CloverReef

@Anesor Not entirely sure if you were agreeing with me or disagreeing. There wasn’t anything you said that seemed to debate my points at least? Though admittedly I bristled when you said “I think we should be careful about overusing the term ‘rut.’” and now I want to use the term even more lol.

Well, admit I don’t follow that one too closely, otherwise the sex scenes in my stories would be few and far between …. However, for the overarching main story in my universe, it is my field of expertise, so I could figure everything out in way too much detail; thus, I do ballpark calculations, and be happy with nice, round numbers. This is pretty much what I was going to say. Both points, lol. On TV shows, a lot of editing and decision making has to go through a number of people. When a number of people are involved in one decision, in my opinion, they tend to drive each other along a specific pattern. One person wants to take a risk, and seven more people hmm and haw over it for a while and compromises are made. I think that’s when the stagnating happens. Moral of the story? Fuck teamwork, I guess. And yeah, I definitely don’t follow the write what you know thing. I follow the write what you’re interested in knowing thing. Write what you love, or write what piques your curiosity. As long as interest or love is there, as pippy put it, I definitely think it’ll show. Annnd if you don’t wanna get lost in the research, go my favourite lazy route! Fantasy world based loosely on 18th century france or ancient greece or whatever! Anyway, back to the original question. I think it’s much easier to avoid stagnation when you make all the decisions. Though if you’re like me and you go where your inspiration takes you, there will be a lot of recurring themes, simply because I tend to get inspired by specific, similar things. Luckily there are all kinds of ways to keep them fresh. I mean Stephen King has written how many books about horror shit in New England? People still love him. Some audiences like knowing what to expect from authors. Using recurring themes and settings across most of your stories can breed that sort of security. I know when I really like a book and I go look at what else the author wrote, I go hoping for similar things, and if I find all kinds of very different things, I’m often disappointed. There’s nothing wrong with a rut, as long as that rut is a friggin enjoyable rut. But sticking to a set formula, as a writer, isn’t nearly as fun. I desire variety. I want to try all kinds of genres – all kinds of pairings and villains and heroes. I wanna do feminist fiction and nautical shit, and senseless, horrifically depraved smut. However, most attempts to venture from what I’m good at or certain of will die on the cutting board and never see the light of day, but I think it’s important to explore those dead ends when you feel the urge. Even if just to get it out.

Cold Snap Chapter 21 XiouSan Hi! I almost called you XiaoSan like three times. Just because of a fandom I used to be in lol. Anyway, that was a very sweet review, thank you. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story, and I would certainly like to write some oneshots. Did you mean cold-snap-related, or did you have something else in mind? I thought about sticking Bot and Gary in with their little happy family in the cabin lol but I figured that might be a little awkward/weird and out of character for them (Gary mostly, Bot might like it). I imagine they’d still be on the streets. Seems a shame, like they should have had a happier ending, huh?

It is done! The final chapter/conclusion is posted! Yaaaay! Paaarty!!!

Wish Review Replies InvidiaRed: Thank you! I don’t usually go for ‘warm and delightful’ but I think the holidays brings that out in some of us darker-inclined folk. Sessbewitchinbabe: Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to review. I’m glad you liked the story and I’ll absolutely consider putting an explanation in if I ever expand upon it.

I wrote a little Christmas story about magic, grief, and banging. Enjoy! Author: PlagueRat (me) Title: Wish Summary: A year ago on Christmas Day, Caleb watched the love of his life go down in a plane crash. Now he’s a broken man, doomed to spend the holidays alone and crippled with grief. That is until he stumbles upon a strange little boutique where he finds a doll with the most haunting eyes. Fandom: Original Pairing: M/M Warnings: Anal Angst COMPLETE MM Oneshot Oral Link: http://original.adult-fanfiction.org/story.php?no=600108825 (Sorry, mods, I had used the form as I always do, but it became invisible in the default theme)

Welcome to the Plague! [Cue images of filthy gears churning, heavy smog, and shit-soaked cobblestone streets] Now that I got it all atmospheric for you, let’s talk reviews. Or not. I’m being optimistic here. Maybe let’s just talk about the weather or something? Hello…? This thread is intended for review replies, Q&A, and anything else related to PlagueRat’s stories. Edit: reviews for Cold Snap will continue to be responded to in the original thread. Mostly because that's where the link at the top of each chapter leads. You can find it here:

I don’t think I’m quite at 2000, but thanks to collabing/roleplaying, I’m well over a few hundred. I try not to use the same name twice either, for developed characters, but I have so many characters that I planned that I never did anything with, or only used once for a few scenes and abandoned, that sometimes I will salvage their name for a new character. But even then I feel weird about it lol. I have this rule that I don’t use the names of people who mean something to me, buuuut I do actually have one name that breaks both these rules. Rick. Someone I had a crush on when I was a kid, I started using his name whenever I’m in need of a 2 dimensional asshole in a collab. Like just a side character that doesn’t get much scene time (not a full on antagonist or anything) and he’s made appearances in at least a dozen stories now, lol.

