How to Choose a Starting Point for Your Story
Jan. 9th, 2026 05:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithA friend asked, "How do you choose the starting point of your fic/story?" Here are some thoughts...
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ysabetwordsmith
Prompt: Winter
Jan. 9th, 2026 07:50 pmranalore posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
chenqing_100This week's prompt is: winter.
You have until midnight your time on Friday, January 16, to answer this prompt. Please post your fills of the prompt as separate entries to the community (i.e. not replies to this entry), tagged with the prompt tag. You may post multiple standalone drabbles per entry in addition to drabble sequences and series.
As a reminder, this community has no official presence elsewhere. You are encouraged to share the prompt on social media, if you so desire. It may take me a bit to create the AO3 collection, so please be patient.
Also, I'm going to go ahead and drop a link to the prompt suggestions post here. New suggestions are always, always welcome.
You have until midnight your time on Friday, January 16, to answer this prompt. Please post your fills of the prompt as separate entries to the community (i.e. not replies to this entry), tagged with the prompt tag. You may post multiple standalone drabbles per entry in addition to drabble sequences and series.
As a reminder, this community has no official presence elsewhere. You are encouraged to share the prompt on social media, if you so desire. It may take me a bit to create the AO3 collection, so please be patient.
Also, I'm going to go ahead and drop a link to the prompt suggestions post here. New suggestions are always, always welcome.
Dept. of This and That
Jan. 9th, 2026 08:15 pmkaffy_rPills and Novels
There's nothing like getting up, grabbing the handful of pills you normally scarf down, and having one of the horse pill-sized vitamins get caught in your throat. There's that initial split second of "Oh, it'll go down when I swallow again" and then panic - and pain - as the damn thing doesn't go down.
Actually, painful doesn't even begin to describe it; agony is probably a better description. I kept trying to dissolve it with water, but it wasn't working. I was literally on my knees because of the pain. I woke up BB and between crying and gagging I managed to tell him what was wrong. He got up and did the Heimlich maneuver on me. It didn't shoot the pill out of my mouth, but it did move it just enough so that, about a minute later, I was able to cough, and the cough finally sent the thing stomach-ward.
Truly, for him to roll out of bed, bleary-eyed, and immediately know to do the maneuver, just reminds me that he is by far the most level-headed man I know.
As of tonight, my throat feels as if I've come down with something flu-like. I know my struggle to get the pill down my gullet caused some bleeding, since I had that coppery taste in my mouth that's unmistakable. With any luck, it will heal relatively quickly.
I'm never again taking all my morning pills at once. 😬
On the other hand, I finally put up the 19th and final chapter of "Gleaning Musutachi," the original novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo, of blessed memory, over onoriginalkaffy_r . It's monumentally flawed, and wouldn't make it to anyone's slush pile, much less publication, but I didn't write it to get published. I wrote it because I wanted to complete something of novel length. I'm fond of the characters I created and, despite the flaws, the world I created pleases me. I also managed to keep the plot from completely disintegrating. Yay, me.
So pill pain, and something I could put up as a completed original novel. I love Fridays.
There's nothing like getting up, grabbing the handful of pills you normally scarf down, and having one of the horse pill-sized vitamins get caught in your throat. There's that initial split second of "Oh, it'll go down when I swallow again" and then panic - and pain - as the damn thing doesn't go down.
Actually, painful doesn't even begin to describe it; agony is probably a better description. I kept trying to dissolve it with water, but it wasn't working. I was literally on my knees because of the pain. I woke up BB and between crying and gagging I managed to tell him what was wrong. He got up and did the Heimlich maneuver on me. It didn't shoot the pill out of my mouth, but it did move it just enough so that, about a minute later, I was able to cough, and the cough finally sent the thing stomach-ward.
Truly, for him to roll out of bed, bleary-eyed, and immediately know to do the maneuver, just reminds me that he is by far the most level-headed man I know.
As of tonight, my throat feels as if I've come down with something flu-like. I know my struggle to get the pill down my gullet caused some bleeding, since I had that coppery taste in my mouth that's unmistakable. With any luck, it will heal relatively quickly.
I'm never again taking all my morning pills at once. 😬
On the other hand, I finally put up the 19th and final chapter of "Gleaning Musutachi," the original novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo, of blessed memory, over on
originalkaffy_r . It's monumentally flawed, and wouldn't make it to anyone's slush pile, much less publication, but I didn't write it to get published. I wrote it because I wanted to complete something of novel length. I'm fond of the characters I created and, despite the flaws, the world I created pleases me. I also managed to keep the plot from completely disintegrating. Yay, me. So pill pain, and something I could put up as a completed original novel. I love Fridays.
Image claiming to show Renee Nicole Good's car aimed at ICE officer isn't what it seems
Jan. 10th, 2026 01:11 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
snopes_feedCredible videos of the shooting showed the wheels of Good's car were turned away from the agent when she moved forward and he shot her.
2025 Year in Review
Jan. 9th, 2026 09:05 pmreeby10This is a mashup of a lot of memes I've seen going around, as well as some I've done in years past. It already feels like I'm so late to the party that I didn't want to do multiple things lol
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( Read more... )
snowflake challenge #5: wishes
Jan. 9th, 2026 08:13 pmgreetingsfrommaarsChallenge #5: In your own space, create a list of at least three things you'd love to receive, a wishlist of sorts.
- Soup recipes! I have to admit I've been looking forward to making this request ever since I thought of it :)
- Recs for space horror media or fics
- Read one of my poems from this year if you're so inclined?
mistakes were made
Jan. 10th, 2026 01:05 amrmc28In "ice is slippy" news, I have managed to bruise both my hips in hard falls this week: the left one at hockey camp earlier this week, the right at Warbirds tonight.
