#writer's interview

This week I am spotlighting one of my favorite writers, @nildespirandum​!  She is the Adam writer that made me both scared and brave enough to write Adam myself.  She is the weaver of worlds, the creator of characters so real you think they are sitting next to you.  Smart, funny, and an amazing writer!

Catch all of Nildespirandum’s stories here.

What other names do you want people to call you?

I use Misreall on AO3.

How long have you been writing fic?

I am on this current round for about four years, but I did write before though that was a decade ago.

What fandoms and/or ships do you write?

Tom Hiddleston characters, though not RPF.  Primarily Loki, but I have written for Thomas Sharpe, Adam from Only Lovers Left Alive, and Conrad from Kong: Skull Island.  For all of them I have written OFCs.

How did you get started writing fic?

I had ideas for a fics for a while, but it wasn't until I started commenting and then talking to @caffiend-queen that I decided it was time to do something about it.

Story Recommendations

Which of your stories are your favorite?

I hate this question, but if I had to pick it would be the cycle of stories called Loki and Nora's Infinity Stone Playlist, both because it is my first, and because I think the relationship between the characters - not just Loki and Nora, but the cast that has build up around them - allows me to tell so many tales.

Which story are you most proud of?

Either Perfection - my Crimson Peak AU, or Reigning in Hel - A JotunLoki series.

Which of your stories do you think is the most underrated?

Probably At Hel's Edge, which is a historical mash-up of MCU Loki, with MythLoki.  The people who read it loved, it but it never found much of an audience.  Possibly because of the style I wrote it in, or maybe because the MCULoki character was a bit abstract from his origin.  But I am very, very lucky that it is getting a second life as a Webtoon drawn by @rauko-art, who is incredibly gifted and has worked so hard to make something really beautiful.

Someone is new to reading your stories, which story/stories should they read first?

For Loki, the Infinity Stone Playlist.  Otherwise, maybe Perfection.

Which story did you do the most research for?

Perfection.  I can tell you how much a yard of silk cost in 1910, both in England and the US.  

Which story was the easiest to write?

Probably my Incubus Loki first series.  It was so over the top and goofy that it was effortless.  Rapacity - my vampire Loki story - is also quite easy.  There may be a trend here.

Tagged by @galadrieljones, @idrelle-miocovani and @dirthara-mama, thank you both <3. Also tagging @bearly-tolerable who did it because I think you said you would enjoy seeing these. 

I think so many have done this by now, but I will tag @playwithdinos @cedarmoons @kauriart @solverne-02 @buttsonthebeach

Q: What is your coffee order?

Nonfat Latte. 

Q: What is the coolest thing you’ve ever done?

I’m not sure - what is cool? I traveled to some cool places; the coolest (literally too lol) was probably a midnight sun cruise among the icebergs on the fjords of Ilulissat, Greenland. 

I also worked on a product that allowed hobbyists to develop games for their xbox 360, without a professional license or dev kit, and sell it to other gamers. Sadly it no longer exists, but it was a super fun project to be on. 

Q: Who has been your biggest mentor?

Writing wise - @galadrieljones. You, my dear friend, always have great and generous advice, sharing your own experiences, and your own skill and love for writing. You always have a good way of looking at things, or words of wisdom from your old professors you can pass on, or a recommendation for something to read to illustrate a bit of advice or get over a block. 

You have taught me everything I know about writing, more or less. I am eternally grateful. 

[Professionally, I never really had a mentor, I’ve just... pushed and given up and pushed again] 

Q: What has been your most memorable writing project?

 I is tied between my very first fanfic, because it was the first and I was so nervous but also determine - Ar Lath Ma, and then my other longer project, Temerity -  I really had to ‘lean in’ to dare and publish that one. 

Q: What does your writing path look like, from the earliest days until now?

 I never really thought of myself as a writer? I remember I wrote things, for school, when we had ‘free topic’ which meant make up a story. But I never got great feedback, so I just didn’t think of myself as a writer. 

I did always make up stories and worlds in my head - and I even had like a whole fantasy world with maps and stuff I drew out, but no story, just my own self insert and lots of towns and countries and borders and stuff like that. 

