#150 dabble challenge

[the-larxist-manifesto]

GameGirl31 ~ Pokémon Yellow, pt. 1

Thus we arrive at our first large trek of this journey. A full-on RPG. Admittedly, it's my own fault I even have to play this one. Pokémon Yellow is not actually on NSO. But I happen to own a copy of it on 3DS Virtual console, so I figured I owed it to the legendary series to try out the very first generation!

My goal: become the Pokémon League champion. But leading up to that is a long, winding, blocky road. Can't wait to share how many hours this one takes me xP

~My history with Pokémon~

I have a... complicated relationship with Pokémon. My first game was White version on the DS, which was love at first sight. There's something very different and special about playing Pokémon games as a kid. Being allowed to name and raise your own captured critters and then excitedly show it off to your friends. I battled, I traded, I conquered the Pokémon League, I explored every nook and cranny of Unova. I spent HUNDREDS OF HOURS in this game. When you're a kid, that's basically your whole life. I'll never forget my first Pokémon adventure. I miss you every day, Pigpy... ;n;

But then... something... changed. I tried going back to FireRed, Ruby, and jumping on the hype for Pokémon X... but it felt different. I even got White 2 as a Christmas gift, but by that time, the magic was gone. I haven't played a new Pokémon generation since. For a little while, I dabbled in Pokémon Showdown (a battle simulator where you build your dream team and face off against other trainers online) and even attempted a few nuzlocke challenges (a self-imposed "hard mode" where your Pokémon must be released when they faint). At this point, I was trying to rekindle the magic. Find new ways to enjoy these games. Learn battle strategy, meticulously plan team compositions, raise the stakes to the point that I would have NO CHOICE but to care.

While those were indeed enjoyable ways to play, I've never felt the same about Pokémon as I did that very first time. In fact, my criticisms of the series began to outweigh the fun. Why is it so slow? So much throwaway, cheesy dialogue... slow transitions from overworld to battle... battle to overworld... more dialogue that you read only in hopes of an item or moving the plot along... leveling up is a drip feed... random encounters at every turn... punished with each loss by having to walk back to the Pokémon Center... then back to where you were... constant micromanagement of HM moves for traversal to each and every story-significant location... the cycle drives me MAD. Not to mention constant missteps by Game Freak in rushing out unfinished, glitchy products or otherwise ignoring the desires of their fans in new entries.

sigh

Okay... okay... general Pokémon rant over. For now. I'd love to talk about this game in particular. So far, I've been playing with an open mind. Let's see where that's gotten me.

~DUCKIE's journey~

Yes, I am following the bizarre convention in old Pokémon of writing names in all caps

DUCKIE is a young girl (we'll just say she's tomboyish (this game forces u to be a boy /.\) ) who, prompted by her sarcastic childhood friend BOSER, sets off from her small town of Pallet to see the world and collect creatures called Pokémon who wander all about the region. As she visits new places and meets new people, she learns of the esteemed Pokémon League—an organization of professional trainers that dedicate their lives to strategizing, raising, and battling Pokémon. DUCKIE earns her first badge in Pewter City, proving that she bested one of the eight gym leaders. From here on out, her goal is to become champion of the entire Kanto region.

Since DUCKIE is a bit of a fashionista, she themed her Pokémon team around the color yellow! Of course, this started with her very first Pikachu, gifted to her by the famous Professor Oak. From then on, she studied (googled the first 150 pokemon) and planned a route (looked up where they all spawn) to lead a team of all yellow colored Pokémon.

Right now, 14 hours and 2 gym badges into her journey, this is how the team stands:

SONG the Pikachu! (reference to the Pikachu song, OGs know what I mean)

WOMP RAT the Sandslash! (LEGO womp rat my beloved)

MARYPLANT the Weepinbell! (I KNOW WHAT UR THINKING, YES WEEPINBELL IS YELLOW JUST NOT IN-GAME FOR SOME REASON)

RUY LOPEZ the Hypno! (the author of works on chess, reference to They Might Be Giants song "Rest Awhile")

~Taking in the sights~

As we all know by now, Pokémon stands as one of the pillars of the GameBoy's success as the biggest portable gaming console of the 90s. For a game THAT popular, I'm a little... surprised... at the visual design. Okay, the thing is, the Pokémon designs are awesome. I have always always ALWAYS loved how every single artistic detail hints at their combat type, natural habitats, biology, even things like diet and mating behaviors. Tons of personality in their faces and stances, as well; it's even visible on the in-game sprites, which often lean into exaggerated expressions and dynamic poses (to make up for being a completely unmoving sprite).

However, it's the... overworld and menu designs that leave something to be desired. At least the text is pretty legible, being sized up on the small dot matrix screen. But the menus are very flat and strangely organized. There is a lot of information just... missing. Don't expect to pick up an item or learn a new move and actually understand what it does. In this respect, the game relies heavily on trial and error (and a great deal of patience). And wow, the towns and routes are just plain ugly. It's a tile-based overworld layout, so it makes sense that there isn't too much space for detail. Still, we've already seen several tile-based GB games that look shockingly good. Pokémon Yellow is hands-down the ugliest game I've played so far.

That being said, I do think the journey has had moments of beauty. For one thing, I adore the use of color. Unlike Red and Blue, Pokémon Yellow was developed specifically for the GB Color, and it takes advantage of this by giving the color-based towns their own auras. Here, I have a short scrapbook of the Pokécenters I've visited:

A very pretty palette of colors, like watching the hue of the sky change throughout the day ^_^

One more thing I have to point out about the visuals: seriously, these folks are GREAT at character design. Not only do the Pokémon all have their own personalities, but you gotta look out for their eccentric trainers too.

FREAKS, ALL OF THEM!!!! but I love them so much. ..

~To be continued...~

That's all I got for now! I'd love to talk about the Kanto region, how DUCKIE's story unfolds as she pursues Pokémon League championship, gameplay oddities, and more—but that will have to wait until I actually beat the game. I don't know how many entries it will take. 2 out of 8 badges doesn't seem like very much for how long I've played, but I think the pacing is just kinda weird? We'll see, I guess! Talk to you then!!

TTYL larxists <3

[mostlyinthemorning]

Fic Origin Story

thanks for the tag @rmd-writes!

What was your first fandom (reading and/or writing)?

Schitt's Creek has been the only fandom where I've been all in, writing and reading fic and making other content and flailing on multiple levels. I've dabbled with some others along the way - Highlaner, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, but I was really only a casual reader and never a writer.

What was the first story you ever wrote (even if it was never posted) and what made you decide to write it?

It's this one, right here. I'd always told stories to myself in my head, but I'd never written any of them down before this. Honestly, if the Schitt's Creek fandom had been bigger at the time I was getting into the show, I might not have written this at all. But there were only ~150 fics at the time and I'd read them all several times and it was mostly an act of desperation. "If no one else is going to write this fic, I guess I'll have to do it myself."

What’s a piece of advice you would give to your younger fic-writing self?

Don't worry, you'll never know how commas work.

What’s an early fandom interaction that stuck with you (be it a nice comment, a friend you made, a fic that got a lot of feedback etc.)?

I think I was astounded that anyone would read anything I'd written, let alone leave nice comments about it. So thank you to those lovely people who left those first comments, it definitely gave me the courage to keep going!

Post a sentence or two from one of your older fics, and a sentence or two from a newer one (if you want).

Oh...okay.

This is from Snowbound, which wasn't my first Schitt's Creek fic, but it was the first one I wrote that wasn't an episode coda. I made Patrick shovel so much snow in that fic.

“I like seeing you in my clothes,” he murmured in a low voice.

“If you’re going to say things like that, we really should lock that door,” Patrick replied.

“Hmmm.” David put his hand behind Patrick’s head and leaned in to kiss him. He nipped gently at Patrick’s lower lip and Patrick’s lips parted for David’s tongue. Patrick returned David’s kiss urgently before pulling back to kiss along David’s jawline. The feel of the rough stubble beneath his lips was intoxicating.

“David…” Patrick began, his voice uneven. Just then, a loud knocking came from the outside door to their room.

David closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Patrick’s for a brief moment before going to open the door. Stevie stood outside holding a bottle of wine in each hand.

“I heard you guys were trapped here and it looks like I’m not going to make it home tonight, so I brought some wine. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“OK, why does everyone assume that we’re just in here having sex?” David demanded.

“Because they know you. And also because your boyfriend is blushing and can’t look me in the eye.”

And from There is definitely, absolutely, positively only one bed (because I like to think I'm funny):

“I hope the babies will be okay.” Having babies compete in extreme elimination challenges seems cruel, but it’s not like he knows anything about children. He hasn’t voluntarily touched a baby since the time he confused Jessica Simpson’s newborn for a Pomeranian.

Thankfully, Ray quickly moves to more interesting topics. “Now don’t worry, there’s plenty of extra butter chicken and I think Patrick bought wine. Must be a special occasion.” Ray dodges around him, holding the door and waving David inside. “Door open or closed?”

“Oh, closed.” There is never a good reason for leaving a door open. There are moths out here.

Tagging @noahreids @stereopticons @missgeevious @blackandwhiteandrose @carolrain @weathereyehorizon @likerealpeopledo-on-ao3

[skvaderarts]

1. The Skirt is Supposed to be this Short

This one (and all the other ones you asked for ages ago) are for you, @shahkiertai! This is my first Dabble/Prompt, so forgive me if it sucks. I beag you!

The A03 collection can be found here

150 Dabble Challenge 1. The skirt is supposed to be this short

The boutique was dimly lit, save for the omnidirectional lights that hung down from the ceiling over each of the framed floor to ceiling mirrors that lined either side of the hallway. The passthrough was T shaped. On one end of the hallway where the dressing rooms; on the other were the bathrooms. And in between were the mirrors in all their reflective splendor, framing the hall on either side of the space in such a way that it seemed to be twice the size that it was. In the very center of the cross-section of glass, walls, frames, and light was a large mirror with a golden frame that looked like something you’d find in an old Parisian museum. And before it stood a young woman.

