#but im having a lot of fun!! i love sci-fi its my fave genre to read in my own time

[starlightkun]

Black ops? I don't understand what that means 😅 can you please explain it to me, I'm talking about the Frankenstein complex ff!

that's ok! it's short for "black operation(s)" which means like a covert/classified/secret mission done by a military/government organization. so our crew of the vision in 'frankenstein complex' are all on a covert mission doing... something classified.

there's no one exact reason for why the word 'black' is used in the phrase "black ops" but i like the idea that it comes from when classified documents are redacted, they're blacked out like this:

#im actually writing frankenstein complex right now omg how fortuitous #i also changed it on my mlist from black ops to black op to make it sound slightly less like the video game lol #and bc i thought the s made it sound clunky?? anyway #answered #anonymous #talk #text #mine #f: frankenstein complex #this ones going to be....very different #but im having a lot of fun!! i love sci-fi its my fave genre to read in my own time

[may-bell-flower]

Hello tumblr. I've decided I want to use this blog to ramble about things that interest me and random brain thoughts. Prepare yourself.

'DEEP' vrs 'SHALLOW' media.

So, the way Im going to define 'deep' in this context is....rather literal? As in, for a piece of media to be 'deep' it needs to have multiple layers, or levels, of understanding. You can enjoy the piece as a fun entertaining time, but if you start 'digging in' to it, you reveal something more meaningful- usually some sort of commentary on the nature of existance or the human experience. See the above silly puppets for example.

(Another deep favourite of mine - Princess Tutu. That shit goes hard for a magical girl anime about having ballet powers. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it, but just know that it's one of those shows that touched my actual soul. Seriously. Watch it.)

Something I haven't seen a lot of people mention is that if a piece of media is *obviously* about some important, meaningful thing...then it's not deep. That's not to say it's bad! But if it doesn't require any digging, it's not deep. ...right?

Now, it makes sense to say that the opposite of 'deep' is 'shallow'. That word has a lot of negative implications, so its not quite right, but bare with me. Some media for sure is 'shallow' in the sense that it really doesn't offer anything but entertainment (which is not a bad thing). But there are stories out there that are plenty meaningful, but aren't necessarily 'deep'. They're... to- the- point, upfront. They have something to say and they're not hiding it. I think that can be really good, as it's less likely the message of the piece will be lost. On the other hand, these stories can come across as on-the-nose or preachy. It's all a matter of balance.

I had media to put here in this category, but for some reason it's left my brain. I want to say the newer blade runner movie? I think it was pretty obvious going in what the messages would be and it delivered on that promise. I loved it, but it was in essence, a very typical distopian sci-fi that explored the things distapioan sci-fi is good at exploring. Compare that to the fist, which lead you to believe it might be a standered noir thriller with sci-fi flavour (and can be enjoyed as much) but also speaks to the wonder and horror of science and human innovation, the definition of humanity and intelligence, who gets to have rights, who is considered human, and a bunch more fun stuff. But I'm winging this part right now so I might be way off the mark. What do you guys think?

I also just realised while writing this... a lot of 'deep' stories are ones that are set up to look like they belong to a certain genre, then deliberately go against or go beyond the tropes and story beats expected of that genre. Fun stuff, I love it.

Basically I like to over think and overanalyse and I recently realised...maybe some of y'all do too. And if I get media recommendations at the same time, well, that's a bonus. Let me know some of your fave deep/ not deep / shallow media please 🙏😊

#dhmis #thoughts #analysis #media #rambles #princess tutu #blade runner #what are these tags #does this combination of media apeal to anyone #if these three things are all in your list of faves we might be sould mates

[kalicocal]

Saw you were looking for music recommendations so I thought I'd share some of my faves! I'm not the best at describing genres, and I love all kinds of music so I'm just trying to give a dec2nt smattering for you to explore lol

St. Lucia: bright dance pop, synths, 80s vibes

Sasha Sloan: indie sad girl shit (lots of these songs are very Leah Rilke vibes)

Simon Curtis: gay, POP! So much fun! And the falsetto! A true male Brittney

Doublecamp: good vibes, positive lowkey jams

The Brummies: indie rock, very sweet and chill

girlfriends: modern pop punk! Very fun

Upsahl: idk what you call music thats not exactly rapping but has that kind of flow, but she's dope and her lyrics are witty!

Remi Wolf: upbeat, goofy pop, her music videos are truly so cool because they're so weird!

Public: your standard pop rock that's heavier on the pop

Starset: this band is space themed, all their music feels like the soundtrack to a Sci fi epic, rock with a touch of screaming. If this sounds appealing at all, I highly suggest listening to their album Transmissions front to back at night, preferably while driving (bonus if it's raining) it's truly the most optimal way to experience this record lololol

The Struts: I mean they're basically modern day Queen in their style, rock and roll baybee!

Will Jay: a songwriter who's not afraid of making each song its own genre, his lyrics are great!

Ok so sorry that was probably way more than you wanted or expected, I just wanted to give you a bunch in hopes that something will strike you! Let me know if you find anything you dig!!

first of all, i know i just didnt catch you saying sorry for sharing this! in fact, i owe you a massive THANK YOU for curating this lovely bundle of new music and your descriptions, this is a treasure trove!!! so yeah, thank you and i really, really appreciate you for taking time out of your day to share this music with me and everyone else here 🥺💛

i just gotta say, this is such an impressive list since almost all-apart from sasha sloan, starset, and upsahl-of these artists are new names to me (sorry for the late reply btw, i wanted to give them a listen before answering you)

i'm currently up to remi wolf (i didnt know that THAT tiktok song is by them until now!) and i fell in love with the brummies and doublecamp! im gonna take some time going over their discography to find some more songs but yeah im really into them so far 💛

and if by any chance you're also looking for new music, i humbly suggests these artists that i hope are new names to you too in exchange for this lovely list :

glass animals - ik theyre popular now but i much prefer their earlier moodier sound in their album ZABA that i think is right up your alley

allocai - dark, mysterious, intimate vibes

bülow - the songs 'first place' and 'revolver' specifically

gabrielle aplin - i think this is how i found out about sasha sloan when i used one of her songs as a radio

cigarettes after sex - essentially what i thought of when i heard 'alone with you' by the brummies

babygirl - happy chill beats + sad lyrics

that's it from me ahahaha i just wanna thank you again for this, i've been enjoying listening to them ☺️ and i hope you have a lovely rest of your week, anon 💛💛

#lovely asks #music recommendation #not art

[guardevoir]

For the writing ask meme, A L L

pfff

Right, THAT was unexpected - but hey, challenge accepted!

1. What made you start writing?

Fanfic - I mean, I've always come up with stories for as long as I can recall, but fanfic made me realize that I, regular mortal being, can actually write them down and it'll be a story. Books are written by people, not by some mysterious eldritch entity from beyond time! Biggest revelation of my childhood, no joke.

2. How old were you when you started writing?

In a writing-things-down kinda way? Oof. The first thing I actually posted somewhere and thus have proof of was when I was 12; I don't recall if I really wrote much before that.

3. What was the first story you ever wrote about?

Again, I can't really recall - the first thing that stuck was a German-language Pokemon fanfic called "Pokeschool - Abenteuer im Schnee" (if I had to translate the title it’d be “Pokeschool: Snow Adventure” or something): A cheesy high school field trip AU about an extremely wild collection of assorted Pokemon characters going on a skiing trip. It was largely badly-written slapstick, but genuinely kinda entertaining in parts. And people did read it for some reason.

4. What’s your favorite genre?

Urban fantasy, probably - but I'm also pretty fond of sci fi and generally hard-to-classify alternate universe stuff. Bonus points if it's queer.

5. What’s your least favorite genre?

Don't really have one, but I'm not a fan of extremely gritty stuff. Also, not-queer, not-scifi/fantasy YA fiction. Don’t get me wrong, YA is absolutely an important and valid genre, I’m just still salty about never getting to identify with the protagonists, which kinda makes all the Coming Of Age stuff pointless. 

7. What’s your biggest strength as a writer?

Characters, allegedly. 

8. What’s your biggest weakness as a writer?

Pacing and... well, plot. 

10. What writing projects are you currently working on?

OH BOY! So, I have Death Of A Midnight Snack, a fun lil’ Urban Fantasy crime fiction thing about a sad, frail vampire and a young and very inexperienced witch, who are extremely unqualified to solve the crime they’re up against. Then there’s Equinox (and its fifty billion AUs, lol), a thing about two 30-something dorks having massive crushes on each other but thinking the other is way too awesome to love them back. Also there’s sentient flying tallships and political intrigue and a not-abducted prince and stuff. But really, it’s mostly unabashedly cheesy gay romance set in a kinda arcanepunk/alternate universe urban fantasy kinda world. Also, In Oscuram, about an unwillingly cyborgified captain of an experimental space ship, his weird crew, and their wacky adventures. Also, my dozens of Emergency! fanfic ideas.

