The Timeless Story Nisam Sam By @thealocksly Has A Kind Of Visceral Sadness To It. (link To Her Tumblr

The Scholomance story Beside the Golden Door by Stellarete details Chloe growing up in the New York Enclave.

The Scholomance books Deadly Education, The Last Graduate & the pending: The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik detail El's story in the magical school the Scholomance.

Chloe is a fascinating character who has learnt growing up to be blind to the intensity of the privilege she grew up with and yet learns to open her eyes throughout the series and to become a genuine friend.

The enclave's teachings are so similar to all the messaging in more privileged societies. I am a university educated European and know rationally that I hold an immense amount of privilege even if there are still a lot of hardships and intense challenges in life. Chloe doesn't ignore her privilege, but does learn that her value and existence are not intrinsically tied to it. She works to be a better friend and person.

This story highlights Chloe's character growing up and the subtlety of the messaging and teaching. It's not even maliciously done: survival is paramount and these parent do lovingly want their children to live come what may.

The Scholomance by Naomi Novik is an intriguing and wonderful story and I am very curious for the conclusion that'll be published in September.

While we wait, this fanfic story is a lovely glimpse into this universe and character.

In these pandemic times, the Timeless story A Butterfly Garden by @vita-s-west is particularly graceful. The focus on Lucy & Flynn returning to a quiet life after all the experiences in their fight with Rittenhouse mirrors in some ways my experience in the current pandemic & the way I battle my anxieties by returning to creativity, stories & nature.

There are many evocative descriptions in the story, and there's a kind of quiet attention throughout that I particularly enjoy.

NaNoWriMo - My Cartoon of the Day - December 1st: Time to Rest & Recoup

We did it! The rush to the finish line is done. It's over and dusted. We are DONE. November is gone and over with and our NaNo season is coming to a close. For today: rest & start recouping. Bask in the glory of having completed your challenge and the satisfaction of having had the courage to attempt it. If you did not achieve what you set out to do: face your feelings, acknowledge them and rest in the knowledge that I am proud of you for attempting it.

Any word you wrote is one you did not have before. Life interferes sometimes and serendipity happens. For me: November is a month of creativity. It is rare that I manage to complete NaNo in all the years I have been trying - but I embrace the effort, the attempt, the striving & desire to tell stories.

Dec 1st: Time to Rest & Recoup

Take a moment to reflect and breathe. How do you feel? What did you enjoy most about NaNo this year? What did it teach you? What did you learn? Would you like to maintain your daily writing habit? Is your story finished? What would you like to integrate into your daily life now that NaNo is over? Who were your biggest supporters and how would you like to thank them? What do you need to recoup? To rest? To breathe? To celebrate? I'll see you tomorrow for the Thank-Goodness-It's-Over-Party and the final bonus cartoon!

The Timeless story Finding Light in the Darkness by Ultra is a wholesome, 19th century AU tale that features Lucy & Garcia unashamedly falling in love.

It is a story of found family - of choosing where and with whom you make your home in the world. It's a sweet & lovely tale. Iris is precocious & the ten-year-old knows what she's doing. Jiya & Rufus are sweet (as can be considering the backstory for Rufus that luckily gets resolved). Karl makes his appearance & Lucy's journal is featured.

(Interesting sidenote: it made me think how in the show we see lots of evidence of Lucy having written (her journal & books) but we never really see her put pen to paper & record her thoughts. Found that intriguing.)

Lately, I've been fascinated by The Hunger Games AU story A Standing Engagement by @bettsfic featuring Annie Cresta & Finnick Odair.

The Hunger Games is a dark dystopian reality that in so many ways mirrors our own, and it's gruesomeness is portrayed so hauntingly in this story. Annie Cresta is given a different backstory from canon, and lives in the capital. Her past is still dark. Life in the capital is heartbreaking: constant monitoring, putting on a display, not showing your real self and the dark undercurrents of danger & exploitation are always there.

Annie has lost most of her childhood memories, and lives in a world where image matters more than truth. Narration is by necessity unreliable as Annie does not know nor trust in what is truly happening, and doesn't remember except in haunting tainted glimpses. Annie pays Finnick to pretend to love her & act like he truly cares, and therefore, what trust can there be that what Finnick says & does is honest and real?

