#I can’t believe I’m tagging something on this blog with ‘academics’

[most-tragic-character-tournament]

Nothing gives me whiplash more than the way my feelings progressed with this poll, also @/ the person talking about "i won't say i'm in love" im howling, you chose the one animated disney song that also happens in a greek lore movie, hitting two olive branch carrying pigeons with one stone. im also impressed for you, OP. You wanted to be tumblr famous and look where you're at lol. I also started reading Antigone and like 3-7 pages in idk it had a table of contents too, and alright, classics stans...I see where you're coming from. But this is giving me ideas. I debated sticking with the old english style of writing, it's not like I can't pull it off, or a modern version of it with the same tone and expressions, but anyone clicking ao3 for this is not going to want 10th grade english flashbacks and it IS a lot of work to keep consistently for however long this might end up so. and that I don't think I can pull of for a fic which is already such an insane concept lol 🫡 I'll go with the easier to read version of the play for how Antigone speaks. type up an outline, then figure out a title. I cannot believe this thing is getting its own fandom and lore. gonna have animatics on youtube and people are gonna be looking at us like they do the fandom for that dream guy like??? same tbh. I want to study this phenomenon under a microscope. My Prof has a PHD in Psych and I may as well ask. Heck, I could turn this into an actual psychological study, we have an honors program for that in College and she can send an email to The Serious Guys In Suits Committee. It'll just need some serious rephrasing to sound like a legit study. I see some issues tho, bc it's one of those you can't solve with an anonymous survey but I'll keep it on the back burner. I think it has some honest potential for furthering other disciplines in historical and social sciences. It's literally a type of conflict resolution, I KNOW people are studying and arguing about that in academia and other gov/research/social work positions. I'm vibrating OP, I don't think you realize how many factors can be nitpicked for a study here. We have a model UN club in the building, and just. the impact of the modern age, with it's evolutionary and environmental aspects on how people respond to conflict is something multi-chaptered.

HOW. JUST—HOW IS THIS HAPPENING

[the-academic-archiver]

Welcome to my blog!

On this blog, I’ll be posting things I learn. Wether academic or non academic, it’ll be here! Here are a few things about my blog that should help:

Asks are always open! Please note, though, I might not reply fast. Also, for safety reasons, you cannot send any photos.

I will not be tagging something as a grade or level. I believe academics don’t have an age limit! Plus, I don’t want to put my age on the internet.

Speaking of tagging, any non academic post will be tagged as such! (#NonAc)

I’m hoping to keep this account going until I graduate, or for even later. This account is for me to keep track of notes and such. Doesn’t hurt if other people use this, too ;)

I can’t promise when I will or won’t be posting, sorry!

subjects I will be posting about:

Science

Geography

English

French

Spanish (currently learning, so not many posts will be made for now!)

Mathematics

I’ll update this post when needed.

Happy Studying! <3

[samwisethewitch]

How to Find Good Witchcraft Books (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ch. 4)

This post is loosely based on the fourth episode of my Baby Witch Bootcamp series on YouTube. In that video, I recommended some of my personal favorite books on witchcraft and spirituality. But, after some thought, I decided it would be more helpful to give y’all some guidelines for how to find worthy resources for yourself.

After all, your interests may be different from mine, and the books that have shaped my magical practice may not interest you at all. But the standards for a good, trustworthy resource are constant, so that’s what I’ll be addressing here.

Research the author’s reputation and credentials.

There is no “university of witchcraft,” so sometimes the only credential an author can have is being a lifelong practitioner. However, some magical traditions do require initiation and/or have a more formal structure. For example, Reiki (which is not technically magic, but many witches still have an interest in it) cannot be learned from a book — it can only be passed down by a Reiki Master. If you’re reading a book about Reiki, the author should specify which Reiki lineage they were initiated and certified through. (Even then, reading their book does not mean you are initiated!)

Likewise, if someone claims to be a member of the clergy, whether a Christian reverend or a pagan high priestess, look into how they got that title. What religious group are they associated with? Did they attend seminary or some other form of training? Were they ordained? If an author does not have this information readily available (such as in the “About the Author” section of their book), be skeptical of their claims to religious authority.

Even though not all authors who write about witchcraft will have been initiated into a formal tradition or will be ordained clergy (and not all of them need to be!) most authors will have a reputation of some kind. The best way to figure out if an author is legit is to see what experienced witches think of their books.

Try Googling “[author’s name] + controversy” or “[author’s name] + scandal” to see what comes up. Have they been called out for spreading misinformation or for problematic behavior in the past?  For example, Googling “Silver Ravenwolf controversy” will bring up several articles about bad information in that author’s books.

It’s also a good idea to look that author up on social media — both their own profiles, and the tags associated with their work. Is there anything on the author’s Instagram or Twitter that seems like a red flag? What are other social media users saying about their work? Some authors will even have a blog, so you can read some of their writing for free before deciding to buy a book.

Even if an author’s books aren’t super popular, you can still read reviews and check out the author’s social media. This doesn’t always weed out bad resources, but it is a good first step.

Just because a book is popular doesn’t mean it’s a good resource.

See my previous note about Silver Ravenwolf. There are a lot of very popular books and authors that many witches will tell you are hot garbage. There are also a lot of very shallow, surface-level “Witchcraft 101”-type books that are popular because of a good marketing campaign, an Instagram-worthy cover, or some other superficial factor, but contain very little actual hands-on instruction.

(Note: There’s nothing wrong with Witchcraft 101 books, and in fact I recommend starting with more “beginner-friendly” books until you figure out what aspects of witchcraft you want to focus on. But just because a book is for beginners doesn’t mean it can’t have depth to it.)

I’m not saying don’t read popular books — some things are popular because they are genuinely good. I’m just saying that you shouldn’t buy a book only because it’s popular.

Look for a well-rounded “Resources” section.

If you want to know if a book is worth your time, flip to the back and look for the “Resources,” “Bibliography,” or “Further Reading” section. In a well-researched book, this section will be several pages long. (Obviously, if the book is especially short and/or only covers a single topic, the Resources section may be shorter, but it will still be there.) In a really well-researched book, it will include sources written by non-witch, non-pagan authors like historians, scientists, and psychologists.

If you’re reading a book about mythology or paganism, the Resources section should contain some primary sources (or as close to primary sources as possible). For example, Morgan Daimler’s book Odin: Meeting the Norse All-Father, lists multiple English translations of the Poetic Edda in its bibliography. A good book about Wicca will reference the writings of Gerald Gardner, the founder of modern Wicca, and probably also Aleister Crowley, even if the author does not agree with their views.

If a book doesn’t list the author’s sources, it’s probably not worth your time. Either the book is poorly researched or the author is intentionally being vague about where they are getting their information. Either way, that book is not a transparent resource and should not be used as a reference.

Avoid authors who use vague phrases like “scientists say ___” or “the old witches knew ___.”

This goes back to being transparent about sources. A lot of writers will use wording like this to give their claims the illusion of authority.

“Scientists” could very well refer to a small group of fringe scientists (or pseudo-scientists) who are not respected by the mainstream scientific community. For example, some “scientists” have voiced support of the anti-vaccination movement, but no respectable medical professional is going to tell parents not to vaccinate their kids. If the author doesn’t say who these “scientists” are, they may as well write “My friend Steve, who once took a high school physics class, says ___” for all the credibility it gives them.

The problem with claims about the “witches of old” is that witchcraft is not and never has been a unified tradition. Witchcraft is a practice which has existed in different forms within many cultures throughout history. Even witches living on the same continent at the same time would have very different practices based on their local environments, religions, ethnic heritages, etc. If the author does not specify which magic tradition they’re referring to, the information is pretty much useless.

Avoid any other vague wording or claims to authority that don’t provide an actual source.

Don’t be afraid to fact-check an author!

Do your own research outside of the witchcraft books you read. If you’re interested in mythology, read books written by historians and archaeologists, not just witches. If you’re interested in energy work, read books by doctors and scientists, not just energy workers. If you’re interested in herbs and plants, study their medicinal as well as magical uses. You get the idea.

If an author says something that sounds weird to you, or that seems to contradict what you’ve read in other books, don’t be afraid to do some research. If it turns out to be bullshit, you probably want to take everything else in that book with a grain of salt.

On a related note: some older books contain incorrect information not because the author was dishonest or misinformed, but because that information was widely accepted as true when the book was written, but was later disproved. For example, many academics used to believe in a unified “cult of the Goddess” spanning the continent of Europe in ancient times. This has now been pretty thoroughly disproved by archaeological evidence, but you’ll still see some older books referencing it.

Hopefully these guidelines give y’all a better idea of how to find books to lean on as you’re developing your craft. Research is a big part of witchcraft and paganism, so finding good resources is very, very important.

