gaperezmakes

[gaperezmakes]

At the gate for my flight home from visiting friends and there's a woman here with a service Shiba Inu. No pics because he has a Do Not Disturb vest and taking pics of strangers is illegal but I need to stress how ON DUTY this animal is. Ears up. Eyes doing Lazer scans of everything. Examining everyone who passes within 10ft like a security guard. Ass planted on her feet. I have never seen a dog with such intense chivalric guardian energy before. He has tiny eyebrows and they are FURROWED with concentration.

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pro-AI in the sense of "they taught a bread scanning computer to recognize cancer cells" etc etc

against AI in the sense of "we stole artwork from hundreds to thousands of artists, didn't credit them and didn't financially compensate them"

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Drew some silly little guys. I enjoy drawing silly little guys because I get to look at the finished product and be like “Wow, I don’t hate this!”

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i think anyone aged 16 or older should be entitled to an apartment and $800/month for groceries, utilities, etc. simply by existing

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being a writer is sometimes just like

“she raised the sword - *stares out of the window for three minutes* - high above her head, its- *plays with pen* - silver skin glinting in the- *gets up and walks around the room* - golden sunlight. her face- *opens tumblr*

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My wife and I collaborated to make my birthday cake. The whole cake was a mess, but the individual slices look nice at least. I had some with my coffee this morning.

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A Reintroduction

Hi! I’m Gabe!

I bet you thought this was dead! (It was.)

Well, idk what to tell you, but it’s been a while.

So what’s changed in the last…5 years? So many things.

The last time I was here I was working a crappy, go-nowhere retail job and complaining that the U.S. minimum wage needed to be raised. Now I have a boring office job that lets me enjoy a decent standard of living. I still believe the minimum wage needs to be increased.

I was also stuck in a bad relationship of many years. I left that relationship, suffered through the fun that is modern dating as an adult for a few months, and then met someone new. Now we’re married and I have a beautiful wife!

My ex and I had two dogs together. Because I’m the responsible one, I kept both dogs. My wife had three cats with her ex. We both gained pets when we moved in together.

From left to right, we have Sweetums (the Sheriff and Mayor of the house, elected because she’s the only one who voted in the most recent elections), Adelaide (who likes playing fetch and and getting attention, but hates being perceived), Marble (resident gremlin and alarm clock), Kody (professional toy destroyer), and Sadie (excellent child, vicious criminal). The pets live separate lives because Sadie is cat-aggressive, but they’re all happy and healthy.

Also, thanks to my boring office job, I managed to beat the odds and buy a house! No more jumping from one crappy apartment to another! I can paint the walls (we did)! I can renovate it when I’m dissatisfied with how it looks (we are)! I can let the dogs out in the back yard and they can just have their space (I do)! This is really nice and I’m continually disappointed that the government is cool with people lucking their way up the social ladder instead of, idk, doing things to help people afford better (or any) housing. Thanks, Capitalism.

Anyway, where does that leave me? Well, I still write. Last time I was here I had just finished my books Era of the Iblan Light: Rebirth and Age of the Black Empire: Insurrection. It’s been a long almost six years, but I’ve released part 1 of the next books in both series, and I’m working on the next parts. I’m hoping these don’t take another six years.

I also have a third series called Shadows of Sur Posta. It’s a western mystery series set in Colorado. The main characters are Sheriff Flint Waters and Dr. C.A. Daver. They solve crimes. This series is gonna be my NaNo cheat project. Instead of a full novel, they’re just going to be fun little novellas.

I also still draw things. I got myself an iPad recently because apparently I can just afford that, and I’ve been doing a lot of drawing recently. I’ve really been feeling my art and getting a hang of my own style finally.

One day I’ll figure out what “highlights” and “shadows” are.

Anyway, I like doing other things too. Baking, gardening, cooking, sleeping, idk. So I’ll probably pop in here every once in a while to show what I’m doing, talk about things, throw out a random thought. Feel free to swing by, say hi, ask questions.

And if you see me lurking around certain dark corners, no you didn’t 🙂

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Hello! This has nothing to do with writing, but I made some stuff for the DnD campaign I plan on tort—playing with my brothers.