Finishing Trespasser left me very unsatisfied, so I went looking for fanfic. I didn’t find what I wanted, so I tried to write - and I never thought I could? I didn’t think of myself as a writer in any sort of way. But @galadrieljones told me that of course I could. So I did. And I am so eternally grateful, because it has brought such a richness to my life.

Q: What is your favorite part about writing? 

Imagining new things, I think? Actually forming the story that I want, in the way I want it told. Discovering things about the characters and the world. Creating something, from nothing by my brain. 

The sense of a accomplishment. 

Q: What does a typical day look like for you?

Get up, have breakfast and get everyone ready to go out the door. Put the kids on the schoolbus and get to work. So work stuff at work, sometimes including derping around in tumblr when my mind wanders. 

Go home, probably go grocery shopping because we’re bad at planning. Make dinner, and eat it. Help the kids with their homework aka make them do it. 

Depending on time, we may play a game after dinner too. 

Put the kids to bed, on about half the days. 

Sit down to write for a short time, or a longer time if I keep going. Otherwise play so Xbox, and go to bed. 

Q: What does your writing process look like?

I sit down and write and/or edit. I don’t really have a process? I might outline a bit, but I write so slow its such a minor thing. For short pieces I usually think about it on my commute, and then I try to put it down later. 

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve gotten?

If you write, you’re a writer. 

Skip transitions. 

Read more diverse. 

People use contractions when they talk, don’t make them sound too formal (this might be trivial, but it was such a great advice, English being my second language I tend to write formally, as I was taught how to do ‘essays’ and not narrative pieces) 

Writing is work - as in don’t wait for inspiration to come, you have to write when you’re not inspired too. 

Write in your own voice and don’t worry about the audience. 

No seriously, skip those transitions. If it’s boring to write, it’s boring to read. 

Most of this is @galadrieljones, and @idrelle-miocovani thank you both SO MUCH dear friends

Q: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned?

I have to focus on fewer projects, otherwise I don’t end up with anything completed. I’m not sure I have really learned this, as I am bad and finishing. 

I get frustrated, though, if I don’t put something out there. I need it out of my mind, and into the world. To me, personally, things are not real unless others can see them. So once I have that ‘kill instinct’ to complete something, I need to keep going. Even though I’m not a night owl, sometimes that is the time I have, so I write late.

I have learnt that you have to write more. Quantity matters. 

I think my biggest lesson is simply that I learned that I can write. It’s amazing? I never thought I could. 

Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to start writing?

All of the above advice that I have gotten, basically, 

For fanfic, I think the most important thing to remember is that popularity is not the same as quality. The number of notes or kudos is so much more dependent on other factors than how good your story is. The worth of your writing is not measured by how many people who read it. 

Popularity is not quality.

I see so many fanfic writers measure themselves against others, or against arbitrary goals. Worry about feedback and recognition. And I get it, I do it too. Don’t mistake my attempt to stay above it with some sort of superhuman quality - I often have to tell myself the above, and I do vent to friends if I feel I don’t get enough notes. But you MUST try to remember this,. 

One big thing about this is that in fanfic, you have to grow your fans. Especially writing short pieces on tumblr, and writing about an OC. You have to involve yourself with the fandom. Ask them about their OC, answer questions about your own. Participate in memes. Read other people’s writing. While there is never a promise of reciprocity, I am more likely to check out other’s writing if I have interacted with them.

It can be tough sometimes. And you don’t have to be super active of feel you have to be part of everything. But no matter what, building a readership takes time. Don’t give up. 

tagged by the amazing @bitchesofostwick to answer these questions discussing writing, etc.! thank you for the tag, friend!

I tag @allisondraste, @dalish-ish , @dickeybbqpit (I’m literally tagging you in everything tonight I s2g) and @inquisitorsmabari! if ya’ll want of course!

Q: What is your coffee order?

I have a variation, I think. Most days I get a cup of dark roast, and lightly sugar and cream it. Then in afternoons I get either a Cubano or a Soy Latte with something added. I like my drinks on the sweeter side.

Q: What is the coolest thing you’ve ever done?

Uh. Hm! I think maybe writing a slow burn that lasted 67 Chapters and nearly 300,000 words? That was pretty great. (Cassandra and Olivia really went through it, lol). Someone also pointed out that I have written the longest F!Inquisitor x Cassandra fic on Ao3 which is kinda rad. I can’t wait to brag about that to my kids/descendants someday. 

