#//anyway if you'd like to read the new versions of the books they're not public yet but you can dm for a link

[a-queenoffairys]

after a long break I'm finally back to working on the chronicles, and I'm now up to book 3 chapter 15. the end feels so close yet so far.

I fell off it for a few reasons but mostly because I was getting bored with the story and it felt like a chore trying to get through it. even just doing a single chapter takes a long time (rightfully so, translation shouldn't be rushed) and combined with a plot that wasn't holding my attention, it was hard to motivate myself to keep going. taking a break was good, and seeing the state of the currently available release, the job really needs to be done. but hey, I have until september to make it before the 10-year anniversary window closes (aaaaghhhh)

some spoilers ahead

and it's a shame because I did really enjoy books 1 and 2. they were a nice cosy story about the gang recounting their story and then beginning to unravel the mysteries of the hermitage and anthea's disappearance, all while xana is working to get closer to them and infiltrate the group, being very careful with the information he chooses to reveal so as not to tip them off or give them an advantage.

then book 3 comes along and it starts off ok. but if I could point to the spot where things took a nosedive, I think it was when xana showed up in humanoid form. there's something not good about the characters thinking of xana as this dangerous, merciless, emotionless computer program that's out to kill them, and xana acting all powerful and evil, but then he just starts dumping exposition and giving his enemies useful information seemingly only to move the plot along. it was weird when he was like "I could kill you right now, I don't even care" to ulrich and then they just go on a gay little stroll around the city together and xana helpfully explains more things with an evil smirk on his face.

it's also around that same time the gang gets split up and there are lots more other characters involved, a lot of them either completely new, or existing characters who've been changed a hell of a lot. and I get it but it feels a bit messy, and the darker tone is hampered by caricature characters.

I don't have much of an issue with the overall plot, I think it's mainly just the characterisation that could have used work. also the handling of the abusive parent stuff uhhhhh

anyway I wouldn't say the books are bad, I just wish they were better :B and at least every cl sequel/adaptation manages to get jim right

#aqof talks #code lyoko chronicles #//anyway if you'd like to read the new versions of the books they're not public yet but you can dm for a link #//I wouldn't mind having more people on the lookout for typos before the final release B') #//and book 3 shouldn't be too far off (I hope)

[hotwaterandmilk]

Just another one of those posts where I do a bit of a general update on a few things. This time opening with an edited scan of Maomao from Nekokurage's Kusuriya no Hitorigoto manga adaptation to get your attention. Boo!

I've been reading the Kusuriya no Hitorigoto light novels and enjoying them in the sense that I think preteen me would have liked them. I started reading the LNs earlier this year (as they're great for reading in waiting rooms and the like thanks to their short format) and I think the LNs are definitely my preferred version of the story. The anime has a nice OP theme but is fairly middling otherwise and I don't go much on the art in either mang adaptation (though Nekokurage's art has improved recently and Maomao looks less like a giant-headed baby doll in the Animate bonus cards per my scan above). Maomao is the real draw in all versions so obviously I preordered her Nendo the first moment I could — bring on May 2024!

Speaking of translated light novels you can buy right now, the first part of the Oguni no Koushaku Reijō wa Tekikoku nite Kakusei Suru light novel was just released as A Young Lady Finds Her True Calling Living with the Enemy Volume #1 by Cross Infinite World (see here). It's a solid story that doesn't overstay its welcome and Bertine's business acumen is just *chefs kiss* for those after a competent heroine.

Once the second and final part of this is out, I'd love to see Cross Infinite World pick up another short (but unrelated) PASH! Books publication, Shiitagerareta Shuusai Reijou to Ringoku no Haraguro Kenkyuusha-sama no Amayaka na Yakusou Jikkenshitsu. The web novel version was quite solid but I haven't read the printed version yet. Yeah I like science ladies, what can I say? It would be so good to keep seeing interesting titles for girls and women being picked up for English release because I tire of isekai villainess stories (which imho peaked years ago with Watashi no Oshi wa Akuyaku Reijou) and there are some great little tales out there that do things a bit differently & just need to be shown to the right audience.

