#Every activity that is self-improving/fun gives me a point

[eddis-not-eeddis]

I got an hourly planner and instead of planning out my day, I just write in it if I’ve done something that I’m proud of or that I enjoy, and it’s amazing how much I’ve gotten done lately and how much fun I’ve had now that I’m trying to impress myself.

[ceratedfish24]

My little Snowbugs headcanon is that Scott is all good with innuendos and joke flirting but the moment someone compliments him unironically his brain starts doing dial up noises

Which is unfortunate for him because Tango will not stfu about every single little thing he likes about Scott meaning about 80% of the time his thoughts are incoherent

Yes!!!!! Scott getting flustered about genuine compliments is one of my favorite tropes. Someone please teach this man some self worth. Tell him he’s pretty and thoughtful and so so so very talented. After Scott’s minor breakdown after Skizz’s affirmation, Scott getting genuine compliments is so important to me.

I love the idea of Tango not catching on to how flustered Scott got the first few times he genuinely compliments Scott, but, after he realizes how red Scott gets about being complimented, he just starts speaking all of his complimentary thoughts aloud. Whenever he thinks of one, he doesn’t hold them back anymore. It doesn’t matter if he just said it an hour ago. He’s thinking about it again, and Scott needs to know. He needs Scott to know.

He loves the color Scott just painted his nails, and Scott’s hair looks so cute after his haircut.

Has anyone ever told Scott that his eyes are so pretty and blue that they’re almost iridescent?

Does Scott know how thoughtful Tango finds him to be?

Does Tango comment often enough on how he loves hearing Scott sing unabashedly, even though Scott doesn’t particularly care for his own singing voice as opposed to the fun he has when singing?

Tango is always so amazed by Scott’s cooking and baking.

Tango loves the shape of Scott’s nose.

Scott should know that Tango’s never met someone so graceful.

Scott is amongst the most considerate people Tango has ever met, and Tango needs Scott to know it.

Scott is a good friend, a fantastic neighbor, a kind stranger, a considerate coworker, and an incredible boyfriend. Tango needs to give him all of the credit that he deserves all of the time, and Scott absolutely cannot handle it. Everyone is shocked at how well Tango has Scott wrapped around his pinky, how easily Tango can fluster Scott. Tango always ends up getting the last word in when they’re flirting, now. Scott’s reputation as the Unbothered Flirt TM is in shambles.

In return, I think, Scott would be really assertive when complimenting Tango. A lot of people talk about how if Tango’s convinced that he’s bad at something, there’s no convincing him otherwise. I think Scott could do it. I think Scott could cross his arms and say “please don’t talk like that about my boyfriend. That’s a very mean thing to say about the light of my life.” and Tango would have no response to it. It gets to the point where Tango stops saying “I’m so awful at [task]” and starts saying “I want to figure out how to improve at [task]”. Skizz sends Scott a basket of goodies with a thank you note upon noticing the change in Tango’s confidence.

I love when a couple’s favorite activity is to build each other up.🩵 Thank you for the ask!!

[tvtoontime]

Hey I've seen that you've not been active recently, I like the comic so far, so I have a question why haven't you been active?

Sorry for not answering questions as of late! I have a few answered ones in my draft!

I DO APOLOGIZE IF THIS POST MAKES YOU FEEL UNEASY OR UNCOMFORTABLE. This post is mostly for anyone who’s curious about the lack of posts. I don’t need any comfort, compliments or reassurance, trust🫡.

(I’ve been meaning to talk about this topic in detail for a while but i know people get uncomfortable with this kind of negativity!)

“STRAIGHT FORWARD” ANSWER:

I’ve been a little less motivated to draw, thinking every drawing or comic isn’t worth looking at. Im not consistent with my art and want to change up everything if i’m not satisfied with it which makes it confusing for everyone else. Dandy’s design is a big example of that.. Lots of comparing comes into play too. I do NOT have a pretty art style what so ever. dgmw, It’s not meant to be pretty but i get embarrassed when I draw something that’s meant to be somewhat pleasing to the eyes but turns out cringy.(dandy & astro comic). There’s such pretty art out there and it feels like im destroying the beauty of the characters. I also feel like I disappoint others consistently since i have high expectations for myself. I want to improve faster and faster so i push myself. At this point i might’ve accidentally over done it. I took a break to see if that’d help things but when i came back there was a TON of negativity on tiktok.(where i started out) which also pushed me away further to draw since i liked seeing positive things about dandys world! I’m not giving up just yet, because i want to live my art and keep inspiring younger or even older artists to draw different angles and so much more!

(I will also point out, whenever I draw, it takes a lot of time. i am unfortunately a slow artist..sigh.💔)

MORE DETAILED ANSWER WITHIN:

TW: LOADS OF SELF NEGATIVITY & NEGLECT.

Let’s start from the top.

HAPPINESS?

Tiktok was where i started posting comics. (i never made a comic before, so that was my “first” time) All i really wanted to do was post relatable dw experiences for the fun of it.

I didn’t realize people would actually like a simplified, horribly colored, comic. Either way, I was having fun.

I got this really weird motivational high when others wanted more or the “next part”. i literally couldn’t fall asleep and wasn’t eating from all the thrill. I couldn’t tell if I was happy or really anxious from the attention.

I got a little afraid once i reached 10k or something like that. I didn’t have a story for the “AU” nor did i ever create one in my life. I couldn’t tell if people liked filler episodes or random episodes or if they really liked the lore/plot.(everyone was angry at qwel for not showing any lore so I got worried about that happening with me and wasting everyone’s time.)

GROWING GUILT.

At one point i took a break from the comic to create some silly little christmas special which,, i should have planned out beforehand. It felt like I made a promise to post every night for december like a christmas advent calendar(that was the plan basically).

Big mistake. I already had an insecurity/fear of disappointing others. I believed i could make these silly little shorts every night. I once again struggled to sleep and eat but this time from guilt that was growing. I finally called it quits on the 7th day(sad ik i only made it to 7 days lol) since a lot of people were concerned once i was late and i seriously didn’t want to concern anyone. I still had ideas but i couldn’t keep up with the days.

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT.

The support from the familiar faces was and still is overwhelming. Everyone was/is so nice and yet i still felt like i let everyone down? I felt like i needed to give more or try harder as thank you for supporting and being there and for treating me like a human being especially when other creators had people pushing them to make their comics. No one asked me to try harder but i felt/feel the need to push myself, or to make a better version each time.

I don’t know how to take compliments. A small thank you doesn’t feel like enough. I want to do MORE but I know I can’t.

TOOK A BREAK.

I didn’t want to take a break, but it was needed. I also needed to take advice from the familiar faces i saw because they were right. I thought I was ready to come back because, I had a story, had a plan to go at my own pace, say a simple thank you for the support, and move along. I also wanted to step out of my comfort zone and become one with the community. (Idk if this was such a good idea tbh LOL. I feel invasive like rodger or shelly.)

FANDOM NEGATIVITY.

I loved the community and how silly we all were back when it was growing. The way people portrayed the characters in their aus, created lore, ships and their names were creative, ocs, and so much more to create a somewhat healthy community. It was Dandy’s world’s prime time for me.

However,,, During March, All i saw was negativity.

No one was negative in my comments, however, whenever i went on tiktok, all it was, was(and still is) negativity. I’m not talking about slimetok or some shit hating on “us” and changing the “💔” emoji to a rotting flower, I’m talking about our OWN community hating on the new updates, hating on certain characters, on aus, on ships, hating on ANYTHING that helped create the community. Some of the community members are also something else. All of this negativity really killed my motivation(personal stuff too). Dgmw, people can have opinions, but holy shit? How much negativity are you gonna diarrhea out???????

We’ve got bigger problems in the world. I already know this! But we kind of need to be happy here and there or else we’ll all be depressed or some shit.(an escape basically.) Unfortunately I used DW to cope which is probably why i’m feeling sad about all of this negative change.

OVERTHINKING DISAPPOINTMENT.

Due to the popularity on tiktok, I felt as though i was disappointing those large amount of numbers. I do feel like i should only focus on the people who are “closer” to the account, but i’ve had another issue with that too. Anyone I feel closer to, I feel like they’re going to be more disappointed not only in the art but they’ll get bored with my personality too? I’m still trying my hardest not to care so much about disappointment but it’s been a little tricky.

Unfortunately I look at my art differently now, hating everything i post and judging myself too quickly. I spent over 150 hrs on the two long comics “Abc song” “Snowballs coming your way” or something like that, and despise them. I also disliked the gigi/flutter/looey comic even though that one had gained the most attention on tiktok.

THE POSITIVE…?

I’m still drawing/posting since people get inspired by the art/perspective and it still makes me feel worthy enough to continue the comic/drawing. I too want to like my art again, so i’m not giving up. also my little sister took my ipad for school projects so i can’t exactly draw much rn…🧍

[endlesslyhyperfixating]

Richie Jeromovich might just have the best character arc in The Bear, and I’ll die on that hill. Like, season one Richie? That man was a mess. Loud, defensive, constantly posturing like he had everything figured out when, in reality, he was barely holding it together. And the thing is, you can tell he’s not a bad guy—he’s just stuck. Stuck in the past, stuck in his grief over Mikey, stuck in his idea of who he’s supposed to be. Stuck in his "Delicate fuckin' ecosystem"

It’s frustrating because you see the potential, but he’s his own worst enemy at first. All the way up until the season one finale, and even into season two he's slow to his journey of self actualization. He's slow to growth.

Then we get Forks. Oh my god. Watching Richie get thrown into that fine-dining hellscape and, instead of fighting it like you’d expect and like he initially does, actually leaning in? That’s growth. That’s what self-improvement actually looks like—getting uncomfortable, learning from people who know more than you, and deciding to take yourself seriously.

He thought- and somehow still while being there in that environment - that Carmen sent him there to fuck him over, but eventually he realized that wow, this place actually made him. And it can make Richie too

Him clocking how much care and pride those chefs put into every single task? Watching him learn how to be of service rather than just taking up space? And let’s be real, he looked good as hell in that suit.

But what really kills me about Richie’s arc is how he doesn’t just grow—he actively seeks out ways to keep growing. He starts throwing out words like actionable when he’s writing down his non-negotiables in season three because this man is not just thinking about what he wants—he’s thinking about how to make it happen. Even if it's bothersome to Carmy, but let's be for real, Carmen had his regression all of season three (but that's a rant for another time.)

Richie, of all people, talking about actionable goals? The same dude who used to spend his days ranting about kids not respecting Al Capone? That’s insane growth.

And peep how he STAYS calling Carmen out on his toxicity too? Although they both said shitty things in their season two finale fight in the fridge, Richie knows Carmen's on edge and even being indirectly aware of Carmen's repeating trauma and abusive cycles.

And then there’s the way he handles Carmy. He could have gone back to their usual screaming matches(which hey, they still kinda do because they still be "fuck you"-ing each other) , but no—Richie actually calls him out. He tells Carmy the truth, tells him he’s hurting people, tells him to stop acting like he’s alone in everything. And that’s the Richie we saw glimpses of all along—the one who gives a shit. He doesn’t just want to be better for himself; he wants to be better for the people around him.

Richie’s growth isn’t linear, and that’s what makes it so damn good. He backslides, he gets in his own way sometimes, but he keeps pushing forward. He keeps choosing to be better. And that? That’s everything.

Season one Richie would look at season three Richie in pure shock. N' probably make fun of his suit too.

Point is, Richie is a character I really can't wait to see in his continued growth.

[p-oisn]

let's get positive ! (⁠ʃ⁠ƪ⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠）

(the content below the cut contains mentions of sensitive topics such as implied su*cide & sh so pls scroll if you're uncomfortable w those !)

this is a long rant about life basically .. 💩💩

i was going to make a post like this sometime later anyways bc i felt .. like a nice person ... but i made it a bit earlier than i expected bc i saw a post from oomf that really made me think .. so here u go

this comes from my own PERSONAL experiences and this is js my point of view yk !!! im no expert on any topic HSHSJ this is js the way i cope plz dont come for me in my asks ... i am aware that it isn't the same for everyone but , i hope this message can be helpful to some extent </3

if you feel like like life is leading nowhere n you feel like giving up I PROMISE it will get better bc i felt the same for two whole years n i will say that i have improved a LOT since . yes , it took me longer than i expected but i didn't give up and you shouldn't either ! it was hard n there were times i felt like i wasn't making any progress / improvement but in the end , it still got better

be kinder (to yourself, first) ☆

i think the first step to loving yourself is to forgive yourself .. its okay to try over n over again , you're still human n i think ppl tend to forget that often bc they're so tough on theirselves . let's not forget that your body is actively trying it's best to keep u alive , your WBCs for example ! (let's appreciate these little guys for trying their best 🎉🎉) your body too , deserves to be loved back , for fighting so hard just for YOU! so pls don't hurt yourself in any way </3

appreciate yourself for achieving even the smallest of tasks because even if it wasn't something big , YOU DID IT ANYWAYS ! every small achievement of yours deserves to be appreciated . even if it's momentary happiness , appreciate yourself while it lasts . i understand that sometimes even small things could be such a hassle but you can always reward yourself later ! i personally like to buy donuts everytime i finish something (this could come in handy when you're really craving something if you get what im saying ..)

It's okay if you're going at a slower pace than other people , what matters in the end is that you get it done ! everyone is not the same so it's unfair to put yourself down for such things .. also applies to comparing yourself to someone because in the end you'll still be you .. even if you don't like it .. that makes you unique ofcourse , there's only one of you in this world so embrace yourself for that !! you're one of a kind (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)

oh, but, life's the same, it's boring ... ☆

yes , a lot of days could end up being the exact same because like , there are 365 days in a year so you can except most of them to be similar .. but as a new year starts , ofc many things change without you even noticing it , you grow older ofcourse , and you could be starting a new year in school , you meet new people and so on ! if you compare your life from a year ago or even a few months ago to now , you'll surely notice a few differences atleast so .. life is not reaaaaally the same right .... everyday is a new experience ! literally anything and i mean anything could happen the next day , you could even win the lottery who knows 🤫

when i felt like everyday was the same , i tried changing my patterns .. (my current favourite thing to do is go on a walk ! sometimes i take my dog w me , it's super fun) i would do small things that i dont usually do like sketch ! or i attempt cooking something new .. but obviously there were a LOT of days where i did nothing , sometimes even weeks , and that's okay ! we all deserve days where we do nothing ESPECIALLY if you're someone who is working or js in school / college everyday .. you deserve that break

i think a big factor is being unproductive ? don't get me wrong , i still am my same unproductive self at times unfortunately , n sometimes they do get so bad that they lead to a terrible burnout .. n i went through a rly bad burnout not long ago n trust me you do not want to get this far :( how do i deal with this ? (let's take studying as an example here) well i always start off with small portions , even if it's just a page or two . n then i slowly keep increasing the amount of pages i read .. n yes ofc , i understand how brutal burnouts can get sometimes n that's why it's important to not overwhelm yourself by attempting to finish a big portion of your studies in one go .. just take it easy , let the information marinate in your head for a bit before you move on to the next topic .. so basically what im trying to say here is don't overwhelm yourself with big tasks especially when you're already burntout

friends .. they're great ☆

the thing that honestly improved my life by a mile is getting good friends .. I've had my fair share of bad friend groups so trust me when I say this , it's better to be alone than with people who drain you mentally because . you deserve someone who treats you the way you actually want to be treated .

