#i need to put more effort into making my blog more accessible if i plan to continue being on here. frankly.

[crazysodomite]

when it comes to web design and modern websites i wish there were certain things people acknowledged.

there's certain reasons modern websites changed to look like they do now. there's definitely something to be said about how nowadays the internet looks uniform and several big corporations control how the internet looks because they need more seo engagement and money.

BUT

i often see people shit on responsive and mobile-friendly websites. "i'll never make my site accessible to mobile users/idc about mobile/im proud that my website is not accesible on phones". are you sticking it to corporations or are you sticking it to people who can't afford their own computer/don't have space for it/etc... you don't HAVE to make your site responsive or mobile friendly. but what is there to be proud of? how is that a 'cool' or welcome thing in the 'indie web'. do whatever you want but i wish people stopped to think about this whole thing.

same with accessibility. there have been lawsuits over corporations not making their sites accessible. modern-day practices of making websites do often take into account accessibility and the uniformity of modern web may be connected to that. now i'm not saying the modern web is especially accessible but it's certainly something we should pay attention to if we critisize the modern web.

it's cool when sites Look Cool. but are people interested in accessibility and responsiveness at all? do people who Need accessibility features and don't have a 1920x1080 computer resolution not deserve to participate in indie web?

[transmutationisms]

Hello. I've seen some of your pists about Gaza. I'm unable to send money at the moment but I'd like to still help. How can I help? I was planning to reblog the link for the foundraiser but couldn't find it.

Thank you!

Hi! I am not sure which fundraiser you were trying to find so I will promote my friend Mohammed's. He has until Tuesday before his campaign organiser starts the next money transfer, so we're trying to raise as much as we can before then so it reaches his family ASAP!

As to your main question, I'm presuming you're asking specifically how to help with personal fundraisers (as opposed to, joining an organisation or activist group, which I would also recommend where possible). Here are a few ways you can help even when you are short on money yourself:

1. Boost and promote campaigns. Even having one person pay attention and post updates can help keep a campaign from entirely stagnating. Especially if you have a low follower count, you will want to use the tagging function to get some bigger blogs to reblog your posts and updates. It feels awkward but it can be a genuine lifeline for the person whose campaign might be going slowly or slipping through the cracks.

2. Consider 'spotlighting' a specific campaign. This is a great guide from @/feluka on how to do that. You might have seen me doing it with Mohammed's campaign and a few others. This involves keeping up with the campaign more closely and probably writing more of your own posts. It takes some time and effort but again, it can be invaluable for the person on the other end.

3. Even if you can't donate yourself, consider putting together a raffle, auction, or commission opportunity that can incentivise other people to donate. Visual art (digital or physical) is a common prize/commission I see offered on here; there are also raffles for handmade or rare items such as plushies, cross-stitch, hand-sewn clothing, knitted items, limited-edition books, fancy journals, writing requests, etc. Anything you can make, someone might be interested in. If you need help boosting a post about a raffle or commission, tag some users who reblog fundraisers! You can also send that kind of post to me and I will happily boost it for you :-)

4. Consider reaching out to anyone you see promoting a slow or stagnant campaign if you have the kinds of artistic or graphic design skills to create artwork or graphics for them to use. Visual aids, banners, etc can make a huge difference when you're trying to get people to read a post and click through to a donation link. Or, if you can't make graphics, could you learn how to write accessible image descriptions for any that you see, and offer to do that? It's easy for people promoting a campaign to get overwhelmed by alt text and image descriptions when a post might involve numerous visual elements, time-sensitive updates, and an urgent need for donations as soon as possible.

5. Some people contribute to Gazan fundraisers by raising the donation money through irl events like bakesales or charity drives. These may take a little more effort or upfront materials costs to set up, but they can also be a great opportunity to spread the word and connect with other people. If you have local activist groups or parties, this might be a good time to reach out to them and see if they can help facilitate such an event.

[sjw-publishings]

Hey everyone,

This is an update to my post I made recently about Dumb and Jocked’s sudden departure. If you haven’t read that, it will be over: here.

Before I begin though, something I discovered is that for some of the reblogged dumb and jocked stories with the ‘read more’, the rest of the story can be viewed in your drafts if you choose to reblog it but do not post, and also through the edit button.

Not necessarily the best way to read stories and also not all stories can be read via that way, but some are possible. So I recommend doing so and saving your favourite writer’s stories in drafts as you will never know what may happen in the future.

—————————————————————

I am grateful to the messages and responses people have given me in light of the situation.

I generally don’t tend to talk to many people on tumblr as my stories can be rather controversial and niche, and I'm very appreciative of the support and information people have given me in light of Dumb and Jocked’s disappearance. Thank you.

As of then, there is a mention that Dumb and Jocked has written a post that he needed time off from Tumblr before he deactivated his account.

However I cannot confirm this as there were no screenshots/reblogs saved/provided, and even if Dumb and Jocked posted that, he could’ve easily reconsidered it and just closed his Tumblr himself.

While it does bring some slight hope, there’s no guarantee he would ever return.

However there’s good news regarding archives for Dumb and jocked’s stories. Which Im grateful for the Tumblr community taking steps to reblog/like/save the posts via different means.

Special shoutout to both @imsrtman and @user211201, who have posted several of Dumb and Jocked’s stories, on Tumblr and their blogspot.

@user211201 has saved multiple of Dumb and Jocked stories, including the Protocol one which had been gone a while back even before Dumb and Jocked left tumblr. I also reblogged his re-post on Branded on my tumblr account, as it’s one of the stories where you cannot access it via editing it in your drafts.

He also continued to post more of his stories and has a list of them on his tumblr post over: Here.

Do check the other pinned post on his tumblr page for the table of contents as for what stories he has already posted too.

@imsrtman has managed to archive most of dumb and jocked stories, including making the effort to put the Tumbex links of Dumb and Jocked’s stories into an excel sheet, and most importantly archiving them before they got removed on Tumbex.

I cannot express how thankful I am to him as I thought I had missed my chance in saving the stories on Tumbex due to my exhaustion. Thanks to him Im able to save both Breeding Grounds stories.

He also a blogspot consisting of various of Dumb and Jocked’s stories and he is planning to add more of Dumb and Jocked’s stories in the future. You can find the link to his blogspot post over: here. (Edit: Imsrtman mentioned in the replies/notes of this post that it is not his blogspot and he has a different blog, @dumb-and-jocked-archive)

Please give both of them many thanks, as well as anyone else who has archived/reblogged/saved stories on behalf of the community. Without people who archive, many of the stories of blogs that are gone would be gone forever.

That’s all for my update. If there’s any crucial information that I may have missed out on, do reply to this post for others to know.

-SjwPublishings

[afvenvs3000f24]

Unit 1 Blog post:

My current relationship with nature is very therapeutic and spiritual; I find that whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, or even anxious, I can always rely on nature to ground me and put into perspective how minimal some of my worries are in the grand scheme of life, and what it has planned for me. Although this relationship hasn't been consistent throughout the past decade, I feel I needed a certain disconnection to learn and appreciate it from a different perspective, through a lens that now allows my inner child to live in the present while holding an immense amount of gratitude, thoughtfulness, and to connect with nature.

