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aesethewitch · 1 month ago

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Getting Started with Tarot (the "Aese Way")

This post requires a disclaimer: These steps, suggestions, warnings, and bits of advice are based largely on personal experience. Tarot and other forms of divination are extremely diverse practices. Please do not take this post as a definitive work or point of authority. You should read widely, study your own cards, do the work of practicing with divination, and think about your wants and needs on your own before wholly subscribing to any method.

Okay, disclaimer done! Let's talk tarot.

When you're just getting into tarot for divination purposes, it's really daunting. 78 cards to memorize -- and then you have to memorize them upside-down? And then you have to figure out how they fit together when they're drawn. And then there's the task of making it make sense. There's a lot to learn and a lot of sources to draw from, often with different or conflicting advice.

I get questions from time to time about how to get started or how to get better, so here you are: my hat in the ring with ideas to get you started reading tarot.

I'm dividing this post up into sections that represent steps to dipping your toes into tarot reading. This is an extremely basic overview for total beginners.

Step 1: Picking a Deck

First things first, you gotta pick your tool. Digital decks or tarot apps are fine to use if you don't have the money for a physical deck, but I would suggest avoiding their generative AI features. You want to learn and think for yourself, not rely on a bot to do your thinking for you.

My suggestion is to choose a deck that you think you'd like to use. You're going to be looking at this thing a lot, so it's important that you're not forcing yourself to use a deck you dislike. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck is a classic; a lot of sites and posts you find online use it as the primary reference for their guides. For your first deck, I'd probably suggest going with something that isn't super abstract. I would also personally suggest getting a deck with full art on all cards, not what's called a pip deck (a deck where the Minor Arcana cards just have a representation of the suit, sort of like a deck of playing cards).

Basically, pick one that you like and that makes sense to you, art-wise. It doesn't have to be purchased for you unless that's a tradition you want to adhere to. It's not universal.

Step 2: Pull 'Em Out and Look at 'Em

What you're going to do is sit down in front of a flat surface with a notebook and writing implement (or your preferred writing program, or a loose piece of paper, or whatever). Pull the deck out of its box. The deck will probably come with a booklet, which is sometimes referred to as a "little white book" or "LWB." Give it a skim if you want, but otherwise, set the booklet aside.

Don't shuffle or mix the cards up yet. Flip them over and get a good look at the art. Just kind of admire them for a minute and get a basic gist of their style and themes.

Once you get to the end, do it again, this time slower. In your notebook, jot down the name of the card and your immediate thoughts. Observations about the card's art, the figures in it, features in the background, the way it makes you feel, that sort of thing. You're not doing analysis at this point, you're getting a first impression of the cards.

Once you get to the end, do it again, this time even slower. Now, analyze. Think about color theory: Why is the sky yellow, why is this figure's hair black, why are those flowers red? What could the symbolism mean? If there are actual symbols, what do they mean? Look them up if you need to or jot them down for future research. Consider where your eye is drawn on the art and why. What do you think the figures could represent? This is where you're analyzing the card's art. Really take your time here. Do it in several sessions if you have to.

You're attempting to guess the meaning of the card, yes, but you're also applying your personal experiences to the card in front of you. In doing this, you're already creating your own unique lens through which you will eventually divine from these cards.

It's extremely cool.

Okay, so now, you've got your upright card meaningsâ€¦ now, do all of these steps upside down. You can do this at the same time as the upright meanings or do it afterwards. Either is fine based on your preferences. I don't think it makes much of a difference.

After you've got your analysis all written out, now go look at the book. Compare your notes to the "official" meanings. If something is different, consider why that is. Did you misinterpret the art, or do you just have a different perspective? It's up to you whether you want to use the booklet's definitions or your own -- or blend them together into a beautiful combination.

I am strictly anti-memorization when it comes to tarot cards. I'm of the opinion that you get a more powerful understanding within a reading when you're interpreting the art in front of you with your own mind rather than someone else's definitions of what "should" be correct. Plus, using this method means you don't have to feel bad about forgetting the "official" meaning of a card. It gives more flexibility to the reader to interpret, which does have its downsides (twisting meanings to a desired outcome being the foremost issue).

Of course, this is entirely subjective. I've met diviners who do excellent work by reading directly from their decks' booklets, so your mileage may vary.

Additional reading: This excellent post by @windvexer answering a question about memorizing card meanings and an alternate method for learning them.

Step 3: Blending Multiple Cards' Meanings

Okay, so you've got your deck -- check. You've done your analysis of each card -- check.

Now, sit down with your deck and notes, and draw pairs or trios. Take note of their individual meanings. Consider what the cards have in common and how they oppose each other. How are they interacting?

If two cards have similar meanings, it could be a harmonious pairing that strengthens that particular meaning. And if that's the case, does that aspect of the cards overshadow everything else the cards could mean? Or are there additional meanings in the background?

