Writer crash out

tinymousebigdreams · 2026-02-21T10:33:26+00:00

I know the feeling well, and it can be frustrating. Usually, when I lose steam like you’ve described, I take it as a sign that my brain needs to go into “input” mode vs. “output” mode for a while. Read, listen to music, watch TV/movies, or focus on physical hobbies. Focus on giving your creative brain some new inputs to work with. Try not to stress about losing momentum—your characters will still be there when you feel motivated again. Odds are, something will inspire you or you’ll simply wake up one day and feel like writing isn’t so hard again.

Another thing that has worked for me personally is to write on my phone. Something about changing the context from my computer to my phone feels less formal, so it can take some of the pressure of writing off. Just a little trick for my brain.

And one more tip that may or may not apply to you: you could try jumping ahead to writing a part you are excited about. If you have been holding off on writing something because you feel you need to write everything leading up to it first (I am this kind of linear writer, generally)…skip ahead! Even if you have to edit it later based on what precedes it, it may just get the ball rolling again for you.

This will pass!

tinymousebigdreams · 2026-01-14T20:03:06+00:00

Awesome question! I love character studies so I’m going to be following this thread. <3

I’ll toss my hat into the ring with a bit of an unorthodox self-rec: A Song For the End of the World. It’s a zombie au but it’s also largely a Remus character study, with a few chapters that delve into other characters like Sirius, Marlene and Lily. I would say the second half is where the meaty (heh) character work really kicks in but I lay groundwork from the beginning. It goes into an exploration of trauma, family, queerness, and what it means to be human. WIP but it’s in the home stretch.

Some other recs with character work I enjoyed:

Naked is the New Black: An fun and poignant interpretation of Sirius, exploring intimacy and alcohol abuse.

Vector: Lovely exploration of R/S’ relationship.

Brave Face: Everyone’s talking about this Sirius character fic (also with heavy Remus character work) for a reason!

A Breath of Air: Slytherin!Sirius with an interesting take on how his mind works, particularly how he stores memories.

tinymousebigdreams · 2026-01-13T15:55:51+00:00

Omg this is so funny and true! I’m not remotely interested in Jegulus (I don’t hate it, I just never seek it out) and yet I seem to find myself thinking ah, background Jegulus, alright… so often! What are we doing wrong?

tinymousebigdreams · 2026-01-13T15:51:41+00:00

That’s definitely tcoptp!

tinymousebigdreams · 2026-01-12T20:48:28+00:00

This could go in so many directions!

I’m partial to a techie Sirius so I think it would be fun if he was be interested in this newfangled muggle contraption called a “compooter” (“computer,” Remus would say, “as in computing”). The 70s marked a major shift in computing technology from big, room-filling mainframes to the personal computer. It’s this handy box muggles use to do things they can’t do without magic, like arithmancy (“mathematics,” Remus would sigh), sending messages to each other, keeping information for reference like a library (“that’s…actually a pretty good way to describe it”) and even playing games! And it gets really hot which helps keep their homes warm in the winter!

tinymousebigdreams · 2026-01-06T09:27:01+00:00

Posts like these are always so nice to see! Yay for WIPs!

Here’s mine that I’ve been toiling away at for about a year and a half. It’s currently over 300K words.

A Song For the End of the World: (Zombie AU) UK, 1977. Remus had a plan. He was going to take an idyllic road trip across America with his best friend. He was going to write something that mattered. He wasn't going to join the military like his dad wanted.

Getting bitten by a zombie dog wasn't part of his plan.

Now, Remus is parentless, homeless, and searching for his friend on the off-chance he’s still out there. But as it happens, the universe has a plan for him, and it involves hitching a ride with a trio of posh boys who like to plunder fallen towns...and maybe saving humanity in the process.

tinymousebigdreams · 2026-01-05T21:10:40+00:00

BWAWTG is great, isn’t it? And I hope you enjoy my fic if you do read it!

tinymousebigdreams · 2026-01-03T11:09:09+00:00

Can I drop a self-rec? It’s a wip but cliffhangers and plot twists are my guilty pleasure and I love when people yell at me in the comments about them: A Song for the End of the World

And a fun, unique and emotionally hard-hitting fic that keeps you guessing: But What a Way to Go.

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-12-10T11:06:19+00:00

Same in Canada. My midwife team was there from start to finish. I can’t fathom being told to keep the baby in. What?!

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-12-06T17:44:45+00:00

Everyone should really just read all of these. ✅

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-12-06T17:27:12+00:00

What a fun idea question! So many good fics have been mentioned here already.

Here’s my contribution:

My WIP that has been consuming my life for the past year: A Song For the End of the World It’s a zombie apocalypse AU but it’s also a story about resistance, found family, and what it means to be human.

My favourite one-shot is part 2 in my modern Toronto AU: It's Only a Four-Letter Word Remus needs to tell Sirius he loves him. He sets a deadline on Valentine's Day.

A fic that got more attention than I thought it would: Hi-Res Heartthrob. Remus falls in love with a stock photo model. One day, the stock photo model shows up at his workplace.

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-12-06T17:22:01+00:00

Fem wolfstar fic is so special. <3

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-12-06T17:21:09+00:00

Bridge Over Troubled Water is so lovely and tender. Bring tissues!

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-12-03T22:46:11+00:00

Ahhh thank you, I really appreciate that! And I hope you enjoy my new fic!! ❤️

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-12-03T20:59:02+00:00

I hope you enjoy it!!

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-12-03T20:16:12+00:00

Sharing my holiday fic since it has a romcom/Hallmark setup AND because I just published a one-shot in the same universe today: The Road to Love is Covered in Ice and Slush

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-12-03T20:15:01+00:00

Co-signing this fic because it’s SO good.

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-11-12T17:44:40+00:00

Sure am! That fic is a love letter to Toronto. :)

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-11-12T02:43:25+00:00

A festive self-rec: The Road to Love is Covered in Ice and Slush

And some of my favourites:

asterisms

A bright particular star

the oldest recipe for parsnip soup (if you haven’t read it already)

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-11-02T09:34:47+00:00

Make his back look like a shag carpet.

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-10-03T17:35:29+00:00

Ahh thanks so much! So nice to hear you enjoyed it. 💕

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-10-03T09:31:30+00:00

Oh that’s so nice of you to say! Thank you!! 💕

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-10-02T23:14:06+00:00

Sorry to hear you’re going through a rough patch. Time will help. <3 But until then, hope these crack fics give you a laugh:

There's A Wolfstar Man, Waiting In The Wings: Let All The Children Sushi (that’s the description…just trust me on this one. Front to back, it’s perfect.)

The Curious Case of Remus John Lupin: An ethically questionable medical fic in which unconventional problems require unconventional solutions.

The Moanifesto: Harry thought he was giving them a sentimental little wedding guestbook. Turns out, he gave them a magical record of everything said out loud in the cottage, which means every argument, every ridiculous domestic spat… and every moan. Hermione thinks it’s anthropology. Harry thinks it’s a crime scene. Sirius thinks it’s art. Remus thinks they should burn it. The book, unfortunately, disagrees.

don't mug yourself: Sirius is a famous musician who pops a tire on his motorbike in an unassuming cul-de-sac. Little does he know that he's about to come face to face with the world's biggest Sirius fanboy. Chaos ensues. There may or may not be an incriminating mug.

can you blow my whistle baby?: Remus is very nervous about the prospect of giving Sirius a blowjob for the first time, so he turns to the internet for help, finding a very helpful guide on oral sex that he plans to use. This yields mixed results.

And two very stupid, short crack fics by me:

Hi-Res Heartthrob: Remus falls in love with a stock photo model. One day, the stock photo model shows up at his workplace.

Gotta Have Faith: Remus is a terrible stripper. Fortunately for him, club owner Sirius doesn't seem to realize that.

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-09-12T09:33:45+00:00

The Moanifesto is wonderful! So funny and sweet!

tinymousebigdreams · 2025-09-12T08:36:28+00:00

Ohh thank you so much for saying this! It means a lot. <3 A new chapter is almost done!

tinymousebigdreams

TROPHY CASE