#I can understand how it can be limiting to folks who want to be creative but

[closedspeciesteahouse]

lol succubuns added 17 new design pages with 5-10+ images per page saying what you can and cannot draw. "no light lineart" "no backwards horns" "no skin colored tails" "no hooves gradient" "no paws" talk about beating your creative community with a metal rod

☕️

[yukipri]

Some thoughts on Cara

So some of you may have heard about Cara, the new platform that a lot of artists are trying out. It's been around for a while, but there's been a recent huge surge of new users, myself among them. Thought I'd type up a lil thing on my initial thoughts.

First, what is Cara?

From their About Cara page:

Cara is a social media and portfolio platform for artists. With the widespread use of generative AI, we decided to build a place that filters out generative AI images so that people who want to find authentic creatives and artwork can do so easily. Many platforms currently accept AI art when it’s not ethical, while others have promised “no AI forever” policies without consideration for the scenario where adoption of such technologies may happen at the workplace in the coming years. The future of creative industries requires nuanced understanding and support to help artists and companies connect and work together. We want to bridge the gap and build a platform that we would enjoy using as creatives ourselves. Our stance on AI: ・We do not agree with generative AI tools in their current unethical form, and we won’t host AI-generated portfolios unless the rampant ethical and data privacy issues around datasets are resolved via regulation. ・In the event that legislation is passed to clearly protect artists, we believe that AI-generated content should always be clearly labeled, because the public should always be able to search for human-made art and media easily.

Should note that Cara is independently funded, and is made by a core group of artists and engineers and is even collaborating with the Glaze project. It's very much a platform by artists, for artists!

Should also mention that in being a platform for artists, it's more a gallery first, with social media functionalities on the side. The info below will hopefully explain how that works.

Next, my actual initial thoughts using it, and things that set it apart from other platforms I've used:

1) When you post, you can choose to check the portfolio option, or to NOT check it. This is fantastic because it means I can have just my art organized in my gallery, but I can still post random stuff like photos of my cats and it won't clutter things. You can also just ramble/text post and it won't affect the gallery view!

2) You can adjust your crop preview for your images. Such a simple thing, yet so darn nice.

3) When you check that "Add to portfolio," you get a bunch of additional optional fields: Title, Field/Medium, Project Type, Category Tags, and Software Used. It's nice that you can put all this info into organized fields that don't take up text space.

4) Speaking of text, 5000 character limit is niiiiice. If you want to talk, you can.

5) Two separate feeds, a "For You" algorithmic one, and "Following." The "Following" actually appears to be full chronological timeline of just folks you follow (like Tumblr). Amazing.

6) Now usually, "For You" being set to home/default kinda pisses me off because generally I like curating my own experience, but not here, for this handy reason: if you tap the gear symbol, you can ADJUST your algorithm feed!

So you can choose what you see still!!! AMAZING. And, again, you still have your Following timeline too.

7) To repeat the stuff at the top of this post, its creation and intent as a place by artists, for artists. Hopefully you can also see from the points above that it's been designed with artists in mind.

8) No GenAI images!!!! There's a pop up that says it's not allowed, and apparently there's some sort of detector thing too. Not sure how reliable the latter is, but so far, it's just been a breath of fresh air, being able to scroll and see human art art and art!

To be clear, Cara's not perfect and is currently pretty laggy, and you can get errors while posting (so far, I've had more success on desktop than the mobile app), but that's understandable, given the small team. They'll need time to scale. For me though, it's a fair tradeoff for a platform that actually cares about artists.

Currently it also doesn't allow NSFW, not sure if that'll change given app store rules.

As mentioned above, they're independently funded, which means the team is currently paying for Cara itself. They have a kofi set up for folks who want to chip in, but it's optional. Here's the link to the tweet from one of the founders:

And a reminder that no matter that the platform itself isn't selling our data to GenAI, it can still be scraped by third parties. Protect your work with Glaze and Nightshade!

Anyway, I'm still figuring stuff out and have only been on Cara a few days, but I feel hopeful, and I think they're off to a good start.

I hope this post has been informative!

Lastly, here's my own Cara if you want to come say hi! Not sure at all if I'll be active on there, but if you're an artist like me who is keeping an eye out for hopefully nice communities, check it out!

[freyatarotreadings8]

How Can You Improve Your Life Till The End Of This Year | PAC

Pick a picture 1 - 2 - 3

PILE 1

Hi, sunshine! I hope you are doing amazing. 3 of Cups signifies the importance of social connection and celebration. To improve your life, stop isolating yourself! Focus on strengthening your bonds with friends, family, folks around you. Engage in social activities. Let go of toxic people and surround yourself with supportive people. Positive social interactions can significantly contribute to your overall well-being. Don't forget to celebrate achievements. Share your successes with others and bask in the positive energy of accomplishment. The Magician is a card of manifestation and empowerment. Set clear intentions for what you want to manifest in your life by the end of the year. Tap into your creative power and try different practices to manifest your desires, but don't forget to take practical steps to bring your wishes into reality. Identify your goals, use your skills and resources effectively. Remember that you have an ability to shape your own destiny. 9 of Cups is wish card, represents emotional fulfillment and contentment. To improve your life, focus on what brings you joy and satisfaction. Surround yourself with positivity. Use affirmations, meditate, spend time in nature, drink more water. You also can create a harmonious space for yourself. Your emotional well-being is key to a fulfilling life. Identify your deepest wishes. If you have a goal, it means that you have inner source to reach it.

Personal tarot readings are available! Hurry up to book a reading about your 2024.

PILE 2

Hi there, sweetheart! I hope you are okay! The Hanged Man reversed indicates a release from a period of suspension or feeling stuck. To improve your life, consider what emotional blockages you may be holding onto. You need to release and let go of any limiting beliefs, outdated perspectives. You need to adopt a more open and optimistic mindset and start moving forward. Embrace a fresh outlook on challenges and opportunities. Consider alternative approaches and be open to change.

2 of Cups represents a harmonious connection, soulmates. Focus on building and nurturing meaningful connections (romantic relationships, friendships, collaborations). Seek harmony and mutual support. Spend time with people who uplift and support you. Communicate openly with loved ones and seek to strengthen your connections. Share your thoughts and feelings openly. Honest communication fosters understanding.

9 of Swords indicates mental distress, anxiety and overthinking. Address any worries or fears that may be keeping you awake at night. Practice mindfulness, seek support and consider practical solutions to alleviate mental stress. You can also practice meditations, deep breathing exercises, self compassion and self love. If you really need help, seek a professional.

Personal tarot readings are available! Hurry up to book a reading about your 2024.

PILE 3

Hello, darling! I hope you are doing pretty good. 7 of Pentacles indicates a need patience. Take a step back and evaluate your current situation. Consider what is working well and what may need adjustments. Celebrate the small wins along the way. King of Wands represents leadership, passion and decisive action. After a small pause, set clear goals and have a vision for your future. What do you want to achieve? Develop a plan of action and start taking bold and confident steps toward your goals. Don't be afraid to make decisions. Lead with passion, enthusiasm. Take responsibility for your own life and the future. While taking bold actions, remember the importance of patience. Page of Swords represents curiosity, studies, being online and a willingness to learn. Adopt a curious mindset. Seek new information, explore innovative ideas and be open to learning. Start developing or improving skills that can contribute to your personal and professional growth. Work on your communication. Clear and effective communication is crucial. Be articulate, honest and open. The Page of Swords also encourages effective communication.

Personal tarot readings are available! Hurry up to book a reading about your 2024.

[f1hallmarkfest]

Formula 1 Hallmark Fest

Hello one and all! We are delighted to announce the Formula 1 Hallmark Fest, aiming to bring winter cheer and cheesy festive feel-good holiday fic to the masses.

What is Hallmark?

Every year, The Hallmark Channel has their annual Countdown to Christmas celebration. As you can imagine from the title, the movies center around Christmas/winter holiday themes. Hallmark Christmas movies are some of the cheesiest, most nostalgia-evoking films you can imagine. Many of them center around small towns and discovering (or rediscovering) the spirit of Christmas, spending time with family and friends, and finding love in the holiday season!

Hallmark Christmas movies are absurd in the best way, making them perfect for fanfic plots.