11. Who’s your favorite author?

Ah, crap. I don’t have one, really - I mostly just have favorite books. For the longest time, I never really even bothered remembering the names of the people who wrote them. 

12. Who’s your least favorite author?

dunno, there’s a lot of awful authors out there. Some of them can’t write, some of them are just assholes. 

13. What’s your favorite book?

... remember how I just said I “only have favorite books”? WELL, actually there’s no fixed list of THOSE, either. Rivers of London is pretty good. The Bartimaeus sequence; huge influence on my sense of humor and general writing style. Took me years to get rid of all the footnotes again. The “Dark Reflections” trilogy, awful English title aside. The Imperial Radch books are a delightful experience if you’re patient enough. That one collection of Oscar Wilde’s fairytales; curse that man for making me feel things. Speaking of Oscar Wilde, The Canterville Ghost in particular was my favorite thing as a kid. Oh, and a more recent fave is Varney the Vampire! Don’t get me wrong, it fucking sucks, but I love that piece of trash with all my heart. There’s a bunch of others I’m forgetting - I can pretty much chronicle my life by favorite books (and songs) alone. 

14. What’s your least favorite book?

Don’t know, don’t care. I don’t usually bother having a “least favorite” of anything.

15. What’s your favorite trope?

Always depends on how you use it. 

16. What’s your least favorite trope?

Always depends on- well, you get the idea.

17. Have you ever gotten anything published?

Nope, mostly because I’m really bad at getting things finished, and haven’t really made any effort to publish anything in the first place - aside from, yknow, fanfic.

18. Do you prefer to type or write by hand?

Yes :P My current process goes (optional: handwriting ->) typewriter -> computer, and I’m pretty happy with that.

19. What’s your favorite literary magazine?

Don’t have one, don’t read any.

20. Are there any topics you don’t feel comfortable writing about?

Yes, honestly most of them. 

Where do you get your inspiration from?

THAT is an EXCELLENT question. 

Do you prefer to write fiction or poetry?

Fiction; I’ve never successfully written poetry. 

How long is the stuff you usually write?

From 200-ish words all the way to novel-length.

How do you deal with writer’s block?

By giving up and being sad about Clearly Having Lost My Writing Skills Forever until I finally stop moping anywhere from 5 minutes to several years later. 

Have you ever taken any creative writing classes?

Nope! Maybe one day...

Which of your characters has the most in common with you?

Dunno - and even if I did, I probably wouldn’t tell you. Love me a bit of mystery.

Who is your favorite character you’ve written about?

Gus, from Death Of A Midnight Snack.

Who is your favorite fictional character in general?

Johnny Gage, Horatio Hornblower, Giovanni Auditore, in about that order.

What time of day do you usually write?

Way too fucking late at night :’)

How much planning and/or research do you do before you start writing?

Either none, or ALL the planning. The former’s the kind of story that actually gets written. 

What writing related accomplishment are you the most proud of?

Got asked about characters I posted some snippets for on a forum two years ago; apparently I’d left an impression. Also, posting 11 fics in 2021 so far.

Have you ever dreamt about your characters?

Probably, but I rarely remember my dreams.

What is your ideal writing environment?

Uncomfortable, unfortunate, and full of people who don’t want me to write. Idk, I’m just at my most prolific when I’m really supposed to be doing something else. 

Which published book do you wish you had written?

Whatever I’d have gotten the most money out of. No, hear me out - I don’t want to have written anybody else’s books, my stories are mine, their stories are theirs... but being able to live off of royalties to write the stuff I really do wanna write (not to mention the publishing clout) would be damnably useful. 

Which themes do you like to write about the most?

love conquers all - not necessarily romantic love, not even love towards a person, just... love for life itself and the world around them. Basically, I’m a big ol’ unapologetic sap. 

What is the best advice you have for a beginning writer?

Write, and keep an open mind. 

What is the worst writing advice you’ve ever heard?

“don’t use ‘said’!!!11″ ugh. This one mostly just bugs me as a reader because badly-used not-actually-synonyms are the worst.

Do you prefer pens or pencils?

Fountain pens. 

What traits do your protagonists usually have?

A healthy dose of various insecurities, an unfortunate self-destructive streak, a solid chunk of queerness, and a whole lotta heart. 

What is your ultimate writing goal?

Eh, I dunno. I just wanna write some stories I’d like to read and maybe improve some people’s days along the way. 

What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever written about?

I don’t know, do the sentient tallships or the 1970′s homoerotic firefighter/paramedics rank higher on the weirdness scale?

What is the most random fact you’ve ever learned while doing research for a story?

Shit, I dunno, I have such a tendency to fall down research rabbit holes that it can be hard to tell what’s story research and what’s just “guardy enjoys learning new things”. I guess “Maria Theresa of Austria had to issue a decree in 1755 declaring that Vampires Do Not Exist, Stop Mutilating Corpses, Damn It” ranks pretty high on the list of random shenanigans.  

What would you do if you were suddenly teleported into your WIP?

Depends on the exact WIP, but “get some clothes that fit in better” is pretty high up on the list in any case. Except for DOAMS, where the answer would be “sincerely apologize to Gus, for the... the everything.”

How many drafts do you usually go through before you finish a piece?

For the fic stuff, it usually goes first draft -> second draft -> final edits -> post. I occasionally do a third draft as well, if I know I’ll likely struggle - but usually only for the problematic parts. 

Has your writing ever made you cry?

Not quite, but I did manage to give myself Feels once or twice. 

Would you rather have your WIP adapted into a movie or TV show?

TV show. 's better for character driven stuff. 

Where do you share your writing?

AO3 and tumblr for fics, occasionally Toyhouse for original stuff; I also toss a fair amount of snippets onto the NaNoWriMo forums for both. Also, sometimes I let friends read my notebooks. Does that count?

What’s your favorite line of your current WIP?

“It was dark and late and it was raining, really pourin’ it down, pounding against the roof of the Rover so loud it drowned out his racing thoughts, leaving nothing but emptiness and an icy cold clawing at him that might’ve been his emotions or just the frigid night air.”

What’s the first sentence of your WIP?

“Johnny had known it would be hard, going back to their old lives after this one night in that cold hotel room, hiding under that blanket like it’d protect them from the world.”

What’s the last sentence you wrote?

“Gage just muttered a quiet “gee, thanks” and walked away as Irvine sputtered an awkward apology.”

What inspired you to write your WIP?

My brain hitting me with “Joanne picks up Roy at the airport. Johnny picks himself up at the airport.” out of the blue. Hitch asking for a sequel to the fic this is a sequel to definitely helped, too.

What’s your favorite thing about your WIP?

There are already several scenes in there that I feel like an absolute tool for writing, in the most gleeful way possible. 

#guardy talks about stuff #guardy writes

[strangeandforlornbooks]

best books with morally ambiguous narrators!

all y’all’s problematic faves and villains! :) also included are third person narrators but in books with morally ambiguous leads/themes 

Sci-fi

Scythe by Neal Shusterman: in a future free from pain, disease, and war, people can live forever. ‘scythes’ are given the power to decide who lives and who dies to preserve the balance. sad and kinda gives of hunger games vibes, if you like that.

Neuromancer by William Gibson: basically invented the cyberpunk genre. strange and removed protagonists. (a team of computer hackers have to face off against an evil AI). you kind of dislike everyone and suddenly you’re crying over them. one of those trippy sci-fi classics.

The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut: very beautiful and very very sad (same author as slaughterhouse five). the richest man in america has to face a martian invasion. more about free will and bad people doing good things than a plot that makes any kind of sense.

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick: set in an alternate universe where the germans and japanese won world war two. not really like the tv show at all- it’s not an action story, and there’s not really the hope to somehow fix the world that drives a lot of dystopia stories. instead its about how people survive and connect to one another in a hopeless society.

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow: a supercomputer convinces the leaders of the world to keep the peace for hundreds of years by taking their children hostage and obliterating any city that disobeys. what happens to the hostage protagonists when war seems inevitable? lots of morally fraught decisions and characters slowly losing their identity. (plus a fun lesbian romance)

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson: a brilliant mathematician and a dedicated marine fight to keep the ultra secret in world war two. fifty years later,  a tech company discovers what remains of their story. one of the most memorable sequences in the book is a japanese soldier slowly becoming disillusioned with his nation and horrified by the war even as he continues to fight.