In each of her respective hands, she gripped a side of a lacy miniskirt. The ash, azure, and Ivory lace cascaded in tiny waves towards her upper thigh, ending about halfway above her knees. She gently tugged it downwards as she swayed to and fro, pivoting back and forth as she bounced from the balls of her heel to the tips of her toes. The fabric felt luxurious and delicate as it enveloped her in a comfortable warmth that she appreciated more than the average person was likely to. Her perception of the garment ended at its texture, for as beautiful as her eyes were, they did not serve their biological function. But she did not need to see an item to appreciate it.

"Is the skirt to your liking?"

She turned in the direction of his voice, a warm smile spreading across her lips and she drank in the sound of his voice. That was one sound she would never grow tired of. "It feels wonderful, V. It's quite... airy." She hesitated for a moment, clearly deep in thought. "It's relatively short though, don't you think?" She tugged on the garment for emphasis.

V removed himself from the adjacent wall and came to her side, leaning over her shoulder under the guise of getting a better look at her. The young woman was petite and barely came up to his chest, but he didn't need to get this close to her to pass judgment on the outfit. "I cannot say. That's rather subjective and, historically, I have not been the best judge of attire." He took her left hand into his, loosening her death grip on the delicate cloth. There was no need to crinkle it any further. "The more important thing to consider is how it makes you feel. After all, you are the one who will be wearing it."

She nodded, considering his words. "You do not think the length is problematic then?"

V smirked and stood up straight, placing a gentle kiss on the crown of her head as he readjusted his posture. She could feel the smirk on his lips as he did so. "The skirt is supposed to be this short."

She smiled and shook her head, closing her eyes as a soft giggle escaped her lips. Oh, that's why he liked the skirt so much. Truly, he was the absolute worst. But his wickedness was something she had come to cherish. He never ceased to entertain her. "Alright then, I'll keep the skirt." She pulled her hand from his tenderly as she ghosted past him and headed towards the exit. "But do not make the mistake of thinking that just because I cannot see you that I do not know exactly where your eyes are."

V's smirk deepened as he came to her side. "Oh, I assure you, my love, my gaze has no reason to wander. I have eyes for nothing else."

[pen-dipped-in-moonlight]

Congrats on the 150 followers!

For the request thing, could you do something silly/romantic with a friendly Villain helping a worried Hero with figuring out how to use/handle their new superpowers that they got from one of Supervillain’s gadgets?

I actually struggled a bit with this, since I realized I don’t write much silly/lighthearted stuff! Hope you still enjoy, and thanks for participating!

My follower celebration is still open to requests, and the post is pinned.

Maybe the hero should have expected it. They had rushed out so many times, chasing rumors of Supervillain progressing on some plot or invention, and fought to disassemble the operation before anything terrible could happen. The hero had spent so much time skirting around hissing concoctions and machines held together with no more than a little tape, magic, and fervent wishes, that they shouldn’t have been surprised when they ended up in the wrong place at just the wrong time—and found themself engulfed in a bitter cloud of cyan-colored spray.

Three days later, the hero stood in the villain’s base, trying to control their skittering heart. The villain, too, dabbled in inventions (of the more stable sort, thankfully). If anyone could help the hero learn to control the power they had gained, it would be the villain. The villain, with their smug, knowing smiles and casual disregard for the law.

Dressed in a splattered lab coat and holding a clipboard, the villain tilted their head. “Alright. First tell me what you’ve found you can do.”

“It’s…” The hero bit their lip. “...been annoying. I stick to things, I guess. Or I can… anchor myself in place? Sometimes if I really focus I can get myself to ‘stick’ on command, but for the most part it’s a random hand or foot that just sticks whenever I don’t want it to.”

“Sticks to...”

“To whatever I want. Like in the middle of the air.” The hero laughed awkwardly. “I know that people like us bend the rules of science, but it still… really shouldn’t be possible. I once tried to jump from a ledge during a chase, but my hand got stuck and I just… dangled there.”

A smile ghosted across the villain’s lips before they narrowed their eyes. “Can you show me?”

“Um. That’s the problem. I can only harness it when my emotions are, uh, strong. It’s mostly out of my control.”

The villain twirled a pen between their fingers and smirked. “So I just have to make you really angry?”

The hero swallowed. “Something like that.”

“Hmm. Challenge accepted.” The villain tossed the clipboard aside and sauntered forward. They didn’t stop until they were standing right before the hero, just a scant foot of space between them. 

The villain leaned in, close to the hero’s ear, and every muscle in the hero’s body went taut. “Your costume looks like it was made by a drunk chicken with a misguided passion for painting.”

But the hero barely registered the words, the villain’s sudden proximity sending their brain into spirals of panicky confusion. They jerked back and tried to take a step, only to find themselves thrown off balance as their leg refused to budge with them.

A firm grip on their upper arm kept them from falling. “I see what you mean,” the villain mused. “Strong emotions, you said?”

The hero looked up into the villain’s grinning face, then away. Their cheeks were burning. They yanked at their foot, which was firmly anchored in place on the floor. 

“Yeah. It’s ridiculous,” the hero mumbled.

The villain slowly released their grip and considered the hero with a twinkling gaze. “Well. I can work with this. It’ll be fun.”

In time, with the villain’s help, the hero did learn to control their power. It became a useful trick to add to their repertoire. 

There was only one emotion, to their dismay, that still made them trip up.

The villain didn’t seem to think it was a problem.

[takeoffhq]

IDENTIFICATION SCAN...

Name: Reina Nickname: Rei Pronouns: she/her Species: Erloxian Canon: Alken Age: 150 years old but appears to around in her twenties.

Please follow Reina here @reinainspace .

Appearance:

Her skin is a pale purple that matches much of her close family and rarely is there a member of her family with any darker purple hue to their skin. Comments have been made that her skin color works exceptionally well with any hair color she has tried but most definitely with her natural dark hair color that depending on the lightning looks brown or black. She has exceptionally long hair and a lot of the time she has it pulled up in a long pony-tail to keep it out of her face when she is working and often a bit of bangs falls to each side of her face. Her fonos are about medium-sized in length falling short of her hair length and she often pulls them back to mesh into her hair so that they aren’t distracting or in the way. Her attire is a mixture of casual comfortable and fashionable to a degree. It really depends on the situation considering sometimes she has to perform maintenance of their eco-domes, technology, and other buildings they need for life on a new planet such as Aranth.

Skills and hobbies:

As an Erloxian, Reina is fluent in Betchil their local dialect as well as the galactic standard of Naridian and well has dabbled in fluency in English as well as other dialects of other species in the galaxy. Knowing that one day she would want to be part of an expedition away from their home planet of Banor 85, she would need increased fluency if they encountered another species setting up shop. Reina has an eye for detail as required of an Eco-planner and can often be a stickler for precise planning. If a job is not done correctly then one mistake can ruin a whole system or a whole building and she doesn’t want anyone to bear the brunt of possible complication. While most of their homes and such are minimalistic because of her creative nature, Reina has added lit bits and bobs to their eco-domes in the hopes of spicing things a bit and adding overall satisfaction to her fellow Erloxians on Aranth. Whether they notice them or not, she still is happy knowing they might help make their lives easier. In her free time. As a result of her mother’s influence, Reina has been known to work on various forms of art. While she has done the more physical aspects such a painting and sketching, she can be found most often on her digital tablet using a stylus to sketch and draw whatever comes to mind. She’s particularly interested in Aranth and the nature of it. Reina has been seen sketching the foliage, the landscape, and even the animals of the planet, committing every sight and memory to digital media.

Background:

Since she was a child, Reina was always exposed to the more engineering and creative aspects of design. Her mother was an artist and her father heavily based in engineering and eco-planning. As a result she earned a degree in engineering and worked for years in training to become a researcher in the hopes that one day she would be able to venture out and see a new part of the galaxy. She loves to travel and has traveled a great deal because of her father but she wanted something that was entirely her own. And when she was picked to be the eco-planner for the research team to Aranth, she jumped at the opportunity.

As much as she loves their home planet, she loves seeing new places and discovering new things more. She may miss her family but keeps in contact with them the best she can and tells her father of her experiences. Reina hopes to one day be known for a future great colony that they may set up on Aranth and feel a sense of pride in her work. She’s had a relatively happy life and is ready for any new challenges that may come her way. Always the type to keep a positive attitude and rarely ever stopping even when she probably should to get some rest. In the past her family has kept her in check, but here on a new planet someone else will have to take up that mantle if they are willing to at all.

Current thoughts:

Reina expects to discover new life, new terrain, new animals and overall gain a new perspective to life. She hopes that one day Aranth will become something more, a colony that coexists peacefully with the terrain and wildlife without overtaking it completely. She seems to be enjoying her time on the planet and it may take quite a while before she ever gets bored of it. She plans of creating new structures to suit their needs as well as learn from the humans that have landed on the planet. She is interested in the way they have crafted their homes and the intricacies of them. Wanting to know if there are any parts human design that she can incorporate into their buildings in the hope that it will make their lives even better here. In her free-time she would like to have a drawing of every fauna, flora, and shape of the planet that she can send back to their home planet to help their understanding of Aranth so that it can truly be a viable planet for her people.

[potestessemagishomosexualitatis]

Tangled In Your Heartstrings: Bonus Material

I came up with a whole load of headcanons writing my witch/vampire Secret Santa fic that didn’t make the final cut, so here they are:

The World & Fae

Many different kinds of magic and magical creatures exist in this world, and have been known about by humans for all of human history.

As a rule of thumb, anything that would be illegal to do by non-magical means and/or is obviously immoral is illegal under human law. How much non-humans feel bound by this law varies.

Some magical creatures (”the undead”) were once human. This includes vampires, weres (as in werewolves, werecoyotes, etc.), ghouls and more. Others, including the fae, are distinct species.

Witches are not a separate species, but is a term for humans or undead who have been trained in the use of magic. Every person has some innate magical potential, but how much varies; nearly all humans (or former humans) need training to be able to consciously tap into their power.

