#Collaborative projects bring me SUCH JOY

[neil-gaiman]

Hi Neil,

First off, Good Omens is so wonderful— thank you (and Terry Pratchett and David Tennant and Michael Sheen!) for bringing Crowley and Aziraphale into existence. They bring so much joy to me and to so many people!

Secondly, I have a writing question! I am not a writer, primarily; I’m a scientist. But, I’m a scientist writing a journal article, specifically a journal article that has been hanging over my head for many years now. I’ve reached a point where I feel completely burnt out, almost pathologically unable to make progress on the manuscript. The data and results are strong and important, and I recognize that it’s a “story” that needs to be told, and that I’m the only one who can tell it (not to mention that I have several collaborators counting on me to get this done!).

So, my question is, have you ever had a story that you felt, for one reason or another, that you really should tell or needed to tell, but that was a horrific struggle to actualize on the page? Do you have any advice for how to make myself write when I’m completely demoralized and weary with what I’m writing, but unfortunately am nearly contractually unable to simply throw it in the trash and start on something else?

Thank you so much for any advice you can give (or even just a word of encouragement!!), and for your continued engagement with the writing and fandom communities! 

Sometimes you can do it by getting out of your own way. Sometimes you can do it by remembering or finding out once again what do you like about the project on the story to begin with.

I have frequently found when faced with a story that had died or that I had lost interest in or that I thought was awful, that if I read it aloud to another person they get interested and I start getting interested and often finish wanting to carry on to find out what happens next and to move forward. Dead projects have come back to life like this.

But it's also worth remembering that there are bad days and there are good days and there are projects that even if the days are awful and the whole thing feels terrible, the only way you will get to the good days is by pushing forward. The good days are there and waiting for you -- you just have to keep going to reach them.

[purplephloxpress]

Another year, another Fanfiction Writers Appreciation Day!!!! If you are a writer of fanfic, please know just how appreciated you are!! Fandom would be such a different space without your creativity and labors of love. 💜

Holidays are all about making traditions, and the bookbinding friends with @renegadeguild once again came together to bind copies of fics for their authors as a show of our appreciation. This year I had the absolute joy of binding Emergency Help Wanted by the wonderful @piyo-13 and even got to collaborate with her on some of the design elements! It's a Modern AU Jiang Cheng/Lan Xichen fic that starts with a "help wanted" ad.

EMERGENCY HELP WANTED

I lied when I got my job. I told them I had a kid so I could leave early from work to pick him up from daycare, take him to doctor's appointments, and occasionally miss a day when he's sick. Long story short, I'm in too deep. I didn't think it through. Looking to rent a kid for bring your child to work day. Must be a boy ages four to six, longish dark hair, likes soccer. Must also be artistic as the macaroni noodle paintings I made seem a little advanced for his age. Also, I will pay extra for someone willing to play the role of husband when dropping him off. He's a prosecuting attorney who often brings his work home. Message me for further details. Serious inquiries only.

Ok. So. I may have gone a little feral with this one. Online "help wanted" ad spiraled into loading wheel scene dividers, spiraled into fake Google search result headers, spiraled into FULLY committing to those authentic looking text messages. In full color. (There are so many. I typeset in MS Word. It was SO worth it, but god what a struggle at some points.) And don't forget the "recent searches" title page! Or the computer cutout on the cover! (It's bluescreening, just like Lan Xichen through this entire fic!) Also that cover/title page image that I just kept adding details to. (It's supposed to be Lan Xichen's desk, so it simply didn't feel right until it had sticky notes on the computer, #1 dad on the mug, scissors and measuring tape, scribbles on the sticky notes) Did I have a ton of fun designing this one? Perhaps. Couldn't say. Maybe just a tad. (This is a lie I had an ABSOLUTE BLAST!)

Historically, I've waited until I finish at least the typeset before reaching out to the author, but not so with this one! I got the idea for the fake google search results from Piyo's authors notes, teasing the contents of the next chapter. But! Those didn't start until about chapter 4! So I reached out and asked if we could collaborate and I'm forever glad I did! Not only does this have teasers for each chapter, I also got to bounce design ideas off of her, including what shade of blue and purple for the text messages. Because my friends, that is a serious matter and changed SEVERAL times throughout the process.

Also shoutout to all my Renegade friends who gave input and encouragement over the past year while I worked on this (what endpages to use? how to make this shade of green perfectly Nie Huaisang? how do we feel about this text message design? or how about this one?) - I love you all dearly and appreciate you so much for putting up with my nonsense at all times.

Binding details below the cut!

Fandom: The Untamed/Mo Dao Zu Shi

Pairing: Jiang Cheng | Jiang Wanyin / Lan Huan | Lan Xichen

Bookcloth: Aqua/Purple Dubletta from Colophon Book Arts

Endpapers: Craft Consortium Ink Drops - Ocean pack

Textblock paper: short grain cream from Church Paper

Titling: We R Memory Keepers foil quill

Endbands: leather cording core, DMC embroidery floss for the bands

Body Font: EB Garamond

Title Font: Berlin Sans FB

Text Messages: Roboto

Additional fonts: Times New Roman, Kunstler Script, Magis Authentic

Title page image from Rawpixel and designed in Canva

Various computer graphics from The Noun Project

Tumblr insists on eating and doubling text in this section at its own whim, so if there's something missing that you're curious about, feel free to DM me an ask!

[art]

Creator Spotlight: @jijidraws

Jiji Knight is a latina pinup illustrator. Her work is overall geared toward thick ladies and dedicated to fat positivity out of a purely selfish need to create art she wished she had seen growing up. She often features sexy and soft macabre themes on vibrant or sweet colours and takes great joy in making folx feel good about themselves with her work. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration and operates out of her very sunny hometown of Las Vegas.

