Tag Archives: Sam talks Writing

Painting Layers of Love (Chapter Three)

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rowofstars:

still-searching47:

Synopsis: Belle French lives alone and she likes it that way. She’s lived alone ever since the terrible car accident which killed her mother and claimed her eyesight. Belle spends her days painting, in complete solitude, until one day she wakes up and hears movement outside. Somebody has moved into the cottage next door. She had grown comfortable in her solitary existence until Mr Gold crashes into her life. Now her future is uncertain, like a blank canvas, waiting for her to apply the paint and decide what kind of story she is creating.

Note: I managed to update in two weeks this time! Thanks to everyone that sent prompts in on Tuesday, I really appreciate it 🙂 In this chapter @bookwormchocaholic prompted “Maybe Belle tries to leave and go somewhere and gets disoriented.”

Warning: I probably should have put this on the other chapters as well. Deals with depression and anxiety.

On Tumblr: Chapter One, Chapter Two

AO3 Link

Belle slept
badly. Unusually she managed to get to sleep relatively quickly, which didn’t
happen often. Most nights, the moment she laid her head on the pillow, her mind
started racing. During the day she had distractions, she could lose herself in
painting if nothing else. However, at night, when she was trying to sleep, her
mind became a battleground.

Last night,
just a couple of hours after she went to sleep, Belle woke up. She had a drink
of water and tried to settle but she was wide awake. When she had gone to bed,
she had been happy, but in the dark of the night, that happiness turned to
fear. After all, Nick had left quickly after she had touched his face.

The fleeting
hope she’d felt disappeared, and Belle started wondering if he’d left because
he’d been uncomfortable, and had just been too polite to say anything.
Intellectually she knew it was paranoia, but she couldn’t stop her mind from
imagining scenarios. She pictured seeing him, and him yelling at her, or even
worse just being cold and dismissive. Then Belle pictured never seeing him
again, as he just decided not even to bother saying goodbye.

Keep reading

That moment when you thought you had subscribed to a wonderful story on AO3 but then you see an update you missed and you hadn’t and LOOK AT MY LIFE CHOICES. Okay that’s fixed now.

I love this and everyone should be reading it! Will we be seeing some more of Nick’s POV with regards to Belle and maybe his own issues? (Of which I am sure there are many if Neal had to order him on vacation.)

Wow thank you so much!

I did only update this morning so you didn’t really miss it and you didn’t have to comment here and on AO3 but thank you so much! 🙂 Yes that will definitely be covered. Not all in one go obviously but we’ll start to delve more into Gold’s feelings, understanding of the situation and his own history etc. in the next chapter.

I’m so glad you liked it!! Thank you 🙂

worryinglyinnocent:

I was so happy when I saw this update! Poor Belle, I just want to wrap her up in a hug. 

I love the way that this is developing, it’s really beautiful, and I can picture the little cottages and the lavender fields so vividly!

Heh so can I … but then I stole the description from the inspiration aesthetic that prompted this fic. At least I think I did, I wasn’t actually looking at when I wrote that part *checks* … erm nope actually that doesn’t match the picture, clearly I formed a new picture in my head.

Awww I love that you were happy for the update! I don’t think Belle would appreciate a hug right now but Gold’s working on it, he’ll hug her for you later 🙂 Thank you so much for commenting!

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Monthly Rumbelling has just laid down a huge challenge. When I read the prompts my mind was blank (this happened last month), I went to the gym and by the time I was finished I had ideas for not one prompt but both of them! That’s not so bad, I hear you say, where’s the challenge?

Well ….
1) I’ve never written a smut fic before. I want to try and write it because it’ll add another skill to the toolkit, and it will challenge me as a writer. I’ve talked with another rumbelle writer who has been super encouraging about it, but I’m still a little scared.
2) The idea I got for the smut prompt, I want to include it in the War Within verse, set after the end of the fic. That’s not a problem because the fic has to be finished by the premiere. However, in order for it to make sense I need to write not just one, but two of the planned oneshots I was intending to add to the verse first. I had figured I would get to them eventually but it didn’t have to be this month … but now it kinda has to be this month.

My mission should I choose to accept it is to write all the things. This message will now self-destruct in ….

image

September Status Update

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A summary post of what happened last month fic-wise, and my plans for the forthcoming month, because I can’t hit a target, if I can’t see it.