This is a photo I took while on a walk with my cousins in Milton, Ontario.

Growing up, I was always outside, and most of my happiest memories from childhood include whenever my family would take us on camping trips, have our birthday parties in provincial parks, and when we would go to our trailer every weekend during summers, having a blast with my cousins catching frogs. Throughout this, I didn't realize how much I truly enjoyed being outside and how it shaped my relationship with nature. In a way, I took it for granted at the moment, and it wasn't until quarantine, when the world took a pause, that I could be away from the whirlwind high school was sometimes and reconnect with my roots. Spending those warmer days outside playing board games or just having some quality time in our backyard with my family reminded me why I used to love being outside and how much it made me feel whole in life.

Picture of me at my 5th birthday party at a provincial park.

Also, during this time, I found an interest in discovering different isolated trails and hiking spots to take my dog Bruno along for walks. When I started this new hobby, the experience was fitness-related and just some time for Bruno and me to enjoy the peace and quietness those places offered. Eventually, on these walks, I began to notice and truly take in the nature around me and all the critters whose homes I was passing by. In the following years leading up to today, I slowly leaned into a more religious/spiritual view of the world through practicing meditation, journaling, being more observant, as well as taking a world religion class in grade 12 where one of the many things I learned was how different religions honour nature and our planet. This pushed me to make a more conscious effort to be mindful and grateful for the opportunity to have accessibility and be around such a beautiful and relaxing environment whenever.

Photo of Bruno while on our favourite daily walking route by my house.

As for who offered me a sense of place, in general, I would say, my family, being that they introduced me to all the outdoor activities I love to do; but more specifically someone who introduced me to a more psychological view of nature as my "safe place" would be my mom. My mom is a very Catholic woman who often sees nature and many other things in life as gifts from God. Throughout my upbringing, I would consistently hear her stories and adventures of when she lived in Venezuela and all the beauty and phenomena she witnessed within nature personally (the ones that always stuck with me were about the Relampago del Catatumbo (a never-ending lightning storm) and Angel Falls). Through her interpretation of the world of God giving us blessings and lessons to grow, she’s always told me to be grateful and mindful of everything around me in life, regardless if it was a specific moment, place, or person because you never know when one day you won't be able to experience it again. Although throughout all those years of hearing that, I never truly understood the value of appreciating or noticing the simple things in life that we can take for granted, such as a 30-minute walk along a trail, or even enjoying the beauty of the trees we walk by daily; but I can confidently say now, that my relationship with nature has grown more than I ever thought it could, and it remains as one of the most impactful and relaxing things in my life.

A picture of my mom and I at our trailer in Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario years ago.

[the-lumpfish-king]

HEY! It’s me, Lumpku!

Thought I’d make one of these pined post things to introduce myself.

My name is Solanum, but you can call me Sol or Lump (or Sol Badthey if you’re epic)

I’m a 23 year old ginger, use they/it/she/anything non-male, demiromantic, exist in an asexual quantum superposition, and am bi/pan. Most importantly, I am also a fish

I have a degree in Physics with plans to go into a PhD program for research Astronomy. My area of focus is galaxy structure, formation, and evolution. I’m currently working on my first research papers, adapting my undergraduate thesis work into proper astronomy journal form. I love doing physics and take requests for calculations, stupid or serious (check “#lump’s calculations” for those I’ve done so far, these are my best posts by far).

I try to keep fully nsfw stuff off this blog, but mild nsfw is to be expected, so minors beware

Outside of research, work, and classes I can usually be found gaming, playing MTG, or putting way too much effort into my shitposts while watching something on my second monitor.

I can be found on a few other sites under the same username but am only active here, and if any mutuals want to connect on discord or steam dm me

If you take one thing away from reading this it’s GO PLAY OUTER WILDS RIGHT NOW. Do not look up anything about it, just play the game and then get your friends to play it. Then we can all talk about it. Please, I need to talk about this masterpiece with more people.

Now that you’ve learned about me I have gained access to your walls. Don’t worry, all I do is nibble a bit of drywall from time to time.

Too many fun facts below

My personal motto is: “The universe is scary and so much bigger than any of us can comprehend, so it’s our duty to fag it up as much as possible”

My plushies names: -Tofrug: Lord Squishers -Manatee: Weapon of Lettuce Destruction -Reimu Fumo: Air Fried Bastard -Hydreigon: Hans -Vaporeon: Dihydrogen Monoxide Puppy -Meowscarada: Greenfield -Reshiram: Nuclear Mommy -Gardevior: Horizon -Blåhaj: Jimbei -Gobbo Bard: Ga Bu

I love nature, and evergreen forests in particular. I enjoy hiking and mushroom and berry picking.

My most proud find is this massive cluster of morels I came across a couple years back.

Here’s an overabundance of my personal top 3′s, not necessarily the three I think are best (except Outer Wilds, that’s best thing humanity has produced). Games: Outer Wilds, FFXIV, Ori and the Will of the Wisps Manga: One Piece, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Dungeon Meshi **Books:** Red Rising, Percy Jackson, A Song of Ice and Fire Movies: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Secret of Kells, How to Train Your Dragon Shows: Mob Psycho 100, Good Omens, Ya Boy Kongming! Characters: Mr Torgue Highfive Flexington, Kronk, Nico Robin Mountains: Mt. Hood, Sierra de la Laguna, Mauna Kea **Flying Critters: Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox, **Pelican, Toucan **Landbound Creatures: **Red Panda, Jumping Spider, Goliath Frog Marine Animals: Sea Lion, Lumpfish, Giant Pacific Octopus **Pokemon: **Gardevoir, Hisuian Goodra, Zekrom **Soundtracks: **FFXIV, Made in Abyss, Wildfrost Albums: Starship Velociraptor, The Cures What Ails Ya, Westwinds (The Real McKenzies) Foods: Cottage Pie, Khao Soi, my dad’s Chile Verde **Fruit: **Mexican Pitaya, Atemoya, Mango, Huckleberry Galaxy Clusters: Abell 0209, Abell 1689, macs0416

Here’s a couple of neat galaxy pictures I took using my university’s telescope:

[hael987]

My dear friend Allie Mason has authored her first published book ‘The Autistic Guide to Adventure’ - Illustrated by Ella Willis, so I just want to take a minute to talk about it here.

It’s a fantastic book targeted towards autistic tweens and teens featuring a full of a variety of activities to do. Though targeted towards an 8+ younger audience, I’m sure adults could benefit from and enjoy the activity recommendations as well.

It’s exactly what it says it is — a helpful guide on how to get involved in these activities and how you can navigate them as an autistic person.

Each activity has its own section and features content like:

‘Sensory Expectations’ [e.g sounds, visuals, textures, movements etc. — things you may encounter and want to be aware of before starting].

tips on ‘How To Get Started’, so you get a clear plan of action on how you can begin your new activity and navigate the adventures!

‘Support Recommendations’ — tips and suggestions for accommodations or preparations that might make the activity safe, more accessible, or more suited to your needs.