Q: Who has been your biggest mentor?

Well I definitely consider my mutuals/fellow fic authors to be my mentors mostly because I look up to them so much. I have learned SO MUCH from them, and they know who they are. I’ve also appreciated growing with my mutuals like @bitchesofostwick, @fen-harel, @trvelyans, and @daydreamingdragonage; I remember when we were all little wee babs starting out at roughly the same time and it’s been so inspiring to see them write and produce amazing work. I look up to them a whole lot. 

Q: What has been your most memorable writing project?

Ugh my gosh, probably Theia’s long fic “Ice In Her Blood” because it was and is my first longfic. I didn’t mean for it to be, but chapters just kept coming and the story grew so big. It was so formative for me, because that fic was really when a reader base started to develop for me and I received so much amazing encouragement. 

Q: What does your writing path look like, from the earliest days until now?

When I was a kid I loved reading and writing stories; I was a storyteller, I loved making up adventures and writing love stories most of all. My 2nd grade teacher told my parents that he was willing to bet money I’d be a published author someday. I stopped writing fiction in favor of non-fiction in high school and college. High school I was really esteemed and praised for my writing and excelled in Journalism and English classes. While getting my Bachelor’s I wrote a hell of a lot, and am even getting published in an Academic Journal soon for an article I wrote on Intersectionality and Higher Education. I have always loved writing the topics and ideas I am passionate about. As far as fiction, I had largely shelved it until last year when I started writing fanfiction. It’s been a rabbit hole ever since!

Q: What is your favorite part about writing?

Crafting stories that speak truth to life and its multitudes! I think having the chance to explore humanity and emotive possibilities is such an extraordinary gift. Getting to conjure them into narratives, characters, and events to where they come alive. It’s such a high, and I never get tired of it. 

Q: What does a typical day look like for you?

I get up and go to work for half the day. Then I get off at about 2-3pm, and either go home, or I head downtown to my favorite coffee shop. There I work on my laptop, doing writing or art, working on commissions, and enjoying some downtime to myself while being out in the world. Then I go home in the evening and kick back with dinner, Netflix, and an optional facemask. :) 

Q: What does your writing process look like?

I spend the bulk of the process daydreaming and scribbling to myself. Really, the actual writing part is the final stage and that is why I churn stuff out so swiftly: it’s because I’d likely spent hours upon hours running through the chapter in my head and am ready to just word vom it all out, haha. I churn out the first draft as much as I can in one swoop so that I can spent as much time as possible running through and editing/making changes. In essence:

Step One: Daydream/Conceptualizing (1-3 days)

Step Two: First Draft Churn-Out (12-24 hours)

Step Three: Edits (2-8 hours)

Step Four: Read-Through (2 hours)

Step Five: Post!

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve gotten?

I think this goes to @merilsell for introducing me to Deep POV writing. It has enhanced and bettered my writing SO much, and has really helped me get to know my characters. So, thank you friend for enlightening me and helping me become a writer worth my salt!!

Q: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned?

If you don’t love the story or the characters, it’s not worth it. Having love and compassion for the story and its ingredients not only makes you a better writer, it makes your writing more accessible and relatable to an audience. Most every piece of fanfic I’ve read or been introduced to that has a loyal or consistent reader base (no matter the size!), they have that because the author LOVES and SWEATS for their work. And it shows, and it pays off. 

The brass tax of it is fanfic takes work. It takes research, lore inquiry, worldbuilding, history, etc. at varying levels. To do that well, you gotta love the story you’re trying to tell. You don’t have to always like it, but you have to be fueled by something other than the need to be successful, notable, or accomplished. You gotta love what you do. 

Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to start writing?

Writing, like most every creative endeavor, is built upon skill and not inherent talent. It comes from love, patience, and time invested into learning and trying. Do not be discouraged by the culture of “natural talent” and being “gifted.” If you love it, and want to be the best you, yourself can be, work at it. Work at it to build yourself up and make yourself better than you were yesterday; whether that is by one inch or one mile doesn’t matter. Just don’t give up because you think you don’t got some genetic predisposition or otherworldly blessing. 

Creativity exists within us all, it merely needs love, empathy, and nourishment. 