How to Join

Sign up via our form

Join our fest Discord

Join the AO3 collection

The Rules

For writers- Minimum word count: 4000 words (and the sky's the limit)

For artists- Minimum art requirements: Lined and colored

Theme: Your work must align with the theme of the fest, that being cheesy heartwarming festive goodness!

Other than that, there are no limits on what you can create! A short, fluffy feel-good fic oozing with tender holiday love? A novel-length fic with an intricate plot and epic highs and lows? A painting of your favorite guys kissing under the mistletoe? A comic centered on holiday misadventures? Your call!

Key Dates:

Important Dates

TBD: Sign-ups close July 15th: Check-in 1 October 15th: Check-in 2 November 25th DECEMBER 14th: Collection submission December 1st 17th!!!: Fic reveals start

Important Links:

Admin: Dees @leclercenjoyer Mods: River @river-ocean, Tracy @apeacebone, Samuel @gearshxft Discord Server: https://discord.gg/GmXyBx3AVC AO3 Collection: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/F1_Hallmark_Fest Sign-up form: here Email: f1hallmarkfest@gmail.com

FAQ under the cut! 👇

1. Does it have to be AU? Not at all! F1 drivers' lives are already so god damn weird that it lends itself perfectly to the sort of over-the-top nonsense that makes a Hallmark movie truly special.

2. Does it have to be romantic? Absolutely not! Follow your heart <3

3. Does it have to be Christmas specifically? Nope! At their core, Hallmark movies are Christmas movies, but it's not essential. Any winter holiday, or even just winter in general, can fit the bill. (Or I guess summer, for the southern hemisphere?)

4. Can I do art for someone else's fic? Yes! Absolutely! We won't be pairing writers and artists (a la Big Bang) but you are more than welcome to find a writer to work with through our fest discord!

5. What happens if I have to drop out? Nothing! We understand that circumstances can change, and the deadline is long so unexpected situations may arise. If you sign up and find you can't participate, that's fine! Just drop the mods a line, no hard feelings.

6. Does my work have to be completed for me to submit it to the fest? Given the length of the deadline, we would ask that yes, your work should be finished before posting!

7. Do you accept late sign-ups? Sure!

8. Do I have to have an idea when I sign up? No! If the theme of the fest intrigues you but you can't think of what you want to write/draw right off the bat, you're still welcome to sign up! The discord server is the perfect place to workshop ideas with your fellow creatives, and we even have a random plot generator if you need a shot of inspiration.

9. Can I join the Discord server if I'm not participating in the fest? Yes, absolutely! If you just wanna come hang out, share in the vibes and the love and chat with folks, you are more than welcome to! And who knows, perhaps inspiration will strike you!

10. Why is the deadline so long? We decided to get started early to give people lots of time to work on their fics! This way, if people want to write proper longfic, there's plenty of time to get it done!

[voxofthevoid]

Hello! We haven't really interacted before but I reviewed a Bleach fanfiction of yours a while ago, and I've loved your stories for the fandom! I'm sad that you no longer write for Bleach, but you've shared some amazing work, so thank you for that.

Just wanted to ask if you have any tips on how to connect more with other readers and writers, as it seems your conversations with other people in your fandoms bring a lot of joy and inspiration! While I wrote fanfiction in my teenage years, I felt very much like a fandom hermit back then but I'm coming back to it now many years later and want to actively engage with more people. I've joined some discord servers and am posting much more to twitter and tumblr, but I'm still pretty shy about messaging people privately as I feel like I don't really know what to say. I know it will take time, but any advice on how to get the ball rolling would be much appreciated.

Good luck with the writing!

Hi! I'm very glad you like my Bleach fics, and hey, being missed isn't a bad thing either ❤

(I do have one 80%–finished grimmichi fic that I'll put up on Ao3 soon-ish. The last chapter won't ever be written, but there's still some 28k of fluff and porn that ends on a fairly conclusive note on the emotional end.)

You're right that interacting with my fellow fans is a large part of what makes fandom fun for me. The community aspect of fandom is something that comes up a lot in conversations about why people flock to fandom, why they stay, and why they leave, and although I'm an introvert bordering on a hermit, the social aspects of fandom are its greatest draw. I write because I need to or I'll burst, but I share for the people here with me. That's not an uncommon attitude or experience. YMMV, but many of us want to connect with people who share our interests, and the level of creativity and commitment fandom inspires often thrives in collaboration and community.

How to get that sense of community is a trickier matter though. You're already in Discord servers, which seems to be the main fandom social space(s) these days. You're also on social media platforms where people can reach out to you or vice versa. So that's the basics covered. After that, it's largely a matter of organically developing relationships. But I do understand the hesitance to just roll up into someone's DMs; even though I have no issues with people popping up in my DMs, I also find it harder to initiate.

Plus, I've found that some sort of existing rapport gives you a better foundation when you do take the step into private exchanges. This can be Ao3 comment sections, Tumblr notes, or Discord group chat spaces. I tend to avoid Discord servers these days, but back when I had more tolerance for group chats, the people I met there often became closer friends. Mostly though, my pocket friends are people I met via Ao3 and, less frequently, Tumblr—fellow authors and readers in a specific fandom.

I know my regulars, here and on Ao3, and I've been a regular many times. Discussions in comments usually start out limited to the specific fic, but they can also include general fandom/canon stuff or even personal talk. Many times, you build a degree of familiarity with a person that way, and if the conversation moves to more private channels, you already have a shared base to build further conversation on.

So my best advice to find friends and like-minded fandom folks is to be active in Ao3 comments and Tumblr notes (...and whatever the corresponding thing is over on Xitter):

Reply to the comments on your stories and try to really engage with what your readers are saying. This is very much a personal preference, but the reason I try to reply with more than a generic "thanks" for longer, more in-depth comments is that, like I said above, nerding out with fellow fans is a huge part of why I love fandom. If people are already expressing interest in your story and you have a shared interest in canon, there's a lot of room there for fun conversations, even if they never go beyond one-off exchanges.

Comment on stories you like, and if you find specific authors you really love, let them know without reservations what you like about their takes and why you like them. One of my favorite commenting methods when I'm well and truly in love with something is to read everything once, then reread and leave longass comments on every chapter/fic. It's time-intensive, but I've never seen the effort go unappreciated. I've also been on the receiving end of this many times, and that's how several of my fandom friendships were born; one of my closest friends is someone I virtually kidnapped because I loved their tags on my JJK fic posts so much.

The above habits can be applied to Tumblr/Twitter too. Plus, there are plenty of people on such sites who engage deeply with fandom outside of fic writing. Be loud and proud about what you love. Sending a DM is an intimidating step, and not everyone will be receptive anyway, but most people welcome encouragement and appreciation. There are a lot of people I'm friendly with and fond of whom I've never interacted with directly, only via Tumble notes or asks.

I think all of this narrows down to being pretty generous when it comes to expressing your love for fandom and fellow fans. Won't always work out for various reasons, but as long as you're having fun, it's not wasted effort or time.

[inkednotebook]

Writer ask tag

Thank you @mjparkerwriting for the tag!!

Doing this for my queer romance Icing Waved Off.

What is the main lesson of your story? Why did you choose it?

Hm. Self-acceptance for queer folks can be a lovely, but messy thing. There's no straight line (heheh) to it, and everyone's journeys are different. But no matter what your journey, or when you embarked on it, your feelings are valid. You are valid.

What did you use as inspiration for your worldbuilding?

The NHL. I mean, it's set in modern day North America within the league, but with made up teams. I used games and interviews I've watched, and articles I've read to help me piece together the behind the scenes of the game.

What is your MC trying to achieve, and what are you, the writer, trying to achieve with them? Do you want to inspire others, teach forgiveness, or help the reader grow as a person?

It's dual POV, so there are two answers. Teddy is trying to achieve an understanding of who he is and learn to accept that his life might not be what he had envisioned. James is trying to achieve a life where he doesn't have to hide who he is.

I think I'm trying to achieve a few things with them: learning to forgive myself for things I thought I felt or wanted, to help share queer stories and queer love, and to shine a light onto the toxic culture of male hockey.

I'm not really sure what I want to do with this story in those regards. Inspire other queers for sure, but... I don't know. I wrote this for myself first and foremost, so honestly was not thinking of the lesson or whatnot it might have.

How many chapters is your story going to have?

It's sitting at 26 right now!

Is it fanfiction or original content? Where do you plan to post it?