"but it's hard to make friends" i completely get this because i am a very shy person myself </3 but i think you could start by trying to make friends online ! its easy to find someone with similar interests on the internet .. so when you feel down atleast you know that there's someone on the other side of the world who cares for you ..

but this doesn't change the fact that solitude is AMAZING too (tbh i could go on for a really long time on how i love being by myself but this is already getting super lengthy ...) you can be your own friend too ! (okay see now this seems insane but if it makes you happy WHO CARES AMIRITE) i personally enjoy my own company like omg .. she can get a good laugh out of me sometimes ... you can do whatever you want when you're alone ! you can dance to your favourite playlist or experiment with a bunch of stuff ! if you get bored you can watch your favourite movie or consume your favourite piece of media that no one gets like you 🤫 so , as much as making friends sounds great , let's appreciate solitude too !!

ah, life can be beautiful sometimes? ☆

one of the biggest reasons i go on walks almost regularly is to remind myself how beautiful the world can be sometimes .. (atp half of this is me convincing you all to go on walks) i live in a beautiful neighbourhood n there are a lot of different flowers and fruits that grow here and that makes me really happy . going on early morning walks especially is soo fun , the world is so quiet then and you can even watch the sunrise 🥹

another thing is buying myself things i like ... especially clothes ... if you think you would look good in something then js go ahead and buy it ! don't mind what other people think because like ... YOU are wearing it and if people around you have a problem with that then i think they should close their damn eyes and not look at you if it bothers them that much 🤦 you deserve to feel confident and comfortable in your own skin , you deserve to dress the way you want to ! so if you feel like dressing a particular way would make you feel better .. GO FOR IT !!! this applies to other things you like, maybe accessories, merch or stationary that look cute .. it's okay even if people judge you for your style because in the end they're the ones who are boring and miserable because they spend soo much time hating on others 😒

life is soo much more fun when you take care of yourself trust me ... you deserve to be taken care of !! so spoil yourself once in a while i promise it's okay as long as it makes you happy <3

to sum it all up .. yes , good times don't last forever but so don't bad times , and you and i both can get through a bad day because life is still going on (⁠*⁠˘⁠︶⁠˘⁠*⁠)⁠.⁠｡⁠*⁠♡ bad times too , will pass . so please believe in yourself and hold on !! i love you

again, this is all how*I* like to cheer myself up so pls don't take anything here in a bad way 😖 all of this was made with good intentions and im so sorry if i still ended up hurting anyone in any way ..

[modern-inheritance]

It’s probably me being salty and emotionally fuckywucky but honestly, guys, I know I said it before, but I’m tired.

I say it every time but I put my whole fucking self into these stories. They’re literally the only thing I do besides YouTube, work, dnd, chatting with my Norwegian friend, and walking my dog.

I got to talk with someone from AO3 side of things asking how to increase views and get more feedback. Because yeah, internet dopamine is great. I’m not going to lie, I write because I like to AND because I get dopamine from other people enjoying it and being vocal about it! I love to learn and improve and discuss how I can make MIC better.

I’m bc grateful for the feedback! It also confirmed what I suspected for the last 3-4 years and that’s that MIC will probably never really be popular in the fandom. This isn’t their words, they were nothing but kind and honest, which is exactly was I asked for.

The reason for the lack of interest from the fandom is of course complex and multifaceted, but one of the heaviest and main points is that it’s because a majority of the stories are Arya focused.

People dislike canon Arya so fucking much that they have a tendency to scroll past and exclude stories featuring or including her simply because she is in them.

And from the bottom of my heart I am seriously considering chucking this entire fucking thing and giving up. I don’t want to, but it is so sickening to put so much of myself into this and my AU version of a world and enjoy this so much and then get nutshot every time because I center my stories around Arya. To not even be given a chance to show that MIC!Arya is not her canon counterpart without going directly to random individuals and shoving files and snippets into their DMs makes me feel like shit and I’m getting tired of it.

Making a world or crafting one out of the bones of someone else’s and trying to get others to come and check out your cool little corner of the universe, finding no one wants to because you named put a new city where fucking Detroit or some shit is in their world and them refusing to come and even check out the other places and things you made because ‘Ew, Detroit’s a broken shitty city, gross.’ Would be pretty fucked up, huh?

Also, haha, I’m going to lose even more people with this, but my resentment has reached the point where I find myself actively resenting Murtagh. So there’s that!

Anyway, imma log off for a while. I needed to vent this. I’ll see what the future holds. I’d hate to stop writing, and I know I probably can’t, but I don’t know how much longer I can do this. “Just put yourself out there!” Why yes, Sharon! I did! And I’d rather be vocally shit on than be met with snide indifference! 😁 I’m a 27 year old fucking adult and I am having a fucking hissy fit over fanfiction and being an attention whore! Fun fucking times!

[spookygingerr]

Art Tag

thanks so much for tagging me Doshi, @doshiart, this was really fun to do!

How did you start drawing? What year was it that you became seriously and consciously interested in it?

i have always loved drawing and i can’t even remember how or when i started. i tarted practising consistently and with clear direction and goals just last year, 2023.

When did you start sharing drawings on social media?

this year :) i was scared to become active in the fandom at first but i started by asking Willow, @ian-galagher, and question and was so reassured by how kind they are that it gave me the courage to get involved and interact with the rest of the fandom.

Your first drawing. And first fanart. What were your impressions of it then, and what are they now?

i don’t have my first drawing but i do have a notebook filled of with drawings like these. the second drawing is inspired by stardoll so that is probably my first fanart. at the time i thought i was a fashion icon, now not so much.

First gallavich fanart

i am a serial deleter of old art i don’t like anymore but these are some i kept.

On bad days where things don’t work out, what kept you inspired?

similar for Doshi! some days i’m just not feeling it so i just take a break

An old piece you strongly dislike and why?

this is the that old! i just think i could have done better, there’s ones i dislike even more but they are long gone in the digital trash can. bodies are hard but i do think im started to see improvement now …

Show me an old piece you really like and why. What’s the difference?

this is from a similar time as the gallavich one but i did way better on the arms and the rendering.

An old piece you were proud of back then

this is one of first drawings i did completely free hand and i still think i did an amazing job.

Do you do any practise sketches or warm ups?

no but i should and i’m gonna start today

Sketch vs final

Your most recent drawing

it’s for secret santa so no showing

Give yourself some praise:

i have come a long way from starting with a traced outline and meticulously copying every highlight and shadow of a photograph to now free handing from start to finish with references as guides.

Any advice you’d give to your earlier self?

don’t be afraid to make ‘bad’ art, if you were already ‘perfect’ there’d be no point in practising (i still need to listen to my own advice)

Set a goal for the coming year:

just keep consistently practising and studying

[hemthead]

I think I'm reaching that point in my life where I realize just how daunting being transgender, lesbian, and vaguely asexual is. Like, I've spent my life knowing that I'm not what I "am" and I'm finally gaining the courage and words to tell myself what that means, but I'm also growing smart enough to understand how hard it's going to be for me.

In the past, my parents have told me that they would "not allow any of their children to be trans." Every time I've expressed any sort of trans desire it's played like a sick joke. "Haha, look, our son is wearing women's clothes, isn't that funny and weird and disappointing to you?!" Heck, I remember when my parents said it wouldn't be okay to be gay (/lesbian), that's a core memory right there!

It doesn't help that my parents actively ignore me when I promote any talk of trans/LGBTQ+ issues (especially regarding a specific president-elect who totally "does not dislike LGBTQ+ people at all," and "in no way opposes people's rights.")

Do I think that my parents would actually hate me for transitioning? No, but it heavily pains and hurts me that they would only care about LGBTQ+ issues when it impacts them (via me). And, no small part of me doubts that they would approach my identity with any validity. It's hard not to worry that everyone's gonna think I'm just "going through a phase" when I've known I'm this way for as long as I can remember.

My birthday is coming up really soon, and my mother has been asking me what I want. This is the first birthday where I've actually been able to tell her some things that I want (in no small part because of my newfound understanding of myself and self-recognition). But it still breaks me when she pushes me to keep telling her what to buy and I know I can't tell her that I want skirts and dresses and makeup and women's clothes and cute things and to be a girl and, most of all, to be affirmed, to be told that it's okay to be me. The closest I've gotten to any of that is asking for a nail file =|:'(

Luckily, I've never been one to give up easily! There ain't nobody in the world that can get me to stop finding satisfaction in being and knowing myself, no matter how much I have to hide or fight. As a result of my upbringing, I often have a really hard time feeling any emotions anyway, there's just a plodding desire to get through life until we can be ourselves and have fun again, no matter what. Try to kill that >:]

If need be, I'll wait until I'm so old my transgenderism looks like a deterioration of my identity, lmao, WHAT A GREAT COVER UP! Be on the lookout, descendants!

p.s. It's amazingly wonderful how much better writing a blog post can make you feel. I guess I've always understood that journals/diaries are good for you, but that's never been an option for me because of snooping parents, so I'm just now getting to this at the ripe age of almost-17, lol. Anyway, I understand that this post is pretty rambly in the middle; I'll try and be a better writer next time =|;)=; So far my only experience with this at all has been the few tumblr posts that I've made here, so there's a lot of room for improvement, which is great!