Blade Runner by Philip K. Dick: another one of those sci-fi classics that’s not at all like the movie. there is a bounty hunter for robots, though, as well as a weird religion that probably is referencing catholicism and a decaying society with a shortage of pets. kind of a trip.

Wilder Girls by Rory Power: girls trapped in a boarding school on an isolated island must face a creeping rot that affects the animals and plants on the island as well as their own bodies. the protagonists will do anything to survive and keep each other safe. very tense (and bonus lesbian romance whoo)

The Fifth Season by N K Jemisin: three women are gifted with the ability to control the earth’s energy in a world where those who can do so are forced into hiding or slavery. some veryyyy dark choices here but lots of strong female characters.

Historical Fiction

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters: two victorian lesbians fall in love as they plot to betray each other in horrific ways. lots of plot twists, plucky thieves, gothic settings, and a great romance.

Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiwicz: a powerful roman soldier in the time of Nero plots to kidnap a young woman after he falls in love with her, only to learn more about the mysterious christian religion she follows. very melodramatic but some terrific prose. 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr: a blind girl in France and a brilliant German boy recruited by the military struggle through the chaos of the second world war. ends with a bang (iykyk.) very sad, reads like poetry.

Boxers by Gene Luen Yang: graphic novel reveals the story of a young boy fighting in the boxer rebellion in early twentieth century china. the sequel, saints, is also excellent. beautifully and sympathetically shows the protagonist’s descent into evil- the reader really understands each step along the way.

Fantasy

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake: three triplets separated at birth, each with their own magical powers, have to fight to the death to gain the throne. lots of fun honestly

Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo: everyone in these books is highly problematic but you love them all anyway. a ragtag game of criminals plan a heist on a magical fortress. some terrific tragic back stories, repressed feelings, and revenge schemes.

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King: idk how to describe these frankly but if you can put up with King’s appalling writing of female characters they’re pretty interesting. fantasy epic about saving the world/universe, sort of. cowboys and prophecies and overlapping dimensions and drug addicts galore.

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud: lots of fun! a twelve year old decides to summon a demon for his cute lil revenge scheme. sarcastic demon narrator. lighthearted until s*** gets real suddenly.

Elegy and Swansong by Vale Aida: fantasy epic with machiavellian lesbians and enemies to lovers to enemies to ??? to lovers. charming and exciting and lovely characters.

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen: an orphan boy must compete with a few others for the chance to impersonate a dead prince. really dark but very tense and exciting and good twists.

The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu: fantasy epic. heroes overthrow an evil empire and then struggle as the revolution dissolves into warring factions. interesting world building and three dimensional characters, even if they only have a small part.

Circe by Madeline Miller: the story behind the witch who turns men into pigs in the odyssey. madeline miller really said, i just used my classics degree to write a beautiful gay love story and now im going to write a powerful feminist retelling because i can. queen. an amazing and satisfying book that kills me a lil bit because of the two lines referencing the song of achilles.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer: the tragic backstory for the queen of hearts in alice in wonderland. a little predictable but very fun with a compelling protagonist

A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) by George RR Martin: ok I know we all hate GRRM and rightfully so but admittedly these books do have some great characters and great scenes. they deserve better than GRRM though. also he will probably never finish the books anyway....

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket: not really fantasy but not really anything else either. plucky, intelligent, and kind children fight off evil plots for thirteen books until suddenly you realize the world is not nearly as black and white as you thought. 

Classics

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: gothic romance!! a new wife is curious about the mysterious death of her predecessor in a creepy old house in the British countryside...good twists and lovely prose.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles: not really morally ambiguous but one awful decision suddenly has awful consequences and certain people are haunted by guilt forever.... really really really beautiful and really really really sad. boys in a boarding school grow up together under the shadow of world war two.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: while imperial russia slowly decays a beautiful young woman begins a destructive affair. a long book. very russian. the ending is incredibly tense and well written.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding: I think you know the plot to this one. the prose is better than you remember and the last scene is always exciting.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie: one by one, the guests on an island are slowly picked off. one of Christie’s darkest mysteries- no happy ending here! very tense and great twists.

Contemporary

The Secret History by Donna Tartt: inspired the whole dark academia aesthetic. college students get a little too into ancient greece and it does not end very well. lovely prose but I found the characters unlikable.

Honorable Mentions

The Dublin Saga by Edward Rutherford: has literally a billion protagonists, but some of them are morally ambiguous ig? follows a few families stories’ from the 400s ad to irish independence in the 20s. beautifully captures the weight and movement of irish history.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer: how morally ambiguous can you be if you’re, like, eleven? a lot if you’re a criminal genius who wants to kidnap a fairy for your evil-ish plan apparently!

Redemption by Leon Uris: literally my favorite novel ever. the sequel to Trinity but can stand alone. various irish families struggle through the horrors of world war one. the hero isn’t really morally ambiguous, but the main theme of the novel is extremely bad people suddenly questioning their choices and eventually redeeming themselves. sweeping themes of love, screwed up families, redemption, and patriotism.

The Lymond Chronicles and House of Niccolo by Dorothy Dunnett: heroes redeem themselves/try to get rich/try to save their country in early renaissance Europe. if I actually knew what happened in these books I'm sure it would be morally ambiguous but its too confusing for me. in each book you spend at least a third convinced the protagonist is evil, though. lots of exciting sword fights, tragic romances, plot twists, and kicking english butt.

Bonus: Protagonist is less morally ambiguous and more very screwed up and sad all the time

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt: you know this one bc its quoted in all those quote compilations. basically the story of how one horrible event traumatizes a young man and how he develops a connection to a painting. really really really good.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro: hard to describe but strange... not an action novel or a dystopia really but sort of along those lines. very hopeless.

#book recs #morally ambiguous protagonists #dark academia #book recommendations #mine

[bookenders]

11/11/11 Tag Game: Round... uh... 5, 6, & 7?

I got tagged by a bunch of people ( @quilloftheclouds is this how your 77 question one felt??) so here are a bunch of answers! I think this is the most I’ve ever talked about myself in my life. 

Good gracious, you’re all so nice and have such good questions.

Tagged by: @surroundedbypearls, @waterfallwritings, @bigmoodword, @sundaynightnovels

Rules: answer 11 questions, tag 11 people, give them 11 new questions!

[I’ve done this enough to be able to break the tag rules. Fight me.]

44 questions and answers below the cut!

But I’ll be nice and put my questions right here:

What would you do for a Klondike bar?

When do you title your WIPs? It is the first thing you do? The last? Does it come to you during drafting?

How many inside jokes do you put in your WIP(s)?

Your WIP’s antagonist is now The Riddler. How do your OCs handle that?

Do you use sticky notes?

Laptop or desktop?

Your OC is a wrestler. What’s their hype music?

Do you own any craft books/books on writing?

What’s your favorite book cover?

How many unread books do you have sitting around right now? Which are you most excited to maybe get to eventually some time?

How committed are you to your outline(s)?

Bilbo Taggins: Literally anyone, but also @francestroublr, @sahados-shadow, @a-story-im-writing, @bethkerring, @citruschickadee, @bos-ingit

If I’ve tagged you before, you can totally ignore this. In fact, I encourage you to.

From @surroundedbypearls:

What’s your favourite genre to write in and why? Literary fiction! It’s what I learned in university and the one that fits my themes best. Sci-fi is hard, I’m just getting into writing fantasy stuff, I can’t do thrillers, romance is hard for me, and historical is too much work.

Do you think you have a style/voice that you use more often in your writing? When did you develop that style? If you’ve read one of my stories, you know exactly how my writing voice sounds. It doesn’t change too much. I write like I talk, but if I had a lot more gravitas and charisma. Honestly, I’ve always had that kind of style, but it really developed in high school. It’s been getting stronger since then. It’s one of the things I always got comments about from my teachers and fellow workshop writers. “Your voice is so strong!” Yep. It’s mah thang.

Do you play video games? What’s your favourite? YES I DO. It’s hard to pick faves, but I’ve played Dragon Age: Origins too many times. 

If you were going to do a WIP crossover, which OCs would be most interesting together? (If you’ve only got one WIP crossover with something else) A crossover between H2H and AOPC? Interesting. I think Mel and Keema would get along the best, Oz would have some fightin’ words for Elder Sanga, and Gemma and Teva would be a force to be reckoned with, my god. Two stubborn nerds who believe totally different things but are also very determined to be very good at what they want to do and love their communities to a fault? Fear them.