[whentherewerebicycles]

hi! i wanted to say i love reading your reflections on teaching, and in general i really look up to/am inspired by your thoughts regarding education and academia. if it's not too much to ask (completely understandable if it is, in that case please disregard!) i would love to get your advice on college related things?

i had pretty significant academic struggles throughout grade school, and ended up dropping out of college after a year. i would've graduated this may, so lately i've been considering going back and finishing my bachelor's. but i've been waffling on this decision because of 1) anxiety about having to drop out again, and 2) some confusion about what i actually want to study. i guess i'm wondering, is it worth it to start from scratch? my struggles were mostly about mental health stuff & difficulty keeping up with coursework—i loved being in the classroom, working with professors, learning from other students. i like being challenged intellectually, but if i have issues with followthrough, is there a way to work on that??? i know these are Big Questions, lol--whether they are answerable or not, cheers and thank you and i hope you are doing well these days. <3

hey! happy to give my thoughts, for what they're worth. you know your situation better than i do so the specifics may or may not be relevant, but i can give some advice just based on seeing lots of students pass through four-year programs!

i've worked with a number of students who took time away from college and came back to finish later. i took a year off myself in the middle of college for mental health reasons, though my school allowed you to take a two-semester leave of absence for any reason (so i always had the safety net of knowing i could come back without having to reapply or start over). in my experience, time away is almost always a good thing. sometimes people just really need that break from the stressors of the college environment! but more importantly, i think people benefit from having a few years' experience living and working in the world.

even though it can be intimidating to come back to college as an older student, i think older students or nontraditional students who took time off and came back tend to underestimate how much more confident and assured in themselves they'll be once they're back in the classroom. working out in the world for a while, even if it's not a job that you especially love or feel is relevant to your long-term goals, tends to help you build more trust in your own ability to get stuff done, manage responsibilities, and be an adult person in the world. in your time away, you've probably grown more than you think, and you may find that some of the things you struggled with at 18 just don't feel as daunting anymore. or they might feel daunting, but you also have more experience talking and working with other people, and you may feel more confident in seeking out & using your college's various academic success resources.

have you considered a two-year college as a possible next step? one of my advisees this year was an adult student who went to college for a year, dropped out, served in the military for four years, came back to do an associate's degree, and decided he liked school enough that he wanted to transfer to our university and finish his degree. (now he's going on to do a phd next fall!!!!) he's one of the most passionate advocates for community colleges i've ever met, and he's stayed actively involved in our local CC community & now mentors recent transfer students at our university. he's talked at length about how CCs are this amazing way for students to explore their interests without having to take on the huge price tag of a four-year degree, within a learning community that's much warmer, more responsive to student needs, and more accepting of the diverse paths that lead people to & through higher education. i wonder if you might consider taking a semester or a year of courses at your local CC, to dip your toes back in and see if you're still feeling energized by the experience.

you might find that some of the courses aren't intellectually challenging enough, but this might also be a wonderful opportunity to create the kind of learning experience you want to have. i was a full-time community college student for a year during my year away from yale, and while i'm sure i was just INSUFFERABLE in many ways, i had a prof in my Western Civ course who was really generous with his time/energy and met with me outside of class to help me figure out how to make the papers into something that i found really exciting and challenging to write. so the class kind of became what i made of it, and i got to read some stuff (dostoevsky!!!) that sent me down all kinds of interesting unexpected rabbitholes. the former CC grad i mentioned above was an extraordinarily bright student who would always go to office hours and ask his profs for more recommended readings, and he ended up becoming a TA for one of his courses and helped them redesign basically their entire intro humanities curriculum as a student advisor. so your CC experience can absolutely be what you make of it. and even if your profs can't give you that kind of support, you could practice doing it for yourself, setting little challenges for yourself either focused on the intellectual aspects ('I'm going to read and cite two scholarly sources in this paper, even though it's not required') or on developing strategies for effectively managing the workload ('I'm going to schedule a writing center appointment on Thurs, so I have to finish this paper two days before the deadline—and then I can devote my weekend study time to practicing for my Spanish test').

CC would be a slightly lower stakes environment for you to try out college again— lower-stakes both in the sense that it's cheaper (so if you decide you don't want to continue, you're not out as much money / don't feel compelled to go on to justify the debt you've taken on) and in the sense that the workload might be more manageable for you as you readjust to academic life and build systems & structures that work for you. as you probably have gathered from this blog, i am a HUGE believer in doing lower-stakes things many times over to build your own confidence and your trust in yourself, and then gradually scaling up the difficulty. by the time you reach the hard thing, you've already built up this strong image of yourself as a person who can handle challenges (and you've also had the chance to identify areas where you struggle & experiment with developing workable solutions).

if a two-year college isn't something you're especially interested in, i think it's definitely possible to start a four-year degree again. if that's the path you choose, i would strongly recommend reaching out to students in some of the degree programs you're tentatively interested in. people are almost always happy to share their ~wisdom~ (see: this ask response, lol) and most people love being asked for their thoughts on the pros and cons of something they know well. so you could get an honest sense from students of what the program is like, what the workload is like, and how useful or engaging people find the required courses for the degree. but also know that it's pretty normal to take courses all over in your first year or two (you have the advantage of having done a freshman year before, so you probably know this!), so you might just want to plan to try out a bunch of different things, with the goal of narrowing your focus by the end of your first year, or midway through your second.

i would also HIGHLY recommend spending lots of time familiarizing yourself with the resources your university has to offer. learn everything you can about the kind of mental health counseling and support they offer to students, and see if there are things you can set up in advance for yourself before you even step foot on campus. for instance, our university offers individual counseling, but they also have free groups that meet every week or two around different topics (coping with stress, students in recovery, etc) that are led by a counselor. check out your university's writing center or peer tutoring centers, too, and set up a standing appointment once a month or once a week or whatever, to bring in something you're working on—so that you know that every week, you're going to talk with someone about what's going well and what you're struggling with in your assignments.

you might also want to look into your university's services for students with disabilities office, as they can help you figure out if you are eligible for various kinds of accommodations or additional support (extra time on exams, notetaking services, recorded lectures, etc). i know you mentioned that you've dealt with academic struggles in grade school, too. if you think it's possible that there may be underlying learning differences that are affecting your academic work, it might be worth seeing if they can help you find lower-cost testing, so you can get a diagnosis that qualifies you for additional accommodations and university support.

many schools, esp large public universities, also have resource centers and mentoring programs for students from specific demographics who may benefit from additional structure and support in their early years of college. my university has a variety of resource centers and programs for students from low-income backgrounds, first-gen students, students who transferred from community college, etc. you don't have to take advantage of ALL of these resources, but proactively establishing a support network long before you need it is a really good way to set yourself up for success. and even just doing the research will probably help you feel more confident in your capacity to 'follow through', since you'll know that you're going into this with your eyes wide open AND with a detailed plan for what to do if you run into some of the same obstacles you encountered the first time around.

speaking of detailed plans: i find it helpful sometimes to do IF-THEN exercises with students when they're stressed about something on the horizon or unsure about whether they can handle some new challenge. IF-THEN is just what it sounds like: 'IF this thing I'm nervous about happens, THEN I'm going to do X, Y, or Z.' what i like about this exercise (i use it with myself too aha) is that it acknowledges that sometimes the thing you're dreading DOES happen. sometimes the professor you emailed for an extension says no. sometimes the TA doesn't understand why you're confused about the assignment. sometimes you don't have time to finish the reading before class. sometimes you overschedule yourself and you have to pull an all-nighter to finish two papers on the same night. scary things, confidence-shaking things, happen all the time, but they are rarely fatal! and there can be something really powerful about acknowledging and naming the thing you're concerned about, and then generating a few next steps you could take, should the thing you're dreading come to pass. i could see you doing something like this as you start thinking about the things that tripped you up last time, or made it difficult for you to balance the workload. if X happens, then what could you try next? giving yourself a few options means that you already have backup plans, too, which can make the whole situation less terrifying. if this happens, i might have to try this, or this, or this, and those things might not be the most fun or the easiest to do or the 'best' thing academically, but they'll get me through this difficult moment mostly in one piece, and once i'm through it i can look back on it and learn from it, or adjust the structures i've built for myself moving forward, to reduce the chance that X happens again.

PHEW!!! sorry this got so long but that is just the RISK YOU TAKE when sending me anons 😅 i hope that some of this is helpful to you, or at least sparks some useful thinking for you, even if it's not all directly applicable to your situation. i would say that if you love learning and find being in the classroom exhilarating, then you should absolutely go back to college! but that doesn't mean you have to go back right away, or that you have to go back and do it exactly the same way you did the first time. there are lots of possible paths to higher ed, and there's no particular rush—college will always be there, if it's something you decide you want now or at some future point in your life. i would also just reiterate again one of the core Themes of This Blog, which is that the brain is NEUROPLASTIC, and that humans have a truly astounding amazing capacity to change, grow, and learn new things (including new ways of getting around old obstacles or working through old challenges). just because you struggled the first time doesn't mean you are doomed to repeat that pattern. if you can spend some time thoughtfully reflecting on what you found most difficult to manage the first time through, you are better equipped to make plans, design new structures for yourself, and build the support networks that will help you thrive in college.

[i-am-a-closet-fanfic-fiend]

Carnival of Hearts (Part 1/6) ~ Bucky x Reader  College!AU

A/N: Hello my lovelies! I hope you’re all doing well and staying safe. I’m here with a new series because I have no self control. If you’ve been here for a while then you know this is my typical behavior but if you’re new my apologies. Good news, I do have specific plans on what I’m tackling, so hopefully things will happen soon. But I do have a lot of (good thankfully) things going on in my family life so it’s a bit chaotic. 

This is my entry for @buckysknifecollection ‘s 3k Follower Challenge. Congrats on the milestone lovely! Go check out the blog. Personal fave is Hush (a must read if you’re into soft!Biker!Bucky) 

Prompt: Our friends set us up on this carnival date but we’re both pining after someone else and this a bit awkward

Summary: When you’re set up on a carnival date with Bucky Barnes NOTHING turns out the way you expected. 

Rating: T 

Warnings: Language 

Word count: 1074

“I have found you the perfect guy,” Nat announced as she flounced into your room.

“Oh joy, oh happy day. I shan’t die unwed,” you deadpanned without looking up from your book.

You squawked indignantly when she flicked your ear and yanked your book away from you.

“What the hell? I was reading.”

“I’m serious,” she huffed. “I had lunch with Wanda today and she mentioned that she has a friend she thinks would be perfect for you, and after scoping him out I have to agree.”