Ehh. Like I said, it's based on the NHL, and I'd be lying if I said fanfiction didn't play some role in inspiring me to write it, but it itself is all original content.

When did you start writing?

When I could write coherent sentences lol. I used to write little stories about talking animals and teddy bears, then it grew into Star Trek fanfiction when I was 14ish which sparked a love for longer stories.

Do you have any words of encouragement for fellow writers of writeblr? What other writers do you follow?

Write what you love, not what you think will sell!

If you can't afford to take creative writing workshops or post-secondary classes, try to see if your local library has any creative writing books! Seriously, the tips they can give you are amazing.

For writeblr specifically, I think just don't be discouraged if your posts don't get a lot of engagement. I've been on Tumblr a loooong time, and I get how disappointing it can be when you post creative content and it gets few reactions. But just keep at it - limited social media engagement does not mean your writing is bad or that you'll never make it as a writer.

I follow many writers, but I'll just tag a few if they want to do this: @kaylinalexanderbooks, @willtheweaver, @aalinaaaaaa, @theeccentricraven, @cc-writes-stuff, @bardic-tales, @write-with-will, and @illarian-rambling

[shannonsketches]

Can I just say I love how you can be somewhat critical about certain things about totk without completely and unnecessarily trashing it and even adding humor. I wish more people were like that.

Aw, thank you! I'm just trying to make sure folks feel safe to enjoy things here (as long as, yknow, the respect goes both ways).

I definitely used to be someone who would trash stuff unnecessarily, and I'll always credit a mutual (although I did forget their handle,,,I'm so sorry) I had at the time for just letting me go on a long rant about why something bothered me and went, "That sounds really personal, but that got nothing to do with this." And all at once I realized I'd been projecting my needs/wants/expectations onto other peoples work (commercial or otherwise), and holding strangers responsible for serving me, specifically! Which is an absurd thing to expect from anyone!!

And sometimes I still forget the world doesn't revolve around me, glorious me, and I have to go back and apologize and do my mental health homework to figure out why I reacted a certain way, and why I took something so personally. But it's been really helpful to try and do the homework first, or type that whole salty take up and delete it or draft and review it again in the morning, before you make a stranger (or a friend!) feel bad or unsafe with you for the crime of enjoying something you didn't (which I have done, many times, and feel very bad about).

Plus, I've learned that if you're someone who is always analyzing and critiquing things, those moments can be really good practice for (respectfully! privately! in your own space! not on that stranger's post! not in that poor dev's DMs!) considering what you might have done differently, assuming you had the same parameters and resources available. I find this is especially good practice if you plan on entering a creative field! I promise you get a lot more sympathetic with how things turn out when you force yourself to dream within a budget and a deadline.

(also being nice to professionals is good practice! Some of them are jerks, true, but 99% of devs artists designers directors etc are just doing their best under a ton of stress and pressure to make everyone happy, and they're usually really proud of what they're able to accomplish, and they are absolutely not getting paid enough to deal with the comment section)

Once you let go of that need to be Correct and have control over stuff that isn't about you, you end up having a lot more fun and a lot less limitations for playing in the sandbox, and with other creatives! Plus you learn about yourself, and what your priorities and tastes are. You become a better story teller and collaborator when you can not only find but actively look for the good in things you may have completely dismissed as a kneejerk reaction to not liking something about it.

And again, I'm definitely still an ass, a lot more often than I'd like to be. I still struggle with that need to be Correct and to have complete control over my sandbox. I still get defensive and have to navigate rejection sensitivity when someone's idea contradicts mine. I definitely understand the reactivity when something means a lot to us, and it takes practice to share when you're used to being protective! But it's so, so worth it.

You meet such amazing people and find such wonderful, supportive communities when you embrace two cake theory. I highly recommend making an effort to expand your perspective and be a part of that support.

Supportive Community Pro-Tips from a Fandom Old Guy:

You don't have to adopt a theory to enjoy or appreciate it!

If someone's takes upset you, just block them. It's okay.

Don't critique someone's work unless they ask for critique

Don't RB someone's work with negative/contradictory comments, just make your own post

DO freak out in the tags/comments/inbox if you like something

Obviously don't wish harm over ships/headcanons/etc, just block!

Remember someone else's work is not about you

Remember someone else's work is Not About You

Are they experiencing a thing? Are they sharing their experience with you? That's a gift! Treat it like one!

Elitism is a mind killer. Newer ��� Lesser, Older ≠ Greater. We all have stuff to offer and we all have stuff to learn.

and if I may impart the most important thing I've ever learned in fandom:

BE NICE TO EACH OTHER, WE'RE ALL JUST MAKING STUFF UP!

Thank you for the lovely message and for letting me ramble I'm!! Sorry this got so long and preachy, haha

[cleverhottubmiracle]

Nutrition Joy Bauer’s health tips make eating well fun and easy—discover her best advice for feeling great! Ben Hider/Getty Images Joy Bauer, one of the country’s top nutrition experts, has a passion for making healthy eating enjoyable and accessible. As a regular contributor to FIRST for Women, Joy shares her wealth of knowledge on how to use simple, delicious foods to improve overall health and vitality. Known for her approachable, friendly style, Joy has a way of breaking down complex nutrition science into easy-to-understand tips that inspire readers to make small but impactful changes. Through her expert advice, Joy empowers women to take control of their health with tips that fit seamlessly into everyday life—from boosting energy and supporting brain health to slimming down and feeling great. Her suggestions are not only backed by science but also made fun, with creative recipes and food swaps that make eating well a treat rather than a chore. Whether it’s the best snacks to curb cravings or ways to enhance immunity with kitchen staples, Joy’s insights are a trusted guide for women who want to look and feel their best. Here, we’ve rounded up some of Joy Bauer’s top tips to inspire you on your wellness journey. Q: If I’m only able to make one food change, what should that be?   Here’s a simple change with huge health benefits: Add a produce item to every meal! Fruits and vegetables are high in volume but low in calories, so they keep you full without weighing you down. Plus, they’re loaded with nutrients that nourish your body. It’s a manageable change that can support weight loss and reduce your risk of conditions like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Some delicious ideas: At breakfast, top yogurt with berries or add spinach and onions to scrambled eggs. For lunch, try a colorful salad or pile your sandwich with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and roasted peppers. At dinner, the sky’s the limit: Try starting with veggie soup or salad, eat roasted Brussels sprouts, green beans, cauliflower and squash with your entrée or top a pizza with mushrooms and broccoli. Bonus: Have a refreshing fruit salad for dessert! Q: What are your best tips for not overdoing it during the holidays? The most wonderful time of the year can also feel like the most stressful. But there are easy tricks you can use to stay on track. Try my rule of 1: At parties, enjoy one of each tempting hors d’oeuvre, one plate of food, one alcoholic drink and one dessert (or a sliver of two, if you can’t decide). Bring a healthy dish to gatherings: It’s a win-win—the host will appreciate the gesture, and you’ll know there’s something nutritious to dig into! Squeeze in activity:  Look for ways to be active: Do extra laps while shopping, go for a long walk to view the festive holiday lights, dance to your favorite tunes while cooking. Be selective with splurges: We have to remind ourselves it’s a holiday…not a holi-month. Pick a few special events and plan to indulge at just those celebrations. Q: How much protein should I be eating each day? Protein helps support the growth and maintenance of our body’s tissues and muscles, and it plays a role in managing appetite by keeping us feeling full. An easy way to calculate your needs: Divide your weight in pounds in half. That’s the amount of daily protein grams you should aim to eat. This isn’t an exact science, but it provides a terrific reference. So if you weigh 160 pounds, you’d aim for 80 grams of protein a day. Note that populations like pregnant and breastfeeding women and serious athletes need more, and folks with certain kidney conditions often need less. Lean beef, eggs, poultry, Greek yogurt, cheese, cow’s milk, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and soy are great protein sources. Q: What are the best foods to fight an afternoon slump? Before you snag a snack from the vending machine or raid the cookie jar to clear up a case of afternoon brain fog, make sure you’re not dehydrated first. Sipping water is a smart strategy for fighting fatigue. If you’re still hungry after you hydrate, opt for energy-boosting eats, ideally something that includes a mix of fiber and protein. This duo can help steady blood sugar which, in turn, sustains energy. Some examples: apple slices topped with peanut butter; rice cakes with cottage cheese; turkey slices wrapped around crunchy bell pepper sticks; edamame in the pod; a nutrition bar; trail mix with nuts and seeds; Greek yogurt with berries; and almonds paired with string cheese. Q: If I’m not hungry in the morning, should I still eat breakfast? A healthy breakfast helps fuel your brain and rev your system for the day ahead. And many studies have shown that people who regularly eat breakfast have an easier time managing their weight, as a morning meal can help regulate your appetite and prevent over-snacking or nighttime bingeing. That said, plenty of people simply have no appetite in the a.m.—and that’s totally understandable. If your current eating pattern keeps you energized and doesn’t set you up for overeating later in the day, then it’s A-OK to skip breakfast. Try to have a midmorning snack (like Greek yogurt with berries) when you do get the urge to eat. Q: How do I curb nighttime cravings? Try this simple strategy to prevent overindulging in the evening: Create a list of light and healthy snacks that you enjoy (for example, 4 cups of light popcorn, a rice cake with tomato and cheese, a cup of frozen grapes or a frozen yogurt pop). Each night, plan to enjoy one of these snacks at least 1 hour after finishing your dinner, but ideally, try to push it off as late as possible. Once you finish your snack, put closure on your eating by brushing your teeth and flossing. You’ll be able to drift off peacefully knowing you mindfully savored a single nutritious treat rather than overdoing it all evening long. Q: Is it okay to replace fresh fruit and vegetables with frozen ones? Absolutely! In fact, unless you’re growing your own or buying it at a farmers market, the “fresh” produce you buy at the grocery store can be less nutritious than frozen. Nutritional value starts decreasing as soon as produce is picked, so fresh fruit and veggies can be depleted of nutrients by the time they’re transported to stores and your table. Frozen produce is flash-frozen within hours of being harvested, locking in nutrients before they begin to decline. Of course, nothing beats the texture and flavor of fresh, seasonal (and local) produce, and it’s still highly nutritious. I suggest mixing it up to enjoy the best of both worlds! Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items. Use right arrow key to move into submenus. Use escape to exit the menu. Use up and down arrow keys to explore. Use left arrow key to move back to the parent list. Source link