Do you prefer to plan WIPs in a document or through handwritten notes? I used to do it by hand but I couldn’t read it because my handwriting is terrible and I kept losing papers. I do it in docs now. Much easier to organize and incredibly legible.

Do you multiple languages exist in your WIP? If so how do you address that in the story? H2H is set in the “real world,” so yep. It hasn’t been addressed too much yet, but I have a way for tackling languages. I’ve written multilingual-ish stories before. I never write phonetically and use hella context clues so the reader knows the gist of what was said if another character doesn’t translate.

What’s your favourite animated film that’s not Disney or Pixar? AN AMERICAN TAIL. All of them. It’s on Netflix go watch it and marvel at the way a kids movie talks about Jewish immigration, poverty, and cultural oppression via mice. As a young Jewish child, this movie was my jam. It’s very dark, though.

Do your real-life surroundings influence your WIP’s settings? Nope! One time I tried to write a story set in the same area where I lived and I couldn’t do it. Too weird. Sometimes I’ll write in an item I see near me, or like, a painting or poster on the wall if I need some set decoration, but that’s about it.

Which OCs would be most likely to break the fourth wall? Oz. Lookin’ at the camera like he’s in The Office.

How do you work out your OCs’ personalities? Hm. I look at the story I’m trying to write and make a protagonist that would have the most interesting experience in that narrative. For H2H, I wanted someone who would be loyal as heck to the people they loved while still being experimental enough to try new things and get into shenanigans. The story called for someone like that, and there she was. Mel came about my thinking of someone who would compliment other characters in the story while still being their own person. If that makes sense. I think of dynamics and interactions with the story world in relation to the theme(s). Most of the time they just happen, though.

Do you prefer worldbuilding or character building? Character building! As much as I like making stories about places, making characters is more fun for me, and more interesting. You should see all the DnD character sheets I have. 

From @waterfallwritings:

1. How do you come up with ideas for your WIPs?

At random. Seriously. It’s like my brain has to be running something in the background to function normally, and usually that something is whatever story I happen to be working on. Or I’ll look at a thing and go “huh.” My brain also likes to twist normal things to be a little bit different.

2. How do you get past gaps in the plot?

No idea, man. It’s like throwing spaghetti at a wall. I like to work backwards. If this is what I want to happen, what needs to happen before that to ensure that it occurs? I look at all the elements currently in the story and see if one can be manipulated to fill in the hole.

3. What motivates you to keep writing?

If I don’t, my brain gets all constipated and angry until I write something down. Like, seriously, I get grumpy and frustrated like I’m hangry or something. Aside from physical need, I love writing. I love word puzzles and feelings puzzles and figuring them out. Sometimes I think of how my stories could help someone, or make them feel something that they enjoy. 

4. Do you do any other kind of creative writing?

Oh, man, I’ve done it all. Screenwriting, playwriting, poetry, video game-ish writing, interactive storytelling, short stories, flash fiction, proposals, essays, DnD campaigns, monologues... You name it, I’ve probably tried it. I tend to stick to prose and poetry these days.

5. Do you have any other creative hobbies besides writing?

I’ve gotten into graphic design a little bit. I kind of wanna learn how to knit again. I’m not really very crafty. 

6. What do you do when you’re stuck on a scene and don’t know how to get it out / write it?

Write a different scene, stare at the screen in frustration until I give up and go to sleep, meditate for a few minutes, go do something else to get my mind off of it, clean, work on a different project.

7. How do you decide how to end your WIP?

I mean, see the next question for part of my answer. How did I decide to end H2H? My friend, that’s a big ‘ole spoiler. But I decided to end it at a place where everything, and everyone, comes together.

8. When in the process of writing do you decide how its going to end? Or do you kind of just wait til you get there?

Right at the beginning. If I don’t know where it’ll end, I have a hard time writing the arc. I work backwards: start with the idea, then think of where I want it to end up, then work back to the beginning until I know where its going, then start writing.

9. Why did you decide to join writeblr?

My reasons are pretty personal, but the least personal is that I needed some accountability and motivation. And I missed being in a good writing community.

10. What’s your favourite food?

Pasta! I’m eating spaghetti right now.

11. If you had to kill off a character in your WIP, who would it be and why?

Oz would be the most tragic. Treena would be the most logical. 

From @bigmoodword:

1. using one sentence summaries, can you tell me about your wips?

Nerdy potion woman meets cute odd stranger who helps her solve magic mysteries in their quirky small town.

2. what inspired them?

I saw a zine accepting submissions for magic stories, then an open call for queer shifter stories, and thought “what if wholesome magical lesbians?”

3. which of your ocs do you most identify with?

Gemma!

4. if you’ve ever cried while reading, which book cued the waterworks?

THE SONG OF ACHILLES.  My God, my soul was weeping. Honestly, it still is. Doesn’t matter that I knew the story from the Iliad. Madeline Miller is a feelings wizard.

5. how do you conduct research for your wips and what’s the most interesting thing you’ve discovered in said research?

On an as-needed basis. I used to do way too much research to avoid actually writing the damn thing, so now I only do it when I actually run into a problem that can be solved by Google.

6. thus far, which scene has been the most difficult to write?

The ones that aren’t hugely emotional. Which is... unfortunate.

7. which of your ocs do you like the least?

Rude. On a personal level, Jill. I love her, but I would not be friends with her. We wouldn’t mesh at all.

8. which pov and tense do you prefer to write in?

Third person limited present tense! To the bane of everyone who’s ever edited my work.

9. do you write poetry?

I do! Not often, though.

10. who is your writing role model?

My freakin’ writing professor from college. He is crazy disciplined.

11. if you could give your younger writer self some advice, what would it be?

Hey, you know those people who say your writing is too dark? Yeah, they suck and they’re wrong. They just want kids to live up to their expectations and write happy sunshiny stories about unicorns and dinosaurs having ice cream. And you’re not depressed because you wrote that one sad poem one time and someone asked if you were depressed. What you have is called feelings and they’re very useful for a writer, nay, a human, to have.

From @sundaynightnovels:

Who is your biggest role model? Okay, so I got crap all the time in grade school for never having a role model, and I still don’t have one. The teachers were concerned about me. But my reasoning was, “why should I want to live someone else’s life?” Yeah. They didn’t really know what to do with that...

What are your OCs favorite foods? Sort of answered here!

Which OC is most afraid of the dark? Oz and Mary!

What made you want to start a writing blog/participate in the writeblr community? Answered above!

Did you sleep with a stuffed animal as a kid? Do you still? I did, indeed. I don’t anymore, but I have two that I shuffle around my room when they get in the way. One is a highland cow I got in Scotland (he has a plaid hat), the other is a blue whale I got at the Museum of Natural History in NY.

Do you like donuts? I love donuts. Especially jelly filled ones. Mmm.

Do/would your OCs like donuts? All of my OCs like donuts. I don’t think Mel has ever had a modern one, though.

What is your least favorite food? Cauliflower? I’m the household taste-tester, so there’s been a lot of stuff I don’t like.  ( @sundaynightnovels I hate sparkling water, too, you’re not alone!)

What is your ideal writing environment? Comfy seating, a chair with no arms (stupid elbows), alone, plenty of chosen beverage within reach, headphones.

Favorite line from your WIP? So far, it’s this one!

Favorite quote from a book? Oh, man. There are so many. From recent memory, here are a few: “’Give it time,’ she replies. ‘It won’t be a story forever.’“  and “Everyone has heard stories of women like us, and now we will make more of them.” (both from The Ladies Guide to Petticoats and Piracy) “When he smiled, the skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled like a leaf held to flame.” and “I lean forward and our lips land clumsily on each other. They are like the fat bodies of bees, soft and round and giddy with pollen.” (I could write a goddamn essay about the imagery in this scene.) (It is quite possibly my favorite description of a kiss ever. And the metaphor extends through the rest of the scene so artfully ugh.) (both from The Song of Achilles) “The thing about a story is that you dream it as you tell it, hoping that others might then dream along with you, and in this way memory and imagination and language combine to make spirits in the head.” (from The Things They Carried)

#11/11/11 tag #about me #tag game #writer tag #oh my god so many questions #fun stuff below the cut #forgive my terrible jokes I am tired #writeblr #how I write #I guess #rec #book rec

[kpoptimeout]

My Top 10 K-Dramas of 2018 - What’s Yours?