“Wonderful. Can I have my book back now?”

“His name is Bucky,”

“Someone actually named their kid Bucky?”

“It’s a nickname. And he’s a sweetheart,” she continued, ignoring you. “He’s a linguistics major. Minor in creative writing. You’re really gonna like him.”

“I’m sure I would if I were actually going to go out with him.”

“Oh come on. You haven’t been on a date in over a year.”

“Which should have been your first clue that I didn’t want to get set up. I’m enjoying single life. Thanks ever so much.”

You plucked the book from her hands and rolled over onto your back, trying to find your page.

“Sitting here pining over your best friend is not enjoying single life.”

“Number one, I’m lying down. And number two, I’m not pining over you. Though you certainly are a sight for sore eyes.”

You batted your eyelashes at her flirtatiously. She rolled her eyes and took your book again only to swat you with it.

“Cute. You know that’s not which best friend I’m talking about.”

You sighed and sat up, moving back against the headboard, slightly out of reach.

“I’m not pining over Steve either.”

Your arms crossed tightly over your chest weren’t very convincing.

“Y/n, you know I love you and I just want what’s best for you, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then just trust me and go on a date with Bucky. He’s exactly what you need.”

You sighed.

“You’re not going to let this go. Are you?”

Her smile was triumphant.

“Nope. And I’ve made it as easy as possible for you. He’s going to be your date to the carnival.”

“But Steve and I are going to the carnival together.”

It was tradition. It was not a date.

Unfortunately.  

“Not until after Steve finishes volunteering. This is the deal. You, me, Wanda, and Bucky all meet. If you hate him immediately I’ll let you bail. But otherwise you hang out for a few hours; we’ll all meet up for lunch. And then you can spend the rest of the night with Steve. Deal?”

You mulled it over. It wasn’t the worst deal. Your date would have a set end point if it wasn’t going well. And if it did go well you had a buddy to go on rides with while Steve was working.

“And I promise not to set you up again for a month,” she added.

“For the semester,” you countered.

“Fine. Deal.”

“Deal.”

You shook on it.

“Excellent. I’ll tell Wanda to give him your number.” 

“Buck, you home?” Wanda called as she let herself into the apartment.

“In my room,” he shouted back.

Picking up a few stray papers, Wanda stacked them neatly on the coffee table before heading down the hall towards Bucky’s room. He was hunched over, scrawling in a notebook.

“Academic or inspired?” she mused.

“A little of both. I really liked the flash fiction prompt we got in class today.”

“What was it?”

“Everyday romance.”

“What’s your story about?”

She smiled fondly at the shy excitement blossoming on his face.

“It’s kinda weird.”

“I’m sure it’s not.”

“It’s a series of descriptions of everyday items, but the descriptions are the way it’s special. Like: coffee in a novelty mug purchased at gift shop in Hawaii. The brew was set seven minutes ago with two teaspoons of sugar. Just the way he liked it,” he read aloud.  

“That’s really sweet. You really do have a way with words.”

Bucky beamed.

“Thanks. So what brings you over?”

She perched on his desk, legs swinging back and forth.

“I have found the perfect girl for you.”

He rolled his eyes before she finished speaking.

“Wanda, I don’t need you to set me up.”

“Buck, you should be out experiencing love instead of only writing about it.”

“I’m just not looking for someone right now.”

“Then how come you went on a shitty date with Dot last weekend?”

“It wasn’t a date. We just went to dinner.”

“On a Saturday night in Little Italy.”

“She just wanted to thank me for my help with her paper.”

She leveled him with her stare.

“You don’t actually believe that do you?”

He silently met her gaze before crumpling.

“Okay, no. So it was a date, but it was enough of a failure for me to not want to do it again any time soon.”

“Or you can go out with the very sweet girl I’ve picked out for you.”

“How do you even know her?”

Wanda smirked, knowing that if he was asking he would likely agree to it.

“I don’t personally. She’s Nat’s best friend.”

Bucky’s brow disappeared into his hairline.

“Mainlines vodka and coffee and still has a 4.0 Nat?”

“Yup. That’s the one.”

“Not exactly my type.”

“Well, she’s the opposite of Nat so that works perfectly.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“Why are you forcing this, Wan?”

“Because you deserve to be happy and I can’t watch you go on another shitty date. Although that’s a lot better than pining I suppose.”

“Fine,” he conceded, not wanting to argue that particular point.

He never won that argument.

“Give me her number. I’ll set something up.”

She plucked a card from the front pocket of her purse and handed it to him.

“Here you go. But the date’s already set up. You two are going to the carnival together.”

“That’s in two days.”

“Do you need more time to fix your hair?”

“Wanda,” he growled.

“I’m teasing. Relax. We were going anyway. Look, it’s super low pressure this way. You meet her in the afternoon and if it doesn’t work out, you say goodbye when we meet up for lunch. I will give you a built in out.”

“Promise?”

She smiled warmly at his innocent pout.

“Cross my heart.”

“Alright. Fine.”

“Great. You’re gonna love her. I promise she’s exactly what you need.”

A/N: This one is gonna be fun. Hoping to finish and have it queued to post regularly soon, but wanted to get this part out there. I hope you enjoyed! 

Tag list is open (please send an ask) 

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[bellesque]

hi, again!

i know, it’s been forever! this semester has probably been the busiest and i just got out of its clutches. i’m not completely out of the woods yet though, since i still have internship and thesis for the next year or so, but fingers crossed it’ll be a breather compared to the academic hell that was the past 6 months. i missed you all loads!

i’ll be updating a few things on my blog for now, while writing the next chapter of midnight’s mischief (no idea when that’s going up), catching up on some asks and messages and tracking my tag lists - the notifications piled up in my absence, so if i missed anything, feel free to message me.

oh, also - i can’t believe even if i haven’t been posting, we hit 1k!! thank you so much!! i didn’t anticipate hitting that milestone while i was MIA, but i guess you can’t control life. should i do something to celebrate? let me know your thoughts!

i think i’ve rambled on enough, so i’ll tend to my inbox now :)

[study-van]

Hello everyone!! This blog currently has 10k followers which is a huge number of people and to be frank quite overwhelming. While starting this blog, I never expected to receive this much positivity and support. I’m so glad that I was able to motivate others while documenting my ongoing academic journey!!! So to celebrate this milestone I’ve asked you guys what you wanted and the votes are in but before that I’d like to thank some friends. (This is going to be a long post so I’m sorry)

@jeonchemstudy Thank you so much for being my friend/(lowkey)mentor since we started talking. Whenever something happens I always come talking to you and I’m not even kidding. Can I also mention the fact that we’ve extremely similar tastes and expectations out of life and at first it was kind of weird bc too many similarities but over time I stopped questioning it fjjd Anyways love you so much and thanks for being you.

@serendistudy You were literally one of my first friends one here and I’ve waxed poems about you a couple of times but I just want to say that you’re genuinely one of the nicest people in this community and I’m so glad to know you and call you a friend.

@sosiaalitieteet I will keep it short for you but you’re seriously so funny and outspoken, it’s always a delight to see you on my dash or just talk to you. Please show me more of your OCs, I got invested in them in just one convo. (ps sorry for literally sending you a cat photo in each of our convos)

@myhoneststudyblr We actually followed each other for some time yet our first actual convo was a train wreck and a half and I wouldn’t have it any other way!! You’re seriously so funny and lovely, it’s always so easy to talk to you. Also, you always deliver the best challenges and I really appreciate that!!!

@schrodingered you seriously have the best book recs and I’m so thankful for that!! We’ve been friends for some time on here and I’m really glad to know you and get your insight on anything. I know most of the time you don’t feel like it but you actually have qualité content and I love your blog

@coffeeandpies I actually can’t believe we are friends sometime bc even before I opened my blog I was following you fjfjf You’re seriously so funny and a breath of fresh air on my dash by keeping it extremely real!!

@museeofmoon n we actually talk about anything but studyblr but it’s still amazing!! Thank you for always supporting me with your extremely nice messages. Also yaaay go winter babies

@philology-studies We’ve recently started talking but you’re such an amazing person!! I hope you’ll like the letter I sent you. Btw your taste in shows and books are exquisite

@summit-studies we always talk about the most random stuff at the most random times but it’s always so easy to talk with you. I’m glad I really got to know you!!

@bulletnotestudies I’m so glad you messaged me one day and I got to know you!! You’re such an inspiring and kind person, I can’t wait to see how our med school experiences will go!!

I can’t talk about anyone or this post will never end but here are some other amazing people: @stuhde @luvgyus @headgirlstudy @ash-trological @venustudy @thxnderclouds @sonderstudy @sweetstudymine @blacklinguist @starryeize @chazza-studies-alevels @emili-a-a @saturniiiblr @mal-studyblr @collegewithme @bright-goals @mint-tea-studies @merakietudier @fluencylevelfrench @rivkahstudies @bentostudy

I definitely forgot some people but without further ado the celebration!!

NOTE: If you don’t want to see any posts related to this event, you can blacklist the tag #studyvancelebrates bc that is what I will be using!!

Rules

You must be following me, new followers are welcome too!!

Reblog or like this post

If you are sending me an ask on anon or a side-blog, please mention it

Only one option per person

Please be respectful to me (meaning don’t send me more than one ask or keep asking me why I am taking so long etc.)

🌿moodboards

Send me a 🌿 and tell me a cherished memory!!! If you’re not comfortable with it you can also tell me your favorite book and why you liked it. I will try my best for the moodboards but it might take some time!!