It also features some really cool sections such as interesting facts or interviews/ profiles/ anecdotal experiences around the activities from people who are actually autistic. It’s a great way for autistic young people to be able to read about other people just like them who are doing and enjoying these activities and know how they can do it too.

The activities cover a really wide range, so even with varying mobility levels, support levels, other disabilities, or specific sensitivities I think there’ll be an adventure right for everyone [or one that can be adapted].

I think this would also be a great resource for allistic parents with autistic children, you could even read it together. Sometimes it’s hard for parents to know what activities to do together with their neurodivergent kids, or even know where to start to broaden their kids’ interests/horizons (in activities), so I think this book could also be a great starting point for parents. It’s full of ideas that parents can suggest to their kids and details what to expect (sensory experiences) so relevant plans, accommodations, and/or sensory aids can be planned beforehand.

All children deserve the chance to have fun, experience new things, and enjoy the benefits of the outdoors if they can — this book aims to make that possible, making outdoor activities more accessible.

It would have been great to have had something like this during my youth too. Wanting to take part in these activities but not being able to simply because of not having enough information, knowing how to, or knowing what to expect can be really disheartening. So to see what this guide aims to do — making activities more accessible by giving all that information as well as encouraging interest — really brings a smile to my face.

You can hear more from (and about) Allie and also where to buy her book on her Blog > Everything Page | Instagram | TikTok

It’s a project full of love from both Allie and Ella, so I’d encourage you to please check it out. You’d also be helping to support autistic creators.

If you don’t want to click the links above but still want to purchase the books you can do so here: [UK] [International]. As far as I’m aware the book is currently (21.03.23) only available in English.

I saw just how much effort Allie put into this book and just how much she wanted to create something that could benefit and help autistic youths. While I do not know Ella personally, it’s very clear they put equally as much effort into their lovely illustrations for this book.

[medsocionwheels]

Wheelchair Access Does Not Mean Shit Without COVID Precautions

I just spent the last 2 hours trying to compose the most polite email possible explaining to my fellow graduate students that requesting everyone suggest wheelchair-accessible locations to hold our IN-PERSON graduate recruitment event next month is nice, but a futile effort if disability access is the goal.

I have spent the last 7 years begging for this email. Begging to not have to fucking ask for a change of venue because I cannot get in the door. I am STILL our department's ONLY wheelchair user. I am one of 2 people in our department who still takes COVID-19 somewhat seriously--the other person is a somewhat, I'm totally serious. So, I'm one of 2 people in our department who still wore a mask on campus last semester after the first month of class. I am the ONLY one to refuse to be in our building unmasked. Just like the wheelchair access, I have repeatedly stressed the need for COVID-19 mitigations. Nobody wants to wear masks, and nobody wants to offer a virtual option, and nobody wants to admit these things to me so they end up ignoring me every time I bring it up. Yet ALMOST EVERYONE wants to comment on my absence from departmental life for the last three years.

I shouldn't be this frustrated. If you saw my earlier blog post today, though, you already know that it was on this issue. The blog post was planned. Discovering the gem of an email from one of our first-year graduate students was not.

I couldn't leave it. I'm the only wheelchair user in our department, and I'm the only one with chronic illness who is openly concerned about COVID. I have no idea about the recruits.

I wanted to be abrasive. I wanted to bring up how infuriating it is that they have the audacity to bring up wheelchair access for the first fucking time this year when our weekly events are still in one of the least accessible rooms on campus. I wanted to tell them how I have been sitting with my fury, watching their group-me posts raving over one COVID superspreader event after another, being nice enough not to lash out and tell them how fucked up that behavior was.

Instead, I thanked them for acknowledging the need for wheelchair access and proceeded to "provide sociological insight" on why COVID-19 precautions are necessary for disability access. Then I contextualized things in terms of my class privilege compared to other disabled people and other graduate students. And I offered to help them make the events COVID-safe.

My response to the situation is a perfect example of the exhausting dynamic I was writing about earlier. We are still fighting for disability access that we started pre-COVID, and we can't even celebrate those wins because they are paired with the knowledge that events remain more inaccessible to disabled people than they were prior to the pandemic. It means sitting at the bottom of the stairs with our wheels while the non-disableds rave about "progress" and other bullshit like that.

Non-disabled progress means putting in a ramp, but missing the part where that ramp is attached to a building on top of a mountain, and the only way up the mountain is a large staircase. Your ramp does not mean much if we cannot get to the flat ground because it is elevated and only accessible by stairs.

Your ramp does not mean shit if you plan to give us COVID.

Holy fuck this is so exhausting.

[davidmariottecomics]

Stuff That Sucks, Part 2 (Not Everything is Terrible)

Hello! 

This is going to be a long one covering a lot, so y'know, feel free to take breaks, stretch your legs, get some water. Take care of yourself. Because I took one week off and man, there is toooooooo much to talk about! One of my first blogs on my site, way back when was called "Stuff That Sucks, Part 1" in which I went over a bunch of stuff in the world that was bad. This time, I'm kinda revisiting that idea, but am also trying to put some silly or nice or just life-updatey things inbetween the bad stuff to have some balance, as much for myself as for anyone else! 

Palestine

Since I've last posted about Palestine, a ceasefire agreement has been floated. Early reports were expecting it to be resolved this weekend, but we'll see. It's hard to be optimistic (generally, given the state of the world) after 120 days of violence and an agreement that's still seeking pause more than permanence (and, in that, seems more for the benefit of the aggressor). But maybe something good can come of it. 

I also believe that it is because of the actions of brave people all around the world that we're starting to see more pressure and movement to resolution. Obviously, there are plenty of people and places who got it right in the first place, like South Africa bringing Israel to the International Court of Justice on genocide charges (still in review, but the ICJ did impose their rulings to not continue to kill people or commit war crimes and Israel... has ignored that). But there have also been so many protests, actions like last week's Global General Strike, and continued efforts in hitting them where it hurts (the pockets) with concentrated BDS plans. Even if it's happening slowly, minds are changing. The latest AP poll shows 1 in 2 adults in the US thinks Israel has gone too far, which I'm sure is bolstered by the repeated statistics that over 27,000 people have been killed, over 66,000 wounded, 85% of the population has been displaced, 25% is facing starvation, aid continues to be blocked, and hospitals and journalists continue to be targeted. 

But, even if things seem to be developing, don't slow down on the pressure and the help.You can still contact your representatives: Call. Fax.Email. Contact the White House. Join actions from organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace, American Muslims for Palestine, and the Democratic Socialists of America, or whatever local organization is making efforts near you. If spending money brings you any comfort and you feel a need to put something into good practice, the Cartoonist Cooperative's page still lists a ton of resources for E-Sim cards.

The other thing that feels obvious to say, but I won't not say it anyway, is even if the coming week does bring a ceasefire and some sort of agreement or resolution, the work's still not done. There will be so much rebuilding to do and aid needed in Palestine. There must be measures taken to not allow this to happen again. Even if Palestinians are given full free unfettered access without the threat of violence to Gaza and the West Bank, they're still living under colonization. There're so many other places that are getting wrapped into this in various ways (like the US getting into it with Yemen and Syria). And, of course, there are still so many other places under similar circumstances, like Ukraine and Sudan. The work will change, but it won't cease. 