Patton, Emile and Deceit are all trained witches with different specialities. Patton and Emile, as professional witches, have formal qualifications to prove they have completed their apprenticeships to a satisfactory level; Deceit has been a witch since before such qualifications existed, but did complete a similar kind of training when he first learned magic. (The apprenticeship tradition of witchcraft dates back hundreds of years.)

There are also higher qualifications for witchcraft that are equivalent to Masters degrees and doctorates. Emile is currently writing his doctoral dissertation on the uses of aura-reading in a therapeutic context.

Fae, on the other hand, are born with magical abilities, which they master during childhood. However, fae magical powers are different from what a witch can do, and are primarily nature-based. They also have a natural talent for enchanting people.

In case it wasn’t clear: Roman, like all fae in this world, is human-sized and has butterfly-type wings on his back, albeit much less fragile than a butterfly’s would be. Finding clothing that fits can be a challenge.

Most fae live in a parallel universe (called “fairyland” in common parlance) and only infrequently travel to the human world, normally preferring nature and outdoor spaces. Fae are big fans of music, art and poetry and have a bad reputation for kidnapping humans they find pretty or who have artistic talent.

Most fae don’t feel beholden to mortal law as they can usually return to fairyland to escape justice, but the rare few who choose to integrate with human society (like Roman) have to obey it.

Fae age slowly, reaching young adulthood at around 150 years old. At this point they stop ageing physically, and they cannot die of old age. However they are still vulnerable to injury, particularly by silver and iron.

Fae are strictly herbivorous, and often eat flowers.

Vampire Lore

Vampires in this universe feed off of “life energy” with blood acting as a conduit. Fresh blood retains more life energy than old blood, and human has more than animal, synthetic blood substitutes (created by magic) barely have any.

A typical healthy vampire feeding schedule is one portion of animal blood daily, supplemented by live human feeds on a weekly-to-monthly basis.

Donors can safely feed a vampire once every 4-6 weeks (it takes less than a typical blood donation) but should be monitored for signs of anaemia. Because Patton is Virgil’s thrall, Virgil can draw on his life energy more efficiently and takes less blood to be satiated, so he can feed from Patton more often (every 3 weeks).

Fae and (most) other magical creatures can be donors too. However, their magical nature can interfere with the energy transfer, making them a less predictable food source. In an emergency, a vampire could feed off another vampire, but because the energy transfer is not 100% efficient there are diminishing returns for this.

Most vampire covens will develop a network of donors that they work with, normally 2-3 per vampire member. Some donors work exclusively with one vampire, others are happy to donate to whoever is in need in a coven.

Feeding normally feels very intimate for the vampire in question, so vamps are often picky about who they will feed from and are reluctant to risk losing a donor to another vampire. In the past, vampires getting “territorial” over donors has been the starting point of several major conflicts between covens.

There are also professional services that will let vampires hire a donor. However, these have a somewhat shady reputation for pushing people to donate more often than is healthy and skimping on disease screening.

Vampires can catch and spread bloodbourne diseases! This is an area Logan is researching (see below) but the need for costly screening is why most vamps feed primarily from animal blood and donors they know well. There are clinics which offer blood screening for live donors.

Beyond feeding: a vampire at full strength can heal almost any injury in a matter of minutes, although doing so will rapidly drain their energy reserves. Traditional vampire weaknesses (e.g. stake through the heart, sunlight) can weaken them, slow healing, or cause them to temporarily discorporate but will not kill them outright.

Vampires typically live in covens of around 5-8 members who share a territory and often (but not always) a living space. Newer members are more likely to live with the coven leader while they are learning, while older ones might move out to live independently or leave to live alone/start their own coven.

Vampire homes typically have numerous adaptations to protect them from sunlight during daytime hours - minimal windows, black-out curtains and shutters, etc. These technologies have allowed beds to overtake coffins as the preferred sleeping space. (Patton’s spare room, primarily used by Logan and Deceit, has blackout curtains and shutters installed before Virgil’s arrival.)

Vampires are naturally nocturnal, but as with humans, they may awake during daylight hours for a number of reasons. Human business hours are a source of some consternation; vampire-friendly shops, libraries etc. will offer opening hours in the early evening through to around midnight or 1am to allow for nocturnal customers.

For the same reason, many vampires are self-employed or work in professions where they can set their own hours. Many covens are wealthy enough that their members do not have to find work, although many vampires enjoy having some kind of occupation to fill their time.

A larger coven also typically has at least one human living with them to help with whatever tasks vampires cannot do (e.g. answering the door during the daytime). These are often donors, for convenience reasons, but the majority of donors won’t live with a coven. Seth is a human donor who splits his time between Logan & Deceit’s coven and his own place.

Vampires are considered to have a solemn responsibility to their fledges (vampires they have turned), acting as mentors and protectors as they adjust to their new lifestyle. Turning a vampire is considered a major committent and normally involves discussion with the whole coven; life-or-death situations are the main exception to this, but even in these cases it is considered generous to intervene, not a requirement.

Backstory

Logan was a haematologist before he was a vampire. He was a grad student studying bloodbourne illnesses and ways of screening donor blood more efficiently when he attracted the attention of Deceit.

Deceit, normally wearing his “acceptable-to-mortals” disguise (the unremarkable face he shows Virgil) is a prominent and wealthy coven leader who was considering making a donation to Logan’s university. He got intrigued by Logan and wound up offering to collaborate on a project with him.

By the end of the project the two had fallen for one another. They dated for a few years while Logan was still human, and then Deceit briefly did the “how can I curse him to share my horrible undead existence?” thing before Logan basically told him to hurry up and make with the eternal youth already.

Deceit was turned in the 1920s, although he often pretends to be much older. At around 120 years old he’s unusually young to be leading his own coven already, but is by all accounts very good at it. He has not yet told me how he got his scars.

Deceit was the first witch Patton ever got to know and by exposing him to the magical world this piqued his curiosity. He began dabbling with witchcraft, trained under Emile for part of his apprenticeship, and after they became good friends Patton asked if he could stay on at the shop after qualifying.

Patton and Roman met and fell in love several years ago while Roman was visiting the mortal world, and he decided to stay for Patton. Roman was already a musician/actor in the fae world and was delighted to learn that this could count as the pesky “job” mortals insist on him having.

Virgil’s parents were anti-undead bigots; he let himself be dragged along to protests etc. because he had been raised that way and didn’t really know better. The night he died, he was unwillingly at a protest outside a pro-vampire rights speech Deceit was making.

Virgil woke up alone in a hospital to learn that his family had already disinherited him. Deceit stopped by to offer him a place in the coven but he didn’t want to hear it; however, he barely had any savings and wound up on the streets almost immediately.

Because of how traumatised he was by his turning, Virgil never properly learned how often he needed to feed or what the danger signs were. He began skipping feeds due to a combination of lack of funds and his disgust at his own vampirism, leading to him becoming dangerously malnourished by the start of the fic.

The reason that Patton’s spell accidentally replicated the thrall binding ritual is because he used life magic on a vampire, an undead creature that inherently feeds on that energy. It worked a little too well at mimicking the effects of feeding and instead magically tied a part of Patton’s life essence to Virgil’s hunger-for-life-essence.

The thrall spell was “designed” to create well-controlled servants/donors for vampires (and would therefore be considered seriously illegal to perform intentionally, since there are laws about magically controlling people), but there are variants (mentioned in chapter 5) that are intended to be more like a soul bond/magical marriage. Virgil rejected these initially because they make the bond unbreakable (even if Patton became undead) but the couple might consider them in future.

Possible Future

I reserve the right to change my mind about any/all of this if I choose to write more in this AU (and the same goes for everything else here, actually).

Roman and Virgil start dating not too long after the final chapter.

Virgil completes his witch apprenticeship with flying colours. He has a particular affinity for divination and for drawing wards.

As predicted in the fic, Patton will eventually choose to become immortal in order to stay with his family for the rest of their lives. There are ways to do this using fae magic or witchcraft but both are risky; he is far more likely to ask Virgil to turn him into a vampire.

(If I write a follow-up fic, it will probably be about this.)

Patton and Virgil will eventually open up a witchcraft shop together! It definitely has a groan-worthy pun as a name but I haven’t worked out what yet.

Patton, Virgil and Roman initially have a three-way wedding in the fae tradition, since it isn’t legal for humans to marry multiple people. They have a human one too when that is eventually legalised.

[funkymbtifiction]

Since you have written about strength of SJ writers, what about NPs? What would be their strengths?

Typically, it’s changing what you think you know and never being stuck in one genre forever.

I HIGHLY recommend all NP writers read at least one Terry Pratchett novel. Start with Equal Rites, because that is a prime example of how an NP (INTP in his case) can take a bunch of ideas from all over the place and rearrange them in a brand new way. It starts out with the 7th son of a 7th son being a wizard. Except the stupid wizard who decided to leave the 7th son his staff and all his power forgot to double check. Turns out, Esk is a girl. And girls aren’t meant to be wizards. Bad Things Happen when girl-wizards come along and muck things up, since they are SUPPOSED to be Witches. Which leaves the actual witch, Granny Weatherwax (an amazing character, btw), to “fix it.” Except she can’t. And what happens is an absolutely hilarious novel in his series about a fictional world set on a flat disk (get it, sail off the edge of the world?) sailing through the universe on the back of two turtles (a reference to mythology ;), with 30-odd books about… the witches (hilarious, but a little raunchy; the Phantom of the Opera parody made me cry with laughter), the Night’s Watch (all morons, but they have an awesome werewolf on staff), the character of Death (a kindly INTP philosopher who Loves Cats and might just be the Best Fictional Character Ever), the wizarding novels (… which is Pratchett skewering Intellectuals), and many stand-alone novels, including one with the turtle god in it. You will never look at anything the same again.