It’s been a while since I got tagged by the lovely @joufancyhuh & @vorchagirl to fill in this meme... It makes me happy that even though I hardly write anything these days, both of you consider me a writer and I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it...

Q: What is your coffee order?

When I’m out to grab a coffee somewhere I usually go for a big, big latte, sometimes mocha... But no coffee makes me as happy as the one I brew at home in my moka pot. Sometimes, when I have it in my fridge, I add some coconut milk to it ;)

Q: What is the coolest thing you’ve ever done?

Huh, I’m a very boring person so I rarely do something cool. One of the coolest, most fun things I’ve experienced was going on a week-long trip to London with my bff. We’ve also spent a pretty cool weekend in Kraków two weeks ago. Both involved a lot of talking and walking around amazing cities...

Also, my last year’s Christmas cards spree was pretty fun ;)

Q: Who has been your biggest mentor?

Huh... nothing straight-forward for sure. I’m a bit shy when it comes to my writing, I don’t really know how to talk about it and basically, no one is interested in it so there’s no point in doing so either... *shrugs* I used to look up to one person, but unfortunately, we don’t have contact anymore, and to my knowledge, they’re not on tumblr/ao3 anymore... which is a shame and a terrible loss of excellent storytelling...

On the more positive side, I’m incredibly lucky to work with @natsora on beta-ing Paradise Lost, so I guess I can call her effort to make it readable a kind of mentorship? I... don’t know.

Q: What has been your most memorable writing project?

There weren’t too many of them, to begin with. Or at least not many of them became anything more than drabbles or miserable wips. But lets say that the time when with one of my discord friend we were trying to write daily drabbles and short-fics for the prompted words was a fun one... Some of them even saw the light of day...

Q: What does your writing path look like, from the earliest days until now?

Huh, it all began from a Harry Potter fanfiction and a small blog with basically no viewings. I co-wrote a Star Wars fic with one of my friends from junior high school, we wanted to write a novel together which never happened ofc. I lost interest in writing for quite a while, then I wrote some silly things for my own selfish enjoyment... Then I studied journalism so I committed some articles and essays from time to time.

I began my slow way back to fanfiction once I started playing Mass Effect a few years ago... and now I’m here not writing my AU ME:A long fic.

Q: What is your favorite part about writing?

Finishing a chapter but not even just writing but after editing and all the suggestions and beta-ing work. The relieve is incredible.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you?

Like I said earlier, I hardly have the time/energy to write these days. I spend most of my time running between my flat and uni and being very, very tired in between.

Q: What does your writing process look like?

It was a mess and it still is. I have way too many ideas to write them all and I get bored/discouraged from continuing work on those that I manage to write...

There’s no path, except for me being overexcited one minute and preferably moving on to something else int he next (which applies not only to my writing attempts to be honest).

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve gotten?

I honestly don’t remember any at the moment... But at some point, I decided to write shit for my own selfish enjoyment and that’s the thing I stick to.

Q: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned?

English? LOL.

No, but like seriously. Writing fanfiction in a foreign language is a HUGE lesson in itself.

@magellan-88 tagged me.

1) What made you start writing for the first time?

I was actually dared into it. I was dissatisfied with the ending of one of my all time favorite shows, was introduced to fanfiction, and when I couldn’t find a fic that satisfied my need for closure and answers, I was told I should write my own. So I did. Hence, 1.6 million words between The Return and The Accession! Lol.

2) If you could only write about the ocean, the forest, or the desert for the rest of your life, which one would you pick?

Definitely the forest. 

3) Would you ever write a memoir?

I personally don’t find my life all that interesting, it’s pretty normal, and while I’ve had a lot of life experience, it makes for good research into writing, but not all that entertaining when it comes to reading all about my pretty chill life. 

4) Do you like writing by hand, or writing with a computer?

Computer, 100%. I will write by hand when I have to, but I find I can type faster which works better with the speed of my mind when writing.

5) Would you rather be popular among many readers, or unpopular, but loved by critics?

I would love to have readers enjoy my work, but I write for me, I always have and always will. Do I like the praise? Certainly. Will I keep writing even if I only get one or two notes, or even none on a fic? Absolutely! I do this because I love it, nothing will ever stop me from writing. 

6) Do you listen to music while you write? What is the best writing music?

