#I need to find a more efficient study method

[kraro-school-life]

✦ 21. 5. 24 ✦ 📓 ✦ Tuesday ✦ 19 days to exams ✦

I got my last test marks for history and geography! History 9,5; geo 10 :) It would have been nice to have an all 10 streak in both but it´s okay. Today I only studied for my philosophy exam tomorrow, but I hope it will be worth it. I am kinda stressed but when am I not haha

🌱🌿🪴 - 2h 33min on Forest ♫₊˚.🎧 ▷▷ Sunshine - Skz

[tokidokitokyo]

Cool Kanji Party Tricks

Or “How I Use Kanji to Impress My Friends”

Learning kanji can be daunting, especially for those just starting out in their Japanese studies. There are two thousand standard kanji needed to read a newspaper, but Japanese people know and use many thousands more. There are several methods available to self study kanji (just do a quick Google search to find the most popular), but any serious study of kanji takes time. Lots of time. It can feel like studying kanji over and over is a waste of time, especially since you have the internet at your fingertips to look things up at any time. However, I really believe that having a good foundation in kanji is essential to mastering Japanese, and I wanted to share what I call "cool party tricks" to encourage you in your kanji studies.

What are "cool kanji party tricks"? This is just a list of things I have noticed that having a solid understanding of kanji will allow you to do. I have been studying Japanese for more than 10 years, and most of these things I just noticed one day in an a-ha moment, and even though someone had told me for years that learning and practicing kanji is important, it took several realizations for me to truly grasp what that meant. I would say that many of these require an intermediate grasp of the language to be able to use consistently, but I think that you can start doing any of these after achieving a basic foundation in the Japanese language.

So when your hand is cramped from writing the same kanji for hours, when on'yomi and kun'yomi have become swear words, and when you lost that one little point on the exam because the kanji you were supposed to use was only off by one stroke from the kanji you actually used... I hope you will remember this post and feel a little bit encouraged.

Find the appropriate kanji to use when typing in the romaji/hiragana on a computer/phone

Since I started my Japanese studies during high school, the formal classes I was taking had me writing out kanji for homework in order to remember it and to be able to pass the quizzes and exams. So I spent many hours writing out kanji only to end up with hand cramps and ugly looking written characters. It took ages and the stream of kanji that I had to learn seemed endless. However, one benefit I quickly saw was that I was able to quickly adapt to typing in Japanese on a computer/phone because I was able to correctly identify the kanji that I had practiced, and knew which one to select when several choices came up.

In Japanese, many words have the same sounds but different kanji and meanings (these are called homophones). So when you type in the hiragana or romaji for a word into the keyboard, it will prompt you with a list of kanji to choose from. Being able to correctly select the right one is something I suddenly realized I could do one day, even if I hadn't used the word often. I knew and could recall a larger number of kanji than I thought, and I could eliminate any incorrect kanji for the word I was trying to use. Having a good solid foundation in kanji characters means that you don't have to go look up every word in the dictionary to check that you have the right kanji, and you also don't have to leave the word in kana because you can't guess the right kanji, but rather you are confident enough to pick the correct kanji for the word on your own. This makes typing more efficient and saves time!

Understand the meaning of a word just by looking at the kanji

When you know a significant amount of kanji and what they mean, sometimes when you encounter new compound words you can guess at what they mean. Or if you are like me and sometimes forget how to read words you are already supposed to know, you can magically relearn them by looking at the kanji and interpreting the meaning. So sometimes when I am reading text in Japanese and I see a compound I don't know, I can interpret the meaning from context and from my understanding of the individual kanji, and continue through the text without stopping to look up the word. This helps you to get the gist of a text without having to look up all the words, and is how you can start reading more advanced books or manga.

Guess at the pronunciation of a word from the kanji

On the flip side of the previous cool party trick is being able to guess how to pronounce a word by knowing the on'yomi and kun'yomi of the kanji, and therefore being able to guess at the pronunciation of a word. Unless the word has 人 or 生 in it. This helps most when reading out loud in class or to another person. It will also help you to feel smug about yourself while reading a book that is of a more advanced level and being able to determine the reading of several compound words in a row.

Understanding a new word using kanji clues

As an extension of the previous cool party tricks, I eventually reached the point where I could hear a word in conversation that I had never heard before, and figure out the meaning using kanji clues.

For example, not all Japanese people know English (shocking, right?), and busting out your phone to look up every single word you don't know can become burdensome in continuing the flow of a conversation. So, if I hear a word that I don't know during a conversation (and the continuation or flow of the conversation hinges on my understanding of the word), I will stop the person and either ask what kanji the word is written with, or if I have a guess I will ask "is this using the kanji for X?" This way I can gain clues to the key word without stopping the flow of conversation too much. (It's also a fun way to show off to Japanese speakers.)

For example, if you hear the word jishin (じしん) in conversation, and you aren't sure which meaning the speaker intended:

自信 self-confidence

自身 one's self

You can ask:

"Did you mean 自信 (jishin) with the "shin" from 信用 (shin'you) or did you mean 自身 (jishin) with the "mi" (another pronunciation of 身) as in one's body?"

Then the person can respond:

"Oh, I mean 身 (mi)! As in, 自分自身 (jibun jishin), or one's self."

Then, you can continue the conversation, having an understanding of what the speaker is saying and not having to take out your phone to translate as often. This also can give the person you are speaking to a better sense of your level and help them to tailor the conversation to you.

[I hope this conveys what I am trying to illustrate ^.^]

TL;DR: Kanji is Fun

Honestly, when kanji clicks and you can read words or understand their meanings, it's like deciphering a secret code, and this is one of the things I find so cool about Japanese, and why I have studied it for so long. So if you are just starting out and are daunted by kanji - don't worry. I am still daunted by kanji, but I also find it a useful tool to improve my knowledge of Japanese and to communicate in a way many people cannot. I hope this information was useful and inspires you to suffer through learn more kanji.

[alkalinefrog]

Hey Alka, I had a quick question for you (whenever you have the time to answer or even if you have the time), I've been taking some storyboard classes and with my illustration background, it's been hard to really find a good shorthand for characters to really get that anatomy/gesture looking right without it being too sketchy and unreadable.

How long did it take you to find your storyboard shorthand, and what exercises would you recommend to try to find it? I'm sure it just takes time and practice, I've been doing a lot more studies and gesture drawings (currently following along all the free Glenn Vilppu videos I can find on youtube) but I wanted to ask you as well because I am in love with how fluid your anatomy is, and how clear your storyboards read. And those hands my god you're a wizard!!!

Thanks a bunch, have a wonderful day!

Heya Secret, great to hear from ya! Well, what you don’t see online is how gross the rough stage of my boards can get LMFAO. Most of the boards I post are actually overly cleaned up because I'm just doing them for fun and can afford the time! I'm not really sure how long it took to develop my shorthand, I've never really enjoyed drawing detail to begin with, so when I decided to go into boarding I kinda just leaned into it!

I’ve covered a bunch of gesture drawing exercises already if you scroll through my advice tag, but ***once you have a good foundation*** here's some stuff you can try!

First you'll want to build up an arsenal of anatomy hacks you can always fallback on, particularly for complex parts of the body. The less time you spend on details, the more time you have to focus on the overall pose and storytelling. Aim to find ways to draw with as FEW lines as possible. If I had to make a list to streamline what to practice:

Head shapes - find the most efficient way to draw the front + 3/4 + side view in as few lines as possible (the challenge is still making them look structured with dimension)

Eyes - are SO important for expressions! Unless your project has characters with dot eyes, you're going to need to find a quick way to do the circle and iris in as few lines as possible. Make sure you can convey where they're looking

Hands - fists (you'll be drawing a lot of people holding poles), open palms at various angles, foreshortened fingers pointing at viewer, fingers making grabby motions----protips: 1) half the time all you need is a vague triangle/rectangle plus thumb sticking up and that's a hand 2) if the hand is relaxed, you probably don't need to draw the knuckles. Save some time!

Feet - just learn how to make sure they look like they're standing on the ground, and do some studies of what they look like when you're running. Otherwise you can usually get away with a vague shoe or boot shape (just add toe lines if they're not wearing any)

----everything else you'll practice as you go!

Jump from SUPER rough straight into clean boards to really force yourself to be economic. I've done each of these methods for work before:

Before you start boarding with a character, sketch them a few times with the intention of simplifying their design while keeping them recognizable:

You'd be surprised how little you need to recognize a character:

Depending on the scene, you can adjust how much detail you want to include:

Stay loose/more generalized with action, especially for the "inbetweens" between key poses. Clean up enough to communicate movement and make the character recognizable.

If the character's small on screen in a wide shot, edit out most details and focus on the silhouette

Save the detail work for character acting, when you really want to be specific with their expressions and gestures.

But outside of all that, be bold and fearless!! Everyone has that stage where their boards look like spaghetti! Boarding is like handwriting; you could have really shitty chicken scratch, but if you're writing beautiful poetry, who cares!

god I love drawing hands you don’t even know thank you so much!! Good luck dude!! You’ve more than got this!!

[thechaoticplayer]

Hi you lovely person! May I please request smut where you help Hex 'relax ;)' because this poor man is so stressed and depressed. Being the student council therapist is a hard job after all! :( also the brainrot has been real since he talked about how men need to moan more during sex- Thank you!

Author's note: AAAAAA A REQUESTED HEX SMUT VAMOS VAMOS VAMOOSSSS TY YES THIS IS PERFECT (THIS IS SO FUCKING SHORT WTFFFF)

Summary: Hex Haywire, the student council therapist, always seems so exhausted after doing his job. So you decide to help him "relax" in his office. Contains: NSFW content, praising, a blowjob, fucking in an office where anyone could walk in at any time but who gives a fuck, relaxing Hex haywire, some fluff at the end, none of my works are proofread so yeah sorry if theres mistakes MDNI or dont I dont give a damn

"Darling," you start, shutting the door softly with a click behind you. "You seem stressed. What's wrong?"

Hex rubs his temple with a drawn out sigh. He seems more stressed than usual. Which was usual and at the same time, unusual. Shouldering many people's pain is a rough job, but he looks completely drained. You couldn't possibly imagine what it would be like, being in his shoes.

"Nothing baby, just..." Hex pushes up his glasses, but it's still lopsided. "A long day, that's all."

You navigate around the wide mahogany desk and he turns his chair towards you, arms extended. You smile gently and climb into his lap, arms around his neck. Hex buries his nose into your neck, inhaling your scent.

You run your fingers through his hair. "How about I make you feel better? Relax?"

Hex looks up, studying your face. A smirk tugs at his mouth. "What are you suggesting?"

You can't help but smirk back. "An efficient relaxing method perhaps."

"Feeling shameless today, hmm?" Hex squeezes your waist with a soft chuckle. "I'm not opposed to it, but are you sure?"

"Isn't that my duty? to take care of my stressed boyfriend?" You reply, sliding off his lap and kneeling on the floor, your hands on his belt. Hex gazes down at you, his eyes seeming like they're glowing. Glowing with need. "Just sit back and relax, and I'll take all the stress away."

You unbuckle his pants and unzip, his cock straining against the cloth. You take it out of its restraints, your hand around his member.

"Don't be afraid to spit on it baby," Hex says, voice deepening as he watches you. You do so without hesitation. "That's my girl."

You rub your thighs together, gathering friction for the growing heat between your legs. Your hand goes up and down Hex's cock as you look up and watch his eyes flutter closed, mouth parted slightly.

"Just like that..." he murmurs.

You lick a stripe from the base to the tip and Hex shivers slightly. As you travel up, you take the tip into your mouth and suck lightly, earning a breathy moan in response.

You stop halfway of his cock because holy shit it was big and there was no way in hell you could fit it all, so you stroke the lower half. While hollowing your cheeks, you suck hard and Hex's hand grips your hair.

"Fuck, that's good," he pants, moaning softly. "Keep going keep... mm..."

You trace a vein with your tongue as Hex pants above you, a hand covering his mouth as he struggled to keep a low volume. He praised you constantly, making you moan against his cock. The vibrations make his cock twitch. Hex could feel himself getting closer but he wanted more.

Hex, with his grasp on you, pulls you off his cock with a pop. Breathing hard, he stares you in the eye. "Ride me."

You scramble up to your feet without pause, getting on top of him as Hex assisted discarding your underwear. His hands finding home on your hips as you slowly lower yourself onto his length.

You both release a moan once he's sheathed inside your warmth. The stretch hurts so good. Your walls hug his cock perfectly, and it made him hungry to feel you even more.

"Can you move sweetheart?" Hex rumbles in your ear, nails digging into your skin.

You nod obediently, raising your hips up before slamming back down.

"Fuck!" Hex exclaims and you bite your lip to keep quiet. You rise up and down and his head is thrown back. "Just like that! God, you're so fucking perfect-"

Your tits bounce up and down, your legs quivering as you rode him hard. Hex adjusts himself so he can rolls his hips into you and you let out a moan, pressing your mouth against his neck and biting down.

You could feel him moving inside you, his cock ramming into you and hitting the spongy bit inside. Hex's noises loud in your ear, his breaths ragged. You had to grab his biceps for stability, afraid you'd fall off from how rough you two were going.

"I'm close baby, 'm close," he breathes against your skin, licking from your neck to your ear and sending shivers up your spine.

"Me too," you gasp, the heat pooling in your lower stomach. You feel yourself squeeze around Hex's length and he groans at the feeling.

"Cum with me love," Hex rasps. You nod earnestly as the coil in you grew tighter and tighter and-

A strangled noise rips from your throat as Hex's seed coats your walls, your own cum envelopes his cock. Hex groans loudly, digging his nails so deep it was sure to leave small crescent shape Mark's for the next few days.

You press against his chest, shuddering from the hard orgasm. Hex wraps his arms around you and you feel his fast heartbeat matching with yours as you rest in each other's embrace. Both heartbeats slow down in tandem, and Hex is practically purring as he holds you.

"How was... that? Do you feel relaxed?" You ask, a bit tired to get off him and it appeared he was also not willing to pull out of you so soon.

"That was perfect love," Hex says, and you can feel his voice rumble deep in his chest. he gives you a brilliant smile, kissing you affectionately. "Thank you so much. You never cease to amaze me."

You cup his cheek and he leans into it. Giggling softly, you return the kiss on his forehead. You also fix his lopsided glasses. "You're welcome, darling. Anything for you."

Hex cuddles against your chest and you laugh. He mumbles compliments and a soft but discernable, 'I love you' and your heart swells. You bury your face in his hair.

"I love you too."

[oceane4loveu]

Can u make a study guide in elle woods and hermione

what, like it's hard?: the ultimate guide to studying like Elle woods and Hermione granger

Elle Woods

1. romanticize study

put yourself in the spirit of Elle Wood. transform your study space into a sanctuary of style. choose colorful and original school supplies. make your school your Fashion show! why? This will allow you to romanticize the lessons as much as possible and also to relax and be in a good mood before lessons. to motivate yourself in your revision, write your lessons correctly, write the important words in red, take extra care of your writing and finally make your notes more aesthetic with highlighters.

2. study with other people

Elle knew how to build relationships with her classmates and rely on them to improve. So don't hesitate to work with other people, it will allow you to share or acquire knowledge, receive or give explanations when you don't understand something.

3. made sacrifices

Elle Woods stopped parties with her friends to concentrate on her studies. I'm not telling you to stop all contact with your friends but simply to know how to organize your time to reconcile everything.

4. find a study method

Elle Woods used self-assessment as a method. This allowed her to identify her shortcomings (know what you need to improve on the most and what you don't need a lot of hours of revision), to plan your revisions (know what you need to work on the most). I advise you to do a self-assessment every day up to and including the day before your test to see your progress, to be more and more efficient to achieve excellence on the day of the test.

5.find your motivation

Elle Woods had a reason to work, I advise you to find your reason to succeed in your studies and make yourself proud. You have confidence in yourself, recognize your value and persevere! Even if you get a bad grade in a subject, don't give up and work more in that subject.

Hermione granger

1. organization

the key to Hermione's success is her organization. identify important deadlines, plan your revision time using a calendar or diary. identify your priorities and take time for each task.

2.discipline

Hermione has a common sense which allows her to prioritize studies rather than futile things which can distract her. She focuses on her learning objectives so try to follow her example by eliminating distractions and focusing on your studies.step away from your phone and fight temptation and study.

3. learns with avidity

Hermione loves to learn learn. She has an insatiable thirst for knowledge and is not afraid to dive into books to find the answers to her questions. So awaken this thirst for learning in you and don't worry not happy to skim over the subjects. do some extra research, ask questions, and push yourself to dig deeper.

4.good time management

hermione is the queen of time management. she uses every little minute wisely without wasting time. To study like her, you have to do the same. Plan your study time intelligently and efficiently. Set goals for each session and use concentration techniques like the pomodoro technique. but hey, don't panic if you have trouble sticking to your schedule sometimes, stay flexible and adjust your plan if necessary.

5. the key to success is perseverance!

Hermione never gives up, no matter the obstacles that stand in her way, she remains focused and does everything to achieve her academic goals. So you must do the same. When things get difficult, don't let it get you down. persevere in your studies and remember that each small step brings you closer to your ultimate goal.

[nenelonomh]

the cornell method

if you've heard of any note-taking techniques, it's probably been the cornell method. this note-taking system is a widely used method for organizing and retaining information from lectures or readings. developed by walter pauk, an education professor at cornell university, this system helps students actively engage in the creation of knowledge and improve their study skills. 

source: pinterest

the paper is divided into three sections, for cues/questions, notes, and a summary. a narrow left-hand column is where you write down cues or questions related to the material. a larger right-hand section is where you take detailed notes during the lecture or while reading. a space at the bottom is designated for summarizing the key points from your notes.

during the lecture or reading, begin by identifying the main idea or topic. write this down at the top of your notes.

as you listen to the lecture or read the material, take detailed notes in the right-hand section. capture important facts, examples, explanations, and any questions that arise.

in the left-hand column, jot down cues or questions related to the content. these cues will help you review and test your reading later.

after note-taking, use the cues/questions to review your notes. cover the right-hand section and try to recall information based on the cues. write a concise summary of the key points in the bottom section. this summary should bring together the main ideas and details from your notes.

but why is this note-taking system effective?

by creating cues and summarizing, you actively engage with the material. additionally, this system organizes your notes effectively ~ making them easier to locate when you need to revise.

regular use of this method can lead to better comprehension and critical thinking skills, resulting in improved test scores.

finding a note-taking method that works well for you is so important in academia! have a try of the cornell method and see if it helps you retain information more efficiently.

further reading: wikihow cornell university utah state university wikipedia

i hope this post was helpful. ❤️ joanne

images source: pinterest

[lampiridaes]

# workaholic s/o

★ — chars ; toya , shiho , ena

★ — notes ; none of them have a 4koma together so ignore how i didn't include ena. ANYWAYS THANK U FOR FINDING MY WORK TOE-CURLING!!! SILLY COMPLIMENT THAT I LOVE!!! HOPE U FIND THIS TOE-CURLING TOO !!???!! first time writing for shiho so i'm a little nervous... hope it isn't too ooc TT

★ — requested by ; anon

★ aoyagi toya :

he was just relaxing with you at weekend garage, talking to the rest of vbs while you were doing something on your laptop.

and he picked up on this habit of yours after he saw you ask an for... what seemed to be your 4th cup of coffee in 40 minutes. a cup of coffee every 10 minutes... what a record. and not a good one.

"...love? don't you think you're working a little too hard? it can't be healthy to have so much coffee in such a short amount of time..."

the worry in his voice was just way too much for you to ignore. and it got even worse when you looked up and saw his expression. ah, the guilt...

"oh, right... i'm sorry, toya, i'll stop for a bit."

you sigh, not wanting to worry your boyfriend and reluctantly agree to take a break. just a short one, but he's grateful you're taking one in the first place.

while you're resting, toya tells you about this one study method that could work, even if you aren't studying—work for around 25 minutes, then rest for 5. gradually, you'll increase the break time.

it's actually pretty efficient if you think about it. you can't really do things properly if you work continuously, right?

★ hinomori shiho :

shiho tends to stay with you whenever you're working on something, usually practicing with her guitar.

... but it wasn't until she was done that she realized that you hadn't taken a break. at all.

"...[name], how long have you been working on that?"

"shiho? i'm sorry, i forgot you were even here..."

she doesn't take that to heart, though. she was more worried about you overworking yourself to the bone.

it's a little hard to argue with her so that you can continue doing whatever it is you're doing. so in the end, the both of you end up cuddling on your bed.

shiho is a little shy when it comes to physical affection, but right now, she can tell you really need it. she'll comb your hair to help soothe you and even whisper sweet things into your ear as you fall asleep.

★ shinonome ena :

ena tends to be a workaholic herself sometimes when it comes to her art, but it's different with you.

she can act a little stern when it comes to you and your habits, constantly reminding you to take breaks, to eat...

"[name], when was the last time you ate...?"

"oh, um... lunchtime. it wasn't that long ago, so don't worry!"

"it's way past dinn- jeez, what am i going to do with you sometimes..."

tends to feed you when you're really stubborn about your work. ena will act all mad and annoyed, and she is, but at the same time, she doesn't mind taking care of you like this.

... that doesn't mean you're off the hook, though. she's still persistent about you taking care of yourself.

she even booked a little salon date. just for the two of you. (actually, mostly you...)

and since it's already planned and paid, you don't want your girlfriend's efforts to be wasted, right? besides, it might be good to take a break with her...

[nayatarot777]

how are your guides rewarding you for your efforts?

• pile one •

you guys have been learning something and studying something diligently - particularly learning alongside or from other people. the new knowledge that you’ve come across has brought you to an awakening about the fundamentals of life as human beings. i’m seeing many sleepless nights from learning how to create and pick from most valuable aspects of your life, leading you to a whole new life cycle. especially related to your physical realm. you’ve triumphed all of the judgements that others have put onto you - and most of all, yourself. you’ve transformed into someone who can take ahold over your ego and listen to what you feel like your soul or god or whoever/whatever you communicate with is trying to say to you. you answer the calling now, so you’re prepared for a new beginning in your daily life. your daily work could also include teaching this type of thing to others, too, and you’re really awakening other people too. thanks to this, new opportunities for your life are coming in.

your guides are bringing in a new set of people who you can collaborate with in some way, on this new journey that you’re on. i’m hearing “factory reset”. that perfectly explains your view on life. you could definitely feel reborn - as if you’re seeing life through new eyes after breaking out of a shell that you didn’t even know that you were in. you see life in a completely different way to before thanks to your awakening and you’re now able to see how the immaterial reflects the material. you could use divination, spell-work, or some other type of occult work within your daily life a lot more now, completely surrendering to what you now know about the laws of the universe. you’re accepting that you’re not in complete control of everything in your life - that you’re a co-creator with the universe. you understand that you just need to do your part and the universe will make shit happen for you. you’re accepting that you are psychic. you are a witch. you are whatever it is that you may have had resistance to fully believing in before. and now, you’re fully living life with full consciousness of this - meaning that you’re now living within your full power.

if this resonated with you and you’d like to check out the extended part of this reading (+3 paragraphs), then find it on patreon here :)

• pile two •

there’s a huge change that your guides are bringing into whatever work and foundation that you’ve been tending to. this is an extremely solid and stable foundation with a promising possibility to bare great fruits of your labour. your mind is going to be able to focus on this, which i feel like you may have struggled with before, but they’re going to enable your attention to be streamlined towards this. there could even be some communication that comes in swiftly that also changes something about this practical work foundation that you’re building. i’m mainly seeing your guides helping you to really master receiving ideas and acting on them when necessary. i’m getting a message that you may be used to overworking yourself or worrying that your ideas aren’t good enough - but not anymore. there’s a level of confidence that you’re stepping into which is unmatched regarding your work. just giving yourself way more praise and recognition for your work than before. this major change could be an idea regarding a different method of working compared to what you’re used to - more faster and efficient than before. they’re granting you the independence and confidence needed to take control over your work without over-exerting yourself.

thanks to all of this, you’re going to be able to really slow down (something that you may not have been able to do recently) and give you time to just think - mainly about yourself and your next moves which will help you to know exactly what your work needs. this small, stable foundation is the result of a whole lot of persistence from you. and patience. but the waiting game is now over as there’s going to be an extremely positive shift in abundance that helps you to relax. you’ve put in enough time and tender nurture and care into your figurative garden, so there seems to be the completion of something within this. the completion of an “amateur” phase or something like that? your shift in confidence will also push this further. your guides are highly protective over what you’re waiting to come to fruition. working with time and understanding the dimension of time in the physical world and manifestation is paying off for you heavily. you’ve kept at work that didn’t grow particularly fast for an extremely long time. so your guides are granting you with a much needed rest period in which you can enjoy the fruits of your labour without having to worry about constantly focusing on work.

if this resonated with you and you’d like to check out the extended part of this reading (+3 paragraphs), then find it on patreon here :)

[genericpuff]

I followed artsangel since her previous comic immaterial. I have to say she IS talented and has the skills. But her style is verrrrry time consuming and she would only update every 2 weeks. I used to study her art a lot because I was always impressed by it, and Im fairly certain it did not look like like that when it was on canvas. I used to see her progresses on her stories and she uses a lot of assets and predrawn faces to keep her consistent pixar look. The faces were less uncanny and more expressive. Now the eyes are all wonky and displaced.

I think she may have used ai to polish her panels. Perhaps the workload proved too much, or maybe she was feeling insecure. I was concerned when she got picked up by webtoon because I could tell it would be difficult for her to keep up the schedule. Ai is super powerful but its not powerful enough to make a COMIC, not even consistently. She probably using it as an enhancer to her already great skills. A shame though, she doesn’t need it.

Also I think the reason her preproduction period was so quick is because she was highly prepared before launch. She already has multiple comics under her belt and webtoon probably didn’t need to change much. Im sure she just reused her canvas comic for her reboot and built a buffer in the meantime.

Having to meet deadlines can definitely be a reason but not an excuse IMO.

One creator I can think of who has a similar style (albeit in black and grey) is figmentforms, creator of A Tale of Two Rulers.

Updates are slow, she posts maybe a new page once a month, the art is gorgeous but it's clear it takes her time. It's a free to read comic. It's worth the wait.

That said, if she wanted to make her updates more frequent, I wouldn't blame her at all for utilizing new tools and methods to do so - but it wouldn't justify her in using AI tools that are stealing other people's art.

There are loads of shortcuts that artists already use that are fine because they're still genuinely handcrafted. 3D models, overlay textures, blur effects, etc. are all tools that artists use to help speed up the drawing process and were made by hand.

And beyond that, the need to make the process more efficient isn't a crime, but it's in how you do it. You can use these tools irresponsibly or at the cost of your own comic's quality. Case in point, Lore Olympus and Let's Play, which are both godawful in how they implement 3D backgrounds and stock images:

Creating comics is finding a balance between efficiency and quality, not sacrificing one for the other and using it as justification to avoid criticism for that sacrifice.

If Sarah Ellerton was using AI based on her own art and being honest about it, I don't think anyone would be nearly as upset. It might prompt a debate over what's ethical in the world of comics - whether or not it's right for consumers to pay for a product that's being churned out of an AI prompt - but at least it wouldn't be theft and it would probably just be there as an aid to an artist who's been doing this for 20 years and had to find a way to make the process more efficient. I think AI can be used as a productive tool if it's implemented responsibly and without being at the cost of another artist's work.

The issue is that 1.) Sarah is being VERY suspicious over the whole thing which leads us to believe that she's NOT using ethical AI assistance, and 2.) there's a VERY clear distinction near the end of her previous comic, Immaterial, where you can basically tell when she adopted AI. The main character Alex, for example, literally became a whole other person.

This is a common problem for AI coloring prompts, a LOT of them are bad at rendering darker skin tones (I think I mentioned this in my last post, but I literally got to playtest AI coloring tools from WT's a couple years ago, and they could NOT figure out darker skin tones, any dark colors that were put down were assumed to be shadows so characters just looked like white characters with the curtains pulled over their face).

She just looks like a SamDoesArts poster girl now. Everything unique about her has been stripped away and you can see this transition in the final page of Immaterial and the first episode of Quantum Entanglement:

None of it feels like organically her, it feels like a cheap machine reproduction.

I don't doubt that this person has evolved a lot as an artist or that her older work was genuinely her, she's clearly got a lot of skill that only someone who's been drawing comics for years would gain.

But it's clear somewhere along the way she succumbed to insecurity or stopped caring enough to start using AI to do the heavy lifting. I mean honestly, her work from before was fine! So I don't see why she would be using it for 'polishing', there are so many ugly ass webtoons on the platform so even the art from Immaterial - even if she had to simplify it a bit more to make it easier to meet deadlines - would likely be a refreshing change of pace.

But the way she's utilized AI here, I was quicker to assume Sam Yang drew Quantum Entanglement when I first saw it.

And it is a shame, because, as you said, she doesn't need it. Her art is perfectly capable on its own and while I can understand her need to make the process more efficient, there are better ways to do that than using AI that's clearly ripping off other artists and then lying about it. It's a shame she'd put her reputation on the line as a seasoned artist just to meet Webtoons' stupid deadlines. Like, how can it be worth it?

[stuckinapril]

hii, just read your reply abt how much u love studying organic chem! what’re ur studying tips to studying more efficiently? thank you thank you!!

A big part of studying efficiently is about tailoring your study methods to the particular subject you’re studying! Half the battle of studying is just playing around with the material until you find something that works for you. For orgo it rly was all about practice. I’d read over the chapter, then spend hours blowing through hundreds of questions until I had it down (that was the fun part for me).

Other subjects require rote memorization, and I usually use Anki for that, but the reason I truly adore chemistry is bc you just need to know like. 3 basic principles. And the rest hinges on your understanding of the material. I fucking love playing around w the problems like they’re a Rubik’s cube. My mom says similar things about why she loves physics (this woman got me to fall in love w the subject). These are def more concept-based subjects.

But!! I have also made posts about general study methods that you can benefit from regardless of subject. This ask is good for hyperspecific learning techniques, this ask is good for general motivation hacks, and this ask is handy if you struggle w budgeting your time. Good luck friend x

[shibaincubus]

How to use time efficiently with many interests and work commitments.

⋅•⋅⊰⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⊰⋅•

Being productive, making the most of the 24 hours of our day and getting a high ROI back is your goal, but your daily schedule and the endless appointments that you have make you too tired to get work done, let you feel like you have no free time, no time to even study, and you have to spend countless all nighters to get your work done questioning yourself why you chose so many activities/ extracurricular's etc. in the first place and all the free time you have your essentially doomscrolying it away making you more unmotivated.

This is a guide on how you can use your time efficiently and get a huge ROI back without feeling exhausted/tired and finding enough time to study thoroughly, getting your work done without loosing your passion for other things and doing your hobbies.

So the first thing you have to do is to go to a regular week and observe when you have free time, when you are binge-watching shows, doomscroll or when you are so unmotivated that you don't want to do your work, study, do your homework etc. and also what tasks do you have when you go to work/school when you come back, clubs meetings etc. So everything you do regularly in the week

Lastly in this week you have to identify a Prime time where you are the most productive so you can plan your tasks around it.

A list can look like this:

Observation

Monday: Going home from work/school at 16:30 - one hour free time - until I have to go to extracurriculars/ course etc.

Tuesday

Wednesday

….

Prime time: Weekdays 10-12pm Weekend 9-12am

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So, after you got the times where you are doing nothing/ wasting your time you have to start listing all the tasks and events you have, then categorize them based on importance and urgency.

For this you can use the Eisenhower-matrix

where you organize your work and projects into four categories: Important and Urgent, Important but Not Urgent, Urgent but Not Important, Not Urgent and Not Important.

The Eisenhower matrix, also known as the Urgent-Important matrix, is a time management strategy that helps you prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance.

The matrix has 4 quadrants or sections:

Important and Urgent: These tasks need immediate attention.

Important but not urgent: These are high priority items.

Urgent but not important: These are things that are time-sensitive but can often be delegated.

Not urgent and not important: These are activities that can either be delayed or removed from the list entirely.

example:

Planning your week in a strategic way

First you should Collect your observations in a 24 hours weekly planner like this and highlight the free time zones you have and also plan your regular sleeping time mine is from 10 to 5:30 am

How to fill the free-spots:

Start by allocating time for high-priority tasks, then move on to lower priority ones, and finally use remaining time for recreation.

Place the high priority task in the (near the) prime time

If there are regular recurring tasks like homework hobbies etc. you should put it in a designated time slot

Try to avoid overworking yourself and prioritize your mental health.

Remember to take breaks in between tasks and give yourself a reward after completing something difficult or time consuming.

It's basically time blocking which is a method where you divide and schedule your day into focused intervals with no distractions

How to do the most in the weekend

After such a full week doing all your tasks you're obviously going to be tired and unmotivated to do anything. But the workload isn't going to get smaller but bigger in the next week, so you have to at least get something done. But do not force yourself to be 100% productive in the weekend because we all need some rest and constantly overworking yourself is unhealthy and also doesn't give you a good ROI in the long run.

Here are some methods that I've tried categorized in three levels: high; medium and low level depending on the mood you're in.

High level methods

The first method I suggest you to do is a method that is called Batch Tasking by Grouping

With this technique, you group similar tasks together and complete them in batches.

For example, you can have a morning batch of 'work-related tasks', an afternoon batch of 'personal tasks', and an evening batch of 'leisure tasks'.

This method can be useful for individuals who are motivated by completing multiple similar tasks at the same time, and it helps to avoid task switching and maintain a clear sense of purpose in your workflow.

The second method is the the "Marathon Mindset" technique

It's a method where you set a specific amount of time, say 3-4 hours, to focus intensely on completing your tasks. During this time, you can take short breaks (around 10 minutes) to prevent burnout, but the focus is on maintaining a steady work rate for the entire duration.

This technique can help you complete difficult tasks, and it's excellent for individuals who get into a 'flow' state when working on a project.

Medium level methods:

time boxing

This involves setting a timer for a specific amount of work, and once the timer goes off, you move onto the next task, no matter how much work was done. This helps create a sense of urgency and focus.

Time Boxing and Activity Swapping technique

Here, you set a short amount of time, say 15 minutes, for each task you want to complete. Once the timer goes off, you take a 5 minute break before moving onto the next activity.

But here's where it gets different: Each time you finish a task, you swap to a completely different activity than the last one. For example, after writing an email, you could do some calisthenics, then after that some cleaning, and so on.

This technique is great for individuals who struggle with task boredom

Low level methods

Focus on your "1 Thing"

it means working on the most important task each day, the "one thing" that'll move you closer to your goals. Once you've completed that 'One Thing' you can move onto the next.

This technique will help you to avoid multitasking and stay motivated, focusing your energies on completing the most crucial tasks first

Focus Sprint and Rest

Here, you work in intense 15-minute sprints, followed by a short 5 minute break. You repeat the routine 2-4 times before taking a longer break of around 15-30 minutes.

You can alternate between tasks or stay focused on one, depending on your preferences. This method is great for individuals who prefer shorter bursts of intense work, with short but regular breaks for a quick boost in energy.

Priority Power Hour

Using this technique, you dedicate a specific time of day, say 1 hour, to working on your most important and difficult tasks. Optimally this should be your power hour During this power hour, you commit to nothing else except completing these high-priority tasks.

The rest of your day can be spent doing less important tasks or working on other passions. The key benefit of this technique is that it allows you to stay focused and productive during your most efficient times of the day, while avoiding burnout.

Some last general tips

First, you should set achievable goals. This means breaking big tasks into small ones. This is very helpful if you have a big project that you have to do because the task load doesn't overwhelm you as much when you break aspects e.g. research as doing the whole project in a couple days and being very stressed.

Then you should limit distractions like your mobile etc. I would pack those things to another room so that they are not in front of your eye which makes you less likely to use them and get distracted. Also you should try to minimize multitasking because it diverts your attention on too many tasks and topics which makes your work imprecise and actually costs more time because you have to get into the thought process of topic 1 again.

Start with the end in mind. Define what you want to achieve during your sessions. Having clear goals helps you stay focused.

It's also important to schedule short breaks in the work session especially if you have many things to do to prevent burnout.

You should also have a monthly overview of important tasks separatly in a calendar

Regularly review your time management strategies and adjust them as needed. What's working? What needs improvement?

Lastly you should give yourself some rewards if you completed a difficult and important task to make you more motivate for more tasks

[study-core-101]

hiya, I am a high school student who has been off sick for the past 2 days and this is my third and last. I am honestly scared of what I will have to face going back as I know I will have to catch up on a lot, but I also find it hard to balance my self care to studying ratios when I am sick. It’s either “I’m not doing enough” or “I will die if I do more”. I also only have two hours after school where I can get any work done because I take the bus to my school as it’s in another city and by the time I’m back I feel so drained I sometimes can’t talk. Do you have any tips on keeping in top of work with little time and how to set things done efficiently? Thanks so much and I know this was a bit long but thought if I set the scene it might help :)

As someone with chronic migraines, I undertand the struggle, it is really hard to balance self-care with school, but I have a few tips/recommendations!

Find a time to study. Not time you have free, but time you have energy. We feel sicker when we dont have enough energy and pushing through that it'll just make it worse. Low energy=sicker. Days you have more classes or heavier subjects, those are out. It doesnt matter if you have an hour or two, save your energy those days. Do the assignments and study in the more chill days. I'm going to use myself as an example. On Wednesdays and Fridays I have PE and extra classes. Those days I dont even open the school bag at home. I do all the things on Tuesdays, Thursdays and if it's needed weekends, because those days I have more energy.

DRINK WATER AND HAVE A GOOD SLEEP SCHEDULE. It may not seem it doesnt matter, but it's the most important of all.

Make a list of everything you have to do for school. Decide where to start. Or make a plan. Like, "today I am going do these two assigments and tommorrow this other one". Organize your time.

Take breaks. Dont push yourself too much. You'll end up feeling worse.

For tests, find a study method that works for you. There are study methods that need long periods of time and study methods that don't take as much. Practice tests don't take as much time as blurting (it depends on the person though, these are my experiences). Dont work harder, work smarter. Find a study method that makes you learn the most in the least time.

Use your time at school. We all want to chat with our friends in class but try to finish/advance the work first. Less work for home.

Talk to the teachers, tell them you are sick. There is always going to be an asshole that will say "No excuses" but they are also a lot of teachers that will undertand and be a little more flexible, maybe give you an extension. It's worth the try.

Hope this helps!

-Jay

[sophieinwonderland]

I think sociology can have its uses too and would absolutely encourage those sorts of studies into systems.

But I do believe neurology and psychology have more advantages for the plural community.

First, in the syscourse debate, one of the most popularly parroted lines is that endogenic systems are "scientifically impossible." Psychology and neurology can combat that. And no, it won't instantly end all fakeclaiming. Not everyone will believe the science, as we can see with how many people still think vaccines cause autism. But it's a weapon we can utilize to start shutting anti-endos down.

Like, "fuck the public" is a cute sentiment. But when the public are actively fakeclaiming and harassing endogenic systems... I think maybe these issues need to be addressed so fewer endogenic systems get fakeclaimed and harassed. Just a thought. 🤷‍♀️

Anti-endos may never be completely eliminated, but scientific validation can at least ensure that they'll be relegated to the same status in the public eye as anti-vaxxers and flat-Earthers.

At another level though, tulpamancy is psychology. (At least, for the majority of tulpamancers who have a psychological view of it.)

It's admittedly a loose form of psychology with no budget, and it's based more on case studies than hard data. But it's psychology nonetheless.

We can use psychology to understand plurality and by extension, find better more efficient ways to make tulpas, refine our various tulpamancy skills, and come across new skills we hadn't considered before. Better, more refined tulpamancy methods can mean quicker results, which means fewer prospective tulpamancers give up part-way through the creation process, which means more successful tulpamancers, which means a larger group of endogenic plurals with more political power.

On the flip side, current research into tulpamancy is interested in how tulpamancy techniques could actually be used to learn about voice hearing and dissociative disorders. This research could hopefully prove helpful to the medical community in developing new treatments for these conditions.

A distant hope may even be that studies looking into the positive mental health of tulpamancers could eventually lead to clinical trials to treat disorders such as depression. And if it could provide a successful treatment method, that would be pretty awesome in my opinion.

Sociology is valid too and both types of research can co-exist and be valuable in different ways. But I thing between psychology and sociology, the former is going to prove the more useful field for plural research. And I think plural research will benefit the field of psychology too.

[chaisshitposts]

What is your stronger side? I am very curius about psychk. I love this rabbit hole!

me rn bc you've induced some major brain vomit from me about this particular subject and I'm about infodump like a mf ^^^

aHHHH ME TOO!!! I'm hyperfixatin' on it 🕵️ I believe my stronger side is my right side, which presumably controls the left hemisphere of my brain aka the more logical side, which is BABIES because I'm a very creative, think outside of the triangle kinda person so I'd think I'm more of a right brainer. but it also kinda makes sense that I'm a lil' stronger in my right side since it's my dominant side and I do like to overanalyze & overthink things in a logical way (I need to change that belief as a matter of fact) 🤔 hoWevEr I have heard that it's important to use both sides of yer body to keep yer brain strong and lessens the chances of gettin' Alzheimer's and dementia (which I'm manifestin' a cure for both bc hell nah that shit is wack)

heads up, im about to ramble.

when I was readin' up on psych-k and the whole brain state, I stumbled across this new idea that's like 'brain gym' and I didn't think much of it until YESTERDAY when I was like... hm, are there other ways to make both sides of the brain work simultaneously while I'm awake??? cause psych-k is workin' for me and all but I'm sure there are other ways to communicate with both sides of my brain simultaneously to make affirmations stick in a much more efficient manner. when ya have both sides of yer brain workin' in harmony while affirmin' ya get like this deeper level of saturatin' yer mind aNd I wanted more of that bc it gives my brain the t i n g l e s. should also be mentioned that workin' yer entire brain is also a form of what can be referred to as 'super learnin' isn't that fuckin' gnarly??? i think it is. lIke could ya imagine that with this information now ya could literally just sit down and study somethin' with the utmost efficiency and whole brain thinkin' just by crossin' your damn ankles???????? wish I knew this shit when I was still in school--- wait nvm I'm still doin' classes.

there's this weird lil' exercise which is BASICALLY psych-k but ya stand up and do actual movements (super weird but also kinda fun for my monkey brain) iTs cALlEd the cross-crawl and there's a whole bunch of benefits for it (imma copy paste them below) this is all from this website I tried it for a few seconds yesterday and it was weird and cringey so I stopped but imma try it out again today for science 🧍

• Build your core strength

• Release stress and tension

• Enhance whole-brain thinking (get your left and right hemispheres to work together)

• Calm your mind

• Energize your body

it's pretty much a lil' funny dance where ya march side to side— its an actual exercise so y'know

ANYWAYS, it should be known that I am an avid method hopper because all methods work for me and I can do anything I want and it still works, sO I was thinkin' of a crazy ass combination of methods that involves psych-k, cross-crawling, and reverse psychology from @/charmedreincarnation which they described in detail in this post

this sounds insane and all over the place, I know, but I can't help it its because of how my brain chemistry works 😭 im like a mad scientist with manifestation methods at this point

BUT BUT BUT BEFORE I FORGET!!! THERES ANOTHER EXERCISE THAT STIMULATES BOTH SIDES OF THE BRAIN AND INVOLVES ONLY YER HANDS. This bad boy right here

also... why did I find another brain synchronization exercise video... I need to slow my road. but here it is anyways

I had no idea Tai Chi was a form of brain synchronization exercise holy shit???? but ig that makes sense since it is a state of meditation

i could have infodumped WAY more but I forgot most of the other things I wanted to say... 🤡 TY FOR ASKIN' THIS QUESTION!!! ask me more questions if ya want me to info dump again, I'll try to keep my thoughts organized

[school56df]

Mastering Your Studies: Essential Tips and Techniques for Academic Success Effective study methods for mastering difficult subjects

 Study effective for mastering difficult subjects is crucial for academic success, but it can sometimes be challenging to find the right approach that works for you. Everyone learns differently, so it’s important to discover study techniques that suit your personal style. Whether you’re preparing for exams, tackling assignments, or trying to grasp new concepts, these study tips and techniques can help you maximize your learning potential and achieve your goals.

Set Clear Goals

Before you start studying, it's important to set clear, achievable goals. Knowing what you want to accomplish helps you stay focused and motivated. Your goals should be specific, measurable, and time-bound. For example, instead of saying, "I want to study math," try setting a goal like, "I want to complete three chapters of math by the end of the week."

Having a clear goal helps you break down your study sessions into manageable tasks. This not only makes the process less overwhelming but also allows you to track your progress and feel a sense of accomplishment as you achieve each goal.

Create a Study Schedule

A well-structured study schedule is one of the most effective tools for staying organized and on track. A study schedule outlines what you need to study and when, helping you manage your time efficiently. Start by identifying the subjects or topics you need to focus on, and allocate specific time slots for each.

When creating your schedule, consider your peak productivity times. Some people study better in the morning, while others are more focused in the evening. Schedule your most challenging subjects during the times when you are most alert. Also, be sure to include breaks in your schedule to avoid burnout and keep your mind fresh.

Use Active Learning Techniques

Active learning is a powerful technique that engages you directly with the material, making it easier to understand and remember. Instead of passively reading your notes or textbooks, try to actively participate in the learning process. Here are some active learning techniques:

Summarization: After reading a section of your textbook or notes, try to summarize the main points in your own words. This helps reinforce your understanding and retention of the material.

Self-Testing: Quiz yourself on the material you’ve studied. This could be through flashcards, practice questions, or simply explaining the concepts aloud. Self-testing helps you identify areas where you need more practice and reinforces your memory.

Teaching Others: One of the best ways to solidify your understanding of a topic is to teach it to someone else. When you explain concepts to others, you’re forced to clarify your thoughts and fill in any gaps in your knowledge.

Mind Mapping: Mind maps are visual diagrams that help organize information in a way that shows the relationships between different concepts. Creating a mind map can help you see the big picture and make connections between ideas, which aids in deeper understanding.

 Take Regular Breaks

While it might be tempting to study for long hours without a break, this approach can actually be counterproductive. The human brain can only focus effectively for about 25 to 30 minutes at a time. After that, concentration starts to wane, and the quality of learning decreases.

The Pomodoro Technique is a popular method for managing study time and breaks. It involves studying for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. After four "Pomodoro," take a longer break of 15-30 minutes. This technique helps you maintain focus during study sessions while giving your brain the rest it needs to process information.

 Find Your Optimal Study Environment

Your study environment plays a crucial role in how well you can focus and absorb information. A quiet, organized space free from distractions is ideal for most people. However, everyone’s preferences differ, so it's important to find what works best for you.

Some people study best in complete silence, while others might prefer background music or the hum of a coffee shop. Experiment with different environments to discover what helps you concentrate the most. Make sure your study space has good lighting, a comfortable chair, and all the materials you need within reach.

Stay Healthy

Your physical health has a significant impact on your ability to study effectively. A healthy body supports a healthy mind, so it's essential to take care of yourself during your study periods. Here are a few tip

Eat Nutritious Meals: Foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish, can help improve brain function and memory. Avoid sugary snacks and caffeine, which can lead to energy crashes.

Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water is crucial for maintaining focus and cognitive function. Dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches, and difficulty concentrating.

Get Enough Sleep: Sleep is vital for memory consolidation and cognitive function. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night, especially before exams or important study sessions.

Exercise Regularly: Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, boosting cognitive function and reducing stress. Even a short walk or some stretching exercises can help clear your mind and improve your focus.

 Use Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Mnemonics and memory aids are techniques that help you remember information more easily. They work by associating new information with something you already know or by creating memorable patterns. Here are some common types of mnemonics:

Acronyms: Create an acronym using the first letters of a list of words you need to remember. For example, “HOMES” is a mnemonic for remembering the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.

Rhymes and Songs: Turn information into a rhyme or a song. This is particularly effective for memorizing dates, formulas, or lists.

Visualization: Create a mental image of the information you’re trying to remember. The more vivid and detailed the image, the easier it will be to recall later.

Chunking: Break down large amounts of information into smaller, more manageable chunks. For example, to remember a long number like 1234567890, you can group it into smaller parts like 123-456-7890.

Stay Positive and Manage Stress

A positive mindset can greatly impact your study success. Stress and negative thinking can hinder your ability to focus and learn effectively. Practice positive self-talk, and remind yourself that challenges are a part of the learning process.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a few deep breaths or practice mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness helps you stay present and focused, reducing anxiety and improving concentration.

Review and Revise Regularly

Regular revision is key to long-term retention of information. Instead of cramming all your study material in one go, review your notes regularly. This could be weekly or even daily, depending on the subject matter.

Spaced repetition is a technique that involves reviewing information at increasing intervals. For example, you might review material one day after learning it, then three days later, then a week later, and so on. This method helps move information from short-term to long-term memory.

Seek Help When Needed

Proven strategies for improving focus during study sessions don't hesitate to seek help if you're struggling with a particular subject or topic. Reach out to your teachers, classmates, or even online forums for assistance. Study groups can also be beneficial, as discussing topics with peers can enhance understanding and retention.

[tlakative]

The Journal of Wizardry

The search for the secret of eldritch blast (1/2)

Written by ███████ ██ ██████████

I still remember the times, I was fresh out of the Academy of Arcane Arts or rather the Akademie Arkaner Künste since I studied in Germany to avoid student loans, I had graduated with a major in journalism and a minor in combat magic because instead of a long dissertation you could just win some fight, I was still young and knew nothing of the world, but I thought I knew everything, one thing that bugged me throughout all the one and a half lectures in combat magic I attended though was that only one spell seemed to matter, the only one I ever seemed to need if I mastered it, everything else was kind of irrelevant, every magic battle I ever engaged in, I won with it, Eldritch Blast a simple beam evaporating your opponent in an instant, any shield gets crushed, every reflector or trap ignored. I did not understand, why was this even a class then? In any case, when you're young and have neither authority nor money you can't worry about those things, I worked at numerous news agencies and slowly climbed to the top, now that I am a highly renowned investigative reporter, I can finally lift this mystery.

At first I attempted the easy way out, I read all literature I could find, I even hired an Eldritch translator to not go insane reading this much ancient tongue. Most trails went cold quickly, the most promising one suggested the ancient sources and the spirit force might connect to the Blast in multiple interlocked locations on certain rune areas called miasma pulsors that were one of the main techniques used in spell crafting before more sophisticated force binders were invented, this may lead to an accidental hyper-efficient purification-system, but modern spells have higher degrees of purification in them, which made this theory improbable. After a few days of feeble attempts, two translators gone mad, another one well on the way, I gave up, the knowledge I was seeking was not in books the public has access to, which is understandable considering the power of the ancient blast spell, if ██████ could just learn everything about the spell, riots would soon rise again in the civilised colonies of ████. So I had to consult other sources.

The University of Casters in ███ ████ let me consult their Ancient Libraries of Darkness (thank you very much Professor Feebleknot de Hyrmnal for your active support and keeping the gate-seals away even when it got hot and gooey ;) ) but even in this highly impressive collection of dark knowledge I found only breadcrumb trails that led nowhere, only a mention of an ancient spirit somewhere in Scotland seemed promising. Before I went there and risked wasting much time and effort, I wanted to take a step back and just ask one of the faculties professors of combat magic.

Yolschmirtz Ohh-Zk-EE-hein, told me he might know more about the topic and invited me into his home to talk, it was a cold rainy day, perfect for talking inside, as I entered his house, a cute cabin in the woods of █████, I was greeted by a cozy warmth, the walls, the same logs visible on the outside, decorated with many trinkets and knick-knacks I could have spent hours exploring, but I was here for a reason. Mr. Ohh-Zk-EE-hein or as he invited me to call him, Yollee, a short, nimble man with black hair and a friendly face contrasted by his numerous scars on the left side of his face, led my past a large wooden table bending under the weight of candles, books and other arcane instruments I had never seen before, to a fireplace in the conservatory on the other side of his house. Next to it, prepared were two camping chairs, a tiny glass table and two wooden cups of steaming tea, all on a white fluffy rug.

After we had settled down and I explained my question and previous attempts at answering it, he explained to me that it was obvious I wouldn't find anything with those methods. "It is clear you have little expertise in this field, ancient arts like the Eldritch Blast, however well documented they may appear to be, are not fully explainable through the medium of human speech, even less so in any human invented written form like the Eldritch Script or ancient tongue, at-least not by humans." "You could only get very surface level like this." I asked him how else I was supposed to finally understand this strange phenomenon that has plagued me since the very beginning of my career, at this point I did not even care about the article anymore, I simply wanted to know. After thinking for a long time, the rain playing it's steady beat on the round glass walls of the conservatory, he concluded: "Without years of training in all the combat, arcane, dark, and seal arts, this is impossible." The fact I even for a split second considered this idea shows my commitment to this, I obviously would not spend years training. And so but one idea remained, the ancient spirit in Scotland. ⬧

Part 2 soon, now: sleep