#with the goal of making it feel more consistent with the tone and structure of the og

[destinysbounty]

I think one of the things that made the original series so compelling is how interwoven everything was. Sure, it wasnt always perfect, but each season brought to the table some new connections to the lore, some character growth, some advancements in continuity. Even if a character or subplot only lasted one season, you could still feel their influence on the story several seasons later.

Chen is my favorite example of this. He may have just been the villain of season 4, but his schemes introduced a lot of information about elemental powers, his defeat initiated season 5, and his impact can still be felt as late as season 7 (foreshadowing about Ray and Maya, elemental alliance stuff, etc.) In Way of the Departed theres even suggestions that Chen had Clouse use dark magic to corrupt the Time Twins, leading to their villainy and causing not just the plot of season 7, but also Kai and Nya's whole backstory. Clouse, having returned as a ghost thanks to season 5, is responsible for conjuring Nadakhan and starting season 6.

And on the note of season 5! That season introduced us to the Sixteen Realms and the Realm Crystal, which become important aspects of season 6, and Yang's temple, which became important in DotD and season 7. It also formally introduced Ronin and turned Cole into a ghost, which are *also* major plot details going forward. AND it planted the seeds for Wu's eventual character arc in seasons 7-9. This season's impact expands past itself.

A lot of times, not all the time but often enough, whenever lore gets introduced at some point in the og series, it gets utilized much later on. Captain Soto, formerly a one-off villain from season 2, becomes plot-important in season 6. The Golden Weapon is shot into space in season 2, melted into Golden Armor in season 3, then melted down back into the weapons to defeat the Oni in season 10. The Great Devourer causes Harumi's tragic backstory. Mystake, who started out as a background gag character, became a key participant not just in the show but the worldbuilding and lore. The love triangle and subsequent rift between Jay and Nya doesnt get fully resolved until season 6. The ninja return to the burnt-down monastery in season 6, DotD, and season 7, and eventually rebuild it in season 10.

See what i mean? Everything somehow ties back to itself. Its far from perfect, but there is a solid sense of continuity that connects everything in increasingly complex ways.

I think thats a big part of what makes Wildbrain feel so different. Dont get me wrong, i love Wildbrain and i enjoy a lot of it, but it definitely lacks the cohesion that had seemingly defined Masters of Spinjitzu. A lot of their Wildbrain adventures feel less like installments in a greater narrative, and more like a series of loosely connected sidequests. Exciting sidequests that are usually really fun to watch, certainly, but sidequests all the same.

With the exception of Seabound and Crystalized, you could probably watch Wildbrain out of order and not much would change. If Prime Empire or the Island happened before SotFS, none of those seasons would face any impact from that. They are largely episodic and detached from each other in ways the og series never was. But if you tried to shuffle up the season order in Masters of Spinjitzu, youd have to rewrite a lot of stuff to make it work.

I almost wanna say thats part of why Seabound and Crystalized feel like such a return to form, and why MotM is so well-beloved. MotM introduced us to Lilly, fleshed out Cole's backstory, gave Wu a lil character arc that built on what came before it (Wu feeling useless bc the past few adventures were done without him), and finally gave some kind of resolution to Lloyd's Harumi-related trust issues (not just referencing her, but actually giving him a character arc about it). Seabound introduced us to more lore about the world's history and the backstory of the FSM, gave Nya one of the most compelling character arcs in the whole show that builds on and satisfies her past arcs, even gave her name a backstory that ties into the lore, featured relevant cameos from prior seasons (Vania, Maya, the Keepers), and provided an ending that would have lasting repercussions on seasons to come. And Crystalized...well, i wont spoil anything, but you get where im going with this.

Now, obviously this isnt the only deciding factor of whether or not a season is good. Seasons 6 and 7 are a mixed bag in terms of quality, yet have very integrated lore and character arcs. But seasons 11, and 12, which many people dislike, are also the ones that most noticeably feel like theyre happening in a vacuum. Any effect they have on later seasons, or any effect prior seasons have on them, is not as significant or immediate as in other seasons.

With the original series, there was a sort of cause and effect, almost. Rebooted caused ToE, which caused Possession, which caused Skybound, and so on. Theres a clear and specific chain of causality, and the sequence of events has a large impact on the events themselves. The same cannot be said of Wildbrain.

Again, i do enjoy Wildbrain, and there are a lot of things i even think it did better than the og. But i definitely feel like it wouldnt be half as contentious among fans if it had the same cause-and-effect plot structure as the og. Like, something in ns11 being the inciting incident for season 12, and something in season 12 causing season 13...you get the idea.

Anyway brb i gotta go rewrite Wildbrain

[simplyjustkate]

How to Change in 2024

1.CREATE A ROUTINE

Some of your best intentions fail because you don't have a system of execution.

Your new habits and behaviors must be incorporated into your routine to see changes.

Get the "Digital Time Blocking Planner" to Create a better structure in your day.

2. WAKE UP EARLY

Waking up at 5 a.m. Or earlier provides a head start and allows you to have time for activities such as:

• Exercise

• Studying the Deen

• Planning

• Being productive

• Working on a project

These activities will lead you to become the best version of yourself

How I wake up at 05:00 am:

1. Sleep early 20:00

2. To fall asleep, move and exercise

3. Plan the night before

4. Remember why you're waking up early

5. Don't hit snooze

6. It's a process, you will get there.

3.MOVEMENT AND NUTRITION

A one-hour workout is 4% of your day. No Excuses.

The food you eat significantly affects your mood, performance, and well-being.

These exercises yield the best results:

• Running

• Swimming

• Lifting weights

• Pilates

These exercises will quickly strengthen and tone your body

4.SELF-EDUCATE

Education is one thing no one can take away from you.

Online Skills you can Develop:

• Web development

• Mastering no-code tools

• YouTube

• Copywriting

• Digital Marketing

• Content Creation

• Influencer marketing

• Audience building

Practical Steps to Self-educate:

1. Sign up for Online Classes

2. Attend Seminars and Workshops

3. Read Non-Fiction Book

4. Gain Experience - volunteer or intern

5. Find a Mentor

6. Enjoy the process and don’t fear making mistakes

5.JOURNALING FOR 10MIN

Writing down your thoughts and feelings for the purpose of self-understanding, awareness and reflection.

Writing down thoughts such as:

• Your daily goals

• Reflections on negative thoughts

• Emotional processing

• Expressions of gratitude

• Find clarity

Block 10-15min everyday to write your thoughts down.

6.RELY ON DISCIPLINE

Discipline and consistency are the key to becoming the best version of yourself.

Forget about MOTIVATION,ACTION ACTION ACTION!

If you aren't good at something, work harder AND work smarter.

Build Discipline:

1. Identify what drives you

- The pain of staying the same drives me.

2. Pushing your boundary

- Doing a little more.

3. Control your emotions

- You don't feel like it, do it anyway.

4. Become 1% better every day

- Choosing to wake up early and get to work instead of scrolling on social media.

5. Big goals and small steps

- Set specific targets to reach.

Inconsistency and indiscipline is the enemy of results

[2soulscollide]

Write your book STEP BY STEP

hello hello, it's me again!

today i'm bringing you a step-by-step / checklist to finally get your book done. i know it can be a bit complicated to put everything together to make your idea come to life (you're definitely not alone!)

that's why i compiled some tips and made this post, in hopes to help some author out there :D

let's get started.

PREMISE

assuming you already have a good idea in mind, you should start by writing a premise. to help you with that, try to answer these questions:

who is the main character?

what are their goals?

which troubles will they face / what's stopping them from achieving their goals?

do they have an opponent? if so, who?

now that you know the answers to these questions, it's time to write the premise. the premise consists in a sentence that summarizes your whole idea.

PLOT OUTLINE

there are infinite ways to plot your story. you can do it by writing down ideas and linking them together, following a scheme, or any other method.

the most common plot outlines are these:

synopsis outline: one to two pages, where you hit all the major beats of the story

in-depth outline: outline each chapter/scene

snowflake method: develop the premise into a bigger paragraph, and that paragraph into a page (etc.) until you have the whole outline of your story

booken method: plot the start and end of the story, and the main characters

the novel factory created plot sheets for free, and you can choose from eight different templates. you might want to check it out!