I'm so excited for Metallic Rouge in early January! While it used to be that getting an original property from BONES was always exciting, it has been a while since they've created anything I've really cared about but I'm hoping this will break the drought. If a show has Izubuchi, Kawamoto, Yamada contributing then you know I've got to be there. Plus a couple of lady leads in a SF setting? Trailers with some great action and music? I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much but I'm keen to give it a shot. If it isn't for me at least I can say I've given it a chance, right?

I've been terrible at sharing the latest about this year's Silent Möbius anniversary, but I'm not a news blogger and frankly very few people care so eh y'know, whatever. BUT I figured I should say something about FAIRYTALE PARFUM releasing scents for the key members of AMP this month (though Mana has been totally forgotten, it seems). You can check out the range here, there will be a launch event on the 10th of December in Shinjuku too.

Asamiya drew new artwork for the bottles and while I'd love to get Kiddy's perfume that nods towards her bodily acceptance in its notes, importing that stuff is just too much of a pain so I've settled for a tiny acrylic stand of Kiddy instead. Sadly there's no option to buy a set of stands so I just went "whatever" and grabbed just my best girl. Anyway, if you'd like a tiny acrylic stand of an AMP girl with extra weird proportions then make sure you check out the FAIRYTALE PARFUM website.

#personal #sorry for the long post #this is just y'know a bunch of stuff that didn't warrant individual posts #so here it all is in one big slab sry

[strangevoyages]

Heya!! LOVED your book!!!!!!! I know you’re quite busy, but (if/when you have time ofc) I wanted to ask if you had any advice for how to get a short story published?? Especially if you’ve never had anything published before??? Or if you’re too busy are there any particularly good sources that give an overview of the process??

I hope you have a wonderful day!!! 💖

Hi there, thanks so much for your question and for the kind words; I’m so glad you enjoyed the book! It's been a while since I gave writing advice on this blog, but I figured I'd give a quick rundown on the short story process while I can!

So, in the briefest terms, the road to publishing short stories usually goes like this:

Write your story.

Edit your story.

Pick 5-10 prospective publications you'd want your story to be published in, ordering them by preference.

Write a cover letter template for your story: there's lots of advice for this online, and I wrote up a "best practices" for writing cover letters and submitting stories here.

Review the submission guidelines for the first 1-3 publications on your list. They'll always be found somewhere on the website for that publication; if you can't find it by navigating their site, just Google "______ submissions," "New Yorker submissions," "Atlantic submissions," etc.

Follow those submission guidelines to the letter. If one publication asks for your manuscript in 12-point Times New Roman font and the other one only accepts 10-point Courier, follow those instructions exactly. If their page limit of up to 20 pages doesn't work for your story, you can either decide to tweak a version of your story for that specific publication (have a master original copy and a "New Yorker" copy) or just save that pub for another story that fits their requirements better down the road. Take it from someone who worked for a lit pub, editors and readers don't play around when it comes to these rules!

Submission guidelines sometimes include what kind or style of fiction the publication is looking for. These aren't exactly hard rules, but just be aware that your rate of success will increase the more your story falls in line with these guidelines. If a publication says they're looking for stories that subvert traditional or expected endings, that's something to consider. It doesn't usually hurt to send in your story, anyway, but publications where your story may not fit exactly what they're looking for should be placed lower on your priority list.

Important: also check to make sure what each publication says about simultaneous submissions, if anything at all. If they say no simultaneous submissions, that means they want to be the only publication you send your story to until they give you a definitive yes or a no; then you can move on to submitting to other publications. The reason why publications do this is because it takes a lot of time for a story to make it through the editorial ladder: five, ten, or a dozen people or more could end up reading your story, arguing passionately for it with their coworkers, fighting for it during meetings, and finally getting it through the slush pile and onto the final desk it needs to be on to be published in their prestigious magazine. They don't want to call you with the good news and find out that, oops, sorry, the story's actually been taken by someone else in the meantime! That's a lot of time and manpower wasted when it could have been spent on a story that will actually be published by them, so for the publications that specify no simultaneous submissions, they really mean it. In theory, no one will probably find out if you do it anyway, but if/when you do happen to get caught, it's extremely awkward and can be damaging for your reputation when it comes to publishing in the future. You certainly will be blacklisted at that particular publication, and it's just considered bad practice throughout the industry, so I'd advise against it.

