August Ask Me Anything
Jul. 8th, 2026 09:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
adoreI'm enjoying this meme my DW friends are doing (matsushima and blackcatofmisery off the top of my head) so I'll be doing it too, for the month of August! How it works is, you pick a day and ask a question in the comments of this post. I'll answer it with a post on that day. I'm curious about what y'all are curious about.
1matsushima: Do you like your name? If you were to choose a new name, what would it be and why?
2matsushima: What book(s) made you want to be a writer?
3china_shop: How did you come to start watching Kdramas, and what do you like most about them?
4 5 6 7 8
9yarnofariadne: Do you have any writing rituals?
10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
matsushima and blackcatofmisery off the top of my head) so I'll be doing it too, for the month of August! How it works is, you pick a day and ask a question in the comments of this post. I'll answer it with a post on that day. I'm curious about what y'all are curious about.1
matsushima: Do you like your name? If you were to choose a new name, what would it be and why?2
matsushima: What book(s) made you want to be a writer? 3
china_shop: How did you come to start watching Kdramas, and what do you like most about them? 4 5 6 7 8
9
yarnofariadne: Do you have any writing rituals? 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
July AMA: Another twofer.
Jul. 7th, 2026 04:20 pmrogueslayer452Asked by blackcatofmisery: If you could pitch your ideal series, what would it be about?
Again, this is something I'm not quite sure how to answer by not having specific details or even a fully formed idea of what my ideal series would be about. Sorry this was lackluster of a response to your question. :(
Asked byverdande_mi: What film/series reboot that didn't happen do you wish had gotten a proper chance?
Well, as I keep saying, I'm tired of reboots. We've been living in this age of rebooting/remaking everything underneath the sun that if there was something that I had initially wished had been rebooted, I'm glad that it wasn't because it most likely wouldn't live up to expectations or further expand upon the original and just be another disappointing cheap cash grab. Although I will say, while I was indifferent towards it, I'm bummed about the BTVS sequel reboot, New Sunnydale, if only because the circumstances of how it was axed before it even got the chance to air makes me incredibly bitter and upset on behalf of SMG and the rest of the new cast who were excited and hyped up for it. Would it have been good? Hard to say without having seen anything, but it deserved to at least have that chance.
In addition to this, I also think that the Tomb Raider 2018 movie with Alicia Vikander should have gotten its franchise, as it was based around the 2013 reboot games. It was already greenlit for a sequel and ready to go, but then the pandemic hit and whatever contract deadline that was supposed to be met was missed and so it was silently cancelled. I thought the movie was fantastic, and I was yearning for more, and we deserved more, dammit.
blackcatofmisery: If you could pitch your ideal series, what would it be about?Again, this is something I'm not quite sure how to answer by not having specific details or even a fully formed idea of what my ideal series would be about. Sorry this was lackluster of a response to your question. :(
Asked by
verdande_mi: What film/series reboot that didn't happen do you wish had gotten a proper chance?Well, as I keep saying, I'm tired of reboots. We've been living in this age of rebooting/remaking everything underneath the sun that if there was something that I had initially wished had been rebooted, I'm glad that it wasn't because it most likely wouldn't live up to expectations or further expand upon the original and just be another disappointing cheap cash grab. Although I will say, while I was indifferent towards it, I'm bummed about the BTVS sequel reboot, New Sunnydale, if only because the circumstances of how it was axed before it even got the chance to air makes me incredibly bitter and upset on behalf of SMG and the rest of the new cast who were excited and hyped up for it. Would it have been good? Hard to say without having seen anything, but it deserved to at least have that chance.
In addition to this, I also think that the Tomb Raider 2018 movie with Alicia Vikander should have gotten its franchise, as it was based around the 2013 reboot games. It was already greenlit for a sequel and ready to go, but then the pandemic hit and whatever contract deadline that was supposed to be met was missed and so it was silently cancelled. I thought the movie was fantastic, and I was yearning for more, and we deserved more, dammit.
[#305 | Fireworks] Voting Post
Jul. 6th, 2026 11:23 pmfanweeklymod posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fandomweeklyHere are the entries for this challenge:
( List of entries )
Please Note: Because we only have 3 entries this week, there is only a First Place and Runner Up to vote for!