KNOW YOUR CHARACTERS

having your outline defined, you should start developing your characters now. the main character's profile might be more detailed than the others, however, it's up to you. there are many character sheets out there on the internet that will help you create flawless characters.

i have a post with resources that might be helpful when creating a character, check it out!

and here you have some prompts and sheets to create a character:

Quick Character Creator - EA Deverell

Extremely detailed character sheet template - @hawkasss

The Best Character Template Ever - Dabble

Character Twenty Questions Worksheet - The Writers Circle

at this point, you should also define the narrator's voice, tone, etc, as well as the pace of your novel.

LOCATIONS

define the principal locations of your story, the settings, and where the story is taking place. it's important to know how the environment looks, and how your characters feel about it.

for this part, you might find it useful to do some research about some locations, if you're not familiar with them. find inspiration on Pinterest, Tumblr, or even on books, paintings, and art. everything is valid.

if your story takes place in a fantasy environment, you might need to fill out a template to create it or write down the way you imagine it to be. try to get as many details as possible, so there are no holes when developing the novel.

SUBPLOTS

you might want to give more depth to your novel by developing a subplot (or more than one). make sure it doesn't get too confusing or that doesn't take the focus away from the main action.

the subplot can be a romance, another character's relationship, a character's arc, a backstory, etc. this will make your story more real and 3D, more realistic.

develop it as a side story and mix it with the principal plot but don't make it as important as the main story, otherwise, none of the plots will make an impact.

SYNOPSIS

write a synopsis as long as you wish, covering every important part of the story. this will help you to really know your idea, and have a solid structure for it. it can range from 500 to 2,500 words, but you don't have to restrict yourself to a number.

things the synopsis should cover:

the status quo

the complication

initial challenges

midpoint

further challenges

the low point

the climax

the resolution

DRAFT

and we get to the best part which is writing! now that you know everything about your story, characters, locations, and scenes, all you have to do is to put all that together in words. don't feel pressured to make everything look perfect already, just write what comes to your mind. if you have a new idea for the plot, good, write it down! if this character doesn't make sense anymore, okay, get rid of them. just go with the flow, following the structure you've planned, and everything starts to come to life.

i know it's so tempting to go back, read what you wrote, and start editing and polishing, but trust me, don't do that! it's a waste of time, and you will take so much more time to finish your first draft. in fact, i've given up on so many stories because of that...

just when you finish the first draft, you will re-read everything and start editing, fixing plot holes, changing what doesn't fit well, etc. but for now, just write, get the first draft done. enjoy the process, don't rush.

thanks for reading!

i hope this post was helpful!

also, you might be interested in this free workbook with over 90 pages and many exercises! check it out here: THE WRITER'S WORKBOOK

resources for this post:

How to Choose a Plot Outline Method: 4 Techniques for Outlining Novels

How to Write a Novel: A Step-by-Step Guide

[solisaureus]

how do you write a fic and make it like

long?

ok actually i did give a brief workshop in a fandom server on this once. Here’s the sparknotes:

Stage 1: brainstorming

- decide the topic of your story. write down the idea that sparked your inspiration and start there. this is your core concept from which everything else arises. write down everything that you come up with when thinking about your story, even if you don’t end up incorporating it.

- if you don’t have ideas, most of my fic ideas arise when talking about my fav characters with friends who also love them.

- pin down a few essential aspects of your core concept. is it an AU or canon compliant? ship vs gen? is it going to focus on an overarching plot or a particular character’s personal journey? what ao3 rating do you expect it to be? what trope tags do you think you’ll add?

- make a pinterest board and a playlist for your fic concept. i’m serious this helps you solidify the tone, setting, and mood of your story and can provide more inspiration

Stage 2: outlining

- now that you know what your fic is gonna be about, it’s time to break down the story and make it a complete narrative. Your outline can be as detailed or as bare bones as you want. some writers don’t make an outline at all, but i cannot even begin to comprehend their power, and if you’ve never written a long work before i highly recommend starting with an outline.

- the two most important things to keep in mind during this stage are PACING and STRUCTURE. Characterization is secondary in this stage but still important. Now is the time to establish the setting and the major plot beats.

- decide the narrator, point of view, and tense during this stage

- if you’re stuck for ideas, here’s a cheat for pacing — come up with just 3 things: a goal, a time limit, and stakes. What does your protagonist want to accomplish, how long do they have to do it, and what are the consequences if they don’t achieve it in the time limit? Character A is in love with Character B and wants to be with them (goal), but Character B is moving away at the end of the summer (time limit). Character B risks rejection, and losing their friendship with Character A (stakes). Boom, you already have the skeleton of a story. Try to identify these elements in your favorite stories, it helps you practice this and can give you ideas for your own story. Frodo has to deliver the Ring to Mt. Doom (goal) before Sauron’s armies overwhelm Gondor (time limit) or else the world will fall into shadow (stakes). Obviously, this is just one plot formula among a wide variety and there’s no one right way to write a story, but it can get you started.

- Another way you can start is by detailing some exposition events, some rising actions, a climax, and resolution. If you already have a climactic scene in mind, you just need to figure out how your characters get there and what they do afterwards.

- once your outline is done, you should have a general feel for how long the project will be

Stage 3: drafting

- now it’s time to write the damn thing. sounds simple but it’s not

- practice getting into Da Writing Zone. when it’s time for me to get serious, I have a few video game soundtracks i’ll put on through my noise cancelling headphones, i’ll make myself some tea, and i’ll light a candle. i have basically conditioned myself to write when i hear the journey soundtrack or when i smell my pomegranate candle.

- Each scene that you write should serve a purpose in the overall narrative. I personally determine whether each scene contributes to at least one of the following: worldbuilding, progressing the plot, or characterization. a good scene will accomplish two or even all three.

- consider the voice, whether you’re writing from first or third person. are you telling the story with stern reverence, poetic wonder, snarky indifference? consistency in voice strengthens the story.

- keep suspense in mind, too. you dont want the protagonist to know everything right away — be intentional about what information they learn and when. what the protagonist knows and what the reader knows can differ, too — this is the source of dramatic irony. or you can keep the reader ignorant and have them discover plot elements at the same time as your protag. the intrigue!

- take your time. pace yourself. writing is hard and you don’t have a deadline when it comes to fanfiction. if you’re in a rut, something that i do is that i force myself to write 200 words — if i do that and i’m still not feeling it, i stop there and try again in a few days, but a lot of the time i just keep writing once i get past that hurdle of just starting.

- beginnings are always hard. keep in mind that this is just your draft — whatever you write doesn’t have to be the final version. just start at a point that seems interesting to you.

- as a general rule of thumb, if you’re bored writing something, it’ll be boring to read, too. you may tell yourself that you HAVE to write this dry section about worldbuilding or write how the characters get from one place to another, but do you really? how much would it affect the story if you skipped that? can you approach it another way, or work it in in another scene?

stage 4: editing

- kill your darlings. if something you wrote is out of place or unnecessary for the story, but you like it anyway, get rid of it. save it in another document for outtakes, but don’t give into the idea that a section is valuable just because you spent time on it.

- having a second set of eyes on your draft is a game changer. if you can get a friend (ideally another writer) to beta read your draft and make comments, it can make a huge difference. i always like to thank my beta readers when i post a fic because i appreciate their input so much!

- now is a good time to decide whether you want to post chapters as you write them or write everything first and post it all at once (or on a posting schedule). there are benefits and drawbacks to both but you know yourself best!

- once you are happy with your draft, post it! :)

stage 5: stamina

- writing is hard, and writing a long fic is really hard. even if you’re super passionate about a project when you start it, you will probably lose steam at some point depending on how long it is. at times you will be discouraged and unmotivated. it helps to have a friend who has volunteered to be your designated hype man for this fic. i like to have at least one person who i KNOW is awaiting my next chapter.

- the fact that you don’t get paid for writing fic means you have to balance your writing time with your life and responsibilities. you might have to take a hiatus. coming back to the project after a while can be hard — this is where those pinterest boards and playlists you made back in stage 1 come in. they help get you back into the groove of the story when you’ve lost inspiration!