Depending on how your list is ordered, you can either choose to wait for that one top publication to get back to you (if they don't allow simultaneous submissions), or you can just pick out all the ones that do allow simultaneous submissions and send out your story to those first. This second option usually saves time, so it just depends on how strongly you feel about each individual publication! If you really have your heart set on a top-tier publication that doesn't accept simultaneous submissions, you should do that one first before working your way down the list; or if you'd be happy to see your story anywhere and don't have a strong preference, focus on the simultaneous submissions first!

Edit your story one last time. Make sure it's pristine!

Tweak or customize your cover letter accordingly for each publication. Usually this just involves changing the names and addresses, but if you're particularly familiar with any pub in particular, drop a line about a story from a previous edition or an editor whose work you really enjoyed.

Send your work out with its cover letter and wait for a response!

Rinse and repeat until you get a yes!

That's the rough process of how getting short stories published goes. As for advice for unpublished or new writers, I'd say:

Start with smaller or indie publications and presses. It is possible to be published in places like the New Yorker, the Atlantic, and others as a first-timer, but having credentials under your belt (writing awards, previous publications) gets you a lot farther, especially because their "slush piles" are so much larger than other presses. So, publishing with smaller indie mags first and building up your portfolio will increase your chances when it comes to eventually publishing with the big guys, if that's your aim.

Especially look for publications that are seeking "emerging writers" and "new voices"--these are specifically for writers who haven't had their stories or poetry published before, so these are great platforms and opportunities to use while you can!

Local publications in your area are great too! Check out prominent coffee shops that host things like open mic nights and poetry slams; they'll sometimes have a few booklets of locally-printed fiction or poetry collections from right in your area! Also check the universities and colleges in your hometown: although a few are for student submissions only, a surprising number are open to all and will read work from all over the world! Don't let their affiliation with a university intimidate you from submitting: many well-known presses and lauded fiction publications (even the ones that don't have 'So-and-so University' in their titles) actually come from academic circles, and many don't even realize it! For example, EPOCH is actually run by Cornell University faculty and grad students, and The Antioch Review (one of the 8 hardest-to-get-in fiction journals in the US!) is run out of Antioch College, Ohio, though many people never make the connection! Student-run or university-run presses are a fantastic and accessible resource to publish with!

You can also submit to writing contests, whether local or national! Even placing as a finalist, semi-finalist, or honorable mention is an incredible achievement and definitely worth putting in your cover letters, so this is a great way to build experience and sometimes even receive feedback from experienced judges, depending on the contest!

Start reading short fiction publications and magazines if you don't already, especially the ones you might want to submit to. This will give you a great feel for what kinds of stories are getting published, and it will polish and sharpen your own skills and creative senses. If you're not sure where to start, libraries usually have a good section for fiction anthologies and reviews, even if they're from years past! Online presses and reviews are great for this, too, though some require paid subscriptions!

Many literary reviews are genre-specific, so do your research! If you're a horror writer, LampLight Magazine is a big name in that field, and probably more valuable for you to submit to than something that does more general fiction like The Paris Review. For sci-fi or fantasy writers, Strange Horizons or Fantasy and Science Fiction are like the Academy Awards for those specific genres--so don't feel the need to be boxed into any one thing, there's something out there for every type of story!

Use submittable.com. This is probably the biggest, most valuable tool for writers submitting stories in the world, and it's very easy to use. You just create an account, upload your story, and then use the "Discover" tool to find publications with "open calls" for submissions that fit your criteria. It looks like this!

As you can see, these publications are organized by deadline, using the search word "fiction" (or try "horror," "poetry," "romance," "queer writers," what have you), and you can use additional filters like "no deadlines," etc. On the right side, you can save the publications you want to look at later as bookmarks. Also note that some publications have reading fees, as you can also see on the right side! This is becoming increasingly more normalized for print publications as the cost of print rises and the number of people paying print subscriptions declines. It's up to you if you want to want to take that out as a criterion: online magazines and pubs shouldn't usually charge reading fees, but things may have changed as a result of COVID! Showing publications with "no reading fees" is also an option on Submittable, too!

