#and motivate them to continue creating and posting their work online for people to see

[canisalbus]

I'm sure you get loads of these but heck I said I'd give it a shot anyway!

Your artwork is so inspiring and beautiful. I recently graduated from art school with a degree in Animation Production but I've decided I'd love to be an illustrator some day. Your work really motivates me and gets my brain juice buzzin. Keep it up!!!

.

[mannatea]

Fanfiction writing and posting culture has shifted so much over the last 20 years. Every time I read anything on r/fanfiction, not only do I lose brain cells, but I feel like a huge, huge part of fanfiction culture has moved toward reading only completed works and avoiding engagement at all cost, but particularly until a work is finished. There was a post yesterday by someone celebrating the fact that a fic they had on alert updated because it had "been so long" since the last update: it was a wait of one and a half months.

That isn't that long for a writer with a spouse and/or children and/or a busy career and/or someone busting ass at school and/or a life outside and off the internet.

While a lot of comments did chastise this person for their perceived idea of a long wait for an update, there were also a few comments from readers proclaiming that this was why they never read incomplete works.

Heck, there were one or two (upvoted!) comments about how writers should simply pre-write everything if they wanted feedback.

Don't get me started on the posts by people that read hundreds of fics a week and yet never comment. "Gosh, I wish I there were more fics for xyz." As if there's not something they can do about that by simply commenting on the works that do exist to show the authors the content they made has an audience!

As a fanfic writer specifically, I find this weird attitude toward the creative work of other people more than a bit discouraging (and sometimes deeply uncomfortable). Fanfiction, like fanart, is a social experience. I create a thing and then others engage with it to encourage me to do more of the thing. I am not a machine and I do not exist for your entertainment or pleasure, but the way fandom leans these days would lead you to believe authors and artists exist for the purpose of consumption.

I am a whole person and doing this costs me my time. For a long story, many many hours of time.

I don't think it's asking too much for people who took the time to read a story (and in particular those who enjoy it) to engage with it.

This doesn't even touch the weird "I only read completed fics" mindset and how it feels to see that sentiment echoed as an author.

"Just write it all in advance before posting it then." Do you even know how long it takes to write a story—to write a longform fic with a plot to completion?

Break Open the Sky was 102,000 words long (and this is short compared to a lot of longfics, so keep that in mind). Even if you assume a writing speed of 1,000 words an hour (generous, because some difficult passages will be much slower to write), that is a whopping 102 hours. That doesn't include the time I had to spend to go back and re-read to continue the story. That doesn't include outlining. That doesn't include note-taking. That doesn't including mapping out locations and distance for travel. That doesn't include editing or formatting to post, either, which took hours per chapter.

I have to sacrifice something else to be able to write. No video games, no movies, no books, no television, no nap, no goofing off online.

Comments become a big motivation, especially on a WIP. It doesn't feel like a waste of time then, to get a little less sleep or take a little less time for yourself; it gives the writer something to look forward to: interaction and socialization with fellow fans. And I don't think the cost is that high for a reader compared to the hundreds of hours it might have cost me to be able to show it to them in the first place.

But nope, r/fanfiction is really out there complaining that fics don't update (even though they didn't bother to comment) and that longfics aren't finished before they start being posted (even though they still don't comment as the story is being posted) and then complaining that there aren't enough fics for [ship]/[trope] even though they are really out there refusing to engage in fandom in a meaningful way that might encourage authors whose work they enjoy to continue to create.

TL;DR: creation costs time.

[the-bjd-community-confess]

Hello, Anon, this is your Oldie Chinese Diaspora Anon™️. I have to confess, I have some really heavy, mixed feelings after reading your post. It’ll take some time for your OCDA to sort them out; I am very sure that your mileage will vary far and wide from mine. But… if you’ll lend me your ears for just a little bit, I would really appreciate it.

For starters: No. Rîng Döll is -not- owned by Tencent. You may have come to that misunderstanding when you take a look at the latest MDZS IP-doll ad (https://www.ringdoll.com/products/yilinglaozu ) However, if you look at the new dolls that were also based on the same writer, Heaven Official’s Blessing, you do not see the same sponsors (https://www.ringdoll.com/products/xie-lian-2 ). This is because Tencent now owns the MDZS IP, who is an official collaborator of RD. That’s why other IPs that do not belong to Tencent do not carry their logo. Take a totally different IP doll, for example: https://www.ringdoll.com/products/zhao-linger, you will see the IP holder of this franchise Softstar (a Taiwanese game company) and CMGE (the Chinese company that took it over). No Tencent.

RD is a subsidiary of the holding company created by its owner, Mr. Hu4ng Sh4n. The company is called “YuZhu0 Culture” and was incorporated in 2012 (you can actually see the logo for the company in the same poster that mentioned Tencent). YZC holds Ring Doll (BJD) as well as another subsidiary, Ring Toys (figures, other collectibles) and also act as the holding company for Hu4ng’s fashion designs brand. You can find the company website here: https://h5.yoohso.com/?ym=Home and a more detailed breakdown of its composition and holdings here https://pitchhub.36kr.com/project/1678426749858822 (in Chinese, but online translators work.)

As such, your sentiment and your concern for Hu4ng, the owner of YZC, may be a little misplaced. His vision of “spreading Chinese culture” and the firm belief of “MiC’ was something that he had attached himself to over the years. I mentioned his mishaps in the past (see here: https://the-bjd-community-confess.tumblr.com/post/676741591427416064/post-on-why-ringd0ll-is-problematic-the-company and here: https://the-bjd-community-confess.tumblr.com/post/678836763019624448/ring-follow-up-i-was-the-anon-who-posted ) but he seemed to have come far and away from it. His own personal blogs and Weibo reflect his growing nationalism, which he seems to do unprompted. Most recently, he reposted something from the State-sponsored People’s Daily regarding 1931/09/18 with his own comment “We need to make ourselves strong” (https://weibo.com/1727191592/NjQD6ivRh ) In a recent interview with him (when he was invited as a Taobao flagship store owner, he once again touted the importance of digging into Chinese culture for the “ultimate win” (full article here: https://m.cyzone.cn/article/708080.html ) In fact, RD have also started to sue people who continue to make the connection that their old Hayato doll meant they were “Shaming China” (which is a lese majesty in the eyes of Chinese netizens. (https://weibo.com/1727191592/Nhysl8lcL )

This is a man who – pardon the language – drank the Kool-aid. He wanted people to know that he stands firmly on the side of China. In the last linked Weibo post, he even said “the subpoena from the courts is not the same as a ransom note from a gang; the courts will not harm your personal safety.” Well… let’s just put it this way: even I don’t believe him.