In order to vote, please reply to this post using the form provided. All comments are screened, and entries are listed in the order they were submitted. For your vote to qualify, you must fill out your entire voting card (both spots) in order to be counted. Winner votes are worth 2 points, Runner Up votes are worth 1 point. Meeting the bonus goal on an entry gets an extra point for that submission.
When voting, please copy/paste the ENTRY NUMBER and the FIC TITLE from the list above into the spot you're voting for (this prevents accidentally mis-numbering a vote and casting it for the wrong entry). It should look like this:
First Place: 61. Fic Title Here
Runner Up: 88. Another Fic Title
Please note that you cannot vote for your own entry, and that votes cannot be made anonymously. You do not have to be a member of the community in order to vote, nor have submitted an entry for this week; everyone is welcome to participate in the voting. IP addresses are logged to prevent duplicate voting.
Voting closes Wednesday, July 8 at 9:00PM EST.
( List of entries )
Please Note: Because we only have 3 entries this week, there is only a First Place and Runner Up to vote for!
In order to vote, please reply to this post using the form provided. All comments are screened, and entries are listed in the order they were submitted. For your vote to qualify, you must fill out your entire voting card (both spots) in order to be counted. Winner votes are worth 2 points, Runner Up votes are worth 1 point. Meeting the bonus goal on an entry gets an extra point for that submission.
When voting, please copy/paste the ENTRY NUMBER and the FIC TITLE from the list above into the spot you're voting for (this prevents accidentally mis-numbering a vote and casting it for the wrong entry). It should look like this:
First Place: 61. Fic Title Here
Runner Up: 88. Another Fic Title
Please note that you cannot vote for your own entry, and that votes cannot be made anonymously. You do not have to be a member of the community in order to vote, nor have submitted an entry for this week; everyone is welcome to participate in the voting. IP addresses are logged to prevent duplicate voting.
Voting closes Wednesday, July 8 at 9:00PM EST.
Writing software/word processors pt.2
Jul. 7th, 2026 07:50 amadoreI talked previously about a new online writing software/word processor called Skrib. I have since tried it out. What I liked about it was the search function, being able to toggle between documents from the sidebar, and having the planning/brainstorming board right there alongside my draft. However, I decided it's not for me based on a suggested edits feature that will literally give you suggestions for what to do with your sentences. Skrib purports to be anti-Gen AI and granted, the editorial suggestions feature isn't generating sentences. But telling you what you can do with your sentences comes too close and makes me uncomfortable. I know people use Grammarly or ProWritingAid for the same thing, but I personally don't like it. And it's not useful to me. My editing process is very gut-checky and vibes-based.
So I'm going to stick to Ellipsus. They've recently introduced a premium plan on top of their free one. Their free plan is great: I can have all the projects/documents I want and sync them to the cloud automatically, which covers the basics for me. And I can use timers, focus mode, and add collaborators. The premium plan introduces custom themes and something opt-in called 'emboss' which is like your writing fingerprint (it shows how many sessions you wrote the document in, typing speed, and other stuff meant to show you wrote it yourself, without using AI checkers). I'm irritated that our writing tools now are having to help writers prove they didn't use AI.
So I'm going to stick to Ellipsus. They've recently introduced a premium plan on top of their free one. Their free plan is great: I can have all the projects/documents I want and sync them to the cloud automatically, which covers the basics for me. And I can use timers, focus mode, and add collaborators. The premium plan introduces custom themes and something opt-in called 'emboss' which is like your writing fingerprint (it shows how many sessions you wrote the document in, typing speed, and other stuff meant to show you wrote it yourself, without using AI checkers). I'm irritated that our writing tools now are having to help writers prove they didn't use AI.
check in day 6
Jul. 6th, 2026 09:57 pmlilly_c posting in writethisfanficHow is the writing going?
Discussion: how do you handle your first fic in a fandom?
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 6
today I
View Answers
wrote
4 (66.7%)
edited
2 (33.3%)
posted
0 (0.0%)
sent to beta
0 (0.0%)
researched
1 (16.7%)
planned
1 (16.7%)
had a break
1 (16.7%)
dealt with life
1 (16.7%)
Discussion: how do you handle your first fic in a fandom?
July AMA: Two questions!
Jul. 5th, 2026 06:34 pmrogueslayer452Because I accidentally forgot to answer yesterday's question, here's a twofer for today.