🎧personalized playlists

Send me a 🎧 and tell me about the aesthetic you like! If you can also tell me one of your favorite artists I would also really appreciate it, it would definitely give me a better idea for the playlist!! Also, I think my music taste is good so you guys can trust me djdj

✏️doodles

Send me a ✏️ and tell me your favorite food!So I can draw your icon, a favorite small character (like gudetama, koya, etc.), or something small, but please specify what you want!!! I think the previous celebrations proved that I am not good at drawing but I do try my best!!! Plus, if it turns out horrendously, we can laugh about it together.

[i-am-just-a-kiddo]

2020 content creator review

i was tagged by @vishcount as usual, thank you  💕  i answered the questions below the cut, and everyone that is tagged is there too, if you just wanna skip my ramblings and go straight down there.  (also gosh i hope all the links work rip)

1. first creation and most recent creation of 2020: 

this lan wangji oneshot, apparently. i can’t remember when i actually wrote it, but my ao3 tells me i posted it in january 2020. i remember i just wanted to explore lwj’s time of mourning and dive into his mind of that time, even if it made me eternally sad?

my most recent 2020 creation that is public, is the second chapter to this casmund/edmund character study fic i started writing in 2016. i did not expect to return to that but rewatching the narnia movies did that to me. i guess it’s one of those ever-returning fandoms

2. one of your favorite creations from 2020: 

my niemo (nie huaisang/mo xuanyu) fic, no question. diving into this, i fully knew that this pairing probably has a tiny audience and honestly, i did not expect to churn out 30k for them. god. am still suffering because why the fuck did i do that to myself (and everyone reading). thank you vishie for standing by me all the time.

3. a new style you tried this year and a gifset edit that uses it: 

my historical taegi AU set in silla korea - i don’t think it’s actually a new style writing-wise, but it was an entirely different process of creating. i did a week of only research, diving into amounts of academic texts and sources to figure out my frame and setting. it was so much fun and in the end, with everything i learned, it felt like the fic was only just the ‘by-product’ of my research. though i must say, writing the story itself was challenging in a very different way, by that i mean that the characters made me furious and yet i had to write it like that cause i like to suffer :) 

as for gifset, am not sure? i can’t think of any so i am just linking the daechwita mv cause it’s iconic. i guess this mv is more joseon inspired, while my setting was silla somewhere between the end of 7th and beginning of 8th century; but it was the final straw to finally make me write that historical taegi au i always wanted to write with hwarang tae. also this mv inspired me to have yoongi as a tyrannical king cause why not amirite?

4. a creation to be proud of: 

my wei wuxian oneshot during burial mounds; i had a lot of fun writing him and projecting all my nightmares onto him. i went in without a plan and ended up with something i am actually quite proud of? it gave me so much space and room to just...pour out my words and not worry too much about anything else. 

5. a creation that took forever: 

my post-canon wangxian adventure or qinghe chaos, as i lovingly call it. i think i started writing it in november 2019? not entirely sure about that, i only know it took ages. i wanted to create a whole new political environment, as it takes place somewhere around 70 years after canon (they wanna be immortal, shut up) and it was fun thinking of new challenges and new obstacles that face the new generation of cultivators. unfortunately i did not have the capacity to write a full blown political conflict. that’s why i never really incorporated all my thoughts into the story itself, but hey, if anyone has questions i have notes (and vishie, once again, is the most blessed person to plot with me, ily)

6. your creation from 2020 that received the most notes: 

am gonna measure this by kudos on ao3 in that case, which would be the aforementioned lwj oneshot Cold Moon, Long Nights Moon. I feel incredibly fond of it and i’m really happy that people liked it. it feels special somehow and i just want to thank everyone who read that and liked it.

7. a creation you think deserved more notes: 

oh i wrote many fics that year for smaller fandoms, which makes me grateful for every single feedback i received. i think i had hoped my previously mentioned historical AU would receive more, but it’s okay because i still loved it. 

another one is this princess sook myung/ah roh fic that i wrote for my ‘make hwarang gay again’ series. i finally finished this show and it furstrated me so much - the gay potential that went to waste, the horrendous writing for female characters. i liked the chemistry between ah roh and the princess, and yes i get it, it’s a rare pair and this fandom is kinda dead, but. the girls deserve their shine and love (though still, i am grateful for every single kudos i receive and i am still proud of it)

8. a new fandom you joined and a creation you made for it: 

i joined many new fandoms this year for which i wrote, but i want to mention my shang xirui character study for winter begonia, because it was very interesting to explore that? and i had fun too, it was one of the first things i properly wrote after my hiatus, so i felt quite proud. also once again, this fandom has way too little content and the show is underrated. 

9. a creation you made that breaks your heart: 

i wanna mention two here. first is this wen ning & song lan oneshot that was a pure joy and also very sad to write. i just love these two so much, and i love them together even more. i have many thoughts how much comfort they could give each other and believe me, i have many more that i want to explore in the future. 

the second one is the mu nihuang & xiao jingyan oneshot i wrote for the nirvana in fire gift exchange 2020. it broke my heart, but at the same time it felt like something was healing too? it hurt at the pain both characters go through, but i also felt fond that maybe, they were not alone.

10. a ‘simple’ creation that you really love: 

hmm there are a few, i mostly want to mention my fei liu character study? it has no plot or anything, it is just an exploration of his mind and thoughts, which was an absolute joy to write and somehow so easy. 

i also quite like the yyy series i started - maybe i can write more for these two because they somehow give me the feels.

11. a favorite creation created by someone else: 

alright here we go folks:

first i want to mention my dearest @vishcount because newsflash!!! i am the biggest fan. of course i need to mention your wondeful, stunning, breathtaking masterpiece that is your xicheng novel (and yes it is a novel, i say so). it is still ongoing and you started it in 2019, but i need to mention it here because it truly is something that is lifechanging. i feel so blessed that i get the front seats and vip access to all the updates, to all your thoughts and ideas. you go through a lot with it and i am never not proud of you ❤️ another one i want to mention is this wei wuxian & mo xuanyu oneshot you wrote for me because i am still crying about it. i have no words.  honourable mentions: your easter islanders (lan wangji and jiang cheng) and this xicheng soulmate au 

another creator i want to mention is @the-cloud-whisperer and their nirvana in fire fic Heroic Woman（烈婦） , which is absolutely wonderful.  i found you through your ATLA fics (which i adore) and saw you posting about nirvana in fire and this year, finally, i watched the show and was blown away. i love your other NIF fics too, but this one feels very special because i always thought li yang’s character was so incredibly fascinating. thank you for writing this 💕

for more other creations just look at my bookmarks on ao3, there is the untamed, nirvana in fire, yyy the series, hwarang, winter begonia and original sin (from 2020 and many more if you scroll further) please give everyone i mentioned love!!!!!

12. your favorite content creators and blogs that you appreciate: 

oh boy here we go. once again @vishcount, @the-cloud-whisperer, @intyalote, @sassyassassy, @isabellaofparma, @passionpeachy, @finny-red, @guzhuangheaven  @honeyiling, @holmesandwhatson  @bloody-bee-tea, @leoyunxi, @gusucloud, @ohsehuns and many many more that must slip my mind.

all of you, consider yourself tagged in this game and even if we never spoke to each other, i greatly appreciate all of you and i want to give some love. if you feel like doing this, i hope you can have fun!  💕

[lethendralis-paints]

Artist Meme

Was tagged to answer this set of interesting questions by @kourvo​

(original post is here: https://kourvo.tumblr.com/post/621355098110640128/artist-meme

Thank you so much for that!

Let’s see....

1) What is the character you've drawn the most (Can be original or fanart)

This precious boy. I can never get enough of him. One of the most compelling characters I have ever come across. Love everything about Fenris and can relate to him on so many levels!

2. What colour do you often use? 

Gray and brown are my faves. And all other colours have the same chance of appearing in my artwork :D

3. Any colour you are bad at using?

I don’t think so...I love them all, even the pinks and yellows people usually find hard to incorporate into a colour palette. Tell me in the comments if I’m wrong :)

4. When drawing people, where do you start? 

Funnily enough - either with the front of the hairline or with the left eyebrow. Don’t ask me, why - I don’t know myself.

5. What is a character only your eraser will love?

Hmmmm...any sort of villainous character. I can’t draw evil people convincingly. I’m a huge softy at heart.

6. Which of your works took the longest time? 

Big scale commission I did for @pikapeppa​, featuring all the Inquisition companions, along with Fenris, Rynne and Carver Hawke. That one took almost 3 weeks, due to its sheer scope and my relative lack of experience in such large works. Pika was extremely patient with me though, for that I am eternally thankful!

7. What techniques do you use when you want to improve in drawing? 

Classical art studies. Varying my technique, themes I choose and software I use. I try to experiment and go outside my comfort zone often.

8. What do you think of the art of the person who gave you this ask meme? 

I adore Lillymon’s technical skill, refined style and limited colours! She is a huge inspiration for me!

9. What art tools/media are you good with? 

DrawPile, Photoshop, graphite pencils and liners. That’s about it :)

10. Art tools/media you are bad at? 

Traditional paints. I have no formal artistic education and my lack of knowledge comes to the forefront whenever I have to paint on a real canvas. It’s so much trial and error, you can’t even imagine....

11. What do you think about your own art? 

Lately it’s one of the last few things that were bringing me joy. I hope I won’t lose the passion for it. Because at this point I’m not sure I’ll be able to find some occupation I will be genuinely interested in and good at it. I don’t know if me gravitating towards moody fantasy art speaks about my fear of facing reality. If so, idk what to do with that. I do hope to develop my skills and being able to support myself financially as an artist.

