mybonkskeletonclam

[mybonkskeletonclam]

Which tarot card are you at this very moment?

The Fool’s Journey is your own, didn’t you know?

The Fool

Confident and hopeful, but untried and untested.

The Magician

Just had a taste of power, and it’s leading to your ruin.

The High Priestess

Your second, wiser rise to power after the fall.

The Empress

Talented and beautiful. Well-loved and grateful.

The Emperor

Influential and known. Yet many challenge your power.

The Hierophant

Now secure in your power and influence.

The Lovers

No longer whole, but another's half: a strength and a weakness.

The Chariot

Every win is fought for, not just for self but for family.

Strength

Reborn after dying from a great tragedy.

The Hermit

Detached from strangers and beloveds. Powerful in solitude.

Wheel of Fortune

Suddenly crowned or suddenly dethroned by a twist of fate.

Justice

Paying for your crimes, and being cleansed of your karma.

The Hanged Man

A convert. Found a new religion, new politics or a new mask.

Death

Unafraid to cut poisonous ties. Leaving people left and right.

Temperance

Has achieved healing. Of the body, the soul, the mind.

The Devil

Has fully submitted to your desires. A slave to ambition.

The Tower

Cruel and ruthless. Actions are led by grief or vengeance.

The Star

Found one’s true faith or true core. Enlightened.

The Moon

No longer self-centered. Feels connected to humanity.

The Sun

Living in the moment. Past and future are forgotten.

Judgement

Life purpose unlocked. True calling discovered.

The World

Has known all highs and lows. Unafraid to die — ready, anytime.

[mybonkskeletonclam]

libraries….

I love libraries, not just in an aesthetic sense but in what they do. Librarians are often underpaid, overworked, and require a very high level of education to be hired (Master’s degrees sometimes), and are often the most inclusive and nicest people in my community. They provide resources for people who are struggling (help finding jobs, training for said jobs, free wifi, heat, water, bathrooms), they also have community events (mine has music events, and historical re-enactments), as well as reading resources (dolly parton’s imagination library, etc). They also have things other than books, you can rent Movies, CDs, Board Games,magazines, newspapers, and some libraries have genealogy section so you can learn about people local to your area or family records. And finally, the books. They have so many books, and often large print books, audio books, and physical books. SUPPORT LIBRARIES!!

[mybonkskeletonclam]

when

I wake up in the morning

as of recent,

it's always after a sick dream...

something deep, and unsettling

or vague and unlike me.

there's a chance

my unconscious

is more disturbed

than I gave it credit for.

(is it my fault?...)

or, there's a chance

it's a spirit

with a twisted sense of humor

and an unruly penchant for gore.

(no. that can't be.)

...

I don't know. I'm not sure.

but,

my eyes are heavy.

encumbered by the weight of my recent sleep;

my bones stiff, my limbs warmly leadened...

(take me back?)

I don't care if going back

will only pull me down,

further into a path

(take me back...)

of more nonsensical

outrageous

upsetting plotlines

or

disarrayed memories—

(take me back!)

broken visions of my life's aftermath...

I don't care.

I won't remember it in the next few minutes, anyway? 30 seconds, even—give or take.

(how nonchalant of you.)

I don't care.

I'm not supposed to take it seriously, am I?

it was just a dream. it's not real. everything's fake-

(your dreams are a reflection of your mental state.)

I don't care.

it doesn't matter if it's a plea, or a sign

a reason, manifest—

trying urge me to fix an old mistake?!-

I don't care.

I just want to sleep.

(...)

I don't want to be awake...

[mybonkskeletonclam]

we usually think fire and water are supposed to be opposites

because one will dash the other

...

I mean, I'm guessing that's a common opinion

but.

in Astrology, the opposite of fire is air. and the opposite of water is earth.

the dichotomy reminds me of "raw" human nature versus... mmm, evolved civilization?

aries/libra -> individuality versus connection

cancer/capricorn -> family versus society

leo/aquarius -> craftsman versus factory

sagittarius/gemini -> experience versus theory

of course. it's just a thought...

there's scorpio/taurus and pisces/virgo; and that's where the concept starts losing hold in my mind... 😀🤷

[mybonkskeletonclam]

Jupiter, in general, to me... is about the expansion of consciousness. Growth of mind, driven by desire. Knowledge tempered into wisdom by experience.

Jupiter is the planet of prosperity because love & knowledge are at its foundations: Jupiter's desire comes from a place of love, and Jupiter's knowledge is a product of this desire. And so we prosper.

Jupiter in the natal chart (probably) represents:

A) That which you are drawn to know more of

B) The nature of your luck: how it supports you

disclaimer: I'm not a professional 😍

[mybonkskeletonclam]

there are so many things I'm not ready to unpack yet. if I do, I might just fall apart.

[mybonkskeletonclam]

scorpio asc w/ a saturn-ruled 4H might be the black sheep of the family. especially with Aquarius on the cusp...

you can never really feel 'at home', even around family, bc with saturn ruling over it- that area of your life is defined by 'restrictions' and 'limits' and. yeah. you get the point.

[mybonkskeletonclam]

Cap Pluto in my 3rd House... soon to be Aqua Pluto. But. Will still be 3H, for a long time to come. -- 11.03.24

natal transit series ✨ pluto transit through the houses

unsure how to check what house pluto is transiting through in your chart? go to astrodienst, hover over free horoscopes, hit extended chart selection, and click the drop down menu and select ‘natal chart and transits’, then hit click here to show chart. find the house the green “P” (pluto) is currently at; it will be outside the wheel. the black “P” (pluto) on the inside of your wheel is your natal pluto placement.

pluto is probably the hardest planet to deal with as it transits (in my opinion). astrologically, pluto represents the things everyone tends to fear. pluto is about destruction, change, death, rebirth, transformation, power, etc. the themes of pluto are dark, and as it casts it’s shadow over a new house; it brings these themes to said area of life.

however, pluto doesn’t do these things for the hell of it. the destruction is to make things better; to transform. pluto destroys everything in it’s path so it can be rebuilt stronger, better; it brings down the toxic to make way for the better. on the brightside, pluto moves very slowly. most people only experiencing pluto transiting through 3-5 houses in their lifetime.

here are some things you can expect as pluto transits through your natal chart. keep in mind, pluto helps to reveal the hidden evils, forces destruction where change needs to be made; through the suffering good will come. if everything in that part of your life is good, pluto will leave it alone. oftentimes the struggles pluto brings about and the things it transforms are unwelcome at first; but eventually we come to realize their necessity. 

💀 1st house: transformation of self 💫 as pluto pushes through the first house, you may undergo a multitude of self-realizations. do you know who you really are? do you understand yourself? do you love yourself? pluto is forcing you to not just ask these questions, but to answer them. a self transformation is inevitable; pluto wants you to rid the toxic traits you may hold onto and replace them with a better attitude. perhaps pluto sees the negative ways you talk to/about yourself; it wants that to change. it wants you to find the love for and in yourself. to be true to yourself; to be individual and your own person. it wants you to be authentic, to speak up for yourself. that is the goal of this transit.

💀 2nd house: transformation of values, worth and comfort 💫 have you been speaking badly about yourself? treating yourself with little care? staying too far inside your home and comfort zone? pluto pushes through the second house to change this. pluto wants you to transform the way you think and speak about and to yourself. frequently talking down on yourself? pluto is going to push you to stop this; to view yourself in a better light, it’s what you deserve. during this transit you may experience many battles within yourself, as pluto also pushes you to reflect on and transform your personal values; especially traditional and long-held values. are your opinions really informed? are you really living your best life? pluto makes you question all of this. it also gives you a kick to escape your comfort zone; pluto lets you know you cannot hide in the shadows and comfort of your home constantly; you must break free from the past and your personal bubble in order to thrive. pluto here may also bring about a sudden transformation in your finances; you could possibly experience financial struggle during this transit.

💀 3rd house: transformation of communication and the mind 💫 the words are there but can’t seem to come out, right? you’re too scared to speak your mind, maybe you think too much of others before you speak up? pluto has had enough. you have a right to speak your mind- no, a need to speak up for yourself. pluto passes through the third and tells you to stop being so agreeable, so indecisive, so fair. it’s time to be more selfish, to speak your mind. you may go through a transformation of your entire communication style, the way you think as a whole may also change. if you’re still in school, especially younger (like high school) you may completely switch directions with your plan for studying (or not studying) in the future (college/etc). pluto brings about changes to every aspect of your thinking, your speaking, your interactions with those around you. it forces you to reflect on your bonds with others; especially bonds with those like siblings, neighbors, friends. the core lesson here is speak up! you know what you want, you just haven’t accepted it. do you keep waiting until last minute to study for your exams? pluto will bring about harsh realizations and results if you don’t change the negative habits relating to your mind.

💀 4th house: transformation of security 💫 does your home feel like it’s falling apart? family tensions worse than usual? feeling like you cannot trust the people and places that once brought you comfort? discomfort especially with the mother, or mother-like figures? common feelings that come with pluto passing through one’s fourth house. if your home, family, roots, etc. are toxic, pluto is going to reveal this in full force. not only will it reveal this; but it will force you to break free from it. now is the time to step out of your past, to break free from it. pluto wants you to move, go. it wants you to cut out those that need to be cut out; even family (especially, actually). it wants you to leave the hometown, your comfort, and build and find new spaces of comfort. it wants you to rebuild your secure and safe places, it wants you to find a better one, a place of true comfort, not a place laced with nostalgic toxicity. pluto urges you to let go of nostalgia and the past, you need to learn to let go in order to grow during this transit.

💀 5th house: transformation of love and creativity 💫 had an unexpected breakup (romantic or platonic)? suddenly feeling disconnect from your hobbies and things you were once passionate about? changing your views on romance, relationships and connections in general? pluto just might be transiting your fifth house. pluto passing through the fifth can be one of the most depressing transits to deal with, especially when accompanied by saturn. here, pluto is forcing us to transform the three things that tend to bring us the most happiness (romantic encounters/close relationships, hobbies and our passions). pluto wants you to rethink your relationships, how you approach romance, how you accept love. it might be revealing to you a toxic significant other, best friend or crush. it might bring about a breakup, perhaps not a mutual one that leaves you feeling crushed. but this is for the best; this person was bringing you nothing but toxicity; perhaps hidden; and pluto destroys to bring you better. as pluto passes through the fifth house, it wants you to really think about what and who brings you joy. it wants you to remove the things that make you unhappy; it wants you to really think about your creative pursuits and how to shape them to be more beneficial for you.

💀 6th house: transformation of routine, daily life 💫 has your day-in day-out routine suddenly changed? your immediate/home life being forced into a bigger change? or perhaps your job, goals, or health has taken a sudden turn? these are some of the things that can come with pluto transiting through your sixth house. pluto passing through the sixth likes to shake up your routines, habits, your comfort zone- and give you a big kick in the butt to change them. been thinking about breaking bad habits? been wanting to better yourself? looking to start new work? wanting to eat healthier? now is a good time. pluto is giving you the push to transform these things. it wants you to treat yourself better, and to take your routines a little more seriously. they can bring far more reward than you may think. pluto transiting the sixth can also give you a push to cut out one-sided relationships. how many people are you giving everything to who give you nothing in return? it’s time to let these people go, pluto tells you they aren’t worth it anymore. if you are serving others too much, you will realize this and be made aware it’s time to stop, to let these people go.

💀 7th house: transformation of close relationships, beauty, comfort 💫 have you been giving more than you receive? sticking around toxic and harmful people because of the nostalgia or past feelings you can’t help but hold onto? pluto comes in to shut this down, asap. no more one-sided relationships, no more draining yourself to please others, no more living for other people. pluto comes in and reminds you what healthy relationships and connections should be; it reminds you the importance of being alone and depending on only yourself. if you’re in a relationship, pluto may push to have this destroyed if it is a toxic, unstable relationship. you will thank pluto later when you realize the negatives of the person (or people) you’ve been hanging around. pluto passing through here may also indicate a transformation of your self-worth, views on beauty and aesthetics, and the things you go to and rely on for comfort. are they really serving you? are they healthy? pluto asks you to reflect. “enemies” may be transformed as well; those you once hated you may suddenly see in a better late, or new “enemies” may form as you realize the true intentions of those you were once close to.

💀 8th house: transformation of everything 💫 “everything” sounds daunting, right? believe it or not, pluto is most comfortable passing through this house; but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily easy. pluto wants you to restructure yourself; it forces you to fully reflect on everything in your life and those around you and find what needs to change. it also puts huge emphasis on intimacy and vulnerability. are you closing yourself off too much? or are you being far too open with those who don’t deserve it? are you giving too much in relationships? are you continuing to hold onto toxic people, situations and things of the past? break out of the nostalgia and wake up. pluto transiting through the eighth forces you to ask and answer these questions. much like the twelfth transit, it may drudge up some unfortunate traumas and pains from the past into the forefront of your mind. it wants you to face the past head-on and conquer it anyway you can; be it through getting help, speaking out, or learning how to move on and overcome to the best of your ability - no more repressing. learning to set boundaries for yourself, to restructure your goals, tap into your creativity, and be independent but still open with those worthy of your time are central themes of this transit.

💀 9th house: transformation of the higher mind 💫 where are you? where are you going? what are you even doing? pluto passing through the ninth is forcing you to find this out. you may feel urged to travel, move far away; start your life completely over. everything feels wrong and you want to start from scratch. pluto will encourage this, if it’s what you need. everything is suddenly uncomfortable, unfamiliar. pluto urges you to stop being scared and start living for yourself; go places and do things you’ve never done. it’s of vital importance to break out of your comfort zone during this time. pluto especially pushes you to transform your ‘higher mind’; your beliefs, values, spirituality, philosophies, etc., are they really correct? do you really feel this way still? are these your own authentic views or were you forced into them? now is the time to reflect on the foundations of your thinking and self. pluto in the ninth reads like an easy transit, however, pluto wants to completely break down everything internally and externally here and have it reformed in your best interest. you may feel pushed to move far away, you may suddenly completely warp your values, your pursuit of higher education may flip to something new (perhaps even leading to a career change). trust your gut, and do what will better you and your life.

💀 10th house: transformation of career, ambitions, public image 💫 is this really how you want to keep presenting yourself? are you following your dreams or conforming to what others have pushed you into? is your work life making you miserable rather than fulfilled? pluto passing through the tenth house forces you to look at these questions. you may find yourself going from completely changing your public image (from fashion sense to the way you speak and what you share; especially on social media platforms) to a more intense change of your entire career and ambitions. pluto transits through the tenth and forces you to think about what you really want to do; what work will really make you happy? what goals are yours and what goals were forced upon you? will you side with pluto and follow your own goals, ambitions and dreams? or will you resist and continue being unhappy in this path. pluto in the tenth can also cause some tensions and rethinking in terms of your home and comfort environment; a rethinking of those close to you and the safe spaces you’ve built. are they treating you right? are you happy there/with them? pluto through the tenth may also give a creative burst to your ambitions and career; a new outlook, a new take; the push you’ve been waiting for.

💀 11th house: transformation of friendships, community and social habits 💫 have you been isolating or have you been going out too much? if you’ve done either, pluto will make this obvious. pluto asks you to rethink everything from friendships to community; are you receiving what you’re giving and vice versa? pluto through the eleventh can also bring about a sudden, drastic change in your beliefs, values and dreams. the things you’ve chased after and desired may suddenly flip; a change in what you want that seems to hit out of nowhere (moreso non-career related dreams/ambitions). pluto really pushes you to question your ambition in this house. you may go through a period of self-isolation as pluto passes through here; it wants you to fully reflect on you and those around you without the influence of other’s opinions. pluto pushing through the eleventh also can cause a hit on your creativity. suffering through creator’s block, writer’s block, etc? pluto may be putting a temporary damper on your creativity as it encourages you to take this creative talent further. once you get through the initial block, pluto will likely bring about a huge surge of creativity; especially in relation to music or art! pluto wants you to do something with your creative talents; don’t hide them, own them.

💀 12th house: transformation of the subconscious 💫 all the pain and trauma you’ve repressed; it’s coming to surface again, right? pluto is doing this on purpose. you will not heal if you simply repress. pluto brings up pain from the past, the issues you’ve kept locked away and hidden in the deeper parts of your mind; it wants you to face them head on and get the help you need. pluto wants you to speak up if you need to, reach out, stand your ground; take time to care for yourself and do what you need to do. this pluto transit can be very hard as it seems impossible to avoid the dark memories and pain of the past you’ve worked so hard to ignore. but pluto is telling you it’s time to confront this pain, you will control it, not vice versa. on a brighter note, pluto passing through here can burst a creative spark into hidden talents or repressed dreams/ambitions you’ve hidden away! pluto tells you to wake up, pursue your dreams and make something of the power you have within you.

[mybonkskeletonclam]

4th house from the 2H is 6H

4H: comfort, roots, natural resting place, foundations

2H: sense of value, self-esteem, personal possessions & resources

6H: health & well-being, routines, work, regulation, tangible process of actualization

[mybonkskeletonclam]

bumbling prodigy with unhoned potential

– a 10H Leo Saturn trine 2H Sag Pluto RX

[mybonkskeletonclam]

Be careful of expecting astrology to have all the answers. While your chart can be of some guidance, it’s important to remember that you are in charge of your own life. Your chart reveals your strengths and weaknesses, but your birth chart can’t necessarily predict your destiny, because your success or failure depends on how you handle your own strengths and weaknesses.

For example, it’s very difficult to determine which placements indicate successful musicians or artists, since the zodiac presents lots of (maybe even infinite) possibilities for creative talent. If you do a quick Google search, you get hundreds of different answers to this question. But I can tell you, as someone who is trying to become a successful artist, that talent alone is not enough. You need to network and promote yourself, know business and legal practice, and have the self-discipline to develop your skills and build a portfolio of work. Most of the time, opportunities don’t just find their way to you; you create them. And as such, astrology can tell you how you create (or don’t create) your opportunities.

My birth chart may not be stereotypically “ideal” for artistic talent, but in my own ways, by honing in on my own strengths, I am using those unartistic parts of myself to my advantage. Could I apply those talents in other career fields? Absolutely! It’s totally possible for your birth chart to be fit for multiple career paths. But no longer do I wonder if my birth chart is good enough to be an artist, and no longer do I turn to my birth chart to seek confirmation on whether I made the right career choice. Because I realize that the only way to tell is to use my chart to my advantage, rather than stressing over its vague prediction of the future.

[mybonkskeletonclam]

Where is my life going?

... Oh, "what's supposed to happen this year?" Ask astrology.

I'm in my 6H profection year... which is ruled by a natal 7H Gemini Mars. Its only known (notable) aspects to me are its squares to my lunar nodes, which are Virgo South + Pisces North.

So, this year's themes are about...

– "HEALTH; ROUTINES; WORK; DISCIPLINE" (6H)

– "AMBITION; MOTIVATION; ASSERTION; PURSUIT" (Mars)

– ...related to "OTHERS; SOCIALIZATION; RELATIONSHIP EXPECTATIONS". (7H)

I don't know the significance of the sign placement. Maybe it's just how my personality comes into play there—since it's in Gemini, all of this is going to... engage my... more... 'stimulation-seeking, scatterbrained, social butterfly' traits. Er, how I'm inclined to respond, based on what's in me?—I don't know, it feels weird trying to predict more internal things.

ANYWAYS...

Themes... life-events connected to all these things will be relevant. Manifesting. Uh, if you believe in things like that—the events themselves may be the universe 'giving you opportunities to learn better'.

So... yep. Sounds pretty on-point to me, so far. I always had trouble with the whole 'big ambitions but no self-discipline' thing, even when my dreams weren't really anything serious. Lately, however, I've been thinking about what I wanted for my life and how to rearrange it all to get it there. A good portion of it is motivated by/related to what I think my world expects from me.

I read that any transits happening to any 6H placements I have are... well, 'significant' to my life. Also my ruler, but, in transits? LIKE, MARS—JUST NOT IN MY CHART. THE PLANET ITSELF.

Honestly. Am I going to keep track? No, probably not. Is it cool to know? I guess.

[mybonkskeletonclam]

liking someone platonically is so embarrassing like. yeah i admire you. yeah i think about you all the time. yeah i look forward to every time i see you even if it's only for a minute. yeah it's all platonic and yeah i couldn't explain this because it'd sound romantic. fucking hell

[mybonkskeletonclam]

How can I use astrology to figure out the best way I can learn something?...

To learn, is to understand. Perceive and comprehend to absorb... process, internalize: ENCODE into the wirings of your brain. Ya know. Blah-blah.

And it can apply to anything—as small as a simple... iota of an idea. To a complexity of experiences, all coming together to form a concept.

YES. HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY, THE BRAIN. AND LEARNING BEING MORE THAN JUST ACADEMIA!

And 'best' here just means, how can I optimize my approach to learning based on traits that are already innate to me?

(DISCLAIMER: This post is liable to edits in the future.)

Anyways...

Things to look at in order to address my concern include:

– MERCURY

+ Self-explanatory?...

+ Mercury is the planet that defines someone's natural function of communication—that is, the way they think, process, and express information. Assuming you can apply its meanings psychologically rather than just 'eventually'.

+ The sign it's in defines its characteristics. The house it's placed in shows the angle, or, matters of life it is most applied from.

+ ..."Naturally." Not to say that we can't be more than our placements. I think we can. Mm, I also haven't gotten enough experience that I could see how... an ultimatum like that would apply... across various experiences.

+ Aspects to Mercury tell you about aspects of your character that have a direct link/impact on how your Mercury manifests. In your life, they inter-act.

+ Also, try to look at houses in your chart ruled by Mercury as well... that would be Virgo & Gemini. They can tell you about areas of your life that are impacted by any Mercury-related developments.

> Another thing—it's kind of just a theory, but since Virgo represents the 'feminine' or introverted side of Mercury, while Gemini represent the 'masculine' or extraverted side of Mercury; maybe seeing which houses they rule can also tell you... themes in which you internalize and externalize information.

[mybonkskeletonclam]

current fan creation landscape is kinda like if you went to a party with a homemade cake and everyone takes a slice and silently thumbs up at you with no attempt to start a conversation except for occasionally some guy sits in the corner with a tape recorder critiquing the cake as though he was a restaurant critic and another guy is handing the cake to an uber driver like "yeah i need you to find a restaurant that makes cake like this so i can have more of it" and the only person that's talked to you in 30 minutes is a very sweet little guy who was like "hey i liked your cake" and then ran away apologizing for bothering you the moment you said thank you.

[mybonkskeletonclam]

How I learned to write smarter, not harder

(aka, how to write when you're hella ADHD lol)

A reader commented on my current long fic asking how I write so well. I replied with an essay of my honestly pretty non-standard writing advice (that they probably didn't actually want lol) Now I'm gonna share it with you guys and hopefully there's a few of you out there who will benefit from my past mistakes and find some useful advice in here. XD Since I started doing this stuff, which are all pretty easy changes to absorb into your process if you want to try them, I now almost never get writer's block.

The text of the original reply is indented, and I've added some additional commentary to expand upon and clarify some of the concepts.

As for writing well, I usually attribute it to the fact that I spent roughly four years in my late teens/early 20s writing text roleplay with a friend for hours every single day. Aside from the constant practice that provided, having a live audience immediately reacting to everything I wrote made me think a lot about how to make as many sentences as possible have maximum impact so that I could get that kind of fun reaction. (Which is another reason why comments like yours are so valuable to fanfic writers! <3) The other factors that have improved my writing are thus: 1. Writing nonlinearly. I used to write a whole story in order, from the first sentence onward. If there was a part I was excited to write, I slogged through everything to get there, thinking that it would be my reward once I finished everything that led up to that. It never worked. XD It was miserable. By the time I got to the part I wanted to write, I had beaten the scene to death in my head imagining all the ways I could write it, and it a) no longer interested me and b) could not live up to my expectations because I couldn't remember all my ideas I'd had for writing it. The scene came out mediocre and so did everything leading up to it. Since then, I learned through working on VN writing (I co-own a game studio and we have some visual novels that I write for) that I don't have to write linearly. If I'm inspired to write a scene, I just write it immediately. It usually comes out pretty good even in a first draft! But then I also have it for if I get more ideas for that scene later, and I can just edit them in. The scenes come out MUCH stronger because of this. And you know what else I discovered? Those scenes I slogged through before weren't scenes I had no inspiration for, I just didn't have any inspiration for them in that moment! I can't tell you how many times there was a scene I had no interest in writing, and then a week later I'd get struck by the perfect inspiration for it! Those are scenes I would have done a very mediocre job on, and now they can be some of the most powerful scenes because I gave them time to marinate. Inspiration isn't always linear, so writing doesn't have to be either!

Some people are the type that joyfully write linearly. I have a friend like this--she picks up the characters and just continues playing out the next scene. Her story progresses through the entire day-by-day lives of the characters; it never timeskips more than a few hours. She started writing and posting just eight months ago, she's about an eighth of the way through her planned fic timeline, and the content she has so far posted to AO3 for it is already 450,000 words long. But most of us are normal humans. We're not, for the most part, wired to create linearly. We consume linearly, we experience linearly, so we assume we must also create linearly. But actually, a lot of us really suffer from trying to force ourselves to create this way, and we might not even realize it. If you're the kind of person who thinks you need to carrot-on-a-stick yourself into writing by saving the fun part for when you finally write everything that happens before it: Stop. You're probably not a linear writer. You're making yourself suffer for no reason and your writing is probably suffering for it. At least give nonlinear writing a try before you assume you can't write if you're not baiting or forcing yourself into it!! Remember: Writing is fun. You do this because it's fun, because it's your hobby. If you're miserable 80% of the time you're doing it, you're probably doing it wrong!

2. Rereading my own work. I used to hate reading my own work. I wouldn't even edit it usually. I would write it and slap it online and try not to look at it again. XD Writing nonlinearly forced me to start rereading because I needed to make sure scenes connected together naturally and it also made it easier to get into the headspace of the story to keep writing and fill in the blanks and get new inspiration. Doing this built the editing process into my writing process--I would read a scene to get back in the headspace, dislike what I had written, and just clean it up on the fly. I still never ever sit down to 'edit' my work. I just reread it to prep for writing and it ends up editing itself. Many many scenes in this fic I have read probably a dozen times or more! (And now, I can actually reread my own work for enjoyment!) Another thing I found from doing this that it became easy to see patterns and themes in my work and strengthen them. Foreshadowing became easy. Setting up for jokes or plot points became easy. I didn't have to plan out my story in advance or write an outline, because the scenes themselves because a sort of living outline on their own. (Yes, despite all the foreshadowing and recurring thematic elements and secret hidden meanings sprinkled throughout this story, it actually never had an outline or a plan for any of that. It's all a natural byproduct of writing nonlinearly and rereading.)

Unpopular writing opinion time: You don't need to make a detailed outline.

Some people thrive on having an outline and planning out every detail before they sit down to write. But I know for a lot of us, we don't know how to write an outline or how to use it once we've written it. The idea of making one is daunting, and the advice that it's the only way to write or beat writer's block is demoralizing. So let me explain how I approach "outlining" which isn't really outlining at all.

I write in a Notion table, where every scene is a separate table entry and the scene is written in the page inside that entry. I do this because it makes writing nonlinearly VASTLY more intuitive and straightforward than writing in a single document. (If you're familiar with Notion, this probably makes perfect sense to you. If you're not, imagine something a little like a more contained Google Sheets, but every row has a title cell that opens into a unique Google Doc when you click on it. And it's not as slow and clunky as the Google suite lol) When I sit down to begin a new fic idea, I make a quick entry in the table for every scene I already know I'll want or need, with the entries titled with a couple words or a sentence that describes what will be in that scene so I'll remember it later. Basically, it's the most absolute bare-bones skeleton of what I vaguely know will probably happen in the story.

Then I start writing, wherever I want in the list. As I write, ideas for new scenes and new connections and themes will emerge over time, and I'll just slot them in between the original entries wherever they naturally fit, rearranging as necessary, so that I won't forget about them later when I'm ready to write them. As an example, my current long fic started with a list of roughly 35 scenes that I knew I wanted or needed, for a fic that will probably be around 100k words (which I didn't know at the time haha). As of this writing, it has expanded to 129 scenes. And since I write them directly in the page entries for the table, the fic is actually its own outline, without any additional effort on my part. As I said in the comment reply--a living outline!

This also made it easier to let go of the notion that I had to write something exactly right the first time. (People always say you should do this, but how many of us do? It's harder than it sounds! I didn't want to commit to editing later! I didn't want to reread my work! XD) I know I'm going to edit it naturally anyway, so I can feel okay giving myself permission to just write it approximately right and I can fix it later. And what I found from that was that sometimes what I believed was kind of meh when I wrote it was actually totally fine when I read it later! Sometimes the internal critic is actually wrong. 3. Marinating in the headspace of the story. For the first two months I worked on [fic], I did not consume any media other than [fandom the fic is in]. I didn't watch, read, or play anything else. Not even mobile games. (And there wasn't really much fan content for [fandom] to consume either. Still isn't, really. XD) This basically forced me to treat writing my story as my only source of entertainment, and kept me from getting distracted or inspired to write other ideas and abandon this one.

As an aside, I don't think this is a necessary step for writing, but if you really want to be productive in a short burst, I do highly recommend going on a media consumption hiatus. Not forever, obviously! Consuming media is a valuable tool for new inspiration, and reading other's work (both good and bad, as long as you think critically to identify the differences!) is an invaluable resource for improving your writing.

When I write, I usually lay down, close my eyes, and play the scene I'm interested in writing in my head. I even take a ten-minute nap now and then during this process. (I find being in a state of partial drowsiness, but not outright sleepiness, makes writing easier and better. Sleep helps the brain process and make connections!) Then I roll over to the laptop next to me and type up whatever I felt like worked for the scene. This may mean I write half a sentence at a time between intervals of closed-eye-time XD

People always say if you're stuck, you need to outline.

What they actually mean by that (whether they realize it or not) is that if you're stuck, you need to brainstorm. You need to marinate. You don't need to plan what you're doing, you just need to give yourself time to think about it!

What's another framing for brainstorming for your fic? Fantasizing about it! Planning is work, but fantasizing isn't.

You're already fantasizing about it, right? That's why you're writing it. Just direct that effort toward the scenes you're trying to write next! Close your eyes, lay back, and fantasize what the characters do and how they react.

And then quickly note down your inspirations so you don't forget, haha.

And if a scene is so boring to you that even fantasizing about it sucks--it's probably a bad scene.

If it's boring to write, it's going to be boring to read. Ask yourself why you wanted that scene. Is it even necessary? Can you cut it? Can you replace it with a different scene that serves the same purpose but approaches the problem from a different angle? If you can't remove the troublesome scene, what can you change about it that would make it interesting or exciting for you to write?

And I can't write sitting up to save my damn life. It's like my brain just stops working if I have to sit in a chair and stare at a computer screen. I need to be able to lie down, even if I don't use it! Talking walks and swinging in a hammock are also fantastic places to get scene ideas worked out, because the rhythmic motion also helps our brain process. It's just a little harder to work on a laptop in those scenarios. XD

In conclusion: Writing nonlinearly is an amazing tool for kicking writer's block to the curb. There's almost always some scene you'll want to write. If there isn't, you need to re-read or marinate.

Or you need to use the bathroom, eat something, or sleep. XD Seriously, if you're that stuck, assess your current physical condition. You might just be unable to focus because you're uncomfortable and you haven't realized it yet.

Anyway! I hope that was helpful, or at least interesting! XD Sorry again for the text wall. (I think this is the longest comment reply I've ever written!)

And same to you guys on tumblr--I hope this was helpful or at least interesting. XD Reblogs appreciated if so! (Maybe it'll help someone else!)

[mybonkskeletonclam]

ten years ago you were so scared of such different things, but you survived them anyway. the same goes for five years ago and two years ago. everything that has ever felt like a hurdle, you’ve passed through. so be afraid, identify your fears, and then allow yourself to remember that in just a little while, this will be another thing that you have overcome.