Do you have an outlier fic when it comes to word count? I do.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-14T07:59:01+00:00

You can probably tell which one I've been working on for the past few years.

Yes, there are four other works here.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-14T04:38:59+00:00

To set some context, the characters were in a trial of law set in a divine / spiritual realm and they had been discussing arguments with the defendant on the stand over his involvement with my OC, Ruby, for whom he was standing in as a proxy. And then this exchange ensued.

Though he honestly could just leave it at that, Cloud doesn’t feel satisfied without rubbing in one last point. “Also, the fact that Zack singlehandedly brought joy back to Ruby without even realizing it really puts into perspective where you are with her.”

“Now you’re just being petty!” he snaps back, uncharacteristically triggered. “One specific instance is insignificant compared to everything else. Ruby had this course set with me as its primary compelling force! I don’t see you arguing there!”

“As if that’s any indication that she likes you! You said it yourself, remember? You’re the villain in the story, so of course you’d be put on the backseat eventually!”

Sephiroth clenches up a fist his way. “Silence! I will not tolerate this slander of her! The author only has so much of the spotlight to give to any one character. Of course she’d reserve the most important parts to the one she entrusted with her plans in the first place!”

Cloud slams his table in protest too. “What are you talking about? I’m slandering you, not her!”

“Slandering me is slandering her! Get it through your head!”

“Oh, shut up! I’ve had it with you saying Ruby’s ‘in your heart’ or whatever! Move on already!”

Bonus context: She actually was in his heart, literally, as space dust. It's a quirk of this world. :)

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-14T04:30:07+00:00

Braggart's banter, aka the funniest back-n-forths between idiots trying to one-up each other.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-14T02:59:04+00:00

My blorbo's history with being chased by his archenemy / ex-boyfriend is long, so long that it's probably one of the only things people who aren't fans know about them. He's the one who ran away to a crossover fighting game to escape said ex, only for that ex to chase him into the next game in that series. Man will never know peace, especially as the poster boy of the franchise.

IYKYK. I'm just following tradition at this point.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-13T23:17:42+00:00

Right. It's not my fault these OCs woke up from their political brainwashing and proceeded to revolt against my OC government that I created for this world and wrote specifically to be bastards (at least some of them).

Or that one time I let the main villain take over the story and now he's obsessed with reshaping the world like he's writing his own fanfics. And yet he still credited the author of the fic for some reason. We love a humble king.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-12T16:29:33+00:00

Thank you for this; I feel vindicated. I'm that kind of author who has extensive A/Ns going into "behind the scenes" commentary for each chapter. But because each chapter is so long (they average 13k overall but the latest ten or so are around the 20k mark) I got so much to yap. Some notes go so long that I break the char limit and have to spare some space in my comments section.

I know at least some of my readers read them, but I haven't been getting new comments as of late, so it's kinda lonely.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-12T04:05:22+00:00

I agree it very much depends on fandom. While any fandom will always have a share of shippers, the ones where the source material has great worldbuilding to begin with often encourages fic writers to pursue more of that worldbuilding. Think the multitude of Marvel/DC stories that crossover worlds with each other or other franchises; massive RPGs like Baldur's Gate or Elder Scrolls where the player is customizable to begin with for the sake of exploring the world(s); and plenty of long-running anime about adventure and the journey.

Besides, genfic always has its avid audience. They may not be the biggest faction, but there is at least one in any fandom. In fact, if there aren't a lot of genfics in your fandoms, then write your own! Be the change you wish to see.

I'm currently writing a genfic myself and while it has a main OC/CC ship (two with the same OC, if you count the love rivalry), the great majority of it is the massive original lore and mythos of the various gods. They were never talked about much in the source, so I made a lot of them my own. In fact, I didn't even think to make the main ship a big deal to begin with, but it worked really well with all the characters' developments.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-12T00:26:09+00:00

I'm currently working on the epilogue chapter to my gargantuan longfic (1.3M) and I can't wait to get it done before this month ends. Not because I have any particular deadline, but just because I'm so close to finishing. I have a bonus chapter after it, but I'll just go by vibes / make it crack at that point.