Also note that some publications will also pay you for your story, usually by word, by page, or as a flat fee! That's a whole other thing to get into in another post, but be aware that the more handsome the stipend, the harder that magazine is to get into!

Last but not least, be aware that the submission process takes both patience and grit. Some magazines will take months to get back to you; I once got a letter back from a lit mag I'd submitted to after two years, lol (and the letter was still a rejection, lmao! 😭). This is unfortunately a part of the process, though you can minimize your waiting time by picking magazines that specifically promise "guaranteed responses" in a week, 24 hours, what have you. But for many heavy-hitters, they are just inundated with a lot of writing daily, so it will take them a long time to get to you. Try and prepare yourself for this and sit in for the long haul, if you can!

And probably most importantly, remember this: great fiction pieces are rejected all the time simply because of the finite amount of space in each publication. Sometimes a piece can be absolutely perfect, and it still may be rejected for reasons completely out of your control. The editor who read it could have been having a crappy day. It wasn't right for that month's theme. It was absolutely amazing and agonizing to reject, but there just happened to be another story that resonated with someone just a little bit more at that time and place--and that could be a completely personal, subjective thing. Do not take rejection personally, or as a reflection of your writing skills, your future chances, who you are as a writer, or any of that. It's not a failure: it's just a natural result of the industry. Keep going and don't be discouraged! You never know when something amazing will happen!

I hope that's helpful, and not completely overwhelming to read! And good luck, if you decide to embark on the submissions journey! I'm rooting for you! ⭐️

#writing #writing advice #short stories #short fiction #writing tips #submissions #publication #publication process #slush pile

[amostimprobabledream]

And He Walks With Flames (Dabi x Reader) - Part One

They say humans, in a strange, ironic twist of fate, owe their magic to demons. A thousand years ago, they walked the earth, wreaking destruction and chaos wherever they tread. Humans were no more than meat for the slaughter, or glorified playthings for their amusement. The first generation of humans to fight back against their monstrous oppressors did so by a peculiar, ancient magic. A power that could repel demons and bring hope to all humanity. A terrible war raged for the fate of the world and the humans managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The demons were banished to their land of origin, sealed away in defeat. But seals don't last forever. While historians argue on how literal these legends may be, there is no denying that ancient creature have begun to stir, appearing in our world again with growing frequency. And soon there might- The last paragraph was torn away. "Oh, for god's sake," you tsk. Sunlight pours through the large, high window of your lecture room, dust motes dancing in the golden rays. Though you were engrossed in your book, once you look up, the spell is broken, and the clear sky outside once again has your eyes wandering to it. It seems that you are not the only one getting distracted, either - even the professor keeps tapering off at the promise of an afternoon outside in the gorgeous spring weather. "Well," the professor says, shuffling the papers in front of her. "That's all for today. Please revise over the material and we'll discuss it in further detail next time. You are all free to go." You're only too happy to comply, putting your things away and scrambling to your feet. Everyone else is hurrying to get outside, pouring down the stairs to the doors, chattering to one another as they go. Normally you love going to lectures, but it's just too nice outside to be cooped up indoors. You push open the doors and step outside, a muted sigh of pleasure leaving your mouth. Your university, the Royal Academy of Magic, has the reputation for being tough, but so far, you've been enjoying the work. Learning about the different faces of magic, its uses, and the history of it, it's all so very fascinating to you. You've been able to use magic since you were young, but it's studying it here that will really help you unlock your true potential, and hopefully give you a concrete idea of what to aim for with your career. So far there are so many options a magic-user might do that it's been a little overwhelming trying to decide. As you cross the lawns, grass crunching beneath your feet, you decide to swing by your dorm first to drop off your books - they may contain a lot of knowledge, but damn if they're not heavy - your mother pointed out that you've developed something of a slouch since you started studying here. "I'm back!" you call as you push open the door of your dormitory. "Huh?" Kendou looks up from her bed, where she has a couple of books sprawled out next to her head, notes scribbled in the margins of her notebook as she looks over her textbook. Her red hair spills down her shoulder, coming loose from its signature ponytail. "You're back early!" "Yeah, they let us out sooner than I expected," you reply with a shrug and a small laugh, dropping your bag on your own bed and stretching, wincing as a kink in your shoulder pops. "Oh, well, that's good timing, someone came by earlier with a message for you," Kendou says, pushing herself up into a sitting position, apparently deciding your arrival is a good a reason as any to take a break from studying. "Your mother wants you to go down to the Imperial Research Centre to get your father." "Did she come by here?" you ask in surprise. Normally your mother arranges to meet you after lectures or seminars if she wants to see you during the week, and she's a rather busy woman besides. "No, she left a message at the front desk and someone passed it along," Kendou shrugs. "But she also said you guys are doing something tonight, right?" "Oh, yes, I'd forgotten all about that!" you say, feeling silly that it could

possibly have slipped your mind - you love it when you get to go out for a meal with your parents and often it means one of them has some exciting news to share. "Thanks, Kendou, I'll head over there now." She grins and gives a little wave. “No problem!” You suppose it's fortunate that the Imperial Research Centre is only a short walk from the campus and that you're very familiar with the place, since your father's been working there for so long. Anyway, it's a pleasant walk, the way there is lined with rows of trees that are only a week or two away from growing from dark to light pink and shedding their blossoms. When the street is in full bloom, it's like there's been a wedding. You even find yourself humming as you walk, breathing in the subtle smell of flowers on the breeze, wondering to yourself if the blossom trees were planted before or after the buildings were founded, but either way, whoever was responsible for them made a good call. The Imperial Research Centre is a peculiar building, made of blue stone and with a roof that boasts four conical points, one in each corner, making it resemble a castle from bygone days just plopped in the middle of the city. There's an aura of mystery to it, too, hinting at the all-important, life-changing work that’s always going on inside. If ever cutting-edge technology is released to the public, odds were that the Centre had a hand in making it. The building is cooler on the inside than it is outdoors, powered by a system designed to spread cool or warm air throughout the entire building, depending on the system. You approach the front desk, wishing that you'd thought to bring a jacket, because it’s always cold in here during the warm seasons, and the receptionist glances up on you with a slightly dismissive expression on her face. It's probably because she thinks you're an overeager student or some hapless intern, it's very rare a researcher your age would be able to work here. "May I help you?" the receptionist asks in a cool, professional tone. "Yes, I'm here to see my father," you reply. "He's one of the vice executives here." You give his surname, and the woman pauses. Is that a trace of nervousness you can see? "He's downstairs in Containment Room 1A," she says, checking a sheet of paper on the desk, which is littered with various papers, random pieces of stationary and one of those magitech intercom systems that they use. They have something similar at the Academy too, though of course, the Centre get the most high-tech version of everything. "All right, thanks," you say, turning to head for the elevator. "Wait!" the woman cries out and you glance back, confused. "I'm sorry, but you can't just walk through here, especially to the lower levels! You don't have the clearance and it can be dangerous." You scoff in disbelief. You have visited your father here before, many times, and this has never been a problem for you before. You always just tell them who you are and then get a visitor's pass. You even know some of the codes to the doors, thanks to waiting around for your father to finish work so often. "Well, please can you have someone go fetch him for me?" you ask, going to reluctantly perching on one of the chairs in the waiting area. "Can't it wait?" the receptionist asks impatiently, and maybe it can, but her attitude is starting to piss you off, so you shoot her a frosty smile you've perfected after watching your mother pull a similar face at people who don't meet her standards. "No, it can't." The woman sighs but she dutifully presses a button on the intercom system and speaks quietly into it for a moment or two, while you idly pick at a loose thread on the chair you're sitting on. She then glances back at you, eyebrows raised. "A messenger has been sent down to speak to him. Hopefully he should be upstairs shortly." "Thank you so much." you reply sweetly, the last words with heavy emphasis. After that, the two of you sit in a mutually frosty silence, with the woman sorting through paperwork on her desk and occasionally

directing people who approach her desk to the correct floor (which seems redundant to you - why can't people just read the clearly printed sign on the wall next to her desk ?), while you flick through some glossy magazines without actually taking in a single word. But you're not leaving until you've spoken to your father. Minutes tick by and you start drumming your heel lightly on the floor, leg jiggling with impatience. You wonder if the woman just lied about sending a messenger down to the Containment Room in an effort to pacify you, in the hopes you'll just get bored and leave. You grit your jaw at the thought, ignoring how cold you're getting, sitting here doing nothing. After maybe ten minutes, a man in a lab coat approaches the front desk, leaning over to speak to the woman. "Kino, could you come with me a moment? Hannah can start her shift." "Oh, I'll be right there!" Kino says, flustered, getting out from behind the desk and following the man as he walks briskly down the corridor, without a backwards glance at you. No doubt her replacement will be along any moment - perhaps she's running late? But you don't plan on sticking around. As soon as the receptionist rounds the corner, out of sight, you spring up and walk briskly across the room to the elevators, stabbing the button and stepping through the doors. You don't bother to fight the smile that spreads across your face as the doors slide shut. ~ "Father?" There's always something slightly creepy about the lower floors. The orbs lining the walls that are designed to keep the machinery running in case of a power shortage cast an eerie glow in the corridors, washing everything with a pale blue light that makes it seem far colder than it actually is. It reminds you a bit of walking through a tunnel of ice. Your boots click on the stone floor as you follow the lights to Containment Room A1. Finally, you reach the double doors leading inside, flanked by two windows each side. You can see your father inside, his back to you, so you rap on the windows. Nothing. You try again with more force, hurting your knuckles, but he still doesn't turn around. Perhaps it's soundproofed, so whatever's out here can't disturb whatever's going on in there? You glance at the keypad next to the doors, but you've never been to this particular room before so the code for the doors on the upper level is unlikely to be the same one for down here. Then you see movement, shadows beneath the crack between door and floor, and the doors slide open with a mechanical swish and two scientists in lab coats come out, comparing notes and murmuring together excitedly. You slip inside before they can slam shut again, unwilling to stand outside in the chilly corridor for any longer than necessary. "Father!" you call out as you enter. But then you stop dead in your tracks. Ahead of you, trapped behind some kind of containment field...is a monster. "What-?!" you hear your father say in surprise at his daughter suddenly marching through the doors. "What are you doing in here?!" But you don't answer. You can't look away from what's in front of you, even if you wanted to. You know without being told that this is a demon, but it's certainly not what they looked like in any of your history books. A tall, humanoid being that is undoubtedly male and you can tell from where you’re standing that he’s tall. The demon's huge, black wings arch out from behind him, reminding you of a bat. Two horns jut out from a crown of spiky black hair, but aside from that, you're surprised by how… human he looks. Your cheeks warm up as you notice he is shirtless, peculiar burn marks covering over half of his body and seemingly crudely stitched together like a patchwork doll. Despite that, he's impressively sculpted, sinewy muscles on full display and you know that demons were said to be uncommonly strong. Your eyes drift further down, and you spot a whiplike tail wrapped around one leg, topped with a pointed barb at the end, like a club in a game of cards. His arms are in restraints and so are his

ankles, yet he doesn't seem stressed in any way, leaning against the back wall of his holding cell as though he's waiting for something. "What...is this?" you breathe out, finally turning to your father. "This is our latest research subject," your father replies beside you, also staring at the demon, though his expression is surprisingly somber, considering just how amazing it is that they have been able to capture and contain a demon. You've never seen a live demon before, and something tells you that the one before you certainly isn't any garden variety one. "Director Fuji is very excited about this. It's not every day you see a demon this high ranking." Slowly, the demon stirs, raising his head a little. You're perfectly safe outside the containment field, as well was the multiple other safety measures both inside the cell and out of it, yet the sensation of being watched makes your flesh break out in goosebumps. From beneath spiky fronds of hair, the demon's eyes - so blue they almost don't look real - stare right at you, his gaze alone rooting you to the spot, laying all your defenses bare and leaving you feeling bizarrely naked before that look. Watching you without once blinking or breaking his gaze, his lips part in a sneer to reveal two rows of teeth, the fangs sharp and white as an icicle. You find yourself holding your breath as your father speaks again. "Sweetheart, meet Dabi."

#Dabi #My Hero Academia #Dabi x Reader #my hero academia #Touya Todoroki #Boku No Hero Academia #BHNA #Fanfiction #Reader-Insert #F!Reader #Demon AU #Supernatural AU #Writing