#annabeth lynch

[duckprintspress]

Planning Using the Three-Act Structure: Romance Novels

This is the first in a series of posts about the Three-Act structure, written by guest blogger Annabeth Lynch. The second post in the series, about mystery novels, is here.

Writing a book can be daunting. Ernest Hemingway gave my favorite description of being an author: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” It’s a big project that takes a lot of determination, especially if your goal is to write to meet a fast-paced challenge like NaNoWriMo. It’s beneficial to have a game plan to help you move along, even if you're a pantser like me. 

An understanding of the three-act novel structure can really help with basic planning. This structure breaks a story up into three primary sections: the beginning, middle, and end. Usually, the first act is called the Setup, the second act is the Confrontation, and the third and final act is the Resolution. The Setup is the first 25% of the story, the Confrontation is the middle 25%-75%, and the Resolution is the last quarter, 75%-100%. Across all genres, most stories follow this structure, which makes it a great plan to follow, but there are a lot of details that just knowing the names and approximate lengths of the acts doesn’t cover. Especially, the common landmarks that mark the transitions between the acts are often different between genres. In this article - the first in a series discussing how to apply the three-act novel structure to different genres - we’ll go over the more in-depth structure of a romance novel (which are usually approximately 90,000 words long). For simplicity's sake, this will be written as if the romance only involves two parties (e.g., isn’t poly and/or harem and/or reverse harem) and that the development and advancement of the relationship is the main plot.

Act 1: The Setup

This act lays the groundwork for the novel. It should, of course, start with your story hook - the situation or goal that will draw your readers into the story. Then, proceed with your world and character building. We should see your character(s) in their normal life, get a baseline of how the world works if the story includes fantasy or science fiction elements, and see their routine.

By the 12% mark (approximately 10,800 words into a 90,000-word novel), the main couple should have had their meet-cute (or meet-ugly) and reacted accordingly. This can result in them deciding to pursue the relationship or rejecting it, whichever your story calls for. This should directly cause them to accept or reject the call, e.g. wanting or not wanting the relationship.

20% into the book (approximately 18,000 words in) is typically the latest a main character should be introduced. Any character who is important to the plot should be actively involved in the story by this point. They need time to work their magic too!

The 25% mark - the end of the Setup act (approximately 22,500 words in) - is when the first plot point is introduced. This is where the couple is essentially “stuck” together. One or more major events that change their lives will, by this point, also cause them (often force them, if they’re antagonistic initially) to need to spend more time together, furthering both the “main” arc of the plot and their romance/relationship. The reason they are spending time together will serve as an important element for the second act, so it will need to be a consistent reason to meet up.

Act 2: The Confrontation

This is the meat of the story. Over the following 45,000 words (roughly half of the entire story by length) is when the romantic tension builds. The couple spends increasing amounts of time together, growing closer and building mutual trust. Doubts about each other and/or the relationship and/or the problem introduced at the end of the Setup and will lead to the final conflict should also grow in proportion.

Around 37% of the way through (approximately 33,300 words in) is the first “pinch point” of the story. This is where there should be a scene that builds intimacy. It could be something physical and discrete, such as a first kiss, or something more interpersonal, such as a demonstration of the increasing trust between the characters. Whatever occurs, it changes the way the prospective romantic partners see each other and takes them deeper into the relationship. This is an important plot point and shouldn’t be overlooked.

50% (approximately 45,000 words in) is the story’s midpoint. Congratulate yourself on making it this far! Now is the time to up the stakes. This is usually accomplished by bringing the characters to a false high or false low. A false high makes it look like the couple are on their way to a “happily ever after,” whereas a false low threatens that the characters may never end up together. Regardless, the result is that your characters do some introspection or get advice that causes them to decide what they really want in terms of the relationship, and how that does and will influence the daily life we got a glimpse of during the Setup.

At 62% (approximately 55,800 words in) the second pinch point comes into play. Events at the second pinch point more often are driven by internal forces/feelings/reflection - a look into the mind of the main characters as they struggle with the circumstances around their relationship. They have to overcome their own preconceptions to earn their love story. If you choose a false high, the other shoe should drop and separate them. Whenever things give them pause, though, the characters’ issues should resolve by them finding their way back to each other.

The end of act two, the Confrontation, comes at the 75% mark (approximately 67,500 words in) with the second major plot development. This will be a point when the stakes reach an all-time high. All the simmering conflict should boil over, and the worst possible thing(s) happens. This is often a breakup, where it looks like the couple will never end up together. Trust is broken and their differences appear unfixable due to one or both of them rejecting their true feelings.

Act 3: The Resolution

During this act is when all the questions that have been raised throughout the book are answered, and the couple comes together again. I like to call this act the “triple C’s”, the Crisis, the Climax, and the Conclusion.

The crisis comes at about the 87% mark (approximately 78,300 words in). Your characters work through their feelings and decide if the relationship is worth the effort (this is a romance novel: they’ll decide that it is). They’ll face their own flaws and learn a life lesson, which will usually also give them the answer to their current non-relationship problems.

There’s a quick turnaround between the crisis and the climax, which should come at about 90% into the book (approximately 81,000 words in). Often, this involves a grand gesture by one member of the pairing toward the other, but that isn’t required. Either way, this is the point in the story when one of them admits their love for the other. Readers will be on the edge of their seats, waiting to see if they get back together.

By the ending, the characters have decided to be together and the readers want the “happily ever after” or “happy for now” ending. Conclusions often include a snapshot of their future, a hint of how they’re doing together, and how they’ve put in the work to achieve their dreams (both in terms of the relationship and any external goals introduced earlier in the book). This can sometimes be an epilogue as well.

And you’re done! That’s the whole book!

I hope this helps anyone struggling with developing and/or utilizing a basic framework suitable for structuring a romance novel. This is a general guide, but don’t be afraid to mix it up and make it yours. Remember, you make your story special, unique, and engaging!

#duck prints press #original content #guest blogger #annabeth lynch #writing advice #plotting #outlining #fiction writing #romance writing #romance novels

[annabethlynch]

My short story, The Problem with Wishes is now available for purchase for 75¢ on the @duckprintspress website! Read about Kade, a pixie, falling for someone that has no business in her world. Link:

#story #short story #the problem with wishes #annabeth lynch #enchanted cafe #fairy #faery #wlw #queer #romance #duck prints press

[kitttttchaos]

It’s 5 AM and I just read the “Kavinsky’s substance party scene” for the second time and I have some thoughts

Obviously it’s a key point for Ronan’s character arc because he’s discovering these things that make him happy, and at the moment he thinks that’s this danger of street racing and all the stuff in that world, and he’ll later realize that his relationships with his friends are where real happiness comes from

But reading about Gansey in this scene—

This just made me realize that Gansey’s fatal flaw is pride. He’s the same enneagram (3) as Annabeth, so that makes sense, but you don’t notice it really the first time you read it. It’s hidden, because Gansey KNOWS it’s there. He does so many good things to overcompensate for that pride, which both confuses the people around him and just adds to his focus on people’s perception of him. Pride is at his roots, from his family, from his own success and experience that is so different from everyone else’s. He was born to think that way, and he knows it’s not the right way to think, but he comes back to it when things get deep.

“This was Gansey with a lofty tilt to his chin, a condescending quirk to his mouth. A Gansey that was aware that no matter what went down here tonight, he would still go back to Monmouth Manufacturing and rule his particular corner of the world. This was a Gansey, Ronan realized, that Adam would hate.”

But that’s not to say Gansey’s core is narcissistic. He’s proud, which could mean “proud of”. Proud of his friends, proud of his world, proud of his achievements, proud of all the wonder that he gets to discover. His goal, in a way, is to get away from the selfish pride he was born into, all the while building up more righteous pride, that has synonyms like joy, delight, and satisfaction.

His obsession with wanting to be a better person is so real, and I can’t think of any more to say but I think that’s beautiful

#the raven cycle #the dream thieves #trc #richard gansey iii #richard campbell gansey iii #richard campbell gansey the third #richard gansey #ronan lynch #percy jackson and the olympians #Annabeth chase #enneagram #personality types #infj personality

[last-pages]

no trio has ever trio'd as hard as THEY trio

#literally make this about who you want #obvious answer is the pjo trio #percy jackson #annabeth chase #grover underwood #or #and i fear the dark depths of 2010s tumblr #the golden trio #harry potter #the marauders #sirius black #james potter #remus lupin #peter u dont get to be included in this #the raven cycle #richard gansey iii #adam parrish #ronan lynch #alvin and the chipmunks too #POWERPUFF GIRLS #they ate it up

[yonemurishiroku]

Why do you dislike percy and annabeth?

Hi!!! I'm sorry for marinating this for like... two months. In my defense, I was trying my best to find the most non-offensive approach to this.

For Percy, I have explained quite clearly in this ask.

In Annabeth's case though, I'm gonna be honest... I just... don't like her. I honestly can't tell why. Since the first day of knowing PJO, I have had a feeling I wouldn't be all sunny and rainbow with her. Maybe it's her hubris. Maybe it's the way she wants to be the know-it-all. Maybe it's her relationship with Luke and Percy (which, I suppose, is saying something about me because I find fascination in Luke whereas the fandom would slay him in a heartbeat to protect their Percabeth).

She's also a protagonist, so that's saying something too.

It's just... instinctive, really. Pretty sure it's not jealousy over Percy bc I don't even like Percy to begin with... Just for the record, I have nothing against Percabeth. I hope they would get married and live happily somewhere out of my sight.

It also doesn't help that when I deem something uninteresting/ unlikable to me, I would try my best to limit engagement with said content. In this case, I know I wouldn't be satisfied with Annabeth's presence, so I just choose to ignore her.

I sincerely hope this is not offensive to you or any Annabeth stan... Yes, the girl is talented and wonderful and all. But I just happen to be a terrible human being who has no intention to better itself. By all means, though, please keep loving your girl.

#and leaving me with this hate bc i'm contented here #i dont have a reason and i dont need one #annabeth chase #annabeth hate #percy hate #better leave it here b4 sb wants to lynch me... #yone rambling #pjo #hoo #toa #percy jackson and the olympians #heroes of olympus #trials of apollo

[suzieloveships]

People on tiktok are using Jaz Sinclair and Ross Lynch as older faceclaims of Annabeth and Percy and it a cutest thing ever

#percabeth #percy jackson #walker scobell #ross lynch #annabeth chase #leah sava jeffries #jaz sinclair #pjo

[rachelsdamhairbrush]

ALRIGHT book recs please

books i like are

• the raven cycle (gonna read the dreamer trilogy after)

•percy jackson/heroes of olympus/trials of apollo/magnus chase ( going to probably read kane chronicles after i finish these)

• six of crows (read shadow and bone and wasn’t a super big fan but meh)

—————————

would like found family ish type dynamics

if there’s romance either not have it be the only focus (would rather found family content over romance) and some lgbt relationships would be nice (if romance is involved)

don’t want ANY “spicy” scenes (at all) (kissing and stuff is fine but nothing like explicit or really considered “spicy”)

at least some fantasy elements maybe

all-ready kinda said this but nothing absolutely purely romance centered

#welp thats an awkward post for some reason #nico di angelo #ronan lynch #adam parrish #will solace #percy jackson #annabeth chase #richard campbell gansey the third #richard gansey #blue sargent #noah czerny #maura sargent #the raven cycle #the raven boys #the dream thieves #blue lily lily blue #and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like cölłeèn höøver #she’s digusting #soooo yeah

[timeless-pdf]

Can u give me recs with this genre from here Z?<3

i can only give you book recs (and i've mostly had seen this trope from fanfics BUT) :

six of crows duology by leigh bardugo (IF U HAVENT READ THIS PLS DO ITS MY ABSOLUTE FAV SERIES) (theres more of this in the 2nd book, crooked kingdom, but the first book also definitely has some certain scenes iykyk <3)

i saw this from melone (tumblr user baz krekkers), they mentioned the raven cycle series (one of the lynch brothers i think?)

the song of achilles at the end there if im remembering this correctly my god

legendary (second book from caraval series) its not exactly that genre but close, imo the first book was kinda meh but the second book I WAS HOOKED

idk if the books have it but i've only watched like half of the series but lockwood and co def has this vibe!

fanfics : if you ever see percabeth fanfics (from percy jackson series) with like people attempting to either hurt percy or annabeth you are basically guaranteed this genre, with hurt annabeth you will get powerful, idgaf if i hurt people percy and with hurt percy you will get she is a genius with five thousand ways to torture you annabeth

and also basically any superhero ship has this in it and i am obsessed

IF U WANT MORE FANFIC SHIP RECS JUST ASK <3

spoilers for six of crows duology below if u dont mind them

IMO KAZ AND INEJ IS THIS GENRE LIKE THIS IS JUST THEM KAZ LITERALLY PULLED OUT A GUY'S EYEBALL BECAUDE THEY HURT INEJ AND INEJ THREATENED BASICALLY CARVE A GUY'S HEART OUT IF HE DARED STEP NEAR KAZ'S CITY AGAIN KJNDJABAJA IM SO NOT NORMAL WITH THOSE TWO PLS READ THE DUOLOGY

#asks #upontheroof-withaschoolgirlcrush asks* #stel <333

[atropa-dona]

I really, really don't want to be seen as racist. But for me, I want a poc Annabeth? No.

Yes, pjo was too white, but all the books of that period were too white (harry potter, narnia, the mortal instruments, divergent, hunger games etc) And we who grew up with these books; We've always imagined, drawn, written and thought about these characters as white. Ten years ago, even Percy was white for me, in the last few years he's become darker-skinned.

Just... I see this as an insult.... When the movies came out, everyone criticized Alexandra (movie Annabeth) and Brandon (movie Grover) for not physically fit into the roles. I don't mean age, I mean appearance. For God's sake, I'd do that too. I'm ashamed to think I'm doing this right now because I was a little harsh on it, and frankly, if it had been done to me, I'd be upset right now. That's why I really wanted the show to stick to the books.

Now that I look back, I knew this was going to happen when Walker was first announced. I consoled myself by saying they'd dye his hair and he would wear lenses. Then I saw Uncle Rick's twitter comments and... And that's it.

I'm disappointed. In my eyes, he's no different than JK Rowling. There's some kind of "support" just for creating an agenda

I'm really unhappy. I don't know the cast's acting skills except Walker, but I'm really uncomfortable with this choice. I'm a little nervous about throwing out this post, and I'm ready to get lynched. But honestly, this is what I feeling right now

Edit: Actually, it would be better if I was a little more clear about the comparison I made about Jk. As I write this, I was referring to the black Herm in the Cursed Child theater and the subsequent fiasco. ("I never said she was white"). It was my own thought, it just came to mind when I first saw this.

Edit about my Rowling analogy. Because that was the only part that I found worth explaining and thought I should fix. Now I can easily continue.

#I'm really disappointed #I don't want talk about more #if you will answer please be kind #I don't want a fight right now #pjo #percy jackson #annabeth chase #grover pjo #grover underwood #annabeth pjo #percy pjo #percy jackson and the olympians #pjo show

[smartycvnt]

One Shot Character List

Pro Wrestling

Austin Theory

Becky Lynch

Charlotte Flair

Bayley

Rhea Ripley

Liv Morgan

Daniel Garcia

Chuck Taylor

Eddie Kingston

Jon Moxley

Seth Rollins

Adam Page

MJF

Mercedes Monet

El Phantasmo

Jay White

Mickie James

Sonya Deville

Jacy Jayne

Gigi Dolin

Isla Dawn

Alba Fyre

Tiffany Stratton

Fallon Henley

Adam Copeland

Christian Cage

Deonna Purrazzo

Toni Storm

Mariah May

Swerve Strickland

Resident Evil

Alex Wesker

Jill Valentine

Sheva Alomar

Rebecca Chambers

Mother Miranda

Claire Redfield

Ada Wong

Alcina Dimitrescu

Bela Dimitrescu

Cassandra Dimitrescu

Daniela Dimitrescu

Donna Beneviento

Carlos Oliveira

DC

Jason Todd

Bruce Wayne

Harley Quinn

Nyssa al Ghul

Talia al Ghul

Selina Kyle

Diana Prince

Harley Quinn

Pamela Isley

Laurel Lance

Lena Luthor

Alex Danvers

Kate Kane

Marvel

Bobbi Morse

Dottie Underwood

Natasha Romanov

Peggy Carter

Carol Danvers

Melinda May

Kate Bishop

Laura Barton

Yelena Belova

SVU

Olivia Benson

Casey Novak

Alex Cabot

Amanda Rollins

Elizabeth Donnelly

Rafael Barba

House

Lisa Cuddy

Remy "Thirteen" Hadley

Gregory House

Horror

Sidney Prescott

Sam Carpenter

Tara Carpenter

Tatum Riley

Stu Macher

Tiffany Valentine

Nica! Chucky

Nadine Cross

Mandy Lane

Amanda Young

Video Games

Karlach

Shadowheart

La'zel

Astarion

Orin the Red

Abby Anderson

Lara Croft

Ellie Williams

Kassandra of Sparta

Deimos (as either Kassandra or Alexios)

Aspasia of Miletus

Grey's Anatomy (and the other shows)

Meredith Grey

Charlotte King

Lexie Grey

Arizona Robbins

Addison Montgomery

Jo Wilson

Amelia Shepherd

Maya Bishop

Carina DeLuca

Izzie Stevens

Callie Torres

Mark Sloan

Percy Jackson (movies only)

Clarisse la Rue

Annabeth Chase

Criminal Minds

Emily Prentiss

Derek Morgan

Jennifer Jareau

Aaron Hotchner

Ashley Seaver

Tara Lewis

Alex Blake

Elle Greenaway

Penelope Garcia

Game of Thrones

Brienne of Tarth

Margaery Tyrell

Sansa Stark

Wednesday

Wednesday Addams

Larissa Weems

Morticia Addams

Supernatural

Dean Winchester

Castiel

Rowena Macleod

Bela Talbot

Jody Mills

Donna Hanscum

Charlie Bradbury

[duckprintspress]

Planning Using the Three-Act Structure: Mystery Novels

This is the second in a series of posts about the Three-Act structure, written by guest blogger Annabeth Lynch. You can read the first post, Romance Novels, here.

Writing can be a difficult undertaking. Like most anything that’s worth doing, it’ll test your skills and determination. Ernest Hemingway gave my favorite description of being an author:  “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” It’s beneficial to have a game plan to help you move along, even if you're a pantser like me.

Are you ready to bleed? Good. Let’s start with the breakdown of the three-act structure. It basically separates the story into the beginning, the middle, and the end. They’re formally known as the Setup, the Confrontation, and the Resolution. The Setup takes the first quarter up to the first 25% of the full story length, the Confrontation is the middle half from 25% of the total word count to about 75%, and the Resolution makes up the last quarter, from about the 75% point to the end at 100%. This is a Western story composition, a typical structure across genres. I’ve already made a post about this structure in relation to the romance genre here, but though it follows the same rules, the plot points are different. What follows are the basic guidelines for a mystery novel, including the approximate word count at each milestone. Mystery novels are typically 80,000 to 90,000 and we’ll be working based on an expected word count of 90,000.

The Setup

This is where you lay the groundwork for your novel. As always, it should begin with your hook–the situation or goal that lures in your readers. After that, it’s time to begin your world and character building. Here you should establish the baseline for your world, anything that makes it different from the real world, and the reader should also get a feel for your character(s) and their routine. This part sets the tone for the rest of the book.

At the 12% mark (10,800 words in) is the inciting incident. In mystery novels, this will be the crime that will be investigated–the call to action that your amateur or professional sleuth will undoubtedly rise to. Whether they accept it right off the bat or after careful consideration, it shouldn’t take much longer than this point for them to decide to take action.

By 20% of the way in (18,000 words), all important characters should be introduced. As this is a mystery book, they don’t need to be introduced directly–the reader just needs to know they exist. For example, if you don’t want the antagonist to be someone that is actively on the page, that’s fine, but the reader must know that they exist, even if only as a mysterious “someone” committing the crime. Of course, it can also be someone that already has a name and has shown up in the protagonist’s life!

The first major plot point comes around 25% (22,500 words) into the book, at the end of the Setup. This is where the stakes are raised and the case starts to become personal to the protagonist. Whether it’s something small, like the antagonist goading them, or big, like a friend falling victim, it needs to be something that will cause the protagonist to feel closer to the investigation and throw more of themselves into it.

The Confrontation

This act is most of the book and includes almost all of the build-up and a fair amount of the action. This is the meat of the story. Tension and suspense are going to be thick here; now is not the time to skimp on detail. Senses are going to be your best friends during this section; your readers are going to want to feel like they are also solving this crime. Does the protagonist have goosebumps? Is the hair on the back of their neck standing up? The readers want to know it all!

At about 37% (33,300 words) is the first pinch point. This is usually when another person falls victim to the antagonist, but it can also be a good place for a look into the antagonist’s life. Perhaps we see a glimpse of them or get a piece of information about them as a person. Either way, one of the bigger clues should be dropped here, bringing the main character(s) one step closer to solving the mystery.

50% (45,000 words) is the midpoint. This is when your false high or false low comes in. A false high makes it look like the protagonist is going to be victorious and solve the case, but it turns out to have been misleading and they are back to square one. False lows are the opposite, making it seem like there’s no hope of ever catching the criminal just before they make a breakthrough in the case. In addition, this is typically when we discover the antagonist’s reason(s) for committing these heinous crimes and what motivates them.

Around 62% (55,800 words) comes the second pinch point. Here is another chance to get a look at the person committing the crime(s), whether through another victim or because the main character has gained more understanding or insight. This is also a good time for any development in an internal plot or goal for your protagonist, or for character growth that will ultimately help them solve the case.

The second plot point comes into play at 75% (67,500 words), or the end of act two. This raises the stakes of the plot to their peak. This is usually the part where we see the main character recommitting to solving the case (especially if they were discouraged by the false low or the high stakes). It should become clear at this point that the protagonist is going to have to confront (see what I did there?) the antagonist and possibly they should start plotting out how they will go about it. The plan usually doesn’t go as expected, but that’s a problem for the next part.

The Resolution

You’re getting close to the end now! This part is action-packed and, for the most part, fast-paced. Things are going to be falling into place, and setting up for a good ending. This section is comprised of the three C’s: Crisis, Climax, and Conclusion.

The Crisis kicks off at 87% (approximately 78,300 words). Now is when the big questions that have been posed throughout the story are answered. Will the antagonist win and get away with it all? Will the protagonist do what it takes to win? Are they strong enough to face what must be done? This is also when the main character figures out their overarching problems and learns the life lesson that the Setup posed.

The Climax comes quickly after the crisis, at 90% (81,000 words). All the clues should fall into place to reveal the culprit, and the showdown between the protagonist and antagonist finally occurs. Usually, there’s a moment where the main character looks to be beaten by the villain, with no hope to escape. There are many ways this can be solved–cleverness on the part of the protagonist, or rescue by close friends, or even teaming up with potential or past victims. However you go about it, it should be satisfying and connect to the core of the story lesson, goal, and the life issues previously introduced, such as the character embracing themselves or trusting others.

By the end, readers are looking for a view of how life is now that the criminal has been stopped. Conclusions often offer a glimpse of how the main character is doing and, most importantly, whether justice was served or if the antagonist weaseled out of it (which is often the case in multi-book series). This can also be an epilogue if you’re partial to them.

You did it! That’s the whole book!

I hope this is helpful for anyone struggling with the bones of a mystery story. Remember, this is just a general guide and you can modify/edit/reject any parts of this that you don’t like. You make your story interesting and unique! Don’t underestimate the power of your own input. Until next time, happy bleeding!

#duck prints press #original content #guest blogger #annabeth lynch #writing advice #plotting #outlining #fiction writing #mystery writing #mystery novels

[annabethlynch]

A reading of an excerpt from my short story coming out on Saturday

#faery #fairy #shorts #short story #away with the fairies #excerpts #family #fairyland #one of mine #annabeth lynch #duck prints press

[grimmusings]

@defectivexfragmented thank you for the tag, lovely! 💛

TEN FAVOURITE CHARACTERS FROM TEN DIFFERENT FANDOMS!

Steve Rogers (Marvel/MCU)

Castiel (Supernatural)

Daryl Dixon (The Walking Dead)

Felicity Smoak (Arrowverse)

Ronan Lynch (The Raven Cycle)

Harley Quinn (DCEU)

Edward Forrester (Anita Blake)

Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson & The Olympians)

Alice Cullen (Twilight)

Billy Hargrove (Stranger Things)

tagging (just fun, no pressure): @pleinsdemuses @velvetnviolentviolets @curseoffrell @tormentedsoldier @waywardfreewill @nomanslannd

#[ redacted: ooc ] #memes #defectivexfragmented

[thejudgingtrash]

Unpopular Opinion;I'd rather have show!Annabeth as a kid with dark hair and eyes. Honestly,the whole "grey eyed blonde Athena kids" was odd in the books,and would be even worse in live action,IMO. While I like seeing fanarts of show!Annabeth with blonde hair and/or grey eyes,I don't see why this detail has to be faithful to the books. Besides,I feel the same about Percy,if to a lesser degree.

Yeah.

Sorry for answering this so late, I’m not really active on Tumblr therefore I tend to forget to check whether or not I’ve received some asks and I tend to take a while for answering them anyways. Also, this is going to get very long and rambly, so prepare yourselves!

My opinion on this whole casting situation and book accuracy is: I legit don’t give a fuck. More than that, I just side-eye people that were freaking the fuck out.

I essentially cut contact with 98% of this fandom (aside from few core groups) and left Tumblr last year because it’s a toxic mess and I try to avoid other PJO related social media branches (with the exception for AO3 for dumping my Percabeth fics, next one coming up soon <3) because they’re more than often even WORSE (!) than this hellsite but I still can’t escape casting news. So it’s incredibly hilarious to see so many people freaking the fuck out over something they have little to no control about.

My wonderful friend @mapendo-c essentially brought it to the point with this post but let me add my two cents to this entire situation:

2020 was hell on tumblr for the black crowd, let’s not act like it wasn’t (it was hell for black people in general if you care enough to remember). From harrassing the black PJO Tumblr side, to straight up lying to us, to doxxing, to us being called slurs in DMs and asks, to receiving open death threats and being sent lynching videos, we had it ALL. Some people that were directly confronted with this shit victimized themselves and fled the scene to this day, literally going out with a bang. Congratulations for that, BTW.

And that was only because a few people started to create PJO artwork that involved Percy of Color. Being more open to otherness. Critizing the white status quo and branching out. Questioning the constant projection onto these characters. That set a chain reaction into other endeavors and arguments but alas, this is already enough babbling. 

The fact that we had over 17 years of artwork and fics and videos and movies filled with Cocaine White Percy wasn’t enough for some of you. No, you had to break the spirits of those that are a minority and do not look like you. All of that shit was so unwarranted and unnecessary.

And then when you got warm to the idea of Token Black Percy (in 2021 might I add), you were delighted to see that he would be indeed white in the TV series as announced in the past few months. But oh wait… What was that?? Is it a bird, is it a plane? No?

ANNABETH ISN’T WHITE.

The whole world just got hit by a big rock and the apocalypse is nearing. The way some of y’all acted… Doing the same exact vile shit that you were doing in 2020 to a twelve year old, because she got the role of her life (so far) in portraying a major fictional character… The fact that y’all lost your goddamn mind without having even seen Leah act is MIND-BLOWING.

The same people accusing the black side of the fandom of likely being aggressive towards White TV Show Percy (before casting confirmation which also — newsflash — didn’t happen) are now the same fucking people freaking out about Leah as Annabeth. Tale as old as time.

I said this two years ago and most of y’all stank bitches proved me right: “Let’s be real: if Annabeth Chase would be black for example with the way she behaves, 85% of the fandom would hate her, cry for Perachel and Percabeth would be the least popular ship. I don’t trust people who are saying the opposite.”

As if anything else was about to happen… if I’m to believe certain Twitter threats and Reddit posts (taken with the biggest grain of salt ofc), some people where close to unaliving themselves because we all seemed to collectively have forgotten that Annabeth stans (this is coming from a core Percabeth shipper, so don’t come for me!) are fucking INSANE. Imagine loosing your shit on a harmless decision like a differing casting choice. Some of y’all need psychiatric help, ESPECIALLY looking at you 

“I can’t be racist, because I’m neurodivergent” crowd!!

I absolutely do not get why people get worked up about this. The minute a live version (aka NOT animation) project was announced, all of you should have collectively kissed the idea of a 100% book accurate adaptation goodbye, just as with the movie version. 

Do I think the show version will be closer to the books? 

Yes. 

Do I think it’ll be a 1 on 1 adaptation? 

Absolutely not. 

The announcement of the blind casting and therefore going for talent approach should’ve cemented the fact that this show won’t be book accurate at all.

How difficult is it to understand for some of you that the image of Annabeth, Percy, the storyline and everything else that you made up in your mind will NEVER be depicted on screen??? This is purely from a logical standpoint. I know Disney has resources and shit but they aren’t infinite. They have to break even eventually. I guess none of y’all have absolutely any idea how the medium of film works behind the scenes. 

Even Riordan’s (as the author with actual authority) initial version is impossible to bring to the screen. Trust me, there will be other things omitted or added to the show. You can either tune in, or don’t. It’s as simple as that. That is the only thing you can influence.

Coming to the next point: do all of these changes even matter?!

Stripping Annabeth and Percy of their default hair/eye/skin color doesn’t really change anything that significantly imo?? 

If you are reducing Annabeth and Percy to their appearance and not the character, what they have as traits and could represent that’s on you, sweetie.

Additionally, most of y’all are ignoring the polar opposite: the nuances and depth Black Annabeth (less so White Percy tbh) could add are entirely forgotten. How they could enrich the story, bring other perspectives in and give in Annabeth’s case the opportunity for black girls that are sexualized and treated like complete shit everywhere else on the planet (anti blackness and misogynoire say hello!) a chance to see themselves portrait in a multi-dimensional character but NOOOOOOOO!

Y’all act as if Californian Dream girl blonde, tall, tanned Anna Bethany “my father went to Harvard and I’m a descendant of Scandinavian royalty and only white people live in Sweden” Chase lives the same life and is equally as oppressed as characters like Hazel or Beckendorf. You know… the little black girl that lived through segregation, got cursed, killed and resurrected and has Hitler as her fucking half-sibling, and the token negro who was one of the very FEW diverse characters in the OG book series that got BLOWN THE FUCK UP as a plot point.

Like GIRL?! (Nella Rose voice:) ARE YOU NOT EMBARASSSSSED?!

I’m not saying that Annabeth doesn’t have her fair share of issues, all I’m saying is SHE’S NOT FUCKING OPPRESSED. Her problems are not the same in comparison to Hazel, Piper, Leo, Beckendorf, Reyna and others. I know white women loooove playing the victim (see: current real world issues where instead of listening to the warnings of black and brown women and people decades ago, they just sat around until they were on the receiving end for once), but no. This is not the fucking same.

Don’t act like it.

“Oh but the dumb blonde stereotype...“

DOESN’T EVEN FUCKING MATTER?!

Not only that, you could use that for show Percy for all that I care now that his actor won’t be forced to dye his hair/wear contacts. Percy gets treated by all fronts like an idiot (thank you, Annabeth), let him be the one proving people wrong about the dumb blond thing.

As if there aren’t other white female (main) characters that you can latch yourselves onto if you feel like projecting. And you still can, because the OG book series is still a fucking thing!! This is all about the show!

Like you, @mrhomerxsimpson have said, the OG descriptions sound unrealistic and would look tacky in the live action. Fanart ≠ real portrayal of characters. Having sparkly glowing sea green eyes would look weird in reality. The focus of Annabeth’s on her gray eyes… this is readable but would likely transfer poorly onto the screen.

And let’s not forget the trashy exotic portrayal of Cinnamon Toast Hazel and Kaleidoscope Eyed Piper. Let’s just let people and characters of color chill for a while. Please.

I’ve said it ages ago and I’m too lazy to look it up but I think that as long as Percy and Poseidon reassemble each other slightly, the show will be fine. And if these people can act. Also important.

Which brings me to my final point/question: How are some of you unable to understand that different adaptations of the same enterprise can coexist and be just fine?

Book Annabeth 

≠

Movie Annabeth

≠

TV Show Annabeth

There is a reason why you can filter the universe (book, tv show, movie, etc.) in which your story is set on AO3 and FFN. Because not all universes are the same!!!

Rowling is trash but as an easy to understand analogy: if you think about the Harry Potter franchise…

is Emma Watson automatically Hermione Granger for you? Is Daniel Radcliffe automatically Harry Potter?

Because whenever I’ve read a HP Fic they’ve NEVER come up in my mind. Emma Watson is Movie Hermione, but she’s not THE Hermione. She isn't any better or worse than Stage Adaptation Hermione. Watson certainly isn’t the Hermione in my head.

Dr. Who is a sorta weak comparison but there are a million different Doctors sooo what??

Can’t you separate different versions of the same medium? The same core story just with different faces for the same role? Am I in the minority with this??

Book Annabeth is Book Annabeth, Alexandra Daddario is Movie Annabeth and Leah will be TV Show Annabeth. And none of that is in conflict with each other.

If you still want to create moodboards and artworks with Surinamese!Percy, Haitian!Grover and Desi!Annabeth, no one’s stopping you!

If you see Aryan, Walker and Leah as the new default and want to create artwork with their likenesses, also fine!

If you want to go all white like Burdge and Viria have over ten years ago… lame and side-eye worthy but ultimately your decision.

If you want to do all of the above, go ahead!

Just chill and wait till next year when the show finally hits before y’all start throwing tantrums, jeez. Oh wait. Too late!

Peace out.

TL;DR: It really doesn’t fucking matter how TV series Annabeth or Percy look like. Their actors need to act and that’s about it. However, I agree that the book portrayals (at least to a certain degree) would look tacky on screen. Also, this fandom is trash. 

Stop being dickheads and I’m out until November or so for my new finished fic.

#pjo #Mel rants #Mel answers #percy jackson #annabeth chase #percy jackson and the olympians #black annabeth chase #walker scobell #leah sava jeffries #leah Jeffries #pjo tv #rick Riordan #hoo #hazel levesque #charles beckendorf #disney #mrhomerxsimpson #percy of color #heroes of olympus #aryan simhadri #pjo fandom

[yonemurishiroku]

You talked a lot about Nico going back in time, how about Percy going back in time instead? Evil or non-evil up to you

………..I would say that he’d try to find a way to destroy Kronos without Luke dying, but I’m pretty sure half of the fandom would lynch me… ergh…

While we’re at it, though, idk, probably Percy trying to change the past in order to save the ‘technically’ dead demigods (INCLUDING JASON) only to end up replacing Luke instead? As the antagonist, that is.

How, you ask? Again. Idk. I just thought that it’d be quite exhilarating if Percy and Luke switch places, you know? Moreso, since Percy’s OP already, what do you say if we make Percy the one taking use of Kronos instead? What if he found a way to draw strength from him instead of becoming his puppet? It moves the target from the Titan to Percy himself - yes, I’m talking about Percy as the first one need to be killed. Who said I’m not allowed to kill him?

And with Jason in the picture, eh, Luke and Jason and Thalia trio? Sounds thrilling to me, really.

Annabeth is another matter, too. You can have her choose Luke instead (I’m talking fanfiction, lower your weapons), or still adamantly in redeeming Percy. Wow we can still have Percy trying to convince her (since he loved her in the past life, remember?. It also depends on whether the ending you’re looking for - Percy dying the way Luke did, or ultimately returning to the light before?

I’m taking the first, but that’s just me being petty. But I don’t like Annabeth choosing Luke. But I do want Percy to die. Jesus Christ I shouldn’t be the one doing this. Urgh.

This is all based on the foundation that Percy returns to the past in the same body, obviously. I regret to say I have no interest in another Older Percy in the same frame with the Young Percy. Unless you count that time I said PJO! Percy would punch HOO! Percy in the face——

Also? The whole point of me sending Nico back in time is to give the Young Nico some love when he felt like no one cared for him - which Older Nico would definitely give it to him. By that logic, unless you want selfcest Percy as well, I… hardly have anything to offer…

Not mentioning that I’m the last one to whom you should entrust Percy’s fate

#not mentioning nico bc i just dont feel like it #yone rambling #pjo #hoo #toa #percy jackson and the olympians #heroes of olympus #trials of apollo #jason grace #percy jackson #annabeth chase #luke castellan #thalia grace #time travel au #time travel

[bookishjules]

🎬📺 Share ten different favorite characters from ten different pieces of media in no particular order 🎮🃏 Then send this to 10 people (anon or not, your choice)

(Also @tys-kitty this is for you too 🤗)

In no particular order..

Annabeth Chase | Riordanverse

Julian Blackthorn | The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Manon Blackbeak | Throne of Glass

Ruby Rose | RWBY

Declan Lynch | The Dreamer Trilogy (/The Raven Cycle)

Madeline | Madeline

Anne Shirley | Anne of Green Gables

Neil Perry | Dead Poets Society

Zombie/Ben | The 5th Wave

Captain Thorne | The Lunar Chronicles

#this was weirdly difficult lol #so many of my favorite characters are in the same 2-4 pieces of media 😅 #but also so fun hehe thank you!! #cece 💙 #also #michi 🤍 #asks #ask game