#I'll figure it out when I reread the books ... which I'm planning to do soon

[throughpatchesofviolet]

Also, I'm going to change Sherry's weapon ... originally, she just used her fists, but I was double checking some things while typing up my last post, and realized that Sherlock often carries a cane with him, and, after a bit of thinking, I've decided that suits Sherry better than simply using her bare hands (and also this makes her a bit more unique, since Meursault is the Sinner known for punching things).

It works a lot better with my concept for her E.G.O, as well, because the cane itself could be a Blunt weapon, she could have a sword hidden in it for Slash attacks, and then the handle of the cane/sword could detach and be used as a pistol for Pierce damage! I'm thinking it's probably a weapon she commissioned from a Workshop ... and it could have her "keyword" engraved on the shaft.

[tadpolesonalgae]

Hey Tabby! I just wanted to start this by letting you know that I think your writing is beautiful. It’s so complex in all the best ways and I’m truly in awe of your work.

I have been trying to improve upon my own writing, particularly by writing longer, multi-part stories. However, I feel as though there is something I am missing. I have been gushing over cbmthy (amazing btw!) and I am so impressed at the different elements all wound together. I was curious as to what your process is for creating stories like it!

Thank you in advance🫶🏻

I'm probably going to ramble for a little on this one so apologies if this turns into a tangent-riddled flow of paragraphs!

Also I feel it's very necessary for me to say this is just what I think, and what (generally) works for me. In the end both of us are different people and I think trying things for yourself (though it can be exhausting taking a trial-by-error method) will probably be a sure-fire way of figuring out what works for you.

So, first of all I think different things work for different people, and different circumstances can deeply impact your ability to write. For example, before cbmthy the longest series I've written is probably Teeth and Talons, or Two Birds, both of which I know how I want to end but have left alone for a half a year and probably a year and a half respectively, and if I'm honest I think it's because I needed people’s enthusiasm to carry me? (Not saying I'd be over the moon if people suddenly took an interest in either of those again - I'm pretty busy at the moment and have quite a lot on my plate - in fact I'm kind of glad they've been allowed to fizzle out so I can peacefully return to them when I'm ready.)

I'm almost completely certain that if people weren't continuously showing curiosity for the series, and continuing to interact with the fic and reread that I wouldn't have made it up to twenty chapters. Originally it was supposed to be a one-shot, possibly with a sequel if it did well enough.

Then, I think there's also the part of being able to gauge whether you'll be able to sustain a series yourself. Can you see where the story is headed? Do you have an outline? Can you see alternate pathways you can take if you end up getting bored? Do you have a source of inspiration (other writers, books, music, artists, a place you like to visit, food, etc.)? Do you have the time?

A lot of the 'planning' I do for cbmthy, and lately also CoLCoV, is just staring at my ceiling before falling asleep and drifting off into thought? Or listening to music during a grocery trip, if I'm cleaning, or just generally doing something where I can kind of zone out? A lot of it happens inside my head, and I tend to not write it down until I'm ready to do the full scene - there are parts way ahead in cbmthy that I have in my mind that I refuse to write down because as soon as I do 1) I'll lose the emotions connected to the scene once they become words on a screen and 2) inevitably I'll have to rework the scenes to fit into the chapter fluently which is just a pain and kills motivation and can result in you thinking the scene is awful and then putting it off longer when it's actually going to be surprisingly well-received by people (speaking from experience - I hated chapter 16 before posting it and now it's one of my favourites since people were so openly warm to it)

I'd also argue that your reasoning for writing a series can play a part? I have my reasons for making cbmthy the way that it is, making reader the way that she is, and giving her particular hurdles to overcome that solely benefit me, as the author, who knows what they mean to me - though I hope that doesn't stop anyone else from finding their own troubles and solutions in it, or even just reading cbmthy as a piece of light fanfiction, if that's what you want it to be as the reader.

Whether your reasons are because you have a point to make, to yourself of someone else, or because it's a story line that's grabbed your attention, I would encourage you to sit on it for a while just to see if you continue to be enthusiastic about it.

