The Secrets of Story
Mar. 18th, 2026 12:27 pmThe Secrets of Story: Innovative Tools for Perfecting Your Fiction and Captivating Readers by Matt Bird
A how-to-write book. Despite the title, mostly for TV and movie writers, down to and including explaining that a prose writer has it easier.
Nevertheless, some useful ideas, particularly about irony, such as the character's flaw should be a flip-side of a strength to add reason to not want to fix it. None of the jargon was impenetrable.
A how-to-write book. Despite the title, mostly for TV and movie writers, down to and including explaining that a prose writer has it easier.
Nevertheless, some useful ideas, particularly about irony, such as the character's flaw should be a flip-side of a strength to add reason to not want to fix it. None of the jargon was impenetrable.
Wednesday 18/03/2026
Mar. 18th, 2026 09:27 am1) we have a huge magnolia tree in our garden and its blossom is so beautiful :-)
2) delicious tea
3) hubby's mother is staying for dinner
Pride and Prejudice: The Rich Are Always Respectable by Elizabeth (anghraine)
Mar. 17th, 2026 09:38 pmFandom: Pride and Prejudice
Pairings/Characters: Darcy/Elizabeth, Georgiana, Jane/Bingley
Rating: Teen
Length: 75k
Creator Links:
anghraine
Theme: siblings, old fandoms, book fandoms, novel length, AU, family,
Summary: Without Lady Catherine's interference, a family catastrophe throws Darcy and Elizabeth down wildly different paths.
Reccer's Notes: This series is very much Darcy/Elizabeth, but they spend a lot of it going down separate paths. And on those separate paths, their closest relationships are with their siblings--Darcy and Georgiana, Jane and Elizabeth. I love the care that is taken with all of the different relationships in this story.
Fanwork Links: The Rich Are Always Respectable
Pairings/Characters: Darcy/Elizabeth, Georgiana, Jane/Bingley
Rating: Teen
Length: 75k
Creator Links:
Theme: siblings, old fandoms, book fandoms, novel length, AU, family,
Summary: Without Lady Catherine's interference, a family catastrophe throws Darcy and Elizabeth down wildly different paths.
Reccer's Notes: This series is very much Darcy/Elizabeth, but they spend a lot of it going down separate paths. And on those separate paths, their closest relationships are with their siblings--Darcy and Georgiana, Jane and Elizabeth. I love the care that is taken with all of the different relationships in this story.
Fanwork Links: The Rich Are Always Respectable
Marvel: Geriatric Road Trip, 2015 by what_alchemy
Mar. 17th, 2026 09:25 pmFandom: Marvel
Pairings/Characters: Steve/Bucky
Rating: Gen
Length: 4k
Creator Links:
what_alchemy
Theme: siblings, AU, family
Summary: Bucky was the eldest of four.
Reccer's Notes: Bucky has four younger siblings, and in 2015 they are elderly, crotchety, and determined to go see Steve Rogers. Getting there is an ordeal, and what they find there is a surprise. I love the way the characters are so well-drawn and realistic, and I love the humor.
Fanwork Links: Geriatric Road Trip, 2015
Content notes: racist and homophobic language
Pairings/Characters: Steve/Bucky
Rating: Gen
Length: 4k
Creator Links:
Theme: siblings, AU, family
Summary: Bucky was the eldest of four.
Reccer's Notes: Bucky has four younger siblings, and in 2015 they are elderly, crotchety, and determined to go see Steve Rogers. Getting there is an ordeal, and what they find there is a surprise. I love the way the characters are so well-drawn and realistic, and I love the humor.
Fanwork Links: Geriatric Road Trip, 2015
Content notes: racist and homophobic language
Vorkosiverse: The Emperor's Brother by Lanna Michaels (lannamichaels)
Mar. 17th, 2026 08:50 pmFandom: Vorkosigan
Pairings/Characters: Kareen Vorbarra, Alys Vorpatril, Gregor Vorbarra, Ivan Vorpatril
Rating: Gen
Length: 13k
Creator Links:
lannamichaels
Theme: siblings, family, secret identity reveal, female characters, old fandoms, book fandoms, AU, female friendship,
Summary: Kareen protects her children.
Reccer's Notes: This is such a fascinating AU about Kareen, Alys, Gregor, Ivan, and what might have happened.
Fanwork Links: The Emperor's Brother
Pairings/Characters: Kareen Vorbarra, Alys Vorpatril, Gregor Vorbarra, Ivan Vorpatril
Rating: Gen
Length: 13k
Creator Links:
Theme: siblings, family, secret identity reveal, female characters, old fandoms, book fandoms, AU, female friendship,
Summary: Kareen protects her children.
Reccer's Notes: This is such a fascinating AU about Kareen, Alys, Gregor, Ivan, and what might have happened.
Fanwork Links: The Emperor's Brother
Round 185 Theme Poll
Mar. 17th, 2026 09:38 amApril will be a Flashback round where we revisit a classic theme from the early years of the comm.