Previous Status: July, August

Works posted in August:
– The War Within (Alternate season six, WIP)
– Chapter Eight
– Chapter Nine
– Chapter Ten
– Chapter Eleven
– Chapter Twelve
– Painting Layers of Love (AU romance, WIP)
– Chapter Two

– Between Two Fires (A Monthly Rumbelling fic)

– In Your Arms (OUaT Positivity fic)

Coming up definitely in September:
– The War Within (completed before the 25th premiere)
– Painting Layers of Love (hopefully completed but if not definitely a couple of chapters)

– The first chapter of Nightwalkers (based on this discussion thread)

What I hope September might bring:
– The Rush/Carter oneshot because I have pushed it to the next month twice now and I really need to get this written and posted.
– A fic based on the A Monthly Rumbelling Event if I am inspired by any of the prompts.
– The cleaned up, expanded and completed fic from the Rushbelle Swim Date prompt.

I know I’ve been promising Nightwalkers for ages. However, it is definitely happening next month because it’s going to be my next main WIP. It’ll take The War Within’s Tuesday slot which means that the first chapter of Nightwalkers has to be posted no later than the 27th, as The War Within has to be finished by the 25th. Ha – finally, won’t be guiltily pushing it to the next month this time 🙂

Which means that I just need to start feeling guilty about Ripple Effect. Yeah I’m not going to get to that until October /hides. I have so many fics I want to work on, I was actually frightened I was going to forget some and had to write a list. Is that too many fics? Possibly *whistles innocently* and moving on … I have a couple of War Within oneshots I want to add to the verse but that is unlikely to happen before the 25th.

That’s it for this months status report. Until next time!

In Your Arms (OUaT Positivity)

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grace52373:

still-searching47:

Synopsis: Retired soldier
and single father Gold works at a coffee shop library. Plagued by nightmares of
the war he’s quiet, only interacting with customers when necessary. His
favorite customer is Belle, who comes in a couple of times a week. Her smile is
as bright as the sun. One day she comes in upset and for a moment he is brave
enough to ask her what is wrong.

Note: I’m a bit confused about the posting day for this exchange. I read initially it was September 1st, then there was an updated post that said August 31st, and now I just don’t know. So if I’m early then I apologize but I guess that’s better than being late.

There were no prompts given for this gift exchange. However, I asked @britishkitten27 what they would like
and they said “Rumple is my favorite character on the show, and Mr. Gold,
spinner!Rumple and soldier!Rumple are my favorite iterations of the character.
I like a bit of hurt/comfort, personally, especially if we’re talking Rumbelle.
Anything with Rumple being as woobie as possible and I do love Ruby, Archie and
Doctor Whale.”

I took it from there
and came up with this fic. For anyone that follows me, this is the blanket fort fic I’ve mentioned a few times 🙂 I love this fic a crazy stupid amount, so I hope you guys enjoy it!

Warning: Deals with loss of a parent.

AO3 Link

“All hopes of eternity and all gain from the past
he would have given to have her there, to be wrapped warm with him in one
blanket, and sleep, only sleep. It seemed the sleep with the woman in his arms
was the only necessity.”
– Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence

Jamie Gold
scurried around, in between the tables of the coffee shop at the library where
he worked. Originally it had just been a library, that had survived on
donations and grants from the city. However, all libraries had to double as social
centers these days or they couldn’t survive, hence the addition of the coffee
shop.

This library
was small, family owned and had become quite the focal point of the community.
It’s family-first policy was the only reason he got the job. David Nolan, the
manager, had looked past his cane and given him a chance. Gold had sworn at the
time to not cause him to regret it. He’d now been working there two years, the
longest he had kept a job since his discharge from the army.

Keep reading

That was beautiful! I loved Neal asking why he can’t have a sleepover with Emma! The quote was beautiful and I loved the ending!

Thanks! Yeah, well Neal is six, so child logic. Maybe in a few months/year or so if Belle and Gold move in together, then Neal can have a sleepover at his house, there would be no argument against it then. I actually found the quotes by doing the exact same thing Gold did. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂

beastlycheese:

Beautiful and heart warming. How sweet and how brave to read that quote in public! The Block gave me the eebie jeebies, hope they escape soon.

I think if Gold had thought about it, then he wouldn’t have done it in public but it was a “I have to do it now because otherwise I never will” type leap of faith. Besides, up until the kiss, nobody was really paying them any attention. They were just talking to one another, he was reading – it’s a library.

Yeah The Block isn’t great but it’s the only place Gold can afford on his salary. If things between Belle and Gold work out, then they can move into somewhere else, because there would be two salaries for rent/bills etc. Like how Belle shares with Ruby at the moment and they have a nicer place. So an escape is certainly possible. Thanks for commenting! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂

woodelf68:

I’ve wanted a Jamie Gold for forever; I hope that Belle can make him like his name again. The bit about him biting his own hand to silence his screams was awful, and really conveyed the horribleness of the place he was in mentally. And Neal accusingly demanding why couldn’t he have a sleepover with Emma was adorable. Hopefully in a year’s time they’ll all be in a better place both physically and emotionally. 

Yeah I really want to write a follow-up to this, maybe showing what happens in a years time. It would probably be pure fluff unless I made it a longer piece in which case reality would intrude around the happy moment. I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting 🙂

Painting Layers!Belle: Do you prefer to be home because you’re a homebody, or is there a deeper, another underlying issue that keeps you close to home?

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Belle: Oh I’m a homebody, always have been. Nothing beats curling up with a good book or sitting at my easel. Everything I need is at home, I have no reason to leave and so I don’t feel the urge to do so. Home is convenient and comfortable.

Author: Feeling a little defensive there Belle? You are quite correct there is nothing wrong with being a homebody. It only starts to become a problem if you want to leave and you can’t.

Belle: I don’t know what you are talking about. It’s my choice to stay at home. Leaving is just more trouble than it’s worth.

(A/N: It’s a bit of both. There are underlying issues which have exacerbated the situation. It’s wrapped up in the accident, her grief and her guilt over her mother, the depression and the anxiety. Belle might tell herself that it’s her choice, and she might even believe it but she’s letting her fear control her. There isn’t anything wrong with Belle staying at home if that is her choice, so long as she could go out if she wanted to do so. Right now, that isn’t the case.)

Thanks for the prompt as well by the way 🙂 I’m going to tie that in with another idea I had.

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@mysticpoet asked:

image

That would be telling wouldn’t it 🙂 … bit of a spoiler should I write another installment. I think I probably will actually. This was a good cut-off point, which was why I ended it there. Plus I knew I was racing the deadline for the month anyway. However, I would like to continue and expand this verse.

So … wait and see! I know, I know, that’s a horrible answer 🙂

However, in all fairness, I haven’t actually decided yet. I could take it in either direction and I’m not sure which option I like best.

Option A: He doesn’t turn her in and then is forced to hide her/go on the run/mixture of both. Gold is a good guy in this verse and he would feel guilty for not doing the right thing. No matter how much he loves Belle, she still killed good people, caused a lot of death and destruction. Her victims deserve justice, even if he has lost his zeal in fighting the war between Avonlea and the Frontlands.

Option B: He does turn her in and then there’s angsty prison visits and guilt because he still loves her. Every move they made would be monitored. Gold would still be under a microscope in regards to his career. Plus then there would be the mystery of how do they eventually reconcile because Belle would be in prison, potentially death row. Maybe she would breakout, maybe there would be a prisoner exchange, maybe she cuts a deal. Lots of possibilities.

Basically either way there’s a metric ton of angst. After all that has happened, is there any possibility they could be happy again? Sometimes love isn’t enough, which is actually also why I liked ending it where I did. It left the ending up to imagination. As a reader I loathe open endings like that, as a writer they are kinda useful sometimes 🙂

This was a really good ask. Thank you very much!

Between Two Fires

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calmandbalancedpersonhah:

still-searching47:

calmandbalancedpersonhah:

still-searching47:

Synopsis: Captain Julian Gold, a decorated hero of the Frontlands Defense Force was once married to Lacey Beaumont. They had been happy but then she had died. Shortly after her death Gold discovered the truth. She wasn’t really Lacey Beaumont, she was Belle French and she was from Avonlea. Five years later there is a twitch on the border line. Gold follows the trail, stunned to find himself face to face with his supposedly dead wife – Belle.

Note: Written for @a-monthly-rumbelling in August. The prompt was Dark!Belle and Light!Rumple. If anyone has ever seen Alias, then you’ll know where I got my inspiration from – Jack and Irina. They were the best part of that show. There’s also shades of Marvel, Black Widow especially, which was fun to include.

AO3 Link

“You’re
supposed to be dead.”

“I’m supposed
to be a lot of things.”

Captain Julian
Gold stared at the woman in front of him, illuminated by the flashlight he held
in his left hand. It had been five years since he had last laid eyes on her and
she didn’t look as if she had aged a day. Her chestnut hair was scraped back in
a practical ponytail, and she was wearing an outfit similar to his own, dark
combat trousers and jacket.

