Matching bestie icons courtesy of @mylucayathoughts gorgeous edit of the boys ♥️ @england-would-fall and I are the cutest, sorry not sorry.

firstprince fic: take me out, and take me home (read on AO3)

Chapter 1, winter, is now posted on AO3! Yeah, it's April, but inside you'll get lots of Christmas and wintery vibes, with fluffy boys who are pining for each other <3 spring, summer and fall to come!

This one is special to me because I made it entirely for one of my best friends, @england-would-fall <3 BECAUSE today (4/21) is her birthday! Today is one of the best days because the world is so much better with her in it. T, you're one of the most incredible people I know. You are so strong and smart and hilarious, and it feels like i've known you forever. I'm so proud of you for all you're doing, you are such a badass. Thank you for being such an amazing friend. Sorry that this was so gay but it wouldn't be me if it wasn't ;)

STOP SCROLLING & READ THIS!!!

I need you all to understand that this beautiful, romantic, cozy FirstPrince fic by this beautiful, brilliant, clever writer is being written for me (🩷) and that I need you to go read, subscribe, bookmark, kudos, and comment because it is not only a wonderful piece of fanfiction but also an act of love and friendship.

take me out, take me home (AO3)

Plus: boys pining and kissing and falling in love and also David is in it.

no but really, like 

i know that some folks love telling creative people that “you should be doing it for fun because you love it not for the compliments” but creative people thrive on feedback whether it’s critical or just complimentary

so when i write fanfiction and don’t get any actual feedback i feel like i spent all that time and energy doing it for nothing because i’m not getting feedback from the people i wrote it for 

doing something you’re proud of and then presenting it to the sound of utter silence is like the worst feeling on earth 

I know the feeling of this.

i like to think: what if you were in a play and you spend all that time learning your lines and your cues and going to rehearsal for hours and hours and being bone tired and then getting up on stage opening night and giving it your all only to be met with silence from the audience at the final curtain call. No one would question why that upset them.

An art instructor in my childhood said something to me I’ve never forgotten - that a work of art isn’t complete until it has been experienced - seen, heard, etc.  That this wasn’t just some abstract concept, but a visceral truth for the artist - that the work wasn’t DONE until the end result had been witnessed, appreciated, critiqued - whatever, it didn’t have to be positive negative knowledgable, it just had to happen as the concluding event, the final brush stroke.

Some folks who don’t get it go about thinking we make art or write fic because we crave praise or attention or fans, or even that some writers/artists thrive on negativity and drama (and to be sure, all of these things are true some times!).  But that’s too narrow an understanding of why we art. I think my art teacher was telling a fundamental truth about the psychology of creativity - that art is a communal experience, that until we share our creative work and see how people respond, we do not have closure on that work.  

Art is communication - and communication shouted into the void is frighteningly isolating. We need our readers our viewers our audience. We need to hear what you think. We need to converse in comments, answer your counter thoughts or thoughtful critique, we need the conversation - that’s what art is :)

Never feel bad for desiring feedback - it’s not some extra frill that exists outside of the creative process. It is a critical part of the creative process - and if you cannot find your audience in one venue, don’t give up.  Keep putting your art out there until your audience finds you :)

Listen, if someone shares their art with you - respond. Even if all you can say is “thank you for sharing this”. Even if you have no coherent words. Even if you hated it and don’t want to hurt their feelings by saying so. Even if it’s not your Thing. Thank them for sharing it. Let them know it meant something to you to have it shared. That’s really what people are asking for. 

ps. If someone has written a gift fic for you, say thank you. Just the way your mama taught you should. You don’t have to be grateful, but you should at least be polite.

nobody else could've been firstprince

these boys deserve the world ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