[droughtofapathy]

"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

Pirates! The Penzence Musical

April 17, 2025 | Broadway | Todd Haimes Theatre | Evening | Musical | Revival | 2H 15M

Disclaimer: I have listened to this musical exactly once, and have no emotional attachment to the original and subsequent productions whatsoever.

And let me start by saying that all my initial misgivings when those promo images came out were entirely unfounded. This clever adaptation proves to be the very model of a modern major delight. The recontextualization of the story in New Orleans does very little to influence the actual story, and I'm still not quite sure what the point of that was, but do I care? No. Because I spent two hours just having a blast. Who says DOA hates fun? There have been several revivals recently where it's clear the creative team holds active contempt for the source material, but here, it's still respected even as changes are implemented. I want to give special props to the scenic design that brings back color and light into our theatres. The sets are a beautiful homage to the beloved painted backdrop and practical set pieces of yesteryear. We are so back. The costumes are a marked improvement from the Party City look of the key art, though I didn't really love the act one maiden outfits. The act two dressing gowns (beautiful patterns) were so much better.

The Major General's role is expanded for the better, and with David Hyde Pierce as his wonderful charming self, we get a better sense of his character and moral code in ceaselessly humorous ways. If *I* were giving out Tonys, I'd be engraving his name on it as we speak. This is also the first time I've been at all interested in what Ramin Karimloo is doing. He does affably villainous very well. Would I have preferred he put on a shirt at any point in time? Yes, but I'm alone on that hill. I...didn't not like Jinxx Monsoon, but I've also never seen her perform before, and I always hear so many raves that I guess the reality just didn't live up to the hype? She's fine and definitely better in the second act, but I'm not sure this is the role for her. Frederick is appropriately earnest and endearing, and Mabel is (I gather) markedly different from past iterations. No longer is she an innocent little ingenue. She's going to ride that boy from sea to shining sea, mark my words.

As a whole, the show does so well leaning into the silly romp nature. The last half hour is just nonstop high-energy choreography. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. Less successful, a portion of act two after DHP's number does drag just a bit, but that seems like something just intrinsic to the show as a whole. And while Rupert Holmes has delivered his patented paunchy dialogue, the final message of "we're all from different places, which is what makes this country great" is a little preachy, if you ask me. Yes, yes, great message to throw into your show, especially now, but it just seems too on-the-nose. There's also the industry-wide issue of poor audio mixing. DHP comes out best out of everyone, but the group numbers are largely overpowered by the orchestra and it takes a lot more careful listening to catch every lyric. Overall, it's a fiendishly enjoyable evening at the theatre, and I think we're going to be seeing a lot of that as the country burns down around us.

Verdict: A Lovely Night

A Note on Ratings

[mania-sama]

Hehehehe

🧩 ⇢ what will make you click away from a fanfiction immediately?

🛼 ⇢ describe your latest wip with five emojis

🪐 ⇢ name three good things going on in your life right now

🦋 ⇢ share something that has been on your heart and mind lately (💜💜💜)

➼ what will make you click away from a fanfiction immediately?

I'm going to be honest, I'll read just about anything that is mildly entertaining. Outside of the normal hard-to-read things that will make most anybody click away (horrific ((and I mean horrific)) grammar, only one paragraph, etc.), I will power through it. There are types of fics I tend to avoid, but then I probably never clicked on them in the first place.

For me, the easiest way to make me click off of something is if it's boring. Like I said, as long as I'm entertained, I'll read it. Bad grammar? If I'm having a good time, I don't care. First person? If it's short, I don't care. OOC? I don't care if they wouldn't say that, they did in this fic and it was hilarious. Ship I don't like/don't care about/never read for? Well, I am now because I am hooked by this summary. Even if I'm moreso laughing at a fic than I am with it (case in point, semi-recent Klance fic I read that was objectively bad but it was so bad that I literally had to finish it), if you've written something mildly interesting or entertaining, then I will read it.

So, not much will make me click away, but one thing will. I give a fic like three paragraphs to prove to me it will be fun to read in one manner or another. As soon as I stop caring, I immediately stop reading. I'm here to have fun, not to force myself to consume something I don't want to.

➼ describe your latest wip with five emojis

🚢🛶☠️🌊🏐 … If this means anything at all.

➼ name three good things going on in your life right now

I've been very good at keeping contact with my friends lately, which I think is very very good. I've also spent much more time dedicated to writing in recent days, so that means I've made significant progress in the WIP for the previous question. And for the final one, I'd say the best thing going on my life at the moment is that I'm really just. At peace with myself. While I do have occasional moments of stress and/or anxiety, I've been very happy, very intentional in my wants to improve my daily life and achieve my goals. It is a far cry from what my younger self thought that I would look like at this age (namely, she thought I would be Dead). But fuck you younger me, I'm not only alive, but I am happy and thriving.

➼ share something that has been on your heart and mind lately (💜💜💜)

VERY LONG RANT IN THE CUT BE WARNED LORD

While I am not going to talk about politics or the state of really serious world matters (i.e. Gaza, Ukraine-Russia War, etc.) in response to this question, I AM going to use this opportunity to give a little explanation. I am American. I have it in my masterpost so people are more aware of what my posting schedule may be like and what type of language, dialect, and slang my fics will have. I do NOT have it in there as a way to insert political ideologies or to invite discussion of politics in any capacity. I have gone out of my way to make sure I do not state my opinions on what is occurring in my country or on more pressing worldwide issues, aside from one time when President Trump had his first assassination attempt (because it was crazy). My Tumblr is not the place for any discussion of that sort. Nobody who follows me wants to hear about that; not every personal blog needs to be politically active. My blog is for shits and giggles and fandoms and games and fun and my rants on stupid people on the Internet and in my personal life, not for intensely serious subjects. I don't want to shove those kinds of opinions down people's throats. Because of course I have opinions; we all do. I just don't wish to express them when given the choice.

Trust me I did not think that you, specifically, asked for this question so I could talk about politics lol I really am just using that as a loose opportunity to address it for anyone who may be curious. I will instead be talking about something that I think about subconsciously at least... once every hour. It's sort of a pressing issue of my life, and it falls under the rant category of Stupid People on Internet and Personal Life.

Anti-intellectualism. Or, more along the lines of the Inability To Think For One's Self.

I will admit that I have a hint of an unfortunate superiority complex, so my words are minced by bias. But anyway. I am constantly pissed off by the people around me because I swear to God nobody wants to think about things in any critical light at all. There are absolutely two ways to look at a situation or person at all times; the conclusion may be the same, but the angle is different. Some people do not understand this very basic concept.

I will take the infamous BookTok as the primary example. BookTok is a subsect of TikTok that gets a very bad rep because they tend to recommend corny, smutty romance books constantly. While these books are certainly not the highest of quality, they are still enjoyed by these people. At the very least, people are reading, and that is a good thing. People outside of BookTok look at these people reading corny, smutty romance books of somewhat poor quality and immediately dogpile on them for being "anti-intellectual" for not wanting to read higher quality books like Babel by R. F. Kuang or classic novels like To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Then, the BookTok people respond to this the outsiders by saying inherently unintellectual things like "books shouldn't be political" and "you don't always need to criticize something" and "let us enjoy in peace". There is merit to the backlash to the backlash; you can be allowed to enjoy something without thinking about critically. BUT nobody is forcing you to watch other people crap on your favorite book/genre. And, books are an artform that is also inherently meant to be criticized; the written word has always been a source of normal and political discourse for literally as long as it has been around. Then there is the argument of letting them enjoy it in peace which, again, can be founded on ignoring the haters and liking what you like, but you should also be aware of when certain tropes are harmful and misused in published works. Literature is literature; anybody can write anything. I hate censorship. Books should not be banned. But it is also important to recognize when books are promoting bad behaviors, harmful stereotypes, and romanticizing abuse in a way that does not teach the reader to avoid or defend against abuse.