(SIDE NOTE: You'll notice that one of the organic boycotts noted by BDS is Wix. I know a lot of people, particularly young people who are in school/freshly out of school use that for their portfolio sites. Might be worth looking into other options)

Barbie and Godzilla Okay, I'm going to try to alternate serious things with less serious ones. Because I didn't post last week, I am late entering the Oscar conversation, but my two cents is that Barbie did just fine (though... really, nominating Ryan Gosling for Ken???) with what they got. If there was one significant snub this year, it's that Godzilla Minus One only got a single nomination, when it rightfully should've been a contender in all major categories. Like, it was certainly the best picture I saw last year. 

KOSA and the Invest in Children Act

I've talked about KOSA a few times here. It's the "Kids Online Safety Act" and it's notable for being bullshit. So, tell your reps to vote no. The reason KOSA sucks--as if the CEO of X being in favor of it wasn't enough--is it doesn't actually addresses the problem it claims to, but is a tool of censorship overreach. As has always been the case, preventing access to information doesn't stop people from seeking it, it stops them from getting accurate information and limits who is in the conversation. So, while KOSA seeks to "hold companies responsible for eating disorder and suicide content" or whatever to protect the kids, as co-sponsor of the bill Senator Marsha Blackburn has LITERALLY SAID, (quoted here from the Melissa Mira Grant article linked above) “Protecting minor children from the transgender [sic] in this culture and that influence,” is one of the most important issues conservatives can take a stand on now, Blackburn said, in an interview with the Family Policy Alliance, a group pushing anti-LGBTQ rights laws. “And I would add to that, watching what’s happening on social media. I’ve got the Kids Online Safety Act.” This bill, she claimed, “would put a duty of care and responsibility on the social media platforms, and this is where children are being indoctrinated.… They’re getting onto YouTube to watch a video, and all of a sudden this comes to them.” 

Other advocates against KOSA have pointed out that not only is it seeking to further marginalize queer folks, but it'd also be bad for sex workers (who we'll get back to in a second), and potentially abortion information, as well as actual resources for people who are seeking help with disordered eating or suicidal thoughts. The only "good" that comes from this bill is, well, if you're an evil person in a governmental position looking to suppress information, you can do that if it passes. And if you want points for "protecting the kids", the name says you get them to people who don't know what's actually happening. 

BUT, with all that said, instead of just saying to reject KOSA, we now have legistation we can point to as what we want instead: the Invest in Children Act! Unlike KOSA, or it's shitty predicessor, EARNIT (which I've also previously rallied against), the ICA actually seems interested in fixing the problems that do actually exist in the gaps between internet companies that already widely report issues of child sexual abuse online and a lack of action from NCMEC and the DOJ. But, y'know, the name isn't as snappy and this bill would actually protect children (something that given their response to what's happening in Palestine and the US, most of our representatives don't actually care about) and would do good for the world, so unfortunately my expectations are low. 

(SIDE NOTE: Because this literally just happened while I was writing--I was listening to music on YouTube [not that they're great either because, I guess just everything is terrible now, but nominally better than Spotify???] and the video for Collective Soul's The World I Know was next in my queue and it paused. Y'know why? Because the website's already set up to tell me if a video may have references to suicide or self-harm! A thing that is already in place and doesn't need KOSA to happen!!!) 

Original Comic Art

Be on the lookout for a couple original pieces by J.G. Jones that were stolen from him at OAX. Poor guy had these commissions stolen from his table during the show and I'm sure everyone in the situation (barring the thief) would like to see this beautiful Poison Ivy and Fairchild go to their proper homes. And, semi-relatedly, there have been a lot of creators this week announcing they're parting ways with their current art dealer and if you'd like a commission or to buy their art, you should contact them directly. I don't have a full list, but if you were in the original art market right now, might be worth double-checking where you can make your purchases from. 

The War on Porn and Trans People

As if KOSA wasn't enough, it's been a bad few weeks for y'know, most people. In Oklahoma, a bill was introduced that sought to criminalize porn on an incredibly wide definition, brought forth by the sort of far-right Christian who despite being a preacher, has literally 0 understanding of what the Bible actually says because to him, religion is not about practice or belief in a shared understanding of how the universe was formed and how we got to this point, it's a tool of control.

There's a report that the owner of OnlyFans pleged $11 million to a pro-Israel group in the last few months. He has denied that claim. Regardless, as these things so often do, it has dragged performers on the site into the conversation despite A. OnlyFans not (yet) being a BDS target and B. with everything else going on, there are only so many places to move to left. At time of posting, PornHub is blocked in... 6 states. There are a lot of walls being thrown up to try to limit our access to adult material and further deplatform and marginalize sex workers, which was already a massive problem and it sucks. 

Meanwhile, this week, Florida's trying to revoke trans people's driver's licenses and Ohio's banning trans kids from sports or gender-affirming care in their quest to ban trans people from existence entirely. And these are part and parcel of the pattern of trying to further criminalize, censor, and legislate women's bodies, trans bodies, sex workers, and anyone who isn't a cis straight white man. In the US, the New York Times, and in the UK, the Guardian are both doing the Tim Robinson hot dog "we're all trying to find the guy that did this" thing despite how much anti-trans bullshit they've spread. 

As there are more bills introduced that forbid (or have to shield against consequences for) interstate travel of trans people and people seeking abortions, we're really reaching a breaking point and coupled with the dissatisfaction of both promient Presidential candidates for their records of *checks notes* inaction or hostile action toward the majority of the American people... let's just say I'm not looking forward to how this year shakes out for the most part. 

Wedding Plans One exciting thing, though, is Becca and I soft-announced our wedding plans. We'd still like to try to organize something in San Diego for our friends and family presumably around SDCC time, but tha'ts up in the air because that's expensive and coming up much quicker than I think either of us would like with no plans firmed up. But our plan for the wedding itself has largely shifted to doing it internationally. 

We were always thinking of a honeymoon in Japan and now have kinda figured that if we're going to do that, instead of trying to do a ceremony in the US and then also pay for a trip, it's cheaper and maybe more special for us to roll it into a single plan. Becca's been looking a bit at Sanrio PuroLand, the Hello Kitty amusement park, because they have reasonable packages and you can bring in an outside coordinator (and we'd love to find someone who has experience with queer weddings in Japan, if anyone might have any recommendations). I'm not quite as sold, but that is generally what we're looking at. 

As things maybe solidify around SDCC or otherwise we get our picture all figured out for Japan, I'll share more news. 

Virgilio Mendez Virgilio Mendez is a 19 year old migrant who has been held for a crime he obviously didn't commit. He's been charged with aggrivated homicide for a cop who confronted him for the crime of being brown and not speaking English. Mendez was literally just on the phone, repeatedly communicated that he does not speak English (and recently the court found the case couldn't move forward because, as a product of that, he has no understanding of the American justice system), the cop harassed him, ultimately called back-up, the cops proceeded to batter and tase him, and then the original offending officer had a heart attack and died, as the coroner has reported, of natural and pre-existing causes, and all of that has been pinned on this poor kid's back. It's just depressing and despicable. 