12. Do you consult references for your drawings? 

Yes. A lot of them. Anatomical atlases, schemes for both academic and manga art, photographs found online and taken on my own, copying colour palettes from classical art - anything goes. I think it’s essential to develop your technical skill.

13. What do you like about your art? 

Lately - consistency, both in terms of produced results and in sticking to the timelines I set to myself. I hope this lasts. I would also like to branch out to other themes and not confine myself to quirky fantasy characters, so I’m working on developing my own story behind the scenes (spoilers) :P

14. What habits do you have while drawing?

Only the bad ones, lol. Hunching forward in front of the screen, forgetting to eat, drink and letting my eyes rest. Tilting my head to the side instead of rotating the canvas....I’m an idiot XD

15. Are you good at drawing faces facing right? 

I think that’s the thing I’m good at!

16. How frequently do you draw? 

For the last 1,5 years - almost every day without fail, for good or ill.

17. What do you do when you have artist's block? 

Change occupation and work myself into a depressed state. I changed work places in the last few years a lot, working as an interior designer, draftsman, textile designer, a cook, a bartender to name a few.

18. What must you have when you draw? 

No commotion around me and a cup of some hot beverage.

19. Do you have a lot of stray lines (messy lineart)? 

In the starting stage of my work process - yes, like you wouldn’t believe! If it’s a personal doodle, I sometimes just leave in as am under layer and draw clean lines on top of that mess. It looks cool in a way.

20. What is drawing to you?

An essential part of what helped me to retain my sanity in the last year and a half. Hopefully a lasting profession that will help me pay bills and survive on my own, if my life falls apart entirely later.

21. Your art goal from now on? 

Broaden the themes I depict, improve my technical skill, work on personal creative project and not only fan arts. And most of all - not giving up on it this time.

22. Artists you've had influence from? 

To name a few: @kallielef​ @kourvo​ @shayafury​ @fairsparrow​ who I met here on Tumblr, and many others who I follow and zealously study their works for clues on how to improve my own work.

23. Artists you like? 

I am following them all either here or on Instagram, I also do my best to share their works on my side blog!

24. Which is easier to draw, humans or animals? 

It was animals earlier. But now that I started to diligently study human anatomy, I would say it evened out! I’m quite confident drawing humans/humanoids now!

25. Show us an old drawing 

My first digital drawing from 2010 when I first bought my tablet!

26. What is the charm-point of your art?

I ummm....I don’t really get the question? Is that like the the strongest suit of me as an artist? Intense expressions maybe? Idk. Let me know in the comments :D

27. What is the first thing you would draw if we're talking about fantasy? 

Broody warriors, he-he

28. Please draw your most beloved character:

Here’s a sneak-peek of me drawing him right now! :D

29. When thinking of characters is it mostly female? male? or androgynous/no sex? 

I usually gravitate towards depicting strong-willed, caring, passionate, brave, honest men and women.

30. What did you draw yesterday? 

Started cleaning up that sketch from the last question, actually!

31. What is the funnest part to draw? 

A circle. Mostly because you’d die laughing seeing my struggle to draw a believable one XD

32. What part of other people's drawings do you notice first? 

colours, mood, eyes, hands.

33. Regarding backgrounds, what is your method of making it easier to draw? 

pick your favourite textured brush, find a good reference for mood and colour scheme, zoom out, squint your eyes and start slapping colours like mad. You’d be amazed at how much you’ll be able to achieve in 30 minutes with this approach. Bare white background is the enemy - destroy it! >:)

34. What colour coordinations do you like? 

Gray or brown as a main colour and then deep, earthy, saturated colours to complement the main one. Pink and orange is the combination I strangely enjoy using lately too.

35. What character did you last draw? Fenris and Eris :)

36. Does your style change easily? 

I don’t think so. More like it’s evolving slowly into something more serious and deliberate.

37. What part of drawing do you pay most attention to? 

Facial expression, body movement, mood and light effects. Not so much the composition and framing, he he.

38. How do you feel about drawing adult art? 

Tbh, I don’t consider straight up porn to be ‘adult’ exactly. To me adult art means aiming towards serious topics, exploring complex emotions and ideas, being honest with your viewer. I did doodle a few more steamy sketches of my OTP just to see if I could, but it was definitely a tongue-in-cheek kind of a artwork that I don’t take seriously.

39. Do you like criticism from others? 

If it’s friendly and in done in private - I welcome it always.

40. How many people do you normally draw per artwork? 

1 or 2. Rarely more. Crowded battle scenes are definitely not my thing :D

This was fun! Tagging forward to @shayafury​ @schoute​ @stella-minerva​ @nug-juggler​ @kallielef​ and anyone else wishing to go through such a long questionnaire!

[haloud]

Just gotta call you out on what you said about the survey. The fandom survey was posted by an Alex Manes fan account hence the people who responded were Alex fans too and hence the results were as you said - it’s basic quantitative statistics lol. The fact that everyone knows Michael is a favourite to most fans and carina is obvious - the survey merely proves that the rest of the fandom is aware of it too.

Okay.

When i took the survey it had about two hundred responses. it was posted on tumblr, where I saw it, where most of my fandom takes place. It was a two-sentence joke about the numbers as I saw them at a time when the surveyed population was the population I interact with the most. I’m sorry I wasn’t pedantic enough for you, anon. I’m sorry my post contained a generalization. It’s almost like I don’t blog the same way I write my academic papers. I should have known someone would find me in violation.

Let’s take a look at your claims, anon, because we love analyzing things here, and since you know all about basic quantitative statistics, I know you’ll agree!

1. The survey can’t be taken as proof that Alex is the fandom darling because the surveyed population was skewed

2. The survey can be taken as proof that “the rest of the fandom” is rightfully aware of the obvious fact that Michael is the fandom darling

Can you see the contradiction taking place here? Either the survey can be used as evidence or it can’t–you don’t just get to cherry pick the responses that agree with you and ignore the ones that don’t.

Anon, if the “rest of the fandom” knew one hundred percent that Michael was the obvious favorite (over Alex specifically), my post wouldn’t have gotten any notes. It was untagged, and I don’t have that many followers. It isn’t just about the numbers, either–take a look at the comment responses, read for just a little while how the number of people saying that Alex is being mistreated or that miluca need to break up outweigh any comments criticizing Alex. 

My post was responding to the same frustration I’m expressing now. On Tumblr–where most of my fandom takes place–I see a lot of claims that Alex is despised and in need of defense from a hateful fandom, but I never see any of the proof. The tag “anti alex manes?” Two posts, anonymous confessions from a year and five months ago respectively. The tag “anti michael guerin?” Two pages and active. Now, that isn’t a lot of hate either–you’ll never see me claim that Michael isn’t a popular character. The only thing I claim is that Alex is more popular than him, against the popular perception of people who self-identify as liking Alex to the exclusion of all others. That’s what the survey of the population I knew was tumblr-based confirmed and caused me to make a post about.

The survey is up to over five hundred responses now. (I took it on my phone while logged into a Google account, so I can go back and see the responses without taking the survey again.) The favorite character is still Alex by an overwhelming margin, with 47% of respondents self-reporting him as their favorite. Second place is Maria, with 16.2%, and then Michael and Liz are tied with 12.3%. Meanwhile, for the question “Who do you think is the most popular character in the fandom,” 54.6% of respondents report that their perception is that Michael is the fandom favorite. Alex is in second place with 22.2%, followed by Liz at 9.7%. The results still reflect the thing I joked about, which is the significant discrepancy between self-reported perception and self-reported reality among fans.

Any good statistical analysis includes a disclaimer as well as an examination of future avenues of study. I will state for the record that the surveyed population could still be skewed by having originated at the epicenter of Alex-centered fandom. You’ll find that this is often the case and an often-reported possible flaw in a survey study. It’s a flaw inherent in the sampling method known as snowball sampling–where the surveyed population begins with the surveyor’s acquaintances and goes outward from those acquaintances, i.e., it picks up snow as it rolls. There’s also the possibility that some individuals took the survey more than once, though Google does prevent logged-in users from doing so. This statement should not be used as a reason to throw out the results; proof of fraudulent activity would be necessary in order to demonstrate that surveyors were not acting in the good faith required of all self-reporting surveys. In regards to further study, I think it would be interesting to include a question about where respondents saw the survey as well as where they spend most of their fandom time (Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, etc.). That way, we would know more clearly what subset of the fandom was participating in the survey.

A fandom survey will never be a scientific exercise, anon, but at 513 responses, I do believe the sample size is large enough to be used for commentary on trends within the fandom. Something doesn’t have to be classifiable as science to be interesting or notable.

[littlelambdrgnfly]

Would you ever do the ultimate beatlemaniac tag? I would LOVE to see your answers!!

Thanks for asking!

How long have you been a fan? Until I was 17, I thought they were good but just not my style, I was much more into punk music!

Favorite Beatle: John, but I adore Paul and George too. John’s just my boy, you know?

Favorite era for music: I’d have to pick mid-to-late Beatles even though I love their early stuff too! In terms of personality, I prefer the early stuff; for the music, the later stuff.

Favorite era for lewks: Teddy boy Beatles, for sure! But I’m a big fan of the moptops and basically 1966 as a whole.

Favorite song: Hey Jude just puts me on another spiritual plane, honestly. But Dear Prudence is a very close second!

Favorite album: Abbey Road. One of my old teachers used to say that Hamlet is as close as you can come to the “perfect” play, I feel that way about albums and Abbey Road. White Album and Rubber Soul are two and three!

Unpopular/Controversial Beatles opinion: They were all bastards! I love them but there’s not a single one of them without a story that makes me cringe.

A song everyone loves but you dislike: I don’t care for The Long and Winding Road, at least the Spector mix. It’s way too sentimental! The stripped version is a lot better. I also don’t really like Imagine.