Which brings me to the last thing that made your OCDA stop and ponder. Anon mentioned that fear can be a great motivator – and heaven knows, there’s a lot to be afraid of. Some (one?) of the Anons here have mentioned more than once that I should set up shop somewhere and post outside of the relative anonymity of this blog. First of all: thank you very much for your approval; I am really flattered. But I also know that I speak of a lot of unflattering things about China. I am fully aware of what happens to people who – for one reason or another, in one degree or another – speak ill of the CCP, even if they are foreign nationals living outside of Asia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_police_overseas_service_stations as an example of their reach). So, the person who is actually afraid is yours truly. I am -that- sucker the OP Anon thinks Hu4ng was, being literally cowed to not speak up publicly out of fear. Until I can find a way to leave the old country out of BJD discussion (which is, well, impossible) or find a way to stay safe and at least (relatively) anonymous, I am afraid the only place you’ll find me is here, hiding here on this blog. I very sincerely apologise.

~Anonymous

[iamamythologicalcreature]

Can I be real for a second?

I’ve gone back and forth in my head about whether or not to post about this very real side of me online or not. There’s nothing shameful about being disabled, but I don’t want to be known as my disability, either. I don’t want that to be my identity.

But I’m hoping to post some of my writing tomorrow for Six Sentence Sunday. Post something I’ve written, albeit just a small bit, online where anyone can see it. It will be the first time I’ve done so since the car accident three years ago. And the truth is, the terrible truth is, my writing is what hurts the most.

Stories have always been a part of my life. They have always been my motivation, why I slogged through everything else - my reason for existing. I wrote novels and hoped to publish, and I fell in love with the writing community and made it my home. I volunteered and organized events. I created an extremely successful and fulfilling teen writing club where I taught creative writing. I was in love with stories, and writing them. I have never not been in love with stories.

(Before I was a writer I was an artist. I’m not going to go into that part of my life in detail, but it was just as heavily affected.)

At the beginning of 2020 I was in a car accident. The driver at fault was pulling out of a bar parking lot in the middle of the day. Make of that what you will. The accident he caused left me with more than a few issues, but for this post I’m focusing on the vision impairment.

Because of COVID, I wasn’t able to seek any diagnosis or treatment until June. I didn’t even begin physical therapy until August. Due to a myriad of issues and unfortunate reasons, I couldn’t complete my treatment. That meant a year and a half of work and struggle went down the drain.

This continues to affect me in many ways. Sometimes it’s things that you might expect - I can’t read Tumblr, or books, most days. Some limitations are less obvious, like how I’m afraid to ask questions (e.g. “what kind of car did Fiona drive?”) because the resources to find the answers myself are out there. Why don’t I just google it? Or reference that amazing spreadsheet someone did? Why am I asking other people to do the work for me? Am I just lazy?

People don’t mean to judge (and I’m sure there are plenty who don’t). But my issues aren’t apparent, so they won’t know unless I take the time to explain it. Able-eyed people should be able to find these simple answers. Just look in the book.

So I don’t ask. Or I apologize a lot for asking. Because it’s just too hard to explain why I need such basic help. (And sadly, some people still don’t believe me and treat me as thought I’m making excuses.)

I lost most of my friends simply for being unable to chat online, particularly during lockdown. I kept three people in my life - the three people willing to break with their comfort zones and talk to me on the phone instead of via text or chat. Those people probably saved my life. I know everyone went through isolation issues in 2020. But I went through them unable to even use a computer or read a book.

Since I’m typing this, you can guess that I’ve recovered somewhat, or made some accommodations that help. Yes. I have. Both of those. But I still have more bad days than good. Typing too long, or playing a phone game, surfing Tumblr - anything done for too long can break my eyes and send me back into total isolation for days.

I was a really good writer. I would regularly write 10-20k every weekend, and I wrote well. I wrote great stuff. (Rough drafts are always rough drafts, but I felt good about what I wrote.) I would sink into a character and go for hours.

Here’s the part that’s relevant to me now: I can’t do that anymore. I can’t write for hours, I can’t take the time to slip into character. I’m doing really well if I can pound out a speedy 1k in 30 minutes and have it not break my eyes. (It usually breaks my eyes.)

If you’re a writer, though - or any kind of creative - you know that the need doesn’t just go away.

(I have tried to record notes on my phone, but I just cannot dictate writing fiction. Only my fingers know how to speak well, and in character. And no, I’m not going to learn braille. It would not be helpful.)

So I’m going to try to write. It’s going to suck, because the things I did to write well before are things I can’t do anymore. I will cry. And then I will wait a week or however long it takes for my eyes to chill the fuck out, and I’ll try again.

(I’ve also started treatment again, just this month. I have to start at square one again, which means it will get worse before it gets better. It will take time, and money - lots of both. Like years. But I can’t give up.)

Anyway. This is why I chose the Simon Snow fandom to try again, for the first time in forever. Because that’s the story, and those are the characters, and these are the people. I know it. So. Hi.

[ikigaitsuki]

hello! here’s a small update

i keep seeing new followers and interactions and anons so i thought id actually take a second to finally give some sort of “what’s been going on in gai’s world”

to start, i can’t remember the last time i even wrote. it’s been over a year, i know that. to still have regular interactions from followers old and new is very lovely - i appreciate it so much.

i know there’s things i’ve written here that people have been waiting forever practically for the second parts. i honestly didn’t think id ever come back to finish them.

a part of me wanted to disappear from here entirely and another part really appreciated this little space i’d created. there’s been a lot of my favourite mutuals slowly leaving this platform and it becomes very isolating when you’re funnelling out work and not maintaining these online relationships.

however, writing is something i want to get back into. it’s hard, because i’m really living an adult life now and the time i have is just not what i had when i first started this account. i can’t say “hey, i’ll write again in 3 days, months, years”, i have no time frame. im also not as into the whole kpop scene as i used to be, which makes inspiration pretty bleak for me. our interests fluctuate though i suppose!

if i ever wanted to give this up completely though, you’d know about it. there’d be some post like this where i’m saying goodbye or something lmao. that’s not happening.

i’m so entirely grateful for the people that continue to give me even the smallest feeling of “ok yes i can get back into this” because that’s so huge for me. id love to write again and make stories for the people who want to read what i have to say. im not sure if i sound dramatic but being able to give to you my creative outlet is just so massive. i’m giving you my creative mind, and that is so vulnerable. my work is always so well received, and people have such lovely things to say. thank you.

i’ve also had major indexing issues with this account. so posting has been hard because nobody actually sees it? i’m actually a major loser when it comes to technology and so messing around with coding and stuff just knocked the life out of me - another reason why i just gave up a little with writing. it’s not about having thousands of notes, but when you’re posting and nobody is going to see it apart from through reposting (which i assume people are still abysmal at) it’s just not motivating.

anyways, i’m not sure if this is something that people will read and feel happy over, but nonetheless i’m putting it out there. in not going awol, im in the process of discovering what i want to do going forward.

if you’re reading this, thank you, always. and don’t forget, you can message me, send me an anon, do whatever! i don’t bite. you might not see me active every day here but i pop by regularly.