On the other hand, if the cards are strong opposites, it suggests conflict between the two, or perhaps an imbalance between their aspects. Does one card seem to dominate over the other, or are they in a stalemate? For example, a Major Arcana card typically "feels" stronger than a Minor Arcana card, and it may overshadow the Minor's meaning; whereas two Major Arcana cards would typically be an "even match," so to speak.

A pair could match well in one way but conflict in another; it's important to think in layers, too. Consider the different ways the cards fit together -- your first impression probably isn't the only possibility.

Repeat this a handful of times until it starts feeling natural.

Step 4: Asking Questions

As it does start feeling natural, try sprinkling in questions. This is where you're going to start applying those card meanings to material situations.

Go for things you'll be able to answer in a short period of time or even immediately. I would strongly suggest writing down all of your tarot readings, including and especially the ones that end up being incorrect. Jot down the cards you drew, what their assigned meanings are, and how they could apply to the situation at hand. Make a prediction if you're feeling bold.

A personal favorite is drawing a couple cards before watching a movie -- avoid all spoilers and go in without prior knowledge, do a quick reading about how the story will develop or even end, and then enjoy the movie. Come back to the reading to see what you got right, what you got wrong, and what you may have misinterpreted with hindsight. Write down those thoughts, too; they're important.

Don't worry if the meanings of the cards shift or morph as you practice. That's normal!

If you find that your answers are routinely incorrect or that you're consistently misinterpreting cards, that's also normal when you're getting started. Consider this ask I answered awhile ago about being wrong in divination. I also wrote a post about troubleshooting divination that might come in handy, but the gist is to consider:

Are you anticipating a particular answer before you draw cards?: Personal feelings, hopes for a particular answer, and fears surrounding a situation can skew your reading results. This happens to even experienced diviners! Don't be discouraged about it. Take note of your biases before drawing the cards and then account for them in the reading -- and learn when to ask someone else for a reading if it turns out you're just too close to get an accurate answer.

Is the question you're asking phrased well? (For example, are you asking a yes/no question when an open-ended question would do better?): Learning how to phrase a question for divination is, in my opinion, just as important as learning card meanings. Some tools aren't suited for certain types of questions. And, remember, watch your phrasing when it comes to fishing for answers. You're likely to get the answer you're looking for, not the one that's truest.

Are you struggling to apply cards' assigned meanings to the situation at hand?: This is, I think, the hardest part to learn. Especially when a card doesn't seem to match the question at all! Part of the issue may be getting too specific or fishing for answers with your questions; be a little more general and see if it helps while you're practicing. If this is a consistent problem, I would suggest returning to your notes. Jot down categories of questions like "love," "career," "knowledge," "happiness," "barriers," and anything else that comes to mind. Write out how each card might apply in each category, and don't skip any -- especially the ones that don't "match."

Are you struggling to get into the "right headspace" for divination?: Try moving to a new location. Light some candles or incense if you like them. Set out a nice cloth. Have a cup of tea. Do a little incantation to set the mood. Sometimes, a little theatricality is all you need. Check in with yourself about your physical and emotional needs, too: Are you hungry, tired, thirsty, upset? Prep for divination by doing a little self care and see if it helps.

Step 5: Practice with Others

You've done some questions for yourself, divined about movies and TV shows, done a little troubleshooting, and you're feeling more confident about the card meanings! Now, take what you know and ask someone else if they'd let you practice on them.

This can be a really daunting thing. I mean, what if you're wrong?? What do you do then??? First of all, no one gets angry at a beginner for being off unless you're pretending to be all-knowing and perfectly accurate (don't do that). Second of all, if they do get angry, they're the asshole here, not you.

I would suggest reading for either people you know and trust or within a community of people who are also diviners/magical practitioners. Ideally both! Discord servers are really good for this sort of thing. Or, if you prefer, you can make a post on your social media/forum of choice asking for guinea pigs.

The key here is to be honest about being a beginner and wanting practice. Ask for feedback. Some folks require it, but that's a personal preference. Do them as publicly-posted asks or in DMs, whichever is most comfortable.

Set rules. Decide what kinds of questions you will and won't answer. Make your boundaries clear and then enforce them. Ideally, choose questions you've practiced with already or go for general readings, at least at first. Branch out as you get more comfortable.

When you ask for feedback, make sure your querents know they're allowed to say negative things about the reading. They should say whether something was wrong, didn't make sense, didn't apply, or could be improved somehow. Take praise with humility and critique with grace. It's part of getting better.

If you're not sure how to put a practice request out into the world, see what others are doing. Check out experienced diviners' posts offering readings. Heck, look at other beginners'. Read through their rules. See how they do their readings. Don't lift their style or their words wholesale, but it's okay to borrow aspects you find appealing or that you think would suit you. Be inspired.

Step 6: Keep Doing It

Tarot is like any other skill. To get good at it, you have to practice. You have to stretch your muscles. It's not enough to just think about it or wish you could be better at it. You have to pick up the cards and draw them.