And, kind of finally, if your aim is to ultimately try to improve your writing, don't get tunnel-visioned on one process. Maybe this is obvious but feel around and read different things. If you're able to, walk into a different section of a bookstore, spend time looking through blurbs and reading through the first few chapters of books to see if the writing style takes your interest before buying them. Try writing drabbles, try writing pieces that lean more on description, give different genres a go!

Also something I would definitely recommend is, if you haven't already, try writing a long one-shot. Don't give yourself a time limit, or push yourself into coming up with something immediately, but if you get an idea, try writing one piece over a few months, just sitting down whenever you feel like you've figured out what scene you want to add next, and try rereading sections now and again. I think that method is probably what worked best for me - having something to keep coming back to and gradually building up since it let me see that I can sustain a story.

It's also a good way to write something long without feeling any pressure to update it since nobody knows you're writing it, then bam! It appears out of thin air!

Anyway, this did indeed get long and out of hand, but I hope at least some of my rambling made sense and might help you? I'd also encourage finding fanfic authors you like and trying to continuously interact with them. I certainly have problems with jealousy and comparing myself with other writers on here, and unfortunately it means I now find it very hard to read work from new authors. I think there are only three now that I can still read freely and happily without comparing myself to them, and it's because I like them as people and interacted with them.

^I hope that last part won't have to apply to you, though, and that you'll have a good time writing!

[theadventurerslog]

Discworld | Part 1

The Adventurer’s Log

Release Date: 1995

I love Discworld the book series by Terry Pratchett and have done so since I was 13 when I first discovered it by taking Soul Music out of the school library. I'm currently doing a chronological reread and figured I might as well go all in and play the games too while I'm at it. Well, the first two anyway. There are three games, well actually four. Apparently there was an interactive fiction game in 1986 for The Colour of Magic, but I know nothing more beyond that and never see it mentioned. (Have to say I am curious though). For purposes here, however, three games. The first two pull events from the books, while the third focuses on an original character in an original story and that's Discworld Noir, which I would love to try sometime but getting it to run looks like more of a hassle. So for now the first two games.

That said I don't know if I'll go straight to the second one after this one or have some other stuff in between. I'll see how I'm feeling and how things are looking as I already have plans for November and I may want some short stuff for October.

I watched a friend play the second game several years ago, but I don't remember much and I'm pretty sure we didn't do the first game. What I've played so far hasn't been familiar. I'm pretty sure this is a blind play-through and if it's not it may as well be.

As for the Discworld itself, if you don't know, it's a magical flat world resting on the backs of four elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle, the Great A'tuin, drifting through space. Reality tends to be...thin. Things have a tendency to slip through.

This first game pulls its general plot from Guards! Guards! which surrounds a brotherhood summoning an actual dragon to the city of Ankh-Morpork. Dragons at this point in time only exist as much smaller swamp dragons which are far less dangerous aside from having a tendency to explode. The book is the first book in the city watch arc. The game, however, uses the character Rincewind as the main protagonist. Rincewind is a wizard, or wizzard, of the Unseen University in Ankh-Morpork. He's actually terrible at magic, but in his heart, he's a wizard. So, clearly the progression of this plot is going to go completely differently. Which I am okay with and it's nice the game could be played by someone who's never read the books. And it's drawing inspiration without stomping all over its source material and making you wonder why they didn't do their own thing, so I'm okay with it. I just need to tamp down on my own nit-pickiness for smaller details. Inspired by, inspired by. While still being recognizable. Excuse me I may have some aggravations with a certain other...'adaptation but oh no not really'. If you know you know, if you don't, don't worry about it. Ahem.

The game opens with a shot of the Discworld and the Great A'Tuin.

Introducing the Discworld.

Then we get the summoning ritual:

Dragon! Dragon!

Dragon!

Ominous peeking through the wall. Dragon!

And I'm already wondering who may or may not be involved from the book. Like, is the Supreme Grand Master still there heading this up? Are they the same person? It's an interesting thing both knowing and not knowing the plot at all.

From here we're gifted a scene of an Ankh-Morpork street with Death waiting and a drunk ambling down the street.

That's Ankh-Morpork all right.

I'm not sure about Death's voice, but I'm also very used to Christopher Lee from the animated adaptations of Soul Music and Wyrd Sisters (and Christopher Lee, come on, just an unfair fight really) or Ian Richardson from the Hogfather movie adaptation. They did add some effects so he's still got some IMPACT though. Still some sense of speaking in caps. And he's not a main character here anyway. I wonder how much he will pop up... How many deaths will there be? Will Rincewind have a near-Death experience?