It was very
different from the outfits she had favored as his wife, but then so was the gun
she was currently pointing at his head.

Keep reading

Oh.My.God.

Thanks! I’m glad you liked it 🙂 You said you needed more. I do like this verse and I would be happy to write more of it in the future. Did you have anything particular in mind?

Oh, oh oh!!
Well, I’ve never seen Alias, so I don’t really know the base of the story, but I’ll look into it now!!

You really don’t need to have seen Alias. I mean for one thing the Jack/Irina angle was only a minor part of the show unfortunately 🙁 I took inspiration for the basis of Gold and Belle’s relationship but that’s it. Everything pertinent is already included in the fic.

All the sci-fi stuff in this fic is mine. Plus, Alias was only KGB vs CIA when Jack and Irina were married. However, on Alias what we actually saw of their relationship was twenty years later when Irina was working for herself, for her own interests. Alias went in a completely different direction than this fic did so Jack and Irina provided inspiration only.

Yeah TLDR: Knowledge of Alias, totally not necessary 🙂

Anyway in regards to writing more, it might be nice to explore more of Belle and Gold’s relationship when they were married. I did one flashback of the night they met and then I summarized the important points. However, show is always better than tell.

grace52373:

I left a review on a03 because tumblr kept shutting down on me! I really enjoyed this and I hope there is more. I want to see more of their past and hear why Belle did what she did! Between this and War within, you are fast becoming a favorite writer of mine!

Oh wow, that is some compliment, thank you 🙂 I sort of touched on why Belle made the choices she made in the last scene. However, yes showing more of their past would be an interesting thing to explore! I’m definitely going to add to this verse in the future 🙂

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you’ve written, then pass on to at least five other writers (◠‿◠✿)

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Thank you anon for thinking of me! At the moment I only have 6 published fics, which on a list of five isn’t very interesting. However, if I count the various WIP’s I only have on Tumblr, and maybe cheat a little, then that opens up the field to a list of 5 out of 14 possibilities. I like those numbers better.

1) The War Within –  Alternate Season Six. Storybrooke is visibly under threat once more from Hyde and the Evil Queen. However, not all threats are visible as an old forgotten foe has been manipulating events from behind the scenes. The very nature of darkness is revealed as everyone struggles with the most difficult beast of all – acceptance. [Tumblr, AO3] – I like this one because it has a lot of my headcanons in it, plus I get to fix the mess that season five left us and give everyone a happy ending.

2) Painting Layers of Love – Belle French lives alone and she likes it that way. She’s lived alone ever since the terrible car accident which killed her mother and claimed her eyesight. Belle spends her days painting, in complete solitude, until one day she wakes up and hears movement outside. Somebody has moved into the cottage next door. She had grown comfortable in her solitary existence until Mr Gold crashes into her life. Now her future is uncertain, like a blank canvas, waiting for her to apply the paint and decide what kind of story she is creating. [Tumblr, AO3] – I like this one because it’s really, really, really hard to write. It’s the most challenging thing I’ve ever written and it’s completely out of my comfort zone. Have to admit, I also kinda hate it for that reason.

3) OUaT Positivity Fic – I told you I was cheating 🙂 I can’t put the title or the summary yet because we’re not supposed to be post until the 31st, and we’re supposed to stay anonymous until then. However, I really do love this one. I’ve completed the base fic but don’t be surprised if I add to the verse at some point. I would also love prompts for this verse so much. Although I suppose that’s dependent on you guys liking it as much as I do.

4) Rushbelle Swim Date – I had a title for this but someone else has used it before I managed to finish the fic heh 🙂 Anyway, this is only on tumblr at the moment as I haven’t finished it yet. Basically, Rush and Belle meet at a maths conference in Hawaii and they have a swim date, and then there’s dinner and conference shenanigans and a nice happy ending. Proper summary is still a work in progress. I like it because it’s just happy and I like writing fluffy fics sometimes, ok I like writing them a lot. [Tumblr]

5) Renaissance Faire – I don’t know when I’ll get to write more of this fic but I really liked the setup, I want to explore it more and as soon as I get a moment I will. Basically, in this one Gold takes Neal to a reenactment faire, and Gold becomes a knight (Sir Rumple) and Neal becomes Bae (a squire/knight in training) and there’s various other Storybrooke people floating around as characters, including Lady Belle, who gives ‘Sir Rumple’ a favor to give him luck in his jousting match. [Tumblr]

I nearly picked Between Two Fires, my monthly rumbelling fic, as number five. I’ll be posting that on Wednesday. (Shh, I know I could post it now but I kinda need every spare minute because it’s not yet done). I do like that one as well, even if it’s state of completion is moderately terrifying right now.