- when all else fails, try reading books or fanfiction. it counts as writing. words in > words out. bonus points if you journal/leave ao3 comments about things you noticed and enjoyed about it (or, if you didn’t like something, what about it left you dissatisfied. don’t write this in an ao3 comment though keep it to yourself), it genuinely helps you get better at writing. like it makes writing easier

- believe in yourself!!! believe in me who believes in you!!!!

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

Hello! Thank you so much for your time and content you bring into this confusing world.

I’m currently on the starting road to creating a canon-divergent fanfiction but noticed I have trouble with pacing and sentence structure. I don’t have a clear grasp on when to slow down and sit within the scene(s) the characters are in or when to go on and move on to the next scene of the story.

As well as chapter structuring and to keep it consistent at a comfortable pace yet keeping the story going.

I am at the very beginning of my write journey and as fun and exciting it entails, it’s also scary, intimidating, and feels like I’m doing everything wrong despite just pushing through. Any advice or suggestions is so so SO much appreciated, thank you once again for your time <3

-/ Yours Truly, D.F

Crafting Captivating Scenes and Chapter Structure: A Writer's Guide

I'd absolutely love to help you on your journey, congratulations and I wish you the best on your writer journey to create the book of your dreams. If you ever need anymore help just contact me in my inbox!

(If you'd like me to create a scene template for you to use and fill-out. Please let me know. I'd gladly create one for you.)

Today, I want to dive into the art of structuring scenes and chapters in a novel. As we all know, a well-structured story keeps readers hooked from start to finish. So, let's unravel the secrets behind creating compelling scenes and crafting an engaging chapter structure.

Scene Structure:

When it comes to structuring scenes, it's all about capturing the reader's attention and propelling the story forward. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you master this crucial aspect of storytelling:

Establish the Purpose: Every scene should have a clear purpose, such as advancing the plot, revealing character traits, or building tension. Determine what you want to achieve before diving in.

Set the Stage: Transport your readers into the scene by painting vivid descriptions. Engage their senses and create a strong atmosphere to make them feel like they're right there with your characters.

Introduce Conflict: Conflict is the fuel that drives any story. Whether it's an internal struggle or external obstacles, inject tension to keep the readers on their toes. Conflict adds depth and makes scenes memorable.

Build Momentum: Keep the pacing in mind. Start with a strong hook and gradually intensify the scene's stakes. Balance action, dialogue, and introspection to maintain a dynamic flow.

Climax and Resolution: Every scene should have a satisfying resolution that leaves the reader eager to turn the page. It could be a revelation, a new dilemma, or a cliffhanger. End with impact!

Chapter Structure:

Now, let's focus on the structure of your chapters. Chapters act as mini-arcs within your novel, creating a rhythm that keeps readers engrossed. Here are some tips to help you craft an effective chapter structure:

Determine Chapter Length: There's no strict rule, but shorter chapters often create a sense of urgency, while longer chapters allow for deeper exploration. Find a balance that suits your story's pacing and style.

Establish a Theme or Goal: Each chapter should contribute to the overall story arc. Decide on a specific theme, goal, or event that drives the chapter's purpose and ties it to the larger narrative.

Vary Intensity and Tone: Just like scenes, chapters should have their own rise and fall of tension. Alternate between intense action, quieter moments for reflection, or even comic relief to maintain interest.

End with a Hook: Leave your readers wanting more by ending each chapter with a compelling hook. It could be a revelation, a question, or a surprising twist that propels them into the next chapter.

Transition Smoothly: Ensure that your chapters flow seamlessly. Use transitional elements like time jumps, shifts in perspective, or recurring motifs to link chapters together cohesively.

Congratulations! By mastering the art of structuring scenes and chapters, you're well on your way to crafting a captivating novel. Remember, scene structure drives the microcosm of your story, while chapter structure shapes the macrocosm. Experiment, find your style, and above all, let your creativity soar!

Happy writing, and may your scenes be compelling and your chapters unputdownable!

-Rin T.

[studdyadict]

Embracing the Dawn: Understanding Morning People and Embracing the Morning Routine!

To introduce this topic and on the realm of human behavior, the distinction between morning people and night owls has long been recognized. While morning people seem to effortlessly rise with the sun, others find themselves more aligned with the nocturnal rhythms of night owls. This essay delves into the concept of morning people, explores why some individuals struggle with early mornings, examines the phenomenon of identifying as night owls, and provides practical strategies for transitioning into a morning person.

Understanding Morning People!

Morning people, often characterized by their ability to wake up early feeling refreshed and energized, tend to thrive in the early hours of the day. They exhibit peak productivity and alertness during the morning, making them adept at tackling tasks and seizing opportunities. Morning people often find fulfillment in establishing a structured morning routine, which sets a positive tone for the rest of their day.

Why Aren't We All Morning People?

The inclination towards being a morning person or a night owl is influenced by a combination of genetic predispositions, biological rhythms, and environmental factors. While some individuals naturally gravitate towards early mornings, others struggle due to biological factors such as delayed sleep phase syndrome, which causes a misalignment between one's internal clock and conventional societal schedules. Additionally, lifestyle habits, such as irregular sleep patterns, excessive screen time before bedtime, and high-stress levels, can disrupt the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, contributing to difficulty in waking up early.

The Night Owl Phenomenon!

Many individuals identify themselves as night owls due to a preference for nighttime activities or productivity peaks during late hours. The allure of the night, characterized by quietude and solitude, often fosters a sense of creativity and focus for night owls. However, the societal glorification of burning the midnight oil and the prevalence of evening social engagements can reinforce the perception of being a night owl, even for those who might thrive in the early morning hours if given the opportunity.

Becoming a Morning Person ?

Transitioning into a morning person requires a deliberate effort to establish healthy sleep habits and cultivate a morning routine that promotes vitality and productivity. Here are some strategies to facilitate this transition:

1. Establish a Consistent Sleep Schedule: Set a regular bedtime and wake-up time to regulate your body's internal clock and ensure adequate restorative sleep.

2. Create a Calming Bedtime Routine: Wind down before bedtime with relaxing activities such as reading, meditation, or gentle stretching to signal to your body that it's time to prepare for sleep.

3. Optimize Your Sleep Environment: Create a sleep-conducive environment by keeping your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet, and investing in a comfortable mattress and pillows.

4. Gradually Adjust Your Wake-Up Time: Gradually advance your wake-up time by setting your alarm clock to wake you up 15-30 minutes earlier each day until you reach your desired wake-up time.

5. Prioritize Morning Rituals: Design a morning routine that aligns with your goals and values, incorporating activities such as exercise, mindfulness, journaling, or enjoying a nutritious breakfast to set a positive tone for the day ahead.

6. Stay Consistent and Patient: Consistency is key to forming new habits, so stick to your morning routine even on weekends or during vacations. Be patient with yourself as you adjust to your new sleep-wake schedule, and don't be discouraged by setbacks along the way.

To conclude this essay , while the distinction between morning people and night owls is rooted in individual differences and biological predispositions, it is possible to cultivate habits that promote early rising and embrace the morning with enthusiasm. By understanding the factors that influence our sleep patterns and implementing practical strategies to enhance our mornings, we can unlock the potential for greater productivity, well-being, and fulfillment in our daily lives. Embracing the dawn opens the door to a world of possibilities, where each morning holds the promise of new beginnings and opportunities for growth.

[heytherecentaurs]

A long article (1200 words) about Dimension 20: Neverafter and horror, and how to create a horror D&D campaign.

*Spoilers*

Preface: I really enjoy Neverafter and have the utmost respect for the players and Brennan. This isn’t a critique of them, their actions or the season, but an analysis and thoughts on how it could better conform to the horror genre. These may be ideas to consider for your own D&D horror game.

As a D&D game Neverafter is what we’ve come to expect from Dimension 20 – excellent players, a fantastic DM, amazing miniatures, interesting combat and mechanics, high level improvisation and lots of comedy. However, it was billed as the horror season, and that’s what I’d like to discuss.