And this is coming from someone who goes out of her way to read gore. But the fanfiction vs published book debate is a whole different rant that I do not have the space for on this reply.

Continuing on: people also don't have to read the classics, or "good" novels. I think that they probably should every now and then, but honestly, just read whatever makes you happy. It is not a requirement to read something that you don't like just because people are getting their noses all up in the air about it. You don't need to read the classics to be an intellectual. It's okay.

But also: BookTok does display a level of anti-intellectualism that other people do not. And this is not because of the content that the read, but because of the way they defend it like those books personally saved their crops from burning and their babies from dying of yellow fever. Like seriously.

(That is also directed at the All For The Game fandom because y'all are fighting invisible discourse all the time. Yes your favorite book series has major problems. Sakavic is not a fucking genius lmfao she did not bless you with wealth and good health.)

Anyway. I talked about the "BookTok" discourse to show that there ARE two sides to an equation. BookTok wouldn't be responding viscerally if people weren't being so antagonistic about other people actually choosing to READ (which is a GOOD thing). Nowadays, people tend to be on either one camp or another. In fact, people tend to base all of their opinions and ideologies off of other people. Which then creates a whole bunch of people believing in one thing (versus another camp who all believe in another thing) and nobody is using their BRAINS to realize that there is, indeed, a middle ground.

Yes. You can think for yourself. You can create your own ideas, do your own things, and do as you please without having to first base your life on someone else's. Case in point: Nikocado Avocado.

I want to start by saying that if I could roast any current living person over a fire, I'd probably pick him. And it's really not even his fault entirely, it's that people wouldn't use the organ in their head to think critically about the situation. For anyone uninformed, Nikocado Avocado is an American mukbang Youtuber who somewhat accidentally fell down a very large pipeline from going to vegan to a morbidly obese, unhealthy person eating an honestly gross amount of fast food while behaving and presenting himself as insufferable, inhumane person who whines and cries like a big fat baby.

Then, he posted a video where he said that his entire channel was a "social experiment" and that he is always "two steps ahead" of the audience and everyone else on Planet Earth, apparently. Because he is just That Guy I guess. And THEN he posts a little while later of him as he is now, which is him at a health weight and enjoying food like a normal person and behaving like a normal person (kind of, if you disregard him thinking he's the Center of the Universe and Everyone is His Pawn on His Chessboard shtick he has going on).

And you know what??? I watched that original video where he said everything was a social experiment and I went "oh, so you're finally realizing that all of this was a big mistake?? That you ruined your health, marriage, and LIFE just to chase money that, ultimately, didn't make you happy?? Oh and you're going to blame the audience, as if they were not constantly encouraging you to stop what you're doing and go see a doctor?? As if people were not watching because they were morbidly entertained by your downfall, that you were not profiting off of YOUR downfall??? You're going to frame you ruining your life as a social experiment and turn the Entire Internet into the bad guy??? This is the worst and most obvious BS I have ever seen in my life."

So you could imagine it made me so unbelievably mad to go online and see that people were freaking out/were scared by his intonation and video. I was FUMING. And obviously I know this was not everyone, but the people who did believe him were very loud and very obnoxious about it.

And then it got worse whenever he lost of that weight "suddenly", as if it was not obvious he just stocked up footage to post while he was losing weight. And then obviously framed it like he was "two steps ahead" and that SAME LOUD GROUP lost their FUCKING MINDS over it, wondering "how could he do this??" and "oh he really was playing us!" And even worse, there was the other camp that believed that he was faking the weight loss, that he was somehow editing himself from the past or making himself skinny in the video. That was objectively worse than people believing him being a smart person in any capacity.

The point is this: he ruined his life, blamed the Internet, lost the weight, and put himself as Genius of the World. And I hope he gets roasted over a pit like a hog because I hate his guts because I know. I KNOW that motherfucker preened when he saw people freaking out over the first video and then the weight loss reveal. I know he was basking in his golden-turd-glory and I am a catty bitch that HATES his success.

The only compliment I will give him is that he did lose the weight. He did, in the end, turn his life around. And that is good. And that is the ONLY thing good about him.

Okay well this got turned into a rant about Nikocado Avocado. I meant to mean that people couldn't think critically and they just kind of. Believed Nick when he said he was a genius and that this was a social experiment. Or they didn't believe his weight loss because other people were speculating so it became a whole thing.

And this kind of thing happens pretty much everywhere. It's happening more often with the increasing popularity of social media. Using an older example is when people (typically in the "older" generations, though I can name quite a few uninformed peers who also fell/are falling for it) believed that schools were putting litter boxes in their hallways for those who identify as cats. Literally why would anyone believe that. ITS BECAUSE. PEOPLE DO NOT. THINK. FOR THEMSELVES. RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

(And when I say "people", I mean it as a general term. Not an "everyone" term. You get what I mean. Not everyone is lacking critical thinking skills. Just some very loud, very obnoxious people.)

[dez-wade]

(This is all in character I can’t be bothered to add q! every time)

I’m ngl at least between the brazilian characters and gringo characters I feel like you are just not allowed to criticize anyone from either side lol. Like I personally find it valid to not let go of some memories or events, even if it’s months old. Examples being foolish arresting pac and mike, Jaiden finding the way stone, forever hitting leo etc. because these were big emotional rp moments and it just feels like disservice for them to not have any lasting impact. And if characters forgive each other, we get the satisfaction of growing character development and relationships

From MY PERSPECTIVE viewers of pretty much any character are always going to lean into self-victimizing angst and idk what can even be done about it lul. Like no character or storyline in IMPROV rp is gonna be perfect or even have perfect reasoning (also instead of viewers using “sillyness” as a reasoning I think it’s perfectly fine to just like…..conclude that maybe the cc thought that course of action would enable funner rp)

That ended up a bit too long, so there's me criticizing the fandom under cut.

I think the point of me being bothered about people not forgetting some actions, is that they don't do it in a constructive way. For example, I think the Bobby Fields should be remembered because it shapes Jaiden's mistrust and paranoia and also has great moments with Forever paralleling Jaiden, including a lot of foreshadowing that would pay off in Forever's arc. But when people just go about mindless hate or just to twist a character into what they aren't just to justify to keep talking badly about them months after the fact, it's no fun. Especially because a lot of it was also hate to the CC.

The Leo incident could have been amazing but the CC got SO much hate that he almost dropped QSMP and to this day he barely talks about it because it reminds him of the hate he got. It wasn't just qForever hate. He dropped an entire villain arc because of that. He apologized multiple times to cc!Foolish because of guilt.

I feel like there were very few CCs that were so harshly "criticized" as he was.

And what bothers me is also not "they're being silly" it's the hypocrisy of the fandom, I usually don't mind what the characters do. How you're complaining about Foolish not being taken seriously ever by his peers, but when he betrayed his friends and arrested them it's because "it's funny" or "just a joke". The selectiveness of what should be taken seriously or not is only when it benefits the characters.

I think it's fine if the characters do it because they're "silly" or "just a little guy", some characters ARE like that (actually, most of them.) But also some people are allowed to not like when they screw over a character they like because of sillyness. It doesn't erase the character's feelings.

I don't think things will get better though because since the characters share the name with the CCs, and the CCs are very active on Twitter, no matter if people are using Q or not before the name it's always gonna have people complaining and mistaking it as hate. So a lot of people walk around eggshells when this happens. But I usually don't see that happening with some characters who are freely criticized. So people end up getting mad at the double standards.

The Jaiden situation for example, breaking into the Fear room, I particularly didn't give a shit about it and I even felt disappointed the codebreakers weren't working. I actually wanted her to read the files. But people defending her immediately brought Forever up to talk about how what he did to her was way worse, even though Forever is not even involved in that situation and it's about Jaiden and Cellbit, the guy who even defended her from Forever about the Bobby Fields. Other people brought him up to say how unfair it was the massive hate Forever got for doing something similar, while Jaiden got it easy. It's not that people want her to be hated, but it does sting seeing the same people who complained the most about qForever can brush it off when another CC does it.

