thearcannevoid

[thearcannevoid]

Just so y’all know: I can’t speak for every other fic author but I can say that I remember when people leave me kind comments. I recognize your urls and/or usernames on AO3. I remember you and sometimes in writing my fics I think to myself, “Oh, I hope this person sees this because they liked x in this other fic I did.”

Not only that—I go back and reread comments when I’m feeling low. I look at tags and reblogs and asks and wish I could hold them in my hand like a note from a friend on an old, torn piece of notebook paper.

Your comments have so much more impact than you know. So thanks to those who use the comment section to spread love and encouragement. We appreciate you.

[thearcannevoid]

WE’RE GAMING!!!

Donate to the Sarcoma Foundation now to enter our raffle and win art, fic, or maybe even a physical prize.

And this is the Google form for submitting your proof of donation.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we’ll help you out! The lovely art for this graphic was provided by @rerith

[thearcannevoid]

how to have a healthier relationship with your stats page

1. Understand what stats can tell you - and what they can’t

AO3 stats tell you whether or not another user clicked something. That’s it. Hits tell you whether a user clicked the title of your fic. Kudos tell you that a user clicked the little ❤ at the bottom of the page. Comments tell you that a user typed something into a box and then hit the comment button. 

Stats do not tell you why a person did any of those things. They also don’t tell you why a person didn’t do them. You know why you do those things yourself, but there are many types of people in the world and we all have our reasons why we do things. You can’t assume that every other user of AO3 uses the site the same way you do. 

Stats are not a reliable way to find out if you’re good at writing. They’re not a way to tell if you are loved. They have nothing to do with the quality of your work or your worth as a person.

2. Don’t compare yourself to others - or yourself

Because stats are not a reliable way to judge quality or skill or the effort you put into a story, comparing your stats against another author will also not tell you which of you is the “better” author or which of you has a “better” story. They can tell you which story was more popular, but popularity itself has very little to do with skill or quality. 

This is also true of your own work. Chances are very real that the story you’re most proud of is not the story will the best stats. Don’t let one story’s relative success or failure affect how you feel about another’s. 

3. Focus on things you can control instead of things you can’t

Once you’ve posted your story, the reaction to it is out of your control. It will get however many hits, kudos, and comments other people decide to give it and you can’t do much about that at all. 

What you can control, however, is the work you put into the story before you post it. Celebrate statistics like word count or time spent writing or the number of WIP you’ve managed to finish. Those are all numbers that are in your control, that you have the power to alter and affect. 

Find something in every story that makes you happy. It doesn’t have to be the whole fic. It could be one particular characterization, a scene, or a line. Maybe you wrote a particularly funny joke or a really moving description or a hot love scene. 

Highlighting positive emotions and being proud of your own work will make you less reliant on the opinions of other people. You’ll develop more confidence, and that will help you avoid the stats spiral in the future. Finding motivations inside of yourself is much more reliable than getting motivation from people who might or might not continue to provide it.

4. If you can’t ignore stats, avoid them

The first time I had an unhealthy relationship with my stats page, I ended up quitting fic entirely for about a year. I still wrote, I just didn’t post anything on AO3. I couldn’t trust myself not to focus on the numbers and make myself crazy, and so I didn’t allow myself to look at them at all. 

The second time I found myself starting down the stats spiral, I knew the signs and I was able to pull myself out of it. I stopped looking at my stats page, but I was able to continue posting work. I still refreshed the page for the first day to see the hits/kudos/comments but after that first day I only returned to the fic in order to post a new chapter or answer another comment. 

There are tools you can use to help you avoid stats. This AO3 skin hides stats entirely. This code hides hits. Here’s one for hiding kudos with additional instructions on how to hide any stats you choose. 

5. Be your own cheerleader

When it comes right down to it, the reason why we focus in on stats is because we’re looking for reassurance. We want to know for sure whether we’re a good writer or not. Unfortunately, our stats are never going to tell us that. 

A lot of us are also told by others that being proud of something we’ve done or liking something that we’ve created is boastful or bragging or other negative personality traits. But there’s a difference between bragging about how good you are and acknowledging your own skills. 

Give yourself permission to like your own work. You might never get that permission from someone else, so you need to take that on yourself. 

Start talking to yourself the way you’d talk to a friend of yours who was working on a fic or a piece of art or doing anything else that requires time and skill. You wouldn’t tear them down, so don’t tear yourself down. Build yourself up. That positive self-talk can be difficult at first, but it’s a habit that pays off over time. 

6. Know that I’m proud of you

It takes courage and strength and determination to have an idea and then to act on it. It’s easy to think. It’s a lot harder to write things down. No matter whether you post your story online or you keep it to yourself. No matter whether you get a thousand hits or a dozen. You’re still amazing, and I’m so glad you took that leap ❤

[thearcannevoid]

It’s ANOTHER FIC FOR SBI WEEK! FOST AU BOIIIS!! And here’s a secret, after CaP, this series is gonna be my next big, long fic. It’s gonna be 3 fics in total, one focusing on daddy!schlatt, one of dream, and one(this one) on Techno! so here’s that one!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/39819729

[thearcannevoid]

BOOM!!!! DAY 5 BABY WITH THIS HURT/COMFORT WING FIC!!!

ENJOY!!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/39819582

[thearcannevoid]

ONE OF US, ONE OF US, ONE OF US!!!

The donation period starts tomorrow.

Within 24 hours we’ll be posting all the info you need about where to donate and how to submit your proof to secure an entry in the raffle. Reblogging to spread the word is still appreciated <3

Art belongs to our very own @radios-arcade

[thearcannevoid]

Collars and Cuffs

ok, so, I've done a lot of thinking on this especially after getting a comment on, like, the second chapter of CaP; why are Techno's and Tubbo's arms scared from their cuffs if slaves having cuffs is a normal thing? why would a common practice needlessly hurt the slaves?

Well, I have an answer!

The truth is, it's not common. not really. most cuffs chafe and are generally uncomfortable, but they don't break skin. For a collar and set of cuffs to break skin, it either means the slave is very disobedient or the master is very cruel. with the nature of this society, most people assume the former. especially once money gets involved.

collars and cuffs can be made in all sorts of ways with all sorts of different criteria required depending on what the slave is registered for. most of the time, a simple leather-lined, thin plate metal set is enough. these will do little damage to the 'asset' but function well enough to restrain them if needed.

but, as we already know, fighters have a whole other set of restrictions. their collars and cuffs need to be heavier, thicker, and able to withstand a ton of wear and tear as well as heavy-duty restraints if an asset goes rogue. These precautions make fighter cuffs so much worse, leading to chaffing and occasionally broken skin.

"but void! that won't cause scarring!" yes I know. those types of collars and cuffs are called treated or refined collars and cuffs. they have smoothed edges and often, if they are made well or cost a lot of money, have some sort of padding on the inside to help with the situation.

untreated collars and cuffs do not have this. they are sharp, raw metal and that's it. they are also cheaper. so someone who doesn't want to spend a lot of money on their slaves (Schlatt) or someone who just like's watching their slaves suffer (Techno's old master) would use these. Untreated collars and cuffs combined with rough treatment would defiantly be enough to tear away whole layers of flesh and, eventually, scar brutally.

hope that answer makes sense! and uh, thanks for reading?

[thearcannevoid]

So, I kinda feel bad about how I left CaP!Niki off. she was supposed to have this whole side plot where she and Puffy got together that included more of the worldbuilding and other fighters and life as a medic, but as I wrote I realized there was just so much going on that it wouldn't really make sense to include it. so, now, Cap!Niki got gypped out of a girlfriend (even though I have no idea how to write romance so it might be for the best tbh) and a more important role in the story.

like, the night of the stakeout, Tommy and the boys were gonna stumble on her date with Puffy on the way back and it was gonna be such a soft, funny thing, but then Tubbo got traumatized and Tommy was too busy scheming to notice anything else, meaning that lovely scene got missed.

maybe I'll put it here, some time. if I finish writing it. cause it was an adorable scene. hmmmmm

[thearcannevoid]

My wips, very concerned: you know nothing about sports. Nothing. Don’t start a new piece, work on one of us.

Me, opening a new document: Clingyduo tubbo pov archery comp fic for honeys sport au day let’s gooooo—

[thearcannevoid]

so, I was reading back through some of the earlier chapters of CaP for a side piece I'm working from Enderwalks perspective and I stumbled on this line--

Tubbo moved on to the benefits of nuclear energy and how a nuclear bomb would be the best way to go. 