[norajworld]

Nutrition Joy Bauer’s health tips make eating well fun and easy—discover her best advice for feeling great! Ben Hider/Getty Images Joy Bauer, one of the country’s top nutrition experts, has a passion for making healthy eating enjoyable and accessible. As a regular contributor to FIRST for Women, Joy shares her wealth of knowledge on how to use simple, delicious foods to improve overall health and vitality. Known for her approachable, friendly style, Joy has a way of breaking down complex nutrition science into easy-to-understand tips that inspire readers to make small but impactful changes. Through her expert advice, Joy empowers women to take control of their health with tips that fit seamlessly into everyday life—from boosting energy and supporting brain health to slimming down and feeling great. Her suggestions are not only backed by science but also made fun, with creative recipes and food swaps that make eating well a treat rather than a chore. Whether it’s the best snacks to curb cravings or ways to enhance immunity with kitchen staples, Joy’s insights are a trusted guide for women who want to look and feel their best. Here, we’ve rounded up some of Joy Bauer’s top tips to inspire you on your wellness journey. Q: If I’m only able to make one food change, what should that be?   Here’s a simple change with huge health benefits: Add a produce item to every meal! Fruits and vegetables are high in volume but low in calories, so they keep you full without weighing you down. Plus, they’re loaded with nutrients that nourish your body. It’s a manageable change that can support weight loss and reduce your risk of conditions like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Some delicious ideas: At breakfast, top yogurt with berries or add spinach and onions to scrambled eggs. For lunch, try a colorful salad or pile your sandwich with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and roasted peppers. At dinner, the sky’s the limit: Try starting with veggie soup or salad, eat roasted Brussels sprouts, green beans, cauliflower and squash with your entrée or top a pizza with mushrooms and broccoli. Bonus: Have a refreshing fruit salad for dessert! Q: What are your best tips for not overdoing it during the holidays? The most wonderful time of the year can also feel like the most stressful. But there are easy tricks you can use to stay on track. Try my rule of 1: At parties, enjoy one of each tempting hors d’oeuvre, one plate of food, one alcoholic drink and one dessert (or a sliver of two, if you can’t decide). Bring a healthy dish to gatherings: It’s a win-win—the host will appreciate the gesture, and you’ll know there’s something nutritious to dig into! Squeeze in activity:  Look for ways to be active: Do extra laps while shopping, go for a long walk to view the festive holiday lights, dance to your favorite tunes while cooking. Be selective with splurges: We have to remind ourselves it’s a holiday…not a holi-month. Pick a few special events and plan to indulge at just those celebrations. Q: How much protein should I be eating each day? Protein helps support the growth and maintenance of our body’s tissues and muscles, and it plays a role in managing appetite by keeping us feeling full. An easy way to calculate your needs: Divide your weight in pounds in half. That’s the amount of daily protein grams you should aim to eat. This isn’t an exact science, but it provides a terrific reference. So if you weigh 160 pounds, you’d aim for 80 grams of protein a day. Note that populations like pregnant and breastfeeding women and serious athletes need more, and folks with certain kidney conditions often need less. Lean beef, eggs, poultry, Greek yogurt, cheese, cow’s milk, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and soy are great protein sources. Q: What are the best foods to fight an afternoon slump? Before you snag a snack from the vending machine or raid the cookie jar to clear up a case of afternoon brain fog, make sure you’re not dehydrated first. Sipping water is a smart strategy for fighting fatigue. If you’re still hungry after you hydrate, opt for energy-boosting eats, ideally something that includes a mix of fiber and protein. This duo can help steady blood sugar which, in turn, sustains energy. Some examples: apple slices topped with peanut butter; rice cakes with cottage cheese; turkey slices wrapped around crunchy bell pepper sticks; edamame in the pod; a nutrition bar; trail mix with nuts and seeds; Greek yogurt with berries; and almonds paired with string cheese. Q: If I’m not hungry in the morning, should I still eat breakfast? A healthy breakfast helps fuel your brain and rev your system for the day ahead. And many studies have shown that people who regularly eat breakfast have an easier time managing their weight, as a morning meal can help regulate your appetite and prevent over-snacking or nighttime bingeing. That said, plenty of people simply have no appetite in the a.m.—and that’s totally understandable. If your current eating pattern keeps you energized and doesn’t set you up for overeating later in the day, then it’s A-OK to skip breakfast. Try to have a midmorning snack (like Greek yogurt with berries) when you do get the urge to eat. Q: How do I curb nighttime cravings? Try this simple strategy to prevent overindulging in the evening: Create a list of light and healthy snacks that you enjoy (for example, 4 cups of light popcorn, a rice cake with tomato and cheese, a cup of frozen grapes or a frozen yogurt pop). Each night, plan to enjoy one of these snacks at least 1 hour after finishing your dinner, but ideally, try to push it off as late as possible. Once you finish your snack, put closure on your eating by brushing your teeth and flossing. You’ll be able to drift off peacefully knowing you mindfully savored a single nutritious treat rather than overdoing it all evening long. Q: Is it okay to replace fresh fruit and vegetables with frozen ones? Absolutely! In fact, unless you’re growing your own or buying it at a farmers market, the “fresh” produce you buy at the grocery store can be less nutritious than frozen. Nutritional value starts decreasing as soon as produce is picked, so fresh fruit and veggies can be depleted of nutrients by the time they’re transported to stores and your table. Frozen produce is flash-frozen within hours of being harvested, locking in nutrients before they begin to decline. Of course, nothing beats the texture and flavor of fresh, seasonal (and local) produce, and it’s still highly nutritious. I suggest mixing it up to enjoy the best of both worlds! Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items. Use right arrow key to move into submenus. Use escape to exit the menu. Use up and down arrow keys to explore. Use left arrow key to move back to the parent list. Source link

[chilimili212]