2018 is ending soon and K-Dramaland has once again brought us so many goodies this year. As per our blog’s tradition [For 2017 faves click here], below are my Top 10 favs of the year (my faves in alphabetical order so it might not be yours so please don’t judge)

My only specific criteria this year is that the show must have had started in 2018 to be considered a 2018 series (Hence, Hwayugi and I’m Not A Robot were in last year’s list and honourable mentions)

Lawless Lawyer (tvN)

Every year we have a few stellar Korean legal dramas and Lawless Lawyer is one of them. Starring veterans Lee Joongi and Son Yeji, the drama details a gangster turned lawyer who used unorthodox techniques to win cases and a lawyer-childhood friend-love interest who got into trouble for attacking a judge. After his return from the military, Lee Joongi has acted in many internationally well-received dramas but “Lawless Lawyer” is the first since his return to gain massive commercial success within South Korea and becoming one of the highest viewed dramas on Korean cable channel history. Son Yeji was also able to show her acting chops and shed her pretty girl image through this drama. It is understandable why this drama did well - it was action-packed, had a well-plotted storyline and also the right laughs at the right moments. If you love an amazing legal drama, go watch Lawless Lawyer already!

Memories Of The Alhambra (tvN/Netflix)

You know it’s nearing the year’s end when tvN drops another high budget and experimental drama with a star-studded cast to steal you and the critics’ hearts. This year it is Memories Of The Alhambra, which is an ambitious project jointly produced by tvN and Netflix. Following the success of jointly produced Mr. Sunshine which also made the list, the two studios teamed up for an even crazier project - instead of the guaranteed tear-jerking historical drama they went for a sci-fi/fantasy thriller exploring virtual and augmented reality and business in the digital age. You know they are taking this project seriously when they got the writer for “W” (the Lee Jongsuk and Han Hyojoo hit about the collapse of a comic book world into reality) Song Jaejung to write this screenplay. The show with top cast featuring Hallyu stars and veterans Hyun Bin, Park Shin Hye, and EXO’s Chanyeol with exhilarating graphics and filming in Grenada has been topping online and domestic Korean viewership since its broadcast on December 1st. If you enjoy creative sci-fi adventures with Asian leads, this is the drama for you!

Mr. Sunshine (tvN/Netflix)

One of the first tvN and Netflix collaborations, Mr. Sunshine was an unsurprising hit starring world-famous Korean actor Lee Byung Hoon and South Korea’s favourite young actress Kim Taeri. Other main cast include skilled and popular actors like Yoo Yeonseok, Byung Yohan and Kim Minjung. Throw in the historical Joseon setting and the imminent colonisation by foreign powers, you have a recipe for an awards-sweeper and crowd-pleaser! Besides a plot that easily draws in audiences, the set designs, colour grading, music, and costumes are all phenomenal and is a feast for the senses. My only knit-picking critique is it seems unrealistic that a Korean man can rise to as high a rank as Lee Byung Hoon’s Eugene Choi character in the racist 1800s United States no matter how brilliant Eugene Choi was. But besides that, if you love a historical epic with romance and war, this is the drama you would enjoy!

Ms. Hammurabi (JTBC)

This drama sees Go Ara and Song Dong Il reuniting in their father-daughter/mentor-mentee like dynamic following hit dramas Reply 1994 and Hwarang, with Go Ara being an idealistic former music student who dropped out and self-studied to become a judge, and Song Dong Il being the old geezer and life mentor who only managed to become a judge later in life. They are joined by INFINITE’s L being a by the books judge who likes Go Ara’s wholesome character. The drama is exceptionally touching, not only for its realistic depiction of life as judges in civilian law countries but also as a reflection of people chasing their dreams in different stages of their life. The drama also expertly deals with real-world issues like gender discrimination in the workplace, prejudice to marginalised groups and the issues that come with an inflexible hierarchical structure in South Korea. While there is romance between the leads, this is shown subtly and naturally, without it becoming a distraction to the engaging storyline. If you enjoy a thoughtful drama about society with great acting, this is a drama you would enjoy.

My ID is Gangnam Beauty (JTBC)

Maybe I am slightly biased because I loved the webtoon but I think My ID is Gangnam Beauty is one of the best Korean rom-coms of the year. First I thought the casting was spot-on - ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo perfectly encapsulated the cold and awkward Do Kyungseok and Im Soohyang was able to display the insecurities of Kang Mirae even after plastic surgery well. The drama does a good job of touching on Korean society’s toxic beauty visual standards - it still makes the female lead insecure even after she gets plastic surgery and she gets ridiculed before and after plastic surgery. Meanwhile second female lead Hyun Soo Ah, played by Jo Woori, also struggles as a natural beauty due to fears of people no longer liking her should she ever fall below their expectations in any way. This is a thoughtful drama that does not just demonise characters for the sake of drama but gives us lots of food for thought about why people act the way they do regarding appearances. If you like a drama that is fun and cute but also has a good message, you should check out this drama!

My Mister (tvN)

There are dramas where you skip some scenes because you want to get to the main point. There are some dramas where you want every second of it. My Mister was one of those dramas you watch every second of. It was that good. While many Kdramas still having idealistic female leads who slowly get jaded and turn badass only near the end/are always protected by men and never turn badass, My Mister finally does the move of making the female poor but super resourceful, brilliant and cynical, and already super jaded to begin with. Played by top singer and actress IU, the female lead Lee Jian reverses the usual female lead tropes by slowly learning to see some good in the world and learn to dream following a life of extreme poverty and hardship. The other highlight of the drama is the male lead played by talented actor Lee Sunkyun, whose relationship with his brothers and mother, as well as his crumbling marriage with his wife provide a lot of food for thought on the meaning of family and life. By acting as a mentor of IU’s character while also being saved by IU from lots of drama unknowingly, we see two broken souls learn from each other to be better people. The drama also showcased how romance is not the only meaningful love that exists between communities. If you love an insightful slice-of-life drama with realistic intrigues, betrayals, and character development, you would love My Mister.

Radio Romance (KBS2)

Honestly at this point HIGHLIGHT’s Dojoon is just nation’s drama boyfriend and he continues to pick the good scripts as we can see in Radio Romance. The drama is simple - the assistant writer played by Kim Sohyun’s radio show might get cancelled and she manages to somehow get the top radio star played by Dojoon to host her show. Shenanigans happen and romance blossoms. It is stereotypical but done well, with the right amount of twists and just knowing when it should bounce back from the laughs and side stories. If dramas are all dishes, Radio Romance is like that cheesecake that tastes sweet and light, not so filling that it will you sick. It is the dessert you would always go for to feel good. If you like to watch something that makes you feel warm inside, this is the drama for you!

Something in the Rain (JTBC)

I am usually not super into “the younger dongsaeng has a romance with noona who he knows growing up all of a sudden” stories but there was something special about Something in the Rain. When I first began watching this drama, it did not feel like watching a regular Kdrama at all and more like an indie film from the West. There is a feeling of emptiness at the beginning, possibly to signify the resident noona and veteran actress Son Yejin’s unsuccessful love life. There was a lot of dialogue and cuts and it felt like watching a documentary about the lives of the characters. But it was this formatting of Something in the Rain that makes it feel so genuine. The pace of the leads building up their romance was steady and natural. Hence, it made issues they faced feel all the more real too. If you enjoy a realistic slice-of-life portrayal of romance, you would love this drama!

The Guest (OCN)

When I saw the trailer I already knew this was some scary shit. Following its many successful thrillers last year, OCN decided to dive in the more horror side of a thriller in The Guest. To fit this aesthetic, the drama was broadcasted only at 11pm instead of primetime but still had massive success and rightly so. The acting by the three leads Kim Dong Wook (man who can see ghosts and the future), Kim Jaewook (the cold, exorcist priest), and Jung Eunchae (a detective who does not believe in the supernatural) is phenomenal, making their team up to catch criminal possessed by ghosts all the more exhilarating. The actors who play the possessed are also amazing, making for most of the scares in this drama. If you enjoy a mystery and the horror genre, this is the Kdrama for you!

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? (tvN)

Being the most searched Kdrama on Google in South Korea this year, it would not make sense for What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? not to make this list. The drama revolves around the successful but extremely narcissistic company vice chairman played by Park Seojoon and his capable no-nonsense secretary played by Park Minyoung, with the latter quitting after paying off family debts and not being in the mood to work for her annoying boss anymore. The whole process where Park Seojoon tries to retain his secretary of course blossoms into romance etc. etc. One of the reasons this drama did so well was that not only did it have a strong and capable female lead but Park Seojoon defied expectations in his role. As another Kdrama based on a webtoon, original webtoon readers felt like he was not similar to the male lead and were not sure how he would handle the role. But Park Seojoon did a fantastic job, to the point I wanted to bang my head on the table or slap his character whenever he did narcissistic shit. If you want a high-quality rom-com with some unorthodox twists, this is the drama to watch!