Check out our interview with Jiji below!

Have you ever had an art block? If so, how did you overcome it?

Oh my gosh… I have art blocks all the time. My favorite way of overcoming it is by making fanart. Funnily enough, that’s something I don’t do in my own work anymore. But there are still IPs I return to that still bring joy to my heart. I love returning to drawing Sailor Moon like when I was in first grade. Or I’ll even look up the last fashion week and start drawing the fashion week outfits from the Paris or New York show. Stuff like that is what gets my creative juices flowing.

What medium have you always been intrigued by but would never use yourself?

Resin. Resin art is so stunning. People make the most amazing and beautiful sculptures using resin, and I don’t think I could ever bring myself to play with something so complicated. There are a lot of ways to cure it, and sometimes, it doesn’t cure properly…I already work with enough chaos as it is! I respect resin artists, but I don’t think I would ever touch it. I’ve admired it from a distance. There is an artist I follow who does these resin layer paintings. So they’ll paint a layer of resin, then cure it, and paint on top of the cured layer. They build up these amazing paintings using resin…I could never. Maybe one day!

What is one interaction you had with a fan of yours that has stuck with you over the years?

I still remember…It was my first and only Flame Con in New York. I had a fan come up to my booth. They didn’t say hello or that it was nice to meet me. They started to cry! They cried, and the first words out of their mouth were, “I’ve never seen myself in artwork before.” So, of course, I started to cry! So we were just crying across the table at each other. It was just one of the sweetest interactions, and it really sticks with me still to this day.

What is a recent creative project that you are proud of?

My latest collaboration with the artist Missupacey. We’ve been collaborating for two years now, and our last collaboration was for Midsummer Scream. It was two very cute clown girls, and I designed our T-shirt. It was one of the most fun projects we’ve done in a long time. We love doing collaborative work because it keeps working in the art industry fresh—being able to bounce ideas back and forth. So we do it where someone picks the color palette, and someone picks a theme. We’ll get references together, put them on a big board, and send each other sketches. It’s really nice to work with somebody else.

How has technology changed the way you approach your work?

Honestly, it changed everything. I mean, I used to draw for myself a lot. And while I still do that, I now predominantly draw for my Patrons. For a while, I was drawing for the internet. So I was drawing stuff people wanted to see in terms of plus-sized versions of characters—a plus-sized Poison Ivy or a plus-sized Sailor Moon. My Patrons have allowed me to start drawing for myself again. But technology, for a while, essentially dominated what direction I was taking with my art, so I’m grateful to take some of that power back.

If there is one thing that you want art enthusiasts to remember you by, what would it be?

Body positivity. I would love for them to remember that there is an artist making work that is making people feel good about themselves and about the way they look at themselves.

Top tips on setting up an Artist Alley booth?

Have a method of taking money, have a method of displaying your work, and have a way to take a break. I have a plastic picnic cover that costs like a dollar at any store. All I have to do is clip it to my display grates, and it covers up my entire display. I feel secure enough to take time for myself in a 10-hour workday to eat something, go to the restroom, or even take a moment to breathe and reorganize my inventory. So it’s so funny that this one-dollar piece of plastic is like the most life-saving item in my display of items.

Who on Tumblr inspires you and why?

@mayakern comes to mind. She is another body-positive artist who expanded into making body-positive clothing. She’s amazing, and just to see someone else out there promoting body positivity. Maya’s been doing it longer than I have, I believe. It feels good to know that I’m not alone. Her work is always stunning, and I love her body-positive DnD characters and the fact that she’s still plowing through the clothing industry. For example, she’s expanded from skirts to button-downs and even custom-wrap shirts. I love to see what she’s doing, and it inspires me to pursue different avenues with my own work.

Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing, Jiji! Be sure to check out their Tumblr blog over at @jijidraws.

[piixelpaint]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY @naffeclipse​!!! Happy Birthday to you, one of our very favourite writers in this wholesome fandom!! ☀️🌙

You have gathered hundreds of people around your exciting stories, making us hold our breath each time we read a new chapter you post. You inspire each of us to create our own stories, drawings, animations, to bring something of our own to this fandom. And you helped us find new mutual friends within it, with whom we may sometimes chat for hours on end. You yourself have become one of said mutual friends and it is always such a pleasure to write to you!

You are simply fantastic and we all sincerely wish you the best Birthday that one could have, knowing that you bring so much joy and inspiration to others!

// All credits and more under the cut! Please, do take a look! :) //

Unfortunately, we could not invite all the people who appreciate your writings to participate in this collaboration, as much as we wanted to. This was our first time organizing something like this, and we needed to limit the number of people. But, Naff, I think you yourself know very well that there are hundreds of people in this fandom who sincerely love you and your work and that this art piece would be much bigger if all of them took part in it :)  And on that note, a huge thank you to everyone who agreed to participate! Regardless of busyness and time zone differences, we all worked together and were able to finish this wonderful art piece!

Full List of Credits: Characters In Deep Dreams Between the Waves Mer-Eclipse - @themeeplord  Fisher Y/N - @pure-plum

Sleuth Jesters & AUs Detective Sun - @zelda7999 Detective Moon - @kibbits  Mafia Boss Eclipse - @miwachan2 Vigilante Y/N - @pure-plum Police Chief Eclipse - @lavenoon  Detective Y/N - @cero-sleep

Cryptid Sightings Cryptid Sun/Moon - @sillysaysnonsense Hunter Y/N - @lavenoon 

Double Toil and Trouble Demon Familiar Sun - @solitary-star Demon Familiar Moon - @chaotikanvas  Witch Y/N - @sanchensky Demon Familiar Eclipse - @clxckwork-sun-n-moon

The Writer Naff - @piixelpaint

Layout @themeeplord, @sanchensky, @piixelpaint & everyone for their great ideas and feedback!

