots so they don't realize that and they do alot of not-date Dates and things for each other that show theyre in love but don't realize it. It's sitting in my WIP folder right now and I don't know if itll get done bc of time

Or the Leap Year Muke AU bc I forgot that existed till this week. It's based on the Leap Year movie. Luke goes to Ireland to propose to his boyfriend, gets waylaid and ends up traveling with Michael, a pub owner and grumpy. Cashton is also half like following them around for fun.

9. Do you write linearly or skip around?

It depends? I try to go linearly for continuity sake to keep track of the story. BUT if I have a hit of inspiration I'll skip around to write or I hit a bump and need to go around.

11. Do you have any writing rituals you do before (or during when) you write?

I usually write after I shower at night and I chill out. I put on some nice music and I just vibe. Sometimes I put on a comfort TV show to distract me.

19. Do you prefer writing dialogue, description, or some other part? Why?

hi nik, i don’t mind at all!! <3

i was raised frisian but dutch is also my first language, i guess? i was raised equally as frisian as i was raised dutch :’) i mostly speak frisian with friends & family and i speak dutch at school (most of the time) and when i’m out of the province!

May I ask numbers 1, 8 and 45 for the Questions for Fanfic Writers? 🥺

– Nik (valiantnerd™)

hi Nik happy to have you here!

1) How old were you when you first starting writing fanfiction? I don’t remember exactly but it was definitely middle school, probably 7th grade, so probably 12-13

8) Where do you take your inspiration from? a lot of places!  I think mostly I get it from things I watch/read (like the first responders au being a product of me watching too much 911 and 911 lone star or the raven cycle au being a product of my love for the raven cycle), but sometimes I get it from songs (the tie me down trilogy).  I don’t really get it from real life though tbh.  like with 5sos I might take inspiration from real things that they’ve said/done but they seem very far away so it’s easy to fictionalize.  I don’t really take inspiration from my life or the lives of people around me except for a few details here and there that I might use to flesh out personalities or situations to have them feel more real

45) What spurs you on during the writing process? My own passion for the project mostly.  If I like what I’m writing or I really want it to be finished then I’ll push through.  Sometimes it’s because the project is really good and I’m excited about it but tbh sometimes I just want to get it done and out there so I can get validation because I don’t like anyone in my docs during the process.