- gai

[nayialovecat]

Nimona :/

Ok, we finally watched Nimona and I admit that I'm a bit disappointed - mainly with the plot and the world that has no right to function.

After everyone was raving about this movie, I really expected something much better. I will only point out a few of the biggest logical, plot and world building errors (warning: spoilers):

The queen is dead - where is the mourning? Where's the new queen or king? She died and people were like "aha, so we have a villain in the city now" and continued their lives? What the hell?

For a thousand-year-old being, Nimona acts like they're been in some kind of hibernation for 99% of those thousand years. They have no experience, no knowledge, and basically… nothing. Personally, I bet that they are a descendant of a monster and are younger than their "main" form. That would make more sense.

Where are the older knights? The new ones were only choosed when the old ones died or what? And if only the descendants of the original team became knights - how come there were still so many of them? Within a thousand years, at least half of these families should be extinct!

So the city really had no contact with the outside world? How on earth was it self-sustaining? Okay, with the technology they could do it - but not in medieval times, damn it! Read how many hectares of land are needed to feed the appropriate number of cows to feed 700,000 people. Man! Seriously!

Since apparently there was ONLY this one kingdom in the whole world, why was it called a kingdom - yes A KINGDOM, even not THE KINGDOM (by the way, it had no other name, lol), but also - who did they trade with at the end? And if there were other countries - why didn't they try to contact this one?

Nimona and Ballister gain evidence of the principal's guilt IN THE DIGITAL VERSION. Ballister doesn't want to share the recording online - but WHY can't he send it to his lover VIA EMAIL? Fucking hell… The technology in this world is advanced but only works when there is a plot need. It hurts so much.

Horses that magically appear when the epicness of the scene requires it and disappear when something could happen to them (then we have exploding flying scooters).

Please, did they only post this short fragment of the principal's statement online, or were the animators simply lazy? Why didn't they include the scene of Nimona changing from lover back to themself - then it would be clear that they couldn't have been the principal when she confessed. Am I the only one who sees the idiocy here?

The principal's motivation doesn't make any sense. I'm not saying anything more here. Her whole plan simply exists to create a plot problem, giving an excuse for fights, betrayals, dramatic scenes and the deaths of other characters. Bleh.

Ballister attack on Nimona have no sens also. Bleh.

People. Don't. Act. That. Way. They don't forgive because the monster saved their lives when he previously almost destroyed the city.

And finally, two more comments about the Polish translation: flattering and unflattering. Unflattering: why "dyrektora". What's wrong with the word "dyrektorka"? I mean, I know what it's about, the fucking linguistic political hypercorrectness, but… When I first heard the phrase "dyrektora", I thought it was just slang. At school we called the principal "dyro" - I thought that was what it was about. Political hypercorrectness disgusts me in this case. And flattering one: Nimona's pronouns. In the Polish version, they talk about themself in the neuter gender - and that's cool. But others call them "she". And here's a big plus in that: a) there's no saying "that's not my pronoun, use proper one!!!", which actually gets tiring, b) there's no exaggeration in the other direction, i.e. Nimona calls themself "ono" once and then everyone magically knows to address them with this form (this is also what irritates me in TV series, that no one is ever wrong - unless they use the plot to justify it or is needed conflic about that). So here I consider translations to be a plus, I don't know if it was the same in English, but it's a tiny plus for Polish translators. Good job.

Let it not be so harsh. The movie has good moments. I think the animation is wonderful. The dialogues are even funny. There are nice character designs. I like the romance between Ballister and Ambrosius. There are some really cute scenes that I liked (e.g. a possessed child, a scene with an otter - although at first I thought it was a hydra - similar words in Polish "wydra" and "hydra") and a few texts that made me laugh (somewhere at the end there was "leave the kid and run away" from some random characters - I laughed at this). But overall… the movie disappointed me. This was not what I expected after so many praises in its honor. And the main (I assume it was supposed to be the main) thread about tolerance and respecting others, no matter who they are, completely disappeared.

[hasaniwalker]

Hi!!! Your work is AMAZING and has me really inspired!! Do you have any tips on how an artist who's just starting out can get into the industry?

Also Doris doodle has my whole heart and I hope we get to see a fully fleshed show for her one day :DDD

Thank you for the message! They say to draw every day, and while that's true, It's good to avoid burnout and I also want to add draw what you love. Enjoy your work and love what you create. if you're having fun creating, people will see that. Also, attend expos and conventions when you can and get to know people there. There's CTNX and also Lightbox expo which I highly recommend. When you're at these places, try to find recruiters and ask for recruiters. You'll want to get to know them, be friendly with them and try to stay in contact. While trying to get into a studio I would find recruiters of studios and look for them at every expo and email a thanks for talking email after the event to make sure they remembered me. If you can't make it to expos, look for recruiters and artists on social pages and connect with them. You'll be surprised with how many will respond when you reach out. Lastly, keep your work updated online. Studios do look at your social pages and continuously posting new work is something they like to see.

I hope this is helpful.

I'm very glad you like my work! Doris is a favorite story of mine and I'm doing my best to get her noticed by more people while also trying to get other projects off the ground. Hearing that people connected to her and her story is a great motivation to keep trying to do more with her!

Feel free to message me when you have any questions!

Hasani

[theyluvlyss]

/ᐠ-˕-マ~ frequently asked questions !

𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

...scroll down and see if it's here, because more than likely, someone else was/is wondering the same thing. even more likely, I already answered it multiple times and then decided to put it here for the next person :).

if it's not here, though, feel free to ask in my inbox or dm's.

to learn more on the topic of myself, you can always check out the about me page. to explore what fandoms I'm in and what I love to run my mouth talk about, then you should go to the heart. Continue reading further down to see the questions :).

confused because this might be the first page you stumble upon from my blog? head over to my intro to see why this page even exists lol.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ...𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞

───────── 《 .°•♡•°. 》 ──────────

𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧?

my status is comprised of three modes; active, hiatus, and offline.

[active] - I am online and currently working on/taking requests and whatnot.

[hiatus] - I am online, but I am taking a short break from writing and am just simply enjoying the app/am catching up with mutuals/friends.

[offline] - no longer taking any requests and no longer active on this account (this one is not going to be set into motion for a long time, don't worry lol).

𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐭/𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞?

nope ! maybe one day, I will. but for now, I run solely on motivation, inspiration, and vibes✨️/ᐠ•˕•マ.

𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 ��𝐨 𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐬?

yes, I do ! er, I can, if asked, of course :). like, if you wanted me to show you how I make my collages, or how I do something specific in an edit I made/posted, then yes, I could do a tutorial for that for you.

𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞?

this one is a little harder/complex to explain on my own, but for those who are totally and completely new to fanfic (hi, I can't believe you're starting on my account😭), I bet you're confused asf with some of the terms and stuff.

𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐥𝐠𝐛𝐭𝐪+ 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠?

I know I was when I first started out, so to help you out without you having to figure it out all on your own, here's a link to a page that explains all of the terms I personally use, how I use them, and what they mean :).

yes, if I didn't make that clear enough, I can, do, and will.

𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥/𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠/𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤?

in the sense that I don't use other people's words/a.i? Yes, it's all me. my writing, words, all of it.

in the sense that I make/create original stories and stuff like that? yes, I do, I write all kinds of stuff, not just fanfic lol.

𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤/𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐬?

yes, you can ! hit that repost button 'til your heart is content.

what you may NOT do is copy/paste my work onto other platforms/apps/websites, or claim something I created is your own or just not credit me at all. don't do to someone what you wouldn't want to happen to you.

───────── 《 .°•♡•°. 》 ──────────

𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?

yes? no? maybe so? /ᐠ×˕×マ...okay then,,,

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ/ᐠ-˕-マฅ~ 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭

[strangertheories]

Hi! First of all: Love your theories and analysis of ST! :) So, I have something I wanted to see your take on. Ever since volume 2, I've been wondering about the probability of Byler being canon or not, but most of all, I've been thinking about Mike's character and how he has been written in s4 especially. First I need to say that I didn't come from any particular biased (or too heavily invested) point before watching volume 2 'cause I don't ship Byler or Mileven, but as a regular fan of the show I always felt that Will was gay (that point has been clear since s3 for me), and after paying closer attention to Mike's character in volume 1, I felt for sure that he was being written as queer coded/ struggling with his sexuality. There are plenty of analysis about this online (some of which I think are reaching a little bit, while others I definitely agree with), but seeing as the show went with the whole I love you declaration / motivational coach speech from Mike to El (which to me kinda cements that Mileven will probably be the endgame tbh); what are your thoughts on the queer coding of Mike and his weirdness towards Will and just his weirdness in general? I'm so conflicted right now, 'cause to me it just doesn't make sense to build this up and not offer it any pay-off. Could you maybe help rationalize this? 'Cause something feels off with the way he was written when comparing vol1 to vol2. TLDR: Is Mike a closeted gay or is he just a lousy friend? What do you think were the Duffers' intentions with his character...?

First of all, I'm glad you like my posts! (: Second of all, it really depends on the direction they take Byler in during S5. I think a lot more people thought Mike was queer after Volume 1 and that can be seen by the influx of followers in the Byler tag. His inability to say that he loves Eleven despite the fact he was able to say it before combined with the way he was acting about Will led a lot of people to think he's actually interested in Will. It seriously makes so much sense for his character for him to be gay and if it turns out he is, that'll be some amazing writing and foreshadowing and some of the best initially subtle queer rep ever.

But I'm really conflicted on canon Byler. I don't want to be a party pooper, but I also don't want to give false hope and I'm going to say I'm skeptical of it, but I really hope to be proven wrong. Volume 2 felt like the perfect opportunity to start making Byler canon but they didn't go down that route and I feel like there's only so much milkvan that I can wave away as platonic. If it happened now, it would feel a bit rushed and fan service-y to me. I will continue to make Byler theories and try to bring some hope to people because I believe it can happen, but I'm also not going to lie about how I feel. I have the disappointed but not surprised outlook on Byler, as in it's a missed opportunity if they don't do it and a shame for the show, but it's not shocking.

So that leaves us with two possibilities. One and the one I prefer: Mike is gay and repressing his feelings for Will by projecting them onto Eleven like Will pretending Eleven asked for stuff but he is starting to work this out so he pushes Will away with the comments like it's not my fault you don't like girls. Two: after S2 without the will they won't they aspect to Mike and Eleven's relationship, the writers didn't know what to do with them so they created random conflicts and breakups so we could have an emotional moment at the end of each season with them. They wanted Mike's friendship with Will to be challenged by the relationship to show Mike is growing up and moving on but Will can't because of his sexuality and because of the loss of his childhood.

I don't think the second option is inherently bad but they've not written it like that. It makes Mike seem like he doesn't love Eleven and that he's an awful friend to Will and a lot of the Mike hate is a response to this poor writing. The actions are very realistic for a teenage boy so I get they don't have to justify it but if you see Mike in the earlier seasons and just how loyal he is, I'm not sure that's something that goes away with puberty. So either they're working towards the goal of Mike being gay and having a big realization coming out arc in S5 or they tried to write conflict into his relationships and it didn't click with a lot of the audience.

But don't lose hope because of that! It does make a ton of sense for Mike to be gay and he's clearly very queer coded. There's a reason so many people cling on to that aspect of him. So if the writers make Byler requited, it does explain a lot of stuff and a lot of analyses are super convincing so who knows. But it could also be weird relationship writing, I'm not going to lie.

Hopefully this post is ok! I'm not trying to be controversial but this is my account created for sharing my opinions on a show I love so I'm not going to pretend that there is a possibility Byler won't be canon although equally there is a possibility that it will be. Thanks for the ask and the compliment :D

[radiodread]

imagine you're putting on a singing performance. eighty people watch/listen to said performance but only two people applaud you afterwards. no reviews online or in the paper following the performance, either. you have no idea if people actually liked it or if those two people only clapped their hands because they felt like they had to since they watched the whole thing, after all.

publishing fic is awful. it's awful because you're excited about this thing you're writing: you put so much time and effort and care into making sure it's up to your own ridiculously high standards. then you decide to share it with the internet, and while some people read it, they don't tell you what they think. they never do. and it makes you doubt yourself after several works get the same treatment, and it doesn't even have to be for a small fandom- it can be for big ones, too. doesn't matter. no one gives a damn and it's impossible to get your works noticed or much less commented on.

i've adapted the so-called pasta method as of late: throw it at the wall and see if it sticks. written a lot of fics in a short amount of time because i had and still have many ideas i want to write out. and then i publish them, see which ones people seemed to at least like enough to say "hey this was good, thank you for sharing". percentage-wise, not many at all. many pasta strands flopping down onto the kitchen counter. i'm very bad at cooking pasta, it seems.

someone told me that lack of feedback doesn't have to mean that my writing is bad, but i am and always have been the type of person to interpret it that way. silence speaks volumes, usually in a negative sense: not good enough to say anything about. i know that people always tell you to create first and foremost for yourself and because you want it to exist. and i do. but it used to be fun to share works with others and people used to tell me what they thought and some even got excited. nowadays even sharing fic with friends is met with a lukewarm response, a 🔥-react on discord and not much else. it feels like they're nowadays just saying or reacting to it because we're friends and they "have to". and it really kills your motivation to continue sharing, when strangers don't leave comments and your friends don't give a damn. on the other hand, i always read my friends' fics if the fandom is relevant to my interests and i always leave comments along with a kudos. it sucks to not get the same treatment in return, but contradictingly enough i also don't want friends to read my stuff 'cause they "have to".

this is how creators stop sharing their creations. this is how i stop sharing mine. i'm tired of having my self-confidence shattered every time i post something new. i will continue to write but only for myself and that's that on that.

(finally: no, this isn't me attempting to guilt-trip people or gain sympathy. i needed a place to vent and that's all there is to it.)

[wanderrghost]

I just wanted to let you know that you are an amazing writer. I appreciate your words so much and I wish I could say something that would make you feel better. Your stories deserve to be read. Fragile Normality is amazing. The whole world you have created for Forgotten creatures is just…there are no words. I care so much for Jack and reader. I root for them. I want them to be happy and live in their little cabin in peace. The way you create characters and their world is just utter perfection. You care so much and it shows. All the little details and emotions you pack into your stories are special. Don’t even get me started on how much I loved Multitudes. I binged that in one night. When they first heard each other’s voice I cried. The emotions you painted were so tender and sweet.

I love your writing because of that. Because you deal with emotions and plot and love. That’s what I want to read. That’s what I love. I’m so sorry you are discouraged. I wish I could change that. I wrote you on anon once about writing when I was younger and being scared to do so now. I hate the idea of that happening to someone else, especially someone as talented as you. I understand though. I get it it. I support you 100% no matter what. You have to do what makes you happy. Just know you have so much talent and when I need comfort I turn to your stories. You are amazing. I appreciate you and I’m so glad to follow your blog. I look forward to seeing you on my dash.

-📝 (from your old blog)

Thank you. Thank you so much for this, truly. It means the world to know that there are still people out there, reading and enjoying the things I pour myself into. Especially Fragile Normality, a story I’m still working on and one I want to finish, but struggling so so much with because it feels too niche for anybody’s interests but mine. So to hear that you’re not only reading it, but enjoying it, means more than you know.

I’m sorry you’re dealing with the same thing, that fear of posting your writings. I’m sorry the environment online isn’t conducive to anything but quickly-consumable content that’s constantly churned out then forgotten. I wish it were different, back when people acknowledged that fic writers (and other creators) need interaction and encouragement to keep up their motivation to continue. But nonetheless, I’m grateful for you, and I hope to be able to read your stories too one day

[harmonyhealinghub]

Embracing the Creative Journey: Stay Inspired, Never Stop Creating Shaina Tranquilino February 23, 2024

It's easy to feel overwhelmed and drained of inspiration. Whether you're an artist, writer, entrepreneur, or anyone pursuing a creative endeavour, the journey is often fraught with challenges that can dampen your spirit. However, the key to a fulfilling and successful creative journey lies in staying inspired and never ceasing to create. In this blog post, we'll explore some powerful strategies to keep the creative flame burning and encourage you to push through the inevitable obstacles. Cultivate a Curious Mind:

One of the most effective ways to stay inspired is to maintain a curious and open mind. Embrace a lifelong learning mentality, explore new ideas, and seek inspiration from various sources. Attend workshops, read diverse genres, and engage with people from different walks of life. The more you expose yourself to new perspectives, the richer your well of inspiration becomes. Embrace Failure as a Stepping Stone:

Failure is an inherent part of any creative process. Instead of viewing it as a roadblock, see it as a stepping stone toward growth and improvement. Every setback offers valuable lessons that can fuel your creativity. Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Embrace the journey, learn from mistakes, and use them as building blocks for your next creation. Establish a Consistent Routine:

While creativity often thrives on spontaneity, having a consistent routine can provide a stable foundation for your creative pursuits. Set aside dedicated time each day or week for your craft. This routine not only fosters discipline but also creates a conducive environment for inspiration to strike. Whether it's a designated writing hour, painting session, or brainstorming period, a routine can help keep your creative juices flowing. Surround Yourself with Inspiration:

Your environment plays a crucial role in shaping your creative mindset. Surround yourself with things that inspire you – be it artwork, books, nature, or even inspirational quotes. Create a workspace that reflects your personality and fuels your creativity. When you're immersed in an environment that resonates with your passion, you're more likely to stay inspired and motivated. Collaborate and Connect:

Creativity thrives in collaboration. Engage with fellow creatives, share ideas, and collaborate on projects. Networking not only opens doors to new opportunities but also exposes you to fresh perspectives. Attend creative meet-ups, join online forums, and build a supportive community that encourages you to keep creating.

In the journey of creativity, staying inspired is not a destination but a continuous process. Embrace challenges, cultivate curiosity, learn from failures, establish routines, surround yourself with inspiration, and connect with a community of like-minded individuals. By adopting these strategies, you'll find that the creative spark within you remains alive and well, propelling you forward on an ever-evolving and fulfilling creative journey. Remember, stay inspired, and never stop creating.

[harveehealthcare]

5 Innovative Social Media Strategies for Healthcare Agencies

In the current competitive world, healthcare firms must develop an efficient social media marketing approach. Healthcare organizations that have historically been conservative are starting to see how social media can be used to build community, engage with patients, and provide important information.

Because of its wide reach and interactive characteristics, social media offers healthcare practitioners a dynamic platform to communicate with a wide audience. Creating a customized social media marketing strategy is necessary for healthcare businesses to succeed.

It is critical to comprehend the role that social media plays in healthcare. Since the industry is all about people, you need to understand their requirements and motivations to make your message relevant. Social media is a contemporary kind of word-of-mouth advertising that provides a powerful means of product promotion.

According to a recent AAFP poll, a sizable portion of the public and teenagers believe it is OK to discuss health-related matters on social media with their physicians. Making the most of your social media presence may improve client relationships and increase reach.

The following five tactics will help your healthcare social media marketing strategy work better:

1. Use Educational Content to Engage the Audience: Distribute educational blog posts, infographics, and films that make difficult medical ideas easier to understand. Build rapport with the audience by guiding preventative care and treatment strategies for chronic illnesses.

2. Raise Awareness And Continue To Learn: To keep your audience interested, share health-related news and trends. Provide insightful material to strengthen your brand’s reputation and foster trust.

3. Recognize Health And Honor Achievements: To build trust, provide case studies and success stories. Destroy false information, recognize best practices, and aid in creating a positive online community.

4. Health Projects and Difficulties: Encourage others to adopt healthier lifestyles by using social media. Motivate others to take part in mindfulness exercises, fitness challenges, or nutrition programs. To reach more people, establish surveys, community involvement, and hashtag campaigns.

5. Deal With Patient Concerns More Effectively: Respond to patient inquiries on social media platforms to guarantee excellent client support. Draw in new clients and take down obstacles to consultation.

To overcome roadblocks in your social media marketing plan:

- Stay abreast of evolving trends and modify your approach accordingly. - Review social media analytics regularly to identify shifts in audience - Align your social media strategy with your company’s overarching goals, and be sure to periodically examine and adjust them. - Make content as platform-specific as possible, taking into account YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. - To keep your audience interested, use infographics, visual material, and narrative strategies.

Harvee Healthcare provides experience in developing and overseeing specialized strategies that meet certain requirements for those looking for a specialized healthcare social media marketing strategy. Get in touch to increase patient engagement and trust while launching your healthcare social media marketing campaign.

FOR MORE INFO PLEASE VISIT: https://www.harveehealthcare.com/blog/5-innovative-social-media-strategies-for-healthcare-agencies/

[shinxistudio]

2023 in Review

2023 was a very tiring year, to put it mildly. I know everyone has been having a rough time, not just me. There's so much going on to be angry or upset about.

I want to at least try to focus on the positives and my own development that's happened over the course of this year. This post will likely be super long and rambling, so I'll put it under a cut here.

If you don't want to read it all (valid), I want you to know that we can make 2024 a better year together. Things will be better. We will make them better.

As far as my own personal growth, I've done quite a few things that I was always nervous to do or felt weren't possible.

I'm still anxious now that AI is even more of a problem than NFTs and standard art theft, but I want to share my art! I hate that I have to sacrifice quality by watermarking and making everything into JPGs, but it's the only way I'll feel safe enough to still share my art. I'm also anxious about getting chewed up by social media in general and ruining my mental health by feeling like I have to be Always Posting.

1.) I've started posting my art again publicly, on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and here on Tumblr. I've started streaming on Twitch again, too.

I've tried to maintain an art blog or something similar multiple times before either getting too protective of my work or giving up. I don't want to give up again.

I've also started interacting with other artists more. I want to make more art friends! It just sucks that trying to reach out and comment often on Instagram takes so much of my energy.

2.) I've opened my own online shop on Etsy.

I've only made one sale so far this year, and it still means the world to me. I've always wanted to have my art on shirts and prints. The designs I've started off with are some basic ones, and I want to push to have even more detailed and cooler stuff. It's scary trying to sell my art as merchandise, but I want people to have stuff that they'll be excited to have and wear. I've ordered one of my own designs that I was the most excited for and I love it. I love being able to wear something I made.

I wish I had the space to do all the prints and things myself. I'd love to be even more involved in the process than using print-on-demand, but then that also requires me to have more time for order maintenance and less time for art and myself.

3.) I've opened commissions on VGen.

My friend was kind enough to give me a verification code, and I've opened a few offerings. I still need to advertise and push my stuff, but I feel a lot more confident in my art than I have in the past. I've tried to offer commissions before but always felt my art wasn't good enough. It didn't help that people rarely wanted my art, either.

4.) I'm cracking the code of my own brain.

I always have issues sticking to habits and being productive. (I'm almost certain I have ADHD, but trying to even get to see a doctor for an official diagnosis is something I haven't had time or money to pursue.) This year I created a scoreboard to try and gamify things that I need to do. It really helped me get through this year, all the way to about October when it became too much to maintain. This past month I've revamped it to make it more fun and easier for me to keep up with. I'm super happy with it so far, and I hope I can manage this one all the way through 2024.

5.) I'm taking my health more seriously.

I've been aiming to exercise at least 3 times a week, go for walks, or do anything to keep me moving. This has definitely helped my mental health and it's something I want to continue this year. I walked 1200 miles as a personal challenge! This year I'm aiming for 1500! I want to aim even higher, but I don't want to pick something so outrageous I burn out or don't bother finishing it. My rule is always that I can raise my goal but never lower it.

My friend got me into Conqueror Challenges, and big shiny medals have been a motivator for monkey brain.

I feel like I wrote this all mostly positively with a negative spin. That wasn't my intention, but I'm also being real about where I am and where I want to go in my life. I'm still learning and figuring out what I really want. I just know that I want art to become a much bigger part of my life again, and I want to be healthy so that I have that much longer to create even more art. I have so much planned and so much more that I want to make or media I want to try.

I was also able to lose some weight and I think that's made a difference, too. I don't feel as brain-fogged or as tired. I need to focus on sleeping more, though.

6.) A small thing, but I'm taking good care of my plants.

I love having plants so much, but they usually don't last very long. I had to get rid of my plants when we first adopted my cat, but I've made space for them that will keep him safe and out of them.

A coworker gifted me a plant for my birthday at the beginning of 2023, and it's still going strong. It's gotten huge since then. Looking at it honestly makes me so proud. One of my dreams is to one day have a green house or sunroom filled with different plants, and a garden to grow our own fruits and vegetables. It would make me so happy if this guy could be the first in its permanent home there.

7.) I've been doing better mentally and with handling my emotions.

I've always been highly emotional to the point that I couldn't control them. I'm still working on it, but I'm getting better at not letting my emotions lead my actions and taking time to think things through. Journaling has helped a lot, and I'd like to start meditating regularly to see if that helps, too. My girlfriend has been so patient and helpful with this since we've been together, especially in this past year. I'm incredibly lucky to have her. 😭 💚

I want to be hopeful for 2024. I want to put out more artwork and have more fun that I can share with others to make this year nicer for us all, if only a little.

If you read this far, please just know that I'm proud of you for making it through this year. Whether you were able to do things that you wanted to do or not, you survived and I'm happy you're still here.

I hope you have a much better year in 2024, with more love and kindness, more fun, more good food, and more rest. 💜

[frankhightower]

12 things I learned after depending on commissions for 2 years

I've been meaning to write about this for a while now, but PayPal charitably reminded me of the $600 reporting threshold this morning (which will no longer require you to pay taxes, but still, wasn't originally planning on assigning neurons to that today) so it's as good a time as any.

I started seriously pursuing commissions in the summer of 2021 (you may remember I'd been talking before the pandemic about automating most of my badly-paying dayjob away to free up time for other pursuits, this was the point where I finally said "I've done it!"). The failure of the 2017 opening still weighed heavily on my mind, though, so I was pretty sure simply posting "hey, I'm open" and uploading 5 "samples" a week wasn't going to work. I tried to get an art stream set up since I remembered getting followers that way in 2014, but I could never get it to work.

So instead, I took to Discord. I've always been bad at keeping up with multiple forums, but I made an effort to participate in all of them. I was very casual about my commissions (since, you know, pandemic: I kinda needed the social interaction more ...and pandemic stimuluses were keeping me afloat) and sold a grand total of 2 commissions that way in the whole year.

Here came the first hard lesson: Do not give free samples of your work. People will always say "do you have a sample?" and since I was being asked for combinations I'd never done (such as, let's say, "cell-shaded and macro"), I'd always say "no, but I can make one", and then would go off to do just that. Several things can happen in that process:

You take so long to produce the sample, the would-be commissioner loses interest

They judge your sample as not good enough

The free sample satisfies their "need" and they no longer want "the paid version"

(also, commissioners, don't ask "do you have a sample", look at the artist's gallery and talk to them about that; artists love gushing about their art!)

From here, I decided to be systematic about it: I was going to create a sample of every possible combination and put them on a price sheet (I don't recommend this, by the way). I'd long planned to get "volunteers" to appear on my price sheet, but by this point, the pandemic stimuli had stopped so I decided to sell the slots in a huge YCH. To promote it, I started using Twitter ...I mean really use it. I'd never "gotten" Twitter much, but again, I made the effort and soon went from replying to 1 or 2 tweets every few days, to replying to 20 tweets a day.

And here I learned the second lesson: The online art space is an interconnected ecosystem. I only sold 2 slots on Twitter itself (people I knew saw my retweets), but by posting the slots sold on FA, DA and Tumblr, I was able to get more attention there. Then, by making reminders for FA and DA since they don't have a retweet option (and posting those reminders on Twitter), I was able to get more attention back on Twitter ...and the feedback loop continued until I had people asking for slots when I'd run out! I kind of already knew this, to be honest. I'd always praised EA's pre-2007 strategy of "cross pollination" (releasing the "same" game on multiple platforms to motivate people from one platform to get the other) but seeing it firsthand was just next level.

I considered myself too busy during the Winter Quarter of 2022 (we work in quarters at my school) so, though I was still brimming with ideas, I wasn't posting anything. ...Then I noticed my friends on Twitter were depressed. I mean, a lot of them were. They needed me. I'd been to therapy during the pandemic (and it bankrupted me so I knew not everyone could afford it) but it had given me the tools necessary to deal with it. I could tell they didn't have them. And one of those tools (which I was underusing) was "draw something every day". So I started the "Free Hugs" series. From a commercial standpoint, this was a great way to get "out there", since gift art is far more visible than the average twitter reply, but that was not the main reason to do it.

So let's call this the third lesson: Gifts are good. A gift is not a free sample, it is a labor of love. You wouldn't buy a gift for someone you don't know at all, and giving the gift doesn't weigh on your conscience as a waste of time in the same way as "the prospective commissioner never got back to me" does. Sometimes the receiver only responds with a like, and that's more than enough. Sometimes they'll comment show their followers in turn. But because you're not doing it for the attention, it's always a bonus.

What really changed things was something unexpected: I reached 150 followers on Twitter! I'd always planned that, if I reached 150, I would draw the 150 pokémon. I'd kind of resigned on the idea years ago because I'd "stopped growing"... and then it happened. I now had to put that plan into action! (and no, "celebrate milestones" isn't a lesson learned, I'll come back to this later)

Turning my daily drawing into "the next pokémon on the list" was a huge boost to my productivity (so long as I kept the list handy) and it contributed to the "ecosystem" positive feedback loop. Let's call this the fourth lesson: Always have something to do. If you're ever "out of ideas", have something you can turn to that will allow you to keep posting. Something that doesn't stress you out (drawing Pokémon is a huge comfort for me, it's literally therapeutic). Something that doesn't require a lot of effort to decide what to do next. Something that (for all practical purposes) you could do forever.

And now, having a huge roster of pokémon under my belt, came the next turning point. I'd always considered black and white sketches to be "unfinished" art, but people were quite happy with them as they were. And with Pandemic payments stopping, I offered to "finish" them... as a commission. Approximately one out of every ten people who received a pokémon sketch were willing to pay to see it "finished", which is the exact ratio taught in marketing classes. This brings me to the fifth lesson: Direct marketing works (ha,ha, just kidding, please don't spam your followers). The fifth lesson is: Keep in touch with your follower base. They already made the decision to follow you, they are clearly interested in what you have to offer. Make sure you talk to them, listen to them, study them individually, and yes, give them fan service (and I mean this literally: give them what they came for, not what a stereotype says they want).

After about a year of toil, my price sheet was ready (remember I said I don't advise making them like I did?) and I sold 2. and here I learned another hard lesson: Commissioners are creative people (they just lack the time, tools, or skill to do the art themselves) This should be a good thing; what better person to work with as a creative, than a creative? The problem is that not many people are creative, so a broad "throw anything you want at me, the only limit is your imagination", only works with people who have unlimited imaginations. Not even lowering prices helps in this situation. If you want to reach a larger audience, you need to do what most artists do and offer donation drives, YCHs and adopts. If you need ideas for these, celebrate holidays or milestones (told you I'd come back to it) but do it with intent, not out of obligation. Try to stay away from newsbites or trending topics as these will become dated very quickly (and you want the stuff people paid for to act as an ad).

So I launched a donation drive. I'd always been planning one for Macro March. This taught me the next lesson: People want to give you money! This may come as a shock to many of you, but it's true. Your followers do like you that much. Give them opportunities to show it on their terms. And never fail to acknowledge it!

I soon after launched another huge YCH, got only 1 response, and learned the 8th hard lesson: Some months are just dead. If you've ever wondered why no artist ever does X in the month of Y, this is why. People just disconnect from the internet at certain times of the year (and with the pandemic ending, doubly so!). Trying to get anyone to even see what you're doing at these times is literally shouting into the void.

By this time, my mother had lost her job, and her severance pay had run out. My family was financially in trouble. I went back to my list of pokémon, and people who said they'd be interested in paying to get it finished "later". Only 2 of them still did, which taught me two new hard lessons: 9: Buying art is an emotional endeavor. Once emotions subside, the push to put money on that particular piece is gone. This also means that art should always have emotion (and probably why so many people hate AI art for non-"it was made by AI" reasons) 10: People wait for their paycheck. Even if your followers may recognize your situation on the 23rd of the month, even if they want to give you money, they won't have any money to give until the 30th. But by that point, they may have forgotten (after all, what is the internet but a myriad of things trying to get your attention?) so you need to time your announcements considering this. Use that week for a personal project or try to cut back.

Things went very well for a while... but then there came the Death of Twitter. What do I mean by that? I track "views per followers" on my art tweets. I normally get 1 view for every follower, thanks to my carefully scheduled retweets. However, I've noticed a steady decline in that number since July (when the "rate limited" debacle happened). Starting at about the last week of September, it's been stuck at about 0.2 views for every follower. I doubt this is a matter of algorithm suppression, though, since I'm also seeing people I follow, post less. I conclude people really are spending less time on Twitter, which brings me to the final hard lesson: Don't put all your eggs in one basket, don't even put the majority of your eggs in one basket! From the beginning, having many more followers on Twitter than on any other platform set off alarm bells in my head (and if it's been your situation, it should do so, for you, too!) The fear was not that Twitter, as a whole, would fail, it was that I could lose my account! I am happy with the fact that I currently only have about 50% more followers on Twitter than I do on FA (ideally the numbers would be equal, but since FA relies on people using "browse" and "search", that number is really hard to raise!) To bring it full circle, cross-pollinate! Link your other accounts constantly. Anyone who's finding you for the first time in one platform should quickly be able to know if you're in any of the other platforms they use. This is how I've managed to survive the Twitter-pocalypse.

So those are my 12 hard lessons:

Do not give free samples of your work

The online art space is an interconnected ecosystem

Gifts are good

Always have something to do

Keep in touch with your follower base

Commissioners are creative people

People want to give you money!

Some months are just dead

Buying art is an emotional endeavor

People wait for their paycheck

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Cross-pollinate!

They're all "easier said than done", but don't let anyone tell you that artists hate sharing their secrets!

And Merry Christmas.

Posted using PostyBirb

[hearns]

Update on my writing

Well, I got another badge of honor today in my course to become a published author (i.e., a rejection letter from a publisher). They acknowledged that I am a good writer and I have significant writing skills, but my material is not what they are looking for as of right now for their marketing strategy. They encouraged me to keep submitting my work to other publishers who may have a better fit for my unique style and content. I appreciate their feedback and will continue to persevere in my journey towards becoming a published author, knowing that each rejection brings me one step closer to finding the perfect match for my writing.

Out of 10 publishers so far, I have gotten 4 rejections. And it takes about 10 publishers to get the one that will take your work and publish it. I remain determined to find the right publisher for my writing.

I guess it's all part of the journey. Receiving this rejection letter only motivates me to keep pushing forward and finding the right publisher who appreciates my unique style and story. I am determined to keep pursuing my dream of becoming a published author.

Fortunately, I have a friend who I helped edit and format for publication and who is one of my recommendations. By lending my expertise, I was able to help them bring their work to publication. Having a recommendation from someone I previously assisted in the publishing process is reassuring and validates the potential of my writing. It's reassuring to know that there are people in the industry who believe in my potential and are willing to vouch for me. I am determined to continue honing my craft and seeking out opportunities that align with my writing style and vision.

Right now, I am looking for the right publisher to publish my book. So, I am sending this post off to see if I can get someone who knows the genre far better than I am to help me out in finding a publisher who will be interested in my work.

Hopefully it will find the right pair of eyeballs to help me find the publisher that fits this book's genre and style, and I can go to print. I am confident that, with the right support, my book will find success in the publishing world.

Though I am still in the game, I might as well hype up my book to see if anyone is interested in my Sword and Spaceship style of book. The Sword and Spaceship genre of Science fiction has been showing up now and then in the SF literary community, but I have been trying to find the right publishing house to release the book. Even reviewing their current lists of upcoming releases on the various publisher webpages, I do not know what they currently have in the pipeline that they haven't posted online.

I wrote a book that has a unique and exciting blend of action, adventure, and science fiction elements. There is a lot of this Star Wars stuff floating around, but no one has really tapped into bringing back that early feel of the Barsoom Books by Edgar Rice Burroghs and the pulp science fiction of the early 20th century. I believe that my story has the potential to capture that same sense of nostalgia and excitement that the readers of those books loved as they were growing up. With the recent success of Dune on the Big Screen, Dune was the last real book that created a vibrant world of politics behind the scenes of the sword duels. You had the epic battles, but also the mechanics of what was going on behind the scenes. The drama that happened with the characters and their motivations was incredibly captivating.

I believe that my unique blend of sword-fighting and futuristic elements will captivate readers who enjoy both fantasy and science fiction genres. With its thrilling plot and well-developed characters, my book has the potential to become a standout addition to the literary world. I am excited to share my work with publishers who appreciate innovative storytelling and are open to taking risks with new voices in the industry. The Sword and Spaceship genre has had a few good stories pop up over the years, but right now, if you were to search for those titles, you would find a limited selection of books and authors (272 novels on Amazon so far with those specific words as a search criteria). However, there are still many untapped opportunities for new and exciting stories in this genre, as the books that make up the rest have strong reviews of 3 1/2 stars and up. This suggests that there is still room for growth and innovation in this genre.

Let me know what you think of the description below so that I can get some feedback to see where I can better target this book and reach my target audience. I am looking for some feedback on what experiences my fellow writers and authors have gone through in their journey towards publication. I would love to hear about their struggles and successes in the publishing industry. If they have any insights from any publishers that would be open to taking a look at my book, I would be happy to send them the information on it.

Furthermore, if anyone is part of or aware of communities or forums that focus on the Sword and Spaceship genre, where I can potentially connect with like-minded individuals, I would be grateful for that. I would like to see what type of marketing they used to get their books out to a wider audience. There is only so much that reading "Marketing Your Book on Amazon" can get you before you need to start thinking outside the box and exploring other marketing strategies. I have subscribed to several Science Fiction groups online and have been actively participating in their discussions and sharing my knowledge and expertise. But right now, I feel like I have been beating my head against the wall to find the right publisher. I am eager to find a publisher who will appreciate my work and help me reach a wider audience. I have been working with various marketing strategies to promote my book and increase its visibility. I have a good following online, but I do not know if it is because of the posts that I make or the quality of my content.

That is the clencher of things. I have been getting people's attention and engagement, but I need to know if it is truly making a difference in the long run.

I believe that exploring these alternative marketing strategies could be beneficial for my own book promotion efforts before I start looking for an agent to help me out. I have found a niche with my writing, but I am not sure what course to take for my next few moves in the publication process.

But agents cost money, and I am a bit cash strapped at this time, so any help in finding some publishers that are taking unagented submissions would be a plus. I would greatly appreciate any guidance or resources you can provide in this regard.

Well, now I move on to give you the synopsis of my book. Let me know what you think of it. I might need to expand it or change it up so that it sounds better for a wider audience.

Book Synopsis: "Gladiators of Internium: Realm of Stolen Memories" is a science fiction and fantasy fusion novel set in the World of Internium. Libra, a shape-shifting explorer, lives a quiet life of farming after living on ancient Earth for centuries. When her friend, the Gladiator King Spartacus, returns with amnesia, Libra is thrust into a world of political intrigue, dangerous challenges, and profound themes of identity, family, love, and sacrifice. The novel transcends traditional genres, presenting a rollercoaster of emotions with its diverse cast of characters.

Here is getting folks attention and maybe a chance at publication. The story has the potential to captivate readers and leave a lasting impression.

As my friend Ollie says, "I need to get it released so that I can hold a publication party saying that I got it out." But there is more to that. I feel like I am succumbing to the headaches that force some authors to self-publish and avoid the traditional publishing process altogether because of market forces or not finding the right publisher that will take their work.

I am a good writer. I have a unique voice and perspective that deserve to be heard.

But is there anyone listening to that voice? Will my words be lost in the noise of the industry? Or will someone find my voice and give it the platform it deserves?

If you are listening, help me out here.

Shannon Gregory Hearn Author of "Gladiators of Internium: Realm of Stolen Memories"

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