BG & Comp @pure-plum

Organizers @piixelpaint & @sanchensky​

Special Thanks To Plum, who gave me (Piixel) the confidence to start this whole thing after I pitched it to her x)

___ Quick note from Piixel: This was honestly such a fun project to work on and to all my fellow collaborators, I have to give a massive thanks!!✨ You really made this project and this seriously couldn’t have come to fruition without your willingness, patience and seamless cooperation. So from the bottom of my heart, Thank you guys so so much!!

And for you, dearest Naff, I think this really shows how wonderful a community you’ve built around you! Not only with your masterful writing and charming stories, but also by being such a sweet, kind and giving person.

So here’s to you, Naff! Happy Birthday, babe! 🥳🎉❤️❤️❤️

(Closeups below ;)

[virgo-79]

I'm disappointed and sad and pissed, for sure. But there are some things that are keeping me from being totally devastated. There are things that give me hope for what might be to come.

David Jenkins confirmed that the industry took notice of our campaign. We saw the articles and interactions that confirmed people were taking notice of our campaign. And we got new eyes on the show. Whatever else it's up against, future queer media can only be helped by that.

Maybe at some point we actually will get an on-screen continuation of OFMD. Again, from David's mouth, the lack of pickup is down to an industry in chaos -- not a lack of interest in the show. Obviously that industry chaos is a problem, and for a bigger reason than just this one show. But this transitional period also means there's an opportunity for change, and that's why I think we need to keep being vocal about OFMD, about WB and MAX, and streaming in general. Keep the action and conversation going, both for the sake of influencing the direction the industry goes in, and for showing that interest in OFMD isn't waning. Because there's always that chance that once the dust settles, there will be at least one platform in a position to bring OFMD back. Giant companies aren't suddenly going to grow souls, but they'll look out for their own interests. All we need is someone to decide that those intersect with ours. We've come to the end of the road, yeah, but there's always another trip to pack for.

And finally, I think it's HIGHLY possible we'll get another show by David Jenkins that features Taika, Rhys, and a lot of other OFMD actors and crew. Every single person who has talked about the experience of making this show has absolutely spilled over with love for it. Everyone had a good time, everyone loved what they were creating. Taika and Rhys adored working together again. Taika said being Ed made him fall in love with acting again. All of the actors got to have a hand in their characters' creations. There's so much positivity, respect, and encouragement passed back and forth between the people making the show and the people watching. Which is all my long way of saying that whether it's more OFMD at some point in the future, or a completely different show, I believe strongly that this team is going to work together again and have more stories for us. And I have every confidence that that story will radiate as much love and joy as OFMD. I am and always will be head over heels for the characters and storylines of OFMD. But my delight in them goes beyond the characters to the people who made them, and I'll be there for any project these people collaborate on. I trust them to give it the same heart our silly queer pirate show has.

[doumadono]

I'm thrilled to reveal my first-ever Kinktober collaboration event hosted by me, Doumadono, and my second writing blog, Thepaperpanda

After the huge success of my inaugural Kinktober event last year, conducted on ThePaperPanda, I've opted to explore a fresh concept this year. With this notion in mind, I contacted the writers I hold in high regard, inviting them to partake in a playful exploration of lust and desire. To my astonishment, the response was overwhelmingly positive, and I am deeply honored to have such exceptional writers participating in this little project. I want to express my deep thanks to all the writers who are participating. Having each and every one of you on board brings me great joy and satisfaction ♡

Essential information

♡ This Masterpost has been prepared to function as an informational leaflet, providing comprehensive details about the upcoming collaboration event

♡ The Masterlist will undergo updates as soon as the works are posted

♡ All works will be NSFW 🔞

♡ Our event-specific tag will be applied to all works: #kinktobercollab‘23

♡ This is a multifandom event

♡ Within this collaborative event, you'll discover a variety of stories, including headcanons, blurbs, drabbles, and full-length fictions

♡ The event will include various pairings (such as KiriBaku, ShigaDabi, etc.)

♡ Below, following the cut, you can find the complete list of prompts, characters, and writers participating in the Kinktober 2023 Collaboration

♡ Reblog to help spread the word!

♡ day 1 - blow job | Douma | @sanriokamabodo

♡ day 2 - overstimulation | Bakugo | @doumadono

♡ day 3 - dry humping | Atsumu Miya | @doumadono

♡ day 4 - maid | Dabi | @dabihawksluva

♡ day 5 - bukkake | KiriBaku & ShigaDabi | @doumadono

♡ day 6 - orgasm denial | Levi Ackerman | @mrskokushibo

♡ day 7 - sensory deprivation | Douma | @muzansfangs

♡ day 8 - drunk sex | Bucky Barnes | @thepaperpanda

♡ day 9 - leash | Sukuna | @thepaperpanda

♡ day 10 - shibari | Douma | @thepaperpanda

♡ day 11 - creampie | Shigaraki | @thepaperpanda

♡ day 12 - break

♡ day 13 - mirror | Hawks | @kyojurismo

♡ day 14 - daddy kink | Jake Lockley | @thepaperpanda

♡ day 15 - hair pulling | Akaza Douma Kokushibo | @sanriokamabodo

♡ day 16 - morning sex | Neuvillette | @thepaperpanda

♡ day 17 - spanking | Kotaro Bokuto | @doumadono

♡ day 18 - temperature play | Dabi | @dabislittlemouse

♡ day 19 - break

♡ day 20 - break

♡ day 21 - angry sex | Bakugo | @mrskokushibo

♡ day 22 - oral sex | Sae Itoshi | @thepaperpanda

♡ day 23 - rough sex & praise kink | Lucifer | @thepaperpanda

♡ day 24 - dirty talk & finger fucking | ShibaDabi | @lifeform286

♡ day 25 - breeding kink | Dabi | @sillakits

♡ day 26 - love triangles | KiriBaku | @kyojurismo

♡ day 27 - period sex | Bakugo | @thepaperpanda

♡ day 28 - lingerie | Shigaraki | @misafiryanki

♡ day 29 - threesome | Erasermic | @gamergirl-niffler

♡ day 30 - torture | Dottore | @gamergirl-niffler

♡ day 31 - biting | Douma | @sanriokamabodo

[half-oz-eddie]