Baldur's Gate

Okay, so... at one point I thought this was going to be shorter (haha, I don't know why I thought that) and I was going to talk about how I've been playing a lot of Baldur's Gate 3 and my thoughts on it. But I've run out of room for this time, and soooo... next week. I'm going to talk about BG3, Persona 5, Honkai Star Rail, and the ways that things that might activate similar sensations can leave you with very different impressions in the long term. But that'll be next week, so see ya then! 

New Releases (2/7/24) Godzilla Valentine's Day Special (Editor - IDW)

Announcements: Happy Black History Month! This week, I want to spotlight Clarence Matthew Baker! He is notable for being one of the first successful Black men in American comics and one of the first successful gay men! That's a lovely little profile of him and his work, including some classic Phantom Lady and It Rhymes With Lust! The man had gorgeous art and influenced comics so much, not in the least because his art was one of the primary examples of the "seduction" of Seduction of the Innocent, the famous anti-comics book that turned comics into a witch hunt for pornographers because the more things change, the more they stay the same. 

Check out my Patreon where you can access this blog as well as a ton of cool other stuff! Some recent highlights include the holiday catalog I made at the end of last year is now available to all backers (though $10+ backers got it almost 45 days early) and I've previewed some materials for something I'm working on and hoping to launch in the next month or two. Patreon will also be where I start posting some of my new original comics work later in the year, so keep an eye out for that too! 

You can also check out my webstore, my Kofi (I still need to throw up my updated Anti-AI Zine), and Becca's site (also pending a new update)! 

What I enjoyed this week: Nancy (Comic), Yu-Gi-Oh: Duel Links (Video Game), Baldur's Gate III (Video Game), Blank Check (Podcast), Dungeons & Daddies (Podcast), The Traitors Season 2 (TV show), The Sopranos (TV show), Almost Famous (Movie), Heartburn (Movie), the mango pineapple chicken from the local Indian food place, getting new comics and making friends with an employee we don't know at the comic store (If you ever read this, hi, Clay @ Nuclear Comics North Park!), having had a good first couple of weeks at the new job! 

Pic of the Week: Feels like it has been a while since I did this, but here's a cute picture of Tiansheng for what it's worth, but Hourly Comics Day was this week and Becca put together some strips. First one's linked and you can find the rest on their Bsky page! 

[simpjaes]

OH! AND I FORGOT TO TELL U THAT I ALSO WANT TO START WRITING FF BUT I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW, CAN I GET SOME TIPS PLS 😭

-🌊

omg i def encourage others to write!! I'll do my best with tips but I've been doing it for so long that honestly it just kinda comes naturally for me at this point, so ill do my best!

first tip: decide on whether you want to be more free in your writing or more controlled. I switch between the two. For instance I'll have an idea and simply write from a single start point and let the writing and story in my head take me where ever, with no outline or guidance outside of a general idea, and I write until im satisfied with a good end point.

if you want to be controlled, I'd suggest writing an outline. it doesn't need to be super detailed, but mine do tend to be...lmaoooo, like for instance frenzy was VERY loosely outlined, and i mean like, i had like 6 sentences as the outline and a bunch of screenshotted texts from oomf, and that's literally it.

then like, this is me being very specific and controlled: lmao, look at this outline of a fic i've been working on for like a year and a half for my other blog:

so in that outline, literally every line you see there has THOUSANDS of tinier outlines for each chapter, day, and scene. i mean the outline itself is 32k words. and all of this was birthed from a single sentence idea in my head.

it really just depends on how much effort you want to put into writing. no one sees behind the scenes of it, so how you go about planning and progress is up to you and no one can judge you for it (ill kick them in the neck if they got shit to say)

man, this probably isn't making sense. this is probably why im so bad at training people in workplaces lol

anyway

second tip: do NOT worry about word count. Some of us are picky, me included, meaning i don't usually give a fic the time of day if it's under a certain word count unless under certain circumstances. this does not mean the fics i won't read are bad, it's just preference. but you need to be prepared to face the fact that some people will love your fic, and some will scroll right past it.

third tip: make banners and visuals. format your post so it is easy for your readers to find the information they need before reading it. such as warnings etc. this is also to gain interest, specifically so people can choose whether to read it or scroll away. (my marketing background comes into play help)

fourth tip: write a small description of the whole fic before you even write it. like try to sum all of it up in a way that anyone can understand, and alter it or rewrite it once you finish if you need to change it based on how the story actually came out. I find this super helpful to stay on track and to also get a really good starting point. this is why i always have spoilers or a small preview of my wips. even if they are changed by the time i post them.

fifth tip: don't stress. some of the best advice i ever got is to write like only you will read it, and post it like you'll get no notes or feedback at all. this is where passion drives you as a writer, and you become able to write whatever the fuck you want and don't panic at the fact that other people may not like it, or may have some shit to say. more often than not, people will read it. you need to have fun with it, it's not a job, it's a hobby.

we are writing for free, so do NOT cater to people who don't know you. you don't owe them any part of yourself or your growth as a writer, it is a privilege for them to read something you write, not the other way around :)

and LASTLY, don't steal ideas. if you are inspired by someone else, ask them, credit them. this includes writing fics based on someone else's hard thots, and even writing fics based on whore convos you might have with friends. always ask if the idea comes from someone else, especially if you have easy access to them.

[romanticizedlife-patchnotes]

*Patch Notes 8/22/23*

A lot has happened. Many improvements have been been made that probably deserve their own posts. Did a lot of back sliding, attempts at recovery, and more back sliding. Also kept forgetting this blog existed.

CURRENT GOALS:

Clean and organized apartment

Time and suitable environment to focus on art

Being caught up enough on responsibilities and housework that I can feel comfortable spending time on video games and anime

Making a less stressful environment for my cats

Time for and Accessibility of Proper Nutrition

Get to bed earlier

Get up when my alarm goes off

Toying with the idea of setting up an online shop for like stickers and junk

Stuff Done Yesterday & Today:

Clean and organized apartment

Stacked the white boards and cork boards that have been floating around the apartment since I moved in neatly behind the recliner in the living room. I won't have to move them again unless I'm (finally) putting them up.

Made progress cleaning in kitchen

Made progress cleaning in study

Slapped a label saying "SPARE PARTS" on a drawer of a plastic storage unit in my basement so, once I find where they are, all the little baggies of spare hardware/accessories/parts for various appliances and pieces of furniture (THAT I HAVE BEEN SO GOOOD AT LABELNG. WHERE ARE THEY?!) will have a home. Baggies Found: 5/??

Slapped a "MANUALS" label on another drawer so now I have a place for them too

Arranged the shelving units in the basement so I can actually see and access shit easily

Time and suitable environment to focus on art

Cleared off the folding table that's been piled with papers and junk for 6 months

Cleared off my desk

Cleared off most the floor of my study

Drew plans for a U-Shaped desk that I think would help. Not sure if I'm going for it. Won't have a chance to build it until late September anyway.