That’s a pretty good rule. Forces you to get creative as long as you don’t twist yourself into knots avoiding it. I’ve heard you mention it before and ever since I’ve kinda just been half-assedly avoiding starting sentences with ‘the’ and more aware of it when I do use it.

Most of my ‘weird rules’ are not so much weird as boring and grammar related. A lot of my writing I go by feel, so if I made any rules I’d probably break them real quick. Well I do have a rule where I never use names of people I’m close to. And on the off chance I make a female character, she needs to be absolutely nothing like me as I’m deathly allergic to self-insertion (… of the writing variety…) Even if I some day decided to write my memoirs I’d probably break out in panic hives every time the main character did something that reminded me of me I guess I’m a little weird about my physical setting when I write too. Like I like to have music playing that fits the mood – there was a whole chapter in Blackbird that I wrote to the sound of a rain from one of those sleep noise apps because it was raining in the chapter. But at the same time, I can’t focus when the music has lyrics. The words fuddle me all up. So most of the time I have to write with instrumentals or complete silence.

19 is up! 2 chapters to go

Good idea, thanks

I have changed my pen name to PlagueClover on the archives. So if you saw my story posted there under this new name, don’t worry, it hasn’t been stolen.

Yes, stress and feeling like no one’s even reading has a huge impact on my inspiration as well. Makes it all the more fleeting. Makes it hard to work up the motivation to attempt to grasp those wisps, and if you manage to grasp one, there’s still the battle of trying to convince yourself it’s worth it to do anything with it. Sometimes it’s hard to see the point. Sometimes it’s just work and family related stress that completely blows the smoke of inspiration right out of the air, but the will is still there. Stronger even, and desperate for the therapeutic clacking of keys and laying of thoughts, because when you need it most, it’s hardest to grasp. At least that’s my experience.

Yeah, I write them down ASAP too, but that helps remember the ideas, not so much retain the inspiration. For me, an idea and being inspired for an idea are two drastically different things, and in my hands, a fully formed idea is worthless without the inspiration to bring it to life.

It feels like such a fleeting thing. You feel like you can reach out and grab it, but then it wisps through your fingers and dissipates like smoke. Sometimes I can grasp it for the length of a song and formulate an entire universe, but as the song ends, it fades like a dream and ten seconds later, it’s gone. The details are still there, but the visions, the emotions, the characters voices and desires are suddenly all very 2 dimensional and not strong enough to weave into a good story foundation. There are times, though, when it’s not such a flight risk. When I can grasp it and put reins on it and attach every passing whimsy to me like a dog sled. I’m not asking for help or advice. Inspiration is such a personal thing, no amount of “try this” will change my reality, but my reality is ever-changing. I’m interested in your experiences with it. Either right now, or over the years.

My Archive Pen name is now PlagueRat Already got one story ready for this. Might add another. Story: Talking Dogs Holiday theme: takes place on christmas, involves christmas gifts and the big man himself makes an appearance! Warning: Nosex, micd Summary: Emily’s having a great Christmas! Her scam charity is going well, and she has a truckload of donated electronics for ‘sick children’ on their way to a black market dealer. But out in the middle of nowhere, on a deserted Nevada highway, a little distracted driving lands her in an unbelievable situation.

@Tahn Yeah, Crispin was definitely creepy, lol. Thanks for the review!

Chapter 18 is up! Things are coming down to the wire! 3 more chapters until the end! Will post 19 next Friday! Enjoy, lovely humans <3

Review for The Devil Began To Sing Well hello again, Ireyon! I know, the story’s strange! I was in a pretty strange place when I wrote it, lol, so I was pretty sure most people wouldn’t like it, but to me, it was less about him getting punishment for his sin and more about what his sin creates. His terrible choices unleashed a dark force, and then he was left alone to suffer the aftermath. I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review! Thanks <3

Cold Snap ch 17 Ireyon, hi! To be honest your vision of him is much prettier than mine is, so totally go with that! That sleek, jaguar-banged-a-bat look was kinda what I wanted, but every time I write it he ends up looking like some fucked-up frankenbat in my head. I was hoping readers would see him as this big winged shadow – which is partly why he only appears when it’s pretty dark – because fucked-up frankenbats might be a bit of a turnoff lol. Well, to most people. Anyway, thank you for the review!

Oh fuck yes! This story’s written to the end but those plot bunnies need a real kick in the ass! They’re being assholes about the next fic.