I do not want to do discourse but I am quite tired so feel free to scroll past this or ignore it idc

First and foremost I do not care if other positivity projects exist. They can exist in unique ways for unique reasons. It's a beautiful thing. I'm sure people love what they do and they're doing it for fun. Personally? I love what I do. A normal amount. And I do it my own way. Kinley Café is my heartbeat and it's always been a project that I deeply enjoy and that I am passionate about. I ask for nothing in return except the chance to touch other people's lives and make them smile by sending out your orders.

I am so comforted by the amount of love and support I receive. It's motivating and has helped me through difficult times. I have been so distracted spreading joy that I've basically breezed through what is usually the most difficult month of my life.

And yet. And yet!! I have been reported as spam so the café does not come up in searches (it's limited/partially shadowbanned I guess you can say. I constantly worry that this affects people getting notified when they receive treats because I want them to know someone is thinking of them. But I have been communicating with Tumblr about it, so don't worry too much). I have received phishing links in DMs and on the order form. And more recently, a password protected blog that hasn't had any activity in 40 days receives nearly a dozen notifications out of the blue because of a months old post circulating as some sort of gotcha, and I find out someone is telling people that I copied an idea (from myself btw) and sent out anons trying to encourage people to call me out over...stealing my own idea?

And I don't wanna hear "they didn't know it was me" because nobody asked me shit! I didn't show anybody any disrespect. In fact, I was being supportive! I showed love! I took the time out to make something because I wanted to continue to encourage the spread the positivity.

And yet, people made accusations even though I was being kind? Do you want a trampoline since you like fucking jumping to conclusions?

KC has been open for FIVE weeks. And I've dealt with all this in a short period of time for absolutely no reason. I've been nothing but kind and supportive of others. I genuinely and sincerely try my best.

I don't wanna let this taint something beautiful or let anything discourage me from doing this again. But I swear to god.....this shit is getting really annoying and bringing out the worst in me. lmao why am I fighting for my life during this little hiatus? I'm dedicating my free time to creating things, and collaborating with others just to spread love and kindness. I don't want anything but peace and quiet.

What's next? Do I have to keep dealing with dumbassery? Or can I go back to sending out treats and going on about my fucking business? Because I do not have time for this. I do not want all this static!!!

I've turned off reblogs. If you want to talk to me privately that's fine but this has been a little overwhelming and I just wanted to get this off my chest.

[svt-luna]

· ˚ ༘ * VOCAL TEAM ᥫ᭡. ⋆

synopsis: Luna’s relationship and dynamics with the Vocal Team of SEVENTEEN.

╰ ౨ৎ LUNA-VERSE MASTERLIST

╰ ౨ৎ hip hop team╰ ౨ৎ performance team

JEONGHAN

﹟DYNAMIC ‣ Luna's relationship with Jeonghan is somewhat complicated which is marked by a deep and evolving bond. He was the first person she got close to upon transferring to PLEDIS Entertainment and upon joining the Seventeen Project. Seeing how introverted and out of place she was, Jeonghan felt reminded of his own experience when he first started. Taking the initiative, Jeonghan spoke to her first, helping her feel more at ease in her new environment. Luna would often follow him around, being his shadow because he was the only one she knew and felt comfortable with. And because of this, Luna harbored a huge crush on him, drawn to his charm and warmth. Despite an early rejection for the sake of the team, Jeonghan later realized his feelings for her, leading to the 'will-they?-won't-they?' dynamic they currently have going on which the fans adore. They gravitate toward each other naturally, and Luna, despite being younger, often takes care of him. Their relationship is characterized by mutual support and understanding, with Jeonghan working hard to earn her romantic affection once more.

JOSHUA

﹟DYNAMIC ‣ Luna and Joshua share a sibling-like relationship filled with playful banter and shared interests. Both fluent in English, they enjoy shit-talking people ❨the other members❩ right in front of their faces. They also enjoy crafting together, creating a unique bond within the group. Joshua brings out the crazy in Luna, encouraging her to let loose and have fun, while Luna brings out an even sassier side to Joshua, making their interactions lively and entertaining. Their interactions are marked by a mix of snobbish humor and genuine affection, making them the snobby siblings of the group. Their shared love for arts and crafts brings out a creative side in both, strengthening their connection.

DK

﹟DYNAMIC ‣ Luna finds immense joy in DK's company, as he is the only one who can consistently make her laugh out loud. Their bond is characterized by laughter and lighthearted moments, with DK's humor breaking through Luna's sometimes serious exterior. He is the person who can legitimately make her cry out in laughter and roll on the ground at how funny he is, making Luna treasure their time together. She always has a huge smile on her face whenever they are together. He is almost always the first one to make her smile whenever she is having a rough day. DK's ability to bring out her playful side adds a unique dynamic to their relationship, making them a delightful duo within the vocal team.