Techno wasn’t convinced, but if Tubbo was the one setting it off it might be ok. 

--and, honestly? I think this might still be one of the saddest things I've written. cause, like, throughout this whole time, Techno's been in a strange war between living and dying which has vaguely come out to be he doesn't want to die but he's ready too. and then he meets these guys and they are nice to him and they make living good again, even if he doesn't understand it, and this is his first reaction??? that dying at one of their hands wouldn't be so bad actually???

I made myself sad.

ok, continue on with your regularly scheduled programs.

[thearcannevoid]

we will always remember you. you will be immortal, no matter how many years pass, because in the time you were alive you deeply touched the hearts of millions. you helped so many people. so so so many people who will never get to meet or talk to you, but who will always be thankful for the laughter you put into this cruel fucking world. i hope you know you helped us. that you made the world a genuinely happier place while you were here, and that we will never forget that. we will always have your memory. you will never die.

[thearcannevoid]

just so you all know, there’s nothing wrong with continuing to make content of techno, whether it’s of the cc and/or character. there’s nothing wrong with having a techno themed blog and/or url. it just shows that he’s made a positive impact in your life and that he made you happy and that you appreciate him.

[thearcannevoid]

Rest In Peace, Technoblade

Deep in the arctic, there is a cottage. It connects to another, smaller cottage. Nearby, there is a house in the mountain. There is a cow farm and a turtle farm. A tiny, man-made stream runs between the two cottages. But you aren’t here for the stream, or the farms, or the house, or the cottages. No, you are here for something else.

You fall through the lava, and now you are in Syndicate Headquarters. There is a huge, strange table, with many seats. Zephyrus, Nemesis, and Harpocrates have been sat in recently. Lethe is gathering dust. “Sic semper tyrannis” is engraved on the wall behind Protesilaus. He is at the clear head of the table. He must be their leader, or something similar. You wander around, looking at the impressive room, then pause. There is another room. You are curious, so you enter it.

In this room, there is a statue. The statue is of a man in battle armor and regal attire, wearing the skull of a hog as a mask. He stands tall and proud, crossbow at his side, sword to the sky. The shading is beautifully done - even without color, you can tell that he is covered in blood, especially his sword. He has just come from a fierce battle. There is only one part of the statue that is colored, and that is the man’s blood red cloak. There is another pop of color, but it’s not an actual part of the statue. It’s a crown of pure gold, inlaid with precious gems, resting on the man’s head. There are scuff marks in places, and one of the gemstones is missing. This crown has been through a lot, just like its wearer. Below the statue is a plaque. It reads:

The great Blood God; a fearsome warrior; a proud brother, son, and friend                                Like every great warrior, he died in battle                                           Technoblade Never Dies

[thearcannevoid]

rb this to give the person you rb it from a hug

[thearcannevoid]

a reminder during this time that celebrity and influencer deaths do create a rise in suicide rates.

please, remember you are not alone in these times, that grieving for techno is normal and not something to be ashamed of and that if you need to talk to someone, you should.

take extra time to do the things you love and to be around people who care about you. please take care.

[thearcannevoid]

quick tips for anyone who might be taking this very hard (which is completely fair):

1. Get A Cup Of Water. seriously. crying fucking dehydrates like no other. get water. it will help prevent a headache

2. take a shower if u can! the steam can really help clear ur nose if it’s stuffy and alleviate eye puffiness and headaches

3. listen to music or watch videos. don’t listen to sad music. do Not listen to sad music. listen to happy music! especially with lyrics. it will help so much

4. it is okay to cry. crying helps a lot

5. eat smth you like! nothing physical can make you feel magically better but it can really help to be physically comfortable. it lets you focus on your emotions and work on processing them

[thearcannevoid]

Btw, if you have not had tragedy dropped on you before, grief does fuck you up in unexpected and physical ways. If you can’t sleep or sleep more than expected or have more or reduced appetite, or energy goes weird— your brain just had a bunch of emotions dropped on it and sometimes it reacts by hitting every button in your brain. It will pass. Just try to not get too frustrated with yourself.

It’s also fine if you feel normal. Grief literally hits everybody differently, and some people are made to be able to to keep the farm going the day after a death, and some of us turn into sleepless gargoyles and get really into trying to help, and some of us are just unspeakably sad. Grief is weird. Be kind to yourself.