For preference, I sleep curled up on one side.
Ow.
snowflake challenge #5
Jan. 9th, 2026 04:57 pmsvgurl
Challenge #5
In your own space, create a list of at least three things you'd love to receive, a wishlist of sorts.
1. icons/where to find icons of any of my favorite fandoms/ships, especially Roy Kent/Jamie Tartt (Ted Lasso) and Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz (9-1-1). More 9-1-1 icons that include Christopher too would be great. :D
2. icon tutorials for people who don't have photoshop/want to improve on skills
3. a mod icon for
comment_bingo 4. fanart for any of my fics, found at
5. New friends - on here, Tumblr (
Daily Check In.
Jan. 9th, 2026 06:45 pmadafrog posting in fandom_checkinThis is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Friday to midnight on Saturday (8pm Eastern Time).
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
Poll #34064 Daily poll
This poll is closed.
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 23
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 23
How are you doing?
I am okay
15 (65.2%)
I am not okay, but don't need help right now
8 (34.8%)
I could use some help.
0 (0.0%)
How many other humans are you living with?
I am living single
7 (30.4%)
One other person
11 (47.8%)
More than one other person
5 (21.7%)
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
Soooooo productive
Jan. 9th, 2026 03:55 pmsusandennisI got the package from the CPA yesterday for taxes. I just had a break in my day so I was reading over it and hit a Very Big Snag. I need documentation for the sale of my condo. Found it!! BUT then read more closely and discovered I also need documentation for the purchase of the condo... ARUGH. It's all in a giant folder with the HOA declaration that I left in the condo for the new owner. Happily, I know the guy but arugh. But then I went to Gemini and asked what exactly do I need for IRS documentation and how is the best way to get it.
All I need is the deed and the excise tax papers - here's the link - search by name or a bunch of other ways. Found both immediately and now have PDF's of each in my Taxes>2026 folder and I'm feeling very accomplished. And holy macaroni, there are a shit ton of Susan Dennis's in this county alone! I am not feeling special name wise.
My brother is down in his room taking a nap.
This morning we went to Target and got a rubber duck and two storage bins that were exactly the size we needed. Then we went to UPS to finish returning all the shelves we didn't need. The on to the parking lot between the vet and the pot shop. I went and picked up Biggie's drugs and Bill went to pick up some gummies for his wife.
Then we got gas and then we came home and got out the hair clippers and he shaped up the back of my hair.
And the ToDo List for January 2026 was completed.
When you open the door to my refrigerator often, the gasket holds it and you end up pulling your arm off and also slamming the door against the wall. Normal door stops don't stick out enough so my brother thought of sticking a rubber duck to the wall. And we found a Rubber Duck with chef's hat and apron to do the job.
You can zoom in to see his details. He's adorable. I cannot wait for someone to ask me why I have a rubber duck on the wall.
Tonight we're having dinner with Jim (down the hall - different than Jim across the hall) and his girlfriend, Gayle. Jim Down The Hall is originally from the smallish town in Texas where my brother lives now and he's also retired Navy like my brother so I though it would be fun to have a visit.
We did not get to Chinese last night because Bonny didn't want to go out in the rain. Which was fine. The three of us ate in the cafe downstairs. We may do Chinese tomorrow.
I feel like we have really gotten so much done. I'm using 'we' liberally. My brother did all the work and is so good at providing advice and helping me decide shit. I'm so lucky that he's so willing!
All I need is the deed and the excise tax papers - here's the link - search by name or a bunch of other ways. Found both immediately and now have PDF's of each in my Taxes>2026 folder and I'm feeling very accomplished. And holy macaroni, there are a shit ton of Susan Dennis's in this county alone! I am not feeling special name wise.
My brother is down in his room taking a nap.
This morning we went to Target and got a rubber duck and two storage bins that were exactly the size we needed. Then we went to UPS to finish returning all the shelves we didn't need. The on to the parking lot between the vet and the pot shop. I went and picked up Biggie's drugs and Bill went to pick up some gummies for his wife.
Then we got gas and then we came home and got out the hair clippers and he shaped up the back of my hair.
And the ToDo List for January 2026 was completed.
When you open the door to my refrigerator often, the gasket holds it and you end up pulling your arm off and also slamming the door against the wall. Normal door stops don't stick out enough so my brother thought of sticking a rubber duck to the wall. And we found a Rubber Duck with chef's hat and apron to do the job.
You can zoom in to see his details. He's adorable. I cannot wait for someone to ask me why I have a rubber duck on the wall.
Tonight we're having dinner with Jim (down the hall - different than Jim across the hall) and his girlfriend, Gayle. Jim Down The Hall is originally from the smallish town in Texas where my brother lives now and he's also retired Navy like my brother so I though it would be fun to have a visit.
We did not get to Chinese last night because Bonny didn't want to go out in the rain. Which was fine. The three of us ate in the cafe downstairs. We may do Chinese tomorrow.
I feel like we have really gotten so much done. I'm using 'we' liberally. My brother did all the work and is so good at providing advice and helping me decide shit. I'm so lucky that he's so willing!
CHECK IN: DAY 9
Jan. 10th, 2026 12:14 amigenlode posting in writethisfanficIs today a writing day, or a taking-it-easy day? Both are good...
Question of the day: what is the best/worst typo that has stuck in your memory?
Question of the day: what is the best/worst typo that has stuck in your memory?