SEUNGKWAN

﹟DYNAMIC ‣ Luna and Seungkwan share a lively and energetic bond whenever they are together. Seungkwan brings out the social butterfly in Luna, helping her come out of her shell and embrace her fun-loving side. They are gossip buddies, often sharing the latest news and laughing together. Seungkwan's vibrant energy and humor make him someone Luna adores and finds adorable. He is quick to uplift her spirits, and their interactions are filled with warmth and laughter, making them a dynamic duo within the vocal team.

WOOZI

﹟DYNAMIC ‣ As songwriting buddies, Luna and Woozi connect on a deep musical level. Their sessions often involve intense brainstorming and collaboration, resulting in some of Seventeen's most memorable tracks. Woozi being music genius and Luna wanting to learn more, they push each other to explore new creative heights. Despite Woozi's introverted nature, he appreciates Luna's input and enjoys their productive synergy. Their relationship is built on mutual respect and a shared passion for music.

ೃ⁀➷ comment or message me to be added to the tag list :)

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ SUBMIT A REQUEST AND ASK ME ANYTHING!

: ̗̀➛ requests are always open ♡ - lunaఌ

Taglist: @yeoberryx @minminghao @angie-x3

[curio-queries]

Hi CQ, Thank you for your ask! I would also like to keep this conversation going as it tickles my brain in the most delightful way.

My question is kind of circling back to your comment about the use of Go-Pro's going forward when it comes to BTS content. It's such an easy way to add a very personal and up close pov to the scenes. YET, I feel like the scaled down crew of AYS and the use of Go-Pro's and especially the lack of attention to the audio has led to some pretty egregious technical setbacks. From choppy audio to a lack of proper coverage in certain scenes. This leads to an edit that has to cover a lot of potholes, so to speak. Do you think this is purely due to the intimate nature of AYS (less crew means more comfort for jikook, easier travel in between locations) or something else? Where's that Disney money 😩😩😩?

Hi Sol, I'm loving our exchanges, so thank you for keeping it going and sending me such an interesting prompt! I definitely had to think about this one a little bit to find how to encapsulate my thoughts.

The short answer is, I think this all just speaks to how the BTS production team is approaching experimental content and the financing required for such projects. Some comparables would be Suchwita and Jin's Alcohol Journey.

Let's start with Jin's show first.

(For anyone that hasn't watched it, I highly recommend. I don't drink but I still found it fascinating.) This is a 4 part episodic show that followed Jin as he learned about and made his own batch of a traditional drink. This show was a collaboration with Chef Baek Jong-won.

Personally, I feel this show was a success. Definitely leaned into more traditional filmmaking and storytelling (appropriately given the subject matter) and was a little more heavy-handed with the promo of Jin's solo music. In my opinion, this will lean the content to feeling more dated than it truly is but that may give us a hint as to how it was funded. There weren't any blatant sponsorships aside from the partnership with Chef Baek so it could have been reconciled as part of the promotions for The Astronaut. Wooteo is pretty prevalent in the show and it aired in the midst of the promo content.

I don't remember when the deal with Disney started to become known but I don't recall anyone in my circles angry that it wasn't getting the Disney release. (Could have been happening but I really limit where I spend my time engaging in social media so maybe that's on me for not being aware. Does anyone here remember if this was an issue?)

Now, let's move on to Suchwita.

(Disregard the quote on the above gif, I couldn't find a different one from the first ep.)

If you watch the first episode, it's on a different set and aired about a month before ep 2. When ep 3 airs, they first make it very clear that the show 'survived'. This is what leads me to believe that episode 1 was filmed on speculation. They could use that as a proof-of-concept to shop the show around to brands to secure more long-term funding. Suchwita's main focus as a show in the current events space is very focused on the guest's current projects and promotions.

Getting back to AYS,

We're far enough into the show that I believe we can rule out album promotions as being a financial driver. Not only because most of the member's songs that even make an appearance in the show were long-ago released but the manner in which they were incorporated is indicative as well. They're really only mentioned in the context of bringing us into the member's lives and sharing in the joy they have for eachother's work. (Also hopefully satisfying those fans that only ask the members to mention other member's songs when one of them would livestream...but that's a subject for another day.)

I think there's a strong possibility that the US eps were filmed on speculation as well. That there was no guarantee of a Disney release at the time. Just like the other shows, they knew they knew they could release on their own if Disney decided to pass so the footage definitely wouldn't be wasted. But I believe that's why the scope of the show seems vaguely undefined during eps 1&2.

Everything else that we've been discussing regarding production honestly seems within the typical scope of BTS's content under similar circumstances. Yes, there is plenty of room for improvement, but it's far from the worst show BTS has ever produced. I think one of the points that makes ppl think it's worse than it is is the management of expectations. I mentioned this in my review of Jimin's Production Diary but if we approach that show expecting that we're going to get detailed breakdown of all of the steps to create an album, we'll be very disappointed. Likewise, AYS is not a detailed vlog of how our members spent their time in these mini vacations.

One last thought,

BTS is not really given the space to experiment and explore. True experimentation requires space for failure, realignment, and growth. And that's just not something BTS has been granted the luxury of. There is such EXPECTATION with everything they release. Everything HAS to be success. That's one of the reasons I was so thrilled to hear RM had performed an unreleased song at the D-DAY concert. Crowdworking new material at concerts was a staple of tourning bands in the west and it helps bands get such critical live feedback DURING the creative process. Now, I don't think that was necessarily the goal with RMs performance but it's so lovely to see him able to even take a step in that direction. Such a thing woukd have been completely unheard of years prior. Fans (likely still) would have been clamoring about being led astray if the song changed drastically after that performance.

Anyway, I could very easily be completely wrong about all of this so let's all take it with a huge grain of salt.