So the double standards do exist, for me most people would appreciate the drama the characters create. I think it's funny to criticize because it's a story after all, but you can't help but feel annoyed at how some characters have it worse than others for similar actions.

Another great example is when people defended Foolish for arresting Tazercraft saying how it was just a joke, but when they tricked him into believing they killed Leo then revealed that it was a prank and started laughing, these same people were criticizing Tazercraft saying it wasn't a funny joke. That they thought it was cruel. Even though that was the lesson they wanted Foolish to learn, that what might be funny to you, might not be so funny for the others. And he understood that! His chat didn't, and for them Foolish was the sole victim.

So in the end, what bothers me is mostly the fandom lol

I don't dislike any character, despite having been displeased with a lot of multiple characters' actions. But some people can make the character more annoying just by how they try to defend them. But it's always important to try to separate them to the max.

[astromechs]

I read through your breakdown of comic related ideas that could have been used in Gamora's post Endgame arc and they were really good! All the details you hit on were smart and logical. I most loved how you pointed out that Gamora's arc/story didn't end at the hands of Thanos in the comics and it didn't have to end that way in the films either.

I think the main thing that keeps me from having vol 3 be at the top of my faves list with 1&2 is that every writing move for Gamora after IW turned out to be more in favor of making sure what Thanos did stood out than it was about making sure Gamora's own arc stood out. Her being a guardian wasn't a cute little subplot in a larger story. It was the story. Her relationships and things she accomplished weren't fun little bonuses, they were huge gains after years of serving Thanos and only having his vision for her life count towards her identity. Taking these away from her first through her murder and then through the time travel wasn't a small roadblock. It was no different than taking the history of Iron Man building his suit, or the significance of Captain America's shield. In vol 1 Rocket talked about how they all had dead people and the poignancy was that even though they all had those tragedies in the past, once they found eachother they got to move forward. Gamora's death turned her into another tragedy in the past and also another poor dead lady at the hands of an abuser power hungry God like Meredith and Lylla. Worse though is that we never got to explore what that tragedy really meant to Gamora either through redirecting back onto her life through a funeral or by having her past self get to reflect on it and work through those feelings. It was obvious in Endgame that 2014 Gamora had a lot to process between being in the future, finding out she was killed and realizing she had a family. She wasn't unaffected or emotionless about everything. Even if she decided to make different choices all of this was something major to mentally work out. We never got to see her go through much of the process and as such it kind of made Gamora less of an active participant in the aftermath of a story very much linked to her. It also impacted an important relationship for Nebula too which was the most central relationship between women in the story.

My other problem is that they stayed cleverly away from humanizing her death. It was like how in real life when people want to water down a heinous crime they will say tragic event or unfortunate incident instead of murder, mass shooting, assault etc. But the reason you need to use the actual words is because it gives a raw look at what happened. It makes it real. It's why using a victims name is so important too. It brings back the humanity. Peter is the only one who sort of touched on the reality of what happened and what Gamora meant to the entire existence of the team. That's not enough though. If they were going to do what they did there should have been more ownership of it.

I did love how they handled the arc between Peter and Gamora and in many ways it was a creative and moving take on a love story and finding your way back to someone. I don't want to ignore this or overlook the good. It's just that there was so much more to Gamora's story and it feels like they put a band-aid on the wound rather than cleaning it out and really examining the damage so there could be more thorough healing on Gamora's end.

i'm right there with you, and that's why gamora's arc in vol 3 left something to be desired, for me; the writing tried to both sweep the death under the rug and also sometimes acknowledge it, and then not exploring this gamora's experience about it in much depth. i wish the film had done this, because ultimately some of the issues i had with it would've been improved. it's like you said — gamora's overall story being overshadowed for the benefit of thanos, and then not much ground there being made up for.

all things considered, though, even with the issues i have regarding how gamora as a character specifically was handled, i really like how the arc was handled between gamora and peter in vol 3. it was really poignant and beautiful, and had a lot of hope for them finding their way back to each other after that tragedy. it ended exactly where it needed to, canonically — and i'm excited to take it from here and explore it in some of my own future writing.

(and thank you so much! 💙)

[stew-pod]

Unfinished Business: Returning to the Things That Make You Feel Alive

Have you ever lost track of time doing something you love? That moment when everything else fades, and it’s just you and something that you’re passionate about? That’s how I feel whenever I’m holding my camera or writing something like this.

There was a time when I put my camera down for months, buried under deadlines and the pressure to ‘be productive.’ I told myself I didn’t have time for photography, I’m already filled with so much workload and my words are running the show now. But the more I ignored it, the more I felt disconnected from myself.

In a world obsessed with productivity, it’s easy to neglect the things that bring us joy. Studies show that people who regularly engage in their passions experience lower stress levels, greater life satisfaction, and improved mental health. Yet, so many of us push aside the things we love because we’re ‘too busy’ or ‘it’s not practical.’ I’ve even used the excuse (I’m pretty sure it’s not an excuse, but sure) that a girl holding a camera in Manila is a dangerous combination and just screams two of the words that I am most afraid of as a girl that starts with the letter “R”.

But here’s what I’ve learned: passion isn’t just a hobby you indulge in when you have the time—it’s a vital part of who you are. When we constantly push aside the things that make us feel alive, we start to lose pieces of ourselves. We become shells of who we once were, consumed by the idea that our worth is tied only to how productive we are.

We live in a world that glorifies hustle culture, where every minute is expected to be spent chasing success, meeting deadlines, or proving our value through output. But what if fulfillment wasn’t just about work? What if carving out time for your passions—whether it’s writing, photography, music, or anything that sets your soul on fire—is just as important as chasing career goals?

If you’ve ever felt like you’ve abandoned the things you love in the name of being “productive,” then maybe this is the reminder you need: you are more than just the work you do. And the things you love? They matter.

Pursuing what you love isn’t just about enjoyment; it’s about self-discovery. It teaches you who you are beyond work, beyond expectations. It builds confidence, fuels creativity, and gives life a deeper sense of purpose.

I have always been someone who liked to explore activities that make me learn something. I’ve always said that I am much more of a student of life rather than a student at school. I enjoyed expanding my skills towards activities that I find fun and since I was a kid, I tried to dip my feet into many passion points such as learning guitar, piano, bass, painting, volleyball, badminton, cooking and photography, apart from the things that I’m naturally good at. It seemed a lot, but my mind is just restless and I am taking advantage of the good side of having ADHD.

But despite having so many things that set my soul on fire, the weight of responsibilities felt heavier. The stacks of deadlines turned into mountains, and somewhere along the way, I got buried in the avalanche.

What I’ve realized, though, is that our passions aren’t just side interests—they are reflections of who we are at our core. They allow us to express ourselves in ways words often can’t. They are the most authentic parts of us, untouched by expectations or the need for validation. That’s why embracing what makes you unique—whether it’s through art, movement, music, or something unconventional—isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity. My most favorite TED Talk of Ethan Hawke talks about how art is not a luxury, it’s sustenance. What we do in our daily routine is our way of creating our lives. It is our art.

So if there’s something you love, something that makes you feel like yourself, don’t let it slip away. Make space for it. Let it be a part of your life, not just an afterthought. Because the things that bring you joy? They are worth fighting for.

The things we love are not random. They are part of who we are. Don’t let them fade into the background.

[tryhardgwen]

hello gwen! this ask is actually half a question and half advice-seeking but- how much do you think irl experiences and interactions affect the quality of your writing? i am very socially awkward and closed-off, not to mention i have very few social relations outside my family. when i try to write dialogue the characters seem to be bland and boring and overall flat copies of... myself? i wanted to ask you if you’ve ever had problems such as these before and even if you haven’t, i still wanted to ask your opinion since your writing (in my personal opinion) has the best characterization i’ve ever read. thanks for reading this ask gwen, i really love your writing and have a wonderful day!

hi op! to answer your question, i think irl experiences definitely do affect your writing, but not by an incredible amount and not by a quantitative scale. it's not like if you have more irl experiences to draw from, your writing is automatically better. art is kind of everything, so like, i guess im jsut trying to say you can make art WITH experiences, but you dont NEED experiences to make art. its not a requirement. if you dont have experiences to draw from, who gaf? you have imagination! socially awkward ppl can still make incredible art and writing. imma yap so post break!

in terms of characterization and irl experiences, i feel like thats just more of a personal thing rather than "interactions with people". like, there's the age old question of projecting yourself onto a character and whether thats "better" or not. and again, there are levels to that. while i think it definitely adds a level to realism at times, it isnt necessary for writing. like, you dont have to have a parent die in order to write about it, and if your parent dies you dont have to write it/or even draw from your experience in order to write it. course, sometimes you want to as a form of catharsis and closure but thats entirely different and again projection and use of yourself has nothing to do with quality other than possibly add a layer of realism. but if you have a strong imagination then you dont need that. its a choice: if youve experienced something for yourself you CAN use it in writing, but ultimately art is art and draws on a multitude of things. it doesn't always have to be a reflection of the self. my characterizations vary in projection; some with none, little, or more of me in them, some taking a bit and dialing it to the extreme. (read, omg i have a unrequited crush. time to make it insane levels of simpage from suhwan in ksvstw.)

dialogue is a whole other realm, and it can be a very tricky thing to write. im only good at dialogue because i have practiced it a lot (i do improv, so. yeah.) in that case like.. experience talking with people could lend to it? but not really, because like... its the act of coming up with a story and creating words that each have a purpose to drive the story. every character has their motivations. you don't actively think about those things when you talk in life or interact with people; that's all subconscious. omg i feel like so stupid and like failing to explain my point rn im sorry

okay if i were to give advice on writing characters and dialogue, i would character analyze first. what are motivations, what do they want to achieve. dialogue is a way they can achieve their overarching goal through speech. think about what they want in each line of dialogue. use verbs! to check in? to flirt? to get an answer? there should be goals and meaning in dialogue, not just filler words. everything is there for a reason! but like dont stress about it bc ur writing for fun like I dont even stress over these rules cus i be writing fanfiction you get me?

also a disclaimer if i sound really scary and pretentious rn i really swear im not cus i promise u. i just kinda like narrative theory a lot and studying it, so im giving my advice in that vein (this is actually just advice that i give screenwriters/writers irl LOL). dont hold yourself up to high standards like! AGAIN i dont even use all this shit for my own writing a ton of the time because i dont got the time for that--i just want to write boys kissing. it just sits in the back of my head and subconsciously gets in probably, because irl i do a lot of narrative, fictional media, and character analysis. ultimately writing is imagination, and while building blocks/fundamentals of understanding character can lend itself to efficacy, its something learned over a lot of time and not necessary if youre simply writing without thought and for fun (which is what i do :p).

like seriously op i am way better at writing theory and theorycrafting but in practice i cant. do this shit. idk my brain idk. but thank you for the ask and i hope this helped?? maybe?? omfg

[pazodetrasalba]

Game Theory

Dear Caroline:

I'd guess this kind of criticism would come from either people who are more ruthlessly utilitarian than you, or from people who really enjoy, as you say, 'the object level of their life'. In the first case, I would suspect they are taking their principles too far, to the point that they become robotic slaves of Optimization, perfect +EV machines, which to me feels slightly inhuman and undesirable. At the same time, though, there might be this very EA disdain for fame, glory, recognition and doing intellectually stimulating things, which are meant to be sacrificed on the altar of Utility. After all, EA's stereotypical heroes are people who went into neglected areas and got high impact but little to no public recognition, like Stanislav Petrov and Victor Zhdanov. It seems to include an ethical distaste for conventional rewards in status, fun and pleasure.

As for the second type of objectors, I can find it easier to agree a bit with them, but am still more in your camp here than theirs. You are an incredibly smart and sophisticated person, which matches well with those meta levels of enjoyment that you mention. To a certain point, I suspect this is true of everyone: we are actually hardwired to enjoy the good things in life much less than how we suffer their lack and the bad things in life -an evil but effective motivator of sorts. Even if actual experiences are pleasurable, I would concur that imagining their realization, and turning the into levels passed in some ever-going Game of Life is much more inherently satisfying.

Complex aesthetic and intellectual self-cultivation tends to work for me better than the activities that society generally considers high-status, but I've probably pushed in this direction to a fault. In my socio-economic background, work was inherently tough, unpleasant, dull - each and every coin drenched in the sweat of mostly mindless and physically extenuating activity, which probably communicated the wrong message to my teenage self: strictly search for a job that is intellectually satisfying and that gives you enormous amounts of free time for learning and reading. But I am aware that this might be too egoistic and self-serving, and that one should also cultivate a moral inclination to improving the world and other people's lives, even if not maximally. And I feel that in some people, helping others through sacrificing some of your own appetites is its own, weird source of pleasure and happiness.

Quote:

I agree that it’s good for my job to be optimized for effectiveness and stuff. But I think a lot of my leisure time should be optimized for what I enjoy, and it so happens that signaling is one of my favorite leisure activities.

Caroline Ellison

[bella-studyblr]

Task Management:

Creating + Maintaining a Schoolwork Schedule

Key elements

Your schedule suits your individual time/task management preferences.

It is flexible enough to accommodate sudden changes, plus fluctuating energy levels, states of concentration, symptoms and moods.

Daily tasks are not over-whelming; they are small enough that they are achievable.

You do not get “burned out.”

It allows you to be consistent.

Steps to create your schedule

Decide if you want your planner to be paper or digital

Find an “order” that’s logical and achievable for you (more on this later)

Refer to your addendum/syllabus and write down all the assignments, tests and other events taking place that week/month (and their due-dates).

Then break these down, assigning tasks to each day of the week (more on this later).

Break down your tasks even further (more on this later).

Decide if you want to follow a simple daily to-do list or a timed schedule (more on this later).

Find your “order(s)”

Mandatory: Schedule assignments around other commitments (work, social, hobbies, etc.).

Do the hardest task first to get it out of the way (so that the rest of your tasks are less daunting, and because your smaller tasks require less energy therefore can be done even after completing the hard task).

Do the easiest task first to build momentum (give yourself a feeling of accomplishment which will motivate you to continue, and boost your self-confidence early in the day to establish a positive mindset for the rest of the day).

Do the task that’s due first to minimize deadline stress, and so your assignments don’t fall through the cracks (causing you to get discouraged and lose momentum).

Plan according to your energy level throughout the day and week: Do you have Pilates once a week? Maybe you can reserve that day for easier assignments. If you know you’re going to be tired for whatever reason, account for that in your planning.

Consider your state of concentration: If you know you’re too groggy or spaced out for the first hour of your day, you can either schedule easy tasks in that time, or none at all. If you take a medication in the afternoon/evening that makes you tired, schedule easier tasks or none, and get harder tasks done earlier/later in the day. If you have ADHD and crowded places mess with your concentration, but you like studying at a café, go when it’s not busy.

Be mindful of your emotions and symptoms: If you have depression, or are prone to depressive episodes, you’ll need to consider that when scheduling. You might have to rework your entire schedule when you get into a depressive episode (like adding lots of breaks). If suddenly you’re going through a big life event (like a breakup), you need to account for that when scheduling. For instance, if you can’t stand to be alone, maybe you can go out instead of staying in, and if your motivation is low, you may need to up your reward-system or break down your tasks even more.

Break down this week/month’s tasks

Refer to your addendum/syllabus and write down all your due dates for the time period you’re scheduling for.

Based on due dates, outside commitments, predictions of energy/mood/symptoms, assign assignments to the days of the week/month that make most sense for you.

Break down daily tasks into sub-tasks

You can do this (in advance) for your full week/month’s assignments, or do it every morning/evening.

Generally, your assignments will follow a variation of this formula: brainstorm, create an outline, research, write rough draft, edit and revise. Test/exam prep will look something like: check to see what the test is based on, pinpoint important sections, review to see how well you know the material, create a list of items to study, rewrite select notes, make flash cards, study topic 1, study topic 2, etc.