Over time, you'll develop a style that's unique to you. You'll discover your strengths and how to leverage them to the best possible result. You'll learn your weaknesses and how to account for or improve them.

Remember that your style of divination doesn't have to look like anyone else's. Keep practicing, take notes, learn from your mistakes. And then, y'know, keep doing it.

Step X: Caveats

A list of caveats, disclaimers, and reminders, because there's nuance in them there hills:

You do not ever have to read for other people if you don't want to.

Anyone can learn tarot. You do not have to have a "gift" to learn how to read tarot cards or perform other divination.

On the other hand, some people will have an easier time learning tarot than others. It's the same as having an affinity for math or reading quickly without effort or having a naturally muscular physique. If you have a natural inclination for tarot, that's wonderful! Don't let it go to your head.

And on one more hand, there are some people who will never "master" tarot. For some folks, it just doesn't mesh. To them, I suggest trying different tools. If tarot doesn't work for whatever reason and you really want a divination tool, try runes, pendulums, scrying, playing cards, casting lots, bone throwingâ€¦ There are tons of tools and methods out there. Tarot is popular, but it doesn't have to be for everyone.

Some folks read clearly for themselves and not others. Some folks read clearly for others but not themselves. You'll have to practice to see which you are.

My method is very thorough, meticulous, and most certainly not for everyone. You may find more success in memorizing the guidebook that came with your deck than interpreting the art without it. Do what works for you, etc., so on, so forth

The most required disclaimer to this entire thing is that I learned tarot with a spirit's assistance. I used a version of these steps while I was learning, but it was a very different experience. It was a deal that I made when I was ~19 years old and definitely didn't understand what I was getting into. Asking for help from spirits, especially ones you know already, is both enriching and convenient. Consider it as an option, justâ€¦ y'know, maybe no pacts until you know what you're getting into. Or do what you want, I'm not your dad.

Step Shilling: Shilling

If you enjoyed this post or my other work, consider tossing some dollars my way. Ko-Fi supporters get early access to posts like this one and sometimes exclusives (when I'm not recovering from life's one-two punches). "Support" includes tips, memberships, shop purchases, tarot readings, and custom spellwork. Members get discounts and other benefits.

Thanks for reading! Extra thoughts and questions are always welcome in the reblogs, replies, or in my askbox.

You can also read a nicely formatted version of this post on my website!

#aese speaks #divination #tarot #tarotblr #tarot for beginners #beginner tarot #learn tarot #ok i'm done tagging <3 #fun fact: this was put on my WEBSITE during an hour-long window of lucidity on monday #i just didn't have time to reformat for tumblr afterwards dflghkfgjh #so. there u go

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ao3scrapesearch · 1 month ago

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hi so, thanks to your tool i was able to figure out that every fic ive ever posted onto ao3 (from 2015 to recent, aside from three fics this last month i just posted) were all scraped, and its absolutely horrifying to me to know my works are being used in this way. this is hundreds of thousands of words of time, and is over 90% of all of the writing ive ever shared online, spread over multiple accounts and fandoms and im just feeling- so dejected. i know youre not an advice blog or anything, and i really appreciate the work youve done to help people find this information. im just curious- do you have any advice when it comes to dealing with this knowledge? i dont want to delete my fics and take them from people who enjoy them, and i want to continue to write and see others read my works. but its just so dejecting knowing what theyre being used for now. that i dont have any control over what is done with my own passion projects because some company can show up and just take it and use it in some environment-poisoning misinformation machine

I wasn't expecting to be ASKED for advice when I made the blog! But I give it my best shot for you guys when I can.

So to ME, it's a bit reassuring to see that the data isn't like. Amazingly collected, if that makes sense. If I were looking for a dataset to generate good writing, a huge thing I would want is a way to know what readers actually liked. For the record, having a low hit or kudos count or whatever does not mean your fic isn't good! (You can have a low hit count because your fandom isn't big or because you're not tagging your fic in a way to help the right people discover it, but the fic can still be amazing.) BUT if I were an outsider not looking to actually read the fics, just figure out what about the writing makes people like them, the top thing I'd be looking for is the stats like the hits, kudos, comments, and bookmarks. Nyuuzyou intentionally tried to exclude that data, which is... an interesting decision.

The choice of forum is telling, too. They chose to upload on Hugging Face, which is for AI hobbyists, not corporate models. These are people like you and me, just doing this as a hobby for fun, and it's pretty unlikely they'll ever create something they can sell from this. Yes, they're killing the environment with it, which I hate, but they're doing it on a much smaller scale than any of the commercial names in AI. Very similar to how you can post a fic and even get tens of thousands of hits and tons of positive interactions, but that doesn't mean you also publish traditional novels and make tens of thousands of dollars.