Yes, and it depends on what I’m writing. Usually it’s just whatever runs on Spotify, I have a few playlist, and if I’m working on a fight scene I have a tendency to listen to things like The Last Witch Hunter soundtrack. Something down and dirty, lots of base to get me revved. Smut tends to come out when I’ve got the soft music playing. It’s less distracting so I don’t lose my place and have limbs and clothes going all directions! Lol.

7) Do people you’ve met find their way into your writing?

Absolutely! Lol. Not necessarily in their entirety, but bits and pieces of people, attitudes, looks, emotions, shit they’ve said. I do warn them - anything they say can and likely will be used in a book at some point in time.

Thank you so much for the tag @may--hawk, this is really fun :)

How many works do you have on ao3?

I have 11!

What’s your total word count?

16,600 (yes they are all That short)

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

I’ve never actually sorted by kudos before so this was interesting!

sunday afternoon: my South Downs ending. In terms of hits/kudos this one is head and shoulders above the rest. Thank you to everyone on Tumblr for passing it around and giving it so much love :)

and all i do is kiss you, through the bars of a rhyme (i’d do the stars with you anytime): The origin story of first-person Crowley and my personal favorite <3

You Go Too Fast For Me: A tiny scene, just Muriel giving Crowley a speeding ticket. I’m surprised that this one is up there, compared to my longer and more thought out pieces. Maybe bc it’s written in the most conventional style?

when a lovely flame dies: Yknow this one is surprising too. Probably all of the kudos are for Crowley in a nightgown

tidal disruption (I love the world because I love you): ohhhh THIS one has a special place in my heart bc it’s my first attempt at something experimental and almost poetic in fic. Nothing special about the plot though, just Aziraphale in heaven longing for Crowley

Do you respond to comments? Why/why not?

Yes, talking to others in the comments is part of what makes writing fic so rewarding. I love knowing that I made people feel something, watching people analyze my work, talking to people about the stories I love, sharing my writing process, and brainstorming ideas for future work together :) I’ve made great friends from this

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

Probably the one chapter in unless i am elsewhere where Aziraphale discorporates Crowley…"the hollow book"

The ending that made me feel the angstiest, however, was crawling (‘n other closed doors): “I’m on my knees here and I’m counting on you.”

What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending?

Sunday Afternoon, of course :)

Do you write crossovers?

I was about to say no…but realized that I did write a BNHA x Hikaru no Go fic back when I was in high school…Deku was Hikaru, Kacchan was Touya, and there were cherry blossoms…that’s all I’ll say about that.

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Yes! I actually got my first true hate comment a few months back, criticizing the way I wrote Crowley. They pointed out a few lines and then went:  “Did we watch the same show with the same characters?? Because this is not in-character at all. Rewatch Good Omens and tell me that this nonsense would reasonably happen.”  It made me laugh. I do wonder if I make Crowley overly soft/friendly/feminine sometimes, but:

Is there not some internalized misogyny in the idea that being too feminine is bad? Especially for an immortal and relatively genderfluid character 

it is MY version of him. Crowley represents modernity, chaos, and knowledge, and if I as a gen z girl experience those things in a different way than the writers of Good Omens do, maybe it’s okay for me to write a version of him that looks a little different, a little OOC. If anything I think people are able to relate to and enjoy my version of Crowley MORE, bc I put something unique and true about myself in him, rather than only trying to mimic the source material. 

idk 1941 exists so is it really possible to make him too soft…

And of course in the dark old days of fanfiction dot net I had people correcting me for capitalizing the names of Pokemon species, referring to characters by their hair color, etc etc

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Kind of? I’m just not very good at it so I don’t end up posting it. If you've read unless I am elsewhere you might already get this, but I tend to think the *suggestion* of sex is usually enough to get the feeling across

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Nope.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Nope. I’ve beta-ed for people but never properly wrote something together.

What's your all-time favourite ship?

Sorry Aziraphale and Crowley, but Julian and Garak were the prototype and nobody can make me laugh like they do :) 

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

Ughhhh I would love to finish the magic trick 5+1 but I just don’t know if it’s going to happen.

What are your writing strengths?

VOICE. I love getting into a character’s head, figuring out what their tone is like, blending in the right slang and references to literature and pop culture. Sometimes I’ll write a sentence and then turn up my nose at it, playing around with the words until it sounds like something They would say. My professors have complimented my “velocity of language” haha.

