#Suitable channels

[imarketer4udma-blog]

Marketing case study: iM4U drives logistic business to the top USA companies

Success in trucking depends on how well logistics and marketing work together, not just transportation. This specialized niche, a linchpin of global trade, necessitates innovative approaches to carve out a distinctive identity. One of our clients began with a single truck and a garage. They grew by treating customers well and being fair to employees, fueling their success story. A pivotal partnership emerged in November 2018 when our agency collaborated with them. Together, we bolstered their marketing strategies and harnessed their logistical expertise. The outcome? A notable placement among the top 5000 US companies, with a strong rank of 1910. This is all about demonstrating how good marketing and strong logistics can come together to bring success.

iM4U plan for marketing promotion

We created our marketing plan to elevate our client's integrated marketing strategies and attract more drivers to their company. The primary goal was to enhance the effectiveness of these strategies. The strategy focused on gaining insights into creating effective marketing tactics for a logistics company, including selecting appropriate channels for implementation. The plan's implementation encompassed several key steps: 

devise a structured plan to boost the marketing team's performance;

achieve essential metrics;

analyze the logistics market in the USA;

conduct competitor analysis;

formulate a brand promotion strategy;

enhance brand reputation;

identify suitable promotion channels;

sett a marketing budget for the year;

craft a roadmap for brand promotion.

Concurrently, the marketing consulting aspect of the plan aimed to make important processes in our client's company more organized and efficient. This involved optimizing team performance and creating mechanisms to monitor departmental efficiency indicators, resulting in an overall enhancement of operational efficiency.

More information in our article “How to find your target audience for your business”.

Challenges we faced and how did we overcome them

In the context of the trucking and logistics industry, our client faced a series of distinct marketing challenges that required strategic solutions. 

To stand out in fierce competition, they needed a special value proposition. They achieved this by highlighting advantages like quick deliveries and round-the-clock support. 

Overcoming driver recruitment hurdles involved highlighting a family-like atmosphere and driver-centric policies. 

To gain trust, they showed their no-damage guarantee and a track record of successful deliveries.

They managed to adapt to changing technology and cover vast areas by showing their tech expertise. They tailored messages for different regions.

They tackled complex services and followed regulations by using clear messaging and prioritizing safety. 

Despite cost constraints, a judicious budget allocation ensured high-impact integrated marketing campaigns. Through collaborative efforts, our IM4U Digital Marketing Agency assisted the client in surmounting these challenges, creating a robust marketing strategy tailored to the unique demands of the industry.

Implementation stage

We developed a comprehensive marketing plan and then executed it effectively. 

Our strategy included showcasing successful deliveries through engaging social media posts and informative blog articles on the company's website. By using data-driven insights, we created personalized email campaigns that generated valuable leads. We met clients at events, used testimonials, and case studies to build trust. 

All of this made our client more well-known, trustworthy, and appealing to drivers. We also enhanced the company's reputation and attractiveness to potential drivers, positioning them as a top choice in the competitive market. 

These multifaceted tactics collectively positively impacted the client's business growth and success.

Results and achievements

Our collaborative marketing endeavors have yielded impressive outcomes and accomplishments within the trucking and logistics industry. Through careful execution, operational expenses decreased significantly by 22%, driven by a more organized structure. Notably, cost per lead reduced impressively by 30%, showing strategy success.

A year-long plan optimized the budget, while a defined marketing department structure improved efficiency. These accomplishments relied on consistent growth, expanding the company's scale by 1.5 to 2 times each year, even during US economic challenges. Additionally, a monthly influx of 10 new drivers underscores our prowess in driver attraction.

Recommendations for logistic businesses

In this situation, our campaign excelled by efficiently organizing operations, reducing costs by 22%. Additionally, we lowered lead costs by an impressive 30%.

From this case study, we learned valuable lessons, especially about tailoring personalized marketing for clients and drivers. We created and implemented data-driven email campaigns, showcasing the strength of our integrated marketing strategy. Equally important, this approach consistently drove business growth, even during economic challenges, due to our operational excellence.

Conclusion

The success story of a truck driving company exemplifies the fusion of marketing and logistics, fortified by a meticulously crafted and executed integrated marketing plan. By emphasizing swift deliveries, driver-centric policies, and damage-free guarantees, they stood out. Personalized email campaigns, engaging content, and trust-building tactics elevated their reputation. Remarkably, operational costs fell by 22%, lead costs by 30%, and the company scaled 1.5 to 2 times annually despite economic challenges. This case showcases the power of strategic collaboration between marketing and logistics, driving growth and resilience through a well-devised marketing plan.

How to promote your local business - call IM4U agency to get an answer!

Unlock success for your local business! Contact IM4U Integrated Marketing Agency today for tailored solutions. Elevate your brand, reach more customers, and thrive in your community. Don't wait, call now!

[mariocki]

The Web (1947)

"Isn't there some way we can get together on this?"

"Oh, sure. You confess and I'll arrest you."

[piningpercussionist]

Sounds like fun for when you do find a 'gem' of a trash film. Do you keep names of any of the gems you do find?

Also for no evil reason or so, do you by chance like gifts?

-✨ Anon (Sparkles Anon)

Nah, not really. I used to have a list, but it got tossed out when I moved apartments I guess.

We probably still have them in the back, though. It's extremely rare that someone comes in asking for something that isn't just on display already.

A lot of them were foreign films, so some of them are probably a lot better than I'm giving them credit for. Visuals are important, but the writing is what I enjoy most in a good movie. If the movie has subtitles, which most don't, then usually they're really off, from what some of the people who HAVE actually rented them tell me. Stuff like that can really color your interpretation or general enjoyment of the media, depending on if it's just clunkily translated or outright altered.

Otherwise, there are some really terrible horror flicks I like to put on- those would be easier to name, and probably more recent, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. Maybe I can come back to you on that.

I like the ones that are either just really, unforgivably bad, ones with really horrible special effects for the gore, and ones that are just kinda brutal, admittedly. I like to see a good rampage, now and again.

As for gifts...

I mean, I'm alright with them. It's a bit disconcerting when you mention them with the word "evil" in the same sentence, though. So you'll have to forgive me if I'm a little wary of that...

[aeide-thea]

the real problem with the midlayer i got for running is that it's so perfect and cozy and stretchily non-restrictive i now want 2 wear it constantly… very much including when i'm not running. which. makes me not want 2 wear it running so i don't get it too sweaty 4 normal purposes /o\

[impulsivelycontentious]

Other people, mostly. Other people are always forgetting things. And they take one look at me and think "Here Is A Person Who Has Spares"; and they are correct. I give out pads and repair small holes in clothes often. Hand out charging blocks for 10 minutes. Pull out crayons/erasable colour pencils and a small book for little kids to draw in when i find myself stuck waiting with bored children. I have cleaning wipes. Both for people and things. Painkillers. Nitroglycerin (it's for me).

I also carry everything I might need In Case Of Emergency, because I don't want to be repacking my bag. I might forget something. I want to be ready to be delayed for 2 hours somewhere because I had another dizzy spell so bad i cannot ride my trike (thing that has happened. Happens maybe once a year? Twice? Other times i wait much less time). I want to be ready for an overnight stay in a bomb shelter if required. I don't think it LIKELY, but it's my benchmark.

@ people who carry bags everywhere what do you put in them what is there to bring other than chapstick, keys, phone and maybe a tampon why are you packing a suitcase to be outside for 5 hours

[kusumasposts]

Enjoy the best products deals on halfpe.com

[zhelin-thames]

Bruce has another kid........but this one is not adopted #2

Danny lounged on the couch in the Batcave, his feet propped up as he casually flipped through some of Bruce’s files. Damian stood nearby, arms crossed, scowling.

“It doesn’t matter,” Damian huffed. “I am Father’s heir. It is my birthright.”

Danny smirked, glancing at him over the top of the tablet. “Hate to break it to you, little bro, but I’m older. By all of three minutes, but hey, it still counts.”

“You have no proof,” Damian snapped, his voice sharp.

“Actually,” Tim interjected, walking in with a file in hand, “it’s right here. Clockwork dropped the records off yesterday. Danny’s technically the firstborn.”

Damian’s face twisted into a mix of shock and outrage. “This is preposterous! I trained for years in the League to be the heir. He—” Damian gestured at Danny, who was now grinning smugly, “—is a half-ghost nomad raised by peasants!”

“Whoa, peasants?” Danny said, holding up his hands. “I’ll have you know I was raised by two highly educated ghost hunters who built portals to alternate dimensions in their basement. So technically, I was raised by nerds.”

Jason, leaning against the wall, barked out a laugh. “This just keeps getting better.”

Things escalated when Danielle made her debut in Gotham. She’d been causing a bit of chaos in Amity Park, and Danny figured bringing her to the Manor might help her channel her energy.

When Dani strutted into the Batcave, grinning like a gremlin with her wild energy, the reactions were... mixed.

“She’s my clone,” Danny explained, his tone casual. “But I kinda see her more like a daughter.”

“Daughter?” Damian repeated, his voice low and dangerous. “You... have a daughter?”

Dani, ever the instigator, threw her arms around Danny’s waist. “Yup! My Dad’s the best!” she chirped, shooting a cheeky grin at Damian. “He’s way cooler than you, by the way.”

Damian bristled, his hands curling into fists. “You’re barely older than me, yet you have already claimed an heir?” His voice trembled with a mix of indignation and something close to panic.

Danny raised an eyebrow. “She’s not an ‘heir.’ She’s just... Dani. And technically, she’s my clone, not my biological kid. It’s complicated.”

But Damian was already lost in his own spiraling thoughts.

Late that night, Damian approached Jason. “Todd,” he said, his tone serious. “I require your assistance.”

Jason blinked. “Uh, with what?”

“I must find a suitable candidate to bear my child.”

Jason stared at him for a long moment before bursting into laughter. “You’re joking. Please tell me you’re joking.”

“I am not,” Damian replied, his expression unyielding. “If Daniel has already produced a successor, then I must act swiftly to secure my own lineage.”

Jason clutched his stomach, wheezing. “Oh, man, this is rich. Demon Spawn wants to have a baby just to one-up his ghost brother.”

“It is not a matter of one-upmanship,” Damian insisted, though the faint pink tinge in his cheeks said otherwise.

The next morning, Danny caught wind of Damian’s... ambition. He found his younger twin in the training room, furiously sparring with a practice dummy.

“Hey, Dames,” Danny said, leaning against the doorframe.

“Do not call me that,” Damian growled, landing a particularly vicious strike on the dummy.

Danny held up his hands. “Okay, okay. But I heard a little rumor. Something about you wanting to, uh, find a lady to have a kid with?”

Damian froze mid-strike, then turned to glare at Danny. “Who told you that?”

Danny smirked. “Doesn’t matter. Look, man, you don’t need to go all ‘League heir’ about this. Dani’s not my biological kid. She’s a clone. Like, literally made from my DNA. I didn’t exactly sign up for the whole ‘parent’ thing—it just kinda happened.”

Damian’s glare softened slightly, though his posture remained stiff. “And yet, you claim her as your own.”

“Yeah, because she’s family,” Danny said simply. “She needed someone, so I stepped up. That’s what family does.”

Damian lowered his gaze, his fists unclenching. “I see.”

A few weeks later, Talia’s clone assassins made their move. But instead of eliminating them, Damian captured and brought them to the Manor.

“Father,” he declared, standing proudly before Bruce, “I have decided to take responsibility for these clones. They are my family, and I will train them to uphold the legacy of the League.”

Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose. “Damian—”

“Not bad, kid,” Jason said, clapping him on the back. “But you might want to workshop the pitch. Sounds a little murder-y.”

Tim groaned. “Great. Now we have more mini-Damians running around.”

Danny, watching from the sidelines with Dani by his side, couldn’t help but laugh. “Guess I’m rubbing off on him.”

“You think he’s doing this to one-up you?” Dani asked.

“Absolutely,” Danny replied, grinning. “And I love it.”

While the Bat-family adjusted to the sudden influx of clones, Danny and Damian’s relationship began to shift. Though their rivalry remained, it was tempered by a growing mutual respect.

“I still do not approve of your cavalier attitude,” Damian said one night as they patrolled Gotham together.

“And I still think you need to loosen up,” Danny shot back.

Damian huffed but didn’t argue. Deep down, he was starting to appreciate having an older brother who wasn’t afraid to challenge him—or support him.

And for Danny, seeing his once-distant twin slowly open up was worth all the sibling squabbles in the world.

[is-this-yuri]

My plan to escape homelessness. I need your help to get started before winter!

hello friends! i'm a homeless queer guy living in a tiny car. it's been like this for most of my adult life, and i'm trying to make a change! I want to convert a van into my new home! my plan involves these stages:

Stage 1: acquire a van.

while still living off donations in my car, i'm fundraising. as soon as i can afford one, i'll purchase a van. the market shows most used vans that would be suitable are around $3.5-4.5k give or take. we're already about halfway there!

I'm really hoping this stage can be complete before november, as my car is not suited to survive another winter and it could be devastating to attempt it.

Stage 2: survive winter

since winter is approaching, i'll need to quickly put insulated walls in the van and make sure i can live in it. at this point, it'll already be an upgrade to my car, but i won't be able to do much building in cold weather, so it'll just be the bare minimum i need to survive the winter.

during this time, i'll be taking measurements, drawing plans, researching appliances, and generally preparing for the build process. i'll continue fundraising to make sure i can afford all the materials and tools i'll need. i may also take care of any maintenence the van might need. i'll also clean and sell my car so i have some cash from that as well.

Stage 3: build my home!

when it gets warm enough, i'll start doing the actual build. i'll document this on video as much as i can, and post the process on my youtube channel for not only the people who helped me, but for anyone who's curious. i'll start with solar panels and an electricity system, i'll add countertops and kitchen appliances, a shower and sink with plumbing and warm water, a toilet, a real bed, lights, climate control. it'll be essentially a house on wheels, and just the right size for me!

Stage 4: whatever comes next

once i have my new home, i'll need an income. i may take a regular job to support myself at first, and that will actually be possible when i have a shower. but, i've been considering making content pretty much my whole life, and now i think i have a great chance to actually pursue that. i'll use some of the money from selling my car in stage 2 to get some basic equipment (laptop, mic, camera). i'll be posting my van build at first, and after that i'll probably start by telling stories about my time being homeless, but i'm also interested in streaming and video essays. thanks to all the generous support i've been getting from my followers and other people on the internet, i feel my opportunities are wide open!

Please consider donating to my fundraiser to help me change my life!

GFM

2115/10k

[failbettergames]

We are giddy to announce that we are working with tabletop roleplaying legends Magpie Games to create Fallen London: The Roleplaying Game, a fully-fledged, custom tabletop roleplaying system for Fallen London, in a big book and everything!

In Fallen London: the Roleplaying Game, players create their own characters by drawing on the factions, archetypes, and settings of the city — cutthroats, socialites, radicals, academics, and other, stranger creatures. They are brought together by a shared ambition; a very nearly unachievable goal. Such ambitions may destroy or drive mad those who pursue them… or they may change London forever. The Heart, as they say, is Destiny’s engine.

Fallen London: The Roleplaying Game is slated for release in late 2025 along with a supplement, Fallen London: Secrets of the Neath. In addition, players will be able to complete their tools for gameplay with the Fallen London Dice Pack and Fallen London Gamemaster Screen. Gameplay will consist of proprietary game mechanics currently in development by Magpie Games. We're going to introduce the project in full on August 23rd at 16:00 EDT/21:00 BST in a live stream, hosted by friend, scholar, journalist, streamer and Doctor of the Internet Kat Brewster on their Twitch channel! [PLEASE NOTE: Dear friend Johnny Chiodini has had to drop out at the last minute so utter hero Kat is picking up the host mantle and therefore the location of the Q&A has changed, go to that link instead!]

Guests will include Mark Diaz Truman and Brendan Conway from Magpie, and Fallen London creative lead Bruno Dias and me, Hannah, the one who sends the emails.

Fallen London is turning 15 in 2025 and this is our big anniversary project. We wouldn't have got here without you; we hope that this is a suitable anniversary present. 

[ghostlyferrettarot]

Hello guys! I'm Kat. I am tarot and astrology reader. I use my psychic abilities and knowledge in tarot and astrology to help you discover and get to know yourself. I am opening my paid services to help myself pay my university expenses as well as my studies supplies.

✨️Your reading will be sent in about 1-3 days and this will be either through email or Tumblr dm, you choose (in exception to the full natal chart reading that will be send through email or other way of your choice due to be a pdf file). All readings are in depth.To book a reading please send me a tumblr dm.✨️

🌟All payments are made through paypal, although im open to use other method if it's easier for you and im able to use it🌟

✨️If you are from Argentina the payments can be made through mercado pago✨️

🧡✨️You can see some of my clients feedback in here✨️🧡

💐Thank you in advance💐

🔮Tarot readings:

If you want a personalized reading with topics and questions of your choice, you can DM me.

♣︎General tarot reading: $15 or $5500 Arg pesos.

-Your current energy.

-How can you improve right now.

-Advice and guidance from your guides about a situation of your choice.

♣︎Channel Messages from your person. $16 or $6500 Arg pesos.

-What they want to tell you?

-What is their perception of you?

-How they feel about the situation.

-Advice from your guides about the situation.

♣︎Your next 6 months: $16 or $6500 Arg pesos.

-What's coming your way?

- What you should focus on in the next months?

-How can you improve in the nexts months?

-Advice and guidance from your guides for the next months.

♣︎What's coming in your career/studies?: $16 or $7500 Arg. Pesos.

-How is your career/studies energy right now?

-What changes are coming your way?

-How can you emprove and embody this energy?

-Advice from your guides about the situation.

♣︎What is my calling/career?: $16 or $7500 Arg. Pesos.

-What abilities do i have?

-How can i express them and put them to work?

-What careers are more suitable for me?

-Advice from your guides about this.

♣︎Messages from your future self: $16 or $7500 Arg. pesos.

-What your future self wants to tell you?

-How is your life in the future?

-What can you do to improve your future right now?

-Advice from your guides.

♣︎What's blocking you?: $16 or $7500 Arg Pesos.

-What is blocking you right now?

-What actions can you take to move forward from this?

-How can you improve to reach your full potential.

-Advice from your guides.

♣︎Your Spirit Guide: $18 or $8500 Arg pesos.

-Who is/are the guide/s trying to communicate with you? How is their energy towards you?

-Ways they communicate with you.

-What are their messages for you?

-Advice from them for you.

♣︎Your full magic/potential: $18 or $8500 Arg pesos.

-What you are not seeing about yourself?

-What magic you have in yourself?

-What abilities you should put into work?

-How can you reach your full potential?

-Advice from your guides.

♣︎Your Divine Family/Tribe: $18 or $8500 Arg pesos.

-Who are they? Have you already met some of them?

-Is this your first lifetime together? When are you gonna reunite/meet with them?

-Characteristics of your connection with them.

-Advice from your guides about your situation.

♣︎Do they love me?: $18 or $8500 Arg pesos.

-How this person truly feels about you?

-How a relationship with them would be?

-Is it worthy to form a connection with them?Are they ready for a deeper connection?

-Advice from your guides about this situation.

♣︎How is this specific situation evolving?: $18 or 8000$ Arg pesos.

-How is the energy of the situation?

-Where is it leading?

-Is worthy to continue this situation?

- 2 question of your choice about this situation.

-Advice and guidance from your guides.

♣︎Your life as a celebrity: $18 or $9000 Arg pesos.

-What you would be famous for?

-How your day would look like?

-How your fans/admirors would be?

-How will the media view you? Would you have any scandals?

-How to step into this energy?

♣︎ You and Your Celebrity Crush Relationship: $18 or $9000 Arg Pesos.

-What would they think of you?

-How it will be a relationship with them?

-Will the connection be long-lasting?

-What the media and fans will think of the relationship?

-What will their close circle think about the relationship?

♣︎Your Divine Femenine energy: $20 or $9000 Arg Pesos.

-Which is your divine feminine energy?

-When do you connect with this energy?

-How can you step into this energy?

-How is this energy improving?

-Advice from your guides about your feminine energy.

♣︎What's next in love?: $20 or $9000 Arg pesos.

-Who is this person?

-What are their intentions towards you and the connection?

-Their first impresion of you.

-Personal characteristics and hobbies of this person.

-Advice from your guides.

♣︎Your soulmate: $25 or $9000 Arg pesos.

-How your connection will be.

-How they see you.

-Their intentions towards you.

-Physical characteristics and hobbies.

-Their overall energy.

-Their love language.

-First impression their close ones will have of you.

-Advice from your guides.

♣︎Your Past Life: $28 or 9000$ Arg pesos.

-Who were you in this past life? How others view you back then?

-How was your life back then?

-What past life skills/talents can you develop in this one?

-Who from your past life has a message for you?

-What you need to learn about them?

-What lessons you need to learn from this past life?

-Advice from your guides and higher self.

🌌Natal Chart readings:

★Full natal chart reading: $36 or $14000 Arg pesos.

-All planets as well as the houses they are in.

-Houses and the signs they are in.

-Rising sign, Midheaven, Lilith, Chiron, North Node and Fortune.

-Asteroids: Fama, Sirene, Juno, Pallas, Ceres and Vesta. (If you would like another specific asteroid, you can let me know and we can add it).

-Aspects of your natal chart.

(This will be an in depth pdf document, 31-40 pages, that you will be able to read when you want; i would also include pictures and advice that can help you understand your chart better, for example pictures of how to dress according to your venus when we get into the venus part, ideal jobs for your midheaven, etc.)

★Solar Return chart: $32 or $12000 Arg pesos.

-All planets aswell as the houses they are in.

-Houses and signs they are in.

-Rising and Midheaven, Lilith, Chiron and Fortune.

-Aspects of the chart.

(It will be an in depth pdf file with the analysis, 20-30 pages, that you will be able to read whenever you like).

★Full Sideral chart reading: $32 or $11000 Arg pesos.

-All planets as well as the houses they are in.

-Houses and the signs they are in.

-Rising sign, Midheaven, Lilith, Chiron and Fortune.

-Aspects of your natal chart.

(This will be an in depth pdf document, 21-35 pages, that you will be able to read when you want).

★Synastry/Compatibility Chart: $25 or $9000 Arg pesos.

-In depth analysis of the synastry aspects in yours and your persons chart and how this affects your connection. (It will be an in depth pdf, 20-30 pages, file with the analysis that you will be able to read whenever you like).

★Personal placements (Sun, moon, mercury, Venus, Mars and rising): $15 or $7500 arg pesos.

-Personal planets as well as the houses they are in.

💐Thanks for taking your time reading and i hope we can work together! Have a nice day💐

[hayatheauthor]

Everything You Need To Know About Writing Gunshot Wounds 

Welcome to the latest installment in my ongoing series on crafting realistic wounds in fiction! After covering stab wounds and burns, it's time to explore the next wound category frequently explored in fiction—gunshot wounds. 

Gunshot wounds are a recurring motif in the realm of storytelling. They're something you can easily come across in every genre, however, authors often poorly portray gunshot wounds due to lack of proper research. I understand finding the right resources to aid with your writing can be hard, so here's my comprehensive guide on how to write gunshot wounds. 

How To Categorise Gunshot Wounds

There are certain factors you need to consider before writing a gunshot wound. These details are instrumental in crafting a vivid and plausible narrative while avoiding plot holes. The first and most important one is identifying the type of firearm used to inflict the wound. 

Picking The Right Firearm 

Selecting the appropriate firearm to inflict a gunshot wound is a pivotal decision. It's not just about choosing any gun; it's about picking the right one to align with your desired outcome and the narrative's overall impact. Here's a quick guide on how to pick the right firearm.  

The Impact of Firearm Selection

The firearm you choose can significantly influence the severity and appearance of the gunshot wound. Whether your goal is a graphic, gory injury or a precise, long-range shot, the choice of firearm plays a crucial role. Here are some guns you to consider:

Handguns: These are versatile and commonly used in close-quarters combat. They can result in gruesome, close-contact wounds with a higher potential for damage due to their stopping power.

Shotguns: Shotguns disperse shot pellets upon firing, making them suitable for creating a broader pattern of injuries. If you aim to depict a devastating, close-range gunshot wound, shotguns can be a fitting choice.

Rifles: Rifles are known for their accuracy at longer distances. When you need a precise, long-range shot, rifles are the go-to option. They tend to produce a cleaner wound channel, especially when used for a targeted, well-planned injury.

Choosing the Right Firearm for Your Narrative

The type of firearm you select should align with your story's objectives. If you intend to evoke visceral, gory reactions, opt for handguns or shotguns used in close proximity. On the other hand, if precision and long-range engagement are key, rifles can achieve your desired outcome.

Keep in mind that firearm selection can affect the wound's damage, trajectory, and overall portrayal in your narrative. 

Categorising The Wound 

Once you've identified the type of firearm, you need to establish what type of wound your character will incur. 

In order to bring your character's injuries to life, it's important to first identify what you're dealing with. You can do this by categorising the injury based on several factors. For gunshot wounds, this includes the type of firearm used, the bullet's trajectory, and the specific areas of the body affected.

You can categorise your character's gunshot would into seven main categories, here's a quick breakdown of what these categories look like and the level of severity associated with them: 

Penetrating Gunshot Wounds: These wounds occur when a bullet enters the body but doesn't exit. The bullet remains inside the body, causing damage along its path.

Perforating Gunshot Wounds: In this case, the bullet enters the body and exits on the opposite side. This type of wound can have a different set of implications due to the bullet's trajectory.

Ricochet Gunshot Wounds: Ricochet wounds happen when the bullet bounces off a surface before hitting the character. The nature of the surface can influence the severity of the wound.

Through-and-Through Gunshot Wounds: As the name suggests, these wounds occur when the bullet enters one side of the body and exits through the other. The trajectory can greatly affect the injury's severity.

Close-Contact Gunshot Wounds: These wounds result from the firearm being fired at extremely close range. The proximity of the gun to the body can lead to unique wound patterns and burn injuries.

Shotgun Wounds: Shotgun wounds differ from those caused by handguns or rifles. The shot pellets disperse upon firing, leading to a broader pattern of injury.

Long-Range Gunshot Wounds: When a character is shot from a considerable distance, the wound might appear different due to factors like bullet tumbling and loss of velocity.

The Anatomy of a Gunshot Wound

To create a vivid portrayal of a gunshot wound, writers need to grasp not only the external appearance but also the internal effects it has on the body. A well-executed description captures both the physical trauma and the emotional turmoil experienced by the character. Here are some symptoms you should take into consideration.

1. External Appearance and Bleeding:

Wound Size: The size of a gunshot wound can vary significantly based on the type of firearm and bullet used. Smaller calibers may leave entry and exit wounds that are relatively small, while larger bullets or high-velocity rounds can create much larger wounds. Be specific about the size, which can help readers visualize the injury.

Blood Loss: Gunshot wounds typically result in bleeding. The severity of bleeding depends on factors like the wound's location, the size of the blood vessels damaged, and the bullet's trajectory. Mention the amount of blood, but avoid excessive gore unless it serves a specific purpose in your narrative.

Coughing Up Blood: If the gunshot wound affects the chest or lung area, characters may cough up blood. This symptom often signifies a more critical injury and can add drama to your story.

2. Internal Damage and Symptoms:

Pain: Gunshot wounds are painful, and the character should express this pain through their actions, dialogue, and internal thoughts. Describe the sharp, burning, or throbbing sensations as they resonate through the character's body.

Shock: Depending on the severity of the wound, shock can set in. The character may appear pale, sweaty, and disoriented. This state of shock can impact their actions and decisions.

Loss of Function: A gunshot wound may impair the use of the injured body part. Describe any loss of function, such as the inability to move a limb or use it effectively.

Fainting: In extreme cases, characters may faint due to the pain, blood loss, or shock. Be sure to contextualize this within the narrative, as fainting can have significant consequences for the character.

By diving into the details of a gunshot wound's anatomy, you can craft a compelling and realistic portrayal that draws readers into the character's harrowing experience. I haven't exactly covered every symptom out there, but these are the major ones you should take into account when writing. 

Medical Assessment and Treatment

Once you've established your gunshot wound, it's now time to focus on the aftermath. One of the main factors to consider is the medical process that follows. If your character is supposed to die from the gunshot then you could probably skip this section, but if they're alive here are things you need to consider. 

1. Initial Assessment:

Scene Safety: In a real-life scenario, safety is paramount. First responders will ensure the scene is secure before approaching the injured person. Consider factors like the presence of firearms, potential threats, and the safety of medical personnel.

ABCs of Assessment: Medical professionals follow the ABCs—Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. Writers can reflect this in their storytelling by highlighting the character's ability to breathe, cough, or speak after being shot.

Vital Signs: Mentioning vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation can help convey the character's condition and the urgency of their medical treatment.

2. Trauma Assessment:

Focused Assessment: Medical personnel perform a thorough examination to identify the gunshot wound's location, entry and exit points, and any associated injuries. This assessment informs their treatment plan.

Imaging: Depending on the complexity of the injury, X-rays or other imaging may be required to visualize the bullet's trajectory and any potential damage to internal organs or bones.

3. Treatment:

Bleeding Control: Stopping the bleeding is a top priority. This may involve applying pressure, packing the wound, or even tourniquet application in extreme cases.

Wound Care: Depending on the wound's severity, cleaning and suturing may be required. The character's response to this procedure can add an element of realism to your narrative.

Pain Management: Gunshot wounds are excruciatingly painful, and medical personnel will often administer pain relief or anesthesia during treatment.

Monitoring and Observation: Patients with gunshot wounds require careful observation and monitoring for signs of infection, complications, or changes in their condition.

By accurately portraying the medical assessment and treatment of gunshot wounds, you not only enhance the authenticity of your writing but also depict the physical and emotional toll such injuries can take on your characters. This attention to detail helps your readers connect more deeply with the story.

The Psychological Impact

Gunshot wounds don't just inflict physical harm; they also leave lasting emotional and psychological scars. It is important to note that the extent of the psychological impact on your characters will heavily rely on various factors. 

For example, you need to consider whether or not this injury is something normal for them. Do they work as a spy, assassin, or other such roles that would mandate such dangerous injuries? You also need to consider who shot them. Does this wound come with emotional damage as well? Think of Aaron Warner’s reaction to Juliet shooting him. 

If you’re sure your character will have some extent of a psychological impact, here are some factors you should consider. 

1. Shock and Denial:

Immediate Response: Characters who have been shot may initially experience shock and denial. This can manifest as disbelief, emotional numbness, or a surreal sense of detachment from the situation.

Physical Symptoms: Shock can lead to physical symptoms like trembling, chills, or even fainting. Incorporating these details can make the character's reaction more genuine.

2. Fear and Anxiety:

Survivor's Guilt: Characters may grapple with survivor's guilt if they are the only ones to emerge unscathed in a violent encounter.

Anxiety: The threat of recurrence or the fear of returning to the location where the shooting occurred can trigger anxiety and panic attacks.

3. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

Flashbacks and Nightmares: Characters who have survived a gunshot wound may experience recurring flashbacks and nightmares, vividly reliving the traumatic event.

Hypervigilance: PTSD can lead to hypervigilance, where characters are constantly on edge, expecting danger at every turn.

4. Depression and Isolation:

Emotional Withdrawal: Characters may withdraw from social interactions, experiencing feelings of isolation and sadness.

Emotional Numbness: Some may describe feeling emotionally numb, unable to experience joy or pleasure.

5. Recovery and Resilience:

Therapeutic Support: In your storytelling, consider how characters seek therapy or counseling to cope with their emotional scars. Therapy can be a path toward recovery and resilience.

By addressing the psychological impact of gunshot wounds on your characters, you create more layered and relatable individuals within your narrative. This depth allows readers to connect with the characters on a profound emotional level.

I hope this blog on Everything You Need To Know About Writing Gunshot Wounds will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and follow my blog for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.  

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and publishing tips for authors every Monday and Thursday! And don’t forget to head over to my TikTok and Instagram profiles @hayatheauthor to learn more about my WIP and writing journey! 

[myeagleexpert]

Yan!Batfamily x Singer!YN (neglected)

Inspired by @@gotham-daydreams's fic, your work is wonderful and makes me think about many things…. One of the things I think about is if they found Reader from her music…. Reader here is heavily inspired by Naomi Jon, she is an independent singer from Germany, she regularly makes videos on youtube about makeup, shopping on websites, tiktok foods, things like that. She is a very fun person to watch and I highly recommend you watch it, all her videos are in English. (one detail is that she doesn’t talk much about her family, and lives with her friend Vincent and boyyy every time I read about Reader from Not [ ] fics I remember her. If you disagree, that’s okay, I still like the idea of ​​YN’s glow up <3) “Have you seen, come and read my diary Then you will see, that you don’t mean shit to me” – MANTRA- Naomi Jon

I imagine that while shopping at a store, Steph liked the store’s playlist and went to look for who was singing it.

Imagine her face when she finds out that the person she was listening to… was the YN everyone was looking for. She immediately discovers her YouTube channel, social media… and everyone immediately starts binge-watching and stalking all of her videos

Dick would be the type of person who would learn the choreography for your music videos, just to dance with you. He swears he can be the fun older brother you need, he can be in your videos too! And cook! I don't think he wears makeup, but he would watch all your makeup videos because he likes your reviews, and when you make a joke or mix up the language in the video he finds it so funny that he can't help but laugh. He wants to test out the latest skincare products with you and wants to travel together! You look so different now, with bold eyeliner and colorful hair, Dick wonders if you've always been like this and he was just blind because he didn't see it. Come on, he didn't know you had this fun and easygoing side, let's spend more time together, okay?

“This dress deserves… THE BUSINESS WALK!”

Jason sees how you've grown, and how much better you are away from Gotham. Like a flower that blooms only when it's in a clean and suitable environment, you've brilliantly transformed into who you are. But a part of him, the biggest part, thinks you'd be much safer around your family, where they can protect you. You sing and post so many videos on the internet, what if someone comes after you? Let your brother stay close, okay? And who is this friend who lives with you anyway? He is not trustworthy - no. It doesn't matter if you've known him since you were kids and have lived together for a long time. Another thing I bet he would do is join you on the days when you dye your hair in the craziest ways possible, he has some experience with dye, you know?

“C’mon FriendReader, this is the plan for this hair dyeing technique. Yes, all seven colors are here!”

For those who neglected Reader and pretended you didn't exist, he is your #01 Fan now. Tim definitely listens to ALL your music, and is 100% connected to your social networks. He watches and rewatches all your videos, they are so interactive and relaxed that he has the illusion that he is living it all with you. He's the type of person who eats while watching your videos, and watches them before bed, and when he's having a particularly stressful situation he'll lock himself in his room and watch one of your vlogs, because your voice has such a calming effect of normality that for him, it's like at any moment you'll open his door asking to try a 2-ingredient recipe you saw on TikTok.

“Timothyyy~ try this recipe I saw on tik tok!”

Damian is an interesting case… because he discovered that his precious blood brother has a side to him that he never saw. When he walked into your room and looked at all your memories, all your pictures of your achievements, all your music sketches he KNEW you were talented, but when he saw you in action in your videos and shows it was like a cartoon character came to life. YOU came to life! Definitely buy all your merch, and talk about you all the time to John. Do you still have two cats?? Enough, the kidnapping is you and them two.

“My next show will be…”

Bruce goes back and rereads your journal drafts and realizes how much your music has really changed, your focus now being only on your fans and not your family. Like everyone else in the family, he watches your videos daily and keeps thinking “I could give her a bigger box of surprises so she can record a video” “Did she think that dress was pretty? I could buy her a better one, shinier and pinker, just like she wanted.” When you post a video of the backstage of a show and all your lively preparations, he can’t help but feel guilty for the thousandth time that day. He should be by your side right now, a father should be behind the scenes giving you comfort and strength to go on the show. He should be in the front row cheering when you realized your dream of going on stage for the first time. The whole family should… You’re trying so hard, your dedication is palpable in your videos and shows. The little girl grew up and became a dreamy woman, but who do you run to when you need to cry? Let him be your comforting shoulder now, let him come into your life again.

“I made this song especially for you, my fans!”

When Alfred put that video of YN’s childhood on TV, where she performed in a school play, to remind everyone of her absence, he couldn’t be more proud of his work when weeks later he hears her voice coming from one of the boys’ rooms. It's you singing one of the songs, the batboy repeating it for the tenth time. Your voice has changed, from a childish and angelic voice to a woman's, your looks have gradually gained confidence and personality, but your “presence” in the mansion is ghostly. He feels so happy for you, you are externalizing to the world what he has always seen: that you are incredible. Alfred doesn't need to marathon your videos to feel closer to you, he already has affectionate memories, he already has albums from when you were a baby and tested recipes with him, he already has videos of you training to sing when you were little… But he still watches your videos because unfortunately, even with him you lost contact. He watches the videos like a grandfather watches his grandson's stories “Oh? Are you in Tokyo now? How wonderful, dear, remember the coat.” “Oh dear YN, I don't think this recipe will be good for you…” “Yn, be careful with the scams on these strange websites!”

“Guys, I know what you’re thinking… BUT maybe combining onion and chocolate CAN work.”

[master-of-junk]

Mine (🔞MDNI🔞)

🩸Mr. Scarletella x MC

(Not proof read yet)

You walked down the street, it was already dark out. Your eyes trailed up towards the sky. You hadn’t found any suitable target to kill so you just took a day off. Even serial killers needed some time alone.

You stood at a stop light, mindlessly waiting for the light to tell you to walk despite there being no cars on the road. You looked around slowly, wondering why it was so quiet today- but your eyes widen when you saw a man in red standing farther away from you, he held an umbrella that was also red. You looked up at the stars briefly noting that there was no rain coming anytime soon- not even a cloud in the sky. You looked back down and saw the man was gone!

You huffed out slightly and continued walking. Of course you remembered him, he was obsessed with getting your name in the other world. Eventually, you gave in when he had cornered you and gave him your name. However, you were surprised to find yourself alive and well, back in your home world. Of course- occasionally you’d see him behind you in a passing reflection or in the corner of your room at night watching you with glowing red eyes. Though, it was a lot more underwhelming than you cared to admit.

Sure he got the drop on you sometimes and scared the shit out of you- but he was more like an annoying gnat that kept buzzing in your ear no matter how many times you swatted at it. He kept his distance for the most part and you were fine with that. He also didn’t seem to mind your ideology when it came to make sure people got what they deserved.

You made your way home, hands shoved into the pockets of your raincoat. Sometimes, it even felt nice when you saw him. It made you feel safer? If that was the correct term to describe the sense of comfort you found in the demon’s ghost’s presence. You entered your home discarding your things for the day and went about your usual business, showering, eating, being lazy-

You flipped through the channels on the dark room, a glass of wine on the table. Without the stimulating company of another human or entities like Mr.crawling, you found yourself often bored, what else would pass all the time if not alcohol.

Though you tried to not drink too much because that pesky little gnat would become more active. You supposed that Mr. Scarletella was smarter than the average ghost and understood human nature to a larger extent than others. Especially since it appears he, like Mr. Gap, could travel between worlds at will.

You grabbed the wine glass and leaned back breathing out as you settled back into the couch. Though just as you expected, it didn’t take long for the entity to appear in the corner of your living room. Of course you ignored him, knowing that your attention would only make him act more aggressively. You sat silently in the tense atmosphere with the wine glass pressed to your bottom lip as you contemplated the ghosts behavior from your peripherals, eyes still trained in the screen.

Maybe he wanted a reaction out of you? You grunted a bit not sparing a glance but turned off the tv and walked away “You’re terrible company.” You put away whatever needed to be put up before walking into your bedroom. You only had a lamp on, making Mr. Scarletella appear in the darkest and furthest corner making you roll your eyes.

You glanced at him briefly as a rather devilish thought crossed your mind. What if this was like a game of cat and mouse? If he wanted to kill you, he’d of done it by now. So what did he want?? Another glance at him made his head perk up as your eyes connected. You looked away quickly once again thinking ‘He was once a man right?’

Without much other thought you decided ‘Fuck it- let’s see what happens…’ you stood at the edge of your bed your back facing the ghost, you pulled your shirt over your head leaving you in nothing else expect for your underwear. You stood there for a moment before slightly looking back over your shoulder seeing that he was watching you intently, his eyes looked wider than usual as if to intently study you.

You hummed out “Let’s see…” acting oddly unbothered by the growing intensity of the atmosphere, maybe you liked being watched a lot more than initially thought.

You bent over slightly reaching into your night stand grabbing the small vibrator before sitting back onto your plush bed, for the first time in a long time you acknowledged him “Ever see one of these before?” You giggled, a tease to your tone, you placed it between your legs and turned it on, ignoring the eyes peering at you intently from across the room. You bit your lip closing your eyes, a hand moving to pinch your own nipple as you pleasured yourself.

You briefly opened your eyes, looking through your eyelashes towards Mr. Scarletella. Your eyes met as he hadn’t taken his gaze off of you since you acknowledged him. After only a few seconds of the eye contact you threw your head back feeling the rush of warmth wash over you in waves making you grip the bed and breath out shuttered breaths. You eventually turned off the toy and sighed out catching your breath until you opened your eyes and flinched when he was next to your bed looming over you “Ah!” You relaxed upon seeing he was just staring at you, breathing harshly.

You were a little off put though “U-Uh-“ you began sitting up “What?? Never seen someone get off before-“ you were suddenly cut off when he grabbed you and trapped you against the bed “Hey!” You yelped but you grew silent when his hand cupped your breast and a thumb glided over your nipple making your gaze flicker downward. You looked back at his face seeing his eyes staring at your face intently like usual, but there was a curious air about him.

You looked further down and saw his bright red jacket already unbuttoned and his pants unbuttoned and unzipped. Your eyebrows shifted up in surprise “You want to…?” He didn’t bother to wait, as he grabbed your hips and positioned himself in front of you “Mr.Scarletella, w-wait-“ his breathing picked up hearing his name roll off your tongue. He slammed into you making you gasp! He kept his thrusts even as he pinned your legs back against your body keeping you pinned as his grin grew wider seeing your resolve crack to deny his advances.

You could see the excitement building in his expression as he stared at your face intently as he fucked you. It didn’t even seem like he was trying to please himself, it was like he wanted to see what you’d do under his touch. He leaned closer to your face, you looked at him questionably, almost wondering if he was going to kiss you.

However his hand wrapped around your throat and held to back down to the bed as he kept mercilessly trusting into your velvet like walls. He enjoyed seeing you wrapped around him, he liked claiming you in all ways. He liked being the only one you did this with, albeit it’s the first time you’ve ever let him this close. But he would take any crumb of attention you’d give him. You were all his, all his.

He felt you clench around him making his grin widen “You! You mine!” He breathed harshly watching your eyes connect with his, you swore you could see the hearts in his eyes as he claimed you “All mine! Only mine! Never leave!” You let out a sudden cry your hand flying to his as you came, your legs shaking. He grinned seeing you collapse back against the bed- his hand retreating.

You panted looking at him, your face decently red as you hadn’t expected that to happen…

Maybe you should have teased him soon?

[onlythegeste]

Gansey Nerdery

Ganseys are actually a really clever piece of knitwear, okay? And I feel they deserve extra love.

Here is a Gansey:

Please excuse the crap photo, it's because it's one I knitted myself. They are traditional fishermen's jumpers that are designed to be warm, hard-wearing, and close-fitting enough not to be at risk of entanglement when using machinery.

While you can get fully-patterned Ganseys, most of them are half-patterned like this one. This is because most holes happen in the lower part of the sleeves and body, and plain stocking stitch is easier to mend.

The knobbly-bobbly edge is because I used a Channel Islands cast-on, which is traditional for Ganseys from Guernsey (which is where they get their name from), but not something you see as much with the variants from Cornwall, North-East England or Scotland (which are all Gansey hotspots). This particular Gansey is otherwise mainly Scarborough pattern, although the banding on the sleeves is more commonly a Cornish thing.

Ganseys are reversible, as there's no difference in the front and back, which spreads wear and helps avoid elbow holes.

They also don't have seams, as such, as traditionally they're knitted in the round as one piece. Like so:

There are 'false seams' up the sides, which are just purl stitches that help you keep your place in the pattern without needing stitch markers etc. when you're in the stocking stitch section. There are also grafts at the shoulders, and you pick stitches up around the armholes for the sleeves, which obviously does make a join, but there's no sewing required as sewn seams are inherent weak points.

Another thing Ganseys have to avoid weak points that might result in holes developing is sleeve gussets. They look like this:

You can also do a double gusset, by carrying on the false seam up the middle of the gusset as well, rather than just around the edges, which I did on the navy one, but alas I don't have any pics as it's currently packed away in a box somewhere and I'm not willing to go digging for it, so you only get to see the single version.

The gusset is knitted halfway as part of the body, then put on a spare needle or stitch-holder while the upper body gets knitted as front and back separately (you can apparently also knit the top part in the round and then cut the armholes, but cutting knitwear scares me), then the second half is knitted as part of the sleeve:

The false seam continues down the sleeve, which then gives a nice reference point for where to put thumbholes, if desired. It's very easy - you just switch to knitting back and forth for about 1.5"-2" before returning to knitting in the round.

The collar also has gussets, which helps it stand up. Those involve picking up progressively more stitches either side of the shoulder graft while knitting back and forth for a few rows, before you can pick up the rest of your collar stitches and do some nice ribbing. You can do this before or after the sleeves, as you prefer.

I don't seem to have a picture of it with both sleeves in situ, but yes, the cream one absolutely was a copy of James Fitzjames' Gansey from The Terror. If you're looking for a sign to make one yourself, do it - it's fun!

As a closing note, I wanted to talk about yarn. Ganseys are traditionally done in pure wool 5-ply, which is sort of between 4-ply and DK in terms of weight (broadly equivalent to most sports-weight yarns if you're either unable to get Gansey/Guernsey yarn or prefer a different fibre content) and very tightly plied. This, paired with the thinness of the knitting pins (aka double-pointed needles, usually between 2mm-2.75mm), gives a very tightly-knitted garment that is pretty windproof, as well as being water resistant and still warm when wet. Hence very suitable for both fishing and polar exploration. You could do them in oiled wool for even more waterproofing if you wanted, but I have no idea where to get pre-oiled yarn or how to oil it yourself, and honestly I can't imagine it would be necessary in most modern circumstances.

Unless you actually intend on exploring polar regions, in which case you could probably use all the weather-proofing you can get!

[thegoatsongs]

Mina Harker's comments about The New Woman in Dracula have generated much discussion. Among her comments, she says: "Some of the “New Women” writers will some day start an idea that men and women should be allowed to see each other asleep before proposing or accepting. But I suppose the New Woman won’t condescend in future to accept; she will do the proposing herself. And a nice job she will make of it, too! There’s some consolation in that."

The topic of women proposing gets explored in another Stoker novel, The Man or The Gates Of Life (1905)

The main character is a young woman, Stephen Norman. She's very outspoken about women's right to make choices, including proposing to men. Her foil is her Auntie, who is a conventional woman. Here, Stephen claims to her Auntie that if a woman isn't married to the man she wants, it's her own fault.

"Her fault? My dear, what if no man asks her?" This seemed to her own mind a poser. "Still her own fault! Why doesn’t she ask him?" Her aunt’s lorgnon was dropped in horrified amazement. Stephen went on impassively. "Certainly! Why shouldn’t she? Marriage is a union. As it is in the eye of the law a civil contract, either party to it should be at liberty to originate the matter. If a woman is not free to think of a man in all ways, how is she to judge of the suitability of their union? And if she is free in theory, why not free to undertake if necessary the initiative in a matter so momentous to herself?" The old lady actually groaned and wrung her hands; she was horrified at such sentiments. They were daring enough to think; but to put them in words! . . . "Oh, my dear, my dear!" she moaned, "be careful what you say. Some one might hear you who would not understand, as I do, that you are talking theory." Stephen’s habit of thought stood to her here. She saw that her aunt was distressed, and as she did not wish to pain her unduly, was willing to divert the immediate channel of her fear. She took the hand which lay in her lap and held it firmly whilst she smiled in the loving old eyes. "Of course, Auntie dear, it is theory. But still it is a theory which I hold very strongly!"

Stephen asks her Auntie why she never married (she didn't love any of her suitors, so she refused them) and if she was ever in love with a man:

"And why did you refuse them?" The tone was wheedling, and the elder woman loved to hear it. Wheedling is the courtship, by the young of the old. "Because, my dear, I didn’t love them." "But tell me, Auntie, was there never any one that you did love?" "Ah! my dear, that is a different matter. That is the real tragedy of a woman’s life." In flooding reminiscent thought she forgot her remonstrating; her voice became full of natural pathos: "To love; and be helpless! To wait, and wait, and wait; with your heart all aflame! To hope, and hope; till time seems to have passed away, and all the world to stand still on your hopeless misery! To know that a word might open up Heaven; and yet to have to remain mute! To keep back the glances that could enlighten; to modulate the tones that might betray! To see all you hoped for passing away . . . to another! . . . " Stephen bent over and kissed her, then standing up said: "I understand! Isn’t it wrong, Auntie, that there should be such tragedies? Should not that glance be given? Why should that tone be checked? Why should one be mute when a single word might, would, avert the tragedy? Is it not possible, Auntie, that there is something wrong in our social system when such things can happen; and can happen so often? "Some day women must learn their own strength, as well as they have learned their own weakness. They are taught this latter from their cradles up; but no one ever seems to teach them wherein their power lies. They have to learn this for themselves."

Stephen may have too progressive ideas, but she's still very gentle with her Auntie even while she's disagreeing, because she sees her Auntie is too scared that Stephen might get in trouble for her ideas:

"Why should good women’s lives be wrecked for a convention? Why in the blind following of some society fetish should life lose its charm, its possibilities? Why should love eat its heart out, in vain? The time will come when women will not be afraid to speak to men, as they should speak, as free and equal. Surely if a woman is to be the equal and lifelong companion of a man, the closest to him—nay, the only one really close to him: the mother of his children—she should be free at the very outset to show her inclination to him just as he would to her. Don’t be frightened, Auntie dear; your eyes are paining me! . . . There! perhaps I said too much. But after all it is only theory. Take for your comfort, Auntie dear, that I am free an heart-whole. You need not fear for me; I can see what your dear eyes tell me."

This all puts Mina's comments into perspective. Aside, Mina is an etiquette schoolteacher. And even at the start, she gradually breaks more conventions, however reluctantly, like when she chooses to let Jonathan hold her arm as they walk, over obeying to convention.