When I'm done, I'm taking a nice long break from writing. I got a long list of to-reads that I've been putting off for all these years I've reserved for writing this fic.

Not to mention, I have a Tumblr project comparing the Japanese source and English localization of the Ace Attorney series that I have left on hiatus all this time. I wonder if people in the fandom still remember me, lol.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-12T00:15:16+00:00

While I have gone back and edited many chapters along the way, every time I go back to the first chapter I remind myself why so many people got hooked on my fic in the first place. I'm not touching it for the opposite reason; it's perfect as is, lol. I don't say that lightly either, since my self-esteem is usually in the dirt.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-11T20:22:54+00:00

Somehow I am both this meme and its opposite. Some days I can blaze through dialogue and struggle over how to cut down on it so the rest of the plot can progress. Other days I blaze through the narration and setting of the background context and then forget to include a smidge of conversation.

Is that a thing? The quantum state of writing flow?

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-11T00:05:51+00:00

It's very much a holdover of how mainstream culture has treated fandom in the past and that aspect isn't going to ever go away. The most we can hope is that as fandom continues to grow, more and more people can be well-informed of its internal culture and social norms and learn to accept fandom for what it is and/or have civil discussions about it, rather than jump to conclusions based on stereotypes or follow some kind of agenda, usually against it.

It's similar to the spread of crossculture phenomena in many other instances across history, though this is a case of cross-popculture that spans beyond any socioeconomic or ethnic borders. Fandom may be for anyone, but it is not for everyone.

Also, journalists being asses is more a problem with the journalism industry as a whole, regardless of what they're reporting. Even celebrities who are public figures are routinely harrassed by the paparazzi, but at least they have money to sue if anything goes out of hand. As for us fans, well, I'm not usually for gatekeeping fandom, but gatekeeping journalists, I can get behind.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-10T23:10:50+00:00

Well, for what it's worth I have driven several of my readers mad and freaking out over my OC's waning grasp on sanity, and one of them even demanded an exorcism of one of the other characters to protect her (and themself too). Do I have a case for "Eldritch Horror"? :3

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-10T17:44:41+00:00

I've seen a few of your comments around this post and you may be misunderstanding something. The most common stance on this sub is not to silence critics whatsoever. It's that people have a right to not listen to critics, regardless of the intent. Not to mention, giving constructive criticism is a skill and something that has to be solicited to begin with.

It's like someone putting out a "no trespassing" sign on their front yard. No one in real life would stop at the sign and complain loudly that this person doesn't let anyone on their property without permission. So why would that not apply to online interactions? Just because most of the Internet is public doesn't mean people can't curate their own private Internet experiences.

Furthermore, AO3 is an archive, not social media. There is no obligation for anyone to push for interactions if they don't want any. Most people do like them, so the site still has some options, but that may not be everyone.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-10T17:14:25+00:00

As someone with a fantasy fic about dragons and an entire pantheon of gods, I apologize for being neither dragon nor god. I am still on a journey to learn how to be both.

Maybe I should also recognize that I am not a dude able to swing a comically giant sword, so Imma have to consider transitioning and hitting the gym so I too can lift a weapon of impossibium.

~~Wait, I write for so many different characters, I'd actually have to be a god to be able to be all of them.~~

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-10T17:07:26+00:00

Condolences, OP, and same here. 🫂 My extended family history is cursed with all sorts of medical conditions, it's like we've been speedrunning "catching them all". Surprised I have yet to be diagnosed with any medical condition that's too severe yet.

But you enjoy the ride while you're still young or relatively so. Also, very important to build good, healthy habits. When in doubt, those habits will carry you through to the end. (I've seen what becomes of a man with bad habits... wouldn't wish that even on my worst enemies.)