Maybe this just is an excuse for only writing one-shots, but I would say I write very tight stories.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Keeping my stories going for any longer than 2000 words lmao.

Keeping my titles from ballooning into full sentences.

Also, action scenes, and anything involving physical choreography (this includes smut.)

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

I like occasionally referencing Japanese songs in my stories but I don’t know enough to write proper dialogue in it. 

For Good Omens I try to use British spellings/terms/slang whenever I can catch them as I think it contributes to getting the ambiance of the piece right, particularly for pov Aziraphale, but I do slip up quite a bit (the “chunky sweater” in ch 1 of unless i am elsewhere will always haunt me)

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

*technically* I wrote my first fic for Star Trek DS9 at the kitchen table as a nine year old, but I became aware that fanfiction was a thing and started reading and writing on fanfiction dot net through Pokemon when I was in middle school. XY&Z era was peak

What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to?

My partner and I are watching Arcane rn, and we’re both looking forward to me writing fic for that bc it will be the first time I’ve written something for a fandom he actually knows :)

What's your favourite fic you've written?

This has got to be my very first 1st person Crowley fic, and all i do is kiss you, through the bars of a rhyme (i’d do the stars with you anytime). I always say this, but this is the most Me piece I’ve written and the one that got me back into writing Good Omens fic. Discovering the intersection of Crowley’s voice and mine led to a very unique and fun piece, and a couple people have written their own stories based on it which is a huge honor!  

I was tagged by @possibility-left - thanks! This was a blast to noodle over.

How many works do you have on ao3?

34 works if you don't count each chapter of the mixtape series as its own oneshot - which I do. If you count it that way, it's 75 works.

What’s your total word count?

353,780.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1. some of these days, AKA the South Downs one.

2. always crashing (in the same car), AKA the time loop one.

3. fall at the foot of thee, which was a huge surprise to me! Yet another "they're not talking" fic. (Mind the rating).

4. this must be the place, which was my first experiment in writing a multi-chapter plotty fic. AKA the Orpheus one.

5. you are wild (i'm in your possession) AKA my first "they're not talking" fic. (Another mind the rating).

Do you respond to comments? Why/why not?

Yes! I am overjoyed when people take the time to comment. Each and every comment I've received is wildly precious to me. Responding to comments has led to a few fantastic friendships. <3

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

always crashing (in the same car), AKA the time loop one. Or, in the mixtape series, love song from a dog.

What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending?

some of these days, AKA the South Downs one. Or, in the mixtape series, here comes the knight (AKA the Lady Aziraphale one.)

Do you write crossovers?

I wrote my first crossover recently - a Good Omens/Jeeves and Wooster crossover, featuring Jeeves as an honest-to-goodness demon. All Hail Jeeves. Probably the one and only crossover I will write, but it begged to be written.

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

I have not. Maybe way back in the day, but if so, it's blocked out of my memory by now.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I do, but tend to keep it pretty tame (in my opinion) as far as these things go. It's more about the opportunity for *pining*, y'know?

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

I have not; although I have had someone kind enough to ask, I'm tentative on the real-world applications.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I have not!

What's your all-time favourite ship?

I've shipped Aziraphale/Crowley for nearly two decades. It's got to go to them. (I cannot adequately explain how wild it is to me that they are canon in the TV show!)

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

@possibility-left I definitely want to read your WIP if you ever finish it! No pressure!

For my own WIP I will likely never finish, I've got a through-the-ages fic with Aziraphale and Crowley, working title the first love of the world. The reason I think I'll never finish it is that I keep robbing from it to write one-shots. I think it may end up dissected and spread across a hundred different possibilities.

What are your writing strengths?

I think I can pull a reader into a scene in all its details. (I hope). I enjoy world-building a broader history outside the immediate scope of the story, namely through footnotes and backstories (which I usually get inspired by to write other stories).

What are your writing weaknesses?

Ha. Emotionally satisfying happy endings in longer pieces. A complete and utter inability to use the right "awhile" (thanks @benjamental for your eternal corrections.)

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

All English for me so far*- if it were relevant for the characters and story I would do it as necessary.

*This being said, I've got two Greek words in an upcoming fic that I put in Greek, because it was relevant to the character and what I was trying to convey.