Nutrition Joy Bauer’s health tips make eating well fun and easy—discover her best advice for feeling great! Ben Hider/Getty Images Joy Bauer, one of the country’s top nutrition experts, has a passion for making healthy eating enjoyable and accessible. As a regular contributor to FIRST for Women, Joy shares her wealth of knowledge on how to use simple, delicious foods to improve overall health and vitality. Known for her approachable, friendly style, Joy has a way of breaking down complex nutrition science into easy-to-understand tips that inspire readers to make small but impactful changes. Through her expert advice, Joy empowers women to take control of their health with tips that fit seamlessly into everyday life—from boosting energy and supporting brain health to slimming down and feeling great. Her suggestions are not only backed by science but also made fun, with creative recipes and food swaps that make eating well a treat rather than a chore. Whether it’s the best snacks to curb cravings or ways to enhance immunity with kitchen staples, Joy’s insights are a trusted guide for women who want to look and feel their best. Here, we’ve rounded up some of Joy Bauer’s top tips to inspire you on your wellness journey. Q: If I’m only able to make one food change, what should that be?   Here’s a simple change with huge health benefits: Add a produce item to every meal! Fruits and vegetables are high in volume but low in calories, so they keep you full without weighing you down. Plus, they’re loaded with nutrients that nourish your body. It’s a manageable change that can support weight loss and reduce your risk of conditions like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Some delicious ideas: At breakfast, top yogurt with berries or add spinach and onions to scrambled eggs. For lunch, try a colorful salad or pile your sandwich with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and roasted peppers. At dinner, the sky’s the limit: Try starting with veggie soup or salad, eat roasted Brussels sprouts, green beans, cauliflower and squash with your entrée or top a pizza with mushrooms and broccoli. Bonus: Have a refreshing fruit salad for dessert! Q: What are your best tips for not overdoing it during the holidays? The most wonderful time of the year can also feel like the most stressful. But there are easy tricks you can use to stay on track. Try my rule of 1: At parties, enjoy one of each tempting hors d’oeuvre, one plate of food, one alcoholic drink and one dessert (or a sliver of two, if you can’t decide). Bring a healthy dish to gatherings: It’s a win-win—the host will appreciate the gesture, and you’ll know there’s something nutritious to dig into! Squeeze in activity:  Look for ways to be active: Do extra laps while shopping, go for a long walk to view the festive holiday lights, dance to your favorite tunes while cooking. Be selective with splurges: We have to remind ourselves it’s a holiday…not a holi-month. Pick a few special events and plan to indulge at just those celebrations. Q: How much protein should I be eating each day? Protein helps support the growth and maintenance of our body’s tissues and muscles, and it plays a role in managing appetite by keeping us feeling full. An easy way to calculate your needs: Divide your weight in pounds in half. That’s the amount of daily protein grams you should aim to eat. This isn’t an exact science, but it provides a terrific reference. So if you weigh 160 pounds, you’d aim for 80 grams of protein a day. Note that populations like pregnant and breastfeeding women and serious athletes need more, and folks with certain kidney conditions often need less. Lean beef, eggs, poultry, Greek yogurt, cheese, cow’s milk, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and soy are great protein sources. Q: What are the best foods to fight an afternoon slump? Before you snag a snack from the vending machine or raid the cookie jar to clear up a case of afternoon brain fog, make sure you’re not dehydrated first. Sipping water is a smart strategy for fighting fatigue. If you’re still hungry after you hydrate, opt for energy-boosting eats, ideally something that includes a mix of fiber and protein. This duo can help steady blood sugar which, in turn, sustains energy. Some examples: apple slices topped with peanut butter; rice cakes with cottage cheese; turkey slices wrapped around crunchy bell pepper sticks; edamame in the pod; a nutrition bar; trail mix with nuts and seeds; Greek yogurt with berries; and almonds paired with string cheese. Q: If I’m not hungry in the morning, should I still eat breakfast? A healthy breakfast helps fuel your brain and rev your system for the day ahead. And many studies have shown that people who regularly eat breakfast have an easier time managing their weight, as a morning meal can help regulate your appetite and prevent over-snacking or nighttime bingeing. That said, plenty of people simply have no appetite in the a.m.—and that’s totally understandable. If your current eating pattern keeps you energized and doesn’t set you up for overeating later in the day, then it’s A-OK to skip breakfast. Try to have a midmorning snack (like Greek yogurt with berries) when you do get the urge to eat. Q: How do I curb nighttime cravings? Try this simple strategy to prevent overindulging in the evening: Create a list of light and healthy snacks that you enjoy (for example, 4 cups of light popcorn, a rice cake with tomato and cheese, a cup of frozen grapes or a frozen yogurt pop). Each night, plan to enjoy one of these snacks at least 1 hour after finishing your dinner, but ideally, try to push it off as late as possible. Once you finish your snack, put closure on your eating by brushing your teeth and flossing. You’ll be able to drift off peacefully knowing you mindfully savored a single nutritious treat rather than overdoing it all evening long. Q: Is it okay to replace fresh fruit and vegetables with frozen ones? Absolutely! In fact, unless you’re growing your own or buying it at a farmers market, the “fresh” produce you buy at the grocery store can be less nutritious than frozen. Nutritional value starts decreasing as soon as produce is picked, so fresh fruit and veggies can be depleted of nutrients by the time they’re transported to stores and your table. Frozen produce is flash-frozen within hours of being harvested, locking in nutrients before they begin to decline. Of course, nothing beats the texture and flavor of fresh, seasonal (and local) produce, and it’s still highly nutritious. I suggest mixing it up to enjoy the best of both worlds! Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items. Use right arrow key to move into submenus. Use escape to exit the menu. Use up and down arrow keys to explore. Use left arrow key to move back to the parent list. Source link

[bettsfic]

I'm keeping apps open two more days!

They'll close on March 11, 2025 at 11:59pm EST.

Here are some testimonials from the fall 2024 session:

I LOVED IT!!!!! I would love to recommend it to others, especially for those who feel alone in their writing. The sense of community here is amazing and so encouraging. I feel like I can tackle any piece if I workshop it with everyone here!

—Emi

Amazing! I would recommend it to others, and I will! Insights I came away with: stop overthinking and write for yourself. I love this workshop so much. I have found so many friends and had so much fun in this workshop.

—Drew

I've been in many many workshops (including in college), and this was by far the best one I've been in! The structure and guidance led to incredibly productive workshops, and the group members were so supportive and exactly the sort of audience I want to have.

—Monterey

Incredible—there's something magical about being surrounded by people who come from different fandom communities who share the same passion for writing. It feels very validating, as a writer who got started in and because of these fandom spaces, to see the way everyone comes together to support one another. It's nice not to prioritize "how do I make this better" and instead focus on "how do I make this clearer" and "how can I better communicate what I'm trying to convey." Both are mindsets I'd never considered and I'm excited to create more with those thoughts in my head. I would absolutely recommend this to writers of any fandom, in any niche, and of any skill level. This experience made me feel like the hours, days, and weeks I've spent holed away writing weren't a waste of time, but a gateway into a larger writing community that I always wish I'd been a part of.

—Shannon

I really enjoyed the workshop and getting to know other writers' personalities and see aspects of that reflected in their work. I think this worked out because of the atmosphere of camaraderie and support that was built with the affirmations at the beginning of each workshop, which helped endear folk to me and make reading their pieces an interesting process, whether or not I was actively interested in the material. I really enjoyed the craft workshop sessions at the beginning, which helped me understand much more about the technical aspects of crafting a story, and it also helped me workshop other people's writing. I continued to learn about craft through listening to people's commentary during each workshop session, and that was an invaluable experience that I am very grateful for, especially as I have limited access to formalised creative writing or english training at the tertiary level.

—Maani

Great! I was really pleased with my feedback. Yes, I would recommend this to others. It was a fun, welcoming space full of people who just wanted to write and talk about fic! Everyone was supportive and helpful.

—Kelsey

Love it as always!

—Ham (who has taken the workshop 4 times)

I had a great experience in the workshop! It was an awesome experience working with writers who have a real respect and appreciation for fic. I enjoyed reading everyone's pieces and giving feedback. The individual consultation with Beth was also super helpful and encouraging—even just talking about writing in general since I didn't need to talk too much more about my workshop piece. I would recommend this workshop not only for the experience itself but also because the FAW writing community is active and vibrant and it is a great community to be a part of.

—Caroline

If you have any questions at all about the workshop or the FAW community, please feel free to send an ask!

Applications now open!

The Spring 2025 Fanauthor Workshop is a 7-week writing course led by Betts (@bettsfic). The workshop lends a supportive space to writers who identify as fans to receive constructive feedback on fanfiction, original fiction, or creative nonfiction.