We see Finnick only through Annie's eyes and supplement that knowledge from what we know from canon: I think that leads us to trust Finnick's honesty in caring for & loving Annie earlier than the story itself warrants. Chapter 8/16 has just been published, and the truth of his love is acknowledged. Yet, that very truth is dangerous & puts them both in jeopardy - which we already know from canon. And so, this story weaves an interesting tale.

Their history - the fisherman's boy and the screaming girl - is referenced in small glimpses and details and I enjoy going back and rereading after new chapters to see earlier hints in a different light, like the best kind of stories do.

In our view of Finnick & his exploitation, we see our own celebrity culture: objectiving to such a degree we no longer acknowledge people as humans. The story is clever in its examination of what that does and means.

Annie & Finnick are both starkly lonely and vulnerable and yet able to reach each other behind all the masks. I'm curious to read where this story is going next now that the monthly meetings can no longer take place and the next Hunger Games are around the corner.

Fanfic Sketchnote Review of The Ship's Cat (Temeraire)

The Temeraire fanfic story: The Ship's Cat by Ystradwel is absolutely adorable. I am as smitten with Pan (or Biscuit as he's originally named) as Temeraire is (originally) jealous. The cat and the dragon come to an understanding while Laurence shows his bemused befuddlement. He respects Temeraire even if he knows nothing about dragons in this very early setting.

Granby is offered the opportunity to match his observations against what he has been told even earlier and it is glorious.

Enjoy this lovely little story that is well in-character for a smile and chuckle.

NaNoWriMo - My Cartoon of the Day - Day 10 - Just Keep Writing

Word by word & day by day: let's keep writing away. Whether you are struggling or blazing ahead: channel your inner-Dory and remember the song. 🎵 Just Keep Writing Just Keep Writing 🎵

Day 10: Just Keep Writing

All the small words add up and progress is progress. The words don't need to be pretty or polished or particularly well written: for NaNo the challenge is getting the words, any words, to tell your story. Let's get them written!

NaNoWriMo - My Cartoon of the Day - Day 28: Seeing Yourself Reflected

Storytelling can be like looking in a mirror. Every story, like every author, is unique. There are glimpses of yourself hidden away and buried deep. Perhaps you consciously added details of your own life and own philosophy. Perhaps they creeped in on their own.

Day 28: Seeing Yourself Reflected

It is both a beauty of writing and a terror: the fear of being known to your readers. And yet is it not also marvelous: to leave something of yourself and who you were. We still engage with literature written millenia ago, study its contents, enjoy its humour, tragedy and catharsis. We are all human, storytelling is deeply engrained in us and yet the unique particularities that you bring are like no other.

We are in the final days of this NaNo and there is still time to get your words written and your story out. Take heart in the feeling of community and know we are here to cheer you on. Keep writing and share your thoughts!

NaNoWriMo - My Cartoon of the Day - Day 09: Take a Moment to Relax When You Need It

NaNo is more akin to a marathon than a sprint. To keep the stamina to last us through the entire month: it is important to take care of ourselves and relax when we need it. Get yourself that nice cup of tea, sit down in the fresh autumn air for a moment and take in the moment. Breathe! Take a moment and gather fresh energies.

Day 09: Take a Moment to Relax When You Need It

Keep writing your story. One word and one day at the time. These storms will pass and the way out is through!

NaNoWriMo - My Cartoon of the Day - Day 14: Adopt a Plot Bunny from the Pound!

Plot Bunnies come in all shapes and sizes! Some are utterly adorable, others absolutely vicious, and yet others both! If you ever feel yourself running out of steam during NaNo, simply plan a trip to the Plot Bunny Pound where there are many lovable twists&turns just waiting to be adopted.

Day 14: Adopt a Plot Bunny from the Pound!

A word of caution: Plot Bunnies often come in multitudes and are know to multiply rapidly whenever they find a loving home. If you ever find yourself in the position where you have too many Plot Bunnies you can comfortably sustain: the Plot Bunny Pound is also happy to work with you to find another writer's home. Come play with these adorable, plot gnawing and heartmelting little creatures!