Poll #34378 round 185 theme poll
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 82
Pick the next theme of fancake:
Arranged Marriage
39 (47.6%)
Forced Proximity
21 (25.6%)
Threesome
22 (26.8%)
Tuesday 17/03/2026
Mar. 17th, 2026 12:16 pm1) a day at my and my daughter 's favorite theme park.
2) sunshine
3) delicious cookies
Vorkosiverse: The Cukoo, by callmecasandra
Mar. 17th, 2026 01:43 amFandom: Vorkosigan
Pairings/Characters: Gregor Vorbarra, Ivan Vorpatril
Rating: Gen
Length: 7k
Creator Links:
callmecasandra
Theme: siblings, AU, fork in the road, family, gen, old fandoms, book fandoms
Summary: Gregor need not have worried.
Reccer's Notes: Gregor Vorbarra is Emperor of Barrayar, and he has monsters in his family tree. His father Serg was a rapist and a murderer who died when he was a small child (and Serg's own father Emperor Ezar arranged his death), and his great uncle was Mad Emperor Yuri who was paranoid and homicidal and awful. Gregor understandably has issues about his family.
But what if Ezar had seen the sort of person Serg was, and how many monsters are in the family tree, and not only made sure Serg died before inheriting the throne, but also ... made sure that Serg would not father the next emperor of Barrayar?
This is a short but compelling AU. The series is marked incomplete, but there are no dangling plot threads and it hasn't been updated in over a decade.
Fanwork Links: The Cuckoo
Pairings/Characters: Gregor Vorbarra, Ivan Vorpatril
Rating: Gen
Length: 7k
Creator Links:
Theme: siblings, AU, fork in the road, family, gen, old fandoms, book fandoms
Summary: Gregor need not have worried.
Reccer's Notes: Gregor Vorbarra is Emperor of Barrayar, and he has monsters in his family tree. His father Serg was a rapist and a murderer who died when he was a small child (and Serg's own father Emperor Ezar arranged his death), and his great uncle was Mad Emperor Yuri who was paranoid and homicidal and awful. Gregor understandably has issues about his family.
But what if Ezar had seen the sort of person Serg was, and how many monsters are in the family tree, and not only made sure Serg died before inheriting the throne, but also ... made sure that Serg would not father the next emperor of Barrayar?
This is a short but compelling AU. The series is marked incomplete, but there are no dangling plot threads and it hasn't been updated in over a decade.
Fanwork Links: The Cuckoo
Star Wars: Lonely In Your Company by Darkmagyk
Mar. 17th, 2026 01:36 amFandom: Star Wars
Pairings/Characters: Leia Organa
Rating: Gen
Length: 2k
Creator Links:
Darkmagyk
Theme: siblings, gen, family,
Summary: “We were very close.” Sola says, and Leia smiles her politician's smile in response.
This woman is convinced she and her sister were the best of friends. And she’s telling the secret daughter, from a secret marriage, all about it.
Leia doesn't need the force to know it wasn't true.
Reccer's Notes: This is about Padmé and her sister Sola, but it's also about Luke and Leia, and about family, and about memory.
Fanwork Links: Lonely In Your Company
Pairings/Characters: Leia Organa
Rating: Gen
Length: 2k
Creator Links:
Theme: siblings, gen, family,
Summary: “We were very close.” Sola says, and Leia smiles her politician's smile in response.
This woman is convinced she and her sister were the best of friends. And she’s telling the secret daughter, from a secret marriage, all about it.
Leia doesn't need the force to know it wasn't true.
Reccer's Notes: This is about Padmé and her sister Sola, but it's also about Luke and Leia, and about family, and about memory.
Fanwork Links: Lonely In Your Company
Captain Americs: My Brother, The Hero by Odsbodkins
Mar. 17th, 2026 01:13 amFandom: Captain America
Characters/Pairings: Steve/Bucky
Rating: G
Length: 16,400 words
Creator Links:
odsbodkins
Theme: Outside POV, siblings, female characters, gen,
Summary: Becca Barnes is eight years old, and her big brother can do no wrong. The events of the two Captain America movies, from the perspective of one of the sisters Bucky leaves behind.
Reccer's Notes: This story has an excellent child's perspective, and a deep and abiding love between Becca and Bucky. It's lovely and it makes me cry.
Fanwork Links: My Brother, the Hero
Characters/Pairings: Steve/Bucky
Rating: G
Length: 16,400 words
Creator Links:
Theme: Outside POV, siblings, female characters, gen,
Summary: Becca Barnes is eight years old, and her big brother can do no wrong. The events of the two Captain America movies, from the perspective of one of the sisters Bucky leaves behind.
Reccer's Notes: This story has an excellent child's perspective, and a deep and abiding love between Becca and Bucky. It's lovely and it makes me cry.
Fanwork Links: My Brother, the Hero
[The Conservatory] Cattleya #2
Mar. 17th, 2026 09:36 amName: Distractions
Story: The Conservatory
Colors: Cattleya #2: Myötähäpeä
Word Count: 1087
Rating: G
Warnings: NA
( Read more... )
Story: The Conservatory
Colors: Cattleya #2: Myötähäpeä
Word Count: 1087
Rating: G
Warnings: NA
( Read more... )