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Stargate Atlantis, Sheppard/McKay. But that was in another country, and besides, that livejournal* is dead.

*WOW I went digging for that old livejournal and, although it is deleted, found caches of me apparently writing in a ton of fandoms I'd completely forgotten I'd written for. That was a trip.

What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to?

Discworld, VetVimes. I've got half a rough draft started but haven't worked up my nerve yet. STP's voice is such a tough one to nail and I want to make sure I get those two right before I start.

What's your favourite fic you've written?

@possibility-left Your Michael fic sounds awesome and has been added to my TBR list immediately.

For my own fav fic, I love all my children equally.*

*earlier that day: I don't care for Gob.

Short answer? Usually whatever story I'm currently working on, unless it's giving me a hard time, in which case, it rapidly becomes my least favorite story ever.

Long answer? always crashing (in the same car). I'd been writing straightforward fiction for so long that I relished the opportunity to write something a little weird. In the mixtape series, where some of my favorite stuff is, expresso love or real real gone. In other stuff, Doves' Eyes, which is a collection of A&C pining through the ages organized around Aziraphale's eyes, or and into strange vagaries fall, which is a pre-Fall Beelzebub fic where Beelzebub and Crowley are besties up in the Heavenly Engineering & Development Department. I know, I know, I'm sorry I love all my children equally.

Tagged by @wingsonghalo! Thank you!!

Name: ToastyToaster22 (on every platform for easy finding)

Fandoms: I have written for Mob Psycho 100, Digimon (Adventure and 02), and Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. If we count Ye Olde Days (before 2010) there were other, terribly embarrassing fics posted on fanfiction.net under a different name but lets not go there.

Where you post: Almost exclusively Ao3 these days. Though the Digimon fandom is still very much on ffn.net, so if I were to update one of my Digifics, i would be sure to update on both platforms.

Most Popular One-shot: Socha. Though it’s part of a series, it was originally (and can still be read) as a oneshot. That’s if we’re talking by Hits. If you mean by comments or kudos, it’s actually A Mother Muses. I find this funny bc they are sister fics in a way.

Most Popular Multichap: This is where things get really funny. If we got by Hits, then the answer is actually Never Hopeless, which in combined views on Ao3 and ffn.net, has over 20k hits. However it topped out around 115 reviews.

Issho is my most popular fic my a landslide on Ao3, with over 7k hits (mp100 is a very small fandom) But it makes up for that with the ridiculous enthusiasm of my readers. I have over 350 comments and 370 kudos.

Favorite story you’ve written so far: Well, it really has to be Issho, though it is not quite done yet. More of my heart and soul (and time and effort) has gone into this story than ever before. Break and Socha come in as a tie for second. I love all my mp100 fics so much honestly.

Fic you were nervous to post: The most nervous I have ever been to post a fic is 100% when I was putting up Baby Steps. It was the most personal and sensitive story I had ever written and I was terrified to put it out there. I’m very glad I did though.

How do you choose your titles: Eh, if it’s a oneshot, I tend to just wait until the last second and think of something thematic to the fic that doesn’t totally suck. I am a big fan of one word titles. Some pop into my head as I am writing, but that’s less common. For my longer or more sensitive fics, I put a little more thought into it and try to figure out something that feels well rounded.

Do you outline: HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAaaaaa... It’s ALL I do. 

Complete: Total # of complete fics? Uh... 28? I think?

In progress: Hhhh... I have a few “collections” and “fic dumps” where I add a chapter once in a while, but each chapter is its own complete story so I don’t count those as in progress. If we exclude those, then TWO. 

Coming soon/not yet started: Can I use this like a billboard? Yes? Cool thanks.

COMING SOON FOR ISSHO SIDESTORIES: 

What happened at the apartment tour? (heavy angst)

Teru meets Reigen’s parents. (post Issho)

Teru and Reigen have a Talk. (post Issho)

There are more but they sound spoilery

COMING SOMEDAY WHEN ISSHO IS DONE:

More Into Bloom chapters

this goddamn post season 2 fic that has not and will not ever go away

Prompts?: No. My brain only makes fics from cool scenes, snippets of conversation, or a deep deep chat about characters and What If’s. 

Upcoming work you’re most excited about: Fucking chapter 19.