My current desk has a riser shelf that I took off a while ago, thinking it would give me more useable space (it did not). I have a worklight I bought at goodwill a couple weeks ago that I intended to use for a workbench I'm most likely not going to build. It just fits under the riser, but its power cord comes out the center of the back, which puts it at odds with the riser support bar. So I drilled a hole in the riser support bar. I don't think the bits I have are meant to be used on metal, but I got it to work somehow. And after some hack-sawing and filing, and some more hack sawing and filing because I didn't account for the nut at the base of the power cord, it works pretty well!

Rearranged my furniture a bit. Trying an L-shaped desk set up

Being caught up enough on responsibilities and housework that I can feel comfortable spending time on video games and anime

Put on an episode of anime while eating lunch

Finally tumbled and folded the sheets that have been in the dryer for, like, two weeks

Washed a load of darks

Making a Less Stressful Environnment for my Cats

Cleared floor space in living room, kitchen and study

Moved chair I was going to donate back into kitchen so they can sit with me instead of me moving them off my chair

Making effort to clean/rearrange things in a calmer fashion so Maou freaks out less

Time for and Accessibility of Proper Nutrition

Washed a shit ton of dishes, focusing on the takeout containers I use for ready-made meals

Cleaned the fridge out. Got rid of food that had gone bad (oh god it was gross) and washed off spills

Made a start on organizing cabinets so I can find the dishes and containers need when i need them.

Cooked rice, chicken, and vegetables and arranged them in microwavable containers so I can h eat them quick later

Get to bed earlier

Brought in water bottles from car and stocked under bed

Put empty water bottles in recycling

Cleared a bunch of stuff that's been covering the floor for ages

Moved my headboard power strip to the other side so I can have my white noise machine and bed lamp closer to my head

Get up when my alarm goes off

Set up an anime I really want to rewatch on DVD player in kitchen, so I can watch it while eating breakfast. Hoping this motivates me to get ouut of bed.

Logged into Crunchyroll on android box for the same reason. Looking for HiDive password.

Toying with the idea of setting up an online shop for like stickers and junk

Made a vague plan. Most of it depends on me actually neatly finishing art on purpose. Im good at making art. Finishing art neatly and on purpose are my weak points (My strong point is bullshit that looks pretty good). Should probably revisit this idea when I'm further along with "Time and suitable environment to focus on art"

[mcdevinpants]

I'm Trying to Make Sense of Crab Day

There's a lot being said about Crab Day, and a lot of people getting very angry about it and saying a lot of different things, so I'm going to try to organize my thoughts a little bit. I have some unanswered questions and if you have some answers, please do share. But I'm not trying to push any side on this, so if you're mad about any of my thoughts, please just scroll on by.

First and I think most importantly, whether or not it'll do anything. Not a clue. It's 100% true (as I've seen pointed out, I do not claim to be the originator of this thought) that tumblr is operating on a deficit, they're not in debt. Giving them $30M via crabs won't fix the problem. Even if we reliably did it every year (which wouldn't be a viable plan anyway) I'm not sure it'd fix the problem. But I feel like it might be a step in the right direction. It certainly couldn't hurt on that front. And I've been kind of wondering how long this place was going to be financially viable ever since Yahoo took that huge loss. It's not looking good.

I've seen a bunch of folks say that the OP of the original is a terf (who I will be henceforth in this post referring to as feminist-appropriating radical transphobes, or farts, as I've seen wonderfully suggested before, because I don't think they deserve to be called feminists and also do deserve to be made fun of). But I don't know who that is. Every post I've seen about Crab Day has (i think) talked about how this is their version of it, or seems to be promoting an already-existing idea, and the folks who are just referring to them as "the OP" aren't giving a username. So I can't go see for myself (as some of them have rather confusingly suggested). And I like verifying stuff like that. If you've got a lead on that, please let me know. Searches have been inconclusive. (I have confirmed that at least one person promoting it is a fart, but that's about as far as I've gotten. Said person is ohifonlyx33. More investigation has confirmed greater-than-the-sword is also a fart, but they also say they weren't the originator, just an early promoter. Any further information will be placed here in edits.)

But also on that note, at this point I kind of fail to see how this idea promotes or furthers a fart agenda. Which is the important part, right? Maybe I'm just not seeing it, and if that's the case, please do weigh in. I hope it's not just idea guilt-by-association. I can't avoid doing literally everything a fart does just because they do it, because they also do things like eating things they like and (theoretically) having friends. (No this is not a serious line of argument, I know those aren't equivalent, I'm just skeptical of idea guilt-by-association, I'd need more than that.) I generally try to avoid promoting fart blogs just to not give them any additional reach, but given that I don't even know who came up with this in the first place that doesn't seem like much of an issue to me.

I've also seen a post circulating talking about how we shouldn't be giving them money like this unless they make accessibility improvements between now and then. All of the accessibility needs they list are absolutely necessary. I'm not entirely clear on how that relates to the proposed crab day though. To be clear, what I'm saying is that Not Participating In A Semi-Organized Effort To Give Money To Tumblr is not the same as a boycott, and an absence of participation seems to lack the clarity of intent that a boycott absolutely requires to even approach being effective, even if folks write in about why they're doing it. Boycotts are a tricky beast and most of them don't really do anything. I'm also kind of under the impression that if they're already not taking accessibility seriously, withholding money isn't going to incentivize them to start so much as it's going to put you in the category of User Who Is Not Assissting Tumblr's Continued Existence. And to be clear, I am already in that category. I haven't spent any money on tumblr, and continuing to do that will unfortunately not further the cause of accessibility. It also won't hinder it per se, and I'm not entirely convinced that I'd be hindering it if I did give them money.

To sum up: I'm not arguing in favor of Crab Day. I'm not arguing against Crab Day. I'm not entirely sure where I stand wrt Crab Day, and I'm not sure this helped at all, but maybe it will lead to something that helps. If you've got something to weigh in on that might help, please do. If you've got something to weigh in on that involves being unpleasant, please don't.

[jaymarasigan04]

(3F) First Blog: First Meet: First Tumblr Edition

I DIDNT KNOW >3 I didn't know what to put here first because it is my first time creating a blog article and using this platform as well. I felt unsure about where to start, and it made me realize that writing, much like any skill, improves only through practice and exploration. Creating content feels daunting at first, especially when you’re trying to capture your thoughts and ideas clearly and engagingly. So, I decided to begin with POEM something that speaks to our subject: Knowledge Management.

Knowledge is like a garden; if it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested. This saying beautifully illustrates the importance of nurturing knowledge, just as you would take care of a garden. To make knowledge truly valuable, it needs attention and active management, much like a garden that needs planting, watering, and care to produce its fruits and flowers.

Knowledge Management is about more than just gathering information; it’s about continuously cultivating and sharing what you know so that it grows and becomes useful to others. In an organization, the process starts with planting knowledge. In a garden, you begin by planting seeds. In Knowledge Management, this is about capturing information—writing down processes, documenting best practices, or gathering personal insights from employees. This step is crucial because if you skip it, valuable knowledge remains scattered and untapped, like seeds that never make it into the soil.

However, planting isn’t enough on its own. A garden needs consistent nurturing—regular watering, weeding, and care to thrive. Similarly, knowledge must be shared and kept fresh. Sharing knowledge through meetings, collaborative tools, open discussions, and even casual conversations is like watering the plants. It keeps the information alive and growing, spreading ideas that can benefit the whole team. Without this sharing, knowledge can wither away, much like neglected plants do when they’re not cared for. It’s about fostering a culture where sharing what you know isn’t just encouraged but is a normal part of everyday work.