Again, for me, it also helps to remind myself that hey. They're already out there. Even if I take down all 60-ish of my fics that were hit in this scrape, that data is still out there, but if I delete them, it's ONLY out there as a stupid AI-training dataset, and I've cut out my readers entirely. Deleting the ones that were already scraped doesn't un-scrape them, and to me, it feels like letting the scrapers win if they get my writing AND I don't get to share my writing anymore.

For new writing going forward, that's definitely a place to make a personal decision! I've said a couple times I'm going to keep writing and sharing anyway because I love it, but that's not The One Right Way to do things.

I also am in the same boat as I've seen some people in my notes. A lot of my scraped fics were uh. Not my best work. Like I was prolific in 2018 and man... those fics were not super well-written. Text-based GenAI is trained to learn the order words should appear, based on probabilities. So if there's a lot of bad, boring works in there (and there definitely are! we all start out by posting mediocre writing!), that teaches the AI model to write bad, boring sentences. Most of us aren't tagging our fics in a way to tell a computer which fics are like this, so the AI doesn't know which fics are written by beginners who still don't know how to write well or who don't know English very well yet, and at least from what I know, the AI is going to treat those works like they're just as valid as the 100k+ novels we all know and love. All that comes together to make a shitty AI model that no one really wants to use, even if they're otherwise super pro-AI.

I'll round this off with a silly little book recommendation, but this book seriously changed the way I think about life in general and definitely impacted how I was able to take the scraping well enough and focus on being productive about it instead of just upset. The big takeaway from it is that no one can fully control their circumstances, but everyone has the ability to control the way they react to those circumstances. No one can control AI scrapers being scumbags, but we all get to choose how to respond to it happening.

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motsimages · 1 month ago

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I had a conversation yesterday that added a layer to my observations about ChatGPT.

My idea was that people use ChatGPT not only because it's convenient or whatever, but because they can't think of something else. AI has taken up so much space in usual conversation and online spheres that even when you don't like it, it's there. So many forgot there are other options and other never really used the other options.

Yesterday I was speaking with 50-60 year old women who are learning English, absolute beginners. And they mentioned that they used the translator for looking up words. I told them that I would teach them how to use the dictionary, much better for the task. They said "oh I have a dictionary but this is just faster". At the beginning I thought they meant online dictionary but no. They have a physical dictionary and that was longer than the translator. Which is true. But they were surprised when I said "there are online dictionaries" and suddenly they wanted to know which and how to use it in their phones. This generation grew up with physical dictionaries and skipped to smartphones. They don't really know computer stuff well enough to distinguish the internet browser from the search engine. For them, it's the same app, the same internet.

Now for younger generations, there is a similar situation where they may not know computers well, only internet. Only apps. And they also never really knew about physical dictionaries or encyclopaedias.

And in all this mess of not really knowing, ChatGPT, the magical solution. I bet many 18-20 year old people use it like Google because they never really understood what Google is. And for older people who use ChatGPT is maybe easier to use than other apps or websites.

People forget stuff also because there are so many things right now. And AI is in all of them (as an ad, as a conversation). The attention span is fucked but also everything is so fast and soon.

When I did a master's degree to become a teacher, I was 27, had already gone through university. One of the teachers was surprised that many people in that class, specially younger but all really, didn't know how to write an academic paper. But she understood nobody had taught us. Since we were 13, every teacher decided that it was something we should have been taught by now, so nobody taught it. Some learn on their own, some received tutoring, many never learnt.

With AI is the same thing but now there is something that solves that problem for me and also: nobody is teaching about other tools to do the same work.

I bet there are people in certain classes at university who do not know the difference between a browser and a search engine, between a web page and an app. And nobody is stopping for a minute to explain it because they should know it by now.

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brittanyearnestauthor · 3 months ago

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Writing Tips for Beginners

Writing can feel intimidating when you're just starting out. There’s a lot to consider, but taking things step by step can make the process much smoother. This guide walks you through essential tips to help you navigate your writing journey with confidence.

1. Why Do You Want to Write?

The first step in becoming a writer is understanding your motivation. Ask yourself:

- Do you want to write entertaining stories with no deeper lessons?

- Are you passionate about highlighting important issues to educate readers?

- Do you wish to share valuable life lessons and inspire others?

- Or is it a mix of all these reasons?

Defining your “why” will shape what and how you write, giving your work purpose and direction.

2. Choosing a Writing Style

Your writing style is a key part of storytelling. Start by exploring:

- Third Person: "Jake went to school late this morning because he forgot to set his alarm clock."

- First Person: "I can't believe I forgot to set my alarm clock last night. Now, I'm late for school."

Both styles are powerful, but picking one to focus on as a beginner can help you find your groove. Mastery of both can come later.

3. Choosing a Genre

Think about what you love to read or watch—those genres can inspire your writing. Your familiarity with the genre will guide you in crafting your story, but always ensure your ideas are original. Copying someone else’s work risks losing the respect and trust of your audience.

4. Brainstorming Ideas

Brainstorming is where creativity starts. Keep a notebook or document of ideas—no matter how wild they seem. Even ideas that don’t fit one story might inspire another in the future.