[mxdzin]

TIS IS HERE!!

me and the wonderful mxjopsonfan bring you on this very fine day our collaboration for this year’s @theterrorbigbang

The Life I Needed All Along is a story about two transmasc sailors, john bridgens and henry peglar (and later one tom hartnell) finding each other and finding home. if you’d like a sweet, tender (and sexy!!) story about self-recognition and self-acceptance through another, trans joy and building a home together after horrible events, then we have just the thing for you!!

as a slight warning, for understandable reasons we decided for henry to have an original design here. he’s a tiny menace and we love him dearly (and hope you do too!)

don’t forget to leave kudos and comments!! also there’s an extra illustration only on ao3 because tumblr won’t let me show peglar booty!!

[reasonsforhope]

Catherine Borowski has always had an active imagination. As a child, she dreamed that the car park on her north London council estate would be transformed into a garden. The reality was quite different. “No one had a car, so it was empty, grey and depressing,” she says. Now a sculptor and event producer, Borowski has made it her mission to fill unloved urban spaces with flowers – albeit virtual ones. 

She and her partner Lee Baker are the founders of Graphic Rewilding, a project to install huge nature-inspired artworks into the urban landscape. “Where real rewilding isn’t possible, our goal is to inject the colour and diversity of nature into rundown spaces, urging people to notice – and find joy in – the world around them,” says Baker.   

The pair believe that flowers possess serious powers, even when they’re not real. “We know that spending time in nature is good for us, but studies show that even pictures of plants have a positive effect on the mind,” says Baker. He cites research published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, which found that imagery of plants in hospital waiting rooms can help reduce feelings of stress in patients. 

Baker, a painter and music producer, has long understood the benefits of biophilic design. Having suffered a breakdown 10 years ago, he found that drawing flowers was the only way to soothe his buzzy brain. “I would set out to draw dystopian landscapes, representative of my state of mind, but I’d always end up drawing flowers, which uplifted me,” he says.

It was around this time that Baker met Borowski, joining her production company as creative director. The pair have collaborated ever since, launching Graphic Rewilding in 2021. Since then, they’ve installed floral murals at locations including Earl’s Court station, Lewes Castle and Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush – all hand drawn by Baker. “We love galleries, but we focus on public art,” he says. “This way, our work is out there for everyone to enjoy.”

This year the pair have grand plans to create a series of stained glass pavilions (think greenhouses with colourful floral-themed panels), which they hope might find homes at Kew Gardens and the Eden Project. “The way light shines through the glass is magical,” says Borowski.  

Even so, they concede that art is no match for Mother Nature. “Some people have suggested that our project detracts from real rewilding efforts. But both can co-exist,” says Borowski. “Of course we want more green spaces.” adds Baker. “But we aren’t gardeners. We’re artists. In the absence of nature, we want to create inspiring spaces through art.”

Overall, the response has been hugely positive. “The joy that these artworks bring is palpable,” says Baker, highlighting an early project in Crawley, West Sussex. “Many people in the town were employed by Gatwick airport and Covid had taken its toll,” he recalls. In a bid to spread some joy, the duo painted brick walls, billboards, benches and even bins with their signature floral flair. “Peoples’ reactions were heartwarming. There were so many smiling faces,” he says.

Elsewhere, in Earl’s Court, the pair transformed “a ratty piece of tarmac” into a modern-day pleasure garden, which is now often filled with children dancing and doing cartwheels on the way home from school. “Putting art into a place that previously felt unloved feels like cultivating joy where there was none,” reflects Borowski. “If something like this had been installed on my estate when I was a kid, it would have been a dream come true.”

-via Positive.News, November 6, 2023

[genericpuff]

"Rachel is going to move into a more producer/director role after LO finishes, and she will facilitate a project called "Rachel Smythe Presents" that will feature works about other folktale and mythology written by up and coming authors!"

sigh

just to get ahead of this, I'm not going to be extending any of the LO critical stuff I write here to include whatever works Rachel makes in the future. Not because there isn't going to be anything to talk about, but I really just... I can't deal with it anymore LMAO as much fun as I have dissecting this series, it's also incredibly exhausting and I'd rather funnel my efforts into the stuff that actually brings me joy (like Rekindled).

that's, of course, assuming this actually goes anywhere, because god knows Rachel's incredibly bad at actually committing herself to things. I don't think she even realizes what she's talking about when she says she wants to go into more of a director/producer role because both of those roles involve HEAVY collaboration and management, and we all know through LO how bad she is at managing a team. This also just seems like an attempt for her to continue to inject herself and her ego into mythological content as a "folklorist" while taking a backseat where she can't be criticized from. Which is, again, just not how being a director/producer works.

But anyways. I don't know what this will bring and frankly I couldn't care less. I'm really only interested in seeing how LO finishes at this point, I'm not interested in her future projects knowing how she drove LO into the ground. And I feel like I'm not the only person with this sentiment at this point.

[sensualnoiree]

5th house astro notes

The 5th house in astrology is an expansive realm that embodies the essence of creativity, pleasure, and self-expression. It delves into a tapestry of themes that span from the joy of childhood play to the complexity of adult indulgences, encompassing a wide array of experiences that shape an individual's life.

At its core, the 5th house resonates with the vibrancy of creativity and self-expression. It signifies the realm of artistic endeavors, including artistic partnerships, collaborations, and creative projects. This house encapsulates the sheer pleasure derived from artistic pursuits, be it writing, performing arts, music, or any form of creative expression that brings joy and fulfillment.

Moreover, the 5th house extends its influence to encompass the joys of romance, love affairs, and playful, lighthearted relationships. It represents the realm of youthful passion, flirtation, and the thrill of short-term romantic connections. It's the space where one engages in joyful and casual relationships, often reflecting the carefree and spontaneous aspects of love and companionship.