A song everyone dislikes but you love: Why does everyone hate Wild Honey Pie?? I think it’s such a cute, funny little filler piece.

Your fantasy involving The Beatles: I own a bookstore in Hamburg and become friends with all the Beatles and the Exis. They think I’m super smart and cool, and I get to help them come to terms with their sexual identities, treat women and marginalized communities better, and turn them onto weed before Dylan does, lol.

Tell us about the moment you knew you were a fan: When I heard the Anthology version of “And Your Bird Can Sing” (I don’t know, lmao)

Did you ever have a genuine ‘The Beatles suck!’ phase before becoming a fan? Not really, but the first time I listened to the White Album, the vibes coming from it freaked me out so much that I didn’t listen to it all the way through for years afterward.

Favorite Beatles book: Probably Pete Shotton’s book! I love Mike’s books too, he’s such a funny guy... In terms of more academic titles, I really loved Steven Stark’s book and “You Never Give Me Your Money” by Peter Doggett.

Thoughts on the old generation of fans: I haven’t had much interaction with the older gen(s) but I find the men mostly insufferable. There was this older dude who came into the record store all the time (he bought EVERY single edition of Paul’s last album), and he actively made every Beatles fan who worked there like the band a little less.

If Hollywood were to make a high budget Beatles biopic, what is one thing you desperately hope they include? I don’t like biopics, I hope they don’t make one! If they do, it better just be about John and Paul boning for 90 minutes.

Do you read/write fanfic?: You’re on this blog, so you know this!

Are you the only one in your family/friend group to enjoy them?: My family and a number of my friends like them, but yeah, I like them the most.

Are you a shipper?: Tragically

Favorite movie starring/made by them?: AHDN! I love Yellow Submarine too and I just wish it starred them! It’s very distracting to me that it’s not their voices, lol.

Do you believe in McLennon?:  I’m like 98% positive it’s real

General opinions on McLennon?: I think they were a couple, and if they weren’t, then I think it was because of the general opinion of same-sex couples at the time and fear for their reputation. I hope it was real, but I think I could keep myself together if it wasn’t. It just makes me want to die when shippers ask these kinds of questions to their families though! God, please do NOT.

If you got to change ONE thing about their history, what would it be and why?: Brian shouldn’t have died... But if I had to chose something smaller, then there should have been more of George’s songs on the White Album.

What song has the best vocals?: Christ, I can’t even choose a top 10...

What song do you feel had no effort put into it?: More of their earlier stuff, particularly on Beatles for Sale, but Eight Days a Week really sticks out to me, even though I like that one a lot. It makes me think of that quote, “Let’s sit down and write ourselves a swimming pool!”

What is a well talked about moment in Beatles history you genuinely believe to be false?: When John met Yoko at that art show... We know that’s not real, lol.

What is something you KNOW to be true, but often gets erased in their history?: John and Paul’s whole dynamic, I feel like a lot of people just don’t get it

Least favorite look from a Beatle(s): I hate the collarless suits! I also don’t like John’s mustache.

Favorite look from a Beatle(s): Just all of 1966!!!

[aefintyr]

a multi-muse survey

tagged by @ourpyrrhicvictory​​ <3

CANON MUSES

name of your favorite muse: Probably either Bellatrix or Mary. I’ve played Bellatrix for years, and actually RPed her on her own blog before making this one, so writing her comes naturally. She’s so awful and disturbing, but also fiercely independent and wild while still being dutiful and doing what is best for the family. A lot of people portray her as either one or the other, but the point of my portrayal of Bellatrix is that she can be both of these seemingly contradictory things and how she is both of these things at the same time. But Mary has quickly become a favourite of mine, because of her complexity and the darkness she grapples with and how just because she’s dealt with one form of trauma, doesn’t mean she’ll react the same to another form of trauma. But she’s still her, fundamentally, even if she can’t believe it, or wants to believe it.

name of your very first muse: On this blog? Alecto! For HP? Probably Bellatrix, in all honesty. I mean, I’m pretty certain; I mainly played her in group rpgs. My very first canon muse in general? Uhhh, I’m honestly not sure but it MIGHT’VE been Amara from TVD. I played her for a bit, back when i was still into TVD, along with Ayana. But tbh I don’t have a clue, I’ve been doing this thing for so long, I can’t remember.

name of your meanest muse: Alecto. Bellatrix is pretty fucking awful and is up there, and I almost answered with her but @ourpyrrhicvictory convinced me otherwise. Yes, Alecto doesn’t really hate Muggles all that much and anyone can feel the brunt of Bellatrix’s wrath but Alecto’s just... so malicious? They are both cruel. But Alecto directs a lot of her cruelty towards her half-brother and she’s just so... petty about it.

name of your nicest muse: Mate, I don’t know. There’s Étiennette, Katie, Lily, Charity... I guess I’ll pick Katie because she’s just so nice and sweet, but in a way that’s different to everyone else. Like she’s competitive, but outside of Quidditch, she’s harmless and she doesn’t like or want to hurt people.

name of your most troubled muse: Oh boy! It’s pretty close between Dorcas and Mary, but I still do think Mary easily wins out. She’s just been through a lot and goes through a lot. Losing her parents, then being raised in a Muggle orphanage for a time away from Scotland because her grandparents don’t want her, having to hide her magic. Then when she’s found a place in Hogwarts and friends who love her and she loves them, Mulciber comes in and ruins everything, and the trauma from that experience changes her and she grapples with a lot of inner-darkness and hatred and is pretty self-destructive. And then she loses basically everyone she loved and cared about. Survivor’s guilt is a bitch.

character you have the most muse for atm: Bellatrix, Mary, and Alecto always lmao But also Étiennette.

two of your muses that would never get along: Bellatrix and Alice, for very obvious reasons.

two of your muses that could be best friends: I’ll go with the obvious and say Lily and Mary because they love each other so much and are canonically best friends on my blog.

two of your muses that would make a cute couple: A cute couple? Uh... I guess Katie and Romilda would be pretty cute, once Romilda improves on her selfishness and stuff.

two of your muses that are most similar: Okay, so, I have insecurities over making my characters too similar and try to make them actual, flawed characters. But! Alecto and Bellatrix. As described before, they’re both pretty fucking terrible people and a lot of their cruelty comes from a place of anger and hatred. But they deal with it differently.

name of the muse you’d be best friends with irl: Honestly, maybe Lily! We have a similar protective streak of our friends and will punch someone for them.

name of the muse you’d probably hate irl: Bellatrix and Alecto without any hesitation. I mean, they’re fucking wizard Nazis. And they torture and murder a lot of people. Like, I would just hate them on principle alone, even if I didn’t know they fucking killed people.

a faceclaim you’ve been eager to use: Taylor Russell! Also James Rolleston, who I nominally have as Donaghan Tremlett but will probably be removing, since I haven’t done anything with him whatsoever. But Taylor Russell is just sooo pretty, holy shit. And Elodie Yung, because she’s awesome and beautiful.

OC  MUSES

name of your favorite muse: Honestly? Leta. They were a passion project, with me taking like a couple details from a deleted canon character and running away with it. They sat on the back-burner for quite a bit, before I finally made this blog and included them on it. They’re all about adaptability and fluidity and identity, and how that ties together. You can thank Filthy Rich for inspiring me - with a dash of Inej from SOC.

name of your very first muse: Written on this multimuse? Grisha. First HP OC, period? I honestly couldn’t tell you, probably some self-insert or some shit. My very first OC I roleplayed just in general? A winged ice wolf named Glace. Do not judge me, I was pretty hard into the whole wolf/Warrior Cats forum rps when I was younger.

name of your meanest muse: Mafalda. She’s just very bratty, arrogant, and rude; even if her arrogance is somewhat justified by her academics. She’s capable of playing nice if she considers you an “equal”, Hermione being a bit of an exception, but she’s just quite a lot to deal with. She’s not on the level of like Bellatrix or Alecto and she’s not a blood purist or anything like that - the exact opposite considering the fact that her parents are a Muggle and a Squib, meaning she’s a half-blood - it’s just that she’s... very mean lmao

name of your nicest muse: Grisha! God, Grisha is just... so nice and friendly man, and I mean that’s part of the reason why she gets fucked over, but yeah, she’s like pretty sociable and easy to get along with. It doesn’t mean she’s perfect by any means, she’s a Gryffindor through-and-through, both the good and the bad. But why be a dick when you can just be generally nice to people and treat them well for free?

name of your most troubled muse: Leta without a doubt. You don’t have the kind of backstory that they have and go through the shit they have without coming out of it at least a little bit troubled. And Leta has a lot of shit to deal with.

character you have the most muse for atm: Leta, but that’s no surprise.

two of your muses that would never get along: Man, I honestly don’t know. I feel like any one of them would maybe clash initially but then eventually come to work out their differences and shit and come to an understanding. But for the sake of it, maybe Grisha and Mafalda? She’d just be like “why can’t you just be kinder to people?” and Mafalda would wallow in teenage angst, or something.

two of your muses that could be best friends: Leta and Grisha? They’re both pretty different people but opposites attract and all of that. Plus they could bond over their pretty drastic but mutual experiences with Voldemort/Tom. And Grisha would definitely feel sorry for Leta and their unfortunate circumstance. Yeah, I do feel like they’d get along.

two of your muses that would make a cute couple: On the same topic, Leta and Grisha? Then again, it’s also more of the fact that Leta and Grisha are closer in age than either of them with Mafalda lmao But yeah, for the same reasons that I stated above.

two of your muses that are most similar: Leta and Malalda? They both had to grapple with issues concerning their identities and place expectations on themselves in different ways.

name of the muse you’d be best friends with irl: Grisha, probably. I’ve already talked about how nice she is and stuff, but also IRL I’ve just often gotten along and become friends with people way more extroverted. So you know, that’s just how it goes lmao

name of the muse you’d probably hate irl: Mafalda, I guess? If we were both in highschool at the same time, at least. I mean, I’ve met a few girls similar to Mafalda when I was in highschool, and I wasn’t exactly their biggest fans. Hate is a strong word, tho.

a faceclaim you’ve been eager to use: Holly Earl is a big one, fell in love with her as Erica Mason in the 2019 FMV video game Erica. She’s super pretty in it. Also whichever one I eventually choose for my Squib Slughorn journalist, because I have a lot of them lined up for her.