5. Creating a Writing Schedule

Life can be busy, but carving out time for writing is essential. Even five minutes a day can build momentum and keep creativity flowing. Little by little, it all adds up.

6. Making a Plot Outline

Outlining your plot keeps your story organized and prevents excessive rewrites. A simple outline looks like this:

- Jane goes to the library.

- Jane grabs her favorite book.

- Jane meets the librarian.

This allows for creativity while keeping the story on track.

7. Creating Character Sheets

Characters are the heart of your story. Use character sheets to note their:

- Features

- Personality

- Behaviors

- Interests

This ensures your characters are unique and memorable, reducing confusion for readers.

8. Choosing Writing Software

Pick software that suits your needs. Options include:

- Microsoft Word: Reliable and feature-rich for writing, editing, and formatting.

- Google Docs: Free and convenient, but dependent on internet access.

- Open-Source Software: Free alternatives, though they may have limited features.

9. Writing Tools

Leverage tools like Grammarly to catch errors and refine your work. While AI tools can aid editing and polishing, remember they're there to support—not replace—your creativity. Work smarter, not harder!

10. Editing

Editing doesn’t have to be daunting. Take breaks to see your work with fresh eyes and use tools like Grammarly or text-to-speech programs to catch errors. Rewrite or cut scenes that don’t serve the story’s purpose.

11. Exploring Publishing Options

You have two main routes:

- Traditional Publishing: Requires pitching your manuscript but offers professional backing—though it can take time.

- Self-Publishing: Faster and gives you full control. Platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) offer free marketing tools like giveaways and discounts.

Research to find what fits your goals.

Conclusion

Writing takes time, patience, and a willingness to learn. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to starting and succeeding on your writing journey. Happy writing!

#writing community #creative writing #writing tips #writingjourney #writers of tumblr #new writers on tumblr #storytelling #tipsforbeginners #writing skills #fiction writing

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cepheusgalaxy · 1 year ago

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Easy IDs to do for beginners

[Plain text: Easy IDs to do for beginners /end PT.]

Disability Pride Month is here! And as so I think it'd be neat to incentive people to describe more images, as advocacy for acessibility.

But I get it that describing images (visual stuff) with *your own words* may seem a bit challenging, specially if you've never done that before, so I decided to gather some easy things you can describe to start!

1 - Text transcripts

What is a text transcrip? A text transcript is when you have an image whose only component is text, and you take the text from it and write it out for the people who for whatever reason can't acess the image themselves (like if they are blind and use a text-to-speech device to read what's on the screen for them and therefore can't recognize the text of an image, people with low vision that can't see average-sized text and configure theirs to display text in a bigger font, which doesn't work on images and it's too tiny for them to read...). An example of text transcript:

[ID: Text: An adult frog has a stout body, protruding eyes, anteriotly-attached tongue, limbs folded underneat, and no tail (the tail of tailed frogs is an) /end ID.]

(this is from the Wikipedia page on frogs.)

Text transcripts are easy to do because you only have to take the already existing text from an image and type it out. For longer text-only images, you can also use a text recognition AI tool, such as Google Lens, to select the text from you and then you just have to copy and paste it into the description.

2 - Memes

Despiste what you may think, most memes (specially 1-panel memes) are incredibly easy to describe, because they come from a well-known template. Take this one for an example:

[ID: The "Epic Handshake" meme. One of the people in the handshake is labelled "black people", and the other is labelled "tall people". The place where they shake hands has the caption "constantly being asked if you play basketball". /end ID.]

They are easy to describe because despiste having many elements, you can easily sum it all up in a few words, like "the loss meme", "the is this a pigeon meme", the "bernie sanders" meme, and so on. When you describe memes, you don't have to worry about every single detail, (@lierdumoa explains this better on this post) but only about 'what makes this meme funny?' If you are describing one, just describe which is the meme you're talking about, and how it differs from its template, like the captions or anyone's face that may have been edited in.

3 - One Single Thing

Images with "one single thing" are, I think, the easiest thing to describe on the world. When you describe things, what you're supposed to do is "describe what you see". If there's only one thing to see, then you can easily describe it! Quick example:

[ID: A banana. /end ID.]

See?

You could also describe this image as "a single yellow banana in a plain white background", but this extra information is not exactly important. One knows a banana is yellow. That is not unusual, and neither that nor the color of the background change anything in the image. So in these types of descriptions, you can keep things very short and simple, and deliver your message just as well.

An exception would be something like this:

[ID: A blue banana. /end ID.]

In this case, where there is something unusual about the object, describing it will be more useful. When you say "banana", one would assume the banana is yellow, so to clarify, you say that this specific banana is blue.

When you have other situations where your One Single Thing is unusual in some way, like a giant cat, a blue banana, or a rotten slice of bread, pointing out what their unusual characteristic is is the best way to go.