Despite being marketed as a horror season of Dimension 20, it would be more accurate to say Neverafter is a D&D game with horror elements. Below I'll discuss the ways in which Neverafter effectively uses horror and the ways its ineffective if viewed as an outright horror story. Following that I'll discuss some ways to create a horror campaign.

Why does Neverafter only occasionally work as horror?

Three of the most effective pieces of horror this season have been the body horror of Rosamund’s introduction, the D&D equivalent of a jump scare when the wicked fairy ripped her eyes out at the sight of the stepmother, and the existential horror of Ylfa’s backstory. Despite using different horror elements they accomplish their goals in similar ways. These scenes put characters up against a wall with no easy way out. They can escape but it will come with a cost. There’s a reason horror confines its characters or makes the danger ever present and too close for comfort, always there, biding its time. In comparison Neverafter as a whole is too open and too large in scope without being unfathomable or existentially unsettling enough to be cosmic horror. Even when the setting is expansive in horror, the setting should be used to make the characters feel trapped; characters can be trapped in a house or trapped in a vast tundra, but they need to feel as though there is no way out. In horror not only is the setting claustrophobic but the plot has to be as well. Horror plots are submarines taking on water—you’re only goal is getting out alive and most of you won’t make it.

The pacing gives us and the players too much breathing room. Breathing room in horror has two primary effects: it creates a false sense of security or it is used to further isolate a character (e.g. nobody believes the character when they say there’s something evil stalking them). In Neverafter there’s too much time to decompress and to get in all the bits, which as a comedy show is understandable but not effective horror. Once the horror starts it can’t retreat so far into the background. It has to ramp up in pace and escalate in intensity. There are too many side quests and too much downtime role play. In order to sustain the heightened levels the role play would need to be focused on the task of escaping the horrible circumstances and as they get closer to the end it seems less and less likely they will. The pace needs to build up so much momentum that by the climax the ending feels inevitable.

The tone needs to be consistent once the horror starts. Use classic horror story structure—establish a tone at the beginning then disrupt it with the introduction of horror. Then the tone is set in stone and you reinforce and intensify the tone in the same way you do the pace until you reach a point where all hope is lost. Until it’s not. (The structure of horror tends to roughly follow Joseph Campbell’s monomyth inasmuch as at the end the characters return to the world they know having changed.) However, Neverafter is tonally all over the place, which is fine for a D&D campaign but not for horror.

The stakes need to be more immediate and less philosophical. Horror thrives on the digestible metaphor. You have a philosophical point to make? Find the metaphor. What does the monster represent? What do the characters represent? What dichotomy is presented? How do those who survive best represent your argument? Neverafter has too much grey area and too many sides, and the characters have to form a competing philosophy. This isn’t effective as horror because horror comes from a fear of our mortality, what it is to be a living breathing human being. That’s why the characters’ only goal is preserving their lives. By the time we’re into the meat of horror, it’s too late for anymore nuance. While the world ending is fine as stakes, the immediate stakes need to be life and death. Not in an “If we don’t succeed the world ends!” way but in an “I’m fearing for my life every second we’re here!” way. As such the characters and their demise need to reinforce the danger by being brutal and most of all permanent. And if they’re not permanent they need to have an escalating hook like every time they die they come back with less and less humanity until they are the monster. Characters have to be at risk of losing something significant and it has to stay lost.

What would I do differently in a horror campaign?

Simplify everything. Introduce the characters, the setting, and their status quo and then disrupt it. Example: Five college kids are travelling to a resort in the desert but get lost and make the foolish choice to stay the night in a ghost town? Guess what they’ve angered the crazed bloodthirsty Manhattan Project mutants. Now, survive.

Make the campaign no more than six sessions. Have only the first session be a role playing session ending with rolling initiative. Set it in a single primary location, have one concrete horror monster/killer/alien (or many weaker ones) that expresses a metaphorical sociological, psychological or philosophical fear, make the characters increasingly vulnerable and make death permanent with no backup characters. I’d start the characters at a higher level and make a mechanic based off their choices which causes them to either level up or down each session; whereas the killer’s challenge rating increases each time it kills. The worse the character’s position, the lower their level and the easier they are to kill. And the weaker the group, the more vulnerable they are and the higher the odds are against them.

Using Neverafter as an example, I like the folklore and fairytales but I’d narrow the scope. I’d centre it on the idea of the stepmother as an archetypal figure and the monster and create the basis of why she’s doing what she’s doing. Set it on the anniversary of her death. Put them in the home where she lived with her family and provide clues about how she devoured her daughters and sneak in a weakness she has (she’s sensitive to bright lights or she’s afraid of cats or whatever) in the first session. At the end of session 1 the PCs realize they’re in trouble (cars and phones don’t work, only road is washed out, there’s a dangerous storm outside) and they’ve got five episodes to get out, defeat the stepmother or survive until morning.

I hope this has been an interesting look into some of the ways Neverafter successfully and unsuccessfully utilized horror in the campaign and gives you some ideas on how you could make a horror campaign for your table.

[tothedarkdarkseas]

As someone who's miffed about this current phase writers room it's nice to hear similar thoughts. At the same time, I feel like I'm the only one who thinks this yet has albums past Phase 3 as my favorite. Sometimes I wonder if it's wrong to pick what I like from the characterization and set up my own inner dollhouse where they stayed consistent with them being band members, but then I realize that's when I'm happiest with Gorillaz outside of the music (which I will always love, yes even Cracker Island was a good album to me). I wanted to get it off my chest since you're one of the few blogs I know with anon on right now who feels a similar craving for the older phases characterization. Lad!2D is still real to me, God damn it.

I very much understand that sensation of being alone in your feelings, as the fandom has always been presented and presented itself as this dichotomy: you're a "cultist" or you're a "fanhater," combing through the band's history to justify a singular view of the virtues or vices that have always been present. Like the other dichotomies that seem to rule fandom spaces, you lose a fairness and an objectivity when the point becomes finding identity in conflict and in your "rightness" alone. It's an impulse though, an understandable one. All of that to say-- I get feeling alone, but I don't think you are in fact alone in that. I think many people, myself overall included, do still think highly of the music of Gorillaz and respect the collaborative, experimental nature of real-world band beneath the fiction. I can't say my very favorite album of all is a post-P3 album, but I would say many of my favorite or most relistened songs along a top 15-20 list would be from P4 and beyond, and there are songs from every album on my personal playlist. I don't know if Cracker Island will find its place with me quite yet but folks I like and respect have enjoyed the album already, either from jump or with more time devoted to making in-roads, and so I don't think you're in any way wrong for enjoying it with or without the writing in mind.

I don't think the dollhouse approach is necessarily a wrong one, or it is a folly in all of us, as I think the reality is that nearly all fans are doing it to varying extents. Gorillaz is an exciting but unwieldy project that retcons and contradicts itself, lacks a traditional story structure and inerrant memory of the characters and plot thus far, and so it inherently cannot maintain a sense of total cohesion where every word counts. Whether or not we are all honest with ourselves about this, everyone is painting a wall in their dollhouse when they sit down to tell a story. One of my struggles in modern fandom spaces is the erasing of past characterization or outright canon occurrences on the basis that it's uncomfortable and out of character for the way they (in particular Stu) are presented now, reaching to construe them as jokes-within-jokes that the audience should've dismissed all along-- it brings the core of their character into conflict, and so the solution is believing they never actually happened within the world of the band, and not that these unflattering moments were "true as they were written, in comedic tones." I could say it is cherry-picking. But by the very same turn, I'm cherry-picking with the modern writing, I'm conflicted by and object to the reframing of a shot that changes the scene entirely. In the absolute barest honesty, I long for the day the recency bias works in my favor again and will simply step around this chapter, pretending this phase was never part of their history in my own timeline and my own characterization, because it fundamentally contradicts who I believe Stu is. We are mirroring each others' actions but looking in opposite directions, progressing to opposite goals. There is not an unbiased claim to my "rightness," whether it feels right to me or not.

Lad!Stu solidarity forever. The Stu-nion makes us strong.

