My Writing Journey

An Author Ramble

As always thank you all that read and subscribe. Remember to check the Post Archive for any downloadable content or past teasers you may have missed!

If you are interested in any of the fanfic stories mentioned here you can see them on Wattpad or AO3. Or, I will be creating EPUB and PDF download versions of them that will be put in future posts.

https://www.wattpad.com/user/Artiranth

https://archiveofourown.org/users/Artiranth/works

Long long ago…

It is probably no surprise to many of you that I originally started my writing escapades in fanfic. Specifically, the well loved “Alastor X Reader: Soulbound” which was basically a fever dream of a writing project fueled by caffeine and a hyperfixation.

However, what is less known is that was by far not my first attempt to write. Prior to that in high school I started multiple original works but never finished them. Eventually either loosing steam, or not having a direction. Then, shortly after the release of the second season of “My Hero Academia” I actually wrote an OC X Bakugo fic called “Pain Hurricane”, that although was liked I eventually also dropped. I have since taken it down off of Wattpad, and I am unsure if I will attempt to finish it and bring it back. This was my first real first attempt at writing fanfic, even if it is not seen to the public eye. However, I eventually wrote my self to the end of their love story arc, while not really having a direction for the story as a whole.

Fast forward to the release of Hazbin Hotel, and my hyperfixation on the show and Alastor. This time I had I was armed with my experience of wanting to write the full story before posting, rather than do chapter by chapter updates like I did with “Pain Hurricane.” As well as a very personal connection to Alastor. It all started with his famous monologue.

The Year of Fanfic

We can talk a lot about what caused my brain to latch on to a radio demon deer cannibal, but ultimately I felt his smiling act while dealing with more under the surface in my bones. Combined with the fact that I have always had a bit of a thing for the aesthetic of antlers and animal-esque features… he became a very easy character for me to write about. Which was only made better by the fact that the show leaves his motivations quite ambiguous, so I was able to put my own spin on them with every work.

Which is how we ended up with not one… not two… not even three…. but four long-fics written in under one year. Totaling over 500k words worth of writing. For reference that is longer than the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. Not counting the one shots and companion pieces. The whole time my number one fan was always my hubby, who didn’t just put up with my incessant brainstorming, rambling, and long evenings typing away, but actively encouraged me to keep writing — and to start thinking of my own not-fanfiction related work.

With each story my writing became more evolved as I played with narrative and prose styles, different characters, and even subgenres when it came to the romance. While “Soulbound” was mostly fluff with a pretty light on themes narrative, “Blood For Freedom” is steeped in symbolism, and heart wrenching never-quite-said implications. That trend continued into “Imperfect” which was also where I was really trying to dial the idea of a character driven narrative up to eleven. Then the year was rounded off with “Soulsearch” a loose sequel to “Soulbound” that was written as my final practice round to writing my own original work. It includes heavy introspection, complex character emotions, and a much more tension filled narrative than my first works.

Each one was a stepping stone to writing my first ever original work, the idea for which was slowly brewing in the back corners of my mind.

A Stray Alternate Universe

I would argue that the idea of my original work coming from one of my own fanfictions is… pretty on brand.

Through out the year I jotted down small scenes of a dark romance — much at my husbands encouragement — including a murder-mystery type plot line. I didn’t have much of a direction or setting for it. Until, mid way through writing “Soulsearch” I hit a weird problem. I had a very filthy scene in my head that did not at all fit the vibes of the story I was writing. So I took a break and wrote “A Show in the Forest,” a 15k word one-shot about a trail expert Lucifer and eldritch monster Alastor.

Although the work itself was a pretty simple fluff and smut piece that I enjoyed writing immensely, it spawned an entire AU that I completely fell in love with. Combined with the notes I already had, it became the first premises for “Reasons Found in Promises.”

A Few Months Later

And we are here. Armed with the knowledge that I am very much able to finish a full work and have the skills to bring my vision to life, I finally did it. I finished my first ever original manuscript and was even able to hand it off to alpha readers for critique.

Writing the long-fics was an immense amount of fun, and it definitely helped me define my niche. I love a strong emotional core between two characters that treats them as being two halves of a whole. (Or thirds as we see with “Imperfect”) How their flaws and unique character traits make them work together to help each other grow and heal from their past from before the story starts. All wrapped up with fantastical elements that bring just enough wonder into the world to wish you were there.

The book “Reasons Found In Promises” definitely keeps a lot to my origins as a fantastical story that keeps grounded to real world personal problems. With characters who are all flawed and morally complex. Zoey is not perfect, and has her struggles. Ronan takes a lot after Alastor in some ways, while also being an entirely different character of his own. Even the first themes of healing from trauma, gaining a support system, and navigating the up and downs of life are all heavily featured.

Which is why I am so excited to share more with you about “Reasons Found In Promises” and hope you will do me the honor of following me on the journey to getting it published.

Upcoming Posts

Wednesday will be a short “A day in the life Of” post about my day to day life. Including some of my writing process and daily struggles. Friday will be another exciting reveal, we will see Zoey’s character bio complete with artwork by me!