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Alone again.

He shot up in his bed, drenched in a cold sweat. Panting. He dragged a hand down his face and looked at the bloody bandages wrapped around it. A heavy, disappointed sigh whistled out of his nose. He hung his legs off the bed, looking at the clock.

Thirty minutes.

A soft grunt. He recognizes it as the best chuckle he can manage. Standing up, his body creaks and groans. Breathe in. He finds his shirt haphazardly hanging off a chair. Exhale. He goes up to it and presses it to his face. Breathe in. It’s still clean. Probably. He shrugs as he pulls it over his head. It fits a little more loosely than he remembers. Exhale. He looks back at the clock.

Four-thirty.

Too early for breakfast. He would have to make himself something, but that was too much effort right now. He frowns. There’s a low rumble from his stomach. He can hold off for a little while. He opens a nearby drawer. Glass bottles clatter more loudly than he needs them to. They also aren’t what he wants right now. Disappointing. Slowly he closes the drawer. How could he be reduced to scavenging for snacks in his own room? A useless question. This wasn’t the first time. He sighs, his gaze falling on the clock.

It hasn’t changed.

There’s a small table near the chair. It’s barely big enough for him to sit at. On top is his small black mask. He picks it up and looks into its empty eye holes. It’s a reflection. Here we are again, old friend. The words run through his mind as they have so many times before. He slips it on, completing his face. He looks at the bandages on his hands. They’re cleaner than usual. Little victories. It’d still be a good idea to get them changed. He makes a mental note to do that. He also makes a mental note to make an actual note. The last thing he needs is the doctors giving him yet another lecture about sanitation and taking care of himself. He’s an adult. The clock comes back to his attention.

Almost time.

His jacket is hanging on a hook on the back of his door. He grabs it, revealing the full-length mirror underneath. It’s broken. It was given to him that way. Or, to be precise, it came that way when he took the room. It was the one thing he never bothered fixing. A soft punch met his as he walked up to the door. He opens it up. Outside, his subordinate is waiting for him. Just like always. Their eyes meet, and they share a nod. He starts walking down the hall, and his subordinate follows. There is no time for words.

They have a war to win.

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Get to know your Writer Tag

Woah, geez, I’ve been tagged in something. Uh, okay, nobody panic. I probably got this.

(Also thanks to @mania-junkie-writes for the tag)

1) Pens or pencils?

For writing? I prefer using pens. Specifically, Pilot G-2 .7mm pens. I also have a .5mm pen, but it’s just not the same.

I also only know specifically what kind of pen I like because it’s sitting right in front of me right at this moment.

2) Have you ever drawn your OCs?

Yes. Virtually every single character I have made has a drawing, sketch, or doodle somewhere. Have I posted all of them?

Considering I am increasingly critical of my artwork, no. Good Lord, no.

3) Does your writing ever make you cry?

Has it? I think some moments have tugged at my heartstrings, but I don’t think I’ve ever cried at the things I’ve written.

But I could be wrong, I admit that’s possible.

4) If your muse was a person, what would they look like?

I have no idea. Probably just like me, but perpetually angry for no discernable reason.

5) Which of your pieces would you choose to be remembered for?

Like series or finished works?

Finished works, I’d say Insurrection is pretty good, although I think Rebirth tells a better story.

Series, probably Age of the Black Empire. I like Era of the Iblan Light a lot, but I think Empire tells a grander story.

6) How much have you written or worked on your WIP so far today?

As of this moment, not a thing. I’ll probably get back to outlining some more character arcs later today, but right now I haven’t touched any of my WIPs.

7) Have you ever based a piece (or a portion of a piece) on a dream?

Most likely. I can’t name any off the top of my head, but I’m sure that I have at one point or another.

8) Do you prefer silence, a little noise (music, ambient noise, fan, etc), or a lot of noise when you’re writing?

If I am inspired and in a writing mood, silence in the room I’m working in provides the optimal conditions for my writing. I can tune out ambient noise outside of the room, but inside the room must be quiet.

I’ve tried writing with other things going on, but I get too distracted with music or videos playing.

9) Do you have any routines before you sit down to write?