...Er, sorry I said that. (I still have an empty Lad!Stu discord server waiting in the wings, I just hem and haw over whether it'd die in the water straightaway. Maybe there's no time like the present, though. Maybe we can whip up a nice folie à deux before P8 pulls another stunt.)

[sidewalkchemistry]

The Primary Health System: Variables & Arrows in Human Design

(this is a longer one, so the full length version of this post can be accessed for free on Patreon)

This is when we start getting into the cooler territory of human design, in my opinion. The PHS (Primary Health System) is probably the most liberating and practical part of the system. This is a deeper dive on understanding your inner authority. It requires you do a deep analysis about how you are truly nourished in life. [By the way, it is based on the calculations of your conscious & unconscious suns, earths, north nodes, and south nodes]

For example, often we are taught that a pre-calculated and pre-planned lifestyle is more admirable and smart to have - complete with a structured morning routine, a meal-planning system, and a stable job you move up the ranks in progressively. Human Design actually says that isn't the best thing for everyone. That neither leads everyone to feeling the most optimal nor fulfilling enough of their potential. For some, the spontaneous, nomadic lifestyle is better. For others, the habitual-desk-job and time-tabled life really ignites their fire.

Remember, Human Design teaches you that all of us are individuals. Thus, we are to listen to our inner wisdom and our body rather than what we happen to be taught or presented in life. The goal is expressing your true self and finding your flow in life.

let's begin the analysis then...

--------------------------------

How to Find Your Variables:

Go to my discovering your blueprint post or find your chart (on the calculators at myhumandesign.com and humanarchetypes.com).

On my humandesign.com, note your arrows, their directionality, digestion, strongest sense/cognition, and environment

On humanarchetypes.com, note your arrows, their directionality, and their descriptions (found by clicking on the arrows)

---------------------------------

What Do the Arrows Mean?

Basics of the Arrows:

left-pointing (<--): more active yang (masculine)/"left-brained" approach; related with force, active stance, strategy, precision, and structure

right-pointing (-->): more passive yin (feminine)/"right-brained" approach; related with flow, receptive stance, spontaneity, natural progression, and flexibility

The arrows have tones and colors associated with them as well, as we will get into later. These calculations are very precise, so usually a software system processes this.

-------------------------------

The Four Arrows (Basic): read for the arrow direction which is on your chart

Arrow 1: Top Left: Digestion Arrow: dictates how you best consume food, life experiences, and information

<-- active [you absorb experiences in a fairly detailed manner. your consumption is optimized when life is presented to you in a consistent fashion: you will benefit from enacting routines, rituals, and schedules]

passive --> [you absorb life in a fairly abstract manner. your consumption is optimized when life is presented you with loose structure: you will benefit from releasing yourself from repetition, obligation, and the restriction of time]

-

Arrow 2: Bottom Left: Environment Arrow: dictates the best environments for you in physical, mental, digital, etc. spaces

<-- observed [you are immersed within your environment, so you need to make sure that your environment is adjusted to your needs: you will benefit from knowing what brings you comfort and understanding how to create that in a given space]

observer --> [you are adaptable to your environment, so you need to make sure that you expose yourself to the environments that you feel will be a nourishing influence on you: you will benefit from varying your environments to remain inspired and staying within an environment only as long as it is not stale]

-

Arrow 3: Top Right: Awareness Arrow: dictates how you best process information, learn, and focus your attention

<-- strategic [you tend to have a structured awareness of life, so you are more attuned to thinking in a linear and logical manner: you will benefit from organizing and systematizing your thoughts]

receptive --> [you tend to have an intuitive awareness of life, so you are more attuned to thinking in a unconventional and personalized manner: you will benefit from embracing your own ways of seeing]

-

Arrow 4: Bottom Right: Perspective Arrow: dictates what your perspective is like, and thus how you best manifest

<-- focused [you envision life with a narrow and specific lens: thus, you will benefit from making clear plans for your future & allowing yourself to pre-envision events]

peripheral --> [you envision life with a broad and general lens: thus, you will benefit from making imprecise plans for your future & allowing yourself to act in real-time]

----------------------------------

Cognition/Strongest Sense: This is determined by tone and can be one of the ways to learn to lean into your intuitive abilities. (This calculation is not laid out on many free calculators; myhumandesign.com is one of the few)

...

[continue reading on Patreon]

We will be getting into the lines/profiles next time, part of the I-Ching influence on Human Design.

stay tuned

xoxo

[eliteprepsat]

Imagine this: you’re reading a passage on a standardized test, and halfway through, without even realizing it, you check out. Or you make it through the passage, but the questions feel vague, and more than one answer seems correct. Should you reread the passage and hope to understand it better? Or should you guess on the questions and hope for the best?

These experiences are all too common, and they are frustrating. Many students who run into these problems often check out and treat that part of the test as a lost cause. However, at the root of the problem is a simple lack of reading comprehension.

Reading comprehension is a complex process that involves understanding both the explicit and implicit, or unstated, meanings of a text. When that comprehension fails, the gaps in understanding pose major obstacles to your overall reading success. Practicing your reading comprehension skills can go a long way toward improving your test performance as well as your long-term reading progress.

Everyone loves to apply a quick fix and move on, but improving reading comprehension takes time and effort. Much like learning how to swim or play an instrument, steady practice will yield the greatest benefits. However, this process does not have to be tedious. With the right mindset and approach, you can raise your reading level to that of the SAT or ACT. Here’s how:

1. IDENTIFY YOUR PERSONAL PASSIONS AND INTERESTS

Are you a car fanatic? A beauty aficionado? A movie buff? How about a tech enthusiast? No matter where your interests lie, your goal is to find articles and/or short stories about your favorite topics. You can locate articles online or pick up a magazine at a bookstore or newsstand.

2. ONCE YOU IDENTIFY A SOURCE FOR READING MATERIAL, TRY TO READ IN UNINTERRUPTED INTERVALS OF 5, 10, 15, ETC. MINUTES

You want to eventually reach the point where you can read for 30 minutes nonstop. This technique will help you with your concentration.

3. AS YOU READ, MAKE SURE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND BOTH THE LITERAL MEANING AND THE SUBTEXT

This will take active practice. The literal meaning is found directly on the page based on the language and vocabulary used by the author, so look up the definitions of any unfamiliar words as you encounter them. The subtext is found in between the lines by inferring the author’s intentions. Use prior experience and common sense to derive logical conclusions from the text. You will also want to pay attention to the author’s tone, structure, and purpose, elements that will allow you to see the text as a whole.

FINALLY, ALWAYS WRITE DOWN THE MAIN IDEA OF ANY ARTICLE OR PASSAGE YOU READ

Beyond the basic facts and details, ask yourself “What overall point is the author trying to make?” Find the main idea by concentrating on repeated themes and ideas throughout the passage.

As you can see, utilizing this approach will require you to be proactive, but the rewards you’ll gain from consistently practicing reading comprehension will be well worth it. If you lose focus at any time during your reading practice, quickly summarize, in your own words, everything you’ve read up to that point, and then continue forward.

You can (and should) always practice reading comprehension, but I especially recommend doing so daily in the 2–3 weeks leading up to the SAT or ACT. You want your reading process to flow smoothly, and increased comprehension leads to a better understanding of the questions and correct answers.

So don’t delay! Start your practice today, and be patient with yourself because it is not an overnight process. However, if you truly apply yourself to the best of your ability, the progress you make will never be taken away.

[mysticmira]

So this is a whole ramble, mostly centered around ArcanaTwilight, but i’m comparing it to obey me- and there’s a twisted wonderland tangent in there too at the end- so if you don’t like listening to someone’s potentially incoherent rambling skfnsk just ignore me completely ✨;

I haven’t been able to draw for the life of me or sleep 🤔 so instead i will talk about the current subject on my mind that i’ve been trying to put into words for a bit (like two days?), aside from world building on my own worlds xD

✨ArcanaTwilight✨ i already vaguely know spoilers for the game, because that’s just how i do, but i just started 5f as of now.