The drunk ran into him briefly and got an ominous see you soon. Which... Yeah. The drunk proceeded into an alley and was saved from a mugging by being fried by dragon fire.

With that grisly affair complete we move on to see the Unseen University.

I was given another scene of the Bursar speaking with the Archchancellor talking about the rumours of the dragon. The Bursar notes that dragons don't exist unless you believe in them. Belief is extremely important on the Disc. Nevertheless there seems to be one and it's the university's civic duty to do something about it, so he sends the Bursar off to fetch Rincewind. Do you hate Rincewind, Archchancellor, is that it?

A note about the Archchancellor. He seems to be meant to be Ridcully from the books, and by the point of Guards! Guards! he certainly was the Archchancellor and have been for several books. He hasn't felt very much like Ridcully at this point though and if it wasn't for an 'unhygienic' comment I'd be uncertain if it was him or not. The game just has him labelled as Arch chancellor so I'm sticking with that instead. Except making it the one word it's meant to be. Split in two words is driving me a little nuts.

A note about this whole intro: there's been a fly buzzing around every scene from the drunkard coming on screen, then it bothered Death and continued on through the Archchancellor and Bursar's conversation. I have no idea what to make of that if it's going to be relevant or what. Complete mystery. In some ways it feels like it's just a fun guide to follow as you move through the intro, but also... why?

And finally we move in to Rincewind being woken up by the Bursar banging on his door letting him know the Archchancellor wants to see him, and I was finally given control.

I had a few different things to examine, like the totally not-ominous shape outside to which Rincewind said:

"Yes - a mysterious shape, a sinister shape - a shape fraught with... shapeness.

It must be a plot element - otherwise there'd be a better label!"

I can't remember the exact label. I think it was something like 'mysterious shape' or was that exactly.

The wardrobe had no knob to open it with. Turns out I could have opened it then but I didn't have a handle on the controls yet. Sometimes... it pays to look at manuals! Something I did not do until a little later.

And on top of the wardrobe was the sleeping Luggage. The Luggage is also from the books. It's made of sapient pearwood and rage and will follow its owner everywhere and anywhere on its many legs. At least when it's not sleeping here anyway. I couldn't rouse it yet.

With my examinations complete and my seeming inability to do anything yet I left to go explore the university.

And got traumatized by stairs.

I mean it's a point and click. No manual movement here. You can't die. But the Sierra stair trauma is real, especially after King's Quest IV... After my little moment of gratitude that this isn't King's Quest and the stairs cannot harm me, I started exploring.

I found my way to the dining hall and got my first conversation the UI of which was sure familiar. I had to laugh that I'm playing this after Sam & Max Hit the Road. It's the same system!

This also made me go find a manual to see what these options actually mean and learn other controls.

So from left to right we have

Big smile - greeting

Clown - sarcasm

Question mark - question

Cloud (has an animated lightning bolt I didn't catch) - anger

Waving hand - goodbye

And then other topics can appear too.

I also found out that left clicking is for moving, of course I knew that. Right clicking examines. I'd figure that out. But most importantly, double clicking is how you interact. I also found out if you click on Rincewind you can access his teeny tiny two item inventory which is more like one item because once you get money, it sticks so you only ever have room to carry one other item on his person. The rest is for the Luggage when it's acquired.

I chatted with the wizards which while entertaining didn't give me anything too terribly useful to know at this point which is fine: mostly just chatter about wizardry and the dragon rumours. I like talking to all the people anyway. And Windle Poons was there too! He's an important character in one of the books.

In my continued exploration I found a storage room and got my first inventory item--a broom. I always get excited for my first item.

I also found a statue and a groaner:

I checked out the library and got an aside? An instructional aside? A game equivalent of a footnote as a nod to the books' footnotes?

There were a couple of these informative bits, one explaining the Librarian who is an orangutan--he was turned into one in a magical accident and refused to be changed back--and another discussing L-Space.

So far I've only seen these in the library.