3.5 - A famous character of person

This one is actually similar to the One Single Thing type of ID. When you are describing, say, a random person or an oc, you'd want to describe things like their clothes, their hair color, etc., but in the case of an already well-known figure, like Naruto or Madonna, just saying their names delivers the message very well. Like this for example:

[ID: Taylor Swift, singing. /end ID.]

[ID: Alastor from Hazbin Hotel, leaning on his desk to pick up a cup. /end ID.]

In both of these cases, you technically could describe them as "a blonde woman with light skin...", "a cartoon character with animal ears and a suit..." but you will be more straight to the point if you just say "Taylor Swift" and "Alastor". In these cases, it's usually very useful to describe what they're doing as well, like "singing" and "leaning on his desk to pick up a cup", or whatever else.

An extra tip I can give you to describing characters in specific, is to point out if they are wearing anything different. With most cartoon characters, they usually have a signature outfit and hairstyle, that one would expect them to be in. So, similarly to the blue banana case, if they are wearing a different thing than they usually do, it comes in handy to state that in your description. Like this:

[ID: Sakura from Naruto wearing a nurse outfit. /end ID.]

Sakura's usual outfit is not a nurse one, so since she is wearing one, pointing it out is very helpful.

The last tip I have for describing characters is pointing out which franchise they are from. For example, if I just said "Sakura", you'd probably assume it was this one, since she is famous, but you wouldn't be able to be sure, because how many Sakuras are out there? So, saying "Emma from the X-Men" and "Emma from The Promised Neverland" is gonna be very helpful.

Helpful resources and final considerations:

A masterpost I did with many tutorials and tips for doing image descriptions in general

Why are image descriptions important (even for sighted people)?

And a few tips about formatting:

Putting "id" and "end id" at the start and at the end of your description is gonna help the people reading it to know where the description starts and where it ends, so they don't read, say, your caption, and think you are still talking about your description

Customized fonts, colored text, italics, bold text or tiny text aren't things you should do your ID in. Most customized fonts are pretty hard to understand, and most text-to-speech devices can't recognize them. Tiny text is hard to see for people who need big fonts, and italized text faces the same issue because it makes the words smaller. Full lines or paragraphs of colored text can cause eyestrain when people try to read them, and bolded text makes the edges of the words too close together and can make it even harder to read for people who have trouble reading already.

And that's it! Happy describing, folks!

#acessibility #disability pride month #image desciptions #alt text #described #once you are more familiarized with doing ids its always good to move on to more detailed descriptions #like all skills describing images is a think you have to harbor to get better at #but describing simple things is better than describing nothing!#it's easy AND it's good!#and also please note that i am a sighted person #what can always help is ask the blind people/people with low vision themselves what is helpful in an id #long post

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ajqwrites · 3 days ago

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🗣️ Let’s Set Things Straight: About AI, Creativity, and Respect

I didn’t want to make this post, but some of y’all really need to hear it.

Let me be very clear:

There is nothing wrong with using AI-generated images to help visualize your characters especially when you’re a fanfic writer or creator who’s doing this for free and for fun. Creators like @callsign-denmark (and others, including myself) use tools like AI because it helps bring characters to life visually.

That’s it.

It’s a tool, just like anything else and it doesn’t make someone less of an artist or a writer.

If you feel the need to hate on people for how they/we create, that says more about you than it will about them/us.

We’re living in a time of rapid tech growth.

AI isn’t going away.

If you can’t open your mind to what’s happening around us, you’ll get left behind.

AI isn’t going to replace writers, artists, or creative workers.

It’s not going to “steal your soul” because someone used it to render a character’s face. And if we’re being for real? If AI was coming for all of us. It would’ve already done it. This isn’t The Terminator — nobody’s being cooked by an AI oven (yet).

What we do have to worry about is this toxic behavior I’m seeing in Tumblr spaces. The harassment, the anon hate, the passive-aggressive digs at creators just trying to express themselves.

That’s the real threat here and I’m done being quiet about it.

So here’s your warning

If you come into my space with hate, harassment, or threats toward me, my friend, and my folks. You will be blocked.

If you send threatening anon messages or DMs, I will not hesitate to report you (and I know you're hiding somewhere and doing this because you use Anon message to be unknown.)

Your “opinion” does not matter when it’s rooted in cruelty. If you have nothing nice to say? Don’t say it.

People write and create because it brings them joy.

They’re not here to please you.

And you’re not entitled to ruin that joy just because you don’t like what we/they're doing.

Now, moving on.

🎨 Let’s Talk About Art, Expectations, and Reality (Especially for Us Starving Adult Artists)

Not everyone has the (fucking) money to hire artists.

Period.

We're currently in an uncertain time of the economy (and since I'm in criminal justice, diverging into tech and moving onto Political Science in Bachelor next). We have to end up prioritizing on what matters than the least.

That doesn’t make us bad people, and it sure as hell doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate art.

Let’s be real.