Okay okay, so i wanna acknowledge that yes, it mechanically is just obey me, but listen have you ever listened to a song and went, this is amazing i want more but then struggle to find a similar song? That was me with obey me, so lemme tell you about how so far, twilight avoids the stuff that bothers me in obey me. I will now compare and vaguely rant<3

1. Color and art consistency; have you looked at the skin, hair, and eye tones for the characters in obey me? literally any of them, WHAT’S THEIR COLOR SCHEME OFFICIALLY THO?? So far twilight seems to be mostly consistent. We love the bare minimum effort of making sure characters look like themselves.

2. The little like bits of story, like the books you click between fights, are noticeably longer in twilight and they actually feel like things are happening, where obey me feels like filler as a game?

3. There’s descriptive text between the speaking text to give context to what is happening, instead of obey me’s; “[screen shakes], [a third character explains what happens]” which personally bothers me, especially because they Sometimes use descriptive text boxes?? But now that i think back that’s only when there’s no other character to tell, i think hmm- anyway- show don’t tell, y’know?

Those are my big three, but now lemme tell you why i love obey me to balance this out, although it’s very pessimistically optimistic but that’s just how i am so, this is positive to me I promise;

it’s like ‘themed nothing’ (especially the events xD) and i vibe with that, i personally struggle with finishing things that have an end, so i often stop in the middle of things when my brain realizes that gasp this has an end??, movies, shows, books, games, my own art, it’s just something i do oops- but obey me is big nothing, there’s really no end or goal in sight, meaning stopping in the middle doesn’t feel like you’re missing much- you could play the first two seasons and then headcanon from there on, forever and that could feel just as canon- literally the consistency and lack of stable info means anything could be valid. I love being given the building blocks.

Like obey me is something that could be sO rad (rad puns always intended) but it’s just okay, and that’s okay, i still love it and it’s still my immediate comfort escape thing.

Now, back to twilight, i will say that it has a huge broken sentences and conversation problems and the battles are visually and audibly janky- i’m willing to put that aside for now tho, because i’m vibing, i’m not tOo picky xD ignore me being picky rn.

Oh and this is just a me thing, but just the fact that the characters in twilight are polite to mc and at least sEem to want to help mc, makes me all hap, because, have you played twisted wonderland? (It’s nOt a dating sim like game, lemme be clear, but it’s structured similar to the other games i play) Have you seen how little anyone seems to actively care about that poor mc?- Mc? Go home? Nono, keep doing stuff for us silly, helping you get home is too much work lol, Love the game so much skfhsj but wow- y’know how the obey me characters bully mammon for existing? Skjdks i honestly feel like lowkey the twisted wonderland mc gets the mammon treatment sometimes as a running joke, and i think it’s hilarious actually-

I hope this actually feels like it had a point? Like there’s at least something in here of value to someone? Done tho, thank you for listening, if you did✨

[mashedcontroller]

A while ago, I made a comment that I think stories where an oppressed minority and an oppressing majority set their differences aside to work towards a greater goal can be good. This was in a post comparing how FMA03 and FMAB handle the topics of genocide in their stories and I concluded that the reason this doesn’t work in FMAB is because the show combines this with genocide. I meant the comment hypothetically at the time because I couldn’t think of any really good examples off the top of my head. I think the closest thing that comes to mind is Zootopia, but two problems. First, I haven’t seen Zootopia so I can’t make any honest comments on the movie. Second, I’m aware that Zootopia’s gotten it’s fair share of criticisms for how it handles the concept of race and racism. Instead, I want to elaborate on that point because the story structure of two opposing demographics setting aside their differences is a common story structure, especially when it’s done to face a common foe. 

This second story structure is similar but ultimately not the same as the first thing I suggested because the element of oppression isn’t a relevant factor here, which makes it much more popular because you don’t have to worry about accidentally coming to offensive conclusions for the sake of the plot that introducing the topic of oppression or real-world analogies often runs into, and you can still effectively get across the idea that people should put aside their differences instead of fighting each other. This moral take-away is going to be far less nuanced than considering oppression for several reasons. Firstly, you can largely ignore that setting aside differences will require both changes from a large collection of individuals as well as major systemic changes. Not to mention erosion of stereotypes. If this is happening in a story involving a war, there’s propaganda, bad blood, political negotiations, economic changes, etc. that go into this idea that aren’t requirements to address in works of fiction. Alongside that, fiction has its own needs. Depending on the tone, themes, priorities, stakes, etc. different solutions for “how are these two groups of people going to collaborate” will be better suited for a given story. The easiest way to do this is to say “these two peoples are working together because there’s a third scarier threat to them both.” That type of narrative is satisfying but sidesteps realism. Luckily, realism isn’t always important, so that detriment can be completely irrelevant. For the record, this solution doesn’t work when implementing oppression into the narrative because oppression is a thing that happens in the real-world that basically everyone is conscious about and has to interact with on some level, so realism and themes become much more important. 

When there is a common foe, this is a great way to raise the stakes, especially in stories that prioritize raising the stakes as the story progresses. Which, itself, is probably the most common way to write a story because it’s satisfying and an easy way to maintain tension. For reference, other ways of doing this are fluctuating what type of stakes are used and keeping the stakes consistent between arcs, which are both better options if your goal is to be releasing chronological additions to your work over an extended period of time (think works like the Pokemon Anime where the show wasn’t created with the idea of having an ending to reach and the ending simply happens because the studio decides to quit making more). The common foe method of resolving the issue of the two groups at odds with each other also allows for the writer(s) to brush aside spilt blood that may have happened, either by transferring the blame of that blood to the new threat or by deciding that this new threat is so relevant that there isn’t time to feel resentment. 

My favorite subversion of this is from Xenoblade Chronicles X, a JRPG that isn’t particularly known for its writing (or really at all, ppl kinda forget it exists). Earth is blown up in the prologue and two years later, the humans that escaped crash land on an alien planet that is occupied by the Ganglion; one of the factions responsible for blowing up the earth. The Ganglion are a group consisting of multiple alien species and there are multiple instances in the main story and sidequests where various alien species join humanity to fight the Ganglion. The way Xenoblade X subverts this story structure is that it has multiple really good stories about characters defecting or lashing out against allied aliens. Probably the most interesting decision made here is that the two alien races that gets the most abused when showing this happens to be the only two alien races that have no affiliation with the Ganglion and are introduced by being actively hunted down by them. Meanwhile, when you introduce the aliens that were actively allied when the Ganglion, they tend to receive less of the vitriol. Alongside that, you get human characters who defect and work with the Ganglion as retaliation to the earth being blown up despite the Ganglion being the ones to blow it up. And these characters all have reasoning that may not be sound, but I found to be believable, which made for some really interesting antagonists that still fit into the framework of the game’s central theme that differing peoples need to work together both to survive and to thrive. It also allows for Xenoblade X to incorporate the idea of oppression and racism into its story without falling into the same messy pitfalls that FMAB did. It also avoids the major pitfalls that fantasy racism often runs into, mainly because while the game addresses fantasy racism, it at least alludes to irl racism existing in this universe, even if it doesn’t cover it much to my knowledge. Though, a lot of the game’s story content is in its sidequests and the game has several hundred of them so I could’ve very easily missed something. Even if there is a sidequest I missed, the game is overall far more interested in discussing the relationship between the humans and the aliens than it is with talking about the relationships between different flavors of human. The one instance the game talks about irl oppression to my knowledge is in the main story where a character is says that the people who made it onto the space ship evacuating earth consisted of sponsors (billionaires), politicians, and military. 