Ne’s are good at taking what you think you know, and making it something you have never seen before. Before I took on Tudor books for a while, I was writing magical historical realism. Ever read a book with Napoleon, a ghost army and an assassin’s school in it? Or portals through space set in Jack the Ripper London? Or even that absolutely marvelous mash-up of Jane Austen / Regency times and magic called Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell which tragically I did not write. It’s like, 10,000 pages of Ne-dom hilarity.

Of course, not all NP’s write fantasy. Neil Gaiman dabbles in it (and in a lot of other things AND WHO ELSE IS EXCITED FOR THE GOOD OMENS MINISERIES, WHICH HE WROTE WITH TERRY PRATCHETT) but not all his books have magic in them. Hilary Mantel wrote Wolf Hall, which is poetic-prose-historical-fiction that ignores all grammatical rules. Victor Hugo wrote dark, serious epics that have made people happily miserable ever since. And Charles Dickens changed Victorian England forever through his tremendous stories with dozens of side characters and subplots. And, of course, we have George R.R. Martin. Game of Thrones. 150+ characters. Enough said.

Anyway, rambling.

Strengths as an NP writer:

- You never get permanently blocked / stuck on the same idea. Story not working? Dump that idea you just spent months thinking about, take your plot in a crazy new direction, and it all somehow magically “works” by tying itself together in the end. (I am a Ne-dom. I do this all the time, just letting my endings knit and make everyone Relevant, but I still cannot figure out how the hell Dickens managed to make 30 characters all necessary and meaningful by the end of his books. WHAT KIND OF INSANE GENIUS DID THE MAN HAVE?)

- You never wind up with the story you started out with. If it isn’t working, chuck the bad ideas, grab new ones. You are never “married” to anything – your characters, their professions, their names, your plot points, or your endings. If you decide in chapter 8 that Agenon needs to be a falconer instead of a blacksmith then you just smoothly switch identities like changing lanes and write from there on, then go back and rewrite all his scenes without batting an eyelash.

- You typically handle large casts well. Some people can’t handle 10 main characters. You can. They all come with individual plot lines, entire back stories, and all of them attempt at some point to hijack your novel. Don’t let them.

- People probably won’t get bored. I have read plenty of NP-written novels that I just didn’t like, or that didn’t resonate with me, but I have never been bored by one, because it’s in the nature of Ne to find a unique angle and to surprise the reader. Ne, especially, likes to challenge someone’s thinking by making them see something from a different perspective than before.

You want examples of shows written by NPs? Sherlock. Doctor Who (Moffat’s seasons). Fringe. LOST. ALIAS. Buffy. Angel. Firefly. What do they have in common? Stuff you have seen before, but presented in a new / unique way.

- ENFP Mod

[plothooksinc]

Second time lucky I wrote a damn essay before I accidentally lost it (@Tumblr you could really benefit from an undo option)

Author Interview

tagged by @wrexie​

name: KJ on here, my pen name is Nekotsuki.

fandoms: Many and varied!  The ones I write for are Rurouni Kenshin, TMNT and FFVII and the ones I RP from are One Piece and Blade of the Immortal.  I’ve also dabbled in SPN and Tiger & Bunny but those fics aren’t likely to see the light of day.  I also love most things that have decently written women and uh.  Kdramas. I dabble.

where you post: ao3, tumblr and ff.net

most popular oneshot: From the review count I’m gonna guess it’s Left Unsaid, which is hilarious but yet unsurprising as it’s the one romance fic I’ve written in a field of gen.  Go figure.

most popular multi-chapter fic; favorite story you’ve written; fic you were nervous to post: Most popular and favourite is gonna be Underdark!  LMAO that one shot that wouldn’t die (working title literally that) that I thought would be about eight pages and ended up to be uh. 89.  It’s also very popular – last I checked it had the highest amount of faves on ff.net out of the whole ’03 TMNT fandom.  (Less so on AO3, but that’s where all the smut hangs out so am unsurprised tbh)

The one I was the most nervous about was my first because I’d never written to be published online before and I generally thought my writing sucked, and that’s Tanabata Jasmine.  It still…mostly holds up (though I cringe at all that fangirl Japanese, I thought everyone had to do that to be good /cry) and is fun to go back and read b/c I can see the evolution of my writing from ch1 through to ch28 as I gained more confidence.  (…and less fangirl Japanese as I went, lmao)

how you choose your titles: …it varies.  Hard to pin down.  Usually I go for one or two words that underpin the themes of the story. Misconduct was named for one particular quote in Crisis Core, Tanabata Jasmine was …named that because I had yet to realize Kaoru and her jasmine connection were entirely fanon creations and it was set at Tanabata.  The Zaibatsu Project was named on many levels  b/c it was both my weird and wacky cyberpunk project with different writing experiments and it was about a Zaibatsu that had a nefarious project going and it was originally published experimentally over at LJ (zaibatsu.livejournal.com and I gotta say I miss being able to do it like this).  Himura Kenshin’s Day Off was my crack file full of weird shit and fourth wall breakage and was an aside fro all the serious writing, title made sense ok. Black Danube was a waltz with a Man in Black. Etc etc.

 do you outline: sometimes.  Most of the time I usually go “okay here are X, Y, and Z events I want to happen and I’ll just write until I get to them” and thus write organically for the most part and end up doing a bunch of side stuff that is fun.  Stuff I’m really unsure on I’ll outline from the start.  Zaibatsu Project is outlined up to a point because I needed to figure out who all the characters were in the AU (we’re about three quarters of the way through that outline).  Legacy is outlined all the way from beginning to end, so are Desperation and Court of Miracles (both unpublished sob maybe I‘ll get to them who knows).  Tanabata Jasmine I literally just jumped in feet first and went HAH SUFFER REDHEAD and then just wrote so it made sense and Kenshin wasn’t a damsel.  Underdark had no outline.  Misconduct has no outline, but I have the original FFVII/Crisis Core canon in mind as I write which informs some events.  Etc etc.  I like writing off the cuff most times unless I am v. unsure of what I’m doing.   ...also if a chapter is mostly conversation, you can near guarantee that I sat down and wrote nothing but the script for it first so it flowed and then went back to fill out descriptors.  A different kind of outline.

 complete: Tanabata Jasmine, Underdark, and a bunch of one shots.  

 in progress: Eesh.  Misconduct, Legacy, Zaibatsu Project, Snowblind.  I need to pick up the pace goddammit, Zaibatsu is closing on 150 pages and the two main leads have yet to hold a decent conversation /sobs in cyberpunk

coming soon/not yet started: Oh sure, coming “soon”, as long as you’re an Ent.  Desperation and Court of Miracles are the only two I actively have a piece written and intend to get to at some point.  They’re both TMNT.  Desperation is a story where Leo and April team up to take on a high stakes murderous mad-scientist-run labyrinth to save their friends, and Court of Miracles is an ’07 story where the remnants of the child traffickers that Leo basically murdered his way through before the movie come to New York to take vengeance, only they don’t expect there to be more than one bizarre turtle and so they end up taking Mikey instead.  Whoops.

One day I might upload the little Nami introspective I wrote or the other two OP fics I have vaguely in mind, but as they’re vague and I already have a full load, that’s a while away.

do you accept prompts: I have in the past.  I probably will again!  If people want me to write shit, they can always fling prompts at me and if I’m sufficiently intrigued I will take it up, but given my current depressed™ white noise brain that might be quite unlikely.  Himura Kenshin’s Day Off is full of weird-ass prompts because people threw me things like “There needs to be a Toys R Us and a Battousai potato head” and “Kenshin is actually a pink and purple dragon with measles” I mean, challenge fucking accepted okok.  A lot of my oneshots are based off prompts also.

upcoming story you are most excited to write: Zaibatsu Project!  Misconduct is a close second though.

tagging (no pressure!): @eggxalted, @janedrewfinally, @columbinepurples, @winnyverse, @angeldormante, @bunnymaccool ... heck, any writers on my list, do this.  I wanna see your answers.

DO NOT DESTROY THIS ONE TUMBLR (hah I wised up and wrote this in Word first so nyah.)

[the-fluffy-angst]

* GETTING  TO  KNOW  THE  MUN :

NAME : Jaiden

NICKNAME : Jai (pronounced Jay), Jem, Snaggletooth, Den, Chicken Girl

FACECLAIM :  For myself? Don’t have one... I’ve often been told I look like Sandra Bullock (My sister gets it more often), but... I don’t see it.

PRONOUNS :  She/her

HEIGHT : 5′2″ (I am the best at hide and seek out of any of my friends)

BIRTHDAY :  February 16

AESTHETIC :    Sunsets and sunrises viewed through leafless trees, speeding across a lake on a boat with nostalgic music playing over the worn speakers, a nest made of stuffed animals hoarded over the years, piles of journals and sketchbooks full of unfinished art and story ideas, sitting on an old wooden swing next to a swimming pool, the static from going down an old plastic slide, late nights scrolling through social media 

LAST  SONG  YOU  LISTENED  TO :  Currently playing from one of my usual playlists is “I Won’t Fight It” by Andrew Belle... and it just ended and switched to “Circular Road” by Heathers (Definitely recommend it; not many people seem to know about it)

FAVORITE  MUSE (S)  YOU’VE  WRITTEN : I’ve written many muses over the years, all of them original characters. I love all of them, but the ones I think I’ve enjoyed the most are Zeke, Milo, Toby, and of course Sev. If I had to pick one... Sev has definitely wormed her way into a very special place in my heart.

* GETTING  TO  KNOW  THE  ACCOUNT :

WHAT  INSPIRED  YOU  TO  TAKE  ON  THIS  MUSE : I love making characters and I love writing, but often have trouble coming up with story ideas for every character (It really doesn’t help when I have 150+ original characters now...) and using them as a roleplay muse allows me to write them and take them in directions I may not have even thought of. (Also, here’s a little fun fact: This started as an Undertale rp blog, with my gal Jai being my main muse before I moved all of my characters to their own universes.)

WHAT  ARE  YOUR  FAVORITE  ASPECTS  OF  YOUR  CURRENT  MUSE : Sev is especially fun to write because she’s always trying her hardest. She doesn’t remember much from before she was a chimera, so she’s still learning a lot of things a lot of us might take for granted. Also, in most universes, she’s relatively non-verbal, so I really get to stretch my writing skills to convey what she’s trying to communicate through limited words and more body language. (Sev in Night Vale, while still talking less than most people generally would, still talks a lot more than I generally write her. I’m blaming Night Vale weirdness and plot convenience XD )

WHAT’S  YOUR  BIGGEST  INSPIRATION  WHEN  IT  COMES  TO  WRITING : Seeing my characters “come to life”. I love taking characters and giving them a story and a purpose. I also love when I get brave enough to post some of my writing and seeing how people relate to the characters and the situations I’ve put them in.

FAVORITE  TYPES  OF  THREADS :  I enjoy threads that at least start with a basic plot or jumping-off point, and then see how they take shape from there. I definitely seem to prefer long-lasting threads to short one-offs.

I tend to say my roleplay style is “semi-lit” but in all honesty, I use a super flexible style where my response is as long as it needs to flow well with the situation. For a long time I just did 1-3 sentence responses, but I’ve since dabbled with paragraphs and now my responses can generally range from 2 sentences to 3 paragraphs or so within the same rp. That being said, I’m more than able to keep a more consistent length depending on my partners’ preferences.

BIGGEST  STRUGGLE  IN  REGARDS  TO  YOUR  CURRENT  MUSE: Sev specifically struggles with staying in a human frame of mind. Being mixed with so many different animals really takes it’s toll on her, and, upon feeling threatened, under stress, or simply being caught off guard, can cause her to lash out or panic, following instinct much like a wild animal. (Being forced to literally fight to survive almost every single day definitely doesn’t help much in that regard.) Other than that, the large gap in her memory of the time from before she was transmuted into a chimera doesn’t help her feel any better about her situation.

As for me writing her; as I said, using a lot of body language instead of speaking can be challenging sometimes. Also working through having her piece together her past can be difficult, as I don’t want to rush it, but I really don't want it to drag out either.

TAGGED BY : @the-perfect-scientist

TAGGING: whoever

[mfackenthal]

150 Follower Spotlight: @blackcatkita!

What follows is the transcript of the very first episode ever of “The MFackenthal show.”  Imagine the set of “The Ellen Degeneres Show.” Emojis have been used to help show facial expressions and to give this transcript greater depth.

Hello everyone and thank you for that warm welcome!  This show is a dream come true.  When Ellen saw me interview @simplyaiden-blog  and asked me to create a show, I almost fainted.  No one pinch me as I don’t want to learn this is just a dream. 

We have an amazing show for you today.  Please join me in welcoming @blackcatkita to the stage! 

MFack:  Jen, I am so glad you are here!  I have loved your work for a while now and I am so glad you are willing to join me on stage for my first episode of “The MFackenthal show.”

Jen:  Megs, thanks for having me!

MFack: So your name is Jen and your MC is often named Jennifer … now, I name all of my MC’s Megs …

Jen: Yep! I name all of them a derivative of my own name. Those based in high school are Jenny, because that’s what I went by. College aged ones are Jen. TRR is the only one I use Jennifer, because its more proper. 😁

Once I start writing for more series I will have to think up new names. It will be too confusing to have them all with the same name!

MFack:  I understand, though have you met the blogger @lizeboredom? All her MCs are named Minah and she's just made it a running joke.  You should reach out to her and tell her how awesome my show is – I’d love to have her on as a guest.  (wink)

But back to you, where are you from?

Jen: I'm from Milwaukee, WI, USA.  I’m still in the Milwaukee area but now I live in a nearby suburb.

MFack: and what do you do when you're not writing?

Jen: Oh, not much! I work a lot but when I'm not I'm usually playing the app, reading, or writing.

I’m a master level manicurist at a full-service salon and spa.

MFack: Whoa, that's awesome.

Jen: (Laughs) It is?

MFack: (Laughs) Well, I guess you'd have to tell me.  I'm thinking it's a lot of work, but that you'd also get a discount on some great spa services.

Jen: I don’t pay anything for hair or spa services. Most of the time we don’t even tip each other, just trade. And I get half off products, so that’s nice. I actually started doing it because it was flexible, and I could do it while I finished college. I never did go back because, honestly, I love what I do! I’ve been doing it for 15 years and some of my clients have been with me the whole time. They aren’t just clients, I consider them friends as well. I’m booked at 87-95%, I love my coworkers, the owner is awesome, it’s a great place to work and its insane to me how much I make doing nails. I always say I don't really work there, I just go there to hang out with my friends and they pay me for it.

MFack: Awh - so it is AWESOME!

Jen: It is 😁 Usually people don’t have that reaction is all. I’m not a surgeon or anything but I do make people feel good about themselves. Sometimes I feel like a therapist.  

MFack: In many ways, I'm sure you are a therapist.

So, what brought you to the choices fandom?

Jen: I honestly don’t remember why I downloaded the app in the first place. I played “The Crown and the Flame” and was hooked! I held out on purchasing diamonds until “The Royal Romance” and “Endless Summer.” I’ve now fallen completely off the deep end. Like hundreds of dollars into the abyss. Now I unlock everything in my favorite stories!

MFack:  Me too! "What's a few dollars here or there," my mind asks ... and then the other part of me says, "if only it was a few dollars … don't ask that question ... "

Jen: I look at it like this: it entertains me for hours every day. I work for a living, I deserve those diamond scenes! (whispering) and outfits!

MFack:  Who’s work in the fandom did you read first?

Jen: I think it was @captainkingliam, closely followed by @violetflipflops and @ladynevrakis (who have since changed their handles to @sgt-peppers-coffee-club and @i-dream-so-i-write) I absolutely adore @captainkingliam’s "In Another World" AU and @violetflipflops and @ladynevrakis' Kenna/Diavolos fics are life!

MFack: Yes! I love Diavolos! (Whispering) Here’s a little secret: I almost cried the other day when the former @ladynevrakis said she's pretty much done writing for Kenna/Diavolos!

Jen: NOOO! I didn't see that! I was already #teamDiavolos before I read her stuff but if I hadn’t been she certainly would have swayed me!

But, Megs, can I ask a question of you now?

MFack:  (Looking at Jen quizzically) I guess ….

Jen: Well, I saw that you’re reading all of my masterlist, including earlier stuff 🙈

MFack:  Yup! I'm calling it "research" (wink) Don't worry, I'll catch up ASAP!

Jen:  Well, I feel like I hit my stride in part 4 of Consequence of Secret and every time I write it gets a little better. I may rewrite those first 3 someday. We are our own worst critics though.

MFack:  Indeed! That's why I'm not a writer - I can't do the rewrite parts. Once I write it and read it for "editing" I hit publish and deal with my consequences of my many errors …

I'm remember chapter 4 and I love that Chance shames Liam. ;)

Jen:  Oh yeah, well then I have to ask, which chapter of “The Consequence of Secrets” was your favorite?

MFack: I think maybe chapter 9 is my current favorite. I get to hate new characters and things don't quite go as planned in that chapter, Olivia is delightful in her Olivia way - the writing is just soooo good! I love the chapter more when we realize that Liam's perspective is inaccurate.

Jen: Yes! Liam is so blind, and he doesn’t even know it. Spoiler alert: Shit goes down in chapter 11b.

MFack:  Ahhhh!  I can’t wait! I want to ask about that, but I know half my audience hates spoilers so let me ask my next question.  Have you read all of the choices books?

Jen: Yes! I replay my favorites all. the. time.

Megs:  What's your favorite?

Jen: Hmm ... I will go with The Royal Romance, followed by Lovehacks and The Crown and the Flame. I am really enjoying Perfect Match and Bloodbound too, just not enough to break into the top 3.

MFack:  While I agree with you about Lovehacks, I know it's not a Tumblr favorite.

Jen:  I don’t know why it gets so much hate. I think it’s hilarious and Mark is a perfect cinnamon roll of a man!

MFack:  I don't know why either!  Of course, as all my viewers will learn, I love anything that hints to the TV show Friends.

Okay, so seeing as The Royal Romance is your favorite, who is your favorite character from that universe?

Jen:  How can you make me choose?! I love them all! Liam is obviously a favorite of mine. There’s so much more to him than just "the sweet and romantic love interest." He’s been brought up to be the stoic king and he is, but he’s also a man with conviction who really does want the best for his people and his country. That being said, he isn’t afraid to fight for what’s important to him and he goes for what he wants in life even if that means going against what others think. Then there’s Maxwell. He’s the happy go lucky go to guy for a good time but he’s really the most supportive friend you could ever want. He will do anything for his friends, even bring a random commoner he just met to compete for his friend’s hand because he saw something in the two of them. All that said - I'm choosing the MC for the win! She's fearless, loyal (at least how I play her lol) assertive, kind, funny, generous, selfless etc. etc.

MFack: Going back to your work, what's your writing process?

Jen:  Uhh … I don’t know if I have one! An idea pops into my head and I start writing … I'm one of those fortunate people who retains information, so I don't usually have an outline when I start.  I kind of just know where I want the story to go. I do have a file of "fic ideas" but it’s full of simple like statements: "the Lovehacks gang at the renaissance faire" or "Red Carpet Diaries/The Royal Romance crossover." Consequence of Secrets is a little different, of course. The entire series started with the words "It's killing me to see you with him," and it quickly took on a life of its own. I know how each part starts and ends, and what I want to accomplish within that chapter. My goal is to have all of my fics line up together in a timeline that makes sense.

MFack: What's your favorite/least favorite thing about Tumblr?

Jen:  My favorite thing is the fandom itself! It amazes me how kind and supportive everyone is. Also, there are so many incredible writers here it's insane!

My least favorite thing? Not getting notifications and when tags don’t work.

MFack: Ugh, the tags are driving me crazy!  But I don’t want to go on a tangent, so instead tell me what is your favorite piece of your own work?

Jen:  I love how fun “How to Please a Woman” is but my favorite is “Consequence of Secrets” starting with part 4 and up. It has required a lot of research - Paris hotels, legal advice (from a real-life lawyer) and ... other things I can’t reveal at this time 😁. The characters are flawed, but still lovable. It really challenges me as a writer and I hope I convey how torn they all are. I want people to be mad at them, but still understand where they are coming from... if that makes sense.

MFack:  Well, if you want me to be mad at Liam, you're definitely succeeding … I do understand him though, so I think you can call it all a big success!

Now, for the question everyone wants to know ... do you like Pineapple on your pizza?

Jen: (laughing) I will dabble with pineapple on occasion but it’s not a topping I would choose often.

MFack:  Alright, it’s time to dish.  Tell us an "embarrassing story" … Something unique or cheesy about yourself.

Jen: (shaking her head but smiling) An embarrassing story huh? I'm so laid back my sister says I'm half dead so it’s REALLY hard to embarrass me.

Some "unique" things though ... Let’s see, I have a "Nerdary".  It’s our 3rd bedroom - filled with bookshelves, funko pops and harry potter memorabilia such as wands, time turner, golden snitch etc. Oh! Also, I sing in the car, with no shame, and if someone looks at me I sing to them! It’s especially fun when it’s the soundtrack to “Galavant” or “Grease 2” 😂

MFack:  Y’know, I love to sing.  Will you sing with me?

Jen:  Of course!

MFack and Jenn sing “Do it for our Country” from Grease 2:  

“America is calling, let's care enough to give our very best.

For if we give our very best,

I know that we will more than pass the test.

If I could have three wishes, I'd wish that you'd live free,

I'd wish for amber waves of grain from sea to shining sea.

Yeah, let's do it for our country, the red, white, and the blue.

It's Uncle Sam who's asking, so your mother will approve.

Tomorrow I'll be fighting, and I'll win this war for you.

Let's do it for our country, our country wants us to.

Bullets are exploding, they'll soon be at the door,

Give something to America you never gave before.

Yeah, let's do it for our country, the red, white, and the blue,

If the President were standin' here, I'm sure he would approve.

I'll be a mighty soldier before this night is through.

Let's do it for our country, our country wants us to.

(Spoken)

Just think about it -- it would be like as if we were doing it for the Statue of Liberty, or the Grand Canyon, or the New York Yankees... it would be like as if we were doing it for... Disneyland!

Yeah, let's do it for our country, the red, white, and the blue,

It's not a lot to ask of us, our parents will approve.

I'll be a mighty soldier, before this night is through.

Let's do it for our country, (spoken) we owe it to our country.

Let's do it for our country, our country wants us to.”

MFack:  (Laughing) Well, on that note … Jen, what do you want to say to your adoring fans?

Jen:  Thank you so much for your love and support! You all make me smile every day and I'm so happy you enjoy my work! It's all of you that keeps me going!

MFack:  That’s our show – thanks for coming everyone!  Have a GREAT night! We’ll see you next time (when MFackenthal has 200 followers) on “The MFackenthal Show!”

[lostnloveco]

Short Stature, Big Talent: Meet the Shortest Rappers Today

Hip-hop music has reached incredible heights in terms of popularity and significance, with artists rising to superstardom and dominating the charts. One fascinating aspect of this genre is the diverse range of artists who contribute, from larger-than-life personalities like the tallest rapper, Yung Gravy - Height: 6' 6, to those who are more introspective and reserved. What's particularly intriguing is the emergence of shorter rappers who are making waves in the industry. These artists may be vertically challenged, but their talents are taking them to new heights. In this article, we'll shine a spotlight on the shortest rappers who are breaking stereotypes and forging their paths in the music business. We'll introduce you to these pint-sized hitmakers, explore their backgrounds, and delve into their skyrocketing careers. We'll also uncover what sets them apart, their unique styles, and the messages they convey through their lyrics. From the electrifying flows of YNW Melly and the pioneering rhymes of Lil Wayne, we’ll showcase their path to success and how they've made their mark in the rap game. Also, gain essential insights surrounding their music careers and examine how the shortest rap artists are changing the face of hip-hop music forever. Get ready to be captivated by this article as we journey through why are rappers short and the successes of these rappers. Prepare to be amazed by these rising stars' passion, drive, and skill in the hip-hop scene.

Top Shortest Rappers-Small In Structure, Big In Talent

Meet the top shortest rappers who defied height to conquer hip-hop. These shortest rappers have not let their physical stature limit their influence or impact in the world of hip-hop, proving that talent knows no height. 1. Lil' Wayne: 5 Feet 5 Inches Regarding hip hop, size doesn't matter, and Lil' Wayne is a perfect example of this. Standing at an impressive 5ft 5in, the Louisiana native black rapper has become one of the most influential rappers ever.

Born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. on September 27th, 1982, Lil' Wayne began his music career at 9 when he joined Cash Money Records. Under the mentorship of label co-founder Bryan 'Birdman Williams, Lil' Wayne quickly made a name for himself as a talented songwriter and rapper. Over the years, Lil' Wayne's star continued to rise as he released a string of critically acclaimed albums, including "Tha Carter III" and "Tha Carter IV." He's also won numerous awards, including four Grammy Awards, and has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake. In addition to his music career, Lil' Wayne has also dabbled in acting, appearing in films such as "Ballers" and "Hurricane Season". And when he's not busy with music or acting, Lil' Wayne is also an avid sports fan, particularly of basketball. But despite his success and fame, Lil' Wayne remains a humble and down-to-earth individual. He has a net worth of approximately $150 million, making him one of the wealthiest rappers in the industry, yet he continues to work hard and stay true to his roots. Lil Wayne height in feet is 5ft 5in, he may not be the tallest rapper out there, but he is certainly one of the most talented. His unique flow, clever wordplay, and infectious beats have earned him a place in the hip-hop Hall of Fame, and he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. 2. YNW Melly: 5 Feet 4 Inches Meet YNW Melly, one of the most promising young rappers in the game. At just 5ft 4in, Melly might be small in stature, but he has a big presence in the rap world.

Born Jamell Maurice Demons in Gifford, Florida in 1999, Melly began his music career in 2015. He gained popularity in 2018 with his viral hit, "Murder on My Mind," which charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Since then, he has released several successful projects, including his debut studio album, "Melly vs. Melvin." However, Melly's success has been overshadowed by legal troubles. In February 2019, he was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the shooting deaths of two of his friends. He remains in custody awaiting trial. Despite his legal troubles, Melly's fans continue to support him and his music. He has a net worth of approximately $1 million and has collaborated with several big names in the industry, including Kanye West. Beyond his height and music career, Melly is known for his unique fashion sense. The cute black rapper often wears brightly colored clothing and has been seen rocking pink hair. Although Melly may be one of the shortest rappers in the game, his impact on the industry is undeniable. As his legal situation unfolds, fans will be watching to see what the future holds for this rising star. 3. Lil' Bow Wow: 5 Feet 7 Inches Lil' Bow Wow, whose real name is Shad Gregory Moss, is a rapper, actor, and television host. Born in Columbus, Ohio in 1987, he began his career at a very young age. At just six years old, he was discovered by the legendary rapper Snoop Dogg, who gave him the nickname "Lil' Bow Wow."

Short Lil' Bow Wow's debut album "Beware of Dog" was released in 2000 when he was just 13 years old. The album went double platinum, making him the youngest-ever solo rapper to achieve this feat. Since then, he has released numerous albums, with over 10 million records sold worldwide. Apart from his music career, Lil' Bow Wow has also ventured into acting, starring in movies like "Like Mike", "Johnson Family Vacation" and "Lottery Ticket." He also appeared in TV shows such as "CSI: Cyber" and "Entourage." Dive into the Grooves of Lil Bow Wow on Spotify today! Despite the rapper height of 5ft 7in, Lil' Bow Wow has had a massive impact on the rap industry. He has collaborated with big names such as Jermaine Dupri, Snoop Dogg, and Chris Brown, among others. Lil' Bow Wow's net worth is estimated at $1.5 million, making him one of the most successful rappers of his generation. Overall, Lil' Bow Wow's talent, dedication, and hard work have made him a true success story. His achievements in both music and film have proven his versatility and his ability to connect with audiences. Despite his height disadvantage, Lil' Bow Wow is an inspiration to many aspiring artists, proving that success knows no limits. 4. Tee Grizzley: 5 Feet 7 Inches Tee Grizzley is a talented rapper hailing from the Motor City, Detroit. He stands at 5ft 7 inches tall, but don't let his height fool you - his music has been making waves in the industry and earning him a reputation as a formidable artist to watch. Grizzley was born Terry Sanchez Wallace Jr. on March 23, 1994, in the gritty streets of Detroit. He grew up in challenging circumstances and had a tough childhood, but he found solace in music. In fact, he started rapping at the age of 14 and quickly discovered that he had a gift for it.

After serving time in prison for robbery, Grizzley came back to music with a renewed focus. His breakthrough single, "First Day Out," was released in 2016 and became a viral hit. The song's gritty lyrics and raw energy captured the attention of the hip-hop community and helped Grizzley gain a loyal following. Since then, Grizzley has continued to release critically acclaimed music, including his debut album "Activated," which features collaborations with artists like Lil Pump, Jeezy, and Chris Brown. He has also contributed to the soundtracks of popular films like "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" and "Creed II." Despite his success, Grizzley remains grounded and focused on his craft. He has been praised for his storytelling abilities and his ability to evoke emotion in his listeners. His net worth is estimated to be around $4 million, and he shows no signs of slowing down in his pursuit of musical greatness. Tee Grizzley may be short in stature, but he is a giant in the rap game. His unique voice, compelling lyrics, and impressive work ethic have earned him a place among the most promising artists of his generation. We can't wait to see what he has in store for us next. 5. Eminem: 5 Feet 8 Inches Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is one of the most iconic figures in the rap industry. But did you know that he is also one of the shortest rappers in the game? Eminem height is 5 feet 8 inches, and Eminem's height may come as a surprise to some fans.

Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Eminem's rapping career began in the 1990s, when he gained recognition for his unique rhyming style and controversial lyrics. He went on to release several successful albums, including "The Slim Shady LP," "The Marshall Mathers LP," and "Encore." Eminem's net worth is estimated to be around $230 million, making him one of the richest rappers in the world. He has won numerous awards throughout his career, including 15 Grammy Awards, and has been recognized for his impact on the music industry. Despite his intimidating on-stage presence, Eminem has been known to show his softer side in his music. He has rapped about his struggles with addiction, mental health, and personal relationships, making him a relatable and beloved figure to many fans. 6. Ludacris: 5 Feet 8 Inches Ludacris, born Christopher Brian Bridges. Ludacris height is 5 feet 8 inches tall, but he has certainly made a big impact on the hip-hop scene. Known for his humorous and catchy lyrics, Ludacris has released numerous hit albums. Born in Champaign, Illinois, Ludacris began his music career in the late 1990s, gaining traction with his debut album "Incognegro." He continued to rise to fame with albums like "Word of Mouf," "Chicken-n-Beer," and "Red Light District."

Aside from his music, Ludacris has also had a successful acting career, appearing in films like "Crash" and "Fast and Furious." He has also made his mark in the world of business, with ventures such as his own line of headphones and cognac. With a net worth of around $25 million, Ludacris has solidified his status as one of the wealthiest rappers in the game. He has won numerous awards throughout his career, including three Grammy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Ludacris has always been known for his charismatic personality and infectious energy on stage, and his short stature has never held him back from holding a big presence. He has paved the way for other short rappers in the industry, proving that size truly does not matter when it comes to talent.

Shortness As A Source Of Inspiration

Shortness is often seen as a disadvantage in many industries, but in the world of hip-hop, some of the most successful rappers are also the shortest. These artists have become an inspiration for others by proving that height is not a barrier to success. When it comes to hip-hop, talent and dedication often matter more than physical appearance. Many of the most successful short rappers have used their height as a source of inspiration to forge a unique identity in the industry. They have learned to work with what they’ve got and use their differences as an advantage in their music and performances.

Many of these rappers were initially doubted or dismissed because of their height, but they refused to be deterred. They stayed true to their passion for music and used their obstacles as a motivation to become even better performers.

Illustrating The Impact Of Height On The Rap Industry With Examples

The hip-hop industry is known for its larger-than-life personas and bravado, with many rappers building a reputation around their imposing physical presence. However, some of the most celebrated rappers have been on the shorter side- think Biggie Smalls, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem. All of these rappers achieved great success in their careers despite being shorter than the average performer in the industry. Biggie Smalls, known for his husky voice and killer rhymes, was just 6’3’’ tall, while Lil Wayne, considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, is only 5’5’’. These rappers prove that being shorter doesn’t equate to a lack of talent or success in the industry.

How The Shortest Rappers Stand Out In An Industry That Favors The 'Tall Image'

The music industry tends to favor the tall and conventionally attractive, but the shortest rappers have been able to carve out their niche and stand out from the crowd. They’ve achieved this by focusing on their talent and uniqueness rather than their height. The success of shorter rappers proves that individuality and uniqueness are the qualities that can set an artist apart from the rest. Being different from the norm often results in a distinct voice and artistic style, making the art they produce stand out from the crowd. A rapper's height has little to do with their talent or dedication to their craft. Short rappers, in particular, have shown that their unique differences can be a source of inspiration, motivation, and even success. The hip-hop industry may have its preferences, but the most celebrated artists are those who stand out for their unique voice and ability to create art that resonates with audiences.

Last Say

Hip-hop has always been a platform for artists to showcase their talent, regardless of physical stature. The rising stars of the industry prove that height has nothing to do with creativity, flow, or skills. The shortest rappers from Lil Wayne to Lil Bow Wow, the next generation is making a name for themselves and proving their worth in the rap game. As listeners, we should focus on the talent and creativity of these artists, rather than their height. Who knows, the shortest rapper of today might be the greatest of all time. So let's keep an open mind and support all talented artists, regardless of their physical appearance. Read the full article

[skvaderarts]

The next part of the 150 Dabble Challenge, featuring Sparda and Eva!

Chapters: 2/16 Fandom: Devil May Cry Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Characters: V (Devil May Cry), Your OC, Dante (Devil May Cry), Vergil (Devil May Cry), Sparda (Devil May Cry), Eva (Devil May Cry) Additional Tags: Devil May Cry (Game), Post-Devil May Cry 5, Fluff and Angst, Fluff and Humor, Blind Character, Family Fluff, Family Dynamics, Family Feels Summary:

A collection of Dabbles from the popular 150 Dabble Challange on Tumblr. They are numbered for the corresponding dabble number on the list that can be found on my profile page here on AO3. Contains good times and fluff. Sometimes things come out of left field in the best possible way.

[dippedanddripped]

Luxury fashion brands and high-end resale have been circling each other for years now, with luxury alternating between interest in resale and mistrust in the benefits it offers brands. Recent moves from Kering, one of the largest luxury groups in the world, indicate that the company is taking a great interest in working directly with resellers and encouraging the growth of resale in general. Those moves also put Kering in stark contrast with rival LVMH, which, to date, has yet to intermingle with resale companies.

Announced on Monday, Kering led a $216 million funding round in French luxury resale site Vestiaire Collective, a platform increased its revenue by more than 100% in 2020. The round catapults Vestiaire to unicorn status, the company said. It’s the latest resale investment by Kering, which has been been active in the space at various levels over the last year. In January, Groupe Artemis, the parent company of Kering, invested an undisclosed sum in sneaker resale platform GOAT.

While Kering has not invested any money in luxury platform The RealReal, its top revenue-driving brand Gucci has been directly partnering with the platform since October 2020 by curating an exclusive shop of Gucci product on The RealReal’s online store. Stella McCartney is no longer a part of Kering as of the end of 2019, but prior to the split, the brand had an official partnership with The RealReal, as well.

“Pre-owned luxury is now a real and deeply rooted trend, especially among younger customers,” said François-Henri Pinault, CEO of Kering, in a statement emailed to Glossy. “Rather than ignoring it, our wish is to seize this opportunity to enhance the value we offer our customers and influence the future of our industry towards more innovative and more sustainable practices. This fits naturally with our entrepreneurial spirit, our pioneering sustainability strategy and our modern vision of luxury.”

Kering’s eagerness to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into the resale world is contrasted by chief rival LVMH’s unwillingness to dabble in resale at all. In December, LVMH’s head of communication, Antoine Arnault, said the company was only “looking at” resale, in an interview with Vogue Business. “It is still a little early to fully answer this question. It’s an economy that exists, that’s growing in importance, so we’re looking at it carefully,” he said.

But the resale market is increasingly becoming hard to ignore for luxury brands. In 2o2o, investors poured more than $150 million into luxury resale platforms, including $64 million into Vestiaire Collective. The entire secondhand market, which was valued at $28 billion in 2020, is expected to be valued at more than $60 billion in the next four years, according to GlobalData Retail. Max Bittner, CEO of Vestiaire Collective, said that integrating directly with the primary market was one of his main goals when he joined the company in 2019 and that the pandemic made conversations with companies like Kering and brands like Alexander McQueen much smoother. Prior, the company has partnered with brands lincluding Belstaff and By Far.

“The model has clearly demonstrated its ability to continue to thrive during challenging conditions,” Bittner said. “The resale sector as a whole is experiencing rapid growth, especially among millennial and Gen-Z consumers, which will come to shape the retail landscape of the future.”

LVMH is still the top luxury conglomerate in the world, bringing in more than $53 billion in revenue in 2020, 47% of which came from fashion and leather goods. Kering earned more than $15 billion. But by slacking on resale, LVMH gives Kering a head start on staking a significant claim in the expanding resale space.

[paleorecipecookbook]

18 Best Paleo Books of 2017

Each year, new Paleo and other related health books are released, and we like to highlight our favorite resources. Not only does it give us a chance to peruse numerous amazing books, it can help our readers better choose references to further their Paleo knowledge and enjoyment of the modern caveman lifestyle.

Paleo Recipes

While it’s always great to have tried and true Paleo favorites, it’s also fun to change things up by introducing new recipes to your Paleo diet. These cookbooks are all Paleo and offer fun new twists on classic recipes, as well as inventive Paleo dishes that will keep things from getting boring.

Paleo Cooking with Your Instant Pot

The Instant Pot has taken the Paleo world by storm, and for good reason. Who wouldn’t want to prep and cook dishes in less than half the time? These 80 recipes are perfect for busy moms, entrepreneurs, or anyone else trying to cram Paleo eating into a hectic schedule. They’re also great for anyone who doesn’t love spending all their time in the kitchen.

Amazon: Paleo Cooking with Your Instant Pot

The Big Book of Paleo Slow Cooking

Don’t have an Instant Pot? You can still simplify your Paleo cooking life by using your slow cooker. This book contains 200 recipes that can be prepped ahead and cooked while you’re living life thanks to the wonders of the modern crockpot.

Amazon: The Big Book of Paleo Slow Cooking

Weeknight Paleo

Feeding a family? This book keeps mealtimes simple and is perfect for people of all ages.

Amazon: Weeknight Paleo

The Keto Paleo Kitchen

If you want to combine the powerful effects of both Paleo and Keto, this book contains 80 recipes that are compliant with both plans. Even if Keto isn’t your aim, the low-carb recipes in this book will be a delicious complement to your Paleo menu.

Amazon: The Keto Paleo Kitchen

Good Housekeeping Easy Paleo

From the popular brand Good Housekeeping comes this simple Paleo cookbook with 70 recipes ranging from soups to seafood, and everything in between.