Artists are charging level 4 to level 5 rates (and honestly, they deserve it!) especially those being hired by indie/self-published authors.

But as someone who is juggling college, life responsibilities, writing, and just trying to exist financially, that level of investment? It’s just impossible right now.

And no, we're not “stealing” or “cutting corners” by using an AI image tool to help visualize characters or scenes. We do it because:

We have bills to pay (and don't lie to me because I know y'all have a job and a family and living under your family's roof to do your part financially)

We need to eat, sleep, and stay cool and warm inside the house

Art, as much as we love it, is a luxury and a wish — not important

I’ve had beginner-level artists (level 1-ish) approach me on Instagram because of my fanfic (Under Siege, thank you for the love 💕), and I’ve had to politely decline. Why?

A) I judge the quality of the artwork because if I’m going to invest, it has to match my vision.

B) My expectations are higher than what a beginner may offer. That’s not mean. That’s honesty.

It doesn’t mean I think less of them.

It just means I’m real about what I can afford (especially in installments, it ain't gonna cut it so stop being (annoyingly) persistent. That shit annoys me).

Right now, I only work with a professional artist who’s on Fiverr I've known for years, and even then? I don’t commission him frequently. Why? Because food, electric, phone, and real-life responsibilities come first.

Fanart and “fun stuff” will always come last — when the basics are covered.

So if you wonder why some of us use AI visual tools instead of commissioning humans. It’s not because we don’t value artists. It’s because we can’t afford you right now.

That’s not an attack.

It’s realism.

And please, for the love of mercy and pearl, STOP shaming @callsign-denmark and people alike for creating within theirs. Be respectful. Be kind. Or be blocked.

Thank you for your time to read this post.

I hope you understand and that it went into your thick skull.

#ai art #fanfic community #truth #stopthehate #reality #letpeoplecreate #starvingartists #stop!#technology #adult life #adulting #life advice #financial

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thefandomdumpsterfire0711 · 2 months ago

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Because Pinterest has decided that it’s users no longer matter, I’ve decided to stop using the app. Unless they get their act together, I’m not coming back.

That being said…

This sucks, a lot

I’ve had the same account for 5+ years with countless saves. Most of which is directly tied to all of my oc’s and their stories.

From my pjo fan comic, to my own original works, my character’s fashion styles, aesthetics and design, to their worlds and tools, literally everything!

Of course, even though Pinterest has helped me a lot with my creative processes, it’s not the only thing I rely on.

Because, and this is gonna blow your minds (looking specifically at AI bros), I have a brain!🤯

AINT THAT CRAZY!?!?!

About a year or so ago I went back to compiling majority of my writing concepts on paper when word spread of Google sweeping (thieving) people’s works on google docs.

And now I have to draw out my artistic concepts on paper. Not complaining, I think it’s better this way. I used these apps to make things a little easier. But I never considered it a necessity.

Which also means I have to redo A LOT of things, but I’m not mad because many things about my projects needs a refresh.

I’m posting this for those who either feel defeated or discouraged.

Don’t be

These losers can’t hold a candle to our creativity and the dedication to our passion to create, to tell our, others, or the world’s stories!

No matter what is said or done, HUMAN ART HAS AND ALWAYS WILL EXIST!

This especially goes out to beginner artists

Hold your head up high and don’t give in to the AI agenda, keep doing your thing!

I know one thing for sure, AI and the people peddling it along, are NOT stopping me

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britcision · 11 months ago

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Thinking about how people keep pushing AI as a “well not everyone can [creative skill]” and I just… I don’t understand how they don’t see the problem with that

Because no one’s born good at drawing, or writing, or building 3D models

The whole point of having creative skills is that you need to learn how to do them. By doing them badly, often for quite a while, until you’ve tried enough things to work out what you like

And being able to word a prompt to an AI to actually get what you want is certainly a skill, and it’s certainly creative, but you’re never going to learn to draw, or write, or whatever else you’re bemoaning if you just want to push a button and get a result

And sure, it’s not like we’re going to completely run out of creatives; people with moral fibre are still going to avoid using the blatant theft that is generative AI, and will still be actually creating their own things and building skills

But if you advertise your AI and intentionally sell it to people as “hey don’t learn to draw you can just poke this button and say it’s close enough”… you’re actively discouraging people from actually trying anything

Your first attempts at any art aren’t going to look like a master’s. You’re going to be unsatisfied with your own skills over and over again, usually right before you make a drastic improvement

That’s just how creation works

And giving up and trying to make an AI do it for you instead of keeping trying and actually learning and building new skills is going to kill a lot of peoples’ creativity

It’s okay if you can’t draw as well as you’d like to. It’s okay if you can’t write a beautiful novel on the first try, or even the little oneshot you really want.

You’re going to make a lot of things that are bad, and a lot of things that are meh, and a lot of things you’ll be embarrassed you made in another ten years. Because you need to make all of those things before you can make something great, and because you need to understand that everything you think was bad and meh was pretty damn good for a beginner, and some of it will be great, and in another fifteen years you’ll see that too.