Probably the other biggest thing that differentiates these types of stories from stories about oppression is why those two populations are against each other. While doing this but with oppression does have this happen sometimes, it’s almost always handled badly. The reasoning for this is that if you base your fantasy racism off a real-world thing, you’re immediately thrown into how water because it will result in a more specific analogy than potentially intended which will result in discrepancies between the fictional demographic and the real demographic being scrutinized. This almost always reflects poorly on the author. But if you use a fictional source of oppression, writers often run into the issue of making the oppression seem almost reasonable due to worldbuilding on a cause-effect basis. I think the funniest version of this comes from Xenoblade Chronicles where one guy decides to kill every human being because otherwise God will eat them and he really hates God (because God is a cunt). I’d argue that using blood-purity as a basis for oppression in fictional settings is the most popular solution to this because blood purity is not a politically relevant concept in today’s culture. Not that this is something immune to being altered, for example, Nazis were a common punching-back villain in the 1990s and 2000s but that’s less so now when neofacism is more of a thing. But at the moment, I’d argue that blood purity being a common cause of fantasy oppression is because it’s an easy explanation in the event that you’re writing fantasy oppression and don’t want to make any potentially controversial takes. That’s also why catgirl racism is a thing that sometimes occurs in fiction. I’m guessing that half the reason is because Inuyasha was a popular anime in the 90s and a major character arc in that show was the Inuyasha was a demon catboy who had an identity crisis over being a demon (catboy) and catgirl oppression could’ve been derived from that. The thing that catgirl oppression pretty much always runs into is cognitive dissonance. Where the anime in question can pretty much word for word copy a social justice movement (or bastardize it, doesn’t matter) and there will still be people who simply do not notice because the subject of the oppression is catgirls instead of a real demographic. This applies for fantasy racism that isn’t catgirls, I just wanted to bring catgirl racism up because it’s an easy enough target and I needed something to dub the term where a piece of fiction depicts racism one-for-one except they use a fictional race instead of a real one. This type of depiction of oppression will happen solely because it’s more marketable and it’s more susceptible to cognitive dissonance. You can’t claim that any version of FMA isn’t making a stance on racism because the fictional target of racism is a minority group of humans. You can claim that Zootopia isn’t about racism because the target of racism is anthropomorphic animals. Especially when works like Beastars have similar dynamics between predator and prey animals but then takes the premise of predator and prey animals living in a society and does it a lot more literally. And also sexualizes it (lmao). With Beastars specifically, I don’t really get the impression that it’s making any statement about race; I get the impression that it’s making a statement about the idea of anthropomorphic animal societies. If it was trying to make a statement about race, I’d be too confused to properly comment on it. Which I think is the other reason why excluding the concept of oppression is more popular in fiction; it makes room for some very interesting stories because aggressions and shitty behavior doesn’t have to be largely one-sided. In Beastar’s case, a lot of the conflict and worldbuilding (at least in Season 1, I haven’t seen Season 2) centers around the idea that half of the population literally needs to eat people in order to survive. There’s not really a clean solution to that premise because that’s literally the basis for an unsustainable society, but that’s where a lot of the show’s interest comes in. Most things resembling oppression in the show are based off individual species and lean into the idea of making an anthro society that’s also a giant fucking mess. 

A lot of fiction takes the approach of making two factions go to war with each other, which can be as in-depth or abstracted as the writer prefers. In Undertale, for example, the idea of the game is “what if you can make friends with the monsters?” The war between humans and monsters in the lore is in service to that idea, but the monsters are presented as a group that utterly lost that war rather than a group that’s been oppressed by humans. There’s nothing in game implying the protagonist’s opinion on the monsters one way or the other because of the game using a blank-faced silent protagonist (opposed to emotive silent protagonists which are a bit different). I imagine the game’s story reads very quite poorly if read through the idea that monsters are meant to represent a racial minority. A lot of the time the forces in question are roughly equal. The reasons for fighting can be anything from there literally is no reason to being as complicated as the writer can physically fit into the lore. The cause of the sides stop could be anything from a heartfelt conversation the protagonist has to a long-running arc involving everyone and everything, and the reasoning can basically be whatever the author comes up with. There’s just a lot of flexibility to this format.

Stories about two peoples learning to get along are just super popular because they’re basically the idea of two people (singular) learning to get along but more. Two characters doing that is already a great basis for a story because it’s an easy source of tension, character development, conflict, and catharsis, so being able to expand that concept to fit major story themes, large parts of the cast, etc. is just “take something that works and go brrr.” It just also can run into a lot of weirdness when the concept of oppression is thrown into the mix because sometimes writers don’t realize that stories about oppression need to be handled with more care than stories that aren’t about oppression and ideas that are compatible with more abstract stories become problematic when direct parallels to real-world demographics can be drawn.

[pixcretouch]

Enhance Your Photo With pixc Retouch Company.

Portrait Retouching Service

Portrait retouching is a post-processing technique employed in photography to enhance and refine the appearance of a subject in a portrait photograph. The goal is to achieve a polished and aesthetically pleasing result while maintaining a natural look.

Here is a description of the key aspects involved in portrait retouching

Skin Smoothing:

The most common aspect of portrait retouching involves smoothing out skin imperfections such as blemishes, acne, and wrinkles. This is typically done using techniques like frequency separation to separate texture from color, allowing for targeted adjustments.

Color Correction:

Adjusting the overall color balance of the image to ensure accurate and pleasing skin tones. This may involve correcting any color casts or variations in different areas of the skin.

Brightness and Contrast:

Tweaking the overall brightness and contrast to create a well-balanced and visually appealing portrait. This can involve adjustments to the highlights, shadows, and midtones.

Eye Enhancement:

Enhancing the eyes to make them more prominent and captivating. This may include brightening the whites of the eyes, enhancing the iris color, and sharpening the details.

Teeth Whitening:

Improving the appearance of teeth by whitening them. Care is taken to ensure a natural look and avoid an overly artificial appearance.

Hair Retouching:

Addressing any flyaway hairs or inconsistencies in the hair to create a polished and well-groomed look.

Retaining Facial Features:

Maintaining the natural structure of the face and avoiding excessive alterations that can lead to an unrealistic or plastic appearance. Retouching should enhance, not distort, the subject's features.

Dodge and Burn:

Using dodge and burn techniques selectively to highlight or darken specific areas of the face, emphasizing contours and creating a three-dimensional effect.

Clothing and Background Adjustments:

Making subtle adjustments to the color and tone of clothing and background elements to complement the overall look and feel of the portrait.

Texture Retention:

Ensuring that the final retouched image retains a sense of texture, avoiding a completely smooth and unreal appearance.

Consistency:

Maintaining consistency across the entire image to ensure that no part of the retouching looks out of place or unnatural.

It's important to note that the degree of retouching depends on the photographer's and subject's preferences, with some individuals preferring minimal retouching for a more natural look, while others may opt for more extensive enhancements for a stylized or glamorous result.

[healthcarespeed]

Unlocking The Link Between Mental Wellness And Also Fitness

Bodily fitness and psychological wellness are actually usually managed as separate entities in our mission for wellness. Nonetheless, increasing proof factors to a substantial overlap between the 2, where boosting one can catalyze the improvement of the other. It is actually a symbiotic relationship-- fitness not just creates a robust body yet a tough thoughts. In this particular blog site, we'll look into the methods which your workout session schedule could be additional than merely a means to a toned shape, however a course to more significant mental durability as well as general joy and happiness.

The Molecular Consistency: Comprehending the Science

Our understanding of physical fitness's psychological perks starts with the field of biology. In the course of exercise, the physical body releases endorphins, which are actually chemicals that work as natural pain relievers and also state of mind lifts. Much more than merely the popular "jogger is actually higher," endorphins help in reducing anxiety, stress and anxiety, as well as even clinical depression. In addition, frequent task may lead to structural changes in the mind, enhancing the intensity of vital locations behind mind and discovering.

Dopamine: The Motivation Molecule

Dopamine, usually referred to as the 'feel-good' neurotransmitter, is released in the course of incidents of rigorous exercise. This not just helps make workout gratifying yet also plays a crucial duty in motivation, which may be specifically helpful when having a problem with psychological health problems that influence energy levels and also drive.

Serotonin as well as Religious Relationship

Serotonin, a hormonal agent and also neurotransmitter, is actually type in readjusting mood, social habits, hunger, as well as food digestion. Its degrees frequently dip in those dealing with depression. Nevertheless, frequent physical exercise, identical to the way antidepressants work, can raise the supply of serotonin in the mind. Discover the current styles in health, physical fitness, as well as supplement investigation on virgen-de-san-nicolas.org internet site, equipping you to create educated options.