Organization is also crucial, both in gardening and in managing knowledge. A well-planned garden makes it easy to care for and enjoy, with each plant given the right amount of space and attention. Similarly, knowledge needs to be organized in a way that’s easy to access, using systems like databases, document management tools, or intranets. Good organization ensures that when someone needs information, they can find it quickly and easily, much like knowing exactly where each plant is in a well-tended garden. It’s not just about having information; it’s about making sure it’s readily available when needed.

Maintenance is another key step in the journey. Just as a garden requires regular care—like pruning, protecting plants from pests, and removing dead leaves—knowledge must be maintained to stay relevant. This means updating information, checking its quality, and removing outdated content. If left unattended, knowledge can become irrelevant or misleading, much like a garden overrun by weeds that choke out the healthy plants. Regular maintenance ensures that the knowledge remains valuable and ready to be used when needed.

The true value of both gardening and Knowledge Management comes at the time of harvest. For a gardener, this is the rewarding moment of picking ripe fruits and flowers, the tangible results of months of care and effort. For an organization, the harvest comes when knowledge is put to good use—solving problems, making better decisions, improving products and services, and driving innovation. This application of knowledge is where the real rewards lie. Without applying what’s been learned, it’s like having a garden full of produce that never gets picked, leaving all that potential wasted.

This saying about knowledge and gardening reminds us that cultivating knowledge is an ongoing effort. Just like a garden requires constant attention, knowledge needs to be continuously shared, updated, and applied. A culture of sharing is essential, where every contribution counts, just as every plant in a garden plays its role in the whole ecosystem. In an organization, it’s not enough for knowledge to sit idle; it needs active participation from everyone—from leaders setting the tone, to team members who bring their unique insights and experiences.

Reflecting on my experience so far, I realized that starting something new, like writing this blog or taking on a new subject, can feel overwhelming. It’s like stepping into an unfamiliar garden and not knowing where to start digging. But just like with gardening, the important thing is to start somewhere—to plant those first seeds, water them regularly, and be patient. The learning process in Knowledge Management is similar; it’s not about knowing everything right away but about engaging with the process, making mistakes, and learning from them.

During our first class, I felt a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Our instructor was engaging and encouraged everyone to participate, emphasizing that learning isn’t just about what the teacher provides but about what we as students bring to the table. He often reminded us that it’s not all about the instructor; it’s about us taking responsibility for our learning journey. This really resonated with me because it highlighted that, just like in gardening, the effort you put in directly affects what you get out.

Our instructor’s approach reminded me of the importance of cultivating my learning process. It’s not enough to just show up to class; I need to actively engage, ask questions, and apply what I learn. It’s similar to tending a garden—without putting in the work, I won’t see the results I’m hoping for. I realized that this course isn’t just about gaining knowledge; it’s about learning how to manage that knowledge effectively, turning it into something practical and useful.

As I look ahead to the rest of the semester, I feel hopeful but also aware of the challenges. There’s a part of me that’s still questioning my understanding of the course and its purpose, like seeds of doubt that need to be carefully managed. I’m learning that it’s okay not to have all the answers right away; the key is to keep engaging, keep asking questions, and keep cultivating my knowledge. Five months from now, I hope to look back on this blog and see growth—not just in my understanding of Knowledge Management but in how I approach learning in general.

Knowledge Management, like any garden, requires dedication, patience, and a willingness to learn from every step of the process. It’s not just about gathering information but about nurturing it, sharing it, and using it to make a difference. Whether in a classroom, an organization, or in our personal lives, the way we handle knowledge will always impact what we can achieve. So, I’m committing to this journey, embracing both the successes and the challenges, and looking forward to the harvest that comes from cultivating knowledge with care and intention.

To the future endeavors of this subject, this class, our instructor, and myself, I know this is just the beginning. I will look back on my first blog on this platform and reflect on how much I’ve grown. I know that some knowledge I have now will deepen, while other parts will be completely new. And that’s okay. The important thing is to keep asking myself, “What’s the purpose of this?” and to let that question guide me as I continue to learn and grow. Knowledge, after all, is not just something we acquire; it’s something we build, share, and harvest over time, much like the most beautiful and bountiful garden.

#FIRST #3FFF #BSIT-IS(3A) #JAY LAURENCE R. MARASIGAN #08/28/24

[karyacemplon]

Des 302- Week 1: Overall Reflection + Action Plan

Overall, the first week has been fine, though I am quite lost on what to do and if I am behind the rest of my peers. Truthfully, I do not often make schedules and plans, and doing it now is quite difficult. I am unsure what activities to put in each week, whether it will work to my expectations, and if it is sufficient enough to be on track. Despite this, I am unsure if it is understandable to everyone accessing my board. Hence, to improve this, I will rearrange and check with my peers to gain quick feedback about it.

Reflecting on my progress, I need to improve my time management so that all planned activities can be completed within the time frame I have set. Despite having the timeline colour-coded, I have only relied on my memory. I believe it will take some time to get used to; hence, I plan to import this timeline into an app or any medium I often use (such as the calendar app). Moving onward, I plan on importing and writing my blog on Tumblr (if I receive permission to), in an effort to post more updates regularly and on-time.

In week two, I will progress my update by finding areas of improvement in my proposal and gaining feedback from peers, tutors and partners. Moreover, I will polish my project timeline further, adding backup plans and ticking off points from my to-do list. Additionally, I will start researching and thinking about questions for conversations and questionnaires for my peers.

Connecting to my positionality, this project has helped me learn more about myself,

I have discovered that I am more spontaneous and find it difficult to stick to plans and schedules. Reflecting on my positionality and proposal helps me determine how I want to present myself aesthetically in a way that aligns with my philosophy and standing.

References

[Used Grammarly AI]

[burning-sol]

I've got a lotta things to do but for now I'm focusing on JRWI Bang art and then I am very sad but I think I will be opting out of any future community events.. But! What I will be doing this year.

1. I'm going to be finishing all my dresses for dresstober @exandrothinadresseveryday so!! I am so real, send that blog so many one word prompts. I desperately need more just spam it with asks if u want.

2. I'm going to finish setting up the @apotheosis-post-daily blog which!! We are still looking out for more mods to chip in. You're not required to contribute any set days if you don't want to, and you can contribute any form of art you want, it can be writing or webweaves, literally anything.. Get in contact and I'll hook u up with the discord server!!

3. I will definitely be trying to go back through my catalogue of art to add alt text and organise my art blog @apothygrossest . I'll be putting together a proper commission sheet too even tho I know there probably won't be a lot of takers for that.

4. I'm going to continue to maintain all my sideblogs, the JRWI playlist, and I might try to be more proactive in terms of the @jrwi-in-text blog. But these all require a lotta consistent effort so I'm not gonna guarantee anything in that regard.

5. I'm also going to just generally clean up this blog I swear to you. I'm even gonna try to figure out how to code my own blog, because there have always been things I wanted to be more accessible or formatted differently!!

And of course I have all my existing art projects that have kinda been sitting there a while but I still plan on completing. There is quite a bit there so I'm not gonna make a whole list but there is art, writing and animations in there. I also might put out more original work, since I've had a lot of OC stuff on the backburner that I think would be cool to share.

So yeah!! ^w^ And if I don't follow through on any of these ur allowed to kill me.

[rowanhawthorne22]

Progress Update 01 - Character Introductions

This is progress update 01 for my novel. I'm writing it for my master's classes at SNHU. To date, I have an intro, the first chapter, and half of the second chapter. I'm writing this blog to keep my shit in order and my brain on track and free of thoughts. Additionally, earning a following pre-publication seems like it would be useful, so I'll just be transparent about that. I'm not trying to live off my writing, but I do want an agent and a good editor. So I can't just publish my work and pray to god that people read it, I've gotta put in a little leg work.

With that in mind, the main focus of this blog is to talk about my progress with the novel and contextualize the writing process against the publication process. I have no specific plans for publication now, but as they develop I'll detail them here.

Let's get into the novel. The idea for The Stars have Always Beckoned Us is relatively simple. Ernest, a scholar at Solas Realt in a fictional Boston Victorian inspired city, feels the rush of discovery and love for magic. He wants to make a contribution to the field of Astronomy, which in this universe is a combination of arcane magic and science. Spells are created by invoking the names of certain planets and channeling their power. Ernest intends to find a new planet which he can harness the power of, and then cast a spell to observe farther and more closely than anyone before. He intends to leave a mark on the field and establish his name.

I wanted to use the name Ernest Ebreitas, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate or even legal to bite Bloodborne like that. Of course, the game is a huge part of the inspiration for the book, but that doesn't mean I can just copy it, I think. I mean it's only a name and a reference, I'm not like stealing the intellectual property of the game, or is just the name considered IP? It's a question an editor would know the answer to.

Ernest is determined. He's a little snobbish about the Academy; he doesn't have a lot of friends (two, to be exact, and one of them lives far away) and he doesn't make any effort to be social. All of his time is poured into his research and his classes. Ernest doesn't really understand the concept of "getting his hands dirty" because things sort of naturally fall into his lap. He's not exactly a genius, but things kind of tend to go right for him. This ease of access for him makes him look down a bit on his classmates. He can't understand why everyone else seems to be struggling and failing when it all comes so easily to him.

The first few chapters I want to spend setting up the academy and Ernest's interactions with it. Chapter 1 has Ernest arriving back at the academy after summer break to find that the headmaster still has not returned. He's been missing for three years now after a mysterious happening at his tower. Here we are also introduced to the interim headmaster, Alder Stately, and the mysterious new Professor Marwyn.

Chapter 2 introduces us to Ernest's friend Viola Tillman and Ernest's observatory space. It's not really his, but he has picked up enough of a reputation at the academy that most people just sort of leave it for Ernest. This chapter will be used to introduce some of the basics of the magic system as well. We'll see Ernest doing some Astronomy(TM).

In the next few chapters, I want to spend some time establishing the school and the magic system. The big problem will be hooking the audience - I need to drop some clues as to Elrick's (the headmaster) whereabouts. I think I will have Ernest overhearing chatter or have Viola drop some gossip, or something. Eventually, Ernest will demand to see the headmaster, and Elrick will reveal himself as having been mostly fine over the past three years. He's just been desperately trying to find out more about what happened to him - which was, of course, contact from an Old God residing deep in the center of a black hole. Elrick was given an inadvertent gift. Just as the planets are great sources of arcane power for the scholars of Solas Realt, this Old God was drawn on for power accidentally. This resulted in Elrick experiencing the first instance of blood magic ever recorded.

So, once Ernest and Elrick get in contact, they both make efforts to understand and control this new magic. It will go poorly for Elrick and he will be transformed into the primary villain of the novel. Somehow. This is subject to change.

Anyway, more blog posts forthcoming. I'll try to stick to a roughly weekly upload schedule so that I can continue to organize my thoughts and think through the structure of the novel.

I need feedback. If you, by chance, find this post, read the whole thing, and decide you want to rip me a new one and call my ideas stupid, I completely encourage you to do so. I need everything.

[gobeyondarchives]

Starting a Newsletter (overview)

Think about how many times you check your email per day. Personally, I check it every hour even when I know I’m not receiving an important email- it’s simply a habit of mine and many other people have. Over 4 billion people open their inboxes daily which makes it the ideal site to promote your affiliate links, blogs, building relationships with your audience and more. You may associate having a newsletter with online businesses and blogs but guess what- even someone who isn’t on social media or does not own any businesses can do it too. You can literally talk about anything and everything from how your day was to your new favorite movie. For the most part, it’s free of cost and all you really need to know is how to type and edit (it doesn’t even have to be on photoshop).

Like many things in life, starting a newsletter is gonna require effort but once you get it going you’ll likely start to see more traffic to your website or even sales if you’re a business. To me it doesn’t matter which order you start as long as you are doing it. So here’s a checklist of what you should be doing:

Coming up with an identity/concept/aesthetic. You don’t need one if you’re getting started but having a distinct online identity is always beneficial as it makes you stand out more. 

Design your newsletter template! Think about when was the last time you actually read an email. Think about what made you interested and try using that. If you’ve never opened one that's okay, you can find a lot of inspiration online but you can checkout my board if you’re lost.

Write content that solves a solution.and make it short. Most people receive a ton of emails per day and many do not have the time to be reading an entire 10 page essay you saved in your google docs. Keep it straight to the point and short.

Add a lead magnet or freebie! This could be a planner, journal page, excel sheet, pdf-guide, coupon/discount or anything really. The more convenient and practical it is the better.

Build a newsletter email. Most people do this by using their social media or websites contact information exchanges.

Use email analytics to determine who your audience is and posting accordingly. What time are your audiences generally reading your emails (use an email scheduler for your convenience), who is it? What kind of emails brought consistent conversion rates? What design layout do people respond to best? Create a content and distribution plan!

Encourage call to action/interact with your audience. You can do this by asking questions and letting them reply or being quite frank and telling them straight out that they should check out this or subscribe to this for more.

Find out how you’re going to monetize your content.

Here’s some ways you can monetize your email newsletter

creating digital products-if people really liked your email format you can sell email templates

sponsored content

Paid memberships-access to exclusive content, articles, materials, membership only products and more

Adding affiliate links

Putting influencer codes

Selling courses

Direct ads

The most important aspect of a newsletter would be its content. You could have a well designed newsletter which can lead to more clicks but if your content is not valuable then it will not likely create conversion. If you’re focusing on freebies and lead magnets make sure they’re valuable and help your audience in some way. Be consistent with your content, you don’t have to post everyday, you can post 3 times a week on any day you schedule your posts. If you can’t post weekly posting bi-weekly or even monthly. Just be consistent!

Keep in mind while you can write about literally anything it is better to niche down. Your viewers are most likely receiving emails for several of other companies or newsletter fighting to get their attention. You want to make content that you know they’ll come back too, so make sure you’re starting with a good subject line and write what people want to see.