Tagging:  anyone who wants to!

[frequencyfound]

8, 9, 11, 15, 38 !!

I should really just title this “I talk a lot” ◊ @simplyechoes​

( cut for length, because i really do talk that much)

Name any three things about the rpc that bother you.

As someone with a lot of opinions? It’s a bit hard to narrow down on ‘the three things I can’t stand the least’ so this is in no particular order and just random gripes of mine:

People who do not tag triggers. I absolutely understand forgetting or not knowing you had to tag something ( I do that too, so it’d be very hypocritical of me not to ), but I will never get people who make the conscious, constant and generalised decision to not tag triggers at all, any trigger. It’s such an easy thing to try and make the rpc more accessible and safer for everyone. 

The pressure to write with everyone/be friends with everyone/do all the things/reply quickly/etc. I absolutely respect and love the fact that some writers work best that way, because we’re all different and amazing in our own ways and deserve to be celebrated in that sense. However (and this will 100% cross with an answer to a following question), it’s absolutely more than okay to not do it all. It’s okay to be tired, it’s okay to take a break from writing, it’s okay to just do memes and not long threads, it’s okay to come back after months because you had to take care of yourself (and your life, and your loved ones) and it is 100% okay to not be comfortable writing with everyone or to not want to spread yourself too thin or what have you. It’s okay to have your own rules and stick to them. You don’t have to do it all, and that should be celebrated and respected, too. I feel like sometimes it’s not. 

The very toxic mentality that someone having opinions (especially different from your own) is somehow bad or deserves to be mocked or ridiculed when that person expresses them simply in ’I disagree with this’ or ’This makes me uncomfortable’ terms. Obviously there are important exceptions (which shouldn’t even be called exceptions since they seem like common sense, but it’s the term that fit best here) if whatever that other person is defending is foul (whitewashing/incest/non-con/the whole list that follows), but overall, if it’s just a case of differing opinions? I really dislike that the rpc does not always allow a space for that (or at least, a space for that without the fear of being called-out/attacked).

What is your opinion on exclusivity? Do you practice it? Why / why not?

For the longest while, I understood, respected and enjoyed the idea of exclusivity without ever practising it. In truth, I wasn’t holding myself to the positive standards I viewed the exclusivity of others in. 

It changed when I witnessed some narratives which made me deeply uncomfortable and include a character I write (Hélène, in the interest of honesty). Then, exclusivity was not a concept I felt like I had no right to, but a necessity to protect myself from topics I did not want to write, and point of views I did not want to entertain or associate with. When I allowed myself to be uncomfortable (something I’d never allowed myself before, despite the fact I had definitely been uncomfortable and just chose to sweep it under the rug for the sake of ‘not wanting to cause drama’), I started applying what I preached about others being exclusive to myself. 

(I’m going to note here that talking to someone about something which genuinely makes you uncomfortable is not ‘creating drama’. We all have rights to a safe and happy space to write, but I know sometimes rp pressures can make it seem differently.)

I’m now in a place where I could be exclusive, and would never rule it out. On accounts or muses I am not, it is usually a reflection of my own comfort with the fandom. On muses and/or accounts I am open to exclusivity, it is not just about my own comfort, but also because of the relationships (both ic and ooc) I’ve crafted with people I’m exclusive with, because I love writing first and foremost for the in-depth relationships (not necessarily romantic, but of any kind). 

Tl;dr: Prioritizing your own comfort is not creating drama. Being exclusives with someone is not creating drama, and the fact someone might think the contrary baffles me. Being exclusives with people is cool. Not being exclusives with people is cool, too. It’s whatever float your boat, so long as it comes from an earnest place of comfort and joy and mutual respect. We are all here to do what makes us happy in an environment we can feel safe, at ease and having fun in, and it’s up to each individual to decides what works for them and their muses.  

What do you know now about rp that you wish you knew when you first started?

It’s okay to take care of yourself. I think this links back to everything I just said, but it’s okay to not be this superhero who has a job/studies/spends time with friends and family/replies within a day/chats ooc with people/has a great sense of humour/is always here and cheerful/never says no to a thread/writes with everyone despite discomfort that might be felt with some people. It’s okay to have rules, it’s okay to stick to them or not, it’s okay to set your own limits. In fact, please set your own limits. Please create a space where you know you will feel happy and safe and have fun without all the unnecessary pressure or impostor syndrome that can come with roleplaying. 

Please take care of yourself. 

Don’t let your energy and fire burn out for a hobby. 

It’s taken me a while to get there and I’m admitedly still learning, but I wholeheartedly believe this is something important.

( Also, don’t give in to people trying to compare you with others, as well-meaning and complimentary as they may seem. Writing is to some extent inherently comparative, especially when done online, and I have insecurities of my own, as I’m sure many others do. There’s no need for us to cater to anyone that tries to play on them to make us or other people feel lesser than or invalid. Plurality of interpretations should be celebrated! ) 

How has rp changed you personally?

I think the most obvious way rp has changed me is that it actually improved my english. That’s why I started writing on tumblr, why I still write. When I got to University, I had no real way of making sure my english writing was ‘good enough’ or ‘academic enough’ for essays, and I figured that if I could write fiction easily, I’d be able to transfer some things to academic projects. 

Rp also brought some wonderful people into my life. Some which are still here and hopefully will want to stick around for a while, some with which I lost contact. I’m grateful for everyone of them. I am forever amazed at any friend I make on this hellsite and how talented and creative and lovely (and a long list of adjectives I won’t bore you with) every single one of them is. They’re wonderful people and I can’t say enough good things about them. I’m so lucky I got to hang out and meet some of them in real life. 

May we all be so lucky to meet people like that. 

What advice would you give to someone new to rp?

Have fun! Take care of yourself! Do you! This will 100% link back with a lot of my previous answers, but I am a believer that what matters at the end of the day is that you can look back on your blog and look back on the people you wrote with and the threads you wrote and the threads they wrote and just feel warm and happy and safe and at ease. 

Roleplay is first and foremost a hobby, it’s here to bring you joy. There can sadly be a lot of unhealthiness on this site but, trust me, you don’t need all the clutter that might derail you from your own joy. 

I know written like that, it seems easier said ( well. written ? ) than done. I’ve been there ( sometimes, I’m still there too ) and I know it can seem like an uphill climb when you just want to make others happy, but you need to be happy too. It’s not a one-way street. 

Just have fun, sail your own boat, focus on the people and writings and muses which make you happy. 

That’s good life advice, too. That, ‘don’t be afraid to make mistakes and ask for help’ and ‘don’t let anyone harsh your mellow’. 

[mittensmorgul]

do you think it's open to interpretation whether dean and cas are in love with each other? Like is it just as valid an interpretation to say they're not? Whenever anyone calls destiel "one interpretation" or whatever, my hackles rise. And I know I'm overly sensitive about this stuff, being a gay and whatnot, but I mean, is it? Am I just insecure because my otp isn't canon, or is destiel really more valid than other readings or what? What do you think?

Hi there. :)

I’m gonna give you the diplomatic, academic answer, and then I’m gonna give you the grumpy-ass queer lady answer. Hold on to your horses. :)

Polite answer:

All media is open to interpretation. Of course, this doesn’t mean that all interpretations are equally valid, or equally supported by canon, especially when taken in context of the entire body of the work in question.

For example, I replied to a post the other day about 13.17, and that scene where Dean and Sam are-- on first glance-- rather disrespectful of the extremely rare and valuable books in the bunker... but in context of the rest of the episode and the rest of the season, that montage wasn’t about disrespecting those books at all. It had less than nothing to do with the books themselves as objects or as sources of knowledge that should be properly cared for and respected. But out of context it kinda looks that way. So, based on that one short gif set, it might seem like a perfectly legitimate interpretation to suggest that Sam and Dean were careless with the immense knowledge and invaluable books they’ve found themselves in possession of. But in the larger context of their entire history, of all their interactions with the bunker and the untold store of knowledge it holds,  and with the context of the specific reasons for their frustration in that particular scene, it seems obvious that there’s a lot more to the story, you know?

You could technically argue just about any weird headcanon can be supported by canon. I wrote this weird little post right after 12.11 aired, and it sat in my drafts for a good long time before I finally posted it. But there’s nothing in canon that legit quashes the possibility that endgame fish!Cas is where the story’s been headed all along. He’s positively swimming in fish metaphors. (sorry, I couldn’t resist) Does that abundance of fish, fishing imagery, and water imagery that have surrounded Cas for years lend itself to a literal interpretation? I mean, it’s definitely AN interpretation that is there if you want to see it, and if in your heart of hearts you believe it’s legitimately what the storytelling is attempting to convey here. But does that make it a valid interpretation that deserves serious consideration? Does it truly make sense when taking the larger story around Cas as a whole? Or is it obviously a literary theme that we’re supposed to consider through the themes traditionally associated with fish and fishing as used in countless other fictional works of the past? I suppose that sort of interpretation has been left open for us to take or leave as we see fit. It invites us to examine those references more closely, to help us understand Cas as a character and the journey his personal character arc is taking him through. It gives his experiences and growth a depth of context that is there to explore if we so choose.