What are the individual components of these steps? Here are some examples. Brainstorm: what should my topic be, what should my thesis be, what points can support my thesis, what do I need to research, what questions do I need to ask my prof? Outline: topic, thesis, points, conclusion. Research: write down all the important parts from each source (separately), then sift through to sort into Supporting Point 1, Supporting Point 2, etc. Rough draft: opening statement(s), intro, point 1, point 2, etc., conclusion, closing statement(s). Edit/revise: read and check for grammar only, then read again and check for spelling only, read again and check for cohesiveness only, etc. Topic 1: Part A, Part B, etc.

Each of these small components can be individual items on your to-do list. Big tasks like, “write essay” are too big for most people. Even “write rough draft” is daunting. If you start with something specific and small like brainstorming, and work your way up, it’s a lot easier to approach. Plus, being able to check off tasks more often and more easily will boost your confidence and your sense of competence, thus building momentum.

Here is a sample to-do list: Research X for Point 1 of Literary Essay, create outline for History Essay, Edit/Revise Assignment 1, study Topic 1 and Topic 2 for Test 1.

To-do list or time-based schedule?

To do list: Write down all your assignments for the day. Put them in the order you want to do them, or go through them intuitively (based on what you feel like doing, or what’s most practical at the time/place you’re at).

Timed-based: Write down all your assignments, then write down the time you’re going to do each of them. You could set reminders or alarms if you want, or simply refer to the list. There’s an awesome app I recommend if this is your thing. It’s called Structured (iOS only).

Curate your study environment for maximum focus

Eliminate distractions such as uncomfortable clothing, sounds (or silence), phone and computer notifications, clutter in the room and on your desk, people who may try to talk to you (shut your door and/or inform them that you’re busy).

Designate a space to doing homework only and avoid spaces that you associate with other things (do not study in bed, as you will want to relax or sleep, and/or you will mess with your sleep by weakening the bed’s association with sleep).

Build associations: Incorporate other events and items into your study/homework routine that you only use while doing that, so that you associate those things with studying/homework (examples: specific playlists, pencils/pens, cups/bottles, scents, rituals, decor, etc.).

Ensure good lighting (preferably including daylight).

Get dressed in clothes that make you feel good about yourself. They don’t have to be “professional” and they should definitely be comfortable. Do not stay in your pyjamas. Believe me, I know this can be hard, and I love PJ’s. But they are not good for productivity.

Don’t “multi-task.” It may feel like you’re getting more done this way, but by splitting your focus, not only do tasks take longer, they also diminish in quality. Commit to the task you’re doing.

Meditate: You can even meditate for just 1-5 mins right before studying, homework and/or classes.

Practice self care (daily!)

Sleep (enough, well, and regularly).

Daylight: Get outside, work by windows, use a light therapy box. These can help regulate your sleep, improve and maintain mental health, and boost energy.

Fresh air: Getting outside even for a couple minutes can help you refresh and reset, and feel good about yourself and your life. Fresh oxygen can help you wake up and is great for your health. Even just opening your window can do a lot for your mood, energy and motivation.

Movement: Try to move at least once per day. The benefits of exercise are numerous and immense.

Healthy and consistent eating: Avoid spikes in insulin levels by eating regularly so you don’t have extreme dips in your energy level. Also, brain power uses calories too, so make sure you’re eating consistently, and try to eat healthy. There are so many other reasons eating consistently is good for your health (and by extension, your productivity).

Relaxation and leisure: Make time for fun and socializing, as well as intentional relaxation. Hobbies, movies/tv, time with friends/family, meditation, baths, progressive muscle relaxation, etc.

Therapy: Your therapy sessions are not daily, but you can do 5 minutes of inner-work per day based on what you and your therapist are currently working on. Working with a therapist is a great way to stay on track with your goals, and develop the skills and positive mindset required for success in school.

Reward yourself

Track progress: Reflect on all the assignments you’ve completed and your grades to remind yourself that you’re capable!

Completing to-do lists daily maintains a sense of accomplishment which keeps your momentum going. Check those items off! Or give yourself gold stars! ⭐️

Treat yourself with non-food rewards: Tie completed school work with fun tasks like video games, or take yourself out for coffee, or some other small (non-food) outing. What I’m trying to do right now is not do my leisure activities until my daily tasks are done.

Develop a positive mindset

Take promises you make to yourself seriously. The more you break promises to yourself, the easier it will get to continue breaking promises. You will lose respect for yourself which lowers motivation, and you will lose trust in yourself which can become debilitating as well. The more you keep promises, the easier it will get, the more motivated you’ll become, and the more you’ll trust and respect yourself. Your confidence will improve, and you’ll feel better about yourself. Productivity is choosing yourself. Discipline is choosing what’s best for you instead of what you feel like doing in the moment. Discipline is a muscle, and like any muscle, it can be strengthened, and it can atrophy.

Remember your “why.” What is the end goal of being in school? What’s your career path, and why did you choose it? What will your life be like when you have that career? What would your life be like if you gave up and didn’t make it to your goal? Aiming for your dream while running from your nightmare is a great strategy for maintaining motivation. Lighting a fire under your *** can be a huge motivator.

Remember how good you feel when you get schoolwork done, and let this motivate you to stay consistent. You can also remember how you feel when you don’t get work done, but definitely focus more on the positive!

Go to therapy and/or hire a coach. There are SO many benefits to therapy and I’d honestly need a whole other post to get into it. You don’t need to be depressed or mentally ill at all in order to benefit from talking to a therapist. They can even help you with time management, procrastination, motivation and more! If you can afford it, please do it. It’s such a worthwhile investment.

Be consistent

No “zero days.” Do at least a bit of homework or studying every day so you don’t slip into vacation mode. Make schoolwork a daily part of your life, so it just becomes the norm.

Build productivity momentum (track progress, check items off your to-do list daily, treat yourself, keep promises to yourself, remember your “why,” remember how success feels).

Stay on top of projects. Your assignments are made up of smaller tasks you assign yourself across time. “Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.” - Robert Collier

Avoid burnout (more on this later).

Keep it interesting (more on this later).

Avoid burnout

Self-care: shower and/or bathe regularly, maintain proper sleep habits, stay hydrated, take care of your skin, do relaxation activities like meditation and reading, do fun activities, pamper yourself every now and then with face masks or foot baths, take your meds as prescribed, eat well and regularly, get outside often, move daily, etc.

Break up study/homework sessions into small, manageable chunks of time, with constructive (refreshing) breaks in between.

Break assignments down into even smaller tasks so that you aren’t over-working yourself during the course of a day, and so that you don’t overwhelm yourself (the stress can lead to burnout).

School-life balance: Keep up with your social life as best as you can, make time for your hobbies, maintain self-care, say no to things that don’t serve you, etc. Try to follow through with scheduled schoolwork 100% of the time, but know that you won’t. Sometimes you’ll need to prioritize mental health over schoolwork (be careful though, this is a very fine line, and a slippery slope). Sometimes things will come up and it’ll be out of your control. But more than anything else, there will be times when you just decide to prioritize something else like fun and socializing over schoolwork. This is why your schedule needs to be flexible: to accommodate sudden invites to hang out and random decisions to skip a homework/study session, but more importantly, flexibility will reduce the odds that you’ll skip in the first place. If your schedule includes hobbies and socializing, and anything else that’s important to you, then you won’t feel deprived. If you have school-life balance, you’ll have more of yourself to devote to schoolwork when it’s time to.

Keep it interesting

Romanticize your life by putting effort into making all of your daily tasks a special occasion.

Make meals and drinks special by using your favourite dinnerware and cutlery. Perhaps even incorporate extra elements such as: a beautiful tablecloth, napkins, candles and/or dim lighting, music, wearing your favourite clothing, etc.

Pretend you’re the main character in a movie about a successful, productive student (because you are the main character in your life).

Make games out of studying if this is something that interests you (the Forest app comes to mind).

Use lots of colours in your notes and buy colourful stationary! 🌈

Vary your approach/methods if needed to avoid boredom.

Study with friends (online or in person).

Reward yourself often.

Remember your “why.”