Additionally, this house embodies the spirit of playfulness, fun, and spontaneity. It's associated with hobbies, leisure activities, and games that bring pleasure and entertainment. Whether it's engaging in recreational activities, taking part in games of chance, or relishing the joy of celebrations and festivals, the 5th house embodies the spirit of joyful indulgence.

Astrologically, planets positioned in the 5th house or influencing its ruler offer insights into an individual's approach to creativity, romance, and play. These planetary influences shed light on one's capacity for self-expression, their attitude towards pleasure, and their ability to engage in playful interactions and creative endeavors.

Furthermore, the 5th house holds a profound connection to an individual's experience of childhood and their inner child. It represents the memories of childhood play, the innocence of youth, and the way these experiences shape an individual's perception of pleasure, love, and self-expression throughout their lives.

This house invites exploration of one's relationship with pleasure, recognizing that pleasure isn't merely about indulgence but also about existence and security. It highlights the significance of supporting one's capacity for pleasure, emphasizing that it's deeply rooted in one's environment, circumstances, and emotional well-being.

Ultimately, the 5th house serves as a space of self-discovery, encouraging individuals to embrace their playful nature, explore their creative potential, and relish the pleasures that life offers. It's a realm that celebrates the spontaneity of existence, the beauty of artistic expression, and the joy found in connections, both fleeting and profound.

For more info follow me here! 🤸🏿‍♀️

[nori-the-cat]

✩ ♬ ₊.🎧⋆₊✧ RIIZE in 2024 🎸⋆⭒˚｡⋆

Remember, this is just my interpretation based on the tarot spread. Take this post as a grain of salt.

✩ General reading: The Moon (Reversed), Knight of Cups, 3 of Swords, 6 of Cups, 9 of Cups, Ace of Cups, and The Temperance.

RIIZE can expect a 2024 filled with mixed energies, a blend of challenges and opportunities.

2024 will be a year of growth and learning for RIIZE. They will need to navigate challenges with resilience, open communication, and emotional maturity.

However, they will also have opportunities for success, joy, and new beginnings. By embracing the positive energies and finding balance, RIIZE can make 2024 a rewarding and fulfilling year.

✩ Career reading: 9 of Wands (Reversed), 6 of Wands, 4 of Wands, 10 of Cups (Reversed), 5 of Pentacle, The Hierophant (Reversed), and 4 of Cups.

The tarot spread hints at a year of contrasting and dynamic energies for RIIZE's career in 2024.

RIIZE might have opportunities for collaborations, public recognition, and building a strong community (gaining more fans) are also present.

To me, this might be about working with more brands, ads deals, individual/group projects, gaining spotlight, getting momentum, and building an image or brand out of their name.

✩ Health reading: Knight of Pentacles (Reversed), Knight of Swords (Reversed), The Moon, 3 of Wands (Reversed), 5 of Cups, Queen of Wands (Reversed), and Temperance

2024 might be a year of adjusting priorities, dealing with potential health challenges, and finding a balanced approach to well-being for RIIZE.

- Members might struggle to make healthy choices, lack self-discipline, and find it challenging to maintain a healthy lifestyle or at least a balanced lifestyle.

- Members might experience exhaustion, burnout, or health issues due to unbalanced routines or neglecting physical needs.

Note: When I shuffled the cards. 4 cards fell out. Immediately, I got sporadic energy from the cards. Not chaotic, but sporadic. It feels like this year their energy is all over the place. Possibly overworked? Busy and booked. A lot of moving around. They might be prone to getting sick. Maybe injuries or mental exhaustion, and most likely lack of rest.

✩ Group Dynamics reading: 9 of Wands (Reversed), 7 of Wands, 9 of Swords, 10 of Swords (Reversed), 7 of Pentacles, The Hierophant (Reversed), and The Knight of Pentacles (Reversed).

2024 will be a year of navigating complex dynamics, confronting past issues, and adapting to change for RIIZE.

- There might be internal conflicts, competing priorities, or a sense of pushing each other too hard. Individual members might face emotional struggles that impact the group dynamic.

- While past conflicts might leave lingering effects, there's potential for reconciliation and moving forward together.

- Members might disagree on leadership roles, creative directions, or company policies. In other words, there might be disagreements about leadership styles, roles, or decision-making processes.

Despite the potential conflicts, RIIZE has the potential to learn from their differences, support each other through difficulties, and emerge as a more cohesive group. Through teamwork, shared goals, and appreciating each other's contributions, RIIZE can achieve their aspirations and strengthen their bond.

Note: There are cards in this group dynamic reading that are also in the career reading. I’m assuming the group dynamic reading is connected to their career.

✩ Scandal/Rumours reading: 2 of Swords, The Moon (Reversed), Knight of Swords, 3 of Wands, 4 of Pentacles, The Tower, and 5 of Wands.

- Rumors might stem from misunderstandings, misinformation, or malicious intent.

- A significant event, possibly related to a member return or a new controversy, could rock the group and bring intense public scrutiny.

- RIIZE might face situations requiring difficult choices about how to address or avoid potential rumors. I think this might be the members talking to each other or warning each other to be careful, possibly having the manager involved in keeping an eye out on them. Or SM will have to check on them frequently.

I’m not saying there will be scandals. However, 2024 likely holds a rollercoaster of emotions for RIIZE regarding scandals and rumors. They’re prone to scandals or rumours.

Resilience, adapting to change, and open communication will be key for RIIZE in 2024.

Note: When I was reading for the scandals or rumours. The cards aren’t cooperating with me. Good lord. I had to reshuffle over and over again. Damn. A member is not letting me pick a card. It’s like he doesn’t want to know or let other people know about any rumours or scandals. This member to me, feels like he doesn’t want to think about anything else but work.

-

Overall, 2024 is still a challenging year for RIIZE. But the members are mentally stronger and prepared. It looks like the energy they felt in 2023 might bring them closer together. It feels like they’re embracing each other and having each other’s back. It’s giving “We’re in this together” vibe.

Open communication seems to be a key element in 2024. It seems like 2024 is the year RIIZE might have to start communicating. Perhaps frequent communication between the members or their management (SM Entertainment) might happen often this year.

[a-gay-old-time]

In the Shape of Things to Come by @academicdisasterfic with art from @t4tdrarry & Preserving Lemons by @saintgarbanzo with art from @ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm

This particular project was filled with so much love and it was such a bright bringing together of wonderful, creative, lovely people. First, a little background. Last March, I decided to bind Sweeten to Taste (an incredible work by @saintgarbanzo) and make a copy for both the author and the artist. When I asked for @babooshkart‘s permission to include her art in the binding, I didn’t realize that I’d just met someone who would become one of the best parts of my day every day from then on out. And thus began the journey of finding any excuse to message them, which turned into hours-long late night calls and Wednesday movie nights, which turned into us dating and most recently into me flying out to spend an unforgettable week with them. I’m often a little bit in awe that so many little coincidences (Chickpea and Boo working together on that project, my decision to bind that particular work, etc) led to me finding someone who makes my life so much brighter.

So when @saintgarbanzo​ approached me with the idea of binding one of his and one of @academicdisasterfic’s works together in a book as a gift to Rooney because he and Rooney had also found love together, I was struck with an remarkable sense of how lovely and strange and small and connected the world can be sometimes. I was so touched to have been trusted with this project and extra delighted to tell Chickpea how he was tangentially involved in me finding my own love. I also knew from the start that I wanted to surprise Chickpea with a copy of this binding as well, so that he and Rooney could both have something to hold that contained their words and their love. 

Chickpea picked out the dandelion paper for the endpapers and this binding became about wishing for something and finding it. The two works included in this binding are both brilliant stories about finding the joys in life and finding comfort and understanding in another person, complemented by the gorgeous art from @t4tdrarry and @ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm. Boo created the art for the cover, and it was as wonderful an experience to get to create something with them as it always is, though it was extra special this time--the girlfriends making the boyfriends a book! I got to include some of my favorite things in these books--bookmark charms, edge speckling, hand imagery, painted covers, etc.--and the end result is a book made with the ideas, talents, and love of so many different people.

Thank you, Chickpea, for trusting me with this idea and for all of your excitement and kindness! Thank you to my beloved Boo for once again being my collaborator and sounding board and hype-man--I can’t wait for our next project together 💕

[monstrifex-art]

During your art challenge stuff like Vivid Shadows, how do you typically keep up motivation to continue doing it every single day? Because it’s been a struggle to keep writing stuff every single day. Granted this is my first time doing this, but I was wondering if you had any way you prevent creative burnout from doing these.

I have thoughts on this lol. There's a few ways. First a disclaimer, I started working on these Vivid Shadows pieces about a month ago. I have up through day 19 done right now (cough see them early on patreon cough). So I've been spacing these out a bit more than one every other day. I have done the challenge day by day before, and it's doable. But I'm a busy adult that needs to pay bills, and I like to give myself some cushion. But with that established, here are some thoughts I have. 1. Collaborators and Witnesses I doubt I could find the motivation to do these kinds of big projects if I didn't have friends and collaborators doing them with me. This is different for everyone, but I find I'm much more productive when I have someone else to bounce ideas off of, send WIPs to, and honestly to judge me when I don't meet my goals. This can be a friend you're working with, or a discord server where you share updates, or any other online community that you're a part of. 2. Effort Budgeting For big series like Vivid Shadows or longer comics with a lot of panels, I do not put all my effort into every piece. There's just no way. I consciously choose to half ass some things, and tell myself "eh, good enough" even if I know I can spend more time polishing. It is infinitely better to finish a piece at 60% of your full power than to pour all your heart into a project that never sees the light of day. If you feel up to it, you can spend more effort on some select parts that really make you happy. But those should be the exception, not the rule. And the more projects you finish, the better your half-assed work will become. 3. Creative Limitations You have to define some bounding rules for your project, or you'll get stuck with decision paralysis and scope creep. For Vivid Shadows, the rules I use are pretty simple. Each day has a prompt, one color to use, set dimensions and a hard deadline. I mostly use a limited palette (3 colors + black or white) because I know I can spend hours and hours shading and coloring otherwise. Limitations foster creativity. If you have a tight frame around what you can do, your brain comes up with way more ideas. 4. Keep an eye on the clock Part of what I like about projects like Vivid Shadows is that they have built in deadlines. I know I have to wrap things up by a certain day and time, and if it isn't perfect then so be it. I've done enough creative work to know roughly how much I can get done in a certain amount of time, which is very helpful for planning. The program I use for drawing has a built-in clock that tracks time spent on each document, which is a godsend. 5. Find your own methods This is all just stuff that helps me, but everyone's brain works in different ways. It absolutely takes practice to enter creative mode at will, rather than when the stars align and you feel inspired. Start with small projects, and as you train yourself you can eventually finish larger ones. Remember, something small and finished is always better than something grand that never gets done. Also worth mentioning, find the things that light up your brain. Personally, I've found that making my art horny is a powerful motivator for my creativity. In addition to the obvious neuron activation, I find it very satisfying to explore the boundaries of what I find attractive, like a mad scientist or detective. 6. Keep it fun! None of this will work if you don't enjoy the project. There may be parts you don't enjoy, but overall the project should bring you joy. If the project isn't fun, change it or drop it and start one that is. You don't owe your past self anything. Even if you abandon a project, the work you put into it is good practice for your next thing. Make work you like, and move on. Hope this helps! Good luck on your project 🙌