(for more on Cas vs Fish, please see my tags regarding “The Fisher King.” I like to think there’s a more well-reasoned and logical line of thinking for pinning so much fish to Cas than my cracky example of fish!Cas would suggest.)

Now, looking at destiel specifically, if you take any single moment out of context, it’s absolutely possible to make an interpretation that their relationship is clearly more “brotherly,” or clearly more “familial,” or clearly one of “very close friends.” But it requires the same removal from the larger context to explain away what taken with the entirety of their history begins to look entirely undeniable.

I suppose, since Supernatural is an open canon and the story hasn’t been fully told yet, that it’s possible the writers could change course with the storytelling. It’s possible that something might prevent them from taking Dean and Cas and their story to the conclusion they’ve been building to for the last ten years. They could decide to leave this particular “interpretation” open-ended and unresolved.

Since that is always a possibility, and because I’m not psychic, nor do I have any top secret inside information from the writers and showrunners, I can’t say that my particular interpretation is more valid or correct or likely than anyone else’s. But I have yet to come up against a credible, coherent explanation for the entire body of extant canon that invalidates my particular interpretation, either.

The vast majority of arguments against boil down to logical fallacies-- cherry-picking scenes out of context as “proof,” straw man arguments, and ad hominem attacks. Because of this, I’m content to wait for canon to play out. I’ll happily watch the rest of the story unfold, and happily continue to interpret what I’m witnessing as a whole instead of attempting to dissect it out and explain away what I see as an entirely logical progression of storytelling.

As an aside here, I find it entirely fascinating that one of the most common complaints I read from people who deny Dean and Cas are in love is that the writing has become progressively more terrible, that the story of Supernatural as a whole makes less and less sense, and that the characters are behaving in increasingly “out of character” ways. And as someone in possession of rational capabilities, I wonder if their disconnect from the storytelling is simply their refusal to see and accept that perhaps their “interpretation” of the story is just... not correct.

When we attempt to deny or rationalize away certain interpretations of characterization, or certain progressions of events and how they relate to one another, the larger narrative just falls apart, you know? Of course it doesn’t make sense if you exclude large portions of it because you don’t want to see it or believe it’s happening, or important to the story.

Meanwhile, I’m over here loving every minute of it (okay... most minutes of it). So even if my interpretation isn’t absolutely 100% “correct” (and really, with any media, there’s always different ways to interpret everything, from what the color of the curtains might imply to who’s gonna get to fire Chekhov’s Gun in the third act), I’m content to continue to interpret it in a way that not only makes me personally happiest, but in a way that makes the story itself seem both logical and entertaining, as well.

Okay, that’s the end of the rational portion of this essay. Now on to the angry queer lady portion:

There’s more canon evidence for Dean and Cas being in love, or at the very least caring for one another to ridiculous, rather mind-numbing degrees, than there is for practically every canon heterosexual couple on television in the last fifty years. Think of any slow burn, will they-won’t they hetero couple, and do the point-by-point checklist of all the tropes they burned through before they got to the love declarations and the kissing and the happily ever afters (or worse, the dramatic breaking up and getting back together, or even worse, the tragically breaking up forever). I challenge anyone to name one hetero-presenting couple who required as many love tropes for audiences to recognize and acknowledge they were in love. Yeah, I’m thinking of that whole “they shared a pencil” post.

So yeah, there is likely a measure of heteronormativity to it, and a lot of the arguments against also devolve into rather gross denouncements that there’s no way Dean’s not straight, because he said so that one time... Mr. “I lie professionally” who also never actually said he was straight... gah... I’m not gonna dig up every ancient meta post on the subject. If anyone is legitimately interested in understanding why making those same tired arguments just doesn’t have any legitimacy in a reasoned discussion, they can damn well do their own digging. It’s not like any of the evidence is difficult to uncover, and it’s not my job to spoon feed it to every naysayer myself.

I feel like I’m standing on a Mt. Everest size pile of rational, reasonable, well-argued analysis supporting the claim that Dean and Cas are in love. *stands back and points at my whole entire blog again* If anyone would like to come back at me with something even remotely worth my time and attention to persuade me to alter my interpretation, I suggest they get busy. I’ll just be up here on top of my mountain enjoying the clean, destiel-scented air up here.

And finally, who says it’s not canon? Ah, right. Moving goalposts. At this point, I think it’s ridiculous to suggest that Dean and Cas don’t love one another. And profoundly, at that. I mean, you don’t give up an army for one guy if you don’t at least like him a lil bit. You don’t shout down God begging him to bring back that dude you’re kinda buddies with, or sink into a suicidal funk that reverses completely within minutes of finding out said buddy’s alive again. You don’t offer to march to your death with your chum because he’s such a nice guy and all. I mean... honestly. How far in denial does someone have to be to suggest they don’t love each other? At this point, when comparing Sam and Dean’s reactions far into s13 to Cas’s death in 12.23, either you accept that Dean has much stronger and far different feelings about the loss of someone that Sam does love and considers a brother, or else you kinda have to assume that Sam’s just kind of a dick for not being as broken up about Cas’s death as Dean is. So... which interpretation do you think is the one they’re trying to convey?

Bleh, whatever. I await the inevitable inbox full of nastiness that I will cheerfully delete while judging every anon who sends it as someone who really should find a better hobby than antagonizing strangers on the internet over a work of fiction.

Anon, basically, don’t let the bastards grind you down, okay?

Now for some reason I feel like listening to Achtung Baby. Imma go do that and feel the love.

[whatamessz]

About

Hey everyone,

since there are a few new followers I thought it‘s time to introduce myself a bit.

I‘d also like to say sorry I can’t follow everyone back, I try to cut on my tumblr time so I policed myself on new follows, but I‘m always happy to chat and I check on some of your blogs from time to time.

My name is Resa (she/her) and since I’m the same age as Noodle I practically grew up with Gorillaz

I‘m an active fan since Plastic Beach, then forgot a bit abt it, but then Humanz Tour came around and here we are again

PB is my fave phase/album, Humanz is close 2nd

I do kickboxing and boxing for 3 years now and I love to talk about it, so feel free to approach me if you are a martial arts or just sports enthusiast

I studied art history and am an academic, but lately I‘m entertaining the thought of doing something else since I‘m a bit unhappy with my choices

Former fandoms/ships include Attack on Titan/Eruri, One Piece/Lawlu (Doflamingo is the best villain, fight me on that), Captain America/Stucky, Legend of Korra/Kyalin and Harry Potter/Wolfstar, so forgive me if there are still occasional reblogs

Gorillaz revived the long believed-to-be-dead urge to write fiction and actively engage in a fandom, but it‘s all just testing grounds since a) I didn’t do that in roughly ten years, b) I’m always short on time and c) English isn’t my native language

In case you couldn‘t tell: I‘m a big fan of horror and gore, so pls always be careful when browsing my blog and check the tags

This is just a side blog and it annoys me, main is @stoertebaker

So yeah, feel free to drop by and say hi! I don‘t bite.

[radphysicist]

hi! i just finished my first year of college as an engineering major and i have 3 math classes left before im “done” with math. its a continuation of calc 3, linear algebra, and differential equations. but, my grades have been steadily dropping in my math classes over the last 3 quarters, and im starting to feel like my foundation in math is very shaky. its also impacting me in physics, which sucks cause i love physics. do you have any advice on how i should approach these next math classes?

Hi there! I apologize for taking so long to get back to you anon.

First, I’d recommend checking out @the-real-numbers  “#math help” tag for some really stellar advice posts, especially for people who don’t *think* they’re great at math (Btw, Real, I know we’ve exchanged like… 10 words to each other, but I will regularly send anybody who asks me for math help to your blog, b/c it’s pretty rad)!

Here are some of my recommendations mixed in with some advice I’ve received from my (academic superstar) friend @thatphysicsguy:

- Go to office hours, tutoring, review sessions, etc. : This one is super important! Just because you’re struggling, it does not mean you’re incapable of learning something. Take advantage of the resources you payed for. Office hours are particularly important b/c not only can your prof. help you work out the specific problems you’re struggling with and tailor their one-on-one teaching to fill in *your* gaps of understanding, but some professors will grade more favorably or be more lenient with you when they see you’re trying your best.

- Read the textbooks: This one may not work for everybody, but I found that a lot of students tend to think that, because it’s a math class, reading the textbooks is not necessary. However, the books often give you great insight on the conceptual aspects of the math you’re learning which makes it easier to work through the applications.

-Practice, practice, practice! : This is honestly the biggest one. You can watch your professor work through problems in class and read about them in your book, but until you work through them yourself, you probably don’t have it down. A lot of my professors recommend I work through problems until I’m able to do them at a decent pace and without outside resources (especially with things like proofs). It might be useful to go back to the example problems in the book or from class at the end of a section and see if you can do them on your own! 

- Review : You can’t expect to remember something that you go over once, maybe do a hw or 2 on and then leave alone until 3 chapters later when you have an exam coming up. You have to review what you learn. That’s how you form a strong foundation in any subject. This will also save you from cramming come test time. Plus, you may be “done” with math after these classes, but some of this stuff you will still be using as you move forward with your degree in  engineering. Do your best to learn the material!

That’s all I have for now. I know watching your grades go down in a subject can be very disheartening, but I believe in you! You’re certainly capable of kicking some ass in your upcoming math classes, even if it requires some extra work. Good luck, my friend! c: