#And it’s got a real vague name

[aardvaark]

im so glad that we never get a clear picture of sophie’s background in leverage & i hope we never do. however i also really like making up various, often conflicting backstories for her in my head. perhaps they’re all backstories for an alias of hers, ones she laid to rest back in season two.

[epicfirestormer]

Guess who's playing Steamworld Heist 2 and isn't being normal about it

[pepperpixel]

Some new art of a very very old oc of mine! From like, when I was an 8th grader in middle school to freshman in high school I think, I haven’t thought about this character or the world she’s from in like… years, but my brain suddenly remembered she existed! And so I drew some art of her!

Visually, she’s absolutely mostly the result of my child self sticking Toko Fukawa from Danganronpa and Peacock from Skullgirls in a blender and lettin it fuckin rip. Personality wise she’s a bit different tho… she’s into politics! As in,,, she’s in politics ghgh, she’s like the chief of the surveillance department for the country of (mostly) witches that the story takes place in. And one of the advisors to the head ruler witch,,, she sucks! Hardcore! she’s def a villain lol

[talkorsomething]

I have Got to get more transgender

[krowscrawl]

gotta test these guys designs out so yknow

why not ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

og post by @pqnnier

[lunaetis]

▸▸ [ @apocryphis || aventurine & yinyue || starter call ]

─「银月」─  " you're lying. " the words cut through the silence in the most casual way possible. it was like the ROVER was speaking about the weather, mentioning something she considered as fact while her expression did not change in the slightest. there was no ounce of aggression within the way she spoke, either. no hint of judgement, nor hostility. she wasn't offended about being lied to, she simply was pointing out that she knew he wasn't speaking the truth. golden hues were kept on him steadily, as though a small part of her was curious as to why he had to lie. everyone has their own reasons, she supposed. she had no right to judge, thus, she did not. the waves around this person was ... peculiar, however. how intriguing for someone's wavelength to shift so drastically within the span of few seconds.

                " apologies, should i not have said that ? " realizing that it might have come off as rude or offensive, she quickly offered a sincere apology. that wasn't a kind of FIRST IMPRESSION she wanted to make to a complete stranger, especially when she found herself in unfamiliar territory. the noirette didn't break her eye-contact with the man as she placed a hand on her chest.

                " my name is yinyue. lost would be the most accurate way of describing my current situation. "

[multiimistakes]

i have plans no one must know....i have PLANS no one must know

[yourlocallosernamedgreenookie]

me on my way to queue fanart to reblog so people can know i just finished watching a movie and enjoyed it:

[quietwingsinthesky]

I don't wanna spoil you too badly but yes it does get more insane!! Somehow!! Also to answer your question, the doctor's name isn't really important, it's revealed in classic who and discussed vaguely in new who but it's mainly used in fanfics as a reference to the doctor/master's childhood together. Like uhh think of it like Lucifer calling Sam Samael or Sam calling Lucifer Morningstar.

oh that's actually quite sweet. also i'm def planning to get to classic who uhhh eventually. when im done with new who. i swear. im hooked in now. someone has already informed me there's an episode where he becomes a cat, so clearly i have to watch it.

[animationismycomfort]

watched the seventh dwarf again after years

and honestly…..

it’s pretty good

i love the dwarfs energy like idk how to explain it but I love it

[starburstgalexies]

25 genshin impact versions and the traveler is FINALLY slipping up huh

[ziptiesnfries]

i’m doing dumb college application stuff rn and it’s asking about “achievements” and i was like “lmao i don’t have any of those”

and then i remembered that i did get a story published in that whump anthology, which does count as a sort of achievement

and then i realized that i probably don’t want colleges to know, right off the bat, that one of my favorite things to write about is vivisection

[waywardsalt]

Hi! I decided to share a segment from an original idea I’ve been playing with for the past few years! This snippet is on its own, it’s just an isolated test for a concept that I’ve had for a while. Hope you enjoy!

The wanderer had spent so much of their existence alone, so it surprised them to find a companion while exploring the decrepit temple. The doe followed them around, perhaps out of wariness, curiosity, or simple ignorance. It didn’t seem afraid of how the sword at the wanderer’s hip jostled and clicked. It wasn’t afraid of their colorful scarf, or of the way they splashed noisily through puddles. The doe followed them without fear, as they crawled through holes in the old walls and explored the halls, finally stopping in a garden open to the sky, a serene sight enhanced by a small pond surrounded by greenery, water gleaming in the noon sunlight. As the wanderer stood silently, surveying the square, the doe walked up to the pond. It bent and took a drink of water. A tree stood at the pond’s opposite bank, it’s branches and leaves curling protectively over the pure waters.

Keeping quiet as to not startle the doe- though they assumed that nothing would scare the curious creature- the wanderer looked up and peered at a bird’s nest balancing on a branch. A bird flew down and poked at something on the ground. From a nearby crumbling doorway came a raccoon, and the wanderer’s attention was soon drawn to a small pack of wolves walking through another exposed hallway. One of the wolves broke off from the group and bounded through the open square, passing the pond and pausing in front of the wanderer, giving them a good sniff.

The wanderer crouched and was pleasantly surprised that the wolf allowed them to gently pat it on the head. The wolf then turned, ignoring the still-drinking doe, and found something new to inspect. They’d littered the whole temple, though the wanderer hadn’t paid much attention to them. The doe had caught their attention first, after all. But it was only when the wolf sniffed and nudged one of the dozens of skeletal remains, still encased in old, rusted armor, did the wanderer really pause and ponder the temple’s history.

There were so many of them: piles of bones and old armor and weapons, bones bleached by the sun and weathered by the elements. The armor and weapons were rusted nearly beyond recognition, dull enough that the wolf had no fear of getting cut when it nudged this particular skeleton’s sword. The wanderer gazed around the garden; hidden by the tall grass were more skeletons, artifacts of a battle. The holes in the temple walls must have been caused during that battle, but enough time had passed that vines had long since grown over the piles of bricks and covered them in wild grasses and weeds.

The doe stepped back from the pond, seemingly satisfied. At the same time, the wolf stopped its investigation of the soldier’s remains. The pair of them, as though they were not predator and prey, began walking side-by-side across the garden, and the wanderer followed.

The odd trio re-entered the temple’s decrepit and war-damaged halls, and walked slowly across the stained floors. They passed more puddles, holes in the roof allowing sunlight to shine in and glint off the water. Small groups of birds, squirrels, and other animals huddled at each puddle. Despite whatever carnage had happened at the temple, it was overshadowed by the nature that had continued to thrive in its aftermath.

The wanderer followed their guides, and silently let themselves marvel at the life that flourished upon of the relics of death, at the trees growing out of the walls and stretching out towards the sky through the fractured roof. Sections of the walls untouched by vines revealed faded murals and paintings; the temple used to be a place of worship, the wanderer realized, now walking so softly that the sounds of their sandals against the floor were drowned out by the chittering of animals.

The doe and wolf reached a fork in the hall and took the left path, leading the wanderer into a large room, just as damaged by violence as the rest of the temple. Amid the skeletons and rusted armor were small tables, wardrobes, and a humble bed. At the opposite end of the room was an immense, crumbling statue, illuminated by sunlight streaming in through tall windows. In cracks that webbed over the statue’s surface, small plants reached out into open air, and birds’ nests perched atop the statue’s head, shoulders, and crossed legs. It seemed to depict a holy deity, and the wanderer halted as the doe and wolf approached it.

Kneeling before the statue was a bald woman in a colorful robe; she turned as she heard the animals approach, and stood when she saw the wanderer. She smiled warmly and pressed her hands together, dipping her head at them. The wanderer silently mirrored her movements, and joined her before the statue. The woman sank back down onto her knees and gave the wolf a scratch behind the ears; the wanderer briefly watched them, then turned to the statue.

The depicted deity had a look of tranquility to it, and a sense of peace settled over the wanderer. They kneeled besides the woman and decided to silently send a prayer of thanks up to the gods, hoping that it would also reach this deity depicted in stone. As they prayed, the woman gazed serenely up at the statue, and the doe and wolf each sat down, warmly silent.

[arolesbianism]

Horrible realization that if I go through with recollecting all the oni logs then I'll have to actually find out how to get "a seed is planted" like for realsies this time. Maybe I should just cheat them all in actually. <3.

[burntoutdaydreamer]

Things That May Be Causing Your Writer's Block- and How to Beat Them

I don't like the term 'Writer's Block' - not because it isn't real, but because the term is so vague that it's useless. Hundreds of issues all get lumped together under this one umbrella, making writer's block seem like this all-powerful boogeyman that's impossible to beat. Worse yet, it leaves people giving and receiving advice that is completely ineffective because people often don't realize they're talking about entirely different issues.

In my experience, the key to beating writer's block is figuring out what the block even is, so I put together a list of Actual Reasons why you may be struggling to write:

(note that any case of writer's block is usually a mix of two or more)

Perfectionism (most common)

What it looks like:

You write one sentence and spend the next hour googling "synonyms for ___"

Write. Erase. Write. Rewrite. Erase.

Should I even start writing this scene when I haven't figured out this one specific detail yet?

I hate everything I write

Cringing while writing

My first draft must be perfect, or else I'm a terrible writer

Things that can help:

Give yourself permission to suck

Keep in mind that nothing you write is going to be perfect, especially your first draft

Think of writing your first/early drafts not as writing, but sketching out a loose foundation to build upon later

People write multiple drafts for a reason: write now, edit later

Stop googling synonyms and save that for editing

Write with a pen to reduce temptation to erase

Embrace leaving blank spaces in your writing when you can't think of the right word, name, or detail

It's okay if your writing sucks. We all suck at some point. Embrace the growth mindset, and focus on getting words on a page

Lack of inspiration (easiest to fix)

What it looks like:

Head empty, no ideas

What do I even write about???

I don't have a plot, I just have an image

Want to write but no story to write

Things that can help:

Google writing prompts

If writing prompts aren't your thing, instead try thinking about what kind of tropes/genres/story elements you would like to try out

Instead of thinking about the story you would like to write, think about the story you would like to read, and write that

It's okay if you don't have a fully fleshed out story idea. Even if it's just an image or a line of dialogue, it's okay to write that. A story may or may not come out of it, but at least you got the creative juices flowing

Stop writing. Step away from your desk and let yourself naturally get inspired. Go for a walk, read a book, travel, play video games, research history, etc. Don't force ideas, but do open up your mind to them

If you're like me, world-building may come more naturally than plotting. Design the world first and let the story come later

Boredom/Understimulation (lost the flow)

What it looks like:

I know I should be writing but uugggghhhh I just can'tttttt

Writing words feels like pulling teeth

I started writing, but then I got bored/distracted

I enjoy the idea of writing, but the actual process makes me want to throw my laptop out the window

Things that can help:

Introduce stimulation: snacks, beverages, gum, music such as lo-fi, blankets, decorate your writing space, get a clickity-clackity keyboard, etc.

Add variety: write in a new location, try a new idea/different story for a day or so, switch up how you write (pen and paper vs. computer) or try voice recording or speech-to-text

Gamify writing: create an arbitrary challenge, such as trying to see how many words you can write in a set time and try to beat your high score

Find a writing buddy or join a writer's group

Give yourself a reward for every writing milestone, even if it's just writing a paragraph

Ask yourself whether this project you're working on is something you really want to be doing, and be honest with your answer

Intimidation/Procrastination (often related to perfectionism, but not always)

What it looks like:

I was feeling really motivated to write, but then I opened my laptop

I don't even know where to start

I love writing, but I can never seem to get started

I'll write tomorrow. I mean next week. Next month? Next month, I swear (doesn't write next month)

Can't find the time or energy

Unreasonable expectations (I should be able to write 10,000 words a day, right????)

Feeling discouraged and wondering why I'm even trying

Things that can help:

Follow the 2 min rule (or the 1 paragraph rule, which works better for me): whenever you sit down to write, tell yourself that you are only going to write for 2 minutes. If you feel like continuing once the 2 mins are up, go for it! Otherwise, stop. Force yourself to start but DO NOT force yourself to continue unless you feel like it. The more often you do this, the easier it will be to get started

Make getting started as easy as possible (i.e. minimize barriers: if getting up to get a notebook is stopping you from getting started, then write in the notes app of your phone)

Commit to a routine that will work for you. Baby steps are important here. Go with something that feels reasonable: every day, every other day, once a week, twice a week, and use cues to help you remember to start. If you chose a set time to write, just make sure that it's a time that feels natural to you- i.e. don't force yourself to writing at 9am every morning if you're not a morning person

Find a friend or a writing buddy you can trust and talk it out or share a piece of work you're proud of. Sometimes we just get a bit bogged down by criticism- either internal or external- and need a few words of encouragement

The Problem's Not You, It's Your Story (or Outline (or Process))

What it looks like:

I have no problems writing other scenes, it's just this scene

I started writing, but now I have no idea where I'm going

I don't think I'm doing this right

What's an outline?

Drowning in documents

This. Doesn't. Make. Sense. How do I get from this plot point to this one?!?!?! (this ColeyDoesThings quote lives in my head rent free cause BOY have I been there)

Things That Can Help:

Go back to the drawing board. Really try to get at the root of why a scene or story isn't working

A part of growing as a writer is learning when to kill your darlings. Sometimes you're trying to force an idea or scene that just doesn't work and you need to let it go

If you don't have an outline, write one

If you have an outline and it isn't working, rewrite it, or look up different ways to structure it

You may be trying to write as a pantser when you're really a plotter or vice versa. Experiment with different writing processes and see what feels most natural

Study story structures, starting with the three act structure. Even if you don't use them, you should know them

Check out Ellen Brock on YouTube. She's a professional novel editor who has a lot of advice on writing strategies for different types of writers

Also check out Savage Books on YouTube (another professional story editor) for advice on story structure and dialogue. Seriously, I cannot recommend this guy enough

Executive Dysfunction, Usually From ADHD/Autism

What it looks like:

Everything in boredom/understimulation

Everything in intimidation/procrastination

You have been diagnosed with and/or have symptoms of ADHD/Autism

Things that can help:

If you haven't already, seek a diagnosis or professional treatment

Hire an ADHD coach or other specialist that can help you work with your brain (I use Shimmer; feel free to DM me for a referral)

Seek out neurodiverse communities for advice and support

Try body doubling! There's lot's of free online body doubling websites out there for you to try. If social anxiety is a barrier, start out with writing streams such as katecavanaughwrites on Twitch

Be aware of any sensory barriers that may be getting in the way of you writing (such as an uncomfortable desk chair, harsh lighting, bad sounds)

And Lastly, Burnout, Depression, or Other Mental Illness

What it looks like:

You have symptoms of burnout or depression

Struggling with all things, not just writing

It's more than a lack of inspiration- the spark is just dead

Things that can help:

Forget writing for now. Focus on healing first.

Seek professional help

If you feel like it, use writing as a way to explore your feelings. It can take the form of journaling, poetry, an abstract reflection of your thoughts, narrative essays, or exploring what you're feeling through your fictional characters. The last two helped me rediscover my love of writing after I thought years of depression had killed it for good. Just don't force yourself to do so, and stop if it takes you to a darker place instead of feeling cathartic

[foldingfittedsheets]

Yesterday I was talking vocabulary with my manager. We’re both word geeks so it was a fun conversation. He said, “Okay so only three words in the English language start with DW, can you name them all?”

“My brain is not very sharp today. Let’s see.” I let the loading screen play for a while in my brain before a word percolated. I was just seeing what would float to the top. I got wisps of hobbit holes and cozy blankets before I said, “Dwelling.”

“Yeah- dwell, dwelling.”

“Those are separate words.”

“No- just. For the purposes of this they’re not.”

I looked at him skeptically and kept the search function going in my head meat. Planets and galaxies formed slowly and vaguely. A forge popped up briefly. I waited patiently for that to coalesce into, “Dwarf.”

“One more.”

At this point my brain just started melting and I laughed uproariously.

“What?”

“My brain is soup today. I just thought ‘dwiminish’ which is fucking nonsense.”

His eyes widened as he laughed too, “Thats actually so close to the last one!”

“Are you for real?” I started scanning for words that could possibly be close to ‘dwiminish’ when I finally got, “Dwindle.” I laughed even harder. “Guess my soup brain kinda knew what was up.”

Current list of words he missed:

Dweeb