You will not become a better artist by switching to AI because it’s “easier”. You will not become a better writer by writing prompts instead of stories.

Every time you’re tempted because “the AI’s will look better than anything I make”, you are the only reason that statement is true. You might redraw your old pieces every year just to see how far you’ve come, or bury them never to be seen again, but you’re the only person limiting your creativity.

People make art with typewriters, and by throwing things at a canvas, and write single scenes and cracky one shots and snippets and round robins

Trust me, every artist you’ve ever admired knows exactly how hard, and frustrating, and time consuming it is to try and get an image from your brain into the outside world. And how many times you want to give up, or feel like you failed.

Your favourite artist has trashed a thousand pieces you would love to have seen because they weren’t good enough, or didn’t work out the way they wanted

(Yes, artists, the WIP folder gathering dust counts unless you go work on it right now)

A lot of creative efforts don’t see the light of day, and every single one goes into every single piece that does get shared

I’d love to be better at drawing! To be faster, have a better grasp at proportions and perspective and honestly to have more patience for shading and such instead of just grabbing the blur tool because it’s close enough

But those skills are underdeveloped, and are going to stay that way because the time it’d take to get good at drawing would be time I could spend writing, and that is where the demons in my soul got their hooks in first

So now, after twenty years of near-continuous work, I can write very quickly, very fluidly, and damn well… and don’t have the patience or time to try and push the same inspirations into a medium I’m less good at

(I do occasionally become possessed by an image strongly enough that I draw it anyway. I do this knowing going in that it’s going to be far from perfect, but it’ll be the best I’ve got right now)

(Also reading art tutorials and tips from great artists for 20 years does also help even if you don’t practice and I have the doodles to prove it)

And if I want a visual reference for a character… I use HeroForge to make one myself, because there are a billion creative tools that offer so much more control than just “prompt an AI until it works”

They’re not perfect, but they’re the best I can do

And if I keep doing it, and keep building those skills, that best is gonna get better and better

I’m getting better at drawing the more I give in to moments of inspiration

It’s going to take much longer, since I’m not doing it every single day (every year is still questionable), but it’ll still happen as I keep doing it

The only thing stopping everyone else from doing exactly the same is the refusal to try… and giving up on themselves and just using AI instead of trying something different

#anti ai #not to get all soap box about it #but y’all ai bros really trying to bring about the death of creativity #you can’t learn a skill by hitting a button for instant result #you’ll get better at prompting the ai #but still never create anything yourself #not even competence

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gryficowa · 5 months ago

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The anti-AI movement has become irritating to me because of its hypocrisies

This is how the fuck I see the entire anti-AI movement as people with fucked up standards who pretend to care about artists and then harass them (Hello, the creator doesn't even have to use AI for these crazy people to attack him for using AI… Here's where the fuck do we live)

I literally feel like crimes against human rights are more acceptable than fucking AI

I use AI to learn, I admit it, AI helped me learn to write a screenplay better than the Internet itself… I'm from Poland, so I have more problems finding advice on writing a screenplay

Seriously, I had trouble writing the script and there were always mistakes in writing it, which resulted in me constantly deleting previous scripts and writing again…

At least the AI explained to me where I was making mistakes and helped me learn, AI is a great tool (Yes, the lack of regulation causes problems with greedy corporations and other "Doubtful Billionaires", but the complete aversion to AI causes innocent creators to be attacked for allegedly using AI and the entire fandom of artists does it…) and it's depressing how aversion to AI has become a tool to attack artists

I just can't stand where the anti-AI movement has gone, it had good motivations (At the very beginning) but then it became a toxic place (After a poor student was attacked for using AI voices in his animation by the actress from Daphne from Scooby Doo) then I am disgusted with this movement that said it was fighting for artists, and then started kicking artists for their limitations or style)

It's just that now the anti-AI movement is eating its own tail and attacking those for whom it was supposed to fight

It's just that now not only do artists have to deal with corporations that rob them in order to make a profit, but also with the anti-AI movement that harasses them and gives them false accusations about the alleged use of AI, and the fact that artists' fandom is toxic towards beginners does not help…

The anti-AI movement is simply crap and its behavior harms the artists themselves who simply create…

Besides, as I mentioned in the memes, their boycott is fucked up, because they only boycott when someone uses AI, not when they are a bigot who supports fucking genocide

Remind you of "Inside out 2"? Remind you of a game from the "Harry Potter" universe? Remind you of Deadpool? How did people ignore the boycotts for Palestine and queer people?

You just don't care about human rights or artists

#free palestine #israel is a terrorist state #palestine #free gaza #israel #gaza #palestina #artists on tumblr #ai #anti ai #rant post #rant

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educationmore · 2 months ago

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Python for Beginners: Launch Your Tech Career with Coding Skills

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Python Modules Explained - Different Types and Functions - Python Tutorial

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