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I thought I would just do a bit of a status post in regards to the inspiration picture prompts. I really need to stop doing them heh, they are spawning more verses than I can keep up with 🙂 For anyone that is interested I have done 14 so far. Of those 14 …

1 is currently being posted:
– This picture spawned Painting Layers of Love (WIP, 2 chapters so far)

2 are currently works in progress:
– Nightwalkers (first chapter will be posted September 27th)
– Rushbelle Swim Date (still needs a title, hoping to post next month)

3 will be worked on as soon as I have time:
– Rushbelle University (will be combined with Ripple Effect, hopefully posting in October)
– Renaissance Faire (I love this and will get it as soon as I can)
– Love at the Marina (I knew when I added a related ficlet I was doomed)

That leaves 8 that I’m not going to do anything with for the time being. Of those 8 I’m tempted to move half of them into the “when I have time” category as I do really like them. However, I probably wouldn’t be able to get to them for months. At the rate I’m getting new ideas, it seems prudent not to book myself up too far ahead, seeing as once I commit to writing something I like to keep my word.

I blame these two entirely …

image

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beastlycheese:

still-searching47:

@nynaeve88inspiration that top left picture – wow! I want to go there, so gorgeous 🙂

Belle French whistled happily to herself as she did the regular maintenance her boat required. She had always wanted to see the world but had thought it would remain just a dream. The sudden shocking death of both of her parents right before she was supposed to start college had been devastating. However, it had provided her with an opportunity. She had used her inheritance to buy a boat which she sailed all around the coast of America.

It was a nomadic existence and she had loved it, all the new people and all the new places. Eventually however she found herself returning to Storybrooke marina and the surrounding bays. A small town in Maine, with brutal winters, felt like an odd choice when she could have chosen somewhere in Florida. However, it felt like home.

Keep reading

Dun dun dun. Cliff hanger music.

“What changes
do you have in mind?” Belle asked bravely.

“You are currently allowed to dock for free, from now on there will be a monthly charge,” Gold began calmly.

“You’re charging us rent?” Leroy said disgustedly.

Gold continued like he hadn’t heard. “The water and the electric will be cut off until meters can be installed by each dock. The fee will be required monthly along with the docking charge.”

“You’re cutting off the water and the electric? For how long? How do you expect us to stay docked without it?” Belle asked in shocked disbelief.

“The same way you manage while sailing I’d imagine.” Gold shrugged. “It’s not my concern. This is now a private mooring dearie, the city won’t be subsidizing you any longer.”

“You can’t do this Gold,” Leroy growled.

“The monthly dock charge will be required on the last working day of every month, or your boat ..” Gold looked at Leroy’s boat and sneered. “Such as it is. Will be repossessed until payment is made. You are of course welcome to set sail if you don’t like these conditions.”

“That’s what you want isn’t it.” Belle suddenly realized. Her shock at the sudden change in circumstances giving way to eerie calm. “You want us out of here. Why?”

“Please have the rent available for collection, or deliver it to the shop by the 30th,” Gold finished. “Have a pleasant day.”

Gold turned and strode away. Belle watched him leave, feeling the anger start to creep over her. How dare he? He couldn’t do this, could he? This wasn’t right or fair. Surely there at least had to be a notice period or something.

“I can’t believe I have to pay that monster rent – again,” Leroy bemoaned.

“I’m not going to,” Belle decided. “He said we could set sail and I will do just that.”

“You’re leaving Storybrooke?” Leroy whispered. “Oh sister I’ll … you just be safe out there,” he said gruffly.

Belle smiled softly and gently hugged him. “I’m not leaving either. There’s a lot of bays around here. I’ll just put down anchor. It won’t be as convenient but I’m not going to let Gold win. He wants us to dance to his tune, well I’m not going to play his game.”

Leroy sighed and looked forlornly at his boat. “I don’t dare take her out. If Gold wants us gone, if he has plans for the marina, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“Don’t worry,” Belle reassured him. “Gold’s not going to get away with this.”

Note: I’m not sure if I didn’t just resolve one cliffhanger, to walk straight into another one /facepalm. Anyway, this fic will get the treatment at some point. I’ll clean it up, expand it and finish it, like I have with the other prompt fics I’ve continued. As always feel free to send in prompts if you feel like it 🙂