Amazon: Good Housekeeping Easy Paleo

Ready or Not

This book is perfect for the newbie Paleo cook, or the Paleo pro who wants options that range from super fast prep to more involved recipes. Michelle Tam and Henry Fong have put together 150 recipes that offer a wide variety of prep options and ingredients that will keep your meal plan fresh and exciting.

Amazon: Ready or Not

Real Food, Real Simple

With 80 recipes that are Paleo-friendly, this cookbook comes from a dietitian who believes that recipes should be simple and easy in just five steps or less. Ranging from main dishes to desserts, this book will freshen up your Paleo meal repertoire.

Amazon: Real Food, Real Simple

Latin American Paleo Cooking

Take your Paleo taco night way beyond the basics by exploring the 80+ recipes in this zesty cookbook. Paleo certainly doesn’t have to be flavorless!

Amazon: Latin American Paleo Cooking

Whole30 Fast and Easy

The Whole30 is a Paleo diet with a few more restrictions, but all Whole30 recipes are Paleo-compliant. Try these 150 quick and simple recipes to jazz up your Paleo life, whether you’re committed to a 30-day challenge or not.

Amazon: Whole30 Fast and Easy

Paleo & Health Knowledge

A Paleo lifestyle goes well beyond food alone, and these resources delve deeper into certain aspects.

Paleo Principles

New from Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, this book takes your Paleo knowledge to the next level. With something for everyone, from Paleo beginner to Paleo pro, this whopping book teaches everything from food choices to lifestyle management. It also comes with recipes, how-to guides, illustrations, and more.

Amazon: Paleo Principles

Unconventional Medicine

Diving into the world of functional medicine, Chris Kresser identifies how to stop the chronic disease epidemic by taking a full body approach. Perfect for patients and physicians, this book will help anyone already battling health issues or for those who support chronically ill loved ones. It’s even a good primer for healthy individuals who want to stay that way.

Amazon: Unconventional Medicine

The Complete Gut Health Cookbook

Paleo is rooted in being a gut-healing diet, and this book by popular Paleo expert Pete Evans sheds more light on how to eat for gut health. Bonus: many recipes in the book include modifications for the AIP diet.

Amazon: The Complete Gut Health Cookbook

Wired to Eat

From Paleo expert Robb Wolf comes a new book all about taking a complete customized dietary approach. If you want to take your diet farther than a one-size-fits-all feel, this is an excellent resource.

Amazon: Wired to Eat

Related Diets

We get that not everyone is 100 percent Paleo all the time. Many Paleo eaters also like to dabble in Primal or Keto diets, both of which remain incredibly popular. These resources can complement your Paleo diet, although they aren’t necessarily strictly Paleo in and of themselves.

The Keto Reset Diet

Mark Sisson is a long-time friend of PaleoPlan, and we love his new keto book. While it’s not strictly Paleo, it’s an excellent resource for anyone wanting to try out this super low carb lifestyle.

Amazon: The Keto Reset Diet

The Primal Kitchen Cookbook

Another excellent recipe collection from Mark Sisson, this Primal cookbook contains more than a hundred recipes that are Paleo-friendly or can be modified to be completely Paleo. With everything from salad dressing to dessert, this book has fresh takes on classic dishes that you won’t want to miss.

Amazon: The Primal Kitchen Cookbook

Keto Restaurant Favorites

If you’re trying out the keto diet, this book recreates restaurant favorite dishes without the excessive carbs. Maria Emmerich is a leading authority on the keto diet with several popular cookbooks, and this is definitely one of them!

Amazon: Keto Restaurant Favorites

Keto Comfort Foods

Another amazing keto resource by Maria Emmerich, this book creates 170 comfort food recipes in a super low carb format. If you’re Keto and Paleo, you can modify the recipes to work for both aspects of your diet.

Amazon: Keto Comfort Foods

Keto Slow Cooker and One Pot Meals

The recipes in this book are compatible with keto, Paleo, and Primal diets and can be prepped ahead of time and then slow-cooked for convenience.

Amazon: Keto Slow Cooker and One Pot Meals

The post 18 Best Paleo Books of 2017 appeared first on PaleoPlan.

Source: http://ift.tt/10qRbxJ

[collegeessayguy]

How to Discuss Challenges in Your College Essay So That It Doesn’t Sound Like a Sob Story

This is a question that came up during last week's live course. And, to be frank, there are many ways to talk about your challenges in your personal statement. But here are three good techniques:

1. WITH A LITTLE POETRY

Here’s a professional writing example:

We wanted more. We knocked the butt ends of our forks against the table, tapped our spoons against our empty bowls; we were hungry. We wanted more volume, more riots. We turned up the knob on the TV until our ears ached with the shouts of angry men. We wanted more music on the radio; we wanted beats, we wanted rock. We wanted muscles on our skinny arms. We had bird bones, hollow and light, and we wanted more density, more weight. We were six snatching hands, six stomping feet; we were brothers, boys, three little kings locked in a feud for more. [...] And when our Paps came home, we got spankings. Our little round butt cheeks were tore up: red, raw, leather-whipped. We knew there was something on the other side of pain, on the other side of the sting. Prickly heat radiated upward from our thighs and backsides, fire consumed our brains, but we knew that there was something more, some place our Paps was taking us with all this. We knew, because he was meticulous, because he was precise, because he took his time. - Excerpt from “Lessons” by Justin Torres. For the rest, click here or “Google Justin Torres Lessons”

Here’s a personal statement example:

I can do this by myself. I held the blade, watched it slide across my flesh. The knife was just like Richard Selzer described: cold, gleaming, silent. Red drops of blood trailed the slightly serrated edge. I let out a long sigh. I was at my most desperate. My friend had died in September of my junior year. Five AP classes, weekly volunteering, and a tutoring job had provided added stress. I needed reprieve. And I found it in the knife. Two months later, my French teacher, Madame Deleuze, discovered my secret. That day in AP French while everyone else drilled vocabulary, she called me out to have a talk. - Excerpt from the "Knife" essay, which may be found in College Essay Essentials

IMPORTANT: This is extremely difficult to do—like walking a high-wire—and, if done poorly, this can fail spectacularly. I’d only recommend this if 1) you have lots of time before your essay is due, 2) you consider yourself a moderately good writer and, 3) you are able to speak about your challenges with distance and objectivity (i.e. - you have mostly or completely come through the challenge(s) you’re describing). If you’re short on time, don’t have a lot of experience writing creative non-fiction, or are still very much “in it,” I’d recommend not choosing this method.

But, if you are interested in doing this, and want to learn more about how, check out my analysis in my book College Essay Essentials. (Not trying to sell a book here, it’s just too much to print here and I wanted you know more where you could learn more. That’s where.)

2. WITH A LITTLE HUMOR

Click here for a movie example, or Google this phrase:

But partying it up with a bunch of munchkins isn’t the only way to bring light to an otherwise pretty dark situation.

Here’s a personal statement example:

When I was fifteen years old I broke up with my mother. We could still be friends, I told her, but I needed my space, and she couldn’t give me that. - Excerpt from the "Breaking Up With Mom" essay found in College Essay Essentials

Note how she uses the (funny, but subtle) cliche of “I needed space” and puts it the context of something that was a pretty big deal for her—cutting her mother off.

Another example:

I’ve desperately attempted to consolidate my opposing opinions of Barbie into a single belief, but I’ve accepted that they’re separate. In one, she has perpetuated physical ideals unrepresentative of how real female bodies are built. Striving to look like Barbie is not only striving for the impossible—the effort is detrimental to women’s psychological and physical health, including my own. In the other, Barbie has inspired me in her breaking of the plastic ceiling. She has dabbled in close to 150 careers, including some I’d love to have: a UNICEF Ambassador, teacher, and business executive. And although it’s not officially listed on her résumé, Barbie served honorably in the War in Afghanistan. - Excerpt from “Barbie vs. Terrorism and the Patriarchy” in College Essay Essentials and in PDF for “How to Write a Personal Statement”

And here’s a request (and challenge) for you, dear reader: I’d love to see more examples of the use of humor to address challenges, as I haven’t seen many great ones.

Request: Can you think of any--either in personal statements or otherwise? If so, please email them to info@collegeessayguy.com. Or:

Challenge: Maybe you write the essay that provides a great example for future students.

3. WITH STRAIGHTFORWARD EFFICIENCY

This is the simplest way, and it can even be the most vulnerable. Why? Because there's nothing dressing it up--no hiding behind poetic language or humor--you're just telling it like it is.

Personal statement example:

At age three, I was separated from my mother. The court gave full custody of both my baby brother and me to my father. Of course, at my young age, I had no clue what was going on. However, it did not take me long to realize that life with my father would not be without its difficulties." - Excerpt from "Raising Anthony" in College Essay Essentials and in PDF for “How to Write a Personal Statement”

IMPORTANT: I mention “efficiency” above because it’s important to do this in the most succinct way possible—probably in the first paragraph or two. But they you need to move on to a) what you did about it and b) what you learned. So just tell it, with simple and plain language.

ALSO: If you're unsure/insecure about adding humor or poetry, I'd recommend starting with the straightforward method. It'll get you started. And, who knows, maybe some humor and poetry will emerge.

Here's one more example of a straightforward, efficient opening to an essay that deals with challenges:

It was Easter and we should’ve been celebrating with our family, but my father had locked us in the house. If he wasn’t going out, neither were my mother and I. My mother came to the U.S. from Mexico to study English. She’d been an exceptional student and had a bright future ahead of her. But she fell in love and eloped with the man that eventually became my father. He loved her in an unhealthy way, and was both physically and verbally abusive. My mother lacked the courage to start over so she stayed with him and slowly let go of her dreams and aspirations. But she wouldn’t allow for the same to happen to me. - Excerpt from “Easter" essay in College Essay Essentials

STILL UNCERTAIN ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS? WANT MORE?

For a complete structural analysis of the “Raising Anthony” essay mentioned above, click here, or Google “College Essay Guy Significant Challenges Essay YouTube” to watch an 18-minute video.

Rock on. With humor, poetry, and (most of all) efficiency.