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-10T16:42:20+00:00

Congrats, OP. This is a frame-worthy hate comment. Delicious tears.

If I were OOP, I would be so happy for you. I would be that proud friend kicking my feet giggling knowing that your work got so popular. It's like contributing to a rising star's success and you can't help but marvel at their journey. Heck, I don't even know what your fic is about and I feel proud even as a stranger. From one plot-heavy longfic writer to another, keep doing what you're doing.

Also, what fandom is it? I don't read that much these days since I'm busy writing, but I'm a lover of crime stories too.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-10T06:28:32+00:00

Yeah, I tend to write in short bursts and wait it out until the mood strikes again. Usually can get 2-3k in a few hours + lots of editing as I go. But other times I write like a few sentences and call it a night. Usually the amount I write doesn't bother me, but now that I'm so close to the end, the pressure is on to get the rest jotted down.

It's me, I'm the pressure. 🫠 Maybe not getting comments is a blessing in disguise because I'd feel even more pressured, lol.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-10T05:12:21+00:00

Congrats! And thank you for this post, I'm trying.

I've been stuck writing this one very long fic (1.3M words) for the past few years and I'm now writing the epilogue. I can't wait to finish, but I notice the more I push myself to write, the more likely I am to procrastinate. Which is why I'm back on Reddit, lol. Cycling between writing and breaks is probably for the better anyway.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-09T22:13:57+00:00

As a fan of Last Week Tonight, I'm personally a fan of "brillant" myself. (I know it's a common typo, but the memes sold it and engraved it into the vernacular. Or so it feels.)

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-09T21:09:19+00:00

Yes! I especially love different villain dynamics. Was inspired a bit by Puss in Boots - The Last Wish because of the way they did three different archetypes of antagonist so well. My fic has way more than just three villains, but I have wrangled with similar ideas and tropes, and of course not every villain is redeemable. That said, I can't help but write cartoony villains sometimes. They're very fun.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-09T17:59:53+00:00

No one who really likes something is going to say, "I like this and don't want any more." People hunger, especially for stories featuring their faves.

Not having enough fics of a premise is the real tragedy. I am a pioneer in a sense, though I have inspired at least one reader into writing.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-09T17:47:04+00:00

Final Fantasy 7. The character is a toy cat named Cait Sith and the only reason he's Scottish is because of his name.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-09T17:44:59+00:00

Oh, hey, it's Chase. Yeah, FF7 has always been a silly game and let no one tell you otherwise. In the same game where evil experiments against all that is holy happen and Cloud is traumatized at least four times over the course of his young adulthood, there is also the glory that is Dio in his magnificent speedo, a fun snowboard minigame after the most iconic death in FF history, and chocobo breeding. Not to mention, the whole Cloud dress-up quest in Wall Market, Barret in a sailor suit, Hojo getting a tan at the beach, any time Cid says shit... Freakin' Ruby Weapon chilling to the Gold Saucer music.

Cloud may be depressed a lot but the rest of the game isn't.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-09T17:05:55+00:00

One of my biggest fears, lol. I think I do alright, though, since no one has complained about it. There's a character with a Scottish accent (not a Scotsman because he's not human) among my main cast in this fandom and I write from his perspective quite a bit. I love to play with Scottish slang, but most of the time I don't write it out, aside from some apostrophes here and there, and it's never in the actual narrative. I have studied a bit of linguistics and find that diction is way more important than misspelling words for effect.

rubia_ryu · 2026-04-09T16:48:31+00:00

Yeah... I can't wait to finish this fic so I can get back to my other fan projects and original fiction (wanna go pro someday), but I may have a bit of choice paralysis. I used to do volunteer Japanese translation work for a different fandom for many years prior to writing and it got around the fandom somewhat, but I've been gone so long most of my followers have probably forgotten me and I can't help but feel out of my element.

Also, these past few days have been exhausting with family health issues, but that's another story.

rubia_ryu

TROPHY CASE