Honourable Mentions:

100 Days My Prince (tvN): The fourth highest-rated Korean drama in cable television history starring EXO’s D.O and Nam Jihyun, the drama details the marriage between a noblewoman on the run and a crown prince who lost his memory during a failed assassination attempt.

Are You Human? (KBS2): With the actual development of AI in recent years, more Kdramas have embraced the topic of robot-human romances. Seo Kang Joon and Gong Seungyeon star in this story involving a bodyguard and the AI of a chaebol masquerading as the real chaebol who is in a coma.

Still 17 (SBS): A drama involving a 30-year-old man who doesn’t want to grow up due to trauma (Yang Sejong) and a woman who wakes up after a 13-year coma so acts like a 17-year-old even though she is 30 (Shin Hyesun).

Welcome to Waikiki (JTBC): A comedy-drama starring rising actors Kim Junghyun, Lee Yikyung, and Son Seungwon who run a failing guesthouse called Waikiki. Oh, and there’s a single mother and a baby in this crazy mix!

What’s your Top 10 K-Dramas of the Year? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below and may the drama sharing begin (and the road to more excuse for holiday procrastination!)

Also, if you want to check out underrated K-Pop songs of 2018, here are the lists for idol songs, artist songs, and OSTs!

#kdrama #k-drama #korean drama #kdrama 2018 #k-drama 2018 #lawless lawyer #memories of alhambra #mr sunshine #mr. sunshine #ms hammurabi #ms. hammurabi #miss hammurabi #my id is gangnam beauty #my mister #radio romance #something in the rain #the guest #what is wrong with secretary kim #why secretary kim #100 days my prince #are you human #still 17 #30 but 17 #welcome to waikiki #kpop #k-pop #kpop 2018 #k-pop 2018 #kpop news #k-pop news

[surprisebitch]

Hi I'm new to anime & I trust and admire u!!! What do u recommend??

Hey there! and yeeesss, i’m so glad you’re gonna give anime a try! there are so many good stories and plots in anime which dont exist in western media so it’s a great mode of entertainment! so as for recs, lemme copy and paste my previous list and update it to answer your question!

Currently watching:

Neon Genesis Evangelion - i admit it has a slow buildup but be patient because you will really find it intense and see how it’s not your typical mecca anime. so far, i think it seems to be a deconstruction of the genre and has alot of psychological themes

Boku no Hero Academia - it’s a recent anime and it’s really good! i think it’s on course to becoming a really big anime that will last many seasons at this rate. the story is about a world where majority of the inhabitants are heroes cause they have quirks (powers).. and the premise is that the main character doesnt have one but he wants to be a hero so watch and see how the story unfolds!

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures (currently on Stardust Crusaders) - macho anime with an excellent plot! the guys are hot haha and many of the memes are in japanese so watch the original subbed but if you prefer not to read, the dub isnt bad. it’s very memey but the story is really entertaining and has unpredictable moments

One Punch Man - a parody of a superhero anime. tbh this isnt really binge-watch material cause it’s like a running gag and the story unfolds after episode 5 so i’ve just been watching this during my cardio days in the gym. but it’s really funny and a good anime

Hunter X Hunter - this anime is popular and it’s about hunters. so the beginning has the protagonist wanting to be a hunter and then he meets some fellow hunters along the way. it’s one of the highest rated anime in MyAnimeList (the RottenTomatoes equivalent of the anime world) so yeah check this out!

Recently watched:

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (Battle Tendency) - SONO CHI NO SADAMEEE JOOOOOOJOOOOOOOOOOOOOO the type of anime that’ll get you wanting to go to the gym and lift. that being said, it has a really amazing story

Shingeki no Kyojin / Attack on Titan - it’s the Game of Thrones of anime imo.. like it’s so GOOD.. it will just make you gag after every episode!!! it’s so intense and there are really badass characters. and the plot is really brilliant. like if you think season 1 was like WHAT THE FUCkk.. wait til season 2! this anime is crazy and exciting. not for the faint-hearted tbh cause it can be graphic and disturbing (also dont get attached. they could die!) but yeah, this anime is popular true and some say it’s overrated but that’s because it really deserves all the recognition and success it has for its amazing plot

Love Live! School Idol Project - i honestly just watched this like out of curiosity and just for kicks. i was not expecting to love it but after episode 3, i was like wait??? wasnt this anime supposed to be fun?? why am i crying?? so yeah, it’s super good, touching, entertaining and sweet! and the songs are really catchy and good.. TBH this anime is like so gay since there are no men (except Honoka’s dad) so yeah it passes the Bechdel Test with perfect score

Love Live! Movie - the conclusion to the anime! 

Love Live! Sunshine - i watched this like a few months after finishing Love Live! cause i loved the original girls and i was worried i wont like these girls.. but honestly, you will appreciate them. and it’s EVEN GAYER.. and is soo good too! 

btw tell me who your fave girls/best girls are after watching Love Live and Sunshine. my best girls are Umi Sonoda and Kanan Matsuura :>

Anime watched/finished:

Kimi no Na Wa - universally lauded and recently released! it’s the best film released in 2016 imo. i swear it’s really next level storytelling

Rurouni Kenshin - i think i watched this anime twice/thrice.. It’s so suspenseful. it’s about samurais. and this anime made me interested about Japan’s history. it’s kind of a period drama with amazing fight sequences. and it’s critically acclaimed. it’s my father’s all-time favourite anime

Rurouni Kenshin OVA - it’s a prequel. also more violent and tragic than its anime counterpart.. like it’s really different from the series. but it’s so good. you’ll find out how Kenshin got his iconic X mark from here!)

Ghost Stories - THE DUB IS A MASTERPIECE! THE SUBBED IS SHIT. TRUST ME. the DUB is the popular one too cause it’s the superiour version. You really have to see this one. the anime bombed in Japan so the english dubbers got all the rights for the anime and they gave the go signal for the dubbers to do whatever the fuck they want and the end result is fucking hilarious. it shits on the Scary Movie Franchise tbh

Puella Magi Madoka Magica - i swear do not be deceived.. it is a really intense and surprisingly dark anime with excellent plot twists

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun - super funny anime. if you need a laugh, this will really lift you up. i watched the first two episodes in sub and dub back to back.. and i can vouch that the voice actors for the English dub are excellent. it’s actually even funnier.. but if you prefer subs, then that’s fine. it’s just the lines are more humorous, expressive and have more variety :) Nozaki’s voice is also attractive in the dub.. it’s still very Nozaki imo. this anime pokes fun at the shoujo manga yet still has romantic elements. it’s mostly comedy though

Jigoku Shoujo / Hell Girl - angst, tragedy, philosophical anime analysing humanity’s hatred, need for vengeance, and suffering. Futakomori or the 2nd season is my favourite but it’s worth finishing the entire series. 3rd season is very painful to watch though and you dont have to watch that one tbh if you dont want to lol

Yu Yu Hakusho - occult, spirit world, ghosts, and fighting. you most probably have heard of this

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters - 1st series starring Yugi. iconic!

Digimon - can be very intense! better than Pokemon imo

Cardcaptor Sakura - this is also suspenseful. like the premise is essentially that Sakura has to catch all the “monsters” that were freed from this book. and it’s up to her to “capture” them and put into cards. magic, fantasy, and beautiful animation

Ranma ½ - this was so funny but the ending was disappointing cause it got cancelled apparently.. i really hope this will go out of limbo and give us a proper ending like InuYasha did but i doubt it

Danganronpa (murder plot twists, intense and despair-filled storyline. click this to know more about the premise. it’s like Battle Royale meets CSI meets How To Get Away With Murder. btw i highly suggest you play this game (it’s available on Steam) instead of watching the poorly condensed anime. so buy it on steam or you can download it how you like cause it’s one of the best games ever. and if you plan on watching this, there is no Danganronpa 2 anime so yeah just play the first game tbh. here’s a trailer of the game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwJeZPMhdUk. if ya dont wanna play the games then you can watch the anime. and after watching this, here’s a link of the playthrough of the 2nd game. it’s super fun, full of plot twists, and interactive)

Yuri On Ice - it’s a really cute gay anime. people will argue it isnt and its queerbait but i’m gay and alot of the things which happen are too much for just bros to do so yeah, i believe it’s canon gay or mlm. and i enjoyed it so you watch it and be the judge

Blood+ - vampires and sword fighting

Ghost In The Shell - it’s a sci-fi movie

Yakitate Japan - baking and cooking!

Getbackers - still up to debate if the duo are gay but if you google art of them, there have been official art released and it’s so gay lol. but yeah it’s shonen genre and it’s not canon gay

Cowboy Bebop - a CLASSIC. the dub is great!!

I don’t remember if i finished these but I watched a lot of episodes enough to recommend it and will rewatch them soon to relieve memories. I’m pretty sure I tuned in though and watched like 80%:

Fushigi Yuugi (i think this is shoujo but it has a nice adventure storyline)

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood  (i feel like i actually finished this. idk why my memory is hazy concerning this anime. this is so popular. you should’ve heard of this iconic anime somehow. i watched and tuned in but i don’t remember how or when i stopped)

Gundam series (i think i finished the first Gundam and the second)

Tsubasa Chronicles (it’s like a spin-off of Cardcaptor Sakura but they’re like all grown up and the plot is different)

Naruto

One Piece (i watched like the first four seasons)

Bleach (i remembered watching until episode 40 omg)

Great Teacher Onizuka (this is so funny tbh. i think i watched almost all of it)

Studio Ghibli films I watched:

Spirited Away

The Wind Rises

Ponyo

Tales from Earthsea

Anime I plan to watch (many suggested this to me and i plan on watching them so i’ll write them down here) :

Koe no Katachi (A Silent Voice)

Anohana The Flower We Saw That Day

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Tokyo Ghoul

Re: Zero

Your Lie in April

Shin sekai Yori

Gintama

More of Makoto Shinkai’s movies like 5 centimetres per second, etc.)

More Ghibli films too

Final Fantasy XV: Kingsglaive (after i finish FFXV game im watching this one)

Persona 4

Here you go!!!! I know it’s an extensive list. I’ll probably make this a masterpost of anime recs and will update this list, and add more soon. If you have any questions or anything, don’t be shy to message me! :)

[last updated: 5 November 2017]

#anime recs #anime #rec #recs #Anonymous

[groundramon]

for the ask the blogger thing... ☂ - favorite season? ✐ - fave types of movies? ♪ - music you like?✌ - favorite bands/ singers? ♒ - fave animes? ❦-.fave characters? ღ - mottos? I'm spamming u with those sorry

SHHH NO I LOVE BEING SPAMMED WITH QUESTIONS SO THANK YOU

Also thank you for including the questions with the emojis that makes this 10x easier for me lmao

anYWAYS

☂ - favorite season?Winter!!  Nice and cool AND you dont have school for two weeks lmao

✐ - fave types of movies?Generally animated; I enjoy animation and movie animation tends to be consistently pretty high-quality (even the fucking emoji movie looks pretty decent) not to mention live action movies always seem to have really bad sound mixing??  Meaning important things you NEED to hear like whispering are too quiet and explosions are too loud even when you dont change the tv volume.  But even then, saying I prefer animated movies isn’t exactly accurate because….I haven’t gone to the theater for a single animated movie this year.  The only ones so far that I would’ve considered were Lego Batman (which I have on dvd now but i havent watched) and Cars 3.  I’m hoping to see Coco in theaters but other than that….i can wait for it on dvd or just not watch it at all because I’d prefer to rewatch a movie I like.

I also dont like calling animated movies a genre, so if we’re going by genre, I’d say fantasy-adventure stories tend to be my favorites, but sci-fi can be fun as well.  I just want a good, heartfelt story that doesn’t take itself so seriously that you can’t have fun but also takes itself seriously enough that you really feel for the characters.

♪ - music you like?GOD I WISH I KNEW??  I’ll literally listen to everything from vocaloid to mainstream pop to techno music to video game OSTs and everything in-between and outside of that.  I’m generally more picky with rap music, techno/electronic music, and just anything that gets screechy or is too intense with its instrumentals, but….I can listen to hard metal music when im trying to fall asleep at night, so i mean.

✌ - favorite bands/ singers?Again, god I wish I knew.  I have a tendency to think “oh, this is alright, I’ll listen to a few of this artist’s songs” and then moving on and never thinking about them again.  One artist that I’ve come back to repeatedly is Sabrina Carpenter though, her music is nice and a few of her songs are some of my all-time faves, its probably not for people who cant stand mainstream pop tho.  Also shout out to Mystery Skulls for officially licensing Mystery Skulls animated instead of taking them down for copyright infringement lmao also their music is some of the techno music that i actually like

♒ - fave animes?I havent watched enough animes aaAAAA but I will always and forever love Digimon.  Like I dont think any anime will surpass the personal attachment I have to the Digimon series.  It’s just so silly and charming and for a long time it was the best thing I had ever seen and it’s honestly still just….really enjoyable.  (Honestly it gives me fossil fighters vibes, I think I like them both for the same reason tbh)  Digimon Adventure is definitely my favorite, Tamers is really good but I actually have a bit of a personal bias against Tamers because it scared me as a kid :’D its still a good season tho and i appreciate it a lot more now that im older.  And FRONTIER IS ACTUALLY GOOD, PEOPLE CAN FIGHT ME it’s got the same vibe as the first four seasons, even if the concept seems vastly different, and is really enjoyable if you arent blinded by your love for the digimon partners in the old series.  After that though its kinda….ehhh.  Data Squad and Fusion didnt have the same feel, although Fusion did it much better, but…its just not the same.  I really dislike Marcus so it makes Data Squad less enjoyable, plus i just…idk, it doesnt seem to have as much life as the first four seasons and is written and animated in a different way to me.  Fusion is kinda interesting in the second arc (ive only seen the first three arcs; the third arc/seventh season [idk which it is] hasnt been dubbed yet so…) but it takes itself too seriously because it removes its primary comic reliefs - and also the best characters - after the end of the first arc.  So we’re left with the Digimon as the only comic reliefs and….ehhh….theyre not as good.  Also I havent seen the Appmon anime and idk how good it is but im still salty that they stole the name of the project that ive had floating around in the back of my head for years so i havent done anything related to Appmon.  AND Digimon Tri is good but i still need to catch up on it ahaha cries (planning to get a trial at crunchyroll to watch the last two parts when the last part comes out)

But enough about Digimon.  Besides Digimon, I really did enjoy Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood; I do have some gripes with the series (namely the earlier episode and how much happens in the earlier episodes vs how much happens in the later episodes, so pacing problems basically) but it’s still really good and I LOVE AL.  There was an anime I watched with my dad several years back called Blue Dragon that I remembered enjoying a lot, but then disowning because it turns out in the original my favorite character was a perfect example of the anime pervert trope.  Dubs are fun lmao.  But I feel like I’d pick up more on the changes they made between the two versions now (the sub version being riddled with swears and innuendos, and the dub version being dubbed for kids) and probably wouldnt enjoy it as much anymore.  I also barely remember shit about it except a plot twist at the end that i spoiled for myself but still had no idea it was coming.  I was like 11 when i watched it, its been a long time.

❦-.fave characters?Well I already mentioned loving Al, but I also love Pidge from VLD, Amanda from Dream Daddy, Baymax and Hiro from BH6, and Napstablook from Undertale.  Also like all of the main characters in Fossil Fighters Champions but shhh.

I really want to add Hunk to this list but honestly as the seasons in VLD go on it becomes more and more apparent to me that he’s just a running fat joke; Lance looks like he could be building up to something, but I haven’t got a clue where Hunk could go besides more of the same.  So :’) my boy deserves better, he can join the group again when Dreamworks gets its shit together.  Sorry Hunk, I still love you and I’d treat you better if you were mine (//looks at my characters all burning in hell and sweats// well maybe not better but…)

ღ - mottos?Uhhh idk?  Does this mean like, mottos I follow, catchphrases I use a lot, or inspirational quotes?  Idk I’ll give all three

I try to live my life by the policy of “do to others as you would have them do to you.”  That’s like my number 1 rule about doing anything.  I dont understand how people can be intentionally dicks to other people or so something that they would hate happening to them; what, dont you realize that other people have the same feelings as you?  I know I’ve hurt other people but still, it’s always been in instances where the pros outweighed the cons if I put themselves in their shoes.

As for catchphrases I use a lot, probably “mood” or “god same” because this site has completely broken my sense of anything

As for inspirational quotes, well here are some copy-pasted directly from my dA page:

“No man deserves to be trapped in jelly.” - Rupert from Fossil Fighters Champions“what motivates Scart? That’s right: the nut” - Tumblr user claratyler“I am slowly going crazy” - Dr. Jean, songwriter of children’s music and my lord and savior“I’m still mad at Seth McFarlane btw but im more concerned with my tree cookies” - me“I was out of the third bean” - Yolei’s mom from Digimon Adventure 02

#stormy answers #thanks for the ask!!!

[hagiographically]

movie recs pls!!! I am v uncultured and have some time so I want to watch a bunch of movies! You seem like someone who has v good taste, what movies do you recommend? any and all genres :)

stari ?? love u thank u!!! im also trying to watch a bunch of good movies cuz i feel uncultured too lol, so if any of my followers have recommendations PLS let me know

that being said i can tell u some movies that i really like! 

kids/animated:

big hero 6- one of my favorite animated movies EVER. so fkn wholesome

any disney/pixar movie, but especially finding nemo, the incredibles, ratatouille, up, wall-e, monsters inc

princess movies: tangled, frozen, moana (

how to train ur dragon, wreck-it ralph, zootopia, inside out (all disney i think)

studio ghibli!! especially howl’s moving castle, my fave

wallace and gromit and the curse of the were-rabbit (if my family had a religion….it would be this movie)

hugo (PLEASE WATCH THIS MOVIE ITS LOVELY)

romance/rom-com:

as far as ~teen movies~ i really love easy a, pitch perfect, fired up (its stupid but its so funny), mean girls, she’s the man, 10 things i hate about you, ferris bueller’s day off, 17 again (i actually ADORE this movie omg), clueless (gets better every time i watch it), heathers

groundhog day

40 year old virgin

princess bride

crazy stupid love

bruce almighty

her (i actually adore this movie)

eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

love actually (a classic. wonderful film. emma thompson)

the artist (the cutest fucking thing youll ever see)

shallow hal

comedy: 

bridesmaids (a classic)

21 jump street

white chicks

mrs. doubtfire (im Sad)

school of rock (SO STRANGELY WHOLESOME)

wayne’s world

bill and ted’s excellent adventure (I LOVE THIS MOVIE)

election (again better than the book)

best exotic marigold hotel

o brother where are thou (fun fact, in choir i had to learn the soundtrack to this movie)

monty python and the holy grail (fun fact ive memorized almost the entire script of this movie)

zoolander

elf (these are will ferrell’s best movies)

drama:

perks of being a wallflower (better than the book)

stand by me (BETTER THAN THE BOOK)

shawshank redemption (my favorite movie of all time also better than the book)

the descendants (before shailene woodley started doin the most)

good will hunting (every time i watch this movie i love it more)

slumdog millionaire (a lot of indian people hate this movie but i think its a well done film, and i think the child actors are amazing)

lion (as long as we’re talking dev patel dramas with amazing child acting….)(also this movie made my dad cry. my dad NEVER cries)

american beauty

the imitation game

les miserables

room

thelma & louise (every time i watch it i realize how good and feminist it is)

mystery/thriller/sci fi/anything else (i dont usually watch these)

the sixth sense (the only horror movie i actually enjoy because it’s not really a horror movie and it’s very smart)

inception (one of my favorite scifi films)

the martian (if you have to pick one matt damon space movie, choose this over interstellar)

star wars/the force awakens/rogue one (if you dont want to do all of them, do star wars 4, 5, and 6, and watch the force awakens)

superhero movies: batman begins trilogy (esp. dark knight), deadpool (violent as fuck but funny), guardians of the galaxy (more comedic), ant-man

the fifth element

star trek (the 2009 one - really good)

the hunger games (the first one is good)

gone girl

nightcrawler (will fuck u up)

fight club (its extra but the acting is good)

this was RLLY LONG SORRY I HOPE U LIKE IT THO

#i love movies i still need to watch a lot of mysteries and superhero films and classics #movie recs #movies

[churmandurr]

Rules: Answer all questions, add one question of your own and tag people

i was tagged by @wooden-duck​ like a week ago 

1. coke or pepsi: pepsi definiely

2. disney or dreamworks: uhmm, disney i guess not sure

3. coffee or tea: coffee definitley

4. books or movies: i really enjoy both but i havent read a book in a long time but like honestly i would take a good book over a movie probz

5. windows or mac: both are good depending on what ur using for 

6. dc or marvel: UHHH idk if i guess i had to choose i guess marvel bc of bullseye from the daredevil movie lol idk

7. x-box or playstation: probz xbox just bc i own one but like i dont rlly play on either, i play on that sweet sweet pc 

8. dragon age or mass effect: i dont have a damn clue about either of these things 

9. night owl or early riser: night owl none of this early morning shit 

10. cards or chess: um probz cards 

11. chocolate or vanilla: chocolarte boi

12. vans or converse: converseeee but like, my one ankle is kinda fuckt up rn so its getting tougher 2 wear them

13. Lavellan, Trevelyan, Cadash, or Adaar: idk who these damn people are

14. fluff or angst: angst 

15. beach or forest: giv me the big forest 

16. dogs or cats: BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!

17. clear skies or rain: i rlly enjoy being in the rain so that 

18. cooking or eating out: cooking is great but im tired a lot so dont rlly like to put in the effort so we eat out often lol....

19. spicy food or mild food: mild food because im a huge pussy

20. halloween/samhain or solstice/yule/christmas: christmassssss

21. would you rather forever be a little too cold or a little too hot: a little to cold, its a lot easier to manage 

22. if you could have a superpower, what would it be: all i wanna do is be able to fly 

23. animation or live action: i rlly like live action movies of animted movies 

24. paragon or renegade: what are these words u are saying?

25. baths or showers: showers but baths are ok sometimes 

26. team cap or team ironman: i rlly dont give a damn 

27. fantasy or sci-fi: fantasy tbh

28. do you have three or four favourite quotes, if so what are they? i rlly like this poem here, i know its not a quote but its my favoutire “ you are a horse running alone and he tries to tame you compares you to an impossible highway to a burning house says you are blinding him that he could never leave you forget you want anything but you you dizzy him, you are unbearable every woman before or after you is doused in your name you fill his mouth his teeth ache with memory of taste his body just a long shadow seeking yours but you are always too intense frightening in the way you want him unashamed and sacrificial he tells you that no man can live up to the one who lives in your head and you tried to change didn't you? closed your mouth more tried to be softer prettier less volatile, less awake but even when sleeping you could feel him travelling away from you in his dreams so what did you want to do love split his head open? you can't make homes out of human beings someone should have already told you that and if he wants to leave then let him leave you are terrifying and strange and beautiful something not everyone knows how to love.”

29. youtube or netflix: both for different raesons

30. harry potter or percy jackson: i do not give a danf about these things 

31. when do you feel accomplished: when i have enough money to put away for school and not be completely broke after 

32. star wars or star trek: star trek

33. paperback books or hardback books: hardcover so the pages dont get permanently bent n shit 

34. horror or rom-com: horror all the way

35. tv shows or movies: TV Shows

36. favourite animal: red pandas are my fave 

37. favourite genre of music: popy punky rocky shit tbh

38. least favourite book: honestly propbably like, brave new world or fucking, that book that apocalypse now is based off, heart of darkness

39. favourite season: fall fporever n ever 

40. song that’s currently stuck in your head: the song im listening to i guess, the reason by hoobastank 

41. what kind of pyjama’s do you wear? short shorts and a tank top

42. How many existential crises do you have on an average day: idk like 2 a day

43. If you can only choose one song to be played at your funeral, what would it be? play what does the fox say on repeat alright 

44. Favourite theme song to a TV show: my dad the rockstar 

45. Harry Potter movies or books: neither i dont care 

46. Favourite traditional food from your family: my mom used to make this really amazing pasta salad 

47. Favourite decade from 1900-now: uhh, the early 2000′s for sure 

48. A song that no matter the mood, it’ll make you smile? teenage dirtbag fuck off bye - my roommate makes fun of me all the time because i listen to it so often 

49. Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit? uh neither idk

50. Deadpool or Wolverine? deadpool for sure 

51: What’s your party trick? bumming everybody out man idk

52. Favorite place you’ve even been on vacation? british columbia 

53. Tent camping or cabin camping? tent

54. Favourite tv show character and why? joey from friends he is the most pure friend 

55. Favourite dessert? luv me some cheesecake 

56. Whats one thing you’ve made in the last month? uhh i made campbells cream of bacon chicken and rice idk it was okay

57. When you were 7 years old, what were your dreams in life? uhh idk when i was 7 i thought i was half lion so like

58. Do you read ebooks or audiobooks? neither tbh i just read like, normal books idk

my question: do u sleep with socks on?

i tag @that-turtle-has-a-suitcase @butistillhopeforthebest neither of them will do it probz but thats ok

#reply #tag thing #ask #idk