#at least 5 days per week! dedication

[ashmp3]

any volunteers for a custom margiela kiss shirt made by yours truly?

[byoldervine]

Why No Writing Advice Seems To Work

There’s millions of tips out there for writers, but so much of it just doesn’t apply, and it often feels like nothing ever works because you have to wade through a million failures before you find a success. But why is that, exactly?

1. Implicit phasing. Seeking advice while in the drafting phase of your writing can be difficult when many popular tips are more important during the editing phase. It can build on perfectionism struggles that a lot of writers have, but a lot of people genuinely don’t realise that this advice will suit them better for editing rather than drafting. If it’s about improving what you’ve already got, or just improvements in general, don’t touch it until you’re editing; you can’t improve on something that doesn’t exist, so you’ll just be going over the same draft a gazillion times without making progress. What you need to look for are tips for brainstorming, getting out of a funk, etc

2. Concept to blueprint. For me, literal thinking has kept me from understanding a lot of writing advice and, even when I’ve got the gist of it, I struggle to figure out how to take it from a general phrase (e.g. “Show don’t tell”, “Make it a habit”) to something actionable that tells me what I need to do. If you’re misunderstanding what the advice is saying, or you don’t know what actions it’s implying that you take, of course it’s not going to be helpful. Sitting down and dedicating a minute or two to considering it can really help, and if you’re still unsure then always feel free to ask other writers; there’s bound to be others who were in the same boat that can share their own interpretations and the actions they took that helped them

3. Hobbyist approach. If you’re only writing for fun, and especially if you don’t consider yourself a ‘real writer’, it’s easy to think that some of the advice doesn’t apply to you. For me, I always thought that the whole “Write every day, make writing a habit” thing was just for people who were super serious about it or on a schedule, not for people who were just writing for fun and didn’t mind it taking forever. But after trying out NaNoWriMo, I realised I actually quite enjoy having a set routine that allows me to see consistent improvement, and even after NaNoWriMo I experimented to see how often I could write without it feeling more like a chore than a fun activity. It’s definitely worth it to at least try out tips that you think may not apply to a hobbyist just working for fun; sometimes you might learn something else about your writing style, even if the tip doesn’t work for you

4. Unique takes. Ultimately, we’re all different people with different experiences, habits, interests, styles, physical abilities and neurotypes; not everything will work for everyone. And that’s a good thing! Yes, it’s frustrating when we try a popular tip and it just doesn’t work for us like it does others, but that’s one more thing we know about ourselves and how we work, and maybe it’ll lead us to a new discovery that makes it easier going forward. If everyone was the same, all our writing would be the same, and that would be boring. You’ll stand out as a writer by working differently to achieve unique results. And if you find something that works for you, make sure you share it in case others benefit, too!

5. Customise. Finding your own tips and sharing them can lead others to you, and it all starts with experimentation; try new things, mix and match existing tips you’ve tried and figure out what can be adjusted to make your writing process better. I can’t keep to NaNoWriMo’s 1667 words per day demands, it’s too much work in too little time, but I can do 1000 words every week and be much more consistent than I used to be. Or maybe watching your word count all the time demotivates you? Try changing your measurement from X words to writing for Y amount of time - or you could even try both and say you’ll write for a max of Y minutes unless you can reach X amount of words beforehand. Even if it’s not something that was originally intended by the tip, can you find a way to customise it to work better for you?

[avissapiens]

Himbull Summer 2024

(Long post ahead but worth the read)

I was intending to do something like this again this year but a previous ask really started the gears turning into motion. I really consider last year’s Jockbull summer experiment to be one of the most impactful changes I've made in a lot of ways. I’m still feeling some of the impacts and changes in my life on a permanent basis. I’ve got new friends I made through the process, new appreciation of style and whole new skillsets that I wouldn't have developed otherwise. Which is why I'm super excited to do this again but with a few adjustments to refine the concept and hopefully reap even deeper rewards for my own growth. I will be running this from Nov 15th 2024 - Feb 15th 2025.

I’ll explain some of the adjustments very briefly before I explain the plan and how you all will be able to interact with it.

We’ve cut down from 15 tasks over 3 plans to just 8 over 2. 

This year by popular demand the archetype’s I’ll work on growing and encapsulating will be Himbo and Bull. This was voted on by the lovely paid Patreon supporters. With the final votes looking like this

I will only be doing 1 plan with a partner this year. That partner is Abgsado as we did last year and you all can keep track of his progress on discord in his own dedicated channel.

The plans

As I noted above this year rather than 3 plans of 5 tasks we only have 2 plans of 4.  15 tasks was way too much as evidenced by the fact that I would regularly only get a fraction done.

PLAN A

This is the more Bull-centric side of the Himbull summer, focused not just on taking the most of this current bulking period, but also on expanding and centering my mind to possibilities for growth. This is the plan Abg and I developed together using a structure of 1 personal task, 1 task granted by the other, 1 task we compete at, and 1 task where we took some inspiration from the discord community.

Task 1 is my personal task and will involve a stronger supplementation regime with the goal of increasing anabolism, libido, strength and focus over the coming months. What that entails on a practical basis is cycling 2 new supplements into my routine every month. Recording notable changes or improvements from baseline. And keeping consistent dosing schedules.

Task 2  was granted by Abg and focuses on playing around with atypical perspectives and archetypes for growth and change outside of my usual 5/6. I intend to do that by creating some more improvisational mini trances exploring some new growth/corruption-adjacent ideals. These will also be on a biweekly schedule and depending on how I feel released at different levels of exclusivity.

Task 3 is the competitive task for both Abg and I. We both want to expand our fitness socials on sites like Instagram and shift ourselves more into the muscle lifestyle sphere of influence.

Task 4 is the task synthesized from suggestions from discord. We’re gonna fuse the Himbo and Bull gym loops together and dedicate ourselves to listening to it on 2 training days per week. Let ourselves really get mindfucked by the muscle chaos.

PLAN B

 This is the more himbo coded plan. No specific structure however for this set 1 is a personal task and 3 were given by some of my top-tier himbo advisors. So big thanks to them, including @thejockout. Task 1 is the personal task. Similar to last year’s task regarding disposing of certain clothes, this year is going to be about purchasing things that I think are gonna draw more attention my way. I’m gonna aim for a new Himbo Aesthetic component every 2 weeks. And I’m going to force myself to wear each component at least twice in public, not just at the gym.

Task 2 is about making semi-permanent changes to my look in some form or fashion, beyond just clothes. These are gonna be fairly big so i think i might do them on a Monthly or maybe tri-weekly basis so i get 3-4 Big changes out of the process. Bit scared for this one.

Task 3 is gonna be interesting. It’s about putting myself forward to be used as a muscular physical being more often. Lifting, pushing, carrying. Doing the physical aspects of work. Very golden retriever farm boy himbo. “I can get that for you, ma’am. Not a problem”. Part of this summer I’ll be doing an internship at a lab. So in addition to being an academic weapon I’ve also gotta make sure this muscle is both functional and for show.

Task 4 focuses on being a bit more of a slut when I'm in public or around my friends. Putting a bit more sauce on my normal speaking voice, being a tiny bit more touchy feely with people who I know it's safe and kosher to do so with, flirting a bit more liberally.

Engagement

Like last year, I want you all to watch me and interact with this journey. But we’re changing it up a little this year. You’ll be able to get 4 different sources for this journey, all of varying intensity and completeness.

The standard base will be a monthly update released on tumblr synthesizing the whole month of activity with some notable events and reflections on them. These will be free and also probably either cross-posted or linked on Patreon. The next level will be more granular fortnightly updates available to all paid patrons, these will include some sticking points, things I’m struggling with. And I might even ask for suggestions for how to tackle tasks I have problems with. I will also like last year be doing fortnightly voice diaries which will likely be similar to the two above but maybe with some extra impromptu thoughts thrown in, again at the paid patreon tier.

And finally, in twitter’s dying gasp(not even gonna link it but you know how to find me) and a begrudging attempt to strike while the iron is hot on bluesky, I’ll also be doing a lot more frequent if less thought through crossposts on those two sites.

If you by any chance want to help me in any of these tasks and have a personal hand in molding me as I’ve molded you then I can provide two options for support. 1st, as always, consider subscribing to my Patreon at any paid tier, but the $5 level is imo the best value for money. 2nd, I have opened up a Throne account(wishtender 2.0) with specific wishlist items geared toward different HBS tasks(namely A1, A 3, and B1). It’d be really hot for everyone to have some of those get ticked off during the summer. And folks who help out in this way will get a shout out in the relevant update.

I really hope this is an amazingly fun experience for you all and an absolutely transformative one for me. At the end of this I’ll be going into my final Bachelor’s year in this country. I want to be the hottest, buffest, and best I've ever been for these super low stakes classes. Let's make it happen folks!

  (Models for this Himbull Summer are Kieran Yawson and Trkennet)

[femmefatalevibe]

how to balance work and personal life???

Plan your days & week around your energy peaks: Figure out the times of the day when you're most focused, productive, creative, fidgety, sleepy, etc., and structure your days/weeks/month around your internal clock to the best of your ability. While this may be slightly difficult if you have a 9-5 or go to school during the day, think about what blocks of time are best dedicated to meetings, creative work, planning, routine tasks, emails, studying, etc. For those with uteruses, consider your energy throughout your cycle to help you plan the month.

Create "bookend" routines: While these will often be your morning and nighttime routines, consider how you prime and unwind your mind from your biggest tasks of the day (for most of us, this will be work, school, and chores on the weekends). Some reading, light movement, and upbeat music can create momentum before starting your daily tasks. A long walk and some journaling are a simple yet productive combination to decompress from the day.

Embrace the power of 3s: Create a daily primer routine, workday, and relaxation routine around 3 core tasks/projects/rituals. For example: Mornings can include using your 5-Minute Journal, doing a quick 10-minute meditation/yoga/dancing session to get in some movement, and spending 10 minutes reading; Your workday should be focused on completing your "Big Three" tasks, projects, or meetings of the day; Evenings can include a quick 5-10 minute planning session for the next day, a 15-60 minute walk or workout (depending on how you're feeling), and some journaling/reading time after dinner. You don't need to do it all. Consistency is key.

Make A Life Admin Schedule (and Stick To It): Choose days (and times if possible) of the week to update certain spreadsheets, batch reply to less urgent messages, clean your house, do laundry, grocery shop, etc. Scheduling these tasks ahead of time eliminates half of the battle for following through on what you need to do. Eventually, you will make these tasks into habitual routines that your brain will allow you to execute effortlessly as though you're in autopilot mode.

Focus on systems, not habits: Consider the domino effect of each practice and activity. Determine whether your current strategies and routines align with your energy, goals, and desired outcomes. Reflect on the parts of your routine that increase/decrease your energy and motivation. See how you can create a system – a pattern of consistently-practiced habits – that supports your goals and desired lifestyle that does not compromise your overall life satisfaction and well-being.

Set Boundaries: Understand your expectations, non-negotiables, and limits in every area of your life. Communicate these principles to others clearly, so they know when they are overstepping. Don't tolerate disrespect, but also don't expect others to be mind-readers. If someone knows that they're crossing your boundaries, it is easy to draw the line in the sand and walk away without the guilt or shame that can arise when conflicts originate from a lack of healthy communication.

Incorporate One Creative Practice Into Your Week: Reinvigorate your mind by engaging in at least one hour of creative activity per week. Try drawing, creative writing, poetry, singing, dancing, painting, pottery, jewelry making, graphic design, photography, etc. Even taking a foreign language course or creating a Pinterest inspiration/mood board or organizing your home/closets in an aesthetically-pleasing way counts. Figure out what creative outlet(s) you find satisfying. Prioritize scheduling this practice into your schedule weekly.

Give Yourself A Weekly "Treat": Find a healthy indulgence that you can strategically incorporate into your week. This "treat" can be a massage or nail appointment, permission to watch a movie or a couple episodes of a TV show, a serving of your favorite dessert or a glass of wine, etc. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Consider regular indulgence as an act of self-care not as a sign of weakness or self-destruction. Embracing pleasure does not require guilt or external permission.

Experiment until you find an achievable balance: Focus on progress, not perfection. While there may be days or even seasons where hard work and fewer pleasures take priority, life is meant to bring you joy, peace, and satisfaction at the end of the day. Remaining in your comfort zone does you no good. However, learning ways to find pleasure in the process remains the key to long-lasting discipline and the energy necessary to maintain the determination required for success.

[prince-liest]

Wooo, the past two days have reminded me that I really enjoy medicine! It's just the emergency department that isn't for me, almost as if I chose family medicine for a reason, haha. (Also apparently our local ED is a shitshow. I wouldn't really know, as it's my only point of reference, and as far as I know most EDs in underserved areas are shitshows. At any rate, I lost a patient for 3 hours the other day because someone moved them without telling me and updated the chart incorrectly, and I hunted for them all around THRICE without finding them, and signed them out as Left During Treatment until someone finally called me like, "Heyyy... so did you send X to the pharmacy...?" and I was like, "They're STILL HERE???"... ANYWAY.......)

No matter what rotation we're currently on, the family medicine residents do 1.5 days of clinic a week, and half a day of didactics. ED shifts can't be interrupted, so mine are all lined up so that I have all of Tuesday in clinic, and Wednesday split between clinic/didactic. I've basically gotten only half a day off so far in the past two weeks due to the night shift schedule, but this litte two-day family medicine interlude has felt like a break in its own way, haha. Now that I'm getting a better hang of the EMR, clinic just feels very nice, and it's exactly what I want to be doing. And as part of our didactic, we spent a couple of hours today doing sports physicals for the nearby college, which was neat! Got free pizza after, too, eyy.

One small thing I really wish was standardized is that anybody on inpatient service and emergency medicine rotations had an official break, at least 30 minutes per shift (which is not a lot considering shifts are 8-10 hours for ED and 12 hours for inpatient service). Most other rotations (including even inpatient pediatrics) have an hour designated for lunch, but two of the most grueling ones don't, and what ends up happening is that even if my seniors have told me not to worry and to take a 30 minute lunch in the ED, I feel guilty doing it because everybody else is scarfing down a 10 minute sandwich at their computers while staring at the patient charts and I feel bad taking even 15 whole minutes because it's noticably 5 minutes longer than the EM resident took! And it's the same thing for my coresident that's currently on inpatient service. It's just a long time to go without a dedicated break and it's part of what makes those services exhausting.

Anyway, today and yesterday were both good and I have some things I'm sooo excited for! I got into contact with the new endocrinologist that works with our program because she does trans health care and we're going to start a trans health clinic together. The only real question, which my program director is going to be talking over with her, is figuring out how I can participate in that longitudinally, because unfortunately it doesn't count for my family medicine continuity clinic, and there are some rotations where the hour requirements apparently don't allow me so much as to take a half-day per month for a different service (lookin' at you, inpatient service - which is 6a-6p, 6 days a week, so they'd also be breaking duty hour restrictions if they put the clinic half day on one of my single weekly days off lol).

Regardless, we'll figure something out! I really, really want to do this and my PD is excited about it, so I think they will try to make something work. I'm kinda crossing my fingers that they do allow me to take one half-day per month for this even on inpatient service.

[presidentkamala]

New Year's resolutions blogging

POSITIVE GOALS: Trying to make these more measured & achievable in a chill way. Like my marker for "achievement" in the new year is below the earth's surface lmao. Im trying not to be too ambitious with most goals but still feel like im making progress, and im specifically trying for goals that will get me offline and that are abt improving my focus and spending time doing deep work

practice and improve my cursive by the end of 2025: create a writing sample on jan 1st, target regular practice for at least 30 minutes 4 times a week, and then recreate the writing sample quarterly

Journal weekly. Goal is 52 entries minimum by the end of the year

Learn to draw a bird (lol). Either take a (free!!) class or check out an audobon to practice. Pick a bird and draw it in the start of the year, and quarterly. Be able to draw one from a few different angles. Bonus points for color

Exercise: this ones tricky because i either go super hard or do nothing and now im too OLD to treat my joints this way. I guess the idea is to get SOME form of physical activity every day for 30 minutes that ISNT walking bc i already average abt 4 miles a day all told and i could just walk forever once i get started. At first I was like. Ok maybe i should commit to the bar method or lifting or doing a c25k program, but honestly thee minute i lock in for more than a week i start getting frustrated & bored lmao. Classpass?? But that means WAY too much active management & planning on my end. Maybe 75 soft???? Except i would definitely tweak it if i do it.

Complete a single, long term volunteering project. More to come on this im thinking less of organizing and more of like a more engaged involvement with a local initiative or something. Either Immigration or Reproductive Health (por que no los dos but im trying to goal set REALISTICALLY lmaoo)

NEGATIVE GOALS: so I have 5 goals i want to dedicate my time to which means that time is going to have to come from somewhere. These are things i have GOTT to stop doing:

SCREENTIME SCREENTIME SCREENTIME.....its embarrassing. Its atrocious. My daily screentime is nearly all the time im awake, bc i keep putting on youtube vids to keep me company or using youtube to listen to music or im at work or im watching tv. Im not even really on any other socials im literally just.....trying to stay distracted so i dont have to be with my own thoughts for any amt of time bc (tmi incoming) if i spend more than 5 minutes in silence i burst into tears lol. Anyway the goal here is to give myself a 3 hr limit for youtube and tv per weekday (i know i know but i have a 2 hr round trip commute to work and a lunch hr thrown in there). This doesnt include audiobooks, workout vids, or music/podcasts

NO MORE APPS. I have moved past the need for apps. NO more doordash, no more Uber. Im going to just freaking call ahead to the taxi company if i need to get to the airport. When i travel for work im good w a rented car and when i travel for fun i am RARELY doing anything that isnt available via public transit/walking. This just for moral and financial reasons has to be cold turkey. Im doordashing like an insane person recently and even though i always tip generously i just need to refocus on my intake.

NEWS: this ones tricky bc i keep going back and forth w myself. Do I risk being less informed if Im not keeping tabs on what are sure to be pretty horrific and impactful headlines? But then its like, unless im actively involved with a group or org that's gearing to take a certain policy on, do i NEED to hear about every unhinged tweet or intention from trump??? Could I be better served paying more attention to how my state & local gov are impacted, or on the nature of the actual legislation that passes??? If Trump DOES gut the civil service, do EYE, an 8 year federal worker with a pretty good understanding about the various agencies and departments, need to hear exactly about how bad things will be? Like i guess its like. Is looking away a capitulation? Is forcing myself to take in this stuff and re-open the wounds of horribleness count as bearing witness in a meaningful way. Im reading abt the german resistance and even without top of the minute instantaneous posts abt every fresh demonic as hell genocidal thing hitler was doing they were able to organize and plan a response different place and time but like????? I just need a plan for how to interact w media moving forward.

SODA. Goodbye, forever. Its such a bad habit but i AM. A beverage drinker if nothing else but im getting OFF this year on GOD. except for olipop/poppi which eye knowwww isnt that much better but they DO have fiber at least so theres that. No soda but yes to occasional juices coconut water herbal teas and ofc flavored carbonated water.

HERMITIZING. i caNNOT keep not seeing any friends or ppl not blood related to me for days and days. No spending 7 days straight or more without seeing or hanging out irl with a friend or friends. No matter what. Its making me too WEIRD and FRAGILE.

[themarksideofficial]

Yep, it's that time of the year again!

Get ready to show off this fandom's creativity and skills with the 7th ANNUAL TMS OCTOBER CHALLENGE!

Last year was the first year prizes were offered, and that was super fun! So for 2024, there's EVEN MORE PRIZES with the all new addition of the POINTS SYSTEM!

Each day you submit, you'll receive 5 points! The number of points you have at the end of the challenge will determine what your prize will be!

As with last year, these prompts were created with drawing in mind, but submissions can be anything! Art, writing, and any creative form is accepted.

Most of the prizes are merch, and this is the only way to get it until the merch store opens!

Make sure you read the rules if you want to participate to earn prizes!

⭐ Reblog if you’re interested! ⭐

Typed rules, prompts, and prizes list below!

RULES:

1 entry per day, except on make up days. If you're going for the max amount of points and you don't want to make a post every single day that you make an entry, you can combine submissions into single posts but only if your number of submissions don't exceed the number of days that have passed for that specific prompt. (EXAMPLE: 5 submissions on day 1 of a prompt is not allowed. 3 submissions in 1 post on day 3 and 2 submissions on day 5 in another post will still earn you all of the points.)

1 entry = 5 points.

Feel free to complete these prompts without entering if you just want something to do for fun!

On make up days, the number of entries you are allowed is equivalent to the number of days you skipped, plus the bonus prompt.

In order to receive points for your entry, you MUST tag Saveraedae or an official TMS social in a public post. (If your account is private, we can't see it.)

Entries must include at least 1 canon TMS character in order to receive points. (AU versions of canon characters are accepted)

If you win prizes. you will need to provide a valid address to receive them. (All prizes will ship for free. Prizes being sent outside the US should not incur any additional import taxes or fees, but if they do, you are responsible for them.)

────────────

PRIZES:

25 POINTS

Choose from 4 different TMS sticker packs, plus receive a set of 5 TMS pin buttons!

(You'll get a few cool exclusive bonus October themed TMS stickers as well.)

50 POINTS

Choose from 4 different TMS keychains of Mark, Ben, Jon, and Kenny, PLUS receive a special and exclusive poster print!

(What makes it special is a surprise! This won't ever be offered in the merch store. You're curious, aren't you? :) If you really like TMS, you're gonna love it.)

100 POINTS

Choose from 11 different TMS character plushes of the main and secondary cast, plus some cool fun extras!

(Options for plushes: Mark, Benjamin, Jonathon, Kenny, Ash, Luke, Steven, Leon, Darcy, Boss, and Alex)

125 POINTS (IMPOSSIBLE MODE)

If you somehow manage to make 125 points, you will receive all of the listed prizes PLUS an additional plush that is exclusive only to the challenge! (What makes it special is a surprise! These things won't ever be offered in the merch store. They're really cool though.)

────────────

PROMPTS:

PROMPT 1: MAIN 4 WEEK! (1st-5th)

A whole week (well, technically 5 days,) dedicated to Mark, Ben, Jon, Kenny, and their super normal and totally not complicated friendship throughout the years! Come up with any scenario you want featuring any of these four, whether it be simple, silly, or even angsty! (You can earn up to 25 points for this prompt.)

★★★★

MAKE UP DAY 1 + BONUS PROMPT 1 (6th)

If you missed any days, you can still earn the points for them! Feel free to submit as many entries as you want for any days you didn't submit something.

OPTIONAL BONUS PROMPT: Crossover TMS with any other fandom or media!

★★★★

PROMPT 2: TMS OCTOBER! (7th-12th)

October brings lot of things: Cooler autumn weather, lots (and lots) of orange, and you can't forget Mark's favorite holiday: Halloween! Come up with anything October themed featuring any TMS character, and feel free to get creative with what you make! (You can earn up to 30 points for this prompt.)

★★★★

MAKE UP DAY 2 + BONUS PROMPT 2 (13th)

If you missed any days, you can still earn the points for them! Feel free to submit as many entries as you want for any days you didn't submit something.

OPTIONAL BONUS PROMPT: Make something with your favorite duo or group!

★★★★

PROMPT 3: FLASHBACK WEEK! (14th-19th)

This week is dedicated to the past, and that means EVERYTHING! The good, the bad, memories both forever and forgotten, and all of what formed everyone into who they are now! Have fun with it! (You can earn up to 30 points for this prompt.)

★★★★

MAKE UP DAY 3 + BONUS PROMPT 3 (20th)

If you missed any days, you can still earn the points for them! Feel free to submit as many entries as you want for any days you didn't submit something.

OPTIONAL BONUS PROMPT: Try drawing something in the TMS art style!

★★★★

PROMPT 4: ANTI-MARK WEEK! (21st-26th)

Fuck Mark, am I right? Just kidding. (Or am I?) Sure, it's called "The MARK Side," but there's so many other characters that are a part of the series, whether their role is major or not! Creativity is encouraged, but remember, this week is dedicated to the others in his life, not him! (You can earn up to 30 points for this prompt.)

★★★★

MAKE UP DAY 4 + BONUS PROMPT 4 (27th)

If you missed any days, you can still earn the points for them! Feel free to submit as many entries as you want for any days you didn't submit something.

OPTIONAL BONUS PROMPT: 404: Ending Not Found. We all know of the Good and Bad Endings, but what if things were different? Create your own AU ending!

★★★★

PROMPT 5: AU WEEK! (28th-31st)

Final prompt! Throughout the years, there's been many TMS AUs people have made to explore different scenarios that wouldn't happen in canon. Choose an AU, create your own new one, or just think of something that couldn't be canon and make something based off of that! (You can earn up to 20 points for this prompt.)

[roo-bastmoon]

Jimin needs your help

Puppykitties, Jimin is up for an award. He worked for ten straight months on FACE. He earned the highest first week sales record. He made history as the first Korean soloist to capture BB Hot 100 #1.

This award show is three days before his birthday and it's very likely he will attend. As a show of ARMY's love and appreciation, we shouldn't let him leave empty handed.

I'm going to walk you through how you can help under the cut.

A few things to know:

We have less than five days. Voting stops at 6pm KST 10/02 (5am EST).

Voting resets every day at noon EST.

One email account = one vote per day.

Gmail lets you make an unlimited number of free email accounts. (Hint: I have 10 gmail "fandom personas" I use for buying, streaming, and voting.)

You go to this link HERE.

Go ahead and select your device settings so that it auto translates to English.

Go to LOGIN. Create an identity using one of your Google email accounts. It will ask you for a name, birthdate, country, and phone number. I like to use things I can easily remember and that are in the right area code for where my computer is set up.

Once you have created an identity for this site (it remembers you later), you go ahead and scroll all the way down to select JIMIN and then NO.

You say no because you are not trying to get a ticket to the award show--you just want to quickly get through the vote.

It will ask you if you are sure because you can only vote once per day. Click you are sure, and you can scroll up to see CURRENT STATUS if you're curious to see how Jimin's doing in the poll.

Then you LOGOUT and repeat these steps for each gmail account you have. You do this every day until the clock runs out.

At this moment in time, Jimin is right behind Lim Youngwoong with a 5% gap. (For perspective, we made up a 10% gap just today, but it requires everyone to PUSH.)

You know those lovely Korean ajumas love them some Lim Youngwoong, and he seems like a straight-up decent fella, but our Jimin deserves to be recognized for his hard work on his first solo project. The ajumas are currently asleep, but they will wake up around 9pm EST and start voting again, and they take it Real Serious.

We need every ARMY to make at least five accounts (ten is better) and vote for Jimin once a day for the next five days. BTS should always win fan-voted awards.

Side Note: I recognize there was some controversy because during the first two rounds of this survey, Yoongi fans had voted him in the lead. Then yesterday, haters started dragging Jimin to hell and back in the award site comments and on Twitter. That, of course, was a rallying cry for Jimin fans. You can love or hate Jimin solos, but you have to acknowledge they are organized and dedicated.

Now Jimin is in the lead, and ARMY must pivot from voting for Yoongi to voting for Jimin, if they wish to follow the "vote for whoever is in the lead" guideline. Splitting the votes will assure the ajumas win. I'm not going to argue with you if your conscience dictates you vote differently. It's YOUR vote; that is your private business.

But I believe that no amount of distaste for fans should overshadow your love for a member. And of all the BTS members, Jimin is the only one who has never won an end-of-the-year award, and he will likely be in service the next time the opportunity comes up, so I hope we can all row together and get this race won.

I wish you best of luck, ARMY. Let's get it!

Love, Roo

[tranquilpetrichor]

zb1 as honkai: star rail players

— may this journey lead us starward.

synopsis: you end up getting the zb1 boys to play the popular hoyoverse space fantasy rpg called honkai: star rail, and this is how it goes...

genre: headcanon, fluff, crack

wc: 944

warnings: mentions of video game deaths, cursing, there may be unfamiliar video game terms

a/n: haha please lemme summon all the zerose that play this game. very self-indulgent headcanon. i actually have not played this for a couple weeks because college = busy so... yeah.

taglist: @restlessmaknae

sung hanbin

he now thinks it would be a fun idea to have the members play video games like this for content so there you go

i can see him looking at bronya and thinking "she's a great leader" because honestly so true

he starts off with a fairly standard team composition (shielder, healer, support, dps) because you know less is more

likes the story, finishes it fairly quickly

thinks the feature where characters text you is cute

gets really happy whenever you use his support character

kim jiwoong

absolutely confused as hell and really, you can't blame him

"wait, why i can't jump?"

you spend a bit of time explaining the turn-based combat stuff to him and now he does get it... sorta

doesn't play too much but sometimes does it on a free day

pulls for characters he finds pretty (so valid)

and that's how he ended up with luocha, imbibitor lunae, jing yuan and kafka

has decent luck too

zhang hao

plays with chinese dub, chinese dialogue text

pulls for as many characters from the xianzhou luofu as he can

a lore enjoyer, probably excitedly talking about his favorite parts with you

probably got sucked into all the side quests

busy testing out the simulated universe, enjoying every second of it

has the ost samudrartha on blast, he'd love to cover the song one day

having a field day with any lore-heavy updates

seok matthew

he probably tried memory of chaos with f2p characters "because he was bored" and already did it w cracked as hell 5 stars

i can see him having a bunch of the standard banner characters from losing the 50/50s

he prob saw welt and said “haraboji" which means grandpa. if y'all know that joke i love you.

curses a lot if he dies

if something actually ends up being too hard for you to beat he gladly tries to help you (he's sweet like that)

named the trailblazer (main character) woohyun

also loves exploration and just running around the map even if he can't find everything

finds it fun in his free time

kim taerae

plays it casually (because he’s probably already too dedicated to valorant or something to pick up another game)

yk i think he would be a fan of the music, this game has a very good ost

in the parlor car of the express there’s a phonograph and one of the songs you can play on there is called “take the journey”, it’s this acoustic guitar song with soothing vocals

if that’s not taerae, idk what is

as a music lover, he's probably listening to the whole ost for this game

a very proud serval main (no did you see that pic of him with the electric guitar on his birthday? i'm sure he can appreciate a fellow guitarist)

thinks it's funny that gepard uses serval's guitar case as a weapon

probably builds at least two good teams

and complains when realizing he didn't get that many materials from beating the calyxes (same)

ricky

plays with chinese dub, english text

lazy af, turned on auto battle feature we stan

plays maybe twice per week

dialogue skipper

yk this man is buying whatever the equivalent of the battle pass is for this game

he can and will whale for the characters he wants (and this man already has better 50/50 luck than you, for sure)

probably doesn't give a shit about meta when deciding to pull on banners even though because oh wow that character is cool

actually pulls on the lightcone banner (because he can)

sees asta and her constant purchases and goes yep that's relatable

he jokingly tries to name the trailblazer something like youngandrich

kim gyuvin

sometimes starts leveling up relics randomly not giving a crap about stats even though he probably should

"it's a 5 star one and the correct mainstat, so here we go!"

he shows you relics leveled all the way with absolutely shit substats just to troll and annoy you

another proud dialogue skipper

but when the trailblazer speaks, guyvin picks all the funny and wacky dialogue options

lets your support character do all the work for him

probably let excess exp accumulate until he finally does his equilibrium trial or whatever

thinks it would be funny to main sampo or qingque. so that's exactly what he does

says fuck it we ball and puts 4 dps characters on one team

randomly says character voice lines like "HELP ME MR. SVAROG" and you're just like "please shut up"

probably named the trailblazer eumppappa

park gunwook

the most likely to enjoy the game imo

also ends up getting good at it (because he’s talented and good at learning new things)

doesn’t like to auto battle, actually enjoys grinding battles

started laughing at you because he got gepard for his beginner pulls and you don’t even have him yet (but you laughed when he lost his 50/50 to himeko of all people so you’re even.)

has a decent amount of characters

you give him so many credits because you keep using his gepard

to return the favor, he uses your characters occasionally, mostly seele.

he likes putting shielders and healers as support characters because "some people need to be able to not die"

easily finds the chests, is a completionist

always updated and knows when new redeem codes are out

han yujin

very intently focused on the game, you find it hilarious

but since our maknae is very dedicated, you’re quite surprised at his trailblaze level..

“yujin, slow down, you’ve been playing for what, two days?"

he’s probably already reached somewhere around trailblaze level 25 already

truly a yanqing enjoyer, he likes everything about him and sees a bit of himself as yanqing is also young and dedicated to his particular craft (yes i wish i had him on my account shut up!)

sulks whenever he loses a 50/50

ngl i imagine ricky probably buys some stuff in-game for him

[youareiron-andyouarestrong]

Answer the Questions and Tag 5 Fanfic Authors

tagged by @mosylufanfic, thank you friend!

1 . How did you get into writing fanfiction?

I think I had been telling myself stories in my head since I was old enough to think coherently, but it wasn't until I was in college that I realized that I could write those stories down, and actually put them in the world to be read by other people.

2. How many fandoms have you written in?

According to AO3, I have written in twenty-six fandoms, not counting whatever's lurking in my writing tag in my blog. The fandom I've written the most for is Rogue One.

3. How many years have you been writing fanfiction?

I started writing things to be read in the spring of 2013, so...eleven years. which is insane to think about.

4. Do you read or write more fanfiction?

I read a lot more, but I am trying to set aside dedicated time to write...at least once a week.

5. What is one way you’ve improved as a writer?

I think my phrasing has improved a lot. I love writing long, involved descriptions and worldbuilding, plus snappy banter, which is a thing I think I've gotten a lot better at in the last eleven years.

6. What’s the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

not weird per se, but I definitely looked up Indian wedding traditions for my Kanej mehndi fic and Punjabi names for children (also for a Kanej kid!fic), not to mention I tried to figure out how London neighborhoods work for a Lockwood & Co. fic (I still don't know).

7. What’s your favorite type of comment to receive on your work?

The fact that anyone comments at all is a fact that continues to blow my mind, but anyone who tells me that they loved a turn of phrase, a description, or that one particular sentence flowed/hit home/stuck with them? may they be blessed in their endeavors forever.

8. What’s the most fringe trope/topic you write about?

I wrote a Mad Max: Fury Road prompt/fic where all the characters had beast aspects/animal traits but they weren't were-animals, or something like that? Idk, I really wanted to write tiger!Max and lioness!Furiosa, so that's what I stuck with. 9. What is the hardest type of story for you to write?

Multi-chaptered!! It is so hard for me to sustain a continued story with an actual plot. my latest Lockwood & Co. piece, passed down like folksongs was the better part of a year's worth of labor, not to mention heroic beta-ing, and me going back and adding and rewriting and adding some more.

10. What is the easiest type?

Anything in media res, where I can just jump right in and get to the "good stuff," like the kissing or the action. Too often I get bogged down with the "how did we get here?" or "wait, they were against the wall, now they're on the floor? how did that happen?"

11. Where do you do your writing? What platform? When?

Google Docs is the most convenient, also for sharing purposes, though if a document is like, my thesis work, I'd probably use Microsoft or something more permanent. Someday I'll save up enough to get Scrivener...like a grown up.

12. What is something you’ve been too nervous/intimidated to write, but would love to write one day?

I really want to write a sprawling Lockwood & Co fic that's like, involved family trees and weird anecdotes about the Lockwood family, and how ghosts like exist in other places. I would also want to start introducing original characters in different works, but I'm always afraid they'll end up sounding too much like a self-insert. But I'll get there!

13. What made you choose your username?

I had just changed my tumblr handle, and I didn't want the bother of having to keep track of two usernames! so I borrowed a line from a tumblr poem that I admired: "youareiron_andyouarestron." it stuck, and that's been my name ever since.

tagging @dangerously-human, @cats-and-metersticks, @menina89, @linearao3, and @oneofthewednesdays, if they want to!

[madelineserenity]

Matron Angst

for fredthemosquito

lord i am so tired but writing this wasn't actually that hard, it was just getting started that i was dragging my feet on

also i decided that instead of writing present-day matron, i wanted to delve into her past instead. that was purely out of interest and realising i haven't done that yet, and has nothing to do with a lack of ideas with the former timeframe. yup. nothing to do with that at all siree.

i love friday afternoons 🥳

Her life was perfect.

She was certainly no trophy wife; she wasn't much younger than her husband and didn't have the ideal feminine figure, too muscular after her years of constant housework and maintaining the veggie garden. She wasn't the prettiest lady either by society's standards, but she didn't mind. After all, he made her feel like she was, and that was all she needed. She had been a working woman, too, until she lost her career to the Depression. Her son was 1-and-a-half-years-old then. It was hard, very hard, but she managed to find joy regardless of the struggles she and her new family faced.

After losing her job, she, like other newly-unemployed women, returned to being a housewife. She didn't miss work all that much. She wrote to her old co-workers, looked after her son, and soon her daughter as well, she planted the garden for when food was expensive or completely unavailable, she sewed, and she looked after the household.

At 5:30 sharp every afternoon, she stopped watching the stove briefly, carrying one child on each hip, to greet her husband as he arrived home from his work as a car repairman. Often, it was with a kiss before he took their son off her hip to tell him about his workday. Her daughter sat on the kitchen floor watching her mother cook instead.

They'd have a hot supper as a family before the children washed up and begged their father for a story. She was better at coming up with them, but she couldn't deny his talent for storytelling with such emotion in his voice. They sat by the kids' beds, with her brushing her daughter's hair out as the three of them listened closely to his exciting tales. Sometimes, there was time for a slow, candlelit dance together in the living room after the children were put to bed. They went to bed, and repeated it again the next day.

Her life was perfect.

As time wore on, her children grew and grew until they themselves had married and forged families of their own. The Depression finally came to an end. The motor repair industry had only found more and more success, but her husband never worked more than a 9 to 5. His evenings were dedicated to being there for his children, spending time with his wife, and indulging in those late-night slow waltzes. That was, until the kids were no longer kids and they left the nest. He came home one night excitedly announcing a promotion at work. It meant more hours per week, but he assured her it'd be worth it. They would retire comfortably, in a cozy home, together.

So, she continued on with her usual life. She never returned to work, believing she'd never need to with her husband's new, higher salary. She didn't write to many of her old co-workers anymore, friendships having slowly faded over the years. She called her son and daughter on the telephone at least twice a week. The veggie garden was replaced with flowers and bushes that required less labour to thrive. She took up knitting, and she took care of the household. She had a lovely, hot supper on the table by 7 now, instead of 6. She soon found herself wrapping up everything spare her own portion to put in the fridge and reheat for him whenever he got home.

She missed the cheeky pecks on the cheek. She missed the dancing, the heated, passionate nights in bed and the time spent together. She missed the compliments. She missed feeling beautiful.

That was alright. She was in her later years now, her hair greying steadily. She didn't have the energy to get on her hands and knees in the garden, harvesting potatoes and beans anymore. Who was she to wish her husband paid more attention to her, when he came home exhausted every night after putting food on the table?

She never complained. She listened as he vented about his frustrations with his superiors. Whenever he'd let her, she'd massage his tense shoulders and light a cigar for him before bed. She never mentioned how much she missed waking up next to him in the mornings, only for him to lie down and rest on the sofa after work, instead of next to her.

He wouldn't be having supper with her tonight. Another important dinner with some superiors, he'd said. She made sure his shoes were polished and clean, ironed one of his best shirts, and was pulling a blue suit jacket out of the closet to iron next when she noticed a white box tucked right in the back. Some shoeboxes had formed a slight layer of dust on top, but this one was pristine, presumably recently disturbed. What was it? She couldn't remember what the box was, although she assumed her memory was just failing her these days.

She pulled it out, suit jacket discarded on the neatly made bed as she opened it to find countless letters. Some were addressed to him, the others to some woman she didn't know. Why were they hidden from view was her question. The first few seemed perfectly normal after all.

Only, they didn't stay normal. Invitations to late night rendezvous and lustful professions of attraction signed with a lipstick marks. Increasingly explicit and detailed descriptions of... of what he would do to this woman. Or what she would do to him. She became increasingly desperate for answers and disgusted by what she read.

"See you tonight." signed off by him was the last straw before she threw the box into the opposite wall, one corner leaving a hole in the wallpaper and drywall. The letters scattered across the floor. She gasped for breath through her choked tears, lowering herself onto her bed slowly.

When he opened the bedroom door opened that afternoon to get changed for his "dinner", he was met with his wife raging and crying, mascara ruined and dripping down her cheeks, and the perfectly sharpened blade of a kitchen knife.

She thought her life was perfect.

For how long had it all been in her head?

[byoldervine]

What's your routine when it comes to writing?

I’m literally just writing everything I can think of because I don’t know if I have a routine exactly but hopefully something here answers your question

My writing goal is 1K words per week, and I’ve been able to keep up with this since the start of this year. It’s not much, but it gives me a minimum amount of consistent progress without burning me out, which is incredibly helpful

I work Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so I get most of my writing done outside of that, and then Mondays are usually busy for me so it’s up in the air how much writing I’ll get done that day. For the last few weeks I’ll write a little on Monday, then get the bulk of it done on Thursday and/or Saturday, which leaves Sunday free

I can’t have too many background distractions or I’ll zero in on that even if I’m not interested in it, but I find I work best with quiet background noise of some variety to ensure I’m not understimulated. My favourites tend to be a writing sprint video I love and custom soundpads I’ve made on TableTop Audio, which allows you to easily create soundscapes for whatever setting it is you’re writing about

I like writing on my laptop more than anything, with one tab being my writing and another being my notes. Any tabs that aren’t related to my writing need to be closed or they get too tempting. I cannot use my phone to research in this time or I will definitely get distracted

I work from two locations; in my bed or in the living room set up on the recliner. Both locations involve open curtains and blinds for natural light and a blanket over my lap while I write. I even have a dedicated writing blanket which has largely been taken over by my dogs, who will snuggle up whenever I get it out. I have to frequently stop them from laying their heads on my keyboard and creating shortcuts

If it’s a good motivation day or I’m at a point where I need to write a lot today or I won’t meet my deadlines, I’ll put on the writing sprint video and work within those parameters; 25 minutes writing, 5 minutes taking a break, repeat three more times. This is what got me through NaNoWriMo

Otherwise, I’ll turn on my soundscapes and tell myself I’ll just write for ten minutes and then I can stop if I want to. After ten minutes my brain wants to at least finish the part it’s on, and then I question if I want to keep going. Usually the answer is yes, so I’ll keep going. If I get to a point where my interest is starting to wane, I’ll tell myself to give it another ten minutes, and if I’m still disinterested I quit for the time being

After I’ve finished my weekly goal, I always try to reward myself with a snack or something fun. Lately the desired treat has been chocolate chip muffins

Once I’ve hit the goal and am no longer writing, I tend not to pick it up again until the next week because my brain thinks ‘well anything I write now won’t count to my immediate goals, so why bother?’ even though logically it’ll mean less of these sessions in the future. I do usually get at least 1100 words each week though, and I’d say my average is around 1200-1500, so I’m not too worried about that. I don’t mind so much if this all takes me a long time, it’s all for fun anyway

[optimal-living-lab]

How to Lose Weight Safely and Effectively

Losing weight is a common goal for many people, but it can also be a challenging one. There are many factors that affect weight loss, such as diet, exercise, genetics, health conditions, and lifestyle habits. However, there are some general principles that can help anyone achieve a healthy and sustainable weight loss. In this article, we will discuss 10 tips for successful weight loss, based on scientific evidence and expert advice.

10 Tips for Successful Weight Loss

Eat varied, colorful, nutritionally dense foods. A balanced and nutritious diet is the foundation of health and weight control. Aim to include a variety of foods from different food groups at each meal, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, healthy fats, and dairy products. These foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber that can help you feel full and satisfied. Avoid foods that are high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt, such as processed foods, baked goods, fast food, and sugary drinks. These foods can contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of chronic diseases.

Keep a food and weight diary. Self-monitoring is a key factor in losing weight and keeping it off. By recording everything you eat and drink, as well as your weight and physical activity, you can track your progress and identify areas for improvement. You can use a paper diary, a mobile app, or a dedicated website to log your food intake and calories. You can also weigh yourself regularly and measure your body mass index (BMI) to monitor your weight status.

Engage in regular physical activity and exercise. Physical activity and exercise can help you burn calories, build muscle, improve your metabolism, and enhance your mood. The general recommendation is to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, as well as strength training exercises at least twice a week. You can also incorporate more movement into your daily routine by taking the stairs, walking or biking to work or school, or doing household chores.

Find your inner motivation. Losing weight requires commitment and perseverance. You need to have a clear and compelling reason to change your eating and activity habits for the long term. It could be to improve your health, appearance, confidence, or performance. Whatever your motivation is, make sure it is personal and meaningful to you. You can also remind yourself of your goals and achievements by writing them down or posting them somewhere visible.

Get support from others. Having a strong support network can make a big difference in your weight loss journey. Seek out people who will encourage you in positive ways, without judging or criticizing you. They could be your family members, friends, co-workers, or online communities. You can also join a weight loss program or group that offers guidance, accountability, and social support.

Set realistic goals. Setting realistic and specific goals can help you stay focused and motivated throughout your weight loss process. Your goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of saying “I want to lose weight”, you could say “I want to lose 10 pounds in 3 months by eating 500 fewer calories per day and exercising for 30 minutes 5 times per week”. You can also break down your goals into smaller and more manageable steps that you can track and celebrate along the way.

Conclusion

Losing weight is not easy, but it is possible with the right strategies and mindset. By following these 10 tips for successful weight loss, you can improve your health, appearance, and well-being in a safe and effective way. Remember that weight loss is a journey, not a destination. Be patient with yourself and enjoy the process!

[easiparent]

Pump Like a Pro: 12 Game-Changing Tips to Skyrocket Your Milk Supply for Exclusive Pumpers!

Are you an exclusive pumper feeling like you're running on empty? Worried about your milk supply? Don't fret! We've got the ultimate guide to transform you into a milk-making powerhouse. Get ready to supercharge your pumping game with these 12 incredible tips that will have you overflowing with liquid gold in no time!

The Exclusive Pumping Journey

Exclusive pumping is a labor of love, a commitment that deserves a standing ovation. You're not just feeding your baby; you're embarking on a round-the-clock adventure that requires dedication, patience, and a whole lot of battery power! But let's face it – sometimes it feels like you're stuck in a never-ending cycle of pump, feed, repeat, without seeing the results you're hoping for.

Did you know? According to a study published in the Journal of Human Lactation, exclusive pumping moms produce an average of 26 ounces of milk per day. But with the right techniques, many moms report doubling their output! Imagine what that could mean for your baby and your peace of mind.

Whether you're a pumping newbie or a seasoned pro looking to boost your supply, these 12 tips are about to become your new best friends. So grab your favorite pumping bra, settle in, and let's dive into the world of milk-making magic!

12 Power-Pumping Tips to Maximize Your Milk Supply

1. Embrace the Power Hour: Pump Like You Mean It!

Key Strategy: Implement power pumping sessions to mimic cluster feeding.

Power pumping is like sending your breasts to bootcamp – it's intense, but oh so effective! Here's how to do it:

Pump for 20 minutes

Rest for 10 minutes

Pump for 10 minutes

Rest for 10 minutes

Pump for 10 minutes

Do this once a day for 3-7 days, and watch your supply soar! One mom reported, "After just five days of power pumping, I went from barely making enough to having a freezer stash!"

2. Frequency is Your Friend: Pump Often, Pump Smart

Key Strategy: Aim for 8-12 pumping sessions per day, especially in the early weeks.

Your breasts work on supply and demand. The more you ask, the more they give! Try to pump every 2-3 hours during the day and at least once at night. It might feel like a lot, but remember – this frequency mimics a newborn's natural feeding pattern.

Pro Tip: Use a hands-free pumping bra to multitask during your sessions. Who says you can't pump and conquer the world at the same time?

3. Double Down: Embrace Double Pumping

Key Strategy: Use a double electric pump to stimulate both breasts simultaneously.

Not only does double pumping save time, but it can also increase your milk output by up to 18%, according to a study in the Journal of Perinatology. Plus, it stimulates the release of prolactin, the milk-making hormone, more effectively than single pumping.

4. Massage for Success: The Magic Touch

Key Strategy: Incorporate breast massage before and during pumping sessions.

Think of breast massage as a wake-up call for your milk ducts. Gently massage your breasts in a circular motion before pumping, and use hand compression during pumping to ensure you're emptying all areas of the breast. This technique, known as "hands-on pumping," can increase your milk output by up to 48%!

5. Stay Hydrated: Drink Up, Mama!

Key Strategy: Aim to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day.

Your body needs water to make milk, so keep that water bottle handy! One easy trick: drink a glass of water every time you sit down to pump. Your body (and your milk supply) will thank you.

6. Fuel Your Body: Eat Like a Lactation Queen

Key Strategy: Focus on a balanced diet rich in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates.

Your body burns about 500 extra calories a day producing milk, so now's not the time to skimp on nutrition. Include galactagogues (milk-boosting foods) in your diet, such as oats, fenugreek, and brewer's yeast. One mom swears by her daily "lactation smoothie" packed with these ingredients!

7. Get Pumped: Choose the Right Equipment

Key Strategy: Invest in a high-quality double electric pump and ensure proper flange fit.

Your pump is your partner in this journey, so choose wisely! A hospital-grade pump can make a world of difference, especially for moms struggling with supply. And don't forget about flange size – a proper fit can increase your output by up to 30%!

8. Relax and Let Down: Create a Pumping Sanctuary

Key Strategy: Establish a relaxing pumping routine to encourage let-down.

Your let-down reflex is key to pumping success. Create a calm environment for pumping – dim the lights, play soft music, or look at photos of your baby. Some moms swear by "pump dates" with their little ones, holding or sitting near their baby while pumping to boost oxytocin levels.

9. Pump Around the Clock: Don't Skip the Night Shift

Key Strategy: Include at least one nighttime pumping session, ideally between 1-5 am.

Night pumping might sound like torture, but it's a game-changer for milk production. Prolactin levels are highest in the early morning hours, making this the perfect time to boost your supply. One mom shared, "Adding a 3 am pumping session increased my daily output by 6 ounces!"

10. Warm It Up: Heat Therapy for the Win

Key Strategy: Apply warm compresses to your breasts before pumping.

Heat can work wonders for milk flow. Try applying warm compresses or taking a warm shower before pumping to encourage let-down and increase milk flow. Some moms even use special warming lactation massagers for an extra boost!

11. Pump and Repeat: The Magic of Cluster Pumping

Key Strategy: Try cluster pumping during your baby's growth spurts.

Cluster pumping mimics a baby's frequent feeding during growth spurts. Here's how:

Pump for 10 minutes

Rest for 10 minutes

Repeat this cycle for an hour

Do this once or twice a day during growth spurt periods to signal your body to produce more milk.

12. Supplement Smartly: Consider Galactagogues

Key Strategy: Explore herbal supplements or medications known to boost milk supply, under guidance from a lactation consultant or healthcare provider.

Herbs like fenugreek, blessed thistle, and moringa have been used for centuries to increase milk supply. Some moms also find success with prescription medications like domperidone (where legally available). Always consult with a professional before starting any supplements or medications.

FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered

Q: How long does it take to see an increase in milk supply? A: Most moms see an increase within 3-7 days of implementing these strategies consistently. However, remember that every body is different, and it can take up to two weeks to see significant changes.Q: Can I overpump and create an oversupply? A: While it's possible to create an oversupply, it's relatively rare for exclusive pumpers. If you find yourself producing much more than your baby needs, you can gradually reduce pumping frequency or duration.Q: How do I know if I'm pumping enough milk? A: As a general guideline, aim to pump 25-35 ounces per day for a baby over one month old. However, it's best to focus on your baby's growth and diaper output rather than strict numbers.Q: Is it normal for one breast to produce more than the other? A: Absolutely! Most women have one breast that's a "slacker" and one that's an "overachiever." Continue to pump both sides equally to maintain overall supply.Q: How can I increase my pumping output when I return to work? A: Maintain a consistent pumping schedule at work, use a high-quality pump, and try to relax during sessions. Some moms find that looking at photos or videos of their baby helps with let-down.

Making It Work: Strategies for Long-Term Pumping Success

Exclusive pumping is a marathon, not a sprint. Here are some key strategies to help you go the distance:

Create a schedule: Plan your pumping sessions in advance and stick to them as much as possible.

Build a support network: Connect with other exclusive pumpers online or in-person for advice and encouragement.

Invest in multiple pump parts: Having extras on hand makes cleaning and sanitizing less of a chore.

Practice self-care: Remember to take care of yourself – adequate rest, nutrition, and stress management are crucial for milk production.

Be flexible: Some days will be better than others. Be kind to yourself and remember that any amount of breast milk is beneficial for your baby.

Track your progress: Keep a log of your pumping sessions and output to help identify patterns and improvements.

Celebrate milestones: Every ounce pumped is an achievement. Celebrate your dedication and hard work!

Conclusion: Embrace Your Exclusive Pumping Journey

Congratulations, pumping pro! You're now armed with 12 powerful strategies to boost your milk supply and make your exclusive pumping journey a success. Remember, every drop you pump is liquid gold for your baby, and your dedication is truly admirable.

Exclusive pumping may not be the journey you originally envisioned, but it's a path filled with love, commitment, and a whole lot of milk! As you implement these tips, be patient with yourself and your body. Increasing milk supply takes time, but with consistency and the right techniques, you'll be amazed at what you can achieve.

So, strap on that hands-free pumping bra, queue up your favorite show, and get ready to pump like a champion. Your baby (and your freezer stash) will thank you! Here's to full bottles, happy babies, and the incredible power of mother's milk – one pump at a time!

[nobodyimportant41]

Hi! This is a translated version of my own challenge that i'm doing also in tmblr (so sorry if i spell something wrong!), i call it:

"The aspirations challenge"

Before we start:

You must complete the aspiration of the generation (the one they name after)

This challenge is going to be really long because of how many aspirations

At least for now, im NOT incluiding the aspirations that come with busting the dust, high school years and the refresh of spa day.

The order of the gen may be not in alphabetic order just for the sake of storytelling

You can use any mods of cc

You can't use cheats for advantage, but you can use them for storytelling or certain goals (like having twins)

The sims can look whatever you like, but they must reflect they personality

Knowing that new aspirations will come, this challenge will change

You are complety free to skip/change certain rules in case you dont have the dlc

Gen 1; serial romantic:

Story:You always were able of getting everything you wanted with your beauty, this made it super hard to be in an commitment to you.

When you turn a young adult, you decide to challenge yourself by starting an stable job! But you will go easy on you, so you would spend the rest of the time clubling and woohooing anyone! And when you mean ANYONE,you REALLY mean it!

Traits:

Romantic

Non committal

Materialistic

goals:

Max the wellness and charisma skill

Max the style influencer career (trend setter branch)

Leave at least two sims at the altar

Have only one kid

Once per in game year,have a plastic surgery (with mods or "cas.fulleditmode), each cost 10,000 simoleons.

Never get married

Never get caught cheating

PH character values:

Irresponsable

Gen 2;soulmate:

Story:you always feel inferior, everyone else were better at sports, at arts, at making friends. Everyone you care about only used for your beauty....

Even after that,you feel the need of helping the others by becoming a doctor. You thought you were married to your soulmate but..one of your workmates is REALLY making you questione it....

Traits:

Good

Melancholic

Socially ackward

Goals:

Max the bakery and knitting skills

Max the doctor career

Donate something each weekend

Go to charity with your family and/or friends once per week

Adopt at least one kid, this will be the heir

As an elder, retire and dedicate that time to your family and dotanions

PH character values:

Compassionate

Uncontrolled emotions

Gen 3; friend of the animals:

Story:you weren't mentally sane, so almost everyone ignored you, this make you love pets,since they are unable of judging, so when you see a hurted dog in the streets, you decided whats your all time goal is going to be:BUILD THE BEST VET IN THE WORLD! No no.. IN THE GALAXY!of course, with some borrowed things..

Traits:

Kleptomaniac

Erratic

Animal enthusiast

Goals:

Max the mischief and pet training skills

Have a five stars vet clinic, and steal objects for this one.

Never use friendly or funny interactions with sims -except ask to move in-

Have each type of "pet" (like hamsters,rabbits, birds,etc)

Have 4 cats and/or dogs (im deeply sorry)

Have at least 2 well mantain cowplants (do they even count as animals?)

PH character values:

Uncontrolled emotions

Gen 4;master chef:

Story:You grown up being neglected,you had to clean, educate and cook for yourself, doing this you realized that you were born for opening a restaurant! This was your life goal, you will do ANYTHING just for getting a better review, and if that implies marrying a food critic you don't love, you WILL DEFINETLY do it!

Traits:

Foodie

Unflirty

Perfeccionist

Goals:

Max the gourmet cooking and cooking skills

Max the culinary career (chef brand), retire and open a five star restaurant

Become a three stars celebrity (remember, youre a very important chef)

Marry a food critic and have a toxic relationship with them

Become a spice hound

Learn all the recipes in town

PH character values:

Good manners

Responsable

Gen 5;Master mixologist:

Story:To escape your family situation, you were mostly in CRAZY parties with your friends, you honestly feel they as your family! But, even after that, when your parent die you feel... bad,you feel that you were always in their shadow, you only want to surpass them.. Or do you really want to impress them?

Traits:

Party animal

Ambitious

Dance machine

Goals:

Max the dance and mixology skills

Max the culinary career (mixologist branch)

Have a party club with your friends

Have a club meeting every saturday

Have 5 partners

Drink at least once every drink

Marry a sim with the party animal or dance machine trait

Gen 6;Academic:

Story:You grew up in a very poor household because your parents spend most of the money in their stupid parties. You hate the idea or being as stupid as them, so you spend most of the time thinking about ways to make money...and to win debates! You REALLY like winning, especially debates!

As an adult, you decide that you will go to university to learn more about robotics and so you do!

Traits:

Genius

Self centred

Ambitious

Goals:

Max the robotics and reserch and debate skill

Max the engineer career

Make at least two servos,max one of them (or both, if you hate yourself)

Date/marry the first person you debate with, then divorce/leave it to marry one of your servos

Get at least 2 A+

Gen 7;Archaeology Scholar:

Story:If you had to say whats your favorite place is it would be definitly be the museum,you always had being an history euthusiast!. You all time dream is becoming a famous archaeologist who is know for their INCREDIBLE talented made books!

Traits:

Creative

Ambitious

Active

Goals:

Max the archaelogy and writing skills

Work in odds jobs, then in your adulthood leave it to only dedicate to write books about archaelogy

Become at least a two stars celebrity

Have max friendship with a jungle adventure skeleton

Complete the archaelogy relics collection

Have an alien baby (adoption,abandoned kid,etc, you choose)

Gen 8;Computer whiz:

Story:Even tho you were an alien, you always feel like you were part of the family. So,when your blood family wanted to contact with you, you decided it was time to use your natural talent with numbers and start learning about rockets to avoid it; But hey! At least you discovered your passion!

Traits:

Genius

Geek

Ambicious

Goals:

Max the programming and video games skills

Max the tech guru career

Create at least 10 apps

Explore sixam, but never tell it to your kids

Marry a geek sim

Have two failed relationships before getting married

Have a family game night each week

Gen 9;Nerd brain:

Story:You always been obssesed with space, but your parents always told you about how dangerous it was. You were already mad, but things got even worst when you discovered that your parents WENT TO SPACE?! You were furious, you couldn't even think of getting into a rocketship because of the SAME PEOPLE who WENT TO SPACE. From now on, you will desobey whatever they say to you!... at least you have your grandparents....

Traits:

Adventurous

Active

Ambicious

Goals:

Max the handiness and rocket science skills

Enter the athletic career,then, when you discover your parents secrets, leave it and max the astronaut career

Upgrade to the max your rocketship

Leavo someone at the altar

Visit the secret lot in Oasis Spring

Marry an alien

Gen 10;Renaissance Sim:

Story:You always were a prodigy. Everyone knows that. But the thing that no one understands is that being excellent brings more problems than solutions. You always liked art, especially the violin! But people tells you to stop thinking in arts and focuse in science because it will pay you more. Will you follow your dreams or the others dreams?...

Traits:

Genius

Art lover

Ambicious

Goals:

Max the violin and two other skills and reach level 6 in six other skills

Enter to, at least three different careers,max the last one

Have twins

Have a kid with all the positive parenthood character values and the other with all the negative ones

Have a big change in apperance and whises after your midlife crisis

Gen 11;Spellcraft & Sorcery:

Story:Yeah....you always were the black sheep of the family. While your sibling was showing up their straight As you were just thinking about magical spells and your favorite tunes with your Fs.You couldn't help but don't care! After all, people will recognize you as THE spellcaster. Capable of dominate the strongest spells and of course, your "innofensive" jokes!...And maybe your voice

Traits:

Lazy

Music lover

Goofball

Goals:

Max the mischief and singing skills

Work in odds jobs

Complete the brooms collection

Have an enemies to lovers type of relationship

Declare as an enemy a sage

"Accidentally" kill one/your enemy with your spells

Learn all of the untamed and mischief spells

Gen 12;Master vampire:

Story:You never had many friends because everyone knew the reputation of your parent. In one of daily visits to the school library, you found a book that you hadn't saw before.It was a vampire book, you liked fantasy but never read this one! You become OBSESSED with this one.Will it be better to become a nocturn beast?

Traits:

Bookworm

Socially akward

Neat

Goals:

Max the vampire folcklore and writing skills

Work publishing vampire books (turn off fame)

Have a well mantain garden (vampires also can love plants!)

Live in a victorian manor

Cut your relationship with your parents when you move out

Marry an human, then transform it

Have at least three kids

Gen 13;Angling ace:

Story:When you were a kid, you used to fish something and go back to your parents to ask for help for feeding those poor little kittens. It wasn't long when this become an habit! After all, they are only four things that you adore the most: Helping people,your family,cats,cooking Oh! And of course: water! Specially fishing! You REALLY like fishing

Traits:

Family oriented

Cat lover

Child of the oceans

Goals:

Max the fishing and gourmet cooking skills

Max the conservatist career

Become a merperson

Complete the fish collection and pin each one of them on the wall

Go to charity every friday

Have at least two cats

Gen 14;Country caretaker:

Story:You always had an....complicated relationship with your parents,while they wanted to go fishing to put that poor animal in a simple wall or even worse:FOR COOKING, you always see animals as your besties!. One day,the fight went so bad that you decided to move to a small cottage in an even smaller town, no friends,no family,no electricy or water..but you still being happy because you could afford a cow,a horse and two chickens!

Trait:

Animal entushiast

Vegeterian

Loves the outdoors

Goals:

Max the gardening and cross stiching skills

Never get a formal job,instead become a farmer and sell your products

NEVER eat or sell your animals

Live in a lot with the off the grid and simple living lot traits

Participate in every Henford-on-Bagley fair

Never use a mean interactions on animals

Gen 15;The curator:

Story:Your family teach you all about farming so that you run the family farm, thing that you didn't liked much. You know that you could do much better! Your all time dream was completing collections! You only wanted to move to Willow creek and be charismatic enough to exchange collectables!... sadly, you focused so much in collection that you forgot your family...

Traits:

Self centred

Ambicious

Eco fiend

Goals:

Max the gardening and charisma skills

Max the gardener career

Complete the crystals, elements and one more collection

Open a shop with your collections

Have triplets, at least one has to be taken away

When gen 14 pass away, decide with your siblings (if you have them) whos going to run the farm if you don't have siblings, sell it to a random townie or friend

Gen 16;Eco inovator:

Story:Growing up rich, you were mostly careless,you had the most expensive clothes, food and even bed! But, as a teen you discovered that not everyone cares about nature as much as your family; the world was becoming each day more contamineted! You never cared about helping too much. Could this be a change in your life?

Traits:

Childish

Self centred

Glutton

After drinking the re-trait potion:

Self assured

Dog lover

Eco maniac

Goals:

Max the handiness and fabrication skills

Max the civil designer career

As you turn into a young adult, drink a re-trait potion

Rescue two or more stray dogs

Live in one of the greenest city lots in the world

Have an affair with a celebrity

Gen 17;Freelance botanist:

Story:Yeah... you never were the most sane; while your siblings were playing or chatting you were also talking, BUT TO PLANTS. You become so obssesed with plants that your all time dream is become a plant-sim! But sadly, nobody believes you when you say they exist...

Traits:

Erratic

Loves the outdoors

Lactose intolerant

Goals:

Max the flower arraiging and gardening skills

Sell your plants with a stall

Become a plant sim

Plant a money tree

Complete the plant collection and plant each one of them

Have a greenhouse

Gen 18;Jungle explorer:

Story:If theres a word that describes you is materialistic; if theres another word that describes you is mischievious. When you discovered that they were lots of valuable relics in Selvadorada, you didn't doubt to go. You only went to scam people, but when THAT client come to your stall you fell in....love? Sadly they were mad at you because of the prices!

Traits:

Materialistic

Slob

Kleptomaniac

Goals:

Max the selvadorian culture and logic skills

Sell the things you find/steal (mark up prices to 300%)

Marry a client and have an enemies to lovers relationship

Learn all the selvadorian recipes

Get married only after your midlife crisis

Make enemies with a good sim

Gen 19;Purveyor of Potions:

Story:In Selvadorada, you always knew that there were lots of things that can cause sickness; thing that always drive you crazy! Whats the fun in going into nature if your getting dirty and sick!?! Your all time dream is becoming a succesful doctor! But you aren't really good at seeing blood.... if you could only make curative potions....

Traits:

Squeamish

Neat

High mantiance

Goals:

Max the wellness and painting skills

Max the doctor career

Make at least once every potion

Own a potion shop

Live in an haunted house

Complete the broom colection

Gen 20;Outdoor enthusiast:

Story:When you were little, your biggest dream was becoming a florist! But finally in your adulthood you accepted that you couldn't make many money off of it.... But in one of your trips to Granite Falls, you discovered your talent!: Painting landscapes...maybe you could work in painting!

Traits:

Creative

Outgoing

Lves the outdoors

Goals:

Max the painting and flower arraiging skills

Sell your flower arraigings as a young adult, stop it when you become an adult and max the painter career

Marry a loner sim

Have a painting club and have meetings every week

Divorce to marry your soulmate

Complete the insects collection

Gen 21;Championship Rider:

Story:Your parents were the definition of happy bohos.They loved painting and nature...while you didn't really liked it. Your biggest dream is becoming one of the most popular influencers! One day,while you were looking up the tendencies, you discovered that the most popular one was...horses?..yeah,you didn't like it,but if it makes you famous...

Traits:

Ambicious

Mean

Romantic

Goals:

Max the riding and video making skills

Become a simtuber

Become a five star celebrity

Have an affair with a fellow celebrity

Win at least 10 competitons (i recommend to write the progress somewhere)

When you move out, dont talk to your parents ever again

Have twins and only care for one

Gen 22;Expert nectar maker:

Story:You were the neglected from the family. The only ones who really cared about you were your grandparents! But,sadly,your parent didn't let you go with them very often.So you often spend your time looking up for your horses,reading cooking books and;your favorite one:baking and making mermelades! Your two dreams were getting out of the house and sell your bakes good. But without money,how are you going to make it?

Traits:

Horse lover

Foodie

Vegetarian

Goals:

Max the nectar making and bakery skills

Sell your nectar and bake goods

Make every nectar at least one

Have at least 3 mini goats and/or sheeps

As an elder,try to reconnect to your sibling (you decide if you success or not)

Have three failed relationships before you find your partner

Rescue an stray animal

Gen 23;Beach life:

Story:You admire your parents. You feeled that they had a PERFECT and organized life while you...lets say that you couldn't be in only one thing..So,to celebrate becoming young adult,your parents give you a free trip to Sulani since you adore the beach and they wanted you to relax and think about your future;little they you that you will become OBSSESED with the beach!..and with your partner

Traits:

Child of the ocean

Child of the island

Non-committal

Goals:

Max the wellness and fishing skills

As a teen, work as a lifeguard and max the athletic career

Have at least five partners

Marry your first partner

Have at least six Kava parties

Become friends with an island elemental

Have at least four kids

Gen 24;city living:

Story:You always feeled different,while your siblings were playing in the beach, you were playing videogames or playing the piano;or ehy not: a videogame about pianos! Things go even worse with your parent's dead (gen 23s partner), the family was even more separated;you love them but..it was too much! You decided to move temporally to San Myshuno,not knowing that you will stay there FOREVER!

Traits:

Geek

Outgoing

Insider

Goals:

Max the videogaming and singing skills

Max the tech guru career

Complete the My sims figure collection

Have a club meeting every week,go most of the time to karaoke bars

Go to every San Myshuno's festival

Meet your partner at a blind date

Gen 25;Mt. Komorebi Sightseer:

Story:You always work as hard as you can so that,someday,you can become a really important military officer! You first move to Strangerville for work. But when you discovered the shady things your workmates were doing,you escaped to the farest place you could go: Mt. Komorebi. Of course, you first didn't really liked the place. But,slowly your liking it more and more everyday!

Traits:

Ambicious

Paranoid

Active

Goals:

Max the fitness and skiing skills

Max the military career (officer branch)

As a young adult move to Strangerville.Close to becoming an adult,move to Mt. Komorebi

Declare as an enemy one of your bosses

Go to every Mt. Komorebi festival

Have at least one science baby (next heir)

Have a bad relationship with your kid/s

Gen 27;Strangerville mystery:

Story:You grown up fighting with your parent because they won't accept that you LOVED Strangerville and wanted to discovered what was behing the whole mystery. And things went even worse when you started dating the child of your parent enemy...but you decided that you didn't wanted to become a puppet of your parent. So you decided to escape with your couple to Strangerville!...while both of you were just TEENS only to discover the town mystery...

Traits:

Paranoid

Hot hetted

Ambicious

Goals:

Max the logic and fitness skills

Max the militar career

As a teen,move to Strangerville with your partner without telling your parents

Become best friends with the owner of the curio-shop at the moment

See your partner getting possesed

Became enemies with a fellow militar and/or scientist

Gen 28: Fount of Tomarani Knowledge:

Story:You always were kind of jealous of your parents. They were so in love, while you couldn't help but always broke up with your partners because you only cared about gossips...

As an adult, you decide to move to Tomarang, not because you like it, but because it was pretty well known that not for nothing it was known as the "capital of the gossips"; even more than San myshuno! But when you started to talk to the natives, you started to LOVE the tomarani culture!

Traits:

Un-flirty

Child of the village

Nosy

Goals:

Max the mischief and charisma

Make money by odd jobs

Break up with at least two sims

Marry a child of the village

Live since you become a young adult until you died as a tenant in Tomarang

Complete the tassels collection

Gen 29; Chief of mischief:

Story:As a child, you used to spend most of your time telling the younger ones about how the monster under the bed was going to kill them. The reason behind it? It was super fun for you watching how they run away in tears...

When you grew up,of course you still doing it! But,OF COURSE that now your classmates weren't kids,they were teens and will insult you with justification. The fact that half of the class hated you and the other half didn't care. Except for your best friend! You were both partners in crime! And maybe also for woohoo...

Traits:

Mean

Goofball

Cringe

Goals:

Max the mischief and videogames skills

Max the tech guru career

Have a woohoo partner which is also your partner in crime

As a part of you mid-life crisis, start to date them (you decide how this ends)

Even after graduation,still annoying your classmates

Have two kids with different sims

Gen 30;Public enemy:

Story:Your older sibling hated you,your parent's enemy's children hate you, kids in school hated you...You were mostly alone, building machines that only you liked... But as an young adult, you finally realized that you didn't wanted to be a crybaby anymore, you wanted to be respected! It doesn't matter if it because your great or bad reputation, they will learn NOT to mess with you because your reputation!

Traits:

As a teen:

Melancholic

Generous

After turning a young adult:

Mean

Kleptomaniac

Evil

Goals:

Max the mischief and handiness skills

Max the criminal career (boss career)

Kill at least one of the sims that reject you when you were younger

Grow at least one cowplant (they can kill!)

Be in a gang (with Extreme violence or with a club)

Drink the re-trait potion

Gen 31; Seeker of secrets:

Story: Since you were a child, you daydreamed of being a popular influencer! You didn't knew yet what your channel will be about; but you knew that it will be the number one! For becoming popular among your classmates, you started to inventing juicy gossip! The thing you didn't think about was that they will mostly dislike you instead of admiring you...

Traits:

Nosy

Self centred

Goofball

Goals:

Max the video making and charisma skills

Become a simtuber

Become at least a three stars celebrity

Have at least two secret lovers

Have only one kid

Gen 32;

[neeseeart]

My BooRai WIP stats

So. As of right now, the number of written BooRai fan works I've published is...... zero. I recently announced my angst fic I Can Stop The World, with another reveal planned in a few weeks, but I've yet to actually publish anything 😭

Last night I was backing up all my WIPs, and I decided to go through and reorganize everything. I moved everything into new folders and checked their word counts. I was a little surprised by the numbers to be honest. Especially when compared to this word count update from 5 months ago: [link]

I thought it would be fun to post my stats so you can see how much I've been working on, even though I haven't started posting yet.

As of last night:

Total number of Google docs: 34 Outlined fics: 21 (mostly longfics) Comic WIPs: 7 Completed fics: 1 (a one-shot I'm not ready to post yet 😭) Ideas yet to be fleshed out: 12 Total BR fanfic word count: 517,362 Words this week: about 25,000

ICSTW (main angst fic, post-canon):

196,871 words 6 docs

SSATSF (Modern AU, upcoming reveal):

125,474 words 3 docs

Folklore AU (started recently):

23,289 words 2 docs

Comics (text only)

80,795 words 7 docs

Reference docs (OC masterlist, headcanons, language dictionary, etc.)

9149 words 5 docs

Okay, pause real quick. The first BooRai fic I started writing is a fluff comic (briefly mentioned here) that I started in late 2022. It was my only project until the day I started writing ICSTW in June 2023. Then I exploded in ideas and here we are. So, if I exclude that first comic's word count of 36,190...

...Then the total word count of BooRai fanfic I've written in the past 7 months is 481,172 words. That's about 2217 words per day, and 15,522 words per week.

Now. This all just a bunch of numbers. Numbers don't mean the fics are any good. I value quality over quantity, so you can see why I haven't published anything yet. The ideas are all there! Tons and tons of dialogue is written. Detailed lore is laid out. Languages have been constructed! But the chapters themselves are not written. I don't write chronologically, and my stories are very elaborate. So even my main two fics, at 196k and 125k, are nowhere near complete. I haven't even finished fleshing out the early chapters 😭

You might be looking at this and thinking like.... "yeah bro you're not gonna finish most of those fics. It's not happening. You're gonna burn out." Mayhaps! I have a tendency to overdo things, and sometimes I overwhelm myself by making things bigger and more complicated than they need to be. But all in all, I like the way I create and I like having a few big projects and lots of tiny ones. I'm deeply invested in my major projects and I really do want to dedicate myself to publishing chapters in the next few months. But if I never finish them, that's okay too! The important thing is to enjoy making the thing... and I enjoy it immensely. Enough to write half a million words in 7 months, apparently

I've talked about my fic content to some irl people and they always respond with: "When the hell do you do all this? I literally never see you writing." In reality, yes they do. if you see me typing on my phone, I'm most likely writing. I kind of high-key spend 100% of my free time drawing and writing now. Which is a miracle after years of art block and creative sterility.

Another reason I wanted to share my numbers is that there are a lot of fellow AuDHD creators on this site, so there are bound to be at least a few of you who work just like I do. If you're one of those people, you probably know that it's easy to feel like the projects will never come to fruition. Don't lose heart!!! You have the strength to finish your projects at your own pace!!! And if you simply lack the will to finish, that's also okay! If you enjoy just writing down ideas without committing to a fully fleshed out work, that's a perfectly legitimate form of art and recreation. Godspeed my friends.

And as for the people who have been supporting my BR art and keeping track of my fic updates... You are the world and I am but a humble bean in service of your fancies. Thank you for your support. Here's a picture of me rereading my WIPs for the billionth time while y'all stand there and wait for me to start posting chapters:

(P.S. I have about 80 fic-related art WIPs on my tablet.)

(P.P.S. stay tuned for my fictional language dictionary!!)