Asked byreeby10: What's your favorite holiday and what do you like to do to celebrate?
My favorite holidays are Halloween and Christmas. The decorations and aesthetics of both and also just that time of year in general really get to me and I kinda treat October-December as a big celebration of those two holidays combined. However, I don't really do anything too bombastic for either. I'm the only one in the family that loves Halloween, so I tend to just celebrate on my own by watching horror movies (more than I already do yearly, that is) and just doing a casual dress up at home. Christmas is more celebrated with my family. I love to decorate the house, and we celebrate via dinner and opening presents on Christmas Eve.
Asked byverdande_mi: Who would write, direct and star in your dream-show/film and what would it be about?
Oh geez, I don't even know. All I know is that I would want Bear McCreary to be the composer. That's all I've got so far in my brain.
Asked by
reeby10: What's your favorite holiday and what do you like to do to celebrate?My favorite holidays are Halloween and Christmas. The decorations and aesthetics of both and also just that time of year in general really get to me and I kinda treat October-December as a big celebration of those two holidays combined. However, I don't really do anything too bombastic for either. I'm the only one in the family that loves Halloween, so I tend to just celebrate on my own by watching horror movies (more than I already do yearly, that is) and just doing a casual dress up at home. Christmas is more celebrated with my family. I love to decorate the house, and we celebrate via dinner and opening presents on Christmas Eve.
Asked by
verdande_mi: Who would write, direct and star in your dream-show/film and what would it be about?Oh geez, I don't even know. All I know is that I would want Bear McCreary to be the composer. That's all I've got so far in my brain.
linux
Jul. 5th, 2026 06:27 pmgreetingsfrommaarsi have now been using linux as the OS on my personal computer for half a year, so i'm gathering some of my thoughts about how it's been. in recent times i've been thinking i wanted to start moving away from apple, and the current state of windows doesn't make me feel particularly enthusiastic about moving over there either. so i looked at linux and thought, hey, i can probably do it!
for context, i have used linux for years at work, but mostly only on VMs and through a command line terminal, i.e. there was no desktop or windows or anything. this is my first time using it for everyday tasks. the past experience definitely helps with being able to troubleshoot issues! if anything i'm kind of already used to having to open the command line for some things, and i'm likely to use it even if there's a graphical option.
tbh my impression of using linux is that it's about how i expected. in general, it's definitely a less streamlined experience, especially coming from the apple ecosystem, but i knew it would be. it's things like airdrop - there are features that come with apple products that "just work" and that take more manual effort to set up without them. (i believe there is an airdrop equivalent i could be using, KDE Connect, but for now i've resorted to creating email drafts to transfer text snippets between devices.) anyway, i would say this setup gets done everything i need it to. it's not all that different from what i was doing before, and it actually gave me the opportunity to streamline how i make gifs a little bit and stop using my own buggy frame-export code 😅 at the same time, i made a switch to using obsidian for managing notes, but perhaps i'll talk about that separately.
because linux is more open as an OS, you can have more personalized control over how it functions. one dimension of this is "ricing", or customizing the appearance of your entire interface, like in the examples on this subreddit! i think this looks like a cool hobby, but i don't feel sufficiently motivated to learn how to do it right now...
( other comments, reference links, some record-keeping for myself )
for context, i have used linux for years at work, but mostly only on VMs and through a command line terminal, i.e. there was no desktop or windows or anything. this is my first time using it for everyday tasks. the past experience definitely helps with being able to troubleshoot issues! if anything i'm kind of already used to having to open the command line for some things, and i'm likely to use it even if there's a graphical option.
tbh my impression of using linux is that it's about how i expected. in general, it's definitely a less streamlined experience, especially coming from the apple ecosystem, but i knew it would be. it's things like airdrop - there are features that come with apple products that "just work" and that take more manual effort to set up without them. (i believe there is an airdrop equivalent i could be using, KDE Connect, but for now i've resorted to creating email drafts to transfer text snippets between devices.) anyway, i would say this setup gets done everything i need it to. it's not all that different from what i was doing before, and it actually gave me the opportunity to streamline how i make gifs a little bit and stop using my own buggy frame-export code 😅 at the same time, i made a switch to using obsidian for managing notes, but perhaps i'll talk about that separately.
because linux is more open as an OS, you can have more personalized control over how it functions. one dimension of this is "ricing", or customizing the appearance of your entire interface, like in the examples on this subreddit! i think this looks like a cool hobby, but i don't feel sufficiently motivated to learn how to do it right now...