Because it runs pretty cold in my apartment, I like to wrap up with a blanket to keep myself (or at least my feet) warm.

Also, this is less “before” and more “while” but I do like getting up and moving around a bit every once in a while. I feel like it helps keep me focused.

10) Have you ever participated in Nanowrimo or a Camp?

If I had the discipline to do either of those, I would, but I don’t. The way I write is best described as “sporadic” and “once in a blue moon.” Not best for “finish an entire work over the course of a month.” Although, I dunno, maybe I’ll try it one day.

Tag 10 Writeblrs:

Because I don’t know anybody (because I’m very bad at social interactions), I don’t know if I have anybody to tag. So if you see this and want to steal it for your own malicious purposes, feel free. Just let me know you’re stealing it. Or don’t. I’m not your dad.

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I doodled a Mira tonight. ❤️

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It’s taken me a few days, but I think I’ve figured out how I want to do this. Special thanks to @mania-junkie-writes for the tag!

How to know you’re in an Archives of the Empires Novel:

You want magic? BAM. Magic EVERYWHERE.

And it has a wonderful, consistent set of rules.

What? ...No, no the rules don’t apply to them. They’re main characters.

Look at this big, beautiful, well-developed world you live in!

Unfortunately, only the one city matters.

I hope you like ham-fisted religious and political metaphors! I’VE GOT HUNDREDS THOUSANDS MORE THAN I CAN COUNT.

But I hope you like humans. That’s it. That’s all there is.

Oh, look at how fun and happy this is and we’re all having a go--why is it suddenly and inexplicably dark in here?

I hope you like R E F E R E N C E S.

I also hope you like giant, overblown anime fights.

Look, I know there are a lot more minorities around. I got it. It’s becau-- Will you let me-- I’M TRYING TO BE BETTER OKAY.

Gosh, I don’t know who to tag. Feel free to steal this and play along at home.

yo let’s play a game

Inspired by this and this. 

It’s called ‘How to Know You’re in a ____ Novel’ (or WIP or short story or etc.) Found it on twitter and it made me find some great writers there! (in whose novels I wish I could indeed be) Let’s see what writeblr’s writers and worlds have to offer!

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send an ask: get to know your author

1) is there a story you’re holding off on writing for some reason?

2) what work of yours, if any, are you the most embarrassed about existing?

3) what order do you write in? front of book to back? chronological? favorite scenes first? something else?

4) favorite character you’ve written

5) character you were most surprised to end up writing

6) something you would go back and change in your writing that it’s too late/complicated to change now

7) when asked, are you embarrassed or enthusiastic to tell people that you write?

8) favorite genre to write

9) what, if anything, do you do for inspiration?

10) write in silence or with background noise? with people or alone?

11) what aspect of your writing do you think has most improved since you started writing?

12) your weaknesses as an author

13) your strengths as an author

14) do you make playlists for your current wips?

15) why did you start writing?

16) are there any characters who haunt you?

17) if you could give your fledgling author self any advice, what would it be?

18) were there any works you read that affected you so much that it influenced your writing style? what were they?

19) when it comes to more complicated narratives, how do you keep track of outlines, characters, development, timeline, ect.?

20) do you write in long sit-down sessions or in little spurts?

21) what do you think when you read over your older work?

22) are there any subjects that make you uncomfortable to write?

23) any obscure life experiences that you feel have helped your writing?

24) have you ever become an expert on something you previously knew nothing about, in order to better a scene or a story?

25) copy/paste a few sentences or a short paragraph that you’re particularly proud of

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me, a writer who does a very poor job at outlining: oh!! that’s right!!! i was going to include a murder!! glad i remembered in time!

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Well, if in my lore angels are just Light elementals, and Iblis is the Elemental Lord of Light Magic, then Iblis qualifies as a literal angel.

Which makes Alexander half an angel.

And Dusk...uhhh...I have no idea.

Which OC is a literal angel?

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Cerina attended a four-year college and graduated in three because she spent her breaks studying instead of going home.

I have no idea what her reasoning was, but I think my reasoning was because I wanted her to and I’m the author.

Which OC gradauted earlier than other people their age, and why?