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The Wheel of Worry 

By Andrew Kuo, for the NY Times Magazine, via Aesthetics of Joy

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Selections from the personal annual reports of the German zoologist Carl Apstein. Each report is 1-2 pages and included in an album covering the years from 1905 to 1938. More detail on the album’s contents is provided by his great-grandson…

1905 is his very first page in this album, giving a résumé over a long trip from Northern Germany to Southern France.

1935 and 1936 are typical pages from the album. Take attention to the use of certain symbols:

Small signposts represent travels to other cities

All invited guests are listed, categorized by dinner guests (fork and knife), teatime guests (tea pot), coffeetime guests (coffee pot/cup), receptions (punch bowl) or beer drinking together with friends and colleagues (beer siphon, as shown on the 1905 page).

Not at these pages: Major social events contain seating orders, place cards or invitation cards, sometimes even a small cloth piece cut out from from his wife’s festive dresses.

Both important and small events are marked in this album: Wedding anniversaries (golden ring), the annual return of birds or the Olympic Games 1936.

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Emotionally Vague by Orlagh O'Brien

Aggregated representations of emotions from 250 male and female subjects from over 35 countries.

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Writer’s Block Miracle Cures

Last week, I was so stuck on my novel.  I knew where I wanted to go, but I just couldn’t get the words on the paper. Then, I found these cures.

Here’s some ways to cure writer’s block that work for me, and that you should try out.

1. Create a playlist for your book

This is one of my favorite things to do.  It’s almost like a soundtrack for your book.  I find it’s easier to visualize what you’re writing when you have something to enhance it.  Plus it’s just really fun!

Alternatively, you could go a step further and make playlists for your characters.

2. Make character mood boards

Here’s a mood board I made for one of my characters!

As you can see, it gives you a glimpse into who the character is.  This can be really helpful when you’re stuck with writer’s block.  By looking closer into your characters, you get a better understanding of the book as a whole.

3. Read a book

Sometimes the best thing you can do is just step away from your book, and reading something else can help generate ideas. If you’re having trouble writing, shut your laptop, pick up a book, and read for 30 minutes. Come back to your book once your done, and see if it cleared your mind.

4. Work on characterization

Sometimes, building your characters is an automatic cure for writer’s block.  By making your characters come alive, you create new ideas and it’s easier to imagine your characters in different situations.

If you need help with characterization, check out my Characterization Cheat Sheet or my Characterization Checklist

5. Just take a break

If all else fails, just step away from your book.  Sometimes you won’t be able to think, and that’s okay! Go easy on yourself. You don’t have to write constantly in order to be a good writer. Take a breather, step away from your book, and come back to it later.

Take care of yourself first!

[skywriter87]

Grishaverse Characters as High School Teachers

Kuwei: Chemistry

“I’m 87% sure this won’t blow up so I don’t think you need goggles for this lab”

Nikolai: That overzealous AP World History teacher that talks really fast and has trouble being a neutral party in global matters because he has Opinions™

“Okay so lemme just put it out there that Christopher Columbus was an actual DICK and he was NOT A GOOD NAVIGATOR BECAUSE AS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR I CAN TELL YOU-”

Alina: English

Complete nerd. Geeks out over Brit Lit (I feel like she’d bust a fucking nut over Beowulf like no joke) and is super hyper even during first Period.

Genya: Fashion

“Fuck lesson plans just make something snazzy”

Matthias: AP Calculus

*Actual responsible and well-thought-out teaching methods*

Zoya: Earth Science

“Let’s learn about some motherfucking rocks and some motherfucking weather, BITCHES”

Kaz: Would hold some sort of administrative position like Principal or Vice Principal

*Actually doesn’t give a fuck when kids do bad things. Only really gets mad when there’s bullying and discrimination involved, but otherwise with phones, cheating, and stealing, he really doesn’t care*

Inej: Foreign language teacher

*Glances around* “Okay, kids, today’s lesson is on how to curse the fuck out of people you hate without them knowing-”

Mal: Gym Teacher that doubles as a football coach

Constant “when I was your age” lectures. “Idgaf if you have a doctor’s note yOU ARE DOING LAPS”

Jesper: Way out of line guidance counselor that is always flirting with the band teacher in the teacher’s lounge

“Hey, baby, are you a C Major scale? Because you look all natural to me.”

“Do you even know what a C Major scale is?”

“Tbh no.”

Wylan: Band teacher

“I speciFICALLY SAID YOU HAVE TO MIND,,, THE CRESCENDO,,, IN MEASURE 35,,,,”

Nina: Health

“You see, kids, when you’re a stupid bitch and smoke you get throat cancer” *proceeds to flip through a slide show showing very gruesome pictures of said throat cancer. Permanently scars her students for life.*

Bonus:

The Darkling: Creepy guy who sells drugs in the school parking lot

[skywriter87]

Wonder Woman brought up some Real Shit™ that is still applicable today, most importantly:

Chief explaining what happened to Native Americans

Charlie having PTSD and trying to deal with it

Sameer talking about how he wanted to be an actor but the color of his skin prevents that from happening

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Can we all appreciate how Raffe was getting turned on by Penryn sucking peanut butter of her fingers.

[skywriter87]

A mix tape isn’t a toaster or a tennis racquet or any other inanimate gift you might receive. It’s weighted by a unique and vast world of emotions, thoughts and feelings, memories or shared memories, hopes and dreams. There are (very often) romantic intentions or a sea of otherwise hidden messages you hope to convey. Even if you manage to strip out all the weighty stuff and make a tape with “just some songs” on it, it’s still a living, breathing thing with some kind of narrative behind it.

…from a comment on NPR’s When You Make Someone A Mix, What Do They Owe You? (via eurekajunkyard)

[skywriter87]

Top 20 Art Hoe Closet Basics

So I was asked by a lovely anon to make a list of the top 20 pieces an art hoe might have in their closet ~

I based this on what I’ve seen a lot of on the tumblr tag as well as what I personally like to wear!

1. Circle Shades

I see these everywhere and I think they’re so cute! My best friend has a pair that she wears all the time <3

lucyfromtheskyxx looks absolutely adorable in hers: x

2. High Waisted Jean Shorts

Bonus points if they’re patched, painted, patterned, or embroidered!

jaseyb looks like a goddess in hers!! x

3. Black & White Striped Top

The black & white striped top is a pretty big staple I think, whether it’s a crop, tank, tee, ect ~

cactusforce looks so cute in her stripey tee tbh x

4. Red & White Striped Top

Sort of an alternate of the black & white, I haven’t seen this as much but it’s still very cute!

vegangodess shows us how it’s done: x

5. Art Socks

Art socks are one of my favorite staples, I have a pair of knee high starry night ones that I just adore <3

peachyfro‘s art socks are amazing!! x

6. Overalls

I think they look especially cute with one strap undone!

sighingbud looks so cute in hers omg: x

7. Floral Buttondown

Buttoned, unbuttoned, or tied around your waist <3

picassoplants looks v v nice in hers!! x

8. Kanken Backpack

Usually in yellow, green, blue, or red ~

9. Black Crop Top

This isn’t a specifically “art hoe” piece, but I’ve seen it a lot paired with high waisted shorts and mom jeans

witchbetterhavemymonet looks like a goddess in hers!! x

10. Doc Martens

You mostly see the original black pairs, but I think the floral ones are nice too <3

11. Jean Jacket

Bonus points for cute pins!!

daniliion pulls it off so well and her whole aesthetic is honestly great: x

12. Choker Necklace

The black squiggly ones are most common, and the ones with yin-yang signs

otterprints daisy choker is causing me major choker envy tbh: x

13. Mustard Yellow SOMETHING

Sweaters, crop tops, shirts, skirts – as long as it’s mustard yellow, you’re “gold” <3

skatewitch4lyfe looks like she was born to wear this color omg <3 x

14. Cobalt Blue SOMETHING

Just like with mustard yellow, cobalt blue is a really important color! Wear it on anything ~

honey-vanhoe‘s blue tank top is the cutest!! x

15. Grid-Print SOMETHING

Bonus points for a matching top and bottom set! <333

sexy-avocado-party looks like art in hers: x

16. Mom Jeans

I’ve heard that you can usually thrift these, and they’re super comfy?! I’m still on the lookout for a pair

hellobowlme‘s mom jeans are on point: x

17. Quirky Baseball Cap

Usually forwards, sometimes backwards, always cute <3

18. Oversized Artsy Graphic Shirt

The bigger the better! Bonus points for tucking it into your high waisted shorts/jeans and rolling up the sleeves!!

coqnac‘s is A+++ x

19. Converse

I mostly see white converse, and some black as well ~

distortxd paired hers with art socks!! x

20. Huge Cardigan

Again, the bigger the better! Wear them all the time with anything <3

idiot4art has such a cool cardigan: x

So that’s my top 20!! Like I said it’s based mostly on what I’ve seen and worn, everyone’s unique and everyone’s got their own idea of what the “art hoe” style is ~

[skywriter87]

Alternate ending where Alina joins the dark side, embraces her power and rules over Ravka with the Darkling! They’d kick buts, free the grishas and conquer the world! <3 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194157-shadow-and-bone?ac=1&from_search=true

[skywriter87]

I was going to do a 10 panel illustration of ACOMAF to the lyrics of “this is gospel” by Panic at the Disco, but life happened and I don’t think i’ll be finishing it 

so here have a load of my ACOMAF doods that’ll be stuck in WIP land forever

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T H E  G R I S H A  T R I L O G Y  +   A  E  S  T  H  E  T  I  C

[skywriter87]

no but imagine this: the grisha trilogy…. as a ballet. it’s already got the russian aspect. it’s steampunk so it’ll have incredible costumes. it supposedly takes place in the early 20th century so the orchestral composition would be stunning. not to mention, the darkling and alina have that sorrowful relationship where they contrast one another but still bear the same burden which reminds me of swan lake. okay I’ve said my piece, someone please make this happen now.

[skywriter87]

Ok, but hear me out. What if Nina x Nikolai was endgame? What if, when she returns to Ravka, decked in military honours, revered as having helped avert a deadly threat to Grisha, she can’t help but see herself on the margins of the world she felt to be part of. She no longer has a place in any of the Orders, and slips into a place where she is alone and has no wish or way to connect to anyone. And it is at this point that Nikolai starts to interact with her more. She became an integral part of his court, an important figure in the Palace. And he knows what it’s like to be drawn into the fold of death and emerge on the other side, knows what it’s like to lose your family, those you love, but having to fight on. And she feels a pull towards the vein of death, of darkness that still flows through his body even years after he was transformed back. She can feel the death surrounding him, the deadly hunger he tried to fight, and she can’t help but want to sink into the cold that surrounds him. I just think that their respective experiences puts them on a sort of equal footing. They’re both virtually lost in the world, have nobody who understands what they went through, and find comfort in each other.

[skywriter87]

Prythian Courts | the dawn court

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I am a woman searching for her savagery

June Jordan, from “Poem for Nana,” Directed By Desire: The Collected Poems of June Jordan (via lifeinpoetry)