Art by @emimayooo 💖

Where & When

We meet weekly over Zoom. You can apply for one of two sessions:

Group A: Wednesdays from Apr 9 - May 21, 12-2pm ET [See what time that is in your time zone]

Group B: Mondays from Apr 7 - May 19, 6-8pm ET [See what time that is in your time zone]

What

FAW is a feedback-oriented workshop with the occasional generative session. This means that each week we read 2 pieces submitted by participants, offer written feedback, and discuss them over Zoom. You'll be able to sign up for the week you would like to workshop your own piece, which can be anything under 6k words.

There may be weeks where, in lieu of workshopping, I present external readings and writing exercises. These sessions will be dependent on the number of participants. For example, if we have 10 participants and 6 workshop weeks, that means one week will be devoted to a reading discussion and generative activity.

I developed a workshop model that focuses mostly on affirmations and positivity, as well as descriptive over prescriptive feedback, which is to say, describing one's experience of reading rather than prescribing solutions to perceived problems. We also present improvement-oriented feedback, but avoid negativity, judgment, and pedantry. Week 1 is spent going over the workshop model and how to give feedback.

About FAW

The first FAW was held in 2017 as an independent study in my MFA. I restarted it in 2022 and since then have led 11 sessions with a total of over 55 participants, about half of whom have participated in the workshop more than once.

Participation in the workshop includes entrance into the FAW community, an active Discord server where we host:

Ongoing accountability meetings during which we chat over Zoom about our projects and set goals for ourselves every other week

A monthly longform writing workshop, where writers can workshop any story between 6k and 100k words

A short story club, where we read and discuss original short form works

Birthday movie nights! We also have weekly TV show streaming and a few co-op games running

Scheduled write-ins and impromptu writing sprints

A group quarterly progress tracking sheet that accidentally turned into a micro social media platform

And there are always other things going on, like international snack exchanges, craft exchanges, support during the looming deadlines of fic exchanges, and so on

We also chat about writing and craft, offer resources, and share many, many pet photos. Or as emi likes to say, "Pay the pet tax."

In addition, participants of the workshop receive:

A one-hour consultation with me to go over your workshop feedback, come up with a plan for revision and/or publication, or anything else you’d like to discuss regarding your writing

Open enrollment in future workshops

Priority sign-ups for other generative workshops

Eligibility

Anyone over the age of 18 who considers themselves a participant of fandom and who is familiar with fanfiction may apply. A stable internet connection is also required.

Cost

The cost of the workshop is "pay what you can" with the recommended amount of $300. To be as inclusive as possible, I don't want money to be a deterrent for anyone interested in participating.

At least partial payment (or notification of nonpayment) will be requested prior to the start of workshop via PayPal, Venmo, or Wise.

Application requirements

To apply, you will need:

An informal cover letter discussing your fan history and goals as a (fan)writer (more specific instructions on submittable)

A short sample of your writing, either original work or fanfiction. This may be previously published/posted

You can apply via submittable. Applications close March 9th.

FAQ under the cut

FAQ

Are there any content restrictions to what I can workshop?

The only restriction is word count (max 6k), with the following caveats:

If you workshop a piece in a form other than prose (for example, a script), your peers may not be able to offer constructive feedback on that aspect of the work. Participants are asked only to have a familiarity with prose.

Content warnings are required for each piece (if applicable), and participants who are uncomfortable reading certain subject matter may abstain from your workshop.

What is the time commitment of the workshop?

As a participant of the workshop, you'll be asked to:

Workshop any piece of your own prose up to 6k words, which will need to be uploaded to the group folder one week before your workshop.

Read 2 pieces per week, write out your individual crit, and attend the workshop itself.

What is the timeline of the workshop?

In week 1, we go over the syllabus and do a writing exercise. Weeks 2 through 7 will be a workshop, a discussion of an external reading, or a writing activity. Prior to the start of workshop, you'll be able to sign up for the week you would like to workshop your piece.

Structure of the sessions:

Question of the day

First workshop

Short break

Second workshop

We'll go over my workshop model and the syllabus in week 1.

Do I have to participate in the Zoom meetings (camera and mic on)?

Attending the workshop itself is required, and everyone is asked to offer at least one note of positive feedback on each piece, so mics are necessary. Cameras are preferred but not required.

You can't asynchronously participate, i.e. read the pieces and offer written feedback without attending the sessions. For those who don't want to attend Zoom sessions, I plan to run an asynchronous session in summer.

Can workshop participants submit to OFIC Magazine?

Yes! Part of the reason I run the workshop is to inspire and promote the original work of fanwriters. You can follow us on tumblr @oficmag.

Who is running the workshop?

@bettsfic! In short, I lived a dreary cubicle life as a banker until I found fanfiction at 24. I loved it so much that I quit my job to get an MFA in creative writing. I loved the MFA so much that I became a writing teacher. I have some publications, awards, an agent, and 2 million words of fic on ao3. I don't have a book out yet but I'm getting there.

Currently I'm a writing coach and freelance editor. I also have a lowkey writing-related newsletter. And I've been answering writing advice asks on my blog for 10 years.

If you want an idea of the kind of writing activities I create, last summer I worked with @books on a workshop series which includes craft essays and some fun prompts.

If you're interested in my original work, my short story "Not If, When" is a good representation of my writing. For something darker, check out "Shut Up and Kill Me."

What is the workshop like?

Check out G's experience of attending the workshop. And here's some feedback from previous participants.

One final note: I'm working on updating the copy about the workshop on my website and move it over to OFIC's website. This post and Submittable has the most updated information on the workshop. If you have questions about discrepancies (or anything at all), you can shoot me an ask, DM me, or add me on Discord (I'm bettsfic there too).

[protagonistheavy]

Does Smash Bros Ultimate have too many characters? This is a sentiment I've had for a while, but I've noticed lately that it's resonated with different folks too as the years have gone on, especially among people who were really active in the Smash scene for previous games -- yet didn't get as hooked into Ultimate.

A big reason I think so many people didn't connect with Ultimate as they did with previous entries is mainly because there's just so, so many characters. It's overwhelming to consider all of these different match-ups -- or even just the match-ups for the handful of characters you happen to play. There is so much homework you have to do if you want to improve at Smash lol; so many characters you have to learn about and figure out for your MUs, but also, a lot of these newer characters also come with wild gimmicks -- gimmicks that would require, like, a paragraph or more to explain fully. It's hard to predict and follow along with your opponent when you don't have this info to understand their decision making.

Whenever I happen to hop onto Smash nowadays and go for an online battle, it's always this frustrating feeling when I get matched against a character that I just know nothing about. I feel like I'm so disadvantaged because I don't have a wiki up to remind me that, oh, this new character has some RNG insta-kill mechanic, or that this character has an ability with only these specific limitations you have to consider.

And because there are so many characters, you're not totally likely to get to even play against them randomly again. You might fight a Sora today and think you learned how to play against him, but then it doesn't matter because the next 50 matches are against completely different characters. There's 89 characters, and even the echo fighters have their own unique attributes, which just confuses things more!

I'm sure for someone who does commit to playing regularly, this isn't too much to learn -- I mean, I play DBD and can remember what every perk and most add-ons do, I get how gamerbrain works. But for anyone that isn't playing the game, like, daily, 89 characters is just too much to juggle in one's memory, and it makes reapproaching the game later more awkward.

Sakurai made a big deal to note that Ultimate is very well and likely to be the only game where we're gonna see everyone, which leads me to believe that the next game will have a notably smaller lineup of fighters. Which is totally fine by me lol. I'm more than happy to see a lot of the third-parties shed off and only be replaced with a couple new entires.

But what I really would like to see is an effort to take the pre-existing characters, especially the old-old veterans of the series, and radically change-up their qualities and move sets. Some of these early-debuted characters have the unfortunate quality of having these outdated, unimaginative move sets -- qualities that were fine for the time back in Smash 64, but barely represent what the character is known for today. I think DK is one of the most clear examples, a character with so much history to draw a fighting-game move set from....... and yet he plays like Man With Two-Arms. Or look at Ganondorf as another example, whose been burdened all these years with a move set varied from Captain Falcon. Some of these characters can do so much more than what they're given, especially when you consider their latest entries -- tell me how you would design Princess Peach if you've only played Mario games from the past 10 years; would you really limit yourself to picking turnips or a hip throw as her SPECIAL moves??

This would also of course be an opportunity to take echo fighters and give them whole unique kits, with much more creative liberties being taken as necessary. Characters like Fox and Falco and Wolf would be so much more interesting if they had more unique move sets between them -- sure, I guess you can only make a gun be a different kind of gun so many times, but why do they ALL need to have the same special moves otherwise? They can come up with anything! Grenades, guns, Arwings, power-ups, tech -- they made-up Fire Fox and Fox Dash and basically made-up the Reflector Shield, so I'm sure they can come up with more stuff for these characters to do. At worst, I would even be completely satisfied if they took echo fighters and just combined them as skins for the base fighter; if they really can't come up with unique move sets between Marth and Roy besides making Roy have fire... then yeah, just fucking make them the same exact character but different colors lol. Give them the Bowser Jr./Koopaling treatment, it's fine!

Smash 4 had 58 playable fighters. To me, even that is a pretty big number! And I doubt we're going to lose that many fighters going into Smash 6. Even still, I really hope they aim to keep the roster of unique characters down to ~60 or something -- I'd be more than happy with a smaller cast, if that cast was more meaningfully designed and have more inspired implementation. It would certainly make the game more approachable and even easier to balance, as well as breathe some new life into characters that have otherwise gotten stale.

[todayimgonnaplay]

Today I'm Gonna Play: Littlewood

I came across this game when looking for something cozy and casual to get into. I'm also not too into farming sims which a lot of cozy games are saturated with, so I thought to see what this game has to offer.

The premise is a little interesting as you play as a hero who saved the world but has amnesia. Your town is wrecked so you're tasked to rebuild it as you meet new folks who eventually come to live in the town.

The gameplay scratches a combination of things I wanted from other cozy games. You get to place buildings (as well as some interiors for houses) and pretty much any object whereever you like, as well as do a little terraforming. The freedom of creating a perfect town is a nice idea for those that want creative freedom, but not for those that prefer randomly generated lands which would come across as more ''natural''. Aside from building, you can also collect bugs, chop wood, break minerals, fish and collect weeds, farm, etc.. It's very much akin to Animal Crossing: New Horizons in particular. Aside from towns, you can also go looking for resources around other areas in the region to get rarer items, with slight combat mechanics from what I've seen. It adds a nice variety from just staying in town.

However, I'm seeing a couple flaws it carries from what New Horizons also seems to have as far as I know. The townspeople you meet are pretty much mostly friendly with you and are quirky at best, but not much depth going on (understandably for a solo dev made game). They do have backgrounds however and mention how the hero (player) interacted with them in the past which is nice. Sometimes you will see tidbits of conversation with other NPCs but this is rare from what I've played so far. The customization for the town is also limited, such as all structures being front facing (think Pokémon games, such as from gen 1-3) and cannot be rotated. The overall game also seems to act like a lite-version of what other games focus on with more depth (e.g. Stardew Valley or older Animal Crossing games). But maybe that is the intention, which is okay.

Overall, Littlewood is nice to play in times where you just want to turn your brain off and chill. It's not something I can see playing for longer periods compared to other games, but it is nice to see a game that touches upon its mechanics on a surface level. It could be fun for players that want to play something without putting too much thinking or effort, zero stress. And despite it feeling like a -lite, I actually prefer playing this over anything else in the genre.

[steveskafte]

CREATOR'S LITTLE SECRET I'm not well-educated in the traditional sense. I failed so often at Math and Science that I can't separate the right answers from the wrong ones in my mind. The correct solution was just the last one I learned to finally pass. The only subject I came close to acing was English. Something about the history of words, their construction and spelling, the way they could be formed into virtually any expression – it was some kind of heartfelt magic. When I'm writing, it's like the words float through space around me, and I pluck them one by one for the page. My overall mastery of language is fairly limited. I use few words over four syllables, and don't have much taste for making my audience read with a dictionary on tap. I think of myself like a folk artist, doing working-class writing that doesn't sound any different from the way I talk face-to-face. Just because they're immersed in the technical process, a lot of artists fall for the trap of thinking that their audience should know it all too. I don't mind telling you how the sausage is made, so to speak, but I suspect it won't improve your enjoyment of the final product. When I hear a song I love, that doesn't mean I need a lesson on how to play it. Who cares what lens the photographer used, and why are writers always droning on about writing? Maybe this is just me, coming from a long line of blue-collar non-artists, but some things are better not knowing. Behind-the-scenes lessons are fine for teachers, but I think artists are better suited for spending their time making more art. I think of it like this – maybe you love your life and love your parents, but that doesn't mean you want a play-by-play of your conception. The real backstory worth telling is hidden in the reasons. The important aspect of understanding art is not in the chords, notes, techniques, or craft – but in asking why a bridge was built from the emotion and experience to anywhere at all. The knots and tangles between the two can be infinitely picked at, when all that matters is inspiration and the final product. The rest is best kept as the creator's little secret. So many people feel this weird thrill from digging through a vast and mythologized creative process – as if we have no confidence that the artist's passion and our love of their art is enough. Discussing the process can't make us love deeper, or build it up from scratch. If I reach you, it's like falling in love. If I don't, let's both move on and keep looking. May 22, 2023 Annapolis County, Nova Scotia Year 16, Day 5671 of my daily journal.

[greatbananaboat]

arcane is about the cycle of violence and how it affects interpersonal relationships as well as society. it makes a point of noting that every action taken to further the cycle of violence, even with “good intent” just leads to things getting worse.

i enjoy arcane because i agree with this mindset. in a perfect world, the decisions we make would be to help the people around us to make things better for them, not to hurt the people who are hurting us. unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, and making those decisions leaves you vulnerable. i like how tragic arcane is in showing that every time a character tries to do good for others, everyone else who chooses to take another violent action hurts them. i think the main reason i like the show can be encompassed in the line from to ashes and blood, “every sin will be forgiven if you lay down your weapons to the ground”.

the purpose of fandom is to foster a community of people who enjoy a piece of media and to encourage people to be creative and to think about that piece of media with more depth than what we may understand from just interacting with the media on our own. interacting with a fandom can open your eyes to details and viewpoints you never would’ve considered before.

i think canon is important to consider in fandom but you don’t have to make it the end all be all in your mind. too many people limit themselves because they think canon has to be the most important thing but really, you can do whatever you want with the characters and the settings and the story that’s given to you. once the media is out there, it’s yours to play with just as much as it is everyone else’s. it’s not our place to decide what is correct for anyone but ourselves.

n/a

i don’t know that i have a type in terms of themes in media, but i do really enjoy when we can apply those themes to our lives because they’re fleshed out and given depth past just the basics. when i can dissect a theme and then apply what i’ve learned from it into my life, i like the media.

not sure what this question is asking lol

regarding toxicity in fandom (arcane fandom especially), i think people need to kind of relax about certain topics when applying them to media. performative activism is a prison and does nothing except cause people to limit their perspective on characters. i’ve seen a lot of folks bashing every piltovan character in arcane simply because they’re piltovan. it’s quite a miserable worldview to adopt considering they all tend to be complex characters with motivations and emotions that are important to explore, and writing them off as unimportant or subhuman because they’re rich is limiting. this is just an example of course, but the toxicity in the arcane fandom is honestly shocking to me because the show itself is amazing and beautifully written (yes, even season two)

i think fandom tends to take canon and play around with it as i mentioned before, which is far from a bad thing. not everything in canon is pleasing to every person in the audience. maybe one person wanted a certain character to have more screen time, for example, and that’s something that canon failed to give them. that’s not the fault of the writers or the media itself, but the people in the fandom can take the media and change it to fit what makes them happy.

anyway i think that’s all! the questions are really interesting and i just think that more people need to focus on positivity in fandom because negativity is a plague.

IMPORTANT!!! PLEASE READ!!!

I am currently writing an essay for a college course about the role of attention in communities and am using fandoms as an example for how attention plays a role in identity.

I need as any people as possible who are okay with what their response possibly be included in my essay respond to this post with the your answers/opinions about at least one or more of the following:

-What is Arcane really about?

-If you consider yourself to be apart of the Arcane Fandom, why do you enjoy Arcane so much?

-What is the purpose of fandom as a whole?

-What aspects make up fandom?

-Is canon important? (Loaded question, I know)

-What is The Silmarillion really about?

-In your experience, do certain themes presented in a any piece of work, including but not limited to tv shows, movies, and written works, effect how likely you are to be a fan of said piece of work? (Basically do you have a “type”)

-What do you personally think about, or is the role of, attention and/or collective direction in fandom?

-Is there anything, either directly or indirectly, related to my essay and/or any questions that I have asked that you would like to mention?

-What is the relationship between fandom and canon?

-If you have ANY questions or concerns please dm me. If you would like to share your input but want to remain completely anonymous in my essay if your response is included, please let me know. If you want anything clarified or have certain conditions as to how your response is allowed to be presented in my essay, please dm me.

This essay is a homework assignment and unless both me and my professor believe what I have written is worthy of publication, I have no intention of publishing it or publicly distributing it in any way.

I will be eternally grateful to anyone who responds and/or reposts. Despite the essay only being a homework assignment, this is something I have always wanted to write about/explore and I swear to be respectful with all of your responses.

This essay is not ment to bash or hate on the Arcane or Silmarillion fandom (which I consider myself to be apart of) or fandom culture in general. My essay is only exploring the topic of attention in communities.

TLDR: I would really appreciate it if people can respond to this post with their answers to my questions because I am currently writing an essay on attention in communities for a college course and I need help.

[a-slut-for-smut]

One Big Slutty Fuckoff List of Gloriously Smutty Alutegra fanfics :D

Greetings, fellow Alutegra sluts out there! I am but a humble whore for Alutegra for well over a decade, but finally decided it was high time to curate some of the finest, most exquisite smut of our OG girl boss/malewife ship. What spurred this on, you ask? Welp, I am guilty of sluttily luring in some of my moots aboard this ship and been promising to deliver this for AGES, so here we are years later (sorry i operate on grandma speeds!!!)

A couple things to know regarding this rec list (which may be particularly helpful for curious newcomers, horny vets feel free to scroll on down):

1.) As the title suggests, this is a smutravaganza so mostly is rated E, some M. Sorry folks, im sure there is a ton of amazing non-explicit fics but this is all i read! Also, given the very nature of the series (iirc it originally has hentai roots) it doesnt shy away from sexually kinky themes. Honestly name a kink and its probably not only been explored but likely grounded as far as canon goes. What do i mean by this? I'm only going to name a few but if any of the following get your juices flowin then Alutegra is the ship for you:

Dom/Sub BDSM (emphasis on consent)/Power play vibes- Integra is master, Alucard is her servant. As my boy Oscar Wilde said “Everything in the world is about sex — except sex. Sex is about power.” Honest to God, I don't know any ship that embodies this quote any better.

Bondage- Alucard is first discovered by Integra in a strait jacket/chains etc, and if memory serves me correctly makes several appearances throughout the series

Genderbending/fluidity- well im not sure this is the right term, but in canon Alucard can shapeshift/says he doesn't identify with a specific form/body (whether this applies to gender is up to interpretation i guess?). His "Girlycard" form is generally seen as his female form in the fandom.

Monster porn- Well, Alucard is a vampire and can shapeshift. Including a wolf/dog beast. Sky's the limit folks

Tentacle/cosmic horror porn- Alucard can conjure these shadowy tentacle thingys and a million extra eyes which serves as some sort of relevant symbolism that ive completely forgotten. Shit's hot tho (i got a cosmic horror kink shutup)

Non-penetrative sex & forbidden/taboo vibes- in canon, its established that only virgins can be turned into true vampires, everyone else turns into inhuman mindless ghouls. That said, the authors who write within the bounds of canon find very, VERY creative loopholes. Also the sheer level of pining (for penetration especially) might drive you insane no joke (proof: me). Mad respect to these authors- trust me this is sayin a lot coming from someone who actively prefers full-on penetration smut XD

2.) I am by no means a resource for canon- I watched both series YEARS ago, so my memory of the plot is shaky at best. What truly gripped me about this series is the Alutegra relationship, the true struggle in how to define their bond (or if it even can be, kudos to the fic authors that try). They are both utterly compelling characters in their own right within canon (truthfully I crush harder on Integra than Alucard) and i think the fandom absolutely recognizes that. Much of the gravitas of their bond is tied to canon, so most fics seem to understand/reflect this. No warm fuzzy coffee shop/high school AUs here folks, prepare yourselves for a truly smutty angst fest.

OK enough of that, to the smut! I'm really just commenting on the porn vs the plot so no summaries here. Oh and if any of you know the tumblr URLs of any of these authors lmk so i can tag them. Also im sure ive missed some gems, feel free to share and i'll look to add later

Welp, im going to hell and im taking you all with me- get sinning and enjoy the feast you horny hoes

One-shot porn

What It Wants and Where It Goes - by @crystallinee-waters

Femdom but goddamn its written in a way that made me ache. Alucard's sheer level of contrition, desperation for forgiveness goes beyond your standard simp energy. Top tier, i fucking LOVE how their relationship is depicted. and fun fact, i may have helped the author brainstorm some of the smuttier details <3<3

Mine - by @crystallinee-waters

Goddess at femdom and pining, but holy hell the way how explicit sexual content is approached is just *chefs kiss* I needn't remind you folks- consent is sexy as fuck and this authors fics are proof of that *sidenote - im keeping this list to smut but do yourself a favor and read ALL these authors fics, im a whore for her interpretation of their relationship

In This Darkness, I Have You by @goblins-riddles-or-frocks

What is the point of a vampire/human porn-rec list if you don't include menstrual cunnilingus smut? Also feels. Lots of feels.

Girls & Wolves by Calesvol

mmm hate-sex at its finest folks. Gotta fuck em into obedience yallwhatimsayin??

Homeostasis by Calesvol

A semi-sequel to Girls & Wolves. Very kinky smut but laced with hurt/comfort.

Kingdom of Heaven by Iggy_Lovechild

more hate-sex basically, yay. Also has a shit-ton of smutty one-shots, far too many to list- enjoy

A Queen's Throne by Anilucard

a smutty ode to Alucard's wicked, wicked tongue :D

With the Thorns Underneath by wllw

Holy femdom batman!

Loopholes by @and-i-write-sins

eyyy remember when i mentioned creative loopholes? LOL

you'd make a dead man come by valenstyne

LORD HAVE MERCY! i'll let the fic summary speak for itself: There’s more than one way to stake a vampire. Metaphorically speaking.

Pain by hypnonaut

lol this one just gets progressively kinky as it goes, but Alucard's adoration of Integra is both sweet & sexy

Tentacles of the Night by LaviniaLavender

eyyy remember when i mentioned tentacle porn? LOL

Simple Motions by @ironcladvalkyr

eyyy remember when i mentioned genderbending? but to expand on this this is probably one of the hottest things ive ever read and top tier aftercare/pillow talk

To be watched, in such silence by @ironcladvalkyr

short but smutty, the way Alucard goes on about how Integra turns him on is yums

darling, I wish you were red by @lunarcrystal

yay for cunnilingus and pining!

These fics from Cardinal_Daughter - you have to be logged in to see

Clingy - Timeline of their relationship via Integra POV.

Adore - post-canon angsty smut

Remembered - no smut but this was so achingly angsty i had to shout out

Multi chapter porn

And Though You Turn From Me - by @when-rivers-run-red

THE PINING, THE NOTICE ME SENPAI FEELS, THE TENTACLE PORN AUGHHHHHHHHH this one is a recent favorite folks, do not skip!!!

Eternal Sin by @therustycage

This post-canon multi-fic is one of my favs. Love the Alutegra interactions on how to tackle the obstacles presented in the finale, the pining, and the plot is definitely something to chew on. Slow-burn but tis a good burn

Embracing Sin by @therustycage

Sequel to Eternal Sin. Basically fluffy-porn and time travel. Delicious.

Satis by @lesmismignon

A heavy weight champ of Alutegra post-canon fics. Integra's POV on how she wrestles her feelings for Alucard- just INJECT that shit straight into my veins MMMM! Alucard's pining is top notch/the slow burn makes the smutty bits that much more exquisite. Honestly just read all her fics (one-shots) they're great

The Return by ButifulDeath

Post-canon porn with interesting plot, and fuckin hell dat smut is just *chefs kiss*

Samhain by ButifulDeath

fluffy porn one-shot sequel to The Return and it is hothothot

Like Real People Do by @my-mild-ginger

ahhh so i actually havent read this one yet as its a chonky 40 chapters (currently), seems much more fluff vs smut for those that prefer that balance