Here's a whole page about L-Space! https://wiki.lspace.org/L-space

So a fun thing here I wasn't expecting and they don't explain at all so purely for book readers. The character giving these little lessons is Twoflower made clear by the glasses and camera, ahem, iconograph. He was in the first two books and was the Disc's first tourist. Circumstances led him and Rincewind to be travelling together and many antics ensued. He was also the original owner of the Luggage.

See? I can do asides too. Back to the game.

I also chatted with the Librarian "Ook!". And was told I'd need a library card to take anything out after much back and forth. I did get a little irked that a lot of the dialogue options led Rincewind to calling him a monkey, which is something you Do Not Do with the Librarian if you don't want the wrath of an orangutan. You do not want the wrath of an orangutan. Rincewind kept getting head bopped. Hard. It's just Rincewind of the books would know better! And he and the Librarian end up getting along pretty well. Then I reminded myself of 'inspired by' and carried on. Things are just going to be different. Not looking at anything horrifically egregious so far; it's okay. Even Rincewind himself isn't exactly right here in other ways either. Just hush that part of my brain.

I finally made my way to the Archchancellor and found out what he wanted.

Unseen University needed to be 'properly represented' in attempts to dispose of the dragon. Can't have some yokel slaying it and have people wondering what wizards are for. Then he sent me to go fetch a copy of Featherwinkle's Concise Compendium of Dragon Lairs from the library.

I ended up going back to Rincewind's room first, and with my knowledge of double clicking was able to open the wardrobe with a little magic and get a pouch of money. With the broom I was able to prod the Luggage awake and get it to join me.

Then back to the library where I was able to just request the book. No card needed when it's a request from the Archchancellor I suppose. Or the Librarian was trying to be rid of me earlier.

I brought the book back and the Archchancellor found the formula for Recoglimento's Neverfailing Dragon's Lair Revealer. He was quick to halt Rincewind's protests as well with making sure his performance would be brought to the attention of the university board when they review his grant next year. Ah, university politics.

So the formula, which thankfully can be accessed when checking the book again, so it's always handy needs four ingredients:

A staff of tumultuous thermaturgy.

A miniature creature of excitable chitters

A container made of the strongest ferrous metal

Dragon's breath! Ulp!

I got a voice actor joke too when I kept trying to talk to the Archancellor:

Archchancellor: "No time for idle chatter." Rincewind: "Well, sorry. As if I can help who supplies my voice."

Rincewind is voiced by Eric Idle. Heehee.

I have goals now! Good old adventure game object collecting!

Next up I'll do another sweep of the university in case anything changed, then check out whatever can be checked out on the grounds and presumably head into the city proper.

[ravencl-awh]

july 5th, 2021

okay this will be kinda long since i'll be talking a bit of my day, answering some of @myhoneststudyblr 's summer study challenge, plus a review and a lil talk about the book above. i'll answer the challenge questions first and under the cut will be the review and my talking of my day if you're interested!

july 1st - what are your plans for the summer?

originally i was going to try for my driver's license but i've decided to until i'm 18 since i can't even bring a car to my college campus 😂 instead of learning how to drive, i actually need to brush up on my bike-riding to get around. for now, i'm just trying to catch up on things that have been prolonged, such as getting an ID card, renewing my passport, and opening a bank account.

july 2nd - do you have a specific goal for this summer?

perhaps it's not a lot as others but i want to read 20 books overall this summer. i'm 5 books in already!

july 3rd - do you have a lot of work to do for school, university, or your job this summer?

not at all 😂 i have nothing actually

july 4th - what is the most important task that you need to complete this summer?

i need to get my real ID card this summer bc i kinda got nothing right now haha

july 5th - do you have any special plans or activities for this summer?

nope, none, zilch, nada

okay here's the part where i talk a little about my day haha. today one of my RPG sites "launched". the way these sites are made are that someone has an idea for a site based off a fandom and they pitch the site to those who code and manage them. then when they give the okay, they and others who join on the project have to raise a certain amount of money to launch and go public on the internet. and today, World of Monarchs, a RPG site based off the CW show Reign launched and i'm really, really happy about it! a bunch of people from this community joined today and i'm just having such a fun time right now. i literally cannot wait to see how this site grows and all the fun backstabbing roleplays that will be written! book review: (the curious incident of the dog in the night-time by mark haddon)

haha okay so, this is like my third time reading this book? i started rereading it a few months ago, but stopped and i finished it on the 29th of last month. i've had this book for around 4 years now, which is why the outline of the dog is so tattered. the book is wonderfully written, the main character being a boy named christopher boone who, while not explicitly said to be, has traits associated with autism. christopher's mother is dead and he lives alone with his father, but one night, his neighbor's dog wellington is found dead. christopher takes it upon himself to find out the killer as if he were a detective in a mystery novel while writing a book about it as well.

often the main "conflict" of the novel is not quite the situation of the dog and his parents, but christopher himself. he has a lot of troubles when around other people, and a lot of his interactions with others is what makes up a lot of the story and his journey. while yes, this proves to be difficult, christopher also shows multiple layers of himself that the reader gets to know about as they read his writing that one might not usually know if they were just talking to him. he has a love for math which is why the chapters are all numbered in prime numbers. he has a pet rat who he takes care of well and he knows what he does and doesn't like (he doesn't like yellow and i 100% agree christopher, i 100% agree.) one thing i like about the book is how there are a lot of pictures/diagrams. christopher thinks very logically and explains everything very thoroughly, which makes it easier for the reader to see through his perspective. i will admit though, i did skip a lot of the diagrams just because i don't have to brainpower nor the intelligence to actually figure them out or follow along with his thought process in these parts. i am horrid at math.

haddon has an amazing way of showing his character's speaking patterns and ways of thinking in his writing, as shown in the diagrams, how christopher makes connections that make the most sense to him and how a lot of the sentences start with "and". perhaps it's not the most grammatically correct but it fits with christopher. it all seems very personal which is great because it's supposed to have been written by main character!

it's a good read overall, but this will be one of the books i'll be selling to a used bookstore soon!

rating: ✩✩✩

[19thcenturyem]

Little reintroduction to my account!! ✨️

I've revamped my name and bio, and I'm planning on using this account again more to help me stay motivated with my MA!

I'm Emma, I'm 21 and I'm from the north west of England. I graduated in July with a first in my undergraduate degree in English Lit and Language and in September I'll be starting my masters degree in 19th Century Studies (aka literature with a bit of history chucked in for good measure!)

I have a bookstagram/studygram of the same name, if anyone who sees this fancies a follow! I'm a Jane Austen obsessed nerd, and I can't wait to study the 19th century in loads more detail. I'm halfway through A Tale of Two Cities for my preliminary uni reading, and I'm aiming to reread Mansfield Park again soon for one of my modules also. I basically lived in the library last year, but I'm living back home this year so it'll be a bit of a change.

I'm aiming to post notes, books and everything else study and uni related on here, and I'd love to be able to chat to some other postgrad/grad students - especially as my goal is to do a PhD and end up in academia in the future. I'm also interested in working in heritage if PhD plans go awry but we shall see what the future brings!

Little bit about me:

When I'm not studying I love reading for fun (especially historical fiction, romance or fantasy/sci-fi!)

I also love playing games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing! Also just onto season 3 of Stranger Things and I love it!

I'm a big fan of pasta and cheesy chips, and I'm partial to some Toblerone chocolate as well 😂

One day I'd love to live in Bath, and I'd also love to run my own bookshop one day too! I've visited Bath before for the Austen festival (yes I went in period costume, I'm *that* type of girl 😂) and it's absolutely gorgeous!!

MA goals:

I'd love to achieve at least 65% in my masters, as that's what the majority of the PhD courses I've looked at seem to want! Anything more would be a big bonus hehe.

I'd like to apply for the Graduate Teaching Assistant role at my uni which is a funded PhD with teaching opportunities. Need to figure out a PhD idea first lol.

I'd like to visit Chawton House in Hampshire to do some Austen/19thC period research for my MA dissertation and I'm hoping to apply to my university's fund for that opportunity.

Live the romantic academia dream and go visit some cool old libraries close to where I live to *spice* my view up 😂

Anyway, enough about me! Feel free to introduce yourself in the comments, and especially if you're a grad student plz let me know some tips! Would be much appreciated <3

(If I remember I'll be posting under the tag 'em says stuff' so I can find my own posts easier if I want to look back 😂)