Exercise as Therapy for Mental Health Therapy

In some cases, physical exercise can easily be actually as effective as emotional treatments, like counseling, as well as medicinal treatments in the monitoring of mental wellness conditions. As an example, in light to mild instances of clinical depression, routine exercises can easily generate similar results to those attained with drug, along with dramatically lowered regression fees.

The Power of Regular

Developing and also adhering to an exercise regimen can provide a feeling of structure as well as accomplishment, which is particularly favorable for individuals dealing with their psychological health. It can easily work as a day-to-day success as well as a continual in an or else chaotic or unforeseeable life.

Getting Rid Of Mental Difficulties

Typically, the hardest aspect of any sort of physical fitness program is actually beginning, and also this is actually intensified when coping with mental health and wellness difficulties. Specifying possible targets and also acknowledging even the smallest actions in the direction of those goals may be transformative, developing a positive reviews loophole that can enhance assurance and also incentive.

Integrating Physical Fitness into Your Mental Wellness Toolkit

Making fitness a component of your approach to keeping mental health doesn't possess to be baffling. Basic measures including a speedy walk, a brief yoga exercise session, or an easy HIIT circuit in the house can easily start the procedure of receiving mental health profit from physical exercise.

Discovering Your Happiness: The Task of Pleasure in Congruity

It is actually important to locate kinds of physical exercise that you genuinely take pleasure in, as these tasks are actually very likely to be kept as time go on. Whether it's staff sporting activities, dancing lessons, or solo rounds in attribute, the delight you stem from an exercise may add to its mental health benefits.

Community and also Friendship in Physical fitness

Social communications and helpful relationships are considerable factors of mental health and wellness. Incorporating group physical fitness classes or tasks along with close friends certainly not just adds a layer of liability but likewise gives an extra avenue for social connectedness, which could be as important to psychological health as the physical exercise on its own.

Final thought: Weaving a Natural Tapestry of Good Health And Wellness

In our hectic world, the pressure for everybody is actually immense, psychological health and wellness is ending up being more crucial than ever. Identifying the connect between psychological wellness and physical exertion could be the initial step in enhancing our technique to great health and wellness. By integrating regular workout right into our schedules, we're not just forming our bodies yet also strengthening our thoughts. Therefore, lace up those sneakers, as well as begin your trip to a more healthy, better you.

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The Ultimate Guide to Regular Exercise: A Complete Workout Routine for Optimal Fitness

In today's busy world, prioritizing regular exercise is crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being. Incorporating a well-rounded workout routine that includes cardio workouts, strength training, and flexibility exercises not only helps in achieving fitness goals but also offers numerous benefits for both the mind and body. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the importance of regular exercise and provide you with a solid framework for creating your own workout routine. Let's dive in! Section 1: Why Regular Exercise Matters Regular exercise is not just about physical appearance or losing weight; it is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. The benefits of regular exercise include: 1. Improved cardiovascular health: Cardio workouts, such as running, cycling, swimming, or aerobic exercises, strengthen the heart, improve blood circulation, and lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases. 2. Enhanced strength and muscle tone: Strength training exercises, such as weightlifting, resistance training, or bodyweight exercises, build lean muscle mass, increase bone density, and improve overall strength and stamina. 3. Increased flexibility and mobility: Flexibility exercises, such as yoga or Pilates, improve joint mobility, prevent muscle imbalances, and reduce the risk of injuries. 4. Better mental health: Regular exercise releases endorphins, which help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, leading to improved mood, increased self-confidence, and better cognitive function. Section 2: Designing Your Workout Routine Creating a well-rounded workout routine involves a combination of cardio workouts, strength training, and flexibility exercises. Here's how you can structure your routine for optimal results: 1. Cardio Workouts: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio exercises or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity cardio exercises per week. Include activities like brisk walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, or dancing. Mix up your routine to keep it interesting and challenging. 2. Strength Training: Incorporate strength training exercises at least two to three times a week, targeting major muscle groups. Focus on compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, lunges, push-ups, and pull-ups. Start with lighter weights and gradually increase resistance as you progress. 3. Flexibility Exercises: Dedicate a few sessions each week to improve your flexibility and joint mobility. Yoga, Pilates, or static stretching exercises can help increase your range of motion, prevent injuries, and promote overall relaxation. Section 3: Tips for a Successful Workout Routine 1. Set goals: Define specific, measurable goals to work towards, such as improving endurance, building muscle, or increasing flexibility. This will help you stay motivated and track your progress. 2. Find a workout buddy: Exercising with a friend or joining a fitness class can provide accountability and make workouts more enjoyable. 3. Listen to your body: Pay attention to any discomfort or pain during exercise. If something doesn't feel right, modify the exercise or consult a fitness professional to avoid injury. 4. Stay consistent: Consistency is key when it comes to reaping the benefits of regular exercise. Aim for at least three to five workouts per week, and gradually increase intensity and duration over time. Conclusion: Regular exercise is a cornerstone of a healthy, active lifestyle. By incorporating cardio workouts, strength training, and flexibility exercises into your routine, you can enhance your physical fitness, improve overall well-being, and boost mental health. Remember to prioritize consistency and listen to your body throughout your fitness journey. Start small, gradually increase intensity, and celebrate every milestone along the way. Get moving, stay committed, and enjoy the transformative power of regular exercise! Tags: 1. Regular exercise routine 2. Cardio workouts 3. Strength training exercises 4. Flexibility exercise Discover a new era of wellness with Puravive's Natural Weight Loss Supplement. Our carefully crafted formula supports your weight loss goals naturally and effectively. Harness the power of nature to achieve your dream body. Learn more on the Puravive Natural Weight Loss Supplement Product Page. Read the full article

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Leveraging the SPACE Model in Community Management

In the dynamic world of community management, it's essential to have frameworks that guide our strategies and decision-making processes. One such robust framework is the SPACE model, which stands for Strategy, Planning, Awareness, Community, and Engagement. This comprehensive guide will explore leveraging the SPACE model to enhance your community management practices effectively.

Understanding Your Goals

The first step in leveraging the SPACE model is clearly defining your community's goals. What are you aiming to achieve? Whether it's increasing brand loyalty, improving customer support, or fostering a space for shared interests, having a clear strategy is crucial.

Aligning Objectives with Community Needs

Your strategy should align with the needs and expectations of your community members. Conduct surveys, gather feedback, and monitor community trends to ensure your objectives resonate with your audience.

Developing a Roadmap

Once your strategy is set, the next step is planning. Create a roadmap outlining the actions and timelines to achieve your goals. This may include content schedules, event planning, and other community activities.

Resource Allocation

Determine the resources needed for your plans. This includes budget, personnel, and technology. Efficient resource allocation is critical to executing your plans smoothly.

Building Brand Identity

Awareness in the SPACE model is about building a strong brand identity within your community. Consistent messaging, a unique tone of voice, and a recognizable visual style can help develop this identity.

Promoting Your Community

Use various channels to promote your community. Social media, email marketing, and partnerships can effectively increase your community's visibility and attract new members.

Fostering Inclusivity and Diversity

An inclusive and diverse community is more vibrant and engaging. Encourage diverse viewpoints and foster an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.

Active Listening and Response

Be active in your community. Listen to what members have to say and respond appropriately. This engagement shows that you value their input and are committed to the community.

Creating Interactive Content

Engagement revolves around creating content that resonates with your community. Host Q&A sessions, create polls, and encourage user-generated content to boost interaction.

Recognizing and Rewarding Active Members

Recognize and reward active members to encourage continued participation. This can be through shoutouts, exclusive content, or other forms of recognition.

FAQs

What is the SPACE model in community management?

The SPACE model focuses on Strategy, Planning, Awareness, Community, and Engagement to enhance community management.

How can I align my strategy with community needs?

Conduct surveys, gather feedback, and monitor community trends to ensure your strategy resonates with your audience.

What are some practical ways to promote a community?

Utilizing social media, email marketing, and partnerships are effective ways to promote your community.

The SPACE model provides a structured approach to community management. You can build a stronger, more engaged community by focusing on Strategy, Planning, Awareness, Community, and Engagement. Implementing this model requires understanding your audience, proactively planning, and continuously engaging with community members. Embrace the SPACE model to elevate your community management to new heights.