( other comments, reference links, some record-keeping for myself )
Fraang pa Konseeli
Jul. 5th, 2026 03:41 pmbloodygranuaileThursday was a big momentous day! In between closing on the house and moving into it, I found time to finish reading Battle Hill Bolero, the third and final book in Daniel Jose Older’s Bone Street Rumba series!
One not particularly important thing that stuck out to me reading this series in the middle of a terrible heat wave is that they largely take place during the late winter and very early spring, a cold and generally boring part of the year. This added a lot to the atmosphere, I think.
Anyway. In this one, Carlos is still employed by the Council, but most of his buddies are in open rebellion against it. Carlos and a few other folks are in clandestine rebellion so they can spy. Carlos is not a natural spy since he’s not very good at lying, but he’s hanging in there for now.
Like the others, this was action-packed fun the whole way through. There were a lot of new characters, some of which might be cameos from other works, but only two new viewpoint characters, one of whom was the loathsome Caitlin Fern. Her perspective was very fun; in addition to being loathsome she’s clearly a complete mess and in deep denial about it. The other viewpoint character is Krys, a ghost with an affinity for bazookas, who hangs out with Kia a lot (Kia has been retired as a viewpoint character after becoming too mysterious). We also get a new species of ghostie, river giants, who speak their own language (and we learn how to say “Fuck the Council” in it).
All the threads of the previous books come together pretty neatly in this one–Carlos and Sasha’s previous lives, the plot with Sarco, the Blattodeon cult, the Council’s corruption, the true power of Mama Esther–culminating in a multi-chapter battle scene.
As someone who grew up in New Jersey and noped out of it as soon as I turned 18, I also thought it was very funny that Carlos and Sasha, with all their New York City noir-y gritty attitude, turned out to both actually be from New Jersey. Probably this wasn’t quite as funny to other people–and in the book it is not at all played for laughs; these are very serious scenes–but it cracked me up.
I wish I had more thoughts but my brain has melted out of my ears. This was very good reading for a very strenuous week, just really fun and engaging and escapist. Overall a really strong series.
One not particularly important thing that stuck out to me reading this series in the middle of a terrible heat wave is that they largely take place during the late winter and very early spring, a cold and generally boring part of the year. This added a lot to the atmosphere, I think.
Anyway. In this one, Carlos is still employed by the Council, but most of his buddies are in open rebellion against it. Carlos and a few other folks are in clandestine rebellion so they can spy. Carlos is not a natural spy since he’s not very good at lying, but he’s hanging in there for now.
Like the others, this was action-packed fun the whole way through. There were a lot of new characters, some of which might be cameos from other works, but only two new viewpoint characters, one of whom was the loathsome Caitlin Fern. Her perspective was very fun; in addition to being loathsome she’s clearly a complete mess and in deep denial about it. The other viewpoint character is Krys, a ghost with an affinity for bazookas, who hangs out with Kia a lot (Kia has been retired as a viewpoint character after becoming too mysterious). We also get a new species of ghostie, river giants, who speak their own language (and we learn how to say “Fuck the Council” in it).
All the threads of the previous books come together pretty neatly in this one–Carlos and Sasha’s previous lives, the plot with Sarco, the Blattodeon cult, the Council’s corruption, the true power of Mama Esther–culminating in a multi-chapter battle scene.
As someone who grew up in New Jersey and noped out of it as soon as I turned 18, I also thought it was very funny that Carlos and Sasha, with all their New York City noir-y gritty attitude, turned out to both actually be from New Jersey. Probably this wasn’t quite as funny to other people–and in the book it is not at all played for laughs; these are very serious scenes–but it cracked me up.
I wish I had more thoughts but my brain has melted out of my ears. This was very good reading for a very strenuous week, just really fun and engaging and escapist. Overall a really strong series.
check in day 5
Jul. 5th, 2026 03:24 pmlilly_c posting in writethisfanficHow is the writing going?
Discussion: what are you working on this week?
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 6
today I
View Answers
wrote
4 (66.7%)
posted
0 (0.0%)
edited
2 (33.3%)
sent to beta
0 (0.0%)
researched
1 (16.7%)
planned
1 (16.7%)
had a break
0 (0.0%)
dealt with life
3 (50.0%)
Discussion: what are you working on this week?
[#305] Something cliche about feelings and fireworks (X-Men)
Jul. 5th, 2026 11:15 amsoricel posting in fandomweeklyTheme Prompt: #305 - Fireworks
Title: Something cliche about feelings and fireworks
Fandom: X-Men - Comicverse
Rating/Warnings: G
Bonus: No
Word Count: 200
Title: Something cliche about feelings and fireworks
Fandom: X-Men - Comicverse
Rating/Warnings: G
Bonus: No
Word Count: 200
( Read more... )
New Monthly Challenge (sorry it's late!)
Jul. 5th, 2026 03:16 amflareonfury posting in xmen100
Pairing: Hank "Beast" McCoy & Jean "Phoenix" Grey
Character: Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee
( Read more... )
Banners/Winners & New Challenge
Jul. 5th, 2026 03:11 amflareonfury posting in xmen100 Team X-Men: 060
Team Brotherhood: 110
Last challenge winners: BROTHERHOOD!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!
NEW PROMPT BELOW!
Amusement can be a word used, an action, a place visited, or an idea expressed.
Last challenge winners: BROTHERHOOD!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!
NEW PROMPT BELOW!
Amusement can be a word used, an action, a place visited, or an idea expressed.
Submissions will be accepted until July 18, 11:59PM EST.
[#305] SMOKING 'EM OUT (LOGAN MCRAE SERIES)
Jul. 5th, 2026 03:56 pmm_findlow posting in fandomweeklyTheme Prompt: #305 - Fireworks
Title: Smoking ‘em out
Fandom: Logan McRae series by Stuart MacBride
Rating/Warnings: M (language)
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 1,000 words
Summary: DS Steele has been sent to do a lackey’s job and she’s not thrilled about it.
( Read more... )
Title: Smoking ‘em out
Fandom: Logan McRae series by Stuart MacBride
Rating/Warnings: M (language)
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 1,000 words
Summary: DS Steele has been sent to do a lackey’s job and she’s not thrilled about it.
( Read more... )
Flash round reminder
Jul. 5th, 2026 05:39 amgalerian_ash posting in bethefirstHello, everyone! This is just a quick heads-up about the upcoming flash round, which will begin in early September. So if you'd be up for another round this year, but aren't too keen on the flash aspect, then please take this as your cue to get started a little ahead of time. I hope to see you then!
flareonfury // team x-men // 5 Drabbles
Jul. 4th, 2026 11:04 pmflareonfury posting in xmen100Title: Day at the Pool
Team: X-Men
Fandoms: X-Men: Evolution
Pairings: Amara/Jean, Rogue/Scott, Jubilee/Roberto
Rating: G
Warnings/Spoilers: post-series/canon, established pairings
Summary: Amara does some sunbathing at the pool.
Notes: Written forxmen100 prompt pool and xmen15 prompt summer. Also technically written for Sapphic Summer 2026 prompt Any: Any/Any(/Any+) - sunbathing. What can I say? I ship all of them - Jubilee/Roberto is definitely inspired by X-Men '97.
[...Table...]
Day at the Pool........
Team: X-Men
Fandoms: X-Men: Evolution
Pairings: Amara/Jean, Rogue/Scott, Jubilee/Roberto
Rating: G
Warnings/Spoilers: post-series/canon, established pairings
Summary: Amara does some sunbathing at the pool.
Notes: Written for
xmen100 prompt pool and xmen15 prompt summer. Also technically written for Sapphic Summer 2026 prompt Any: Any/Any(/Any+) - sunbathing. What can I say? I ship all of them - Jubilee/Roberto is definitely inspired by X-Men '97.[...Table...]
Day at the Pool........
Tags:
- author: flareonfury,
- challenge: pool,
- character: amara "magma" aquilla,
- character: jean "phoenix" grey,
- character: jubilation "jubilee" lee,
- character: roberto "sunspot" da costa,
- character: rogue,
- character: scott "cyclops" summers,
- pairing: amara/jean,
- pairing: jubilee/roberto,